Ape's 2011 Challenge (1)

It's a new year, and with it a new thread for a new challenge to face with all my new, wonderful friends. You all have been so great to me, every last one of you, and I hope you know how welcome and comfortable you have made me feel here! Let it continue through this new year.

2010 had its ups and downs. It turned out to be a year of unemployment and poverty when I discovered my car was irreparable in April, and I had no way of fixing or replacing it. But it was also the year I discovered the 75 group, and all the kind people who fill it. It was the first year I felt comfortable openly discussing my social anxieties, and the year I found a group of sentimental people who actually gave a damn.

Oh, and I had a tooth extracted. Fun.

May 2011 see further progress. For me it is filled with hope for success and positivity, and I look forward to developing a life outside of the walls I have enclosed myself in.

I hope you all join me.

Books Read: 1
Pages Read: 334

January:
1. Wave of Terror by Theodore Odrach

Hey, Stephen! I see you are a 'prequel' no more!

Looking back on 2010:

Favorite books of 2010-

Fiction:
Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
World War Z by Max Brooks
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen
The Terrorist of Irustan by Louise Marley
Mulengro by Charles De Lint
Pluto, Animal Lover by Laren Stover

Nonfiction:
Bonk by Mary Roach
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
Spook by Mary Roach
Microcosm by Carl Zimmer
The Coming Plague by Laurie Garret
The Earth Dwellers by Erich Hoyt
First Light by Richard Preston

I reserve the right to make lots of mistakes here, because I didn't double-check my math and I used my inconsistent tagging as a source of many of the genre/topic stats! D'oh.

Books read: 87
Pages read: 25,958

Average book size: 298 pages
Average pages read per day: 71
per week: 497
per month: 2,163

On average, I finished a book every: 4 days.

Genres, Topics, etc:

Fiction: 57
Nonfiction: 27

Science: 16
Memoir: 7

Graphic Novels: 8
Poetry: 7

Horror: 12
Classic: 9
Science Fiction: 7
Fantasy: 6
Historical Fiction: 6
Mystery: 5
Thriller: 5
Young Adult: 4

Average Ratings:

Fiction: 3.5
Nonfiction: 3.2

Science: 3.5
Memoir: 3.2

Graphic Novels: 3.1
Poetry: 3.1

Science Fiction: 4.1
Classics: 3.8
Historical Fiction: 3.6
Horror: 3.1
Fantasy: 3.0
Thriller: 3.0
Mystery: 2.8
Young Adult: 2.7

Gender:

Male: 65
Female: 22

Average Star Rating:
Male: 3.2
Female: 3.3

Star Breakdown:

: 10
: 26
: 37
: 10
: 4

Early Reviewers books won: 4
1) The Passage by Justin Cronin
2) Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
3) Rivers of Gold by Adam Dunn
4) The Mullah's Storm by Thomas Young

The Question Game:

Describe yourself: Mr. Apology
(Or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...)

Describe how you feel: Another Bullshit Night in Suck City

Describe where you currently live: The Dream Room
(or The Last Town on Earth)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Brave New World

Your favorite form of transportation: The Road

Your best friend is: Into the Silent Land...

You and your friends are: Microterrors

What’s the weather like: A Winter Haunting

You fear: The Coming Plague

What is the best advice you have to give: I Am America (and So Can You!)

Thought for the day: I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X...

How I would like to die: In the Skin of a Lion

My soul’s present condition: The Inferno

Oh hey! I haven't seen you post so quickly in a long time, you were slowing down there for awhile! :)

I am getting old. I have to sleep at least 4 hours a day now. Everyone seems to post while I am in bed :)

starred

Found your thread a little late... Happy New Year!

World War Z was one of my favorite reads of the year, as well. I look forward to following your thread.

I have you Starred ;-)

You señor, have a big shiny star ;)

Starred! But I'm still trying to figure out why?????
I guess lurking on your thread is fun.... or something else???
Well, you're my friend. So there! :)

Hello everyone, and welcome! :)

Stasia: 4 hours!? Why, that's almost human!

Hi Kath!

Jess: No no, not late at all. Just in time, actually. Happy New Year!

Hello Tanglewood, welcome! Enjoy the thread while you can, it probably won't be long before I start scaring everyone away... :)

Hello and welcome Cindy, Kate, and Claudia! Thanks for the stars! *Sneaks them onto Star Chart while Ellie isn't looking*

Luxx: Please tell me that isn't a sonogram of the most recent monster!

Nah, the teeth buds have only JUST formed. That's B.

Well, I must say your son has beautiful eyes.

You should see his lashes in person! Killer, man. Just killer.

I am deeply, deeply shocked! There hasn't been a single mention of zombies, erections, or zombie erections yet, and there are almost 20 posts to the thread!

*feels Stephen's forehead*

Maybe a little bit of fever, or it could just be a blush....

I really love how often Padre is the one responsible for bringing up zombie erections these days.



