brenzi's Impossible Dream - There's Always Next Year

This is the ninth thread for 2010 for me, as unbelievable as that seems (to me anyway).

My first thread can be found here.

My second thread can be found here.

My third thread can be found here.

My fourth thread can be foundhere.

My fifth thread can be found here.

My sixth thread can be found here.

The seventh thread can be here.

The eighth thread can be found here.

My 10/10 Challenge is here http://www.librarything.com/topic/79324

"It would be a good thing to buy books if one could also buy the time to read them; but one usually confuses the purchase of books with the acquisition of their contents." Arthur Schopenhauer, 'On Books and Writing' (1851) in A Book Addict's Treasury. (stolen borrowed from bonniebooks' thread)







My Take It or Leave It Challenge for January:

Still Life by Louise Penny
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Take It or Leave It Challenge for February:

The Liars' Club by Mary Karr
Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd
American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell

Take It or Leave It Challenge for April

In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
The Lotus Eaters by Tatiana Soli

Take It or Leave It Challenge for May

Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurierre
The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian
Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gilinder
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod

Take It or Leave It Challenge for June

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
Troubles by J.G. Farrell

Take It Or Leave It Challenge for July

The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Fault Lines by Nancy Huston
Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Take It Or Leave It Challenge for August

Burmese Lessons by Karen Connelly
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
The Long Song by Andrea Levy
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan

Take It Or Leave It Challenge for September

Old School by Tobias Wolff
The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson
The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach

Take It Or Leave It Challenge for October

Trespass by Rose Tremain
All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Siege by Helen Dunmore

Take It or Leave It Challenge for November

The Lost City of Z by David Grann
Middlemarch by George Eliot
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore

Take It Or Leave It Challenge for December

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

Books Read This Year:

64. Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok - 4 stars
63. Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick - North Korea - 4.5 stars
62. Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr - Mexico - 5 stars
61. The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney - Canada - 4 stars
60. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - UK - 5 stars
59. The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore - Russia - 4.5 stars
58. The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West - UK - 4.5 stars
57. O Pioneers! by Willa Cather - 4 stars
56. Middlemarch by George Eliot - UK -5 stars
55. The Lost City of Z by David Grann - Brazil - 4 stars
54. The Siege by Helen Dunmore - Russia - 4.5 stars
53. Dracula by Bram Stoker - UK/Transylvania - 4 stars
52. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren - 4.5 stars
51. Trespass by Rose Tremain - France/UK - 4 stars
50. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach - 4 stars
49. The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas - Australia - 2 stars
48. The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson - 4.5 stars
47. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny - Canada - 5 stars
46. Old School - Tobias Wolff - 4 stars
45. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny - Canada - 4.5 stars
44. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan - 4 stars
43. The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan - 4.5 stars
42. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - UK - 4.5 stars
41. The Long Song by Andrea Levy - Jamaica - 3.5 stars
40. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny - Canada - 4 stars
39. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - UK, US, Belgium 5 stars
38. Burmese Lessons by Karen Connelly - Burma - 3.5 stars
37. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - UK - 4 stars
36. Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels - Poland/Greece/Canada-4stars
35. Fault Lines by Nancy Huston - Germany - 4 stars
34. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters - UK - 4.5 stars
33. Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross - 4 stars
32. The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly - Burma - 4.5 stars
31. Troubles by J.G. Farrell - Ireland - 5 stars
30. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - UK - 4 stars
29. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - UK - 3.5 stars
28. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - Italy - 3.5 stars
27. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman - Italy - 4.5 stars
26. No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod - Canada - 5 stars
25. Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - India - 3 stars
24. Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gilinder - 4 stars
23. The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian - 4 stars
22. Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier - UK - 4.5 stars
21. Chess Story by Stefan Zweig - at sea - 4 stars
20. The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli - Viet Nam - 4 stars
19. Tinkers by Paul Harding - 4 stars
18. The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny - Canada - 4 stars
17. The Plague by Albert Camus - Africa - 4.5 stars
16. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin-Pakistan-4st.
15. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson-Sweden-5 st.
14. The Spare Room by Helen Garner - Australia - 4 stars
13. Dead Cold by Louise Penny - Canada - 4 stars
12. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie - India - 2 stars
11. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Sloot - 4.5 stars
10. American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell - 4.5 stars
9. Even the Dogs by Jon McGregor - UK - .5 stars
8. Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd - UK - 4 stars
7. The Liars' Club by Mary Karr - 4 stars
6. Where the God of Love Hangs Out by Amy Bloom - 4 stars
5. Blame by Michelle Huneven - 3.5 stars
4. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh - India - 4.5 stars
3. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie -Nigeria - 4 stars
2. Still Life by Louise Penny Canada 4 stars
1. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann - 5 stars

CURRENTLY READING



Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

56.



Middlemarch by George Eliot 5 stars

Oh. My. Gawd. Easily my #1 book of the year, this is one more of those books that i say to myself, "What took me so long??" I've spent three weeks completly immersed in this 19th century novel which weighs in at 800 pages but what a read!! From my review:

On a quest to read all the classics that my woefully inadequate public school education failed to provide for, I recently finished, in the words of Virginia Woolf, "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people.” George Eliot’s Middlemarch did not disappoint. WOW!

Described as a novel of provincial life in early 1830s England, Middlemarch is a rich, character-laden, sprawling, epic novel that explores the themes of education, class, self-delusion, and the imperfection of marriage and, most importantly, I think, the changing role of women. At the heart of the novel: marriage, in all its various forms. Because its scope is so grand, Middlemarch presents a real challenge to review. At 800 pages, divided into 8 Books and 87 chapters it almost calls for each Book to be reviewed individually, an impossibility.

Read more over here.

What are you building?

Haha you'll see.

Well, with only one working shoulder, I fear this may take a while. . .

Off to cook dinner. I will see how far you have gotten later :)

Bonnie- Congrats on the New Thread! It's good seeing you up and about. Excellent review of Middlemarch, (you certainly haven't lost your touch). I need to find a copy of this one and try to squeeze it in somewhere next year.
Others have also been showing interest, in reading along with us on Jane Eyre. I wasn't planning on setting up a whole Group Read deal, but I might as well start a thread for it. Starting the 1st?

Hi, Bonnie. What was Stasia referring to "building" for (msg #4)?

>7 msf59: Hi there Mark. Yes try to "squeeze' in an 800 page tome, with microscopic print;-)

As far as Jane Eyre goes whatever everyone wants. I was thinking you were talking about mid-December but Dec. 1 is fine too.

>8 phebj: Hi Pat, Stasia of course was the first one to get here as she is usually on everyone's new thread (if she's online), and I had reserved the first two postings by putting "Under Construction" signs on them while I worked on them, that's all.

I knew I wouldn't have time to reread Middlemarch this month, so I thought I'd just watch the BBC production. It's excellent but 6 hours long. I doubt I'll have time to finish before it's due back at the library.
I've finished only the first 2 hours. You can't say Eliot got bogged down in romance, can you?

