lindapanzo's 1st inning for 2011

In recent years, I've been reading right around 150 books per year. I hope you'll join me on my 2011 book journey.




BOOKS READ IN JANUARY

1. Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason
2. The President's Team: The 1963 Army-Navy Game and the Assassination of JFK by Michael Connelly
3. Murder on St. Mark's Place by Victoria Thompson
4. Murder, By the Book by Stephen Budiansky
5. Fiber & Brimstone by Laura Childs
6. Final Flight: The Mystery of a WW II Plane Crash and the Frozen Airmen in the High Sierra by Peter Stekel
7. Going, Going, Gone! The Art of the Trade in Major League Baseball by Fran Zimniuc
8. Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
9. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
10. A Championship Team: The Packers and St. Norbert College in the Lombardi Years by Cliff Christl
11. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
12. Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman

Welcome back!

Thanks. I need to get myself situated. It feels like the first day of school.

Hi Linda! Happy 2011! Early.

Yay - starting up for 2011! I love new beginnings.

Hi Linda!

Linda, you are one of my "go to" people here. I look forward to more book talk in 2011.

Linda, my Chicago amiga- Good luck on another fantastic reading year! This one was a lot of fun!

Hi Linda!

Hi Linda - look forward to your thread, and to (hopefully) meeting you at the March Meet-up!

Hi, Linda! Thanks for the link on my thread!

Mmmmm. . . Since you know my Category Challenge theme, I guess you won't be surprised to hear that I have a ticker on my thread a LOT like yours . . . sorry!

I'm watching a ballgame tonight--game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

Yes, Terri, I imagine that your ticker and mine will be very similar.

Glad to see you back for 2011!

Thank you, Linda, for your invitation to come over here. I do plan to, but I'm with those who want to wait until 2011 - unless the whole tribe moves ahead of time.

#14 Glad to hear it, Peggy. Right now, this is just a place to welcome people back. No book talk here until I start that last long book of 2010 (that will run over into 2011).

Hi Linda. Thanks for the heads up that the new group was up and running. I'm really looking forward to a new year of great books.

Hi Linda! I look forward to following your Chicago-based recommendations for another great year!

Thanks.

I am chomping at the big to get started on my first 2011 book. I'll probably start on Millard Fillmore by Robert Rayback around Wed or so. This could take me into 2011.

If I finish it before the end of 2010, I may start on Jar City, an Icelandic mystery, as my first 2011 book.

Hi Linda....You're one of my first "stars" in the 2011 group. I'm setting up my thread and finishing up my 2010 reads. I'm looking forward to seeing what wonderful new books I discover from this group, and you are one those who always gives me good leads.

Here's to 2011!

#19 Thanks, Tina

I've finished up my 2010 reading and I'm now starting my first 2011 book, the Icelandic mystery Jar City.

I hope you have a happy and healthy New Year, Linda, with lots of books you love.

I'm starting my first three reads today. Exciting! Like a new year in school, as you said in Number 3.

Can't wait to see what all you read this year.

Kindle books are now lendable, within limits. Once per book and only for two weeks. I will be seeing my siste and checking with her.

My list of available books, so far, is at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/105933#2405910

Hi, Linda I found you and have you starred. I'm looking forward to new ideas for exploring in 2011.

Hi Carolyn: Glad you found me.

Happy New Year!!

MY SEMI-ANNUAL LIST OF NEW COZIES

Roughly twice a year, when the mood strikes, I sit down and compile a list of forthcoming books by my favorite cozy mystery authors and a few others. This is a subjective list of authors--to include the ones I read regularly. Definitely not every author and sometimes not every series.

I include only those series where I'm relatively current (or hope to be soon).

No touchstones. I don't even try since many are due out well off in the future.

I compile this list by searching on Amazon, fantasticfiction, the Bloodstained Bookshelf, and cozy-mystery.com.

January 2011
Buffalo West Wing—Julie Hyzy

February 2011
Treachery in Death—J.D. Robb
Death of a Chimney Sweep—M.C. Beaton
Devil's Food Cake Murder--Joanne Fluke
Dead Deceiver—Victoria Houston

March 2011
Scones & Bones—Laura Childs (teashop series)
Anthem for Doomed Youth--Carola Dunn (Daisy Dalrymple series)

April 2011
Dead by Midnight—Carolyn Hart
Evil Eclairs--Jessica Beck
A Dark and Stormy Night--Jeanne Dams (Dorothy Martin)

May 2011
Classified as Murder--Miranda James

June 2011
Smokin' Seventeen--Janet Evanovich
Sentenced to Death--Lorna Barrett
English Tea Murder--Leslie Meier

July 2011
All the Pretty Hearses--Mary Daheim
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--Jill Churchill (Grace & Favor series)--this has been pushed back several times so I'll believe it when I see it

August 2011
Tragic Toppings--Jessica Beck
Murder by Mocha--Cleo Coyle

It's nice to know there's another Dorothy Martin mystery on the way! It's been quite a while since the last one came out.

#26 I was thinking that same thing. I had stopped even searching Amazon/Fantastic Fiction for her but popped up on what used to be the Cluelass list.

Also glad to see another Daisy Dalrymple from Carola Dunn. Those routinely come out in the fall but there wasn't any last fall.

This seems like slim pickings. They must not've announced plans for all of them yet. For instance, the Louise Penny listings just show re-releases of her older books.

#26 You're right. The last Dorothy Martin mystery from Jeanne Dams, before the new one in 2011, was Winter of Discontent, all the way back in 2004.

Ruth Dudley Edwards is another mystery author I miss. She hasn't had a Robert Amiss out since 2007's Murdering Americans.

I receive newsletters from Louise Penny. She just finiished a book that will be published September 2011. It isn't a 3 Pines. She will start working on another book in March.

There should be a new Louise Penny later this year. I have her blog in my reader. She posts almost every day, and she always has something interesting to say. The next Three Pines book seems to be in the final editing stage, and she recently visited a monastery to do research for book #8.

http://louisepenny.blogspot.com/

#29/30 Thanks for the info. I should sign up.

After awhile, most authors seem to either start another series or write a standalone, don't they?

I, too, am glad to see the new Dorothy Martin one. I've just added several to my Amazon wish list, although the Laura Childs was already there. I'm still catching up with the Cleo Coyle series. I haven't read all the Leslie Meier or Joanne Fluke ones either. I think I've got a Lorna Barrett book in a TBR pile. I'll see how I like it before adding the others (although if you like it, there's a good chance I will).

Happy New Year..So good to see you back.

Ah ha.. here you are, Linda. Whew... starred you

Found you; starred you!

#25 Whew! Since I'm not a cozy fan, I escaped adding anything to the wishlist. Too bad I just spent nearly an hour browsing the library's forthcoming titles list and added about a dozen new books from that. A lot of them are mysteries, so maybe I'll be able to add books to YOUR list for a change!

Book #1



Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason
4 stars

My first book of 2011 is the first book in the Icelandic series featuring Inspector Erlendur. The Reykjavik police procedural was darker and bleaker than I'm used to but I did like the fact that a present day murder had ties to a 1960s crime.

I liked it but didn't love it but I will continue with this series, I believe.

#37: I will be reading that one this month as well. I hope I enjoy it as much as you did, Linda.

