Sally906's books and musings from downunder

Gosh - 2011 staring me down the barrel - so moving in and getting settled - now off to find and star my friends!!!

Glad to have you back for 2011, Sally!

Hi, Sally! You're in Darwin, then? That makes you almost a neighbour! Glad to meet you.

Well the same country anyway :)

We are originally from Newcastle - which is a lot closer than Darwin!!!

Hello! Looking forward to getting to know you. :-)

Darwin? Australia? Like, six feet from the equator and hotter'n the hinges of hell thirteen months a year Darwin? Wow! you're tough!

Welcome back!

>6 richardderus: Yes that's the place :)

Still we crank the air-conditioner up and pretend we are in a decent temperature :)

And down here we're just coming out of the longest, wettest winter in history - remains to be seen what summer will look like.

Wow, Newcastle to Darwin, that must have been a bit of a shock! :)

>8 sally906: I grew up in far South Texas, not far from the Mexican border, but I was born in San Francisco, California...left a place where it's 4-5C in August for a place where it's 24-25C in January. Huge shock to the system, to be sure!

Hi Sally! Found, and starred, you!

Can't believe how organised you all are - all ready for 2011!! I'm still practically in denial about Christmas being next weekend.

Hi Sally, I've joined this challenge for 2011, just dropping by to star you.

#8: Still we crank the air-conditioner up and pretend we are in a decent temperature :)

I do the same thing here in North Texas.

Hi Sally - haven't been to Darwin, only to Alice Springs (which I guess for an Australian is kind of in your neighbourhood, only a few thousand kms...)

Looking forward to following your thread in 2011 - I've seen your TIOLI posts but didn't get organised enough to find you properly in 2010.

Thanks for dropping by everyone :)

OK - have made a decision.

Roll of drums please....

My first book to be read in 2011 will be Cleo: The Cat Who Mended A Family by Helen Brown

Quick! Someone check the insulin supply in Darwin, Sally'll be needing some soon!

LOL

My Nanna (God rest her soul) use to tell us to cry on New Years Day so the gods wouldn't get jealous.

If you stared the year with laughter they would get jealous and make sure you were miserable. So I always make sure my first book is a sad book in case she was right :)

I've just finished that book, so I can tell you...tears will be part of the equation. And know what? Nanna was on to something there. No sense drawing the attention of the gods unnecessarily. Never quite know what they'll do.

I just finished a piece of pumpkin-pecan spice bread, warm from the oven, slathered in butter. I feel *good*!

Now I have to find something depressing to read on New Years. I will have to check Darryl's thread. . .

Well, I'll be starting the New Year with Les Miserables, but it won't be the first book I finish!

Now, see, everybody has a different idea. My dad used to say that one must laugh on the first day of the year, so that it would set a good example for all the other days.

Looking forward to 2011 with a bit of trepidation, but kind of excited about all the LT people and books.

#19: Rdear, you read a book about a cat? I'm shocked!

Happy Holidays Sally.

Happy St. Stephen's Day! Or Boxing Day! Whichever you prefer, Sally, may it be a happy, happy occasion. Since you're summering, you'll get a kick out of this...we're expecting a blizzard today! *whee*

Happy Holidays, Sally!

Richard I am so jealous - it is 95 Fahrenheit here today - and 92% humidity - I would love to send you my heat in exchange for your blizzard!!!

Sally, ew! We had lovely Christmas Day weather (sunny, warm, but not too hot or humid), but has been wet and almost cold ever since! Most unlike a Sydney Christmas! And completely different from what you're having (which I'm rather grateful for).

>26 sally906: Well, love, you *do* live 2 meters from the Equator...whatever can one expect from such a hellish spot but hellish heat and humidity? *delicate shiver* I'll take my -5C and like it. And I'll be shrieking my fool head off when it's 90F here this coming August.

But it'll only be for a few weeks. *heeheehee*

I've been to Darwin! I've been to Darwin! I went in May 2005 and if I remember correctly, it was actually a very pleasant temperature. I'll swap my -5(ish) and fog in the-not-so-sunny-UK for five minutes of your actual warmth!

Interesting notion about reading sad books in the New Year, I might have to try it too!

Ah May - great time of the year to be here. The wet season is over and the dry has arrived with cool nights warm days and no humidity :)

Have added a few more books to my January will read list - Chill Factor, Sense and Sensibility, The Help and A Spell of Winter. These will join my cat book.

I read the first chapter of The Help on my otherwise-mentioned-dastardly-Kindle - it was really enjoyable and I think I'll spend some of my Christmas vouchers on it so I may read along with you!

Happy New Year, Miss Sally! I hope it will be a great one for you!