Hi Bonnie .. found your new thread. Great review of Middlemarch. I loved it too and have it on my re-read shelf, but haven't yet found the time to do so. Maybe I'll make that my 2011 NY's Resolution

Bonnie, I have time for only one word -- WOW! And, of course, I can take the time to give you a much-deserved thumb. I can't wait to get back to Middlemarch. Have a great Thanksgiving!

I'm way behind, in Book 3 of Middlemarch, but plan to keep plugging away at it! Glad you liked it so much. That encourages me.

>10 Citizenjoyce: Haha Joyce I am watching it as we speak type.

>11 cameling: Hey Caro, this is one I will definitely reread and I don't reread very many books.

>12 Donna828: and 13 Hi there Donna and Roni. I just got to the point at around Book 4 where I couldn't put it down so....

I don't think I'm really meant for group reads. I find it nearly impossible to stick to the prescribed schedule and usually prefer to forge ahead.

Yo ho ho, Bonnie! Got any rum? I drank all of ours...I mean, I mean, used it in the yams! Used it in the yams! *peers fearfully over shoulder looking for The Divine Miss*

Great review of Middlemarch, Bonnie!

Good grief...by the time I find you I'm already behind. Next year is the year I'm definitely going to read a Willa Cather. THanks for the nudge...can't wait for your review.

ducks quickly and slinks away before getting stoned for not reading before now.

>15 richardderus: Hi Richard, Rum?? Oh yes, in the yams. Right.

>16 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia.

>17 tututhefirst: I would be the last one to criticize you for being late to read a classic Tina. I'm playing a big game of catch-up myself :)

>3 brenzi:: Middlemarch is on my list of books to read for exactly the same reason you read it.

A thumbs up from me!

I've been putting off Middlemarch on the grounds that it's too long and I haven't got time to read it. Now I'm going to have to read it anyway, darn it. Grrr.

21- Wow, Caty, I would have guessed that you had read that one already! I'm about halfway through it and it does remind me of a book you'd enjoy...sorry I think...;)

#22 :D I've had it on the wishlist for years, and often passed it by for something (at least a little) shorter. With Bonnie's review and your comments, it's heading right for the top of the wishlist.

Although I still have no idea when I'm going to have time to read it.

Hi Bonnie! Great review. I am a fan of Middlemarch, too. Glad to see you around more. :)

I loved Middlemarch too. Glad you enjoyed it.

I have three top books, Jane Eyre is one of them. Count me in for the group read.

Happy Holiday Bonnie. I hope every day finds you on the sure path to recovery from your surgery.

Just stopped by to say Happy Thanksgiving, Bonnie, and best wishes for speedy recovery.

Happy Thanksgiving from me too, Bonnie.

Yes, Happy, Happy Holiday. How blessed I am by your participation in our group.

Happy Thanksgiving Bonnie... have a great day tomorrow with your loved ones.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Thank you Caro, Linda, Pat, Terri.

>19 TadAD: Tad, I seem to remember you working your way through all the Austen books too.

>20 BookAngel_a: Thanks Angela.

>21 Eat_Read_Knit: Caty, you mean to say this isn't required reading in the UK? Amazing. But you're right about the time element. I would have never been able to read this when I was working. I mean for three weeks I did nothing but read Middlemarch.

>24 Berly: Hi there Kim. Good to see you posting;-)

>25 jmaloney17: Hi Jen; thanks for visiting.

>26 Whisper1: Hi Linda. I'm looking forward to Jane Eyre. Hop you're feeling better.

Have an amazing Thanksgiving, Bonnie!

Happy Thanksgiving, Bonnie!

#31 I wouldn't be surprised if there are some exam boards that include it, but I've not come across it as required reading.

Bonnie- Have a great Thanksgiving!

Thanks Stasia, Roni, Caty and Mark. I'm now totally stuffed and can't move.

57.



O Pioneers! by Willa Cather 4 stars

From my review:

Willa Cather’s poetic novel, O Pioneers! tells two love stories that take place on the Nebraska tableland in the late 1800’s. Feisty, intelligent, independent, bigger-than-life Alexandra Bergson embodies the true frontier woman who could do it all. When her father dies, he leaves the farm for her to run rather than her two older brothers. John Bergson knows that his daughter’s management skills will make the farm successful. When she buys up the properties of other families, who give up on the plains and return to steady jobs in the city, she assures both the future of her family’s interests and the wrath of her brothers. But something is missing in Alexandra’s life that the land cannot fulfill. Her love interest is childhood friend, Carl Linstrum, who has chosen to leave the Nebraska homeland of his Swedish ancestors to look for something that’s missing in his life, only to find that he won’t fulfill his dreams in the city either:

Read more over here.

Hi, Bonnie. I read and thumbed your review. I love Willa Cather and had planned to read this with you for TIOLI but right now I can't find my copy of the book and the clock is ticking! Tomorrow I will have to make a more thorough search. I'm too full tonight.

I love Willa Cather too, so I am glad to see that you enjoyed O Pioneers, Bonnie. Thumbs up!

I've enjoyed reading Cather as well and have this book on my shelves. Great review, Bonnie, can't wait to read it.

Thumbs up! Great quote too!

Thanks Pat, Stasia, Laura and Bonnie.

This was my first Cather (although I may have read My Antonia sometime many years ago). Anywho, I have two more on my shelf that I'll get to next year (maybe...).

I'm glad to hear you had a good Thanksgiving, and very glad you're feeling better. Hurray for beds!

Bonnie- Excellent review of O Pioneers. The only one I have read of hers is My Antonia, which I read several years ago. I'll have to get to more of her work.

58.



The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West 4.5 stars

From my review: Is it better to pine nostalgically for the irretrievable past or to accept the conflicted present? This is the question at the heart of Rebecca West’s brilliant 1918 novel, The Return of the Soldier. Captain Chris Baldry has returned from the Great War suffering from shell-shock and amnesia. He can’t remember anything from the last fifteen years. Therefore, he doesn’t remember his wife, Kitty; nor his cousin Jenny. But he does remember Margaret Allington, a woman he was in love with fifteen years ago, whose appearance suggests she belongs to a much lower class than the others.

Read more over here.

I never heard of The Return of the Soldier until I read your review. Thumbed and wishlisted!

#44: I have that one sitting on my nightstand waiting for me to get to it. I need to bump it up! Thanks for the reminder, Bonnie.

Bonnie
Thumbs up from me for your excellent review of The Return of the Soldier. My notes indicate that Tad recommended this in March of 2009...Looks like I best get to this one soon.

I hope each day finds you pain free.

I've got The Return of the Soldier in the TBR pile: thanks for reminding me why I wanted to read it in the first place, and that I ought to get to it soon. *Thumbs review*

>44 brenzi:: great review Bonnie, thumbed of course. I loved that book too (surprise). And I seem to recall it's a fairly quick read so for those who have it on their nightstand/tbr/black hole etc., there's no excuse!

>42 arubabookwoman: Thanks Deborah. I'm getting there, slowly but surely.

>43 msf59: Hi Mark. And thank you.

>45 phebj: Like so many other books, this one was unknown to me before LT too Pat; funny how that works. I have to credit Tad too.