I am not even glimpsing at the cozy list, since I am on a book buying ban with Whisper Linda :(

Linda- That's a very ambitious list of "Cozies". I'm impressed. I don't do "cozies" but I'll follow your thoughts.
Glad you liked Jar City. I think the next book is even better.
Hey, big game today! We do battle! I'm curious to see how it will come out. Of course, very important for the Packers.

Linda...a Happy New Year GIft for you

FictFact a wonderful sight that let's you log the series you're reading, sign up and they will send you a monthly email about upcoming new pubs!!

I find they are as up to date as any of the others, but I like having one place to go w/o having to deal with sales pop-ups, add-ons, etc.

Great cozy list you have by the way. I'm trying to stay in order with series, and don't mind starting new ones, but just must remind myself that I can't read them ALL in one year, and when you read them ALL, then you often have to wait a long time, and have forgotten some of the back stuff.

#38 I can barely keep up with all the cozies. For instance, I still haven't read the previous Carolyn Hart book from last year. I hope to catch up.

#39 Great game. Got home from my sister's at halftime so I got to see the Packers' touchdown. Looks like the Packers have to play the Eagles in the first round.

#40 Tina, I will have to give that a try.

Also, Tina, I just started a book (for when I was too nervous to watch the Packers) about the Army/Navy game and JFK. Focuses on the Naval Academy, of course, as well as the 1963 Army/Navy game. The President's Team by Michael Connelly. I figured this one might be of interest to you.

#41...Linda, neither Bob nor were aware of this book....he was there and actually sang with the Navy Academy Choir at Kennedy's funeral. I had a date for that Army Navy game (different feller) but that of course was cancelled. I just checked and we can get it on ILL....I'll tell him tomorrow when he wakes up! Thanks for the info. I'll be anxious to see how you liked it.

Glad that you liked Jar City. I agree with Mark that the next book is better, and the 3rd book is one of my favorites of the series.

Book #2



The President's Team: The 1963 Army-Navy Game and the Assassination of JFK by Michael Connelly
4.5 stars

I absolutely loved The President's Team. Despite the subtitle, the focus is really on the Navy football team, particularly the amazing 1963 team. (Tina's husband will probably be happy to know it talks about the Navy choir singing the two songs--Londonderry Air (sung to the tune of Danny Boy), as well as Eternal Father Strong to Save--on the White House lawn while the funeral procession passed by, mentioning that two football players were also in the choir.)

It's mostly a sports book, with some history and politics thrown in.

Besides the Navy team itself, every contact the team had with JFK, such as his visit to their practice in Rhode Island in 1962, either personally or by mail, was discussed in depth. How JFK, as commander in chief, would try, unsuccessfully, to remain impartial but his time as a Navy officer during WW2 showed his true loyalties.

The author unearthed some amazing facts, such as the postponed Army/Navy game saw the introduction of TV instant replay (viewers were baffled because it came without much warning).

In the back of the book, the author does a "where are they now" for each member of the 1963 Navy football team (41 of the 44 players, I think), talking about their military and post-military careers. Three died while serving in the military and five eventually became admirals.

The writing isn't spectacular or anything but this is an extremely interesting, informative book about an angle of history I've heard little about. Highly recommended!!

#44: I will have to look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Linda!

Nice review, Linda. Did Roger Staubach play for Navy in that game?

#46 Darryl, I was so tired that I forgot to mention that key fact. Yes, this was Roger Staubach's Heisman Trophy-winning season.

Linda, I've resisted the temptation to purchase Jar City from used bookstores twice in the past week -- but only because I know I can get it from my county library. I'm definitely planning to read it soon!

The President's Team sounds interesting.

Did you say a while back that you were planning to read A Free Man of Color sometime soon? I just started it -- so far, so good.

Yes, I do plan to read A Free Man of Color this month or maybe next.

I've got A Free Man of Color on my wishlist as well, so I'll be looking forward to both of your comments.

For what it is worth, I liked A Free Man of Color when I read it.

I'm reading another historical mystery, the second in the Victoria Thompson New York City turn of the 20th century series. Murder on St Mark's Place.

Today was my first day back to work for the new year, which, not surprisingly, cut into my reading time. Not to worry, one more day and then a four-day weekend. Back to the usual routine starting on Monday.

Oh, dear, another series that sounds interesting . . .

I added The President's Team to the ever-expanding list. I was talking about it with my hubby . . . he asked the same question Darryl did! I was glad to be able to answer. :)

Book #3



Murder on St Mark's Place by Victoria Thompson
3.5 stars

This is a decent historical mystery, the second one in Victoria Thompson's gaslight series. It feaures a widowed midwife, Sarah Brandt, and a police sergeant, Sgt Frank Malloy, who grudgingly work together to solve the murders of several less than innocent "charity girls."

Though the mystery/plot is somewhat predictable, I enjoyed the glimpses into turn of the (20th) century life, particularly the barriers women faced at that time.

I liked it well enough to continue with the series. Cheli, when are we reading the third one?

#54: I need to get back to that series. I have not read the past several.

#55 Stasia, I like this series but there are so many other turn of the century historical mystery series. I think they start to blend together after awhile.

I agree with you about series blending together after a while. I have really stepped back from reading mysteries as closely together as I used to do before LT.

Took a quick glance at some LT threads but I haven't read a word all day, except for that. Spent the day with mom, celebrating her 74th birthday.

Off to my current read, a satiric academic mystery, Murder, By the Book, a Kindle book I borrowed from Angela.

Happy birthday, Linda's Mom! It sounds like you had a fun day.

Sometimes I spend so much time reading LT threads that I don't feel like reading a real book when I'm done. I've been online for about 45 minutes now, reading threads, and beginning to feel antsy. I decided to cherry pick just a few more - my favorites - and then go do something else. The ER book I've been working on the last 2 days is slow to get my attention. It is a fast-paced thriller, but so far not that interesting. I sure hope it gets better soon. I also started Master and Margarita last night for the group read (the 11-11 challenge group, I think), but I can't sit and read it for more than about an hour, either. I may have to break down and watch some television this evening!

Hi Sandy: I need to visit my "nearest and dearest" LT friends more often. I hope every day is better for you.

Mom had a great birthday. I'm off again tomorrow so we're taking her to lunch. Then on Sat, meeting my sister and the kids and lunch again, with them.

Yikes!! Got an email from an old friend who tells me that NPR said that Borders might be closing. (I know some stores have closed but I'm wondering what she means.)

I've still got quite a bit left on my Borders gift card from Christmas so I'd better use it, just in case.

I just finished my first-ever loaned Kindle book. Still ruminating over how to rate and review it.

Book #4



Murder, By the Book by Stephen Budiansky

Borrowed this one via the new lendable Kindle books program. Thanks, Angela!!

I haven't decided whether this "academic mystery" that is more satire will appear on my favorite books of the year list or on the worst books of the year list. My view of it changed often, almost page by page. At times, I thought it was (1) a masterpiece of "detective fiction," or (2) a stupid piece of drivel.

Ted Gilpin, professor of Cognitive and Deconstructivist Studies, at an Ohio college, notices similarities between the deaths of faculty members and and those in classic mysteries, such as Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers and The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley (an underappreciated classic, as far as I'm concerned).

Anyway, this book is more satire than mystery but it takes on the classic mystery, it skewers universities and professors, and it pokes fun at the corporate world/corporate doublespeak. At this Ohio college, for instance, a vice-president wants to sell naming rights to courses.

At times, it's ho hum but, at other times, it's brilliant and hilarious. It's clever, but it's also too aware that it's clever, which is part of what bothers me with this book.

