Coppers' (Joanne's) 2010 Reading, Ch 5

Thread #1 http://www.librarything.com/topic/80948
Thread #2 http://www.librarything.com/topic/88920
Thread #3 http://www.librarything.com/topic/93397
Thread #4 http://www.librarything.com/topic/97872

My year so far:
January
1.The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys
2. You Were Always Mom's Favorite by Deborah Tannen (audio)
3. The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
4. Coventry by Helen Humphreys
5. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell (audio)
6. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
7. Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

February
8. Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews
9. A Good Fall by Ha Jin
10. Thereby Hangs A Tail by Spencer Quinn
11. Looking Back: A Book of Memories by Lois Lowry
12. Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews
13. American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson (audio)
14. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
15. One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
16 The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
17. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
18. Why Manners Matter: The Case for Civilized Behavior in a Barbarous World by Lucinda Holdforth
19. Horns by Joe Hill

March
20. Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt
21. The Patience Stone by Atiq Rahimi
22. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (audio)
23. The Fur Person by May Sarton
24. Maus I by Art Spiegelman
25. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill

April
26. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
27. Maus II by Art Spiegelman
28. Tinkers by Paul Harding
29. Mrs. Somebody Somebody by Tracy Winn
30. Skellig by David Almond
31. Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas
32. Keeper by Kathi Appelt
33. The Brutal Telling
by Louise Penny (audio)

May
34. The Sleeping and the Dead by Ann Cleeves
35. The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker
36. The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande (audio)
37. Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
38. Translation is a Love Affair by Jacques Poulin
39. Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs by Wallace Stegner

June
40. The Last Child by John Hart
41. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
42. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future by Michael J. Fox (audio)
43. Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson
44. A Test of Wills by Charles Todd
45. Wings of Fire by Charles Todd
46. Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder (audio)

July
47. Off Season: Discovering America on Winter's Shore by Ken McAlpine
48. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
49. A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
50. Montana 1948 by Larry Watson (audio, reread)

August
51. The Passage by Justin Cronin
52. The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard
53. Star Island by Carl Hiaasen (audio)
54. The Art of Losing by Kevin Young

September
55. The Meadow by James Galvin
56. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
57. The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick (audio)
58. Blindness by Jose Saramago
59. Work Song by Ivan Doig
60. Invisible by Paul Auster

October
61. Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
62. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
63. True Compass by Edward M Kennedy (audio)
64. A Broom of One's Own by Nancy Peacock
65. Rose in a Storm by Jon Katz
66. The Pure in Heart by Susan Hill

November
67. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
68. Packing For Mars by Mary Roach (audio)
69. Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell (audio)
70. Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves
71. The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill
72. A Small Furry Prayer by Steven Kotler

December
73. The Wake of Forgiveness by Bruce Machart
74. Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick (audio)
75. The Risk of Darkness by Susan Hill
76. I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron (audio)
77. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger

WooHoo! I'm first! :)

I'm second! Hi!

And I'm third! For a change, I'm not 250 posts behind on someone's thread!

Hi Claudia, Jenn and Terri!

Hi, Joanne. Found your new thread!

Hi Pat - Glad you did!

Found and starred -- yes!

And Lucy's here - Hi!

Well, I wish-listed your last two books, Joanne, so what are you going to entice me with next?

Hi Bonnie - Well, let's see, on audio, Mary Roach's Packing For Mars, and I'm reading the second book in a mystery series that I absolutely love, Susan Hill's The Pure in Heart. I'm a recent convert to mysteries and I'm finding some really enjoyable reads.

Oh yes, the Simon Seraillier series by Susan Hill is MARVELLOUS. Can't wait for the next one. I order them from the UK, and pace my office until they arrive...

got ya! Oh yes!! love Simon Seraillier series by Susan Hill, still haven't read the last one though..

Joanne- Congrats on the New Thread! Number 5! Yah! I've been adding True Compass to my Ipod!

I am checking in too!

I've made it to your Chapter 5! :)

Hi Joanne, nice new thread here. I've got Packing For Mars on the library reserve list. It's a deviation from my normal type of reading, but that's a good thing. Don't want to get in a reading rut.

Hi Joanne, that's how I felt about Packing for Mars Donna, completely different from my usual reading choices. And I ended up liking it too.

Hi Joanne! :)

Welcome to my shiny new thread - I really appreciate you guys stopping by to say hello!



66. The Pure in Heart by Susan Hill

This is the second book in the Simon Serrailler series which may just be my new favorite mystery series. It is a dark story of love and loss with flawed, realistic characters. As with the first book, Susan Hill is not afraid to shock her readers or explore thought-provoking issues for which there are no easy answers.

oooh, and it gets even better!

My only gripe about the series is that they are slow in releasing the new books here. The Shadows in the Street -- # 5 in the series -- came out in April in the UK and in September here. Grrr.

I love Hill's characters in this series. They are complex, and as you note, even when crimes are solved, there is still no easy answer to the problems they confront. I particularly enjoy mystery series with strong "back stories" involving the investigators (think PD James, or Elizabeth George), and this definitely falls into that category. Even when Hill deals with a conventional kind of crime, the way she explores it ensures readers don't feel "i've read that same basic plot 5 dozen times."

Hi Suzanne - Oooh, I am very happy to hear it gets even better! The slow releases won't bother me for a while at least.

Each of the characters is so interesting and real - I could happily have the focus switch to any of them and their backstory. Serrailler himself bothered me a bit in the first book because we didn't get to know him very well. Now I know that he is really a person who is difficult to get close to and so all the more interesting.

I have the first book in the Simon Serrailler series sitting on my nightstand waiting for me to get to it. I need to go dig it out!

I'm about 10 months late to your threads! But I was reading through your list of what you've been reading and there are at least 15 books I've read or that I've been meaning to get to! You're starred now! So at least I'll get in on the good reading for the last couple months!

Hi Joanne!! It's still February. Oh boy! Another mystery series to try!!

I guess I should start with the first book in the series Joanne which would be.... hmmm, I guess I'll go find out. Good review, btw.

Oh! Stop it! Stop it!
oh, agony - oh, ecstacy!
I really didn't read mysteries much - before LT.
Now they're coming in serie-ous avalanches! Oh, what to do???? :)
Interesting comments...

serie-ous avalanches

Love that. I too never read mysteries much before LT. Now, I'm reading Penny and want to try Camilleri, Airth, the Inspector Chen mysteries and now Hill--this is too hard to resist. I'm going to have to go wishlist the first in the series.

#28/29
Me too. I even put a category for mysteries on my 1010 this year, because it's a genre I rarely read. Guess what filled up first?

28-30

ditto.....

well put Claudia .. oh, agony - oh, ecstacy!

love it!

Stasia - I couldn't agree more!

Hi Andrea! Well, better late than never. Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!

Hi Tammy, Bonnie, Claudia, Pat, Jenn and Kath! The first in the series is The Various Haunts of Men. I'm sorry, I should have mentioned that. By the by, I hardly ever read mysteries until very recently...and wow, there really are a lot of them out there. And yes, it's all agony and ectacy! But mostly ectasy.