>46 alcottacre: You're welcome Stasia.

>47 Whisper1: You'll enjoy it Linda. I hope you're continuing to improve too:)

>48 Eat_Read_Knit: Thanks Caty. Get to it:)

>49 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura. Yes it was more like a novella that i read in a few hours.

Lost ya
Found ya

Whew!

I finished watching the BBC Middlemarch series last night, and it was wonderful. I got the same feeling from the quote about Dorothea at the end of the movie that I got from the book. The quote is perfect in its ability to evoke yearning, a sense of unfairness and the realization of truth. Then when I listened to the conversation about the book at the end of the DVD, and it had so many other quotes I realized I have to read the book again. I told a friend of mine when I read it years ago that it had to be the most quotable book ever. Good as the movie is, I missed the writing.

Well you're ahead of me Joyce. I watched the first part of the dvd but with too many distractions. Now the speakers that were connected to the dvd player stopped "speaking." Hubby's trying to figure it out but I know what you mean about the writing. I don't know when I've ever read a book so voraciously. Once the cobwebs cleared and I could concentrate it was the most blissful experience. And I wrote down pages and pages of quotes and notes. Oh yes, I'll be reading this one again for sure.

>51 mckait: Glad to be found Kath.

I have been on quite a roll lately with some really great reads and my present read just continues the streak. If you've read the wonderful The Siege get yourself to a bookstore/library and get The Betrayal which is a continuation of the story after the Siege of Leningrad is over. Oh my, is this book good. Can't-put-down even for a second good. I'll probably finish it up tonight and review it tomorrow.

60 MPH winds here tonight and tomorrow which means there's always the very good possibility that the power will go out. Keeping my fingers crossed.

You might get to start lighting your hanukkah candles early.

>54 brenzi:: I rushed out to buy The Betrayal, then realized I really needed to read The Siege first (loved it), and have yet to read the sequel. Glad to hear you're enjoying it so much, Bonnie.

59.



The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore 4.5 stars

Thanks to Suzanne for sending me this book when I first got out of the hospital. Fabulous read. From my review:

In The Betrayal, Helen Dunmore continues the story she started in her earlier novel, The Siege. The war is over and Anna and Andrei have settled into a fairly normal life in Leningrad. Kolya, Anna’s sixteen year old brother is showing signs of having all the growing pains of any teenager. Finally, after many unsuccessful attempts, Anna is pregnant and she and Andrei are looking forward to the birth of the child they never thought they’d have. Life seems o be going along very smoothly for them. And then catastrophe strikes. Andrei is dragged into a case at the hospital where the son of a very high ranking KGB officer is being treated for cancer.

Read more here.

Great review, Bonnie. I still need to read The Seige. Hopefully, I can get to it in December.

sounds like a good one!

Thumbs-upped that review!

La la la I can't hear you!!! I don't dare read the full review because I want to read the book first. Very glad to see you loved it though!

Hi, Bonnie. I know I've been out of touch when I get so far behind on your thread. Great news that your recovery is still going so well.

I'm glad to hear such wonderful things about The Siege and The Betrayal because Stasia loaned them to me yesterday. They will be set aside for January reading when my head is back on straight again after the holidays.

It makes me happy to see you are a Willa Cather convert. I've loved her books since I read My Antonia years ago. I'm also loving my reread of Middlemarch. For once, I'm glad to be behind in a book because now I'll have some uninterrupted reading time...and I may just forge through to the end like you did. I'm not a very good stop-and-start reader either.

>58 phebj: Pat, I know all about the problem of too many books, not enough time, believe me. But if you have these two books, start reading my friend. There will be no looking back.

>59 mckait: It is Kath.

>60 richardderus: Thanks Richard my friend.

>61 lauralkeet: Oh I know that feeling Laura. I've been following you enough times.

>62 Donna828: Hi there Donna. I know you've been busy with your holiday company and that's a pretty darn good reason to fall behind on your reading. I've got My Antonia (which I think I read many, many years ago) and will hopefully get to it soon sometime. Also, The Professor's House.

Yes, Middlemarch. I'm not very good at group reads. So what am I doing reading Jane Eyre in a group???

Well, it doesn't look like you need it, but I thumbed your review of Rebecca West's book, because even though I'm sure I'm not going to like The Return of the Soldier as much as you did, you still made me want to read it!

Well you never like anything as much as I do Sis ;-) But it's a short read (74 pp.) so it's not like you'd invest a lot of time in it. Thanks for the thumb.

May I suggest two more Cathers for your delectation? A story collection, which I loved the title of and was pleased that I even liked the stories in, called Youth and the Bright Medusa; and the superb, superb Death Comes for the Archbishop...on my life list of peak reading experiences.

You have been doing some ambitious and exciting reading. I'm jealous...

>66 richardderus: Thank you Richard. I do have Death Comes for the Archbishop on my wishlist but I haven't picked it up yet. The other one I've never heard of though. Thanks.

>67 nancyewhite: Well Nancy, I have a bit of time on my hands right now so i'm getting to some wonderful books that I never would have considered in the past. Good to "see" you.

I know I sound like a broken record, but another fine review, my friend! You don't need my measly thumb, but I gave it to you anyway. I have The Siege at hand, now I need to add this one too!
How are enjoying Jane Eyre? I read the first 50 pages and I'm loving it. Just like, Pride and Prejudice, it's amazing how accessible it is!

>69 msf59:: Mark, I read somewhere that you were approaching Jane Eyre with trepidation and I thought, "just dive right in, it's wonderful!" but didn't leave a comment. I'm so glad you're liking it !

Just catching up... how nice to be able to catch up even a little on your reading.
I am pretty sure though .. with the way things go around here, that you will have a teetering TBR again soon :)

Laura- I was just kidding about it being my first time! It grabbed me pretty quickly.

>69 msf59: Thanks Mark. Yes I am loving Jane Eyre and I just have to wonder, after enjoying these 19th century novels as much as I do, if I was born in the wrong century. LOL

>71 mckait: I don't think I have to worry about my TBR pile disappearing any time soon, that is, unless some of the people around here quit raving about the books they're reading ;-)

Loved Jane Eyre, loved Pride and Prejudice and loved Death Comes to the Archbishop! Whoohoo!

Dear Bonnie,

I apparently lost your thread(s) for at least 74 posts. No way to catch up...:( I love Willa Cather but haven't read her in a while. I loved Jane Eyre when I read it in HS. Somewhere around here is a paper I did about Jane and Feminism. It would be entertaining to read (well, for me anyway). And you are actually tempting me to read Middlemarch. You are very persuasive!

eta: So, how's the weather by you? Getting any snow? :)

Bonnie, nice review of The Betrayal! I loved both of the Dunmore books.

73 very true.. lol

>74 Berly: Hey there Berly, good to see you posting.

>76 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia. Me too!

>75 Copperskye: I'm glad you think I'm persuasive Joanne. You wouldn't regret Middlemarch. You'd probably love it. Now to get to your other question:

So, how's the weather by you? Getting any snow?