ETA: No ability to spelly even the simplest name today.

The first book on the go for 2011 is Cleo: The Cat who mended a family by Helen Brown. Can you say you are loving a book that drains you emotionally? Well I am - is very sad as Helen Brown's 9 year old son has just been killed in a tragic car accident.

Happy New Year, Sally!

Happy New Year, Sally!

Happy New Year, I'm visiting as many new threads as I can, I've been around a bit of Australia, but not to Darwin.

starred!!

I have finished Cleo:How an Uppity Cat helped heal a family by Helen Brown. The touchstone title is different from the one on my edition.

Haven't done my review yet but looks at how a kitten helps her new family recover from the trauma of a 9 year old child being knocked over and killed. That kitten is Cleo and over the next 24 years she continues to help her family. Is a 4 star read.

#39: I already have that one in the BlackHole, so I get to dodge that BB.

I am glad your reading year is off to a good start, Sally!

Pleased that you liked it too, wasn't Cleo an interesting cat.

Hi Sally! Just popping in to say hi! Cleo sounds like the kind of story I avoid at all costs because of the heavy emotional toll it asks. I'll put it on my list of 'Books I will read one day when I won't be crying for days afterward". Happy New Year!

I've done my review for Cleo: How an uppity Cat helped heal a family by Helen Brown - am reproducing here:

Opening Sentence: “…’We’re not getting a kitten,’ I said, negotiating our stationwagon around a bend the shape of a pretzel.…”

Helen Brown took her animal loving son Sam to see a litter of kittens as he badly wanted one for his upcoming tenth birthday. The only kitten left is the runt, a tiny little scrap of black fur. Naming her Cleo it is arranged that the kitten would be dropped off to Sam in a few months time when she was old enough to leave her mother.

Sam’s love and total fascination in animals leads to a horrific accident. Shortly after his birthday while rushing an injured bird to a vet’s, he runs out in front of a car and is killed. The family is devastated – for Helen the grief is almost too much to bear. A few weeks later there is a knock on the door and Cleo is delivered. Helen insists that the kitten be taken away as she is no longer wanted but when Helen turns around and sees her younger son Rob smiling and cuddling Cleo she agrees to keep the kitten. Cleo is like a little whirlwind leaping from one moment of mischief to another, doing what comes naturally to kittens – ruling the roost. Yet in amongst the impishness, there is wisdom and compassion beyond human ken in this tiny furry companion. She knows when cuddles are needed, she knows when to distract from the depths of despair. After a while she not only heals their hearts, but allows them to move on with their lives. Rob is convinced Cleo tells him stuff in his dreams, that he will find friends and everything will be ok. It certainly appears that for the whole of her 24 years of life Cleo brings the right people into their lives at the right time. As a marriage ends, a career blossoms, love blossoms and illness strikes, Cleo is right there front, centre and in their face.

Helen Brown writes with a down-to-earth approach and never allows the story to get overemotional or melodramatic, even when tragic events occur. Helen’s story is about recovering after personal tragedy and the power of animals in that process; it is both heart-rending and very funny, sometimes on the same page. But it is honest and from her very soul. I recommend CLEO: HOW AN UPPITY CAT HELPED HEAL A FAMILY as it brings to the forefront the uncanny knowledge of our furry friends, the patience and restorative power of animal love.

I already have that one in the BlackHole, but nice review, Sally!

Nice review... !

Awesome review! Almost enough to make me forget my rule of 'No Animal Books Ever'!

Animal books aren't really my thing at all, but I've seen so much positive feedback on this one I'm actually considering it! Great review.

That's a really great review, I also thought it was a very honest book. What a great cat!

Hi Sally- checking out your thread! Nice review- love animal stories!

OK - well January has finished - and I finshed 11 books - each one has been reviewed here on librarything
Cleo: How an Uppity Cat helped heal a family by Helen Brown
Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore
Bras and Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Kiwis might fly by Polly Evans
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls by Victoria Laurie
Ghost in Trouble by Carolyn Hart

So 11 down and 64 to go :)

#50: You have had a nice start to your reading year, Sally! You should be proud of yourself.

Hi There

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

Thanks.

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

Ditto what Stasia said regarding a great start.

Hi Sally - I hope you are safe with that cyclone almost upon you.

Not my part of the Australia - but have many friends who have bunkered down as the monster approaches the coast - am worried sick

Sally, I know. Again, it's not my part of Australia, but after the floods, poor old Queensland is taking yet another battering. Looks like it's less bad than they feared, in Cairns at least.

Good luck with your friends, I'm sure they're fine, although it must be a scary thing to experience.