I thought I'd squeeze in one more Halloween book so I've started Susan Hill's The Woman in Black. (Yes, the same Susan Hill.) I think Anne (AMQS) recommended it a few months ago and it's a good one!

>32 Copperskye:, is it the same Susan Hill? I'll have to check out the Serrallier series. The Woman in Black thoroughly spooked me (in a good way!) Hope you enjoy it, too. I'm trying to get a little October suspense in as well -- I'm listening to Touch Not The Cat by Mary Stewart on audio.

#33: Oh, I love Touch Not the Cat, Anne. I hope you are enjoying it.

Hi Anne - Yup, same one. I'm about halfway in and it is pretty spooky (more so, IMO, than The Haunting of Hill House). Touch Not the Cat looks interesting....

Hi Stasia!

Hi Joanne!

Hi Stasia! (fyi, it's on its way...)

Thanks!

I have Book #1 in the Hill series on my shelf to try! Glad to hear the series is so good. :)

The series really seems to have clicked with me, Angela. I hope you like it too whenever you get to it!

I'm loving this mysterious slant to your thread, Joanne. I'm still in Three Pines but have committed to reading the last two for November's TIOLI Challenge. I've been waiting to read my copy of The Brutal Telling until I inched up the reserve list for Bury Your Dead. Well, I'm finally next in line so I'd better get cracking on it.

I think I'm going to read some more P.D. James next year. I started with her early ones several years ago and got stalled. Have you read any or all of them? I can't believe she's in her 80's and supposedly getting better all the time.

Happy Halloween!

Hi Donna! Happy Halloween to you, too! I'm gonna have 10 or so teenagers over for pizza and scary movies tomorrow so wish me luck!

I have never read P. D. James but I do have a copy of An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. I found the title interesting - I should probably read it for my books off the shelf challenge. Have you noticed that there are just TOO many good books out there!? :)

Hi Joanne!


glitter-graphics.com

Have fun tomorrow!

Ah, cute Claudia!

Love the graphic!

I am in the middle of a 6th grade boy/girl party. We're trying to get them to watch Dracula... guess how well that's working?

Good luck with tomorrow's party Joanne!

Good luck to all you party throwers! How well I remember the days of a house filled with friends of my girls.

Actually, now that they are adults -- 38 and 28 -- they often reminisce about how special it was that our house was a great place to hang out with their friends. These words make me smile every time they tell me.

Joanne- Hope you have a great Halloween! Good luck with those boys! Which movies are you watching?

So is tonight your turn to party?

Let's see....10 teenagers = 10 pizzas + 10 movies. Yikes! You are one brave lady. That's scarier than just about anything else I can think of. ;-)

Have fun - but prepare to be exhausted when it's over...

Happy Halloween all!!!

Well, so far so good. Hubby is picking up the pizzas. We also have lots of chips and salsa, muddy buddies, popcorn, cupcakes, etc. Oh and candy. I think they are watching Baghead right now. They have several others including a favorite of mine Shaun of the Dead. All except one are in costume - what a riot!

A suggestion for all you guys with young kids - make your house the one they gather at. We have a finished basement with an hd tv and a blu-ray player. We usually have movie nights here at least once a month. It's nice knowing where they are...

As for me, we're going to try to watch The Haunting (1963) on TCM.

Oh, yeah, I know I'll be exhusted but tomorrow's Sunday, right? :)

I wish tomorrow was Sunday...

Wait...it's not!? I'm shocked...

eta - And Jenn, I cannot believe how warm it is today/tonight! It's been awhile since we've had such nice TorTing weather.

Sounds like your Halloween party was a great success!

pictures?

Hi Joanne! How was the party? Did they eat ALL the Pizza?

I love a nice long fall. I like it chilly at night and just 65-70 in the day. Perfect!

Oh boy I remember those days. Sounds like lots of fun Joanne.

Yes, they had fun. Ate pretty much everything. Had the camera but forgot to make good use of it. Typical teens...



67. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

A good old-fashioned ghost story with a wonderful Victorian, gothic feel. In many ways, I found this to be a much more satisfyingly creepy/scary story than my recent read of The Haunting of Hill House. And even though I could see what the ending would be, I found that I didn't care. Good fun!

>58 Copperskye: so glad you liked that one, Joanne! What a terrific Halloween read. It spooked me for weeks when I read it. Glad to hear the party went well!

>59 AMQS: Hi Anne, Spooky, yes. I would have loved to have finished it last night which would have been a touch more atmospheric than my desk at lunch time today. I just couldn't keep my eyes open to read the last 15 pages last night!

Added the Woman in Black to my TBR list!

Hi Andrea! It's a good little ghost story!

Hi Joanne!
OK... added The Woman in Black for next Halloween (if not sooner). I was not all that impressed with The Haunting of Hill House since it did not really seem spooky or scary to me. So I'm hoping this will grab me good!

Hi Claudia, I hope you've recovered from your day of civic volunteerism! I also really hope you like the Hill book better than the Jackson book...:)



68. Packing For Mars by Mary Roach

What Sarah Vowell does for history, Mary Roach has done for space travel. Entertaining and informative, this worked very well for me on audio. It suffered a bit from TMI; some details went on a little too long, but for the most part I liked it. My favorite parts were anytime I heard the narrator say "Note". Not that most of the book wasn't fun, but those bits seemed to have been the most fun.

Hi Joanne, glad you liked Packing for Mars. I ran right out and bought it shortly after it came out but unfortunately still haven't read it.

#64: I enjoyed Packing for Mars too, Joanne. I agree with you about the 'Notes' though!

Hi Pat!
Hi Stasia!

It was a fun listen. I'm looking forward to reading (or listening to) some of her other books, too.

The only other one of Roach's books that I have read is Stiff. I enjoyed it as well.

After all the chatter on LT about Packing For Mars I finally got a copy and am anxious to read it. If you liked it, Joanne, I'm sure I will. I think you are the one I have most "like" books in the weighted category - and they are all good ones.
Have a nice day!

Hi Stasia - I have a copy of Stiff but Richard recommended Bonk. My library has Bonk on audio so I may try it next.

Hi Claudia - I hope you like it - she's pretty funny...

Joanne- I really enjoyed Bonk on audio! I think it's the same narrator as "Packing". My next Roach will probably be Stiff.

It is the same narrator, Mark - Sandra Burr. I thought she was great.

My "to be listened to" audios are starting to pile up...Mayflower is waiting at the library for me.

Mayflower is a good book, Joanne. I hope you enjoy it!

I second the Mayflower recommendation. Happy reading!

Thirding the Mayflower rec.

Hurray for Mary Roach! :D

Well, with Stasia, Anne and Jenn giving Mayflower such high marks, it sounds like it can't miss. Thanks you guys - I'm looking forward to starting it!! But first I have to finish Let's Take the Long Way Home.

Hi Stephen! She is a hoot. Have you read Sarah Vowell? Vowell and Roach remind me of each other.