You're kidding right?? Did you see the news yesterday? We've got snow up the yazoo but we've had more snow than this. Much more. No what makes this snow event a little different is that Wednesday night at around 10:00 p.m. a semi jackknifed on the 90, also known as the NYS Thruway, a road that you have to use to get in or out of Buffalo, no matter where you live. So instead of closing off the ramps leading to this mess, the powers that be decided that they'd just let the cars pile up one behind the other. At the same time the snow is furiously flying, the plows can't through because ...oh yeah....now there's gridlock. Nothing can move. Look back at what time I said this started and listen to this.....they finally cleared out the ten miles of cars at 6:00a.m. this morning. That's right, well over 24 hours later these people finally got freed from this mess. No food, water, bathroom facilities.

Last night on the news they interviewed someone from the NYS Thruway Authority who actually sad, " We will get a task force together to see how we could have done a better job."

I'm speechless. This is not the first (and I doubt the last) time people have been stranded on this highway. My sister was trapped twice as are most people who work downtown. This was different as it happened late and not at rush hour. Unfortunately, a concert with about 10,000 people had just gotten out and of course 90% of those people were funneled into that mess.

So yes Joanne, we have some snow:)

I saw that on the news, Bonnie. Terrible! I can't imagine being in a freezing car all night. Did everyone survive?

I heard it too. Nasty, and how could they not have closed the entrance ramps???

Years ago, on Long Island, my father was driving home (he usually took the train) and got caught in a terrible storm that stopped traffic in northern Nassau County. It's a pretty densely populated suburban area, and people who lived near the road came down the slopes with soup and coffee and blankets and in general made it a bearable experience.

Bonnie, I also saw that on the news. Seems unforgiveable considering it's happened before. I can't even imagine being trapped that long. The traffic jam from hell!

Yes, Bonnie, I was kidding. I saw the weather and highway mess on the news and immediately thought of you. Glad you weren't stuck but all those other people - yikes!

Bonnie- Sorry to hear about the snowstorm mess. It will help humble me over the weekend, as we deal with a couple inches. Good luck!

>79 bonniebooks: Yes Bonnie fortunately everyone survived but some people had to be taken to the hospital (on a snowmobile) because of chest pains, or being w/o their medication for too long, that sort of thing.

>80 ffortsa: and people who lived near the road came down the slopes with soup and coffee and blankets and in general made it a bearable experience.

People did do that too Judy, but when yu have 10 miles of cars that's a lot of soup!

>81 phebj: The traffic jam from hell!
Exactly Pat.

>82 Copperskye: Good description joanne, YIKES!

>83 msf59: Yeah try to trudge through those cuople of inches Mark LOL.

I'm so excited that I just have to share this with someone and who better than my LT friends. Yesterday we got a phone call from my daughter Sara's boyfriend Kevin saying that he'd like to stop by after work today to have a serious talk with us. Hmmmm, what's this about? Anyway, he arrived at around 5:00 and after chit chatting for an hour he said,"Well you're probably wondering why I'm here by myself. I wanted to tell you that I love your daughter very much and want to spend the rest of my life with her. She's kind and caring and intelligent and beautiful and I hope you will give me your blessing because I want to ask her to marry me."

Sob, sniffle, blubber, gasp,.....yes, I was sobbing uncontrollably. Hubby was grinning. Finally, I just hugged Kevin. It was just the sweetest thing in the world. I didn't think guys still did that. And they're really adults not kids (she's 28 and he's 30). I guess it was just so emotional and wonderful to hear this really nice guy say all the things that her father and I already know about her How wonderful to know that she's got someone who will appreciate all she has to offer. **sigh**

They're leaving on Tuesday to go skiing in Vail for a week and he's going to give her the ring while they're on the ski lift, somewhere near the top. How romantic is that?

The bad thing is that I have to wait until Dec. 15 to see the ring. I'm not sure how I'll manage that.

Guess what I'll be doing from now until next October?? And I'm not talking about reading my friends :)

Oh, Bonnie. That's wonderful; and I'm teary too! You'll have to start a wedding thread on LT to keep us apprised of all the plans. :)

#85: What a lovely story, Bonnie. And what a lovely gift Kevin has given to you and your husband!

Oooh, exciting! And a great story! It's the real gentlemen who still do that :)

I thought that only happened in the movies. Sniff, sniff. Congratulations to you and your family.

How sweet Bonnie! And now you gain a son and a good one at that. :)

Congratulations to all!

Aw, that's wonderful, Bonnie. Congratulations!

Bonnie- Great news about Sara! Congrats and don't forget about reading with your friends! :-}

What a great story! I'm happy for all of y'all that people so right for each other are all in the same family.

*sigh* So lovely an image.

oh my! What wonderful news.. I am so happy for all of you !

:)

Oh, Bonnie, how romantic! Such great news! He sounds like a great young man who will make your daughter happy.

I heard about the snowy traffic jam from hell on the news, and thought of you. Glad you weren't in it!

73 after enjoying these 19th century novels as much as I do, if I was born in the wrong century. LOL
I wonder that sometimes, too. Then I see how unfairly women (and other groups) were treated in those days . . .

75 Somewhere around here is a paper I did about Jane and Feminism.
I did one of those, too, in college. English 102. Professor did not "get" it at all. He thought feminism was women burning their bras and asking for better pay. Bronte's feminism was too subtle for him, and I failed to convince. *sigh*

What a great guy! I'm so excited for you all!

>85 brenzi:: Bonnie, it sounds like you've got a real winner for a future son-in-law. Sara and Kevin are going to have some wonderful memories of Vail. So did he invite you and hubby to go along? ;-)

How on earth are you going to concentrate on reading with wedding plans going on? That is such an exciting time -- although I'm very glad all three of my kids are married now. Wait until grandkids start coming along. Maybe your son and DIL will want to have a chat with Mom and Pop Renzi before long!

>86 phebj: A wedding thread? I'm afraid i can't maintain another thread Pat.

>87 alcottacre: Thank you Stasia.

>88 dk_phoenix: Oh that's good to know Faith.

>89 Citizenjoyce: Thanks Joyce.

>90 Copperskye: Thanks Joanne.

>91 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura.

>92 msf59: Don't worry Mark.

>93 richardderus: Thanks Richard.

>94 mckait: Thanks Kath.

>95 tymfos: You're so right about the traetment of women Terri; better to view them from afar LOL.

>96 ronincats: Thanks Roni

>97 Donna828: Surprisingly Donna, no, we haven't been invited to tag along. I know, go figure.

Bonnie

What a wonderful story! I'm very happy for you and your family. It sounds like your future son-in law is a keeper!

This is an incredible way to begin the holiday. I hope you are feeling on the mend.

Bonnie, how wonderfully sweet and romantic! Such wonderful wonderful news. your daughter is going to remember that day for the rest of her life. Bravo, Kevin.

>99 Whisper1: I know Linda. I can't get it out of my mind.

>100 London_StJ: Thanks Luxx. Yes I think she will be duly impressed.