I hope lots of others read it so I can gauge their reactions. Enjoyable, if you're willing to skim through the dull parts.

Every day is a little better. Hopefully we've gotten past the worst days when we were just going hour by hour. Everyone is back to school and work this week, and that feels better - for me, anyway. Although today was exactly 4 weeks, and I was feeling a little raw this afternoon, remembering.

I like the way your mom celebrates! Going out for lunch is one of my favorite things.

If Borders closes, then what? The independents are already gone. That just leaves Barnes & Noble (which isn't close) or Amazon. That's no choice worth having. It sounds like you have no choice but to go ahead and spend your gift card. Darn!

Have you gotten you SantaThing books yet? I gave up reading the thread last week - too much complaining. Nothing here so far, and I'm beginning to get anxious. I don't mind waiting when I know I'll have to wait. But, as far as I know, they haven't given us an estimated delivery date, have they? Maybe tomorrow.

Enjoy your day off tomorrow - I have to work.

#62 Not just lunch. Mom loves going to the casino so that's where we went today, with a quick lunch/dinner later.

With my gift card, I'd like to get, among other things, the new Simon Winchester Book Atlantic: The Biography of an Ocean. Not sure what else.

No Santa Thing books yet for me. I'm so spoiled getting books in a day or two from Amazon that this month-long wait from The Book Depository seems endless. From what I gather, the books have arrived pretty much everywhere except in the U.S.

No SantaThing here for me. I keep hoping. I understand from a friend that I've already purchased one of the books my Santa sent me. If we'd been able to at least see what we were receiving by December 25 that would not have happened.

#61 Your book sounds interesting enough to give it a try, but the library doesn't have it. When I search by author, I find a strange mix of animal behavoir books and military history. Nothing that looks like a mystery novel.

#64 I was afraid of doing that so I looked on New Year's. I haven't bought any books yet this year (ha!) but will do so tomorrow.

#65 Sandy, when I mentioned this book in the group Books on Books, which I joined then quit, someone said it's older and re-released.

ETA: Hmmm, can't find it. Maybe it was something else.

#66 I started to ask whether it was re-released under a different title, but the author's name would not have changed. I'll look again, but won't spend too much effort on it.

Here's a nice new feature. I'm not sure if you're aware of it but it's interesting. I've asked for ER books in 22 batches (not counting Dec 2010) and "won" an ER book in 16 batches.

It's a nice way to see what you've asked for but didn't get. Amazing how many of those other books I've gone on to read.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/106598

#68: Thanks for posting that link, Linda. I will check it out! Have a great day off!

Thanks, Stasia. I've got about $30 in Borders gift card to use up so I'm plotting what I want to get with that. That's a Friday "must do."

I also need to get to the library and pick up some ILLs, including the first two Focker movies (I saw Lil Fockers last week and enjoyed it, now I want to go back and see the first two.)

Also need to pick up a book by an author acquaintance, Barbara Burnett Smith, who died in a tragic accident about 5 or 6 years ago. I haven't read any of her books since then but decided to finally do so now. She wrote mysteries and I'm picking up the last one in her one series Skeletons in Purple Sage. She and her husband were rescuing a dog, I think in San Antonio, TX, and, at some point, the dog ran out of the car and when she jumped out to grab it, she got hit by another car and died.

#60 Yikes! My nearest bookstore is a Waldenbooks, which is part of the Borders family. Fortunately, we just got a Books A Million store at the mall in Johnstown, about an hour away.

#68 Thanks, for the link. That's neat! I actually got books 15 time out of 18 attempts -- not sure why I'm so "popular" with the mystery algorithm.

#70 What a sad story! I've never read anything she wrote. Perahps I'll look one up.

I like that ER feature. I obviously know what I won but I forgot about the others I had asked for but didn't get.

Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz was one I asked for but didn't get and it was a top read for me in 2009. Then, last year, I didn't get the Doug Glanville book about baseball The Game from Where I Stand: A Ballplayer's Inside View and it ended up being a top read for me.

Anyway, I'v now won something in 17 batches of the 23 batches I'd asked for something as I just won the baseball book last month. Summer of Shadows

#68 Thanks for the link, Linda. This is something I've wanted for a long time. I thought I'd gone on to read/wishlist-from-other-sources quite a few books I'd originally requested on ER. But I saw surprisingly few. Maybe I only THOUGHT I'd requested those books. I've gotten 26 books in 34 batches, so my winning percentage is even higher than yours. I'm almost embarassed to disclose that I've won books the last 15 months in a row. Like Terrie, I'm not sure WHY I've gotten so many, but I'm pleased about it all the same.

#73 You choose wisely, Sandy

I didn't do well at the beginning of my time on LT but I've gotten choosier. If I really want something, I ask only for the book and I'm 4 for 4 when that happens. Well, now 5 for 5 since the Cleveland Indians book was the only one I asked for last time.

I've tried to think about why. I tend to ask for mysteries and/or baseball books and of course, I've read a lot of those, which helps.

When neither are there, most of my selections have tended to be somewhat obscure, like that one about collecting the 1950s toys. I almost never ask for a bestseller-type book.

I'm doing the readathon today. Starts at 3 pm central.

I'm hoping to finish my current mystery, a Laura Childs scrapbooking cozy, Fiber & Brimstone. I'll have about 250 pages left to go but it's a quick read.

If I do finish, I'd like to make some headway on the lengthy Millard Fillmore bio I've been reading for awhile. If I can get to halfway on that, too, I'd be happy.

Okay, I used up my Borders gift cards today an these three new books have entered the Casa Panzo today.

Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals
Leo Durocher's baseball autobiography Nice Guys Finish Last
Caroline Graham's mystery (featuring Chief Inspector Barnaby) Faithful Unto Death

(can't get any touchstones to work)

Hi Linda- Hope you had a nice day! It looks like they are closing the downtown Borders. Why? I'm not sure.
BTW- I need to get to A Team of Rivals. I was thinking of trying it on audio. It's a chunkster. I heard they are making a film out of it too!

#77 Mark, I'm thinking that's what my friend saw. My Gurnee Borders is still open.

Found this Mary Schmich column in the Trib (she's my favorite columnist). I have to agree with her comment: "Still, I can't help but feel that Chicago's top street without a bookstore is like a bookshelf without a book."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-schmich-0107-20110107,0,270...

#76: I love Team of Rivals, Linda. Let me know if you would like a read-along pal and I will do a re-read of that one whenever you get to it.

Will do, Stasia. I'll probably read another Lincoln book first but would like to read this one early in the year.

No problem. It is not like I do not have anything to read in the mean time, lol.

Book #5

Fiber and Brimstone by Laura Childs

This is the most recent book in the Laura Childs' long-running scrapbooking cozy series. Though I consider her teashop series to be one of my favorites, I haven't liked her scrapbooking series nearly as much, particularly lately. This is the best one, by far, in this series.

The plot isn't that great--murder at Halloween in New Orleans, which of course needs to be solved by Carmela, the owner of the scrapbooking store, and her friend, Ava, the owner of the voodoo store. The descriptions of New Orleans events are lush. Makes me want to go there.

#82: I need to get to that one! Thanks for letting me know about it, Linda.

#83 So much better than the previous one, Tragic Magic. I was starting to doubt whether I should continue this series but, after reading Fiber & Brimstone (still can't get the touchstones to work), I'm certain to do so.