Joanne: I haven't, but my library has one of her books (The Wordy Shipmates) so I'll add it to my wishlist. :)

Joanne- I've also heard good things about Mayflower. I'll have to put that on the list. Are you reading or listening to Let's Take the Long Way Home? I have the audio requested but it's going to be a long wait. The buzz has been wonderful.

Stephen- The Wordy Shipmates is my next audio! I also loved her Assassination Vacation.

Waving hello! Another gorgeous day. Got to enjoy them while they last!

I've read so many books on the Mayflower and pilgrims, etc that I have resisted this additional book... Mayflower. Does anyone rec reading this one more book?
Is it original? Add more info not found elsewhere? Riveting?

ETA: Hi Joanne!

Hi Stephen - The Wordy Shipmates is a good one but too bad your library doesn't have Assassination Vacation. That one was my favorite. She has a new book coming out in the spring about the Americanization of Hawaii and its history with missionaries and Big Sugar interests. I'm really looking forward to it and maybe your library will have it since it'll be new. :)

Hi Mark - I'm listening to Let's Take the Long Way Home because the wait for the book was pretty long. Then yesterday I stopped at the library and found a copy on the Xpress table so I read a few pages, too, but I will stick with the audio. I'm a fan of Caroline Knapp and she is what drew me to the book. I'm afraid it's about to get very sad.

After that, I'll start Mayflower.

I hope everyone has a great (long! ;)) weekend!! The temps here are supposed to hit 80 today. I'll have to dig out the sunscreen again for this afternoon's HS football game.
With the weather being so nice, it's hard to believe it's November.

It takes me so darn long to type I missed not one but two posts!

Hi Jenn! I know, right?? I've got winter clothes and summer clothes piled up!

Hi Claudia! I can't help you with your question...I've resisted reading about the Pilgrims and I think the closest I've gotten to reading anything about them was The Wordy Shipmates (see above) where Vowell explained the difference between the Massachusetts Puritans and the Plymouth Puritans...

Joanne: Her books look very interesting! Like Mary Roach for history, huh? I also wish my library had more of her! I'm eager to read it now...maybe I'll check it out during my next visit to the library. :)

Happy to help, Stephen! Have fun!

80 degrees!!! I'm jealous. It's sunny here but will only be in the 50's for a high. There was a hard frost this morning. Very crisp walking weather.

While I liked Mayflower and learned much from it, I can't go so far as to call it "riveting." Let's just say that the book didn't stay in my permanent collection. I've had The Wordy Shipmates in hand several times but it has never made it home with me. Too many books you know! That extra hour will come in handy.

Hi Joanne, sounds like you've been doing some great reading. I've got Mayflower sitting on my shelf and would love to get to it some time soon. I love to hear Sarah Vowell too. What a voice!

"It takes me so darn long to type I missed not one but two posts!"

Glad to know I am not the only one. My typing is in a different time zone from reality. :(

Joanne, it's been so long since I was here that I had to skim. After I forgave Susan Hill for what she did in the first of the S. Serrailler mysteries, I have been thoroughly hooked. I'm waiting for the price of Shadows in the Street to come down just a wee bit more - well, checking again - a lot more.
As for P.D. James, I would say (if asked, which I wasn't) that An Unsuitable Job for a Woman is not the best starting place. I did like it better than The Skull Beneath the Skin which I remember as the other of the Cordelia Gray novels. I also think that she improved with time, and that the middle and later ones are a lot better than the first ones. She does build the Adam Dalgleish character over time, but I think I'd advise starting with Innocent Blood or Devices and Desires so that you can see what she is capable of. What do the other mystery mavens think?

>89 LizzieD:: Hi Peggy, I'm not a mystery maven but I do know I like to read a series in the order written so when I start back up with P.D. James it will be the fifth installment of Adam Dalgliesh, The Black Tower. I like to see the progression of both the author and the characters. I guess I'll just have to work my way up to some of her better books.

>89 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Regarding the first Simon Serailler book, I know! I was, what's the word...flabbergasted!! And yes, I've forgiven her, too.

I absolutely appreciate your input on the P.D. James book - thanks! I only picked up the one I did because it was $1. I'll be sure to try one of her Adam Dalgleish books first and will look at the ones you suggested. Like Donna, I prefer to do series in order.

>90 Donna828: Hi Donna! I just left you a note on your thread!

>87 brenzi: I was so happy to see you stopped by, Bonnie, that I forgot to say hello!! Missed you around here for a few days and I'm glad to "see" you back! I love listening to Sarah Vowell, too - she has quite the unique voice!

Hi Claudia - It can be exhausting sometimes...;) But very well worth it!

Just trying to catch up with your thread.
Donna.. saying that Mayflower didn't stay in your permanent collection.. is enough said :) One less to add..

#81 - I have not read many books on the Pilgrims, so I couldn't say, but I would guess that if you have read many, Mayflower probably isn't going to add much new. I thought it was an interesting history, and I learned some things I didn't know, but I don't think they were ground breaking new research types of things.

Hi Kath and Jenn!

I haven't read many books about the Pilgrims either and hopefully there isn't a reason for that (like I'm not very interested in reading books about the Pilgrims). We'll see what happens when I start the audio. :)

I don't want to give the wrong impression on Mayflower. I think Jenn said it better than I did. It was kind of "old stuff" to me. The part I remember being the most dismayed about was the desecration of the Native American burial grounds. That was new -- and shocking -- to me.

I also thought the title was misleading as it was all about King Philip's War and the first 50 years of settlement rather than what happened on The Mayflower. But I doubt that "King Philip's War" as a title would have sold so many copies!

69. Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship by Gail Caldwell

I adored Carolyn Knapp's Pack of Two and was truly saddened to learn of her sudden death in 2002. Writers who shared the love of dogs and the water, this is the story of the friendship Gail Caldwell shared with Carolyn Knapp. The second half of the book, in my case, an audiobook, had me not just teary-eyed, but actually crying. A gracefully told story of an enviable friendship and a tragic loss which will strike a chord in anyone who, well really, just anyone.

#97: Ruth read and recommended that one recently too. I am going to have to read it as well.

>97 Copperskye: sounds like a wonderful book, Joanne. I'll look for it, though it's probably not the right book for me at this moment :) Have a great weekend!

Hi Stasia and Anne - Ruth finished it right about the time I started it. It is the type of book you'd need to be in the mood to read. Caldwell is an elegant writer.

That sounds wonderful...

Joanne- I've had this one requested! It sounds very good! Looking forward to it!

Joanne, thank you for a very moving review. Let's Take the Long Way Home is already in my wish book. Now I'm wondering when would be the perfect time for a planned "good" cry.

I don't think I've read anything by either Carolyn Knapp or Gail Caldwell. Maybe I'll work up to this memorial to their friendship.

Hi Joanne!
This sounds like a good one. I might even do the audio version if my library has it. I'm trying to find a good audio to dispel my general avoidance of all of them. Have only tried a couple. Didn't like them at all. Didn't like the narrator nor could I get into the stories.
It's interesting to me that so many need to be in a certain mood to read certain books. I just pick up a book and let it set my mood. Of course... then... watch out for my reactions! I do wonder sometimes how my family puts up with me.
Have a good day!