How exciting and so sweet, Bonnie! I started tearing up too! And will admit to being totally jealous! ;-)

It is so wonderful when we get a new family member that we are GLAD to have:)

Awww....what a great guy! (We already know she's great!) Congratulations to your whole family. :)

Great story! Must admit that I'm pretty sure that I would always want to know before my parents, but at the same time, it certainly speaks well of the level of thoughtfulness and consideration of your future son-in-law! Let's just hope your daughter doesn't follow your thread here... :-)

Glad you enjoyed The Betrayal. The two books are quite different, but I found them equally rewarding, and must now set out to discover more Dunmore.

Read Middlemarch when the BBC series was first on TV. Must make an effort to re-read it and read some more Eliot. Amazingly, have read very little; I have Daniel Deronda and Romola sitting here, also. Silas Marner is on the Kindle.

My husband didn't realize that tradition says he should ask my father first. He proposed, I accepted, and we called them on the phone to break the news...

My parents were on speakerphone. I heard my dad say in the background, "Hey! You were supposed to ask me for permission first!"

Mike said, "Well...can I have it??" Knowing that my dad was just trying to give Mike a hard time made it quite entertaining.

>102 bonniebooks: Jealous? Really? Well no need to be, my friend.

>103 mckait: Yes Kath much better than getting someone you don't like LOL.

>104 BookAngel_a: Thank you Angela.

>105 Chatterbox: Yes I loved both of Dunmore's books and am looking for A Spell of Winter her Orange prize winning novel to read next. Middlemarch was just such an unexpected treat. Daniel Deronda sounds like a good follow-up.

>106 BookAngel_a: Yes my hubby loves to give kevin a hard time and I was surprised when he didn't:)

As posted on another thread, BBC4 is reading an abridged version of The Betrayal on Book At Bedtime starting tonight. Just from the first 15 minutes I not only want to read the book, I want to read The Siege too http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wdflk

How romantic you son-in-law to be is! Congratulations--almost nothing is more satisfying than seeing your kids in a happy marriage.

>108 Citizenjoyce:: I am eagerly waiting for the quiet of the post-holiday season to read both The Siege and The Betrayal which I have on loan from a special somebody. Oh, not Bonnie, although she is very special, too!

I am practicing delayed gratification with books so that I can apply it to other good things in life. I really don't need that new car this next year.

Love is still in the air around here. When do the lovebirds get back from Vail?

>108 Citizenjoyce: Yes Joyce read them in order.

>109 arubabookwoman: Oh I so agree with you Deborah. We've been lucky.

>110 Donna828: Donna we just took them to the airport yesterday and they won't be back until next Wednesday, Dec. 15!!! And of course I can't even tell anyone (except you guys) because anyone I would tell I'm sure she would want to tell herself. Oh God a week on pins and needles. **sigh**

#111: Oh God a week on pins and needles. **sigh**

The good news is that you can work out your pins and needles on us, Bonnie. We are pretty good listeners :)

</b>

Wow, what a rave! Charlotte's publicist must be doing the graveyard happy dance! Thumbs-upped you, dear Bonnie, and thanks for being so excited that you even got *me* interested!

>113 brenzi: what a great review of a great book. I totally agree with you - one of the towering classics, with all the goodies anyone could want. Thumbs up indeed.

I've just recently finished Wide Sargasso Sea, which is a very effective novel, but pales in comparison to the source.

Bonnie- I'm finishing mine today, so I'll swing back by here and read your complete review later. I love your enthusiasm for it, I'll probably be giving it the full boat too! I'm so glad we were able to knock it out together.

Graveyard happy dance? Would that involve (shudders) zombies??

Bonnie- I came back as promised! Excellent review on Jane Eyre. You got da thumb!
It was a terrific novel, worthy of the hype. I think the relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester is one of the best in literary history.

Wow, loved your review of Jane Eyre, Bonnie, and a thumb from me. I'm still plugging along with Middlemarch; probably wasn't the best plan to read it with so much else I needed to read at the same time. Jane Eyre is going on the WL. I want to read it soon!

Great review of a great book, Bonnie! Jane Eyre is one of my all-time favorites and has been for more years than I care to remember :)

>114 richardderus: Wow! I even got you interested Richard?

>115 ffortsa: I have Wide Sargasso Sea Judy but I'll probably let some time pass before I attempt it.

>116 msf59: and 118 So you settled it Mark; it's a guy book;-)

>119 phebj: It sounds like you took on an awful lot at once Pat. Middlemarch is a life unto itself, but what a life.

>120 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia.

So glad you enjoyed Jane Eyre, Bonnie. I will reread it some day. Have you seen the movie with Joan Fontaine and Orson Wells?

Oh and I loved your review!

I just finished Jane last night--a great re-read. I always forget the richness of the prose and the details of her thought that make this book such a standout.

>119 phebj: Pat, I need to get back to Middlemarch as well--I put it on standby to join the Jane Eyre and The Eyre Affair group reads.

Roni, glad I'm not alone in having to put Middlemarch aside for other reads.

I'm so glad you loved Jane Eyre!

I cannot, just cannot drop everything to read Jane Eyre right now. I really can't .
Evil taunting not withstanding.. I have got other newer books that must be read first.

oh dear.

Bonnie - I lost track of your thread for a few days so congratulations on the news, that's wonderful.
You've been reading some great books lately and they are all on my tbr pile. Like Donna, I'll be reading The Siege and The Betrayal in the New Year.
That's a great review of Jane Eyre, I reread it a couple of year's ago and loved it all over again.

Bonnie

I hope you are well on the road to recovery. Your review of Jane Eyre is incredible! Thumbs up from me...I think I'm number 15!

Kath, please do read the book. I have three all-time favorite books that remain in this category since the day I've read them. Jane Eyre is at the top.

I used to read it again and again every year, each time finding another insight.

I'm going to read Jane Eyre in mid-December with the daughter of a friend.

>122 Copperskye: Thanks Joanne. No i haven't seen any of the JE movies.

>123 ronincats: Yes Roni the richness of the prose was stunning. I just loved it.

>124 phebj: Once I got going Pat, there was no way I could set Middlemarch aside. **sigh**

>125 BookAngel_a: Thanks Angela.

>126 mckait: C'mon Kath, you know you want to;-)

>127 avatiakh: Thanks Kerry, good to see you. I think you'll love The Siege and The Betrayal.

>128 Whisper1: I'm doing great Linda. Jane Eyre is at the top of my all-time favorite list too.

>129 bonniebooks: Very good Bonnie.

Wedding news!!

Well Kevin popped the question high in the Rocky Mountains on Friday night. Gah!! Now we have a date---October 22, 2011. Seems like a long way off but in "wedding time" it's barely enough to get everything done. They called the church from Vail to get the date. Soooo.....

Now I have to hope their flight on Wednesday isn't delayed so that I can see the "rock" on Wednesday night. Bad weather everywhere so I don't know about that. Fingers crossed.

So exciting, Bonnie! Is this your first wedding? Lazy me, I think I like being the mother of boys in this case.

Great news! I suppose we don't have to wonder too hard what her answer was...but wow, that's a tight wedding schedule. Get your roller skates on!