I just accepted my sister's offer to borrow Skippy Dies by Paul Murray from my sister on Kindle. It's a 600+ page chunkster so the clock is ticking.

Book #6

Final Flight: The Mystery of a WW II Plane Crash and the Frozen Airmen in the High Sierra by Peter Stekel

(read for Early Reviewers)

Finally, a truly outstanding Early Reviewers book. This gripping, absolutely fascinating book starts with the discovery, in 2005, of airplane wreckage in the High Sierras, the so-called Frozen Airman. Some months later, it's established that the dead man was a cadet whose WW2 aviation navigation training flight crashed on November 18, 1942.

Stekel looks at earlier attempts to find bodies and wreckage and embarks on his own hiking trip to the area, and amazingly, finds another body and more wreckage.

There's plenty of science, weather, history, and aviation in this book but it's interesting stuff. This book is a real page turner. I couldn't put it down.

Highly recommended!!

#85: Congrats on finally getting an excellent ER book, Linda! I already have that one in the BlackHole or I would add it again.

I don't want to ruin it for anyone but there's so much interesting information in there.

Now I've got to pick out a non-Kindle book for my long train ride to/from downtown tomorrow for the opera. I'm going to Mikado at the Lyric Opera. I was planning to read this one and thought I'd start a bit.

I ended up reading all through the football games. I understand the Jets/Colts was a great game. I looked up only to see the two last-minute field goals.

I did not get to watch either ball game, since we do not get NBC here. I guess it does not matter because both of the teams I would have been cheering for lost. Oh well.

I hope you find something good to read on the train ride. Going to the Mikado sounds wonderful! I am not sure I could concentrate on a book I would be so excited.

I won't get to see your first 2011 reviews til the evening, unless I get up early, which I probably won't (but you never know).

I'm disappointed to miss the Green Bay game tomorrow. Oh well. Hopefully they will win so I can see them play the following weekend.

#89: The Green Bay game is one I could actually watch if I was going to be awake :) We do not get either CBS or NBC, but we do get Fox.

No worries about my first report of the new year. It is not like there is going to be a test on it or anything! :)

#90 We'll see.

I'm hoping to start the year with at least one book in each of my 11 categories for the 11 in 11 challenge so I'm thinking of a book with a season in the title. Either Winter of the Wolf Moon by Steve Hamilton or else Rosamunde Pilcher's Winter Solstice. I'm leaning towards the Pilcher book just because I've read so many mysteries already this year.

I feel the same way about the mysteries thing. It seems like I have read a ton over the past month or so. Comfort reading for the holidays, maybe?

Linda- Good review of "Final Flight". It sounds great! I hope you enjoy Skippy Dies. I've heard great things about this one.
BTW- I stopped at the library and noticed they had A Team of Rivals on audio. 36 discs! It spooked me! That's a monster. I will not be daunted though. I hope to get it through a direct download from my library.
Have a good Sunday! Fingers crossed, no more snow!

I've added Final Flight to the wishlist - sounds fantastic!

Final Flight sounds interesting, Linda. Glad you finally got an ER book you loved.

I loved the Louise Penny books I got as ER books but I don't count those. I would've loved them anyway.

Skippy Dies isn't bad. My sister told me it doesn't really get going until well into the book so I'm prepared.

I'm taking a baseball book Going, Going Gone: The Art of the Trade in Major League Baseball on the train with me today. I've got about an hour and 10 minutes each way, plus time at the train station before the opera starts.

Oh, good. A baseball book. I cannot wait to see what you think of it :) Have a great time at the opera!

I too am intrigued by Final Flight. I'm adding it to my wishlist, thanks Linda.

#97 So far, this baseball book isn't one I'd strongly recommend. It's somewhat interesting, at times, but at other times just rehashes old baseball history, such as the Babe Ruth deal.

I read only one-third on the train. Fell asleep part of the time.

Very excited that the Packers won. Oh the opera was good, too. I exchanged my ticket to today's and was sitting in the middle of four friends. They kept insisting that their friend hadn't said she wasn't coming (even though I exchanged 3 weeks ago and I don't know her).

Yeah, I was rooting for the Packers today too. I am glad they pulled it out.

Sorry about the baseball book. Maybe it will pick up for you.

#99 I hope those people at the opera didn't keep whispering back and forth during the performance - did they? Today at the symphony they did The Sorcorer's Apprentice and there were quite a few kids in the audience (a welcome change to the usual sea of grey hair and bald heads). They were very well behaved. Except - the lady sitting 2 rows in front of us who was modelling her best symphony manners by whispering to the young boy sitting with her through the entire concert. No doubt she was telling him everything that was going on instead of letting him hear it for himself. I never heard a peep out of the boy.

Congratulations on your Packers victory. Our Chiefs weren't so lucky. Oh well. There's always next year.

The Gaslight series peaked my interest- adding those to the wishlist!

No whispering from the women at the opera but I hate when people do that.

I've had three straight short weeks (2 or 3-day workweeks) that were more laid back. Today, it's back to reality.

Still wrapped up in reading Skippy Dies. This Dublin boarding school novel is totally not my usual thing but I'm enjoying it. At 672 pages, it'll go into my 11 in 11 challenge chunkster category.

Skippy Dies is sitting on my Kindle, unread, where it has just been joined by the Stephen Budiansky book. I've read one of his books, about code-breaking in WW2 and am interested in his book about Walsingham, but I hadn't realized he had written a mystery as well -- and it was only $2.99... (I have NO willpower...)

People who whisper at concerts should have their throats slit. If I were in the audience, the identity of the culprit would pose no mystery whatsoever! And yet, oddly enough, back in the 18th and into the 19th century, it was routine to jabber and socialize during concerts, especially the opera...

Linda, just popping in to say hello and add my bit to the concert behavior discussion: for a couple of years I had season tickets to our little, although quite good, symphony. Carefully picked seats for sound and sight. Unfortunately, one of the sights available to us at Every. Single. Performance. we attended was an older couple (mid 60's) nuzzling and rubbing up on one another. At first it was comical, but it quickly became extremely annoying since they were directly in front of us. However, at least they remained silent about it!

Oooh, my library is in the news.

The "women's only" lecture on women's underwear (in honor of the Winter One Book--Too Haute to Put Down monthlong events) sparked controversy. Atheist activist, Rob Sherman, and the ACLU, among others, objected.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2011/01/womens-undies-lecture-opened-to-men.h...

#106 Sounds like a slow news day in Chicago today!

They were talking about this on the radio, WGN this morning. I thought they were just talking about something light and fluffy, instead of the Arizona shootings. Little did I realize that the LVDL was actually newsworthy.

I love my library's programs and wish I could go to this one but it's at 1 pm on a weekday.

Oh dear .... I made the mistake of checking out Tina's recommendation of FictFact and got hooked. I'm now happily tracking the series that I'm currently reading, but am sadly trying to resist the temptation of looking at the other series I've not (yet) started. arrggghhhhh

#109 I need to sign up for some author reminders at FictFact. I see great usefulness in that service.

Book #7

Going, Going, Gone! The Art of the Trade in Major League Baseball by Fran Zimniuc

There's some interesting information in this book about the business side of baseball but this book is misnamed. The subheading says it's about the art of the trade in baseball.

No it's not. Trades actually make up only a small part of the book. There's more general information about free agency and arbitration than there is about trades. I realize that these topics are important in explaining why trades are different now but even so. I would've preferred to see more about how/why trades are made.