Hi, Joanne. Glad to hear you liked Let's Take the Long Way Home. I've heard other good things about it in general but didn't realize it was about Carolyn Knapp. I'll have to see if my library has it.

Hi Kath - It is and very heartfelt.

Hi Mark - Make sure you have a tissue in your pocket if you listen to it on your route.

Hi Donna - Since you're a dog lover, I would wholeheartedly recommend Knapp's Pack of Two.

Hi Claudia - I never used to like audio books either. I can't listen to novels, but some mystery's are OK. Non-fiction and memoirs work best for me. And no matter what the book is, I have to like the narrator. Keep trying, something will click.

Hi Pat - I hope your library has it!

Catching up...

Must confess that I prefer Mary Roach, now that I have discovered her, to Sarah Vowell. With Vowell, I always get the feeling that she's there to go "wink, wink; nudge, nudge", and the humor gets a bit heavy handed. With Roach, the humor felt like a natural byproduct of her discoveries, as if I was beside her as she witnessed all the goofiness and asked the questions that most of us would never dare to, however much we yearn to.

In fact, I think I'm going to de-accession my Sarah Vowell books...

And I still have to read Philbrick's Mayflower!

#107: I definitely prefer Roach to Vowell, Suz, so I am with you there.

You need to get to Mayflower too :)

Good morning Suz and Stasia - I agree that Vowell can be a little heavy-handed at times but I enjoy both writers, each in their own, albiet similar, ways. I'm just glad that there are at least two writers out there who are able to make somewhat dry, academic subjects interesting and fun. I've only listened to the one Roach but am looking forward to the next. I've already pre-ordered Vowell's new book even though her last one, The Wordy Shipmates, was not a favorite of mine. But I think it had a lot to do with the subject matter.

Speaking of which, I'm up to disc 3 of 11 in Philbrick's Mayflower (Ch 4, I think). Interesting for the most part, but not overwhelmingly so. It's read by George Guidall who also did The Last Stand and he does an excellent job!

#109: The big problem that I have with Vowell, Joanne, is that she goes into political tangents that have nothing whatsoever to do with what her book is supposed to be about. I have the same problem with Anne Lamott's books as well, which I like for the most part.

>110 alcottacre: I can see how that could certainly be off-putting, Stasia. :)

Which of Mary Roach's books are you going to listen to next?

I see that you are listening to an audiobook narrated by George Guidall. He is one of my favorite narrators.

>112 alcottacre: - Probably Bonk. Same here about George Guidall. He is keeping Mayflower alive for me!

I have found that I cannot listen to nonfiction in audio form. I much prefer print versions of those books.

I will be interested in seeing what you think of Bonk. One thing I appreciate about Roach's humor is that it stays on the topic she is talking about. I bet she finds a lot of humor in sex.

I find Vowell one of the funniest writers around. Also, one of the funniest readers...I listened to Assassination Vacation on audio book and spent an entire road trip hootin' and hollerin'.

I found The Wordy Shipmates to be her least funny & interesting but, then, look at what a grim crowd she was talking about!

I'm going to be very interested to see whether Unfamiliar Fishes can carry off convincing me that 1898 defined America. Various authors (McPherson, Goodwin, Foote) have me convinced that 1861 was it.

Stasia- It's funny how that goes! I actually prefer listening to non-fiction, particularly memoirs and bios.
I thought Bonk was a lot of fun!

#116: My problem is that I like to make notes on nonfiction books and I pore over their bibliographies looking for the source materials. I cannot do that with audiobooks.

Hi Joanne,

I have Mayflower sitting on my shelf but have not gotten to it. I'm not much into audiobooks. I just find I can't stay very interested, the few times I tried.

I will get to the Gail Caldwell book eventually, when I feel I can handle a good cry (not right now, but I usually love books that drain me emotionally).

Here is the Ephron interview from Morning Edition:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131161208

I have not read I feel bad about my neck, but we will need to do so now!

Hi Mark and Stasia - Like you, Mark, I prefer listening to non-fiction, especially memoirs (and I love it when memoirs are read by the author). I can't do novels on audio, with the notable exception of the Three Pines books. Go figure. So as not to miss maps, pictures and notes, Stasia, I also try to have the book available while I'm listening. Thank goodness for libraries or that would be an expensive thing to do! I still can't take notes though...

Hi Tad! Oh, I agree - I both read and listened to Assassination Vacation and enjoyed it both times. Depends on which way your politics lean whether or not her transgressions would be funny or not...I think she's a riot. I can't wait for Unfamiliar Fishes! I love Hawaii and reading about its history so I'll be interested in what she has to say.

Hi Bonnie! I hope you're feeling well this afternoon! It still remains to be seen whether or not I'll continue with Mayflower. If I make it through this week without switching to something else there will be no turning back - I'll have gotten too far into it to stop. It's kind of dry...

Hi Nancy - Thanks for that - I had fun listening to it and can't wait for her book. You'll love I Feel Bad About My Neck!

Kind of dry...lol...well, I did kind of warn you. ;-)

On the subject of Mayflower, I did enjoy this quote enough to write it down:

...the Pilgrims became known not as they had truly been but as those of the Victorian era wished them to have been...the public need for a restorative myth of national origins became even more ardent, and in 1863 Abraham Lincoln established the holiday of Thanksgiving--a cathartic celebration of nationhood that would have baffled and probably appalled the godly Pilgrims.

Just a little over ten days until turkey time. Sorry that this book has turned out to be a turkey for you, Joanne.

Oh no, not really a turkey, Donna, ha-ha. It really is about what I expected - how exciting could it be? :) Thanks for the quote above. As it happens, today I listened to the account of their first Christmas in the new world. Dec. 25 was spent working. Period. Yeah, a fun bunch...!

70. Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves

This is the fourth and final book in Ann Cleeves' Shetland Quartet and it has been a great series. Det. Jimmy Perez brings his fiancee, Fran, home to remote Fair Isle to meet his parents. Soon we have stormy weather and a murder, and no way on or off the island for the residents, the birders staying at the bird observatory, the police, or the killer. These are police procedurals with a wonderful sense of place and interesting, complex characters. I'm so sorry to see the series end. And what an ending. Highly recommended!!

I know, I know, another series - but there are only four!!

eta - The first in the series is Raven Black and they should absolutely be read in order.

A new (to me) series a good thing! Thanks for the recommendation. Have a great week!

Hi Anne, Oh good - it's a great series. Have a good week yourself!

Joanne, I have Raven Black on my WL from the first time I heard you talk about this series. Now I just need to get a copy and read it!

This Ann Cleeve series was def. one of my best discoveries of 2010!! I've only read one of her other books, and it wasn't quite as good, but I'll keep looking for them and hoping.