You could always offer them money to elope. Less stress that way. :)

I have actually read Jane Eyre, I believe.. way back in the distant past..
I really do want to do a reread though.. and will soon. I have it on the shelf I am pretty sure :)

Congrats on the wedding plan! Hooray!

My 2 married kids did destination weddings..
I am okay with how it played out, but they were living with their
spouse for some time before making it legal. No fanfare.. but a nice
reception after each time. That was good.

That's great news Bonnie. Must be a relief not to have to keep it a secret anymore! :)

>132 bonniebooks: No not my first. My son got married in 2004 but this will be very different because well, it's my daughter. With my son i had absolutely nothing to do but show up and wear beige. This time I will actually be consulted about many things. I can't wait to start looking at wedding dresses in January :)

>133 richardderus: No question Richard; roller skates will be purchased soon:)

>134 drneutron: Less stress, true, but I think I'll take my chances with the fun.

>135 mckait: Destination weddings are always fun. They have lived together for three years so there's no surprises in store for anyone.

>136 phebj: Well that's true Pat but she still wants to deliver the news herself to most people. Now if I were working, I could tell the people at work but since I'm still home.....

Congrats Sara and Kevin! Good luck with wedding planning, Bonnie!

We got engaged in September and married in March - it was definitely do-able. You'll be busy but it will all get done...have fun!

In the unlikely event that I ever opt for matrimony, it's elopement all the way.

But you'll have fun! At least, when you look back on it, it will look like fun... :-)

Shopping for the perfect wedding dress is a wonderful mother-daughter time. I remember flying in from CO to "help" my daughter, and she ended up choosing the first dress we looked at! Oh well. It was beautiful and left us a no-stress afternoon for a leisurely lunch and long talk about wedding plans.

141- My mom went with me, and I chose the first dress I tried on too! :)

#142: I was the same way. Of course, my hatred for shopping in any form (except for books) could have had a lot to do with it too.

61.



The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney 4 stars

Thanks to Joanne for recommending this book way back in January. From my review:

Stef Penney dug deep into the history of Canada’s far North to write a debut mystery that had me turning pages well into the night. It’s 1867 and there’s been a murder in the small settlement of Dove River near Canada’s Georgian Bay. The victim is a local trapper who lives alone and has no family. Someone was seen leaving the premises late one night and heading north into the deep forest and tundra. Coincidentally, a seventeen year old boy, Francis Ross, goes missing at the same time. Is there a connection? Who is the murderer and what reason could anyone have for killing the trapper?

Read more over here.

Nice review Bonnie.....Reading your review reminded me of how frightening and beautiful Penney made the Canadian wilderness. A character all it's own.

I agree with some of the unresolved story lines but that surely does not take away from this possible series or sequel if Penney chooses to do so......

Bonnie- I've had The Tenderness of Wolves in the stacks forever! I'm so glad you liked it. I started Fingersmith. Boy, it grabbed me right away!

HAH! where were y'all when I was reading Fingersmith, huh?????!
sniff

Nice review !!!

How are you feeling these days? ARE you back at work? Have you answered these things and I have missed them? If so, I apologize :P

>145 curlysue: A sequel? Really? That would be interesting.

>146 msf59: Get it out of the stacks Mark.

>147 mckait: Kath, I am feeling great. Not back to work yet; actually my doctor gave me a slip with a return to work date of Feb. 2 which looks pretty good to me.

Thumbs-upped that review, Bonnie, very nicely done. Makes me want to read about cold, snowy things on a cold, snowy day...that's good reviewing!

2/2 !!!! WOOT! Well Done Bonnie .. Enjoy!

Thank you very much Richard. Cold for the cold goes pretty well since you've already got the heat turned up.

>150 mckait: :)

I'm in. Looks like a good one!

I'm so glad you liked it Bonnie! Excellent review - it brought the story right back to me. I read it in January and thought it perfect for a cold winter. I would love to see Penney (another Penn(e)y author!) revisit these characters.

Thumbed it! Not surprisingly, I had very similar thoughts when I read that book.

I already have The Tenderness of Wolves in the BlackHole. I hope I can get my hands on it soon. Terrific review, Bonnie!

Stasia- Find a copy, maybe we can read it together! Gives me an excuse!

#157: I have to wait until the book buying ban is over, but come January I am in, Mark!

>153 drneutron: Go for it Jim:)

>154 Copperskye: Thanks Joanne. I know she's working on another novel but I'm not sure if it's a sequel or not.

>155 lauralkeet: I had very similar thoughts when I read that book

Of course you did, Laura ;-)

>156 alcottacre:, 157, 158 A mini GR; there you go. Knowing Mark, a few other people are bound to jump on board;-)

Hi Bonnie!
Got room for another LT friend? I can't begin to read all your 2010 threads, but will be around now that I have you starred!
I know. I've been missing a lot here... and I don't add new threads lightly!
* heavy, happy sigh! *

Welcome Claudia, glad to have you here. I know what you mean because I am currently totally overwhelmed by threads and finding it very difficult to keep up.

Keep up *hollow laugh* keep up *eyetwitch*

I think 2011 is the year I let that chimera recede in the rear-view mirror.

>162 richardderus: Arrghhgghac!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Bonnie. Great review of The Tenderness of Wolves. I saw it in the bookstore the other day but decided to wait for your review. I think it would be a great book to read in the winter and I'm in for an LT group read of it!

Thanks Pat. Yes read it when there's snow on the ground.

I gave both my daughter and my daughter-in-law The Tenderness of Wolves for Christmas last year and got one for myself. Of course, I lost mine before I could read it. Maybe I can scavenge.

I wouldn't be able to set-up a Group Read of The Tenderness of Wolves, due to other literary commitments. I have a Group Read of Cloud Atlas coming up mid-Jan. Although I might try squeezing it in, after the 1st. Can you find a copy, Pat?

I'm planning to do the GR of Cloud Atlas with you Mark. My library has The Tenderness of Wolves so I should also be able to squeeze it in just after the 1st too. Maybe me, you and Stasia can do a mini GR then?

62.



Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr

I reread this book for Suzanne's TIOLI Challenge to read a sentimental favorite and try to convince others to pick it up. I hope my review can entice some of you to read this little gem.

From my review:

Harriet Doerr finished her degree from Stanford at the age of 67 and received The National Book Award for her novel "Stones for Ibarra” in 1984 at the age of 73; talk about your late bloomer. From what I can gather, she did everything very deliberately and with painstaking effort. It’s said that when writing, she wrote little more than a sentence a day, meticulously crafting each sentence with the utmost care. And when reading her novel one can’t help seeing the result of her precision. If you enjoy wallowing in the trough of graceful, poetic prose, have I got a book for you. Listed among other worthy novels on the “100 Great American Novels You’ve (Probably) Never Read,” I first read and fell in love with this book twenty years ago and wanted to see how it held up. Not to worry; still spectacular

Read more here.

Bonnie- Excellent review! I had heard of Stones, but did not recall the story.

>169 brenzi: Bonnie, thumbs-upped you for that one...isn't it frustrating when Harriet Doerr produces three books and James Patterson 502757680346?

ditto the keeping up issue :(

#62, Are you saying there's hope for me yet. What a lovely idea to accomplish something like that book later in life.