There is a bit about lopsided trades in baseball history, but these are tales that are told often and better, elsewhere. Trades like Brock for Broglio or Ivan DeJesus for Larry Bowa and Ryne Sandberg. Or even Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees though, in actual fact, not to finance the musical, No, No, Nanette, as is often believed.

One of the more interesting chapters is about oddball trades, such as players who were traded for odd things, such as catfish, a manager, a broadcaster or even himself. The book even touches on the instance where, in the early 1970s, two Yankee pitchers, Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich, traded their wives and kids (and dogs) to each other.

Okay but not the best.

Good morning! Final Flight was one I wanted and did not get . . . glad to hear that it was a good read!

Last night, I wound up reading all through the BCS Championship game. Only saw a bit . . . including the very last bit when they traded touchdowns at the end. (The "culprit" was a book called Nights of Ice that I just couldn't put down.)

ETA I said traded touchdowns when I should have said traded scores -- the touchdown got called back, I believe. I was still half-reading through it all!

#112 Terri, it seems to me that you and I often get the same book. Not always of course, but more often than anyone else I can think of.

Did you see the baseball book this month? I was planning to get that one anyway.

I was reading the baseball book during the football game.

#113 I didn't ask for that one -- don't like the Rays. (is that the one you mean"?)
Did you try for one or both of those Chicago books??

#114 I'd like the oldest Chicago one but not sure I'm going to ask for it.

Two years ago today, I was home from work. It was a snow day. I was bored and decided it'd be a good thing to find a website where I could input all the books I'd read.

I found LibraryThing and started doing just that. There were so many books to input, more than the limit, so I quickly paid for a lifetime membership.

Before I knew it, I was rummaging around some of the talk groups. Can't remember which group it was in but someone named cyderry was saying something about presidential bios and, before I knew it, I was exchanging messages. She introduced me to her sister, tututhefirst. I started joining groups and deciding what 9 categories of books I like best. It seemed like I was spending entire days here. Before too long, someone named alcottacre was telling me that she, too, is a Cubs fan. Just as fast, I started chatting with an sjmccreary, then an ivyd and then...

What a friendly bunch this was. And still is!!

Thanks to all those mentioned, and many others, for making this such a terrific place for these past two years and, hopefully, for many years to come.

Linda,

I am honored to be a small part of what makes LT a place you return to often. I too am fortunate to have found a friend in you. Happy Thingaversary!

Thanks, Cheli.

And what better way to celebrate the day than by finishing one of the best novels I've read in quite some time.

I second Cheli's wishes - Happy Thingavesary-- just wish I wasn't so pressed for time catching up on all these threads....I'd bake you a cake!

Just got the mail and in a package was Scones & Bones the newest Tea Shoppe mystery directly from Laura Childs herself! WOW! I love Laura Childs!

#120 That's great. I think it's due out in March or so, so now you can do a pre-release review.

When do you want to read Bedeviled Eggs? I should finish my chunkster today and will be eager to read something lighter.

>116 lindapanzo:: What a great story about your "early days" on LT, Linda. If someone had told me a few years ago that I'd become friends with people online, I would have laughed. Now some of my nearest and dearest friends are on this website. I'm so glad to have discovered this wonderful community of readers.

A Happy Belated Thingaversary to you. What two books did you buy for yourself to celebrate?

Thanks, Donna. It's today, actually, so you're right on time.

I have a coupon for a free book. Still deciding...

#116 : Loved your story about how you found LT. This is indeed a friendly place and like you, I've found some wonderful friends to spend some time with chatting primarily about books but also sharing our lives.

Happy Thingaversary, Linda! Hope you enjoy many many more years with us.

Thanks!!

It's amazing how I thought of LT as just a place to keep track of books and it's become so much, much more.

How sad we have skied there. It is beautiful in the winter,too.

Happy Thingaversary, Linda! Thanks for sharing your LT testimonial! Thanks for not mentioning the Secret Santa episode. I have a reputation to uphold.

I'm reading the last Lumby book right now, nearly 300 more pages to go and have to go car shopping this weekend, so can we start Bedeviled Eggs early next week?

#126 Sorry, Cindy. I did post about Big Powderhorn but was actually posting it elsewhere. It's a shame about the fire.

#127 Thanks, Mark. I've been running around like a mad woman today but did I mention that I might still be able to meet on the day you suggest, if it's a Saturday?

#128 Sounds fine to me, Cheli. I just want to get Skippy back to my sister. I'm not patient and taking six whole days to read a book, if it's all I'm reading, tested my patience.

Happy Thingaversary Linda!

#122 I made my choices with my "buy one book, get one free" coupon. I chose the new Simon Winchester book, Atlantic as my free book and Freedom Summer: The Savage Season That Made Mississippi Burn and Made America a Democracy by Bruce Watson.

I need to use up my Borders Bucks by Jan 31 but haven't decided on that yet.

One of my friends sent me a B&N gift card in with her get well card - now I have $55 to spend. Trying to decide what to get is tough!

Happy Thingaversary, Linda!

I discovered LT through a link on our library's web page. I, too, started out thinking of it as a cool way to catalog my books. But I've found so many neat people here!

Happy Thingaversary, Linda!

Thingaversary! Cool.... Happy bibliomania, Linda!!!

As mentioned on Stasia's thread, you can go over to www.biblioz.com and get a list of bestsellers on your birthday (be sure to note that day should be inputted first, then month). I've heard of some of these and have read three of them:
--To Kill a Mockingbird
--Rabbit Run
--The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Fiction 1 HAWAII James Michener
Fiction 2 ADVISE AND CONSENT Allen Drury
Fiction 3 THE LAST OF THE JUST Andre Schwarz-Bart
Fiction 4 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Harper Lee
Fiction 5 SERMONS AND SODA WATER John O'Hara
Fiction 6 DECISION AT DELPHI Helen MacInnes
Fiction 7 POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE Noel Coward
Fiction 8 THE CHESS PLAYERS Frances Parkinson Keyes author info
Fiction 9 THE DEAN'S WATCH Elizabeth Goudge
Fiction 10 WINNIE ILLE PU A.A. Milnei
Fiction 11 A BURNT-OUT CASE Graham Greene
Fiction 12 A SENSE OF VALUES Sloan Wilson
Fiction 13 VALHALLA Jere Peacock
Fiction 14 THE LOVELY AMBITION Mary Ellen Chase
Fiction 15 THE LISTENER Taylor Caldwell author info
Fiction 16 RABBIT RUN, John Updike
Non-Fiction 1 THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH William L. Shirer
Non-Fiction 3 THE WASTE MAKERS Vance Packard
Non-Fiction 4 THE SNAKE HAS ALL THE LINES Jean Kerr
Non-Fiction 5 THE WHITE NILE Alan Moorehead
Non-Fiction 6 PROFILES IN COURAGE John F. Kennedy
Non-Fiction 7 FATE IS THE HUNTER Ernest K. Gann
Non-Fiction 8 SHADOWS ON THE GRASS Isak Dinesen
Non-Fiction 9 BORN FREE Joy Adamson
Non-Fiction 10 JAPANESE INN Oliver Statler
Non-Fiction 11 SKYLINE Gene Fowler
Non-Fiction 12 THE AMERICAN HERITAGE PICTURE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR 12 THE AMERICAN HERITAGE PICTURE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR, Bruce Catton
Non-Fiction 13 THE POLITICS OF UPHEAVAL Arthur Schlesinger
Non-Fiction 14 STAY YOUNG AND VITAL Bob Cummings
Non-Fiction 15 THE QUEEN'S NECKLACE Frances Mossiker
Non-Fiction 16 BARUCH: THE PUBLIC YEARS Bernard M Baruch

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich was on my list too, Linda.