Re Sarah Vowell -- Yes, I simply couldn't get into The Wordy Shipmates. I found Vowell's efforts to be flippant tremendously strained -- not everything can be subjected to that kind of deadpan humor, which is best when combined with personal anecdote (like David Sedaris). I wouldn't have cared about political interjections of any stripe, had the book been lively and thoughtful. Assassination Vacation was definitely the former, but looking back on it, I felt a bit -- I dunno, manipulated? It felt as if she were preening herself and saying, look at how funny I am. She's not Groucho Marx.

I have got to get to Raven Black and then the rest of that series. I have owned the first book for a while now. Why can I not be triplets?!

Hmm...now I'm rethinking checking out The Wordy Shipmates...

I guess I am in the minority, read 3 Cleeves and was not particularly impressed by them. She is just not for me...

>129 Ape:: Stephen, if I were to start reading Vowell, The Wordy Shipmates is the last of hers for a starting place. Any of the others is more fun.

131: And therein lies the problem, because The Wordy Shipmates is the only book my library carries. :(

I'm with Kath - I read the first 2 Cleeves books and thought "meh" - but I might read the others, because they're easy to get hold of and easy to read, and I keep hoping they might get better (and other people do seem to like them a lot).

> Pat, Get to it! :)

>Suz, I've still got some other of Cleeves' books on my shelf to read. I liked The Sleeping and the Dead.

> Stasia, If you were triplets, you might not need all of us.. :(

> Stephen, I guess I agree with Tad. If you're looking to just read a funny book, this probably isn't the right one. But, if you are interested in learning a little about the Puritans (and really, who isn't?) and how their history might be relevant today, then this is a good, entertaining place to start.

> Kath, Oh well, it's not like you haven't tried!

> Hi Janet, Thank goodness we don't all like all the same books - how boring would that be?!

OMG... where have I been?
BIG getting ready for the holidays wave to you, Joanne!!!!

Hey Claudia - I was wondering the same thing! We are heading into that busy time of year, aren't we? My LT time is already beginning to suffer.

Thanks for the cute turkey - gobble gobble! - and happy almost Friday day! ;)



71. The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill

I am having a great time reading Susan Hill. This is another of her ghost stories and what an interesting and disturbing little book this is! You know those carnival masks, the ones with the stick and the cut outs for eyes with lots of beads and feathers and such? They must have a name... Well, franky, I've always found them to be scary and more creepy than fun. And that played right into the creep factor of this book about an old painting of a carnival scene.

This novella is a story within a story, with a great gothic feel. Pick a cold, stormy night, curl up with a mug of something and spend an hour or two with this well-told tale.

Looks like another good one! Thanks for the recommendation.

Pooh, The Sleeping and the Dead isn't available either in my library or via Paperbackswap, so I'll have to be patient until the book fast is over!

#136: I own that one. I need to get it read evidently!

Cleeves does give good titles to her books. I like the titles.. :)

I love Susan Hill's Simon books. I have only read the first 3. I also read
The Woman in Black and loved that. I will read that one someday too..

Hi Joanne!
Sounds interesting... and creepy. Will check this out.
I don't remember what the book was, but when I was a teen I was home alone reading a scary book in a summer thunder storm. Sitting on the front porch, I was at a critical point in the story and all of a sudden... big crack of lightning/thunder and a huge limb fell off the tree right in front of me. I screamed and ran inside. Very Cool! :)

Not a chance that I'll catch up on all the threads, so I'm starting anew.

Hello to you. I agree with you regarding the books of Susan Hill

Hi Anne, Nice to see you. It was a good little read!

Hi Suz , That one is hard to find. Book fast...? is that when you buy books really quickly...? ;)

Hi Stasia, You could probably knock that one off in 20 minutes. :)

Hi Kath, You're one ahead of me on the Simon S books, but I have moved #3 onto the bedside table so it won't be long. I might take it with me on my Thanksgiving travels.

Hi Claudia, Yikes! Special effects added to your reading experience!

Hi Linda, So good to see you!! She is turning into a favorite of mine. Luckily I have a lot of catching up to do.

My son is on his way to the midnight showing of HP. (Doesn't need mom anymore, *sniff, sniff*. Yeah, I'd probably fall asleep 20 minutes in.) But after spending some time this evening working on college apps, we need a bit of a break from each other. :)

My current book is The Wake of Forgiveness. I saw it on the library table and couldn't resist the cover. Brutal but beautiful.

I already have The Wake of Forgiveness in the BlackHole, but I cannot wait to see what you think of it, Joanne.

Joanne, LOL! It's when you have binged on books all year, and you and your book budget must repent for at least six weeks -- and not pay money for still more. The diet version of fast, vs. rapidity!! We'll see, but I'm up to 19 days and counting.

Joanne, you and berly need each other!

I wandered over to berly's thread, Bonnie. I figured it might have something to do with the late night Harry Potter. I just wish they'd open midnight on a Friday night rather than a Thursday!

Joanne- The Man in the Picture sounds good. Nice review! We plan on seeing Harry, late tomorrow afternoon, after I get off work. It's getting some good reviews. BTW- The Last Child begins very well! I love his writing.

Hi Joanne, my first Susan Hill is on its way to me---The Various Haunts of Men. Actually I think you may have recommended it. LOL.

I love a good spooky read.. mother nature has never added to any of mine though..

I am going to have to choose a new read from my stack of
" hey stupid, now you have to review these" books.

waving hello - spooky books are too scary for me.

Hi Mark - My son and his friends thought this HP was the best of the bunch. We'll probably wait a few weeks and then all see it together after all the hoopla dies down. I have another of John Hart's books, Down River, that I bought used, but haven't read yet.

Hi Bonnie - I may have. I hope you like it! I am chomping at the bit to start the third book, probably when I finish my current reads.

Hi Kath, I'm currently reading an ER that seems to be taking me forever, A Small Furry Prayer. It's not that it isn't interesting, but I just can't seem to get properly engaged. Makes me glad my latest one hasn't shown up yet - less pressure!

Hi Jenn - *waves*

We saw HP last night. The theater was much less busy than I expected. We liked it. It's the darkest and bloodiest yet I think, but so was the book. I think they are doing a great job sticking to the story, but adapting to film. We had to go and preview so we could decide if the 12 yr old could go with his friends. We don't usually let him see PG-13.

Aww, hi Claudia! *waves*

Hi Jenn - So what did you decide re: HP for your 12 yr old?

I considered going to see HP today with my sister. But she went at 11:30 am. Bad time for me. I suspect that I will see this on in a few months on tv.. I don't mind that.. it is the popcorn I miss..

>156 mckait: - I may get to see it over the Christmas holidays but if not, a dvd works almost as well...and the popcorn is great but soooo much cheaper at home!



72. A Small Furry Prayer: Dog Rescue and the Meaning of Life by Steven Kotler

A LTER book, read and reviewed because I had to. I feel a little Scrooge-ish for not liking it more, but there you go. Anyone totally involved with dog rescue might like it more but it didn't totally work for me.

72 books meets last year's total - hard for me to believe I could read so many books in one year.

We're heading off to be with family on the east coast (MA & NH) tomorrow. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving!!