>170 msf59: Hi Mark, thanks so much.

>171 richardderus: Hahahah oh you are so right Richard. I was having dinner with some friends the other night and one, a non-reader, said she would read a book if someone would give her one and tell her it was a good book, like maybe something by James Patterson. I almost choked on my chicken wing soup.

>172 mckait: It wasn't bad enough but then Jim went and put up the 2011 75 thereby doubling the number of threads.....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Bonnie, great review of Stones for Ibarra. I will have to read it after that recommendation!

Great review of Stones for Ibarra. That is one I have fond feelings for too.

I can't believe if! 176 posts into this thread and I just found you! But I sought you out because I wanted to commend you on your review of Stones for Ibarra. Well done, your inclusion of Doer's writing habits made is all the more interesting. I have read Stones as well as Consider This, Senora about 15 years ago and I loved them both. She really captures Mexico as I know it. I also own her collection of short stories but I have not read it as yet. Just waiting for the right time, I suppose.

#168: That sounds like a plan, Pat. I ordered a copy of The Tenderness of Wolves through PBS, so hopefully will have it in soon.

#169: That one has only been on one of my TBR mountains forever! I own it and maybe now I will actually read it! Great review, Bonnie.

I know... utter craziness. If I didn't like Jim so much, I would hate him for it.

Like Lynda (#177), I own all of Doerr's books. I had forgotten the storyline of Stones for Ibarra, but knew I must have liked it because I kept my copy - and added the two others that I haven't read yet!

I'm also a fan of Tenderness of Wolves. It makes me cold just thinking about it! Well, that and thinking about you and all the snow and cold you've had already. Just think, it will be winter in a few days. ;-)

>173 Citizenjoyce: Are you saying you're an aspiring author Joyce? Then yes, there certainly is hope for you. Maybe you too have some unearthed talent like Doerr.

>175 phebj: There you go Pat.

>176 arubabookwoman: Thanks Deborah.

>177 Carmenere: Thank you Lynda. I'm going to try her short stories soon.

>178 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia. Isn't it funny how we buy these books with every intention of reading them, then get side-tracked by other seemingly more worthy books, and then 20 years later finally get nudged to dig them out?

>179 mckait: Hahaha. Yes I feel the same way Kath.

>180 Donna828: As you can imagine Donna, I can't wait for winter to begin.

Hi Bonnie, just came in to say hello.

I saw that you are reading a book about North Korea, is it worthwhile?

Hi Paul, great to see you here. I'm only 50 pages in but it is good so far. Several other 75ers read it and thought it was very worthwhile.

Well on Wednesday night the lovebirds returned from paradise and I finally got to see "the rock" and I do mean rock. **sigh** They're so happy. Donna gave me directions on how to put pics on the thread so let's see if I can figure this out.

Yay Donna it worked. Don't they look happy? Notice how Sara is holding the glass with her left hand? Haha.

Here's another from the slopes.

What a good looking couple! They look so happy -- but why didn't they go to the beach to get out of the snow and cold weather???

Bonnie, I look forward to going through wedding preparations with you. I hope you'll keep us up to speed. And now you can post lots and lots of pictures. Good job.

Gorgeous couple, Bonnie !!

Your daughter's a real beauty, Bonnie. And your future son-in-law isn't too bad either.

I'm also looking forward to the vicarious wedding plans. What could be happier than a wedding to look forward to.

Thanks for posting the pictures!

Great pictures, Bonnie!

Beautiful!

Beautiful pictures. Best wishes to the bride and groom to be.

Great pictures of a lovely couple!

Thanks everyone. It's an exciting time here at our house.

>186 Donna828: - but why didn't they go to the beach to get out of the snow and cold weather???

Donna, they're skiiers, they ski in the Rockies every year. Also in Vermont and one year in Austria!! They look forward to winter and ski a couple times a week all winter long.

Great pix, Bonnie. You learn well.

Thanks for sharing the pictures, Bonnie! What a great looking couple.

A great looking--and, more importantly, happy--couple! I can feel your happiness, Bonnie. It will be loads of fun to experience it all vicariously.

Bonnie- What a beautiful couple! Thanks for sharing!

Beautiful and happy - you can't ask for much more than that! Great pictures, Bonnie.

It's is obvious bythe smile that your lovely daughter is enjoying wedded bliss. May they ski their way into a life of happiness

A lovely daughter, a nice couple. Thanks for sharing

Thank you so much everyone. We're so happy for them. Let the manic planning begin: Happy couple, check. Church; check. Reception venue?? Photographer?? Flowers?? Cake?? Guest lists?? Attendants?? Shower?? Invitations?? Gah!!!!! And the panic sets in....

Beautiful pictures, Bonnie: thanks for posting them. Your daughter and her fiancé look so happy.

Don't get bogged down, Bonnie. There is live after marriage. My daughter married in October. Everything went well, despite the frantic in advance and the few hickups all the way through.

#199 oops, I jumped the gun. That's what happens when you miss an entire thread and try to blend in then scroll back up to read the messages.

What wonderful photos! They both look so happy.

And, thumbs up from me for another great review. I will read The Tenderness of Wolves in 2011.

Happy Holidays to you!!!

Congrats and best wishes to your daughter! What a lovely couple! And October weddings are the BEST!!!

The Tenderness of Wolves sounds marvelous! Great review! I'm off to check the online library catalog . . .

Thanks for the pictures - they ARE a very handsome couple!

Stopping by to say Hi Bonnie!! Thanks for sharing the pictures!! I love seeing pictures!! Congratulations to your daughter!!

I thumbed your review of Stones for Ibarra and added it to my wishlist.

Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!!!

Beautiful couple indeed! Ooo, think of the potential grandchildren...

Thank you once again everyone. I'm so gald you all had time to visit at this absolutely crazy time of year.

>203 paulstalder: Thanks for the words of encouragement Paul :)

>204 Carmenere: I know exactly what you mean Lynda.

>205 Whisper1: I think you'll enjoy it Linda.

>206 tymfos: Hmmm, I wonder when you got married Terri ;-)

>207 BookAngel_a: Thanks Angela.

>208 tjblue: Thanks Tammy, and Merry Christmas to you too. I think you'll enjoy Stones for Ibarra

>209 London_StJ: Ooo yes think of them. Wouldn't that be wonderful:)

Linda & Terri- A couple of us, are reading The Tenderness of Wolves the first week in January, if you'd like to join us.

Hi Bonnie,
Your daughter and fiance have that same happy glow I used to see when couples came in the town office for their wedding licenses. It's a beautiful thing!
Try to enjoy the planning - especially the wedding gown purchase, if you can. My daughter tried on several wedding gowns and each one was more beautiful than the one before... (my eyes kept leaking!)

>212 -Cee-: my eyes kept leaking!

Oh yes Claudia, I fully expect that will happen. Tears of joy and all that.

Your daughter and future son-in-law look so happy and in love.... good luck managing the stress of planning the wedding. ;-)

My awwwwwwwww circuits melted. Beautiful, happy smiles! So so so glad for you all!