One of my all-time favorite books is on your list - The Listener by Taylor Caldwell.

Book #8

Skippy Dies by Paul Murray

I rarely read chunkster fiction but this one, at 672 pages, was an exception. The book is set at a Dublin boarding school and the title obviously gives away the key point: in the first few pages, Skippy does indeed die, on the floor of the local doughnut shop hangout, during a doughnut-eating contest. Most of the book involves events that led up to his death.

The most interesting part, I thought, addressed the aftermath, the impact of his death on both the other boys at the school and on the faculty.

The author has created a bunch of memorable characters and, if the mark of a good book is one the reader thinks about, well after the book is finished, I think this one will qualify.

Beyond the story itself, the author gets at how things/people are remembered or not remembered. There's also an "It's a Wonderful Life"-type element, showing how the loss of a seemingly ordinary person can have a huge impact on a group.

One character, Howard, the history teacher, spends a lot of time reading about and teaching World War 1. I've added the Robert Graves book he talks about often, Good-Bye to All That: An Autobiography to my TBR list.

This book is not without its flaws. I think the author could've cut about 100 pages from the pre-death portion of the book so much so that, at times, many times, I felt like putting it down and not continuing. I'm glad I stuck with it because, in the end, this is one of the most memorable novels I've read in quite some time, one I won't soon forget.

Highly recommended!!

I have added Skippy Dies to my TBR list. Thanks for the review!

Happy Thingaversary!!

Thanks.

#140 Angela, I returned Skippy Dies to my sister this morning so I should be able to report back pretty soon if it worked for her.

Linda, I was just posting over on the Disaster Buffs board and you had posted there about getting The Historic Christmas Tree Ship through ILL. Did you read that? If so, what was it like?

A late (as usual) Happy Thingaversary to you, Linda!

>116 lindapanzo: What a lovely description of what LT has meant to you, and so many others of us! I too discovered LT because of the books, never expecting to also find such a warm, kind and friendly group of people!

Happy (late) Thingaversary!

Thanks, Ivy and Terri.

(Other) Terri, no, I never did read that Christmas tree book. I saw her on the Weather Channel special documentary about it and then reserved the book from the library. Leafed through it a bit and didn't feel like reading about it.

Even though I pride myself on my Chicago history knowledge, I'd never heard of the sinking of the Chicago Christmas tree ship. Then, last week, I was at Borders and there are other books out there about it. No doubt I will read one at some point.

Linda- Good review of Skippy Dies! That one's is on the WL. It looks like my kind of book.

#146 Who knows, Mark, maybe I'll dip my toe into the current fiction world again.

This morning, I started Julia Spencer-Fleming's In the Bleak Midwinter and I'm kind of liking it. I'm also hoping to get to Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand this weekend. Start it, at least.

I also hope to get back into my Millard Fillmore bio a bit this weekend. I have no plans except reading and football watching (go Packers!!). Oh, breakfast with mom and the neighbor on Sat morning, too.

Yikes!! My sister, who takes a commuter train to and from downtown Chicago, was on the train with the bomb threat. She said they first were told to evacuate and then told to get away from the train. She is sitting in a Starbucks across the street, watching all the action.

>136 lindapanzo: Regarding the birthday bestsellers, I keep getting "Sorry, no bestsellers listed for this week." I tried the following week and got the same results. It's sad that mine aren't available.

I already have Skippy Dies in the BlackHole. I will get to it some time since my local library now has a copy, although it is checked out at the moment.

I am with you in rooting for the Packers this weekend. I am not sure whether I will be able to see that game or not though.

I hope your sister is OK.

Nice review of Skippy Dies, Linda; I have it, and will read it later this year.

My sister's fine. Got home at 7 pm. She'd gone home early because she was sick and sitting around for a long time didn't help. They told the kids that there was a problem on her train, delaying it. Sounds like someone left a bag in the bathroom on the train and it looked suspicious.

I'm reading the Julia Spencer-Fleming In the Bleak Midwinter. I'm really enjoying it.

Saw this quiz on another thread. On a few questions, I could go either way so, when I took it 5 or 6 times, I got 5 or 6 different results.

You're A People's History of the United States!

by Howard Zinn

After years of listening to other peoples' lies, you decided you've
had enough. Now you're out to tell it like it is, with all the gory details and nothing
left out. Instead of respecting leaders, you want to know what the common people have to
offer. But this revolution still has a long way to go, and you're not against making a
little profit while you wait. Honesty is your best policy.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Linda, Happy Thingaversary. I tried to post last night but couldn't get LT to move. Your experience, and Donna828's, parellel mine. It's great here, isn't it?

On the book quiz, I came out The Guns of August. Weird, even if I loved the book.

Book #9

In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming

I enjoyed this first in the series of a mystery that's a little more graphic, I guess you'd say, that my typical cozy. Set in upstate New York, a female priest and the small town police chief solve the case.

I liked the characters and thought the plot was nicely done. I did not like seeing Clare, the priest, being so judgmental about obesity. Also thought it was odd to see a priest take such an active role in the investigation--not sure how I feel about this. I've picked up the next one in the series for my Kindle and will continue with it, at least for a bit.

#155: I enjoy that series, Linda, so I am glad to see you are going to give it a shot. I really need to re-read the series because it has been a while.

#156 Even though I found those two things to be off-putting, the character herself acknowledged that she should be a better person and not so judgmental. Also that it's tough to keep a confidence in her position.

I loved the interaction between the priest and the chief. The series seems refreshing to me--similar in many ways to what I often read in cozies but also a bit different.

I especially enjoyed reading about the challenges facing a priest starting out with a new church.

Morning Linda- Go Packers! Go Bears! That would be a great match-up!

Watching the Bears make mince-meat of Seattle. Go Bears! So glad you're reading the Spencer-Fleming series. It is one a really really like A LOT. The 7th one is due out in April and I'm almost counting the days. I envy you having the luxury of reading the next ones in the series for the first time.

Happy Thingaversary, Linda. It looks like you got a couple of good books to celebrate.

I'm glad you liked the Spencer-Fleming book. I've read this series a couple of time - it is one of my favorites. However, the more I read it, the more annoyed by Clare I become. But at the same time, I'm loving Russ more and more.

I took the book quiz. I am Watership Down - same as last year.

I've seen several recommendations for the Spencer-Fleming series lately. It sounds great - I'll definitely have to track down a copy of the first book.

I have really enjoyed all of the Spencer-Fleming series so far- There is a new one due out in the spring.

I'm a late arrival to the Spencer-Fleming series, that's for sure. I think I'll like them, though they're not as cozy as my usual.

Book #10

A Championship Team: The Packers and St Norbert College in the Lombardi Years by Cliff Christl

I realize that this book isn't for everyone. Unless you're a rabid Packers fan and/or a St Norbert College alum (I am both), you probably won't be picking this one up.

My undergrad college, St Norbert College, which is right outside of Green Bay, and the Packers have the longest-running college/pro football team training camp relationship--the Packers have been using SNC as their training camp base going back to the late 1950s. This book is an oral history--featuring former players, coaches, and college personnel--covering roughly 1959 to 1968.