#157: 72 books meets last year's total - hard for me to believe I could read so many books in one year.

Congratulations, Joanne!

Safe travels to you and a Happy Thanksgiving!

Congratulations on matching last year's total.

Have a safe trip and enjoy the time with your family.

the popcorn is great but soooo much cheaper at home!

True, but I will pay the price. Nothing compares to Movie Popcorn :)
It's a good thing I don't go to movies very often !

oh! and have a safe and fun trip!

Congrats on your 2010 reading!
- and so many books I am gonna check out cuz I think I would like!

Wishing a safe and happy trip for you and family! Wish I could say we'd have snow for you. Maybe next time. ;)

Have a great New England Thanksgiving, Joanne!

You have probably already left on your trip, Joanne. I'm not doing very well with keeping up with threads...and it will probably get worse in the next few days. Have a wonderful trip. Thanksgiving in New England sounds like fun.

Hi Joanne. We're going to let him go. He's read the books multiple times, and I think he'll be fine. I think I'm having trouble letting him go to the first movie with friends, not with me. Cringe. I may go see a different movie at the same time, just so I'm there... so hard to let them grow up.

Safe travels, Joanne!

Thank you all!

We had a wonderful trip. It's been awhile since we've done touristy things in Boston and the weather wasn't too bad, either. My sister and BiL are great tour guides.

It's been a few years since we (my brother and sisters) have been able to spend a happy occasion together. This was the first "big" holiday since my mom died and it was important that we were together on Thursday so I'm very happy that it worked out and everyone was able to drive to New Hampshire for the day. Even the freezing rain held off.

I feel as if I've gained ten pounds. Too much good food! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

>164 nittnut: Jenn, I hear you. I hope it went well. :)

Welcome home Joanne!

He went to the movie, he had a great time. The little kids and I went to Tangled, which was also lots of fun. All is well. :)

Glad that you are home safe and well after a good trip.
:)

Joanne- Great to see you back! It sounds like you had a wonderful trip, but where are the books?

Glad the weather cooperated on your Boston trip, Joanne!

Jenn - Sounds like you made a good compromise.

Kath - Me too!

Mark - I have found that I get sleepy when I read on the plane - what's up with that??? I spent more time dozing, and doing crosswords and sudoku, than reading. I managed to get a little more than midway through Susan Hill's The Risk of Darkness and am almost done with another but no reading today. The Christmas lights have to go up on the house and then I have to work bingo for the band tonight. Boo-hoo...:( ...a very busy week is on the horizon.

Stasia - Good weather makes everything easier!

Have a good Sunday all!

Joanne, glad to hear you enjoyed your holiday trip and made it back safely!!! Congrats on making it to 72!! and still a few weeks to spare. I've only hit 66 so far, but am going to try my darndest to get to 75.

Thanks Tammy!

You know what they say around here, it's not about the numbers, but I know, you want to finish. I can recommend a few short holiday books that may help get you there...;), but I think you'll make it anyway.

We got our outside lights up in record time today with no major outages (well, so far all the lights are on) and the weather was pretty nice too so no frozen fingers. Off to shower and get ready for bingo *sigh*.

Welcome home, Joanne! So happy your weekend was a success. Nice to have you back.

It's always good to get the lights/decorations up before it's so cold your fingers get frostbitten! Good job. Deck the halls with boughs of holly! Fa la la la la la la la la!

*covers ears*

Hi Joanne, I think life will be busy for most of us for the entire month of December. Bingo sounds like fun! As does your trip to Boston. That's a city I'd like to return to and explore at my leisure some time. About all I remember of it is "The Big Dig" and driving around in circles looking for a place to park. Next time we'll use public transportation. I never did get to the art museum which was my goal. Thanksgiving with your siblings sounded like a healing time for all of you.

Outside decorations? You are ambitious. I'm debating whether or not to even put up a Christmas tree this year. I probably will even if I'm the only one who will spend time in front of it. I'd have to put a TV under the tree to get my husband interested!

LOL - we put our outdoor Christmas lights up in the snow this year. Not that it was a LOT of snow, but it was cold.

No Christmas lights here...bah, humbug. We are even going with a small tree. Harder and harder for us old folks to handle the monstrosities of old :)

Hi Claudia, Thanks! It's good to be home. We had a great time touring around Boston and seeing my siblings and their families. I was so happy to get the lights up but of course did little else - like grocery shopping and laundry. Oh well, who needs food or clean clothes!

Hi Kath, But it's after Thanksgiving...still no xmas mood?

Hi Donna, Yes, parking in Boston is challenging, but a long walk back to the car was the perfect excuse to stop for coffee and pastry in North Boston! This after finishing off a couple of pies (pizza that is). Inside tree/decorations will be this coming weekend if I don't freeze walking in the Parade of Lights Friday night...

Hi Jenn, But we have hardly had any snow this year! But maybe you're a little higher where you are. And that's the worst, tramping around in the snow and wet. Yuck! It was windy on Sunday and grey in the afternoon but it could have been a lot worse!

Hi Bonnie, LOL. To a certain extent, it would be refreshing to not have to do so much... I don't know how many more years my husband will climb up on the porch roof to put up the gutter lights, but he is pretty stubborn. We started getting a slightly smaller tree a couple of years ago, but only slightly. Hope you've been recovering well!

Can't explain it.. I used to love Christmas.
Since the kids are grown and off on their own.. not so much.
I have a christmas tree issue this year myself.. nowhere to put it because of a particular chair of dans.. anyone need a recliner?

We are a bit higher than you are. We're at about 6200 feet. We got about an inch of snow on Sunday. It didn't stick to the sidewalks, but on the yard and cars. It was a little chilly for putting up lights. But they are up.

>180 mckait: I'm sure that's a difficult adjustment, one that I'm not looking forward to. Funny, we also have a large club-type chair that we manage to squeeze up the stairs to a bedroom. This year I'm going to lobby for the living room even though the colors will clash. We'll see.

>181 nittnut: That would do it. Sunday afternoon was blustery. That night I was over in Aurora and it was practically blizzard conditions on I-225. Dry as a bone at home though.

A book, a book!



73. The Wake of Forgiveness by Bruce Machart

Reviewed on the book's page. The title is intriguing, but it was the gorgeous face that graces the cover that drew me in. The opening scene held me tight.

A literary Western that will stick with me and fans of Larry McMurtry, Kent Haruf, and Annie Prouix should take note of this impressive debut. Very highly recommended.

Joanne- Loved the review! You got a thumb and it went straight to the WL. "fans of Larry McMurtry, Kent Haruf, and Annie Prouix". Sold me right there! How did you hear about this one?
BTW- Loving the audio of American on Purpose. It's so funny and engaging. Interesting, I've never watched him before. Thanks for putting the bug in my ear, on this one.

Sounds good! Thumb from me. Yup, it's on my wishlist too.

Hi Mark, Thanks! I think you'd like it. I don't remember where I saw it, probably on bookbrowse or one of the other book websites I frequent. It was absolutely the cover that attracted me!