212- That made me laugh...when my future hubby and I went into the courthouse to apply for a marriage license we got lost and couldn't find the right office. Everyone knew EXACTLY what we were there for without asking, lol! "You're here to apply for a marriage license, aren't you?" There must be special glow about engaged couples...

Merry Christmas Bonnie!!

Bonnie - Just stopping by to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Bonnie!

Very merry! :-*

Merry Christmas, Bonnie!


glitter-graphics.com

Happy Christmas, Bonnie!

Merry Christmas Bonnie!

Merry Christmas Bonnie! Hope you have a great day!

Hope you're having a great Christmas, Bonnie!

Merry Christmas, Bonnie!

Thanks for all the Christmas messages everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful day too.

The North Korea book looks fascinating. thanks for the great review!

63.



Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick 4.5 stars

From my review:

If you're like me, you see the title of a book about North Korea that reads "Nothing to Envy" and you think, "I'll say. Their lives really are nothing to envy." After all, these are people who spent the years 1989-1994 in a state of starvation while at the same time idolizing their leader Kim Il-Sung, whose policies brought the situation about. But if that's what you think is meant by the title, you'd be wrong. The laugh would be on you because "Nothing to Envy" is taken from the title of an anthem that every North Korean kindergarten student leans by heart:

"Our father, we have nothing to envy in the world.
Our house is within the embrace of the Worker's Party.
We are all brothers and sisters.
Even if a sea of fire comes toward us, sweet children do not need to be afraid,
Our father is here.
We have nothing to envy in the world."

Read more over here.

>228 GCPLreader: Thanks Jenny.

#229: Nice review, Bonnie!

Thanks Stasia.

Happy St. Stephen's Day! Or Boxing Day! Whichever you prefer, Bonnie, may it be a happy, happy occasion!

OMG I totally forgot about St. Stephen's Day, Richard. As far as boxing goes, I haven't done that since my college days ;-)

Bonnie, I thumbed your review of Nothing to Envy yesterday but forgot to come back and tell you how much I liked it. Another book I want to read because of your reviews!

Hope you had a great Christmas, Bonnie!

>235 phebj: Thank you Pat. It's a chilling read, but one I think you'll appreciate it.

>236 ronincats: It was wonderful Roni and I hope yours was too.

Merry Christmas - a bit belated.
And thanks for the review of 'Nothing to envy'. I'll try to get to it.

Thumbed the review.. good one Bonnie!
Hope you are still enjoying the season :)

Hi everyone and Christmas greetings to anyone I missed. I'm really behind on all the threads because I've had my son home from North Carolina and we've just been so caught up with visiting and hosting family and friends; a couple more days and I can possibly try to catch up. Cheers everyone!

Hi Bonnie, glad to hear you're having a wonderful visit with your son and other family and friends.

When you get a chance to catch up, I'd be curious to hear if you had the sense that some of the defectors interviewed may have exaggerated some of their experiences in North Korea before they left.

Enjoy your time with family and friends, Bonnie.

I just got a copy of The Tenderness of Wolves and am looking forward to starting off the new year with it thanks to your recommendation.

Hi Bonnie! Stopping to send you and your family Best Wishes for the New Year!!

64.



Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok 4 stars

Thank you Joanne for sending me this book, which I did enjoy. It is a nice, coming of age, immigrant story that did not require me to think too much, which was great for this time of year.

For the first time this year, I'm not going to review a book because, well, I just don't feel like it. There, I said it. I have no obligation to this author and so there you go. As you can see from the number, I am not going to make 75 books, but that's OK as I did some terrific reading this year.

Here are my top reads for 2010:

All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Troubles by J.G. Farrell
No Great Mischief by Aliatair McLean
The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachmann
The Plague by Albert Camus
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
Let the Great World Spin by Collum McCann
The Siege by Helen Dunmore
Middlemarch by George Eliot
The Betrayal - By Helen Dunmore
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives In North Korea - Barbara Demick

Way more than 10 I guess. So somewhere between here and my 2011 thread I'll try to hone this list down. Hahahahahaha.

Way more than 10, but a really great list! The ones I've read, I've loved (no surprise there, huh) ... so that means the ones I haven't read should go on my wishlist !!

Happy New Year Bonnie!

"The ones I've read, I've loved ... so that means the ones I haven't read should go on my wishlist !! "

Mee too! Several are on my wishlist... and moving on up! Great list Bonnie!

I've gotta try to get a plan for 2011. Now that I might have a little time to myself, I just might do that. :)

I recognized all the titles on your Best of 2010 list, Bonnie. Probably because I wishlist everything you favorably review! Unfortunately, I've only read American Salvage, The Worst Hard Time and Middlemarch. I need to do something about that.

Bonnie- Actually I have a copy of Girl in Translation. Maybe I'll get to it sometime next year. I love your "Top Reads List".
I have The Worst Hard Time on audio. We are doing a G.R. of Cloud Atlas in a couple weeks and I have a copy of The Siege. You know I love keeping up with you!
I see you are starting The Invisible Bridge. I'm jealous, I've had that high on my WL for months.

>245 lauralkeet: Haha Laura, yes do check out the ones you haven't read.

>246 -Cee-: Hi Claudia, if only we had the time to read everything that ends up on our wishlist! Hah!!

>247 phebj: Hi there Pat, and I wishlist everything you review favorably:)

>248 msf59: Mark, how is it possible that you are trying to keep up with me when you read probably twice as many books as I do?? I think it might be the other way around, my friend:)

Great books on your list, Bonnie! Finishing up Jane Eyre. I'm looking forward to the GR of Cloud Atlas--are you going to chime in? And I have All the King's Men and The Siege on my TBR pile because of you. I'm also going to read Sea of Poppies as well as do a reread of Rebecca next year. And I tried to find a copy of The Imperfectionists at Powell's over Christmas, so lots of overlap in our reading. :-)

P.S. Sounds like we both had a great time spending time with our sons over Christmas. (And, in your case, daughter and future son-in-law, while I'm still hoping my son's GF becomes my future daughter-in-law.) Hope your shoulder is feeling fine and you're going into the New Year relatively pain-free. Happy New Year, Sis!

Bonnie- I don't think it's about volume, I just love the books you choose. I see you reading something and I say shoot, I wanted to read that too! BTW- I'll be starting, along with Pat, Tenderness of the Wolves. See?

Happy New Year to you Dear Bonnie! May 2011 be a healthy one!

Great list of books, Bonnie. There are several on it that I loved and some that I plan to get to eventually.

Glad you enjoyed Girl in Translation. I thought it was a light and engaging 4 star read. Probably good for this time of year when distractions abound.

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Bonnie, here's the LINK to my 2011 thread in Club Read if you want to keep chatting.

#244: Love your choices for top reads of the year, Bonnie. Who cares if there are more than 10? Certainly not me!

hmmmm a few of those books look mighty interesting..
I will have to explore more when I finish the shopping I seem to be trying to avoid. ta!

Happy New Year!! I look forward to seeing you around LT in 2011. Best wishes. ;)

Happy New Year, Bonnie! I look forward to more of your wonderful reviews in 2011!