Even though it covers the years about 10 to 15 years before I started at SNC, it brought back a boatload of memories to me. The players and coaches lived in Sensenbrenner Hall, which became a women's dorm in 1974 and was my college dorm for 3 of my 4 years there.

Legendary Packers coach, Vince Lombardi, is the focus of many of the book's memories. Of course, there's plenty of football here, but also memories of how Lombardi went to daily mass in my dorm's chapel and was often the altar server (i.e., altar boy).

This book is a keeper for me. Certainly not the greatest book I'll ever read but one that will be unforgettable to me, at least.

164- hmmm...my husband is a huge Packers fan so I might just get this for him. Thanks!

#164: Although a Packers fan, I am not a rabid one, and I have never heard of St. Norbert, so I think I will give that one a pass.

In the book, they talk about a relatively unknown Howard Cosell making a documentary about the Packers at training camp in '63 or '64 with a lot of St Norbert College footage. I need to see if I can find a copy of Run to Daylight anywhere.

SNC is a compact, tree-filled campus along the Fox River. Back then, they had streets running through it that were gone by the time I went. I think it'd be fun to see how it changed from '63 to '78, when I started.

Glad you liked Bleak Midwinter, I started it last year and have picked a bunch of the followers to store for the WWBF.

FYI - Bleak House group read thread http://www.librarything.com/topic/107628#2452424

That would have been a good TIOLI Challenge - read something BLEAK

Thanks for the Bleak House reminder, Cheli. I will bump it up towards the front on my Kindle so I keep it in mind.

In the Bleak Midwinter worked out great for me. It fit your TIOLI challenge and it met my seasonal book category for 11 in 11.

I really liked the Clare character but got annoyed when she took on characteristics of the typical cozy sleuth. Before then, it didn't have the feel of a cozy.

Cheli, I'll start Bedeviled Eggs tonight. In the meantime, I put it in the TIOLI under challenge #11.

Incidentally, not sure whether I mentioned but Joanne Fluke will be releasing a cookbook later this year based on her mystery series. Around Aug or Sept, I think.

ETA: Actually, would you believe October? It's called Joanne Fluke's Lake Eden Cookbook: Hannah Swensen's Recipes from the Cookie Jar.

I heard about it... not sure that I'm going to get it since I have so many cookie cookbooks and I hae copied the ones from her books that I wanted. We'll see.

Adventures in driving tonight. I left work to about an inch of snowy slush on my windshield. It was a sort of rain/freezing rain/sleet combo. Gradually changed over to freezing rain/sleet then, closer to home, all snow. At home, 4 inches of snow but, after I got home, the freezing rain followed me.

Safely inside, all warm and toasty. Will probably pull out my favorite fleece throw and start reading a nice cozy. Bedeviled Eggs by Laura Childs.

>170 lindapanzo: I'm glad it's not an expensive cookbook. I've added it to my Amazon wish list. Current release date is September 27.

>172 lindapanzo: What a great idea. I'm glad I'm not the only person who likes to have a throw on me while I'm reading!

I'm so late to the part, Linda, but Happy Thingaversary!!! I had read a great many of your birthday best-sellers - an ill-spent youth. And I took the quiz and turned out to be Anne of Green Gables. Good grief!

Book #11

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

I'm not a runner, far from it, but my 74-year old father is. Dad took up running in his 50s and, until he was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004, he ran 19 marathons. (Now he does 5K races, at the most.)

Anyway, I thought it'd be interesting to read this book by a Japanese novelist who is also a marathoner and a triathlete. I was hoping he could give some good insights into why people run.

This short memoir did have some interesting moments about how marathoners/triathletes train and what they think about when they run. I love reading insights into how authors operate but thought that there was too much on how he writes and not enough on how he runs.

Good book, certainly, but it could've been better. I liked his writing style, though, and at some point, may pick up one of his novels.

#174 Lori, come Nov 1st, I don't think it's possible for me to read at home unless I've got my Cubs fleece or now, my new Black Hawks fleece, keeping me toasty.

#175 Thanks, Peggy. I'm that same way with the "music on the day you were born." There's a quiz to that effect on the internet but I've never heard of them (and I like oldies, too).

Re #177, I knew it. The number one song in the U.S. on March 1, 1961 (ahem) was Pony Time by Chubby Checker.

http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/birthdayno1

Linda- I read this Murakami memoir awhile ago! I liked it. I've read several of his novels too and he is one of my favorite current writers.
Glad you are joining us on "Fantasy February". It looks to be a lot of fun.

#179 It will be fun, Mark. When I was in college, I took a science fiction and fantasy literature class but I almost never read either of these.

I'm hoping to clear out some books on my shelf and get some other ideas.

It's a mystery. Not that I'm complaining or anything but I got a book in the mail today.

The thing is, I don't remember ordering it. It's not an ER book. It's not a Santa Thing book.

I don't remember anyone on LT or otherwise telling me that they were sending it to me.

It's weird that (1) someone's got my address and (2) the book is one I ought to like, a cozy mystery, possibly, set in Wisconsin.

Am I just forgetting? Did someone here tell me that they were sending a copy of Mary Logue's hc mystery, Frozen Stiff.

The return address is a publisher in Madison, WI. No note or anything.

Is a puzzlement.

ETA: I've gone to mystery conferences in Wisconsin and used to meet up with some Milwaukee mystery fans. Also, I've raved about the Victoria Houston Loon Lake series and this book is from the same small publisher.

I'm getting a new project started to get together great recommendations for books by themes. I've called it Books By Themes (BBT) and I'd love to have your suggestions! Here's the link.

Oooh...it's a mysteriously received mystery book - how appropriate!
Let us know if you solve your mystery! :)

It was fun tracking down the mysterious book but now I know.

I'm signed up for Bouchercon, the big annual mystery conference, to be held this September in St Louis. On FB, the B-Con people said that various publishers etc were sending out a free book to registrants.

It works out well as mine is a cozy set in Wisconsin and has a winter theme. I sent the publisher who sent mine, Tyrus Books in Madison, WI, a thank you note.

Tyrus publishes the Victoria Houston mystery series set in Wisconsin, which is among my favorites.

I don't usually tout specific bookstores or offers but my sister mentioned this to me and I see that the Kindle Nation group on FB is also promoting it.

LivingSocial.com has an offer today for a $20 Amazon gift card for $10. It appears to be something like a GroupOn.

>184 lindapanzo: Bouchercon sounds interesting. Getting a free book ahead of all the ones that will be in that "tote bag" sounds great too!

#186 Since I like cozies, my favorite mystery con is Malice Domestic, which is in the DC area (this year in Bethesda, MD). However, it's always at a bad time for me, late April/early May--this year, on my little nephew's first communion day.

Bouchercon is fun, too. Bigger. I went in '99, I think it was, in Milwaukee and then in 2000 in Denver.

I've been laughing about it but this is the only time that Sara Paretsky and I are mentioned in the same breath (she is right below me on the registration list).

I definitely want to go to that one sometime, but the timing is bad for me as well!

Every once in awhile, I start reading a nonfiction book on a topic I haven't thought much about and learn so much. Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman is just such a book.

So informative. She's an atypical prisoner and is in a minimum security prison but so interesting.

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."

Pretty amazing that this was spoken 50 years ago today.

Really? I did not realize that.

I'm thinking about 1961 a lot this year and, apparently, I'm not the only one.