Have you started watching The Late Show, Mark? He is a very bright, quick witted guy and I appreciate his show more for having read the book. Be careful - you'll start staying up too late to catch his monologue because Letterman is almost finished and what the heck...(it's not like we don't have a dvr, for heaven's sake)...maybe I just like to stay up too late... The audio of American on Purpose is excellent - I should listen to it again. I envy you getting to listen to him while I struggle on, stoically, with Mayflower! :)

Hi Claudia, Thank you to you too!

Musical night tonight. Just got back from listening to all the great talents at a band concert at the HS and now PBS is showing the 2007 Carole King/James Taylor concert from the Troubadour. Ahh, bliss!

Joanne

Your Boston trip sounds delightful. I love that area!

Thumbs up from me on your excellent review of The Wake of Forgiveness. It is now on the tbr pile.

Hi Linda, We did have a great time and thank you!!

popping in to see what is happening here and to say hello!

Good morning, Kath. I appreciate you dropping by.
I hope the day treats you right - have a good one!

>73 alcottacre:: Thumb from me too! I loved that gorgeous cover, but "lyrical prose" and the mention of some of my favorite authors sealed the deal.

Still reading (or listening) to Mayflower, huh? I'm beginning to feel that way about Love in the Time of Cholera, although I am really liking it. It just seems to go on and on... Maybe because I am trying to squeeze in some shopping for Griffin's birthday next week and Christmas as well. Bah humbug! I want some uninterrupted reading time from Santa.

Hi, Joanne. Just de-lurking to say hi and to thumb your review of The Wake of Forgiveness. I've seen that in the bookstores and will have to check it out. So much great reading!

Hi Joanne, The Wake of Forgiveness is going on the WL. Larry McMurtry AND Annie Proulx?? How can I go wrong? Oh to be reading Lonesome Dove for the first time.

Joanne- I have never seen The Late Show with Ferguson. I'm an early to bed guy, but I do have a handy DVR. Got to try it. Loving the audio, some very funny moments. I'll be done with it tomorrow. Sorry Mayflower has been such a chore.

Hi Joanne! Somehow I ended up 20 posts behind. Eek! Sorry you're slogging through Mayflower. I enjoyed it, but felt that some parts were bogged down with names or battles. In a book you can skim at least... not so on audio.

Have a great weekend!

*double eek -- double post*

Donna - Thank you! Yes, Mayflower.....she's still sailing. Slowly. Have I mentioned that I adored Love in the Time of Cholera!?

Pat - Thank you! And you are encouraged to de-lurk more often.

Bonnie - And thank you! It is pretty dark though, but really lovely. My kind of book.

Mark - Not necessarily a chore. Just not spellbinding.

Anne - In a way I'm doing a little skimming - I don't back it up when I get distracted...

So here's one of those funny little things I love but nobody else probably cares about:
I recently read Blue Lightning and was surprised that there didn't seem to be any reference to 'blue lightning' in the book. (The other books in the series all had a color in the title and they all made sense and were a part of the story in some way.) So now I'm reading a Susan Hill book and huzzah! a line about 'blue lightning' - "Uncle Simon, there was lightning with blue in it." Just one of those odd little connections.

I already had The Wake of Forgiveness in the BlackHole or I would have added it after your review. Nice job, Joanne!

Thank you, Stasia. I hope you like it as much as I did!

I listened to Craig Ferguson read his American on Purpose earlier in the year and he mentioned on his show last night that he was just nominated for a spoken word grammy. Well deserved - I hope he wins.

waving hello - great review of The Wake of Forgiveness. It's going in the pile!

Hi Joanne and Copper! Have a nice Sunday!

Hey Joanne! I have The Wake of Forgiveness on my wishlist. Good to know you liked it!

Hi Jenn - Thanks! Hope you like it, too.

Claudia - Awww, what a cute...crab?! Hi back at you from me and my four legged friend.

Hey PP - I noticed you had it in your library, I'm curious to see what you think of it.



74. Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick (audio)

This isn't going to be a favorite, but I'm glad I listened to it. Well researched, interesting, but long with a lot of details that I didn't particularily care about, and I admit to not backing up and listening again when my attention wandered. More Mayflower, less war would have suited me more. But I know it was more of a "It's not you, it's me" problem. George Guidall narrates well and kept me going.

I hope you have a dandy picked out for #75, Joanne! Almost there!

Hi Stasia! I know - it's so unbelievable (still) to me who used to typically read 30-35 books in a year.

I'm actually almost done with #75 and it's fitting since it's the 5th Susan Hill book I've read this year! It's just the way it worked out but I'm kind of glad it wasn't Mayflower...

Joanne

Congratulations on reading 75 books this year!

#204: I am glad it worked out for you too!

Hi Linda - Thanks, I've still got about 15 pages to go but I'm pretty darn sure I'll get that done! :)

I'm thinking of you during the holidays Joanne and hoping the wonderful memories you carry of your mother sustain and enrich you.

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts, Linda. We will miss her especially this month as she had spent the last three Christmas's with us.

Are you enjoying the Susan Hill? I've already got the new one on pre-order from Amazon.co.uk -- I'm definitely addicted!!!

Let me know if you want to read it when I'm done, and I can send it along via the Inter-LT book loan network... (as long as you promise not to drop it in the bathtub and to send it back home when it has been read...)

I am enjoying it Suz! Book #3 The Risk of Darkness. She is not afraid to do what she wants with her characters...and it works. I glanced at a review of her newest in the NYT last week and saw a spoiler so I was pretty annoyed with myself.

Thanks for the book offer - I'll let you know when I catch up! They are very addictive.

Wait..book in a bathtub?...with water in it?...did that happen?

Oh yeah, that happened... And the book was very hard to replace. It made me more conscious about where I read the books I borrow (at the time this happened -- to one of my books by a friend -- I was reading a volume of Flaubert's correspondence, an old cherished issue found in Paris by my then-bf, and promptly stopped even drinking water in its vicinity.)

Hi Joanne!
Congrats on #75! Do I know Susan Hill? hmmm ???? Will check that out again.

Phooey, I thought my gif (#200) was a little chubby lobster. Looks like a lobster claw and the buldging eyes??? Kinda like a Maine wave? ;-)

>212 Chatterbox: :( ! Bad enough, but the hard to replace part is really painful.

>213 -Cee-: Well actually my first thought was lobster but then the claws looked too small. What do I know...!

Susan Hill is fast becoming a favorite of mine. She has a great crime series.

Oops, now I'm really late - have a great day everybody!

OK I have my first Susan Hill, The Various Haunts of Men so all I have to do is get to it. Hmmm, easier said than done:)

I don't want to talk about books and bathtubs. It brings up all kinds of issues like why I have "good" and "bad" copies of books and only loan out the "bad" ones and how my own kid had to learn about my issues the hard way...

Bonnie - Yay! And I know how that goes...

Jenn - Good and bad copies. Good idea!



75. The Risk of Darkness by Susan Hill

Book 3 in the Simon Serrailler crime series. I love the way the characters are developing. Chief Inspector Serrailler is complicated - aloof, and not always likeable. Sometimes I want to slap him, but I really do like him. His sister and her family, his parents, his love interests, all play important supporting roles and I care about them all.

There is not much, if any mystery here. There's a lot of criminal mayhem and the main story is a continuation of the events in the last book. The series should definitely be read in order, starting with The Various Haunts of Men. I'm stopping myself from immediately jumping into the next.

I love that this is book #75! My work here is done.

CONGRATULATIONS on reading 75 books, Joanne! I've already got The Various Haunts of Men on my wishlist. Glad the series has continued to be good.

Thanks Pat! Read it, you won't be sorry. :)

Congratulations on reaching 75 books!

Woot! Hooray for you! Book 75!!!

Thank you Anne and Jenn! Just a year or two ago I would never have guessed I could do it.

Kudos!! And how nice to end it with a good book and some complex characters!

Yes, this is one series that has yet to flag *she said, nervously glancing over her shoulder*

Congrats on 75!!!!

I like Susan Hill too. I will have to read that one :)

Congrats Joanne! :)

Joanne- You did it!! Congrats my friend! We've come a long way! Just a few short years ago, we were lucky to read 40 books a year. Yahoo!

Big congratulatory hug to you, Joanne. So many people are reading Susan Hill books that I may have to give her a trial run next year. Isn't it great when you "discover" a new author?

I have friends who 'sort of' like to read but they have trouble finding good books. Now that is a problem almost unheard of here on LT, although I do remember years (and more years) ago pulling books off the shelf at the library and reading a page or two in search of something that appealed to me. I just hope I live long enough to read most of the books on my expanding wishlist!

glitter-graphics.com

75 books!! You did it!

BTW, I'm wondering if the secret to a long life is a long WL... :)

Congrats! And such a good book too!

Congrats Joanne, boy now I really want to get to the Susan Hill.

Suz, Stasia, Kath, Steven, Mark, Donna, Claudia, Jim, and Bonnie -

Thank you all! You all have greatly expanded my reading horizons and I truly appreciate you for it.

I was going to start Major Pettigrew's Last Stand (finally) but got side-tracked by Dog Stories - a nice, sophisticated collection of well, dog stories. And I love books with ribbons. I'll start Pettigrew over the weekend. On audio, I'm (unfortunately) almost done with Nora Ephron's I Remember Nothing. It's been very entertaining.

I do hope you like Major Pettigrew, Joanne! I really loved that book (and the major!)

i have to say that when I hear someone say they can't find any good books, my gut replies, "are you really looking?" Sure, some books are disappointing, but others -- often unexpectedly -- are great discoveries. You just have to keep looking...

I'm giving the first Susan Hill book to my sis-in-law for Xmas, along with The Romeo Flag and Payment Deferred by Joyce Holms. None are new, but all a bit off the beaten track. I'm stumped about what to get my mother, however. I picked up a scarf for her in Paris, but another book is a bad idea (she has about 40 out from the library, and she doesn't read as fast as I do; there's also the problem of where to put them all in her relatively small apartment.) A conundrum...

Congrats, Joanne! I've loved seeing what you have read this year.

>234 Chatterbox: but another book is a bad idea (she has about 40 out from the library, and she doesn't read as fast as I do

Who does??

Hi Joanne

Congratulations!!!

#236, Stasia?? *meekly*

I opted for Under Fishbone Clouds by Sam Meekings, which I have just dipped into myself, but which seems to straddle the line between literary novels and thumping good reads. In other words, it isn't literary, but the writing is v.v. good. (Got an ARC from Amazon Vine.)

Stasia - I think I'll really like it - I've been waiting to read it for a while! Glad to hear you liked it so much. :)

Suz - Lucky sis-in-law!

Amy - Thanks and I'm glad you stopped by!

Bonnie - LOL...one or two people around here come pretty close.

Linda - Thank you!

Suz - Yeah, Stasia was the first person I thought of, too. Glad you found an interesting read. Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error for something to grab me, too.

*tries to imagine not finding a good book*

Impossible, with all the books out there to choose from .

76. I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections by Nora Ephron (audio)

Very similar to I Feel Bad About My Neck, this is a collection of essays on such subjects as aging, sexism, Christmas dinners, inheritances, Lillian Hellman, Lillian Ross, and of course, divorce. My favorite was the story of her mother's encounter with Lillian Ross.

Listening to I Remember Nothing was a little like enjoying a long NPR segment, one of the "driveway moment" ones, that are touching, often humorous, and oh so true.

Contrary to the title and the annoying first few minutes where she recounted things she had purportedly forgotten, Nora Ephron remembers a lot. An entertaining way to spend a few hours and read by the author.

77. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger

A cautionary tale that just takes a few minutes to read; some might find the story intriguing but it just didn’t come together for me. It’s a book about the love of reading, balance, and the search to find one’s own self. Uniquely odd, but also kind of depressing and headshakingly ‘meh’.

Most people who have read it seem to have loved it...I don't get it.

"Uniquely odd, but also kind of depressing and headshakingly ‘meh’."

Joanne, what a great phrase!

Have you read Heartburn by Epron? If not, I recommend it. I loved the movie even more!

Thanks Linda. I have not read Heartburn but I'm pretty sure I saw the movie a long time ago. I should check out the book but maybe I'll just watch the movie again.

The movie is one of my favorites! The combination of Meryl Strep and Jack Nicholson is wonderful!

Sold - I'll have to see if the library has it (and it probably does)! :)

Just waving hello.

Drive-by wave~

Joanne- Sorry, The Night Bookmobile didn't work for you. I agree it's somewhat slight but I heard she's going to add a couple more books to it. I'm listening to the Gail Caldwell memoir. It's so good! I see you are reading Major Pettigrew. I plan on starting that soon. Once again, we love following each other around.

A few minutes to read?? What was the format?

#249: Kath, The Night Bookmobile is a graphic novel. Not your cup of tea, I know.

I enjoyed Ephron's I feel bad about my neck, but not enough to spend real money for another collection. Hopefully I'll end up getting it from the library.

Am I the only one who wasn't swept off my feet by Major Pettigrew? I found it a bit too sweet and too predictable. I can see its appeal, but I couldn't feel it.

251- I liked Major Pettigrew, but I can't say that I LOVED it...

I wasn't impressed with I Feel Bad About My Neck, but I really enjoyed her interview with Charlie Rose, plus I'm divorced, so want to read this one.

Hi Jenn - Hope your toe is feeling better!

Hi Stasia!

Hi Mark - It wasn't the length that bothered me. I did think it was an interesting premise but I didn't like where it went. I'm glad you're enjoying the Caldwell audio!

Hi Suz - The library would be a good idea. It is very similar to I Feel Bad but I enjoyed listening to it anyway.

Hi Angela - I'm about 100 pages in. I like the Major and it's about what I expected.

Hi Bonnie - The two Ephron books are very similar...

I guess I should start a new thread. Off to do that.

New thread is here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/104559#2365075