Was 1961 so unusual then? I was not born yet.

Stasia, that's disgusting... not born yet! Does that mean you don't remember Kennedy's assassination, MLK's killing, man's first walk on the moon?

#193 Let's just say I have a special connection to that year. Ahem.

I'm putting aside my current read for a bit to start on a Kindle book: Ask Not: The Inauguration of John F. Kennedy and the Speech That Changed America by Thurston Clarke.

Other favorite lines from the JFK inaugural (50 years ago almost to the moment).

"Civility is not a sign of weakness"

"Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate"
"The torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans."

Did you see the Google logo today? Perfect timing!

Thanks for mentioning that, mamzel. I hadn't seen it. Pretty cool.

Alas, my year in a women's prison book is too good so, when I had a few moments, I went back to that one.

You do know that if you keep going at this rate you will have finished the challege by the end of May. You do have chunksters scheduled this year, right?

#199 I've read one chunkster so far. Those and the Lincoln/Civil War category will probably be my toughest.

#194: Oh, I remember the walking on the moon thing big time. We lived in Florida then - it was a huge deal there, as you can imagine.

Book #12

Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman

I thoroughly enjoyed this informative, eye-opening look at living in a women's prison, albeit a minimum security federal prison in Danbury, CT.

The author was involved, in a somewhat minor role, in drug smuggling for a friend, not long after college. Annoyingly, the drug lord who oversaw the drug ring was never prosecuted. One odd thing, something I never realized, was that there was more than 10 years between the crime and the time. She knew she was going to go to prison but they wanted her to testify against the drug lord, but not in an orange prison jumpsuit, so she was outside, working and living.

Blonde and cute and young, she entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 15 months. Not surprisingly, once in prison, she found that many of her fellow inmates had been convicted for similar drug offenses but were serving far more time. It does pay to have high-priced legal help!!

I was expecting violence and lesbian attacks and who knows what else but, at least in this minimum security prison, there was none of that. Yes, there are humiliating strip searches but, for the most part, the inmates split up into tribes based on race, did their jobs (the author, a Smith College grad, did electrical work and then carpentry type work), and helped each other.

Surprisingly, the women were welcoming and shared what little they had, in terms of possessions and knowledge, with newcomers.

The author tended to rant about the drug policy of the U.S. and I thought the book occasionally got bogged down at those points but, for the most part, this was a lively, absolutely fascinating book. Loved it.

202- Looks good! I added that one to the wishlist...

One interesting thing: one thing that helped her get through her sentence, besides many, many visits and letters from family and friends was books.

It seemed like she got books in the mail most days. She was always passing books along to her fellow inmates.

#202 Very compelling review. I'm not totally convinced I want to read the book, maybe you could just tell me more about it, instead!

Well, the tribes were by race (half were "Spanish" (not Latino as she called them at first)), one-quarter black and one-quarter white. (If someone else, such as an Asian woman came in, some of each "tribe" would pitch in to help.) However, people of all races intermingled.

One of the hardest things for her was that her grandmother was seriously ill while she was "inside" and you can't get a furlough unless it's a parent, child, or spouse or, in rare cases, a sibling.

The camraderie was amazing. They really helped each other out and, since it was minimum security, they had more freedoms. She ran on the track every day and did yoga, too.

Oh and she was inside when Martha Stewart was being sentenced. They claimed they didn't want her there, even though Stamford was the closest prison to New York City but they were disappointed when she was sentenced to a West Virginia prison instead.

A roommate was called a "bunkie."

Since it is a minimum security facility, most of the women were there on drug charges, such as letting a son use the home to deal drugs. She says that there are nearly double the number of drug offenders in federal prison as violent offenders (I don't know enough to know whether that's accurate but, if true, it's amazing...and costly.)

The only time anyone ever commented negatively on someone else's crime, I think, was about the woman who stole money from her church.

One thing she didn't talk about, though I wished she had:

Did her fellow cons know she was writing a book and, if so, what did they think about it?

#199 Cheli, you do raise a good point. I am reading at a faster pace, somehow, this year. This is primo reading time for me, though. No baseball yet, for instance.

At this pace, I'd finish with 208 books read, well beyond the 155 and 156 in 2009 and 2010.

It'll probably all balance out in the end.

The Rockefeller drug laws have a lot to answer for... I think the broad outlines of what she is saying, as you mention it, is consistent with what I've heard. Judges in drug cases have had v.v. little flexibility in sentencing, even when it's clear that someone is not a real threat to society.

#209 She did acknowledge that, at one time, she thought of her crime as a victimless one but she saw what drugs did to other women and realized that what she did helped keep these women enslaved to drugs and what her crime did to her family and friends.

Another interesting portion of the book involves her encounter with her codefendant (who was her former lesbian lover and basically got her into the mess then ratted on her) when they were being transported to the Chicago to testify at another codefendant's trial.

One thing the prison, even this minimum security one, did not do is teach skills for coping on the outside. Nor did it provide all that much career counseling and/or educational opportunity.

The author, however, was a Smith College grad, engaged to a loving, supportive man, and had the strong backing of family and friends. Oh, and most importantly, she had a great job waiting for her when she got out. She's a VP of something or other. Marketing perhaps.

This has been an extremely thought-provoking book for me.

Another book I've got is the one about the prison librarian. Running the Books by Avi Steinberg.

Linda- Good review of Orange Is the New Black. I heard this mentioned on a podcast awhile ago and it sounded interesting.

BTW-Good idea on the Mystery March but I'll have to make it May! I need some breathing room after Fantasy February. But I have some good ideas for it.

I don't usually talk much here about my non-book reading but this is quite interesting. I think so anyway.

There's been a lot of talk about health reform legislation and whether it's constitutional. People wonder what the Founding Fathers would've done.

Well, turns out, the Founding Fathers, or at least John Adams, imposed a health care mandate of his own. Many publications, including the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post have had articles about this recently. Here's a brief explanation from WaPo.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/01/the_founders_health-care_man...

Not exactly the same, of course, and much smaller in scale. Even so, everything I've read led me to believe that "health reform" actually started with Teddy Roosevelt and his Bull Moose party in 1912 but, in some ways, John Adams was the first health reformer. I don't remember this at all from the David McCullough bio of Adams.

Thanks for the recommendation of Orange is the New Black, Linda!

#213 You're welcome Stasia. Quite a thought-provoking book.

Here's a much better discussion of John Adams and the first health insurance mandate.

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/01/17/congress-passes-socialized-medicine...

Thomas Jefferson was also a supporter.
http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/01/21/thomas-jefferson-also-supported-gov...

Time for a new thread.

My second inning is at:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/108039

Hope you'll join me over there!!

#211 Mark, a Mystery May sounds good to me, too.

I love Ilana's idea about creating a target list of books to read next month.Probably too late in the month to do it for January but I'm thinking about February.

A lot will depend on what the TIOLI challenges are. For February, I've got a few Fantasy February books in mind (for Mark's group), along with the Missouri Readers group book, and a few books in mind for Black History Month. Not to mention, no doubt, a few TIOLI books and some 11 in 11 challenge books.

It'll be a busy 28-day reading month.

176 (lindapanzo): I am a runner, of sorts, and my reaction to What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (which I read in January) was meh. I'd thought maybe it'd inspire me to read one of his novels, but it had the opposite effect, too emotionally distant for my taste. My 80 year old parents run, though they've never gone nearly so far as a marathon.