I'd like to inform you that when I did a google search for "Zombie Erections" this image popped up, and when I clicked on the image it took me to dear Stephen's 10th thread for 2010.

LOLOL

I'm going to try to do a better job keeping up this time, though your threads move a bit too fast for me!

Ick on the tooth extraction, but yay to no more pain, Stefano. I love you taking the time to break your 2010 reads down into the various categories and ratings. I would like to do that to mine too ...... but i'm finding 1001 other things that are calling for my immediate attention. Oh dear, is this a slothful sign and a bad start to 2011 for me? Will I turn into a lumpy blob? Ack!

Luxx: Oh, eyelashes, right...hmmm, and here I thought it was the purple fur that made him so darn cute. :P

Richard: Nope, no blushing here when it comes to zombie erections. Or regular erections for that matter! ...errr, so long as they aren't my own...

Now, you stop it. I have a nice pleasant little thread and all these newcomers think I'm an innocent little boy. No need to go ruining it! :P

Luxx: Woohoo, I'm famous!

Hi Zoe! Hope to see you around if you are able to visit more! I know it's difficult getting in regularly with all the quarantines, biohazard containment procedures and security checkpoints, but I do need to be sure that none of this mess makes it out of this place. There are still leaks of course, but I'm doing my best!

Speaking as the Official Spokesblob of the Lumpy Blobs' Guild, we wish to inform all and sundry that the Lumpy Blob Community will no longer accept outcast and outsider status.

Formal retraction of anti-Lumpy Blob-American innuendo is herewith demanded.

You're rejecting ME from the LBC, Richard?!!!! Waaaaaahhhhh.... my first rejection of the year! And to think I have 364 more days of potential rejections to face .... *need even MORE bags of potato chips to drown my depression in*

don't forget to dip those chips in ice cream ;P

Hey Caro! The tag system really helped. I have collections to keep track of what I read each year, so I can sort my tags by "Books Read - 2010" and then pick out the genres and whatnot, and that made coming up with the averages much easier.

Of course, there are plenty of books that fit into multiple genres, so there is a lot of overlap there, but still! :)

I actually didn't include History even though it was a very popular tag because the History and Science tags were identical. Lots of things like Pox Americana and whatnot...

Katie: And wrap your bacon in...errr...more bacon! :)

I just realized I forgot to include young adult books in my stats! This is mostly because I didn't read hardly any last year, but I'll add them anyway. Here they are:

YA books read: 4
Average rating: 2.7

Yep, not a good year for YA books I suppose, nothing over a 3-star rating. :(

The only time I've experienced bacon in the wrong

Oh dear, yes, who'd ruin perfectly good bacon with (blech) alcohol. Totally icky, indeed. :P

Man, you guys are a chatty bunch on New Year's Day! *yawns* I wish I liked coffee...I need some! Maybe a mimosa would help...

#29: Poor Wilbur. :(

#30: Howdy, Stefano, and a belated New Year to you, you awful carnivore, you! :P

#31: Agreed. I've had half a RockStar already, and I'm just Not. Waking. Up. But I'm dressed, so that's a plus, right?

Happy New Year! *plonks star down*
Hmm bacon vodka... nah I'll stick with my normal stuff ta although I think I was a bit heavy-handed with this mix cos it tastes a tad medicinal (which is actually a good thing I think?)
Soo... how many threads will we get through before the first review? :P

Hi Kim. So...your six weeks are over now right? Did you last the whole time!? :P

Oh, and I don't need coffee. I'm an early bird/morning person, I'm afraid...

Happy New Year Sara. Energy drinks scare me...who knows what'd happen if I drank one. Scary...

Hey Rach, happy New Year to you! That is actually a concern...I very well may go a thread without a review at this rate...

ewwww, I hate mornings. I'm naturally nocturnal. Energy drinks turn me into a hyper 5 year old >:}

Nighttime sucks, you can't SEE anything. While I tend to despise the sun for being and overall pest, at least it makes things I'm about to walk into visible.

Doesn't always mean I won't walk into them anyway, but still! :P

Ha! I have super sweet night vision and actually run into things less frequently in the dark. . . . totally weird, I know.

Oh, not weird at all. At least, not weird enough for my thread! Guess you'll just have to try harder. ;)

I'm an early bird/morning person, I'm afraid...

I'm afraid, too.

I much much prefer nighttime. Sure you may not be able to see ... outside. If you live in the middle of nowhere with no ambient light. But I prefer to be indoors, where I keep my sewing machines and books.

Hmmmm, a challenge eh? I hope you realize there will now be several posts with the mundanely strange, and nothing legitimately 'Stephen's thread weird'. Because I like to be annoying like that. :P

A few days ago it smelled like mustard outside.

Why.....? The mustard smell I mean, not the annoying Stephen part! That makes perfect sense. LOL

Mustard? Maybe there was a gas leak...and the fumes mutated your eyes and gave you freak-nightvision super powers. :P

Kim: Me? Annoying? NOT! I'm far too quiet to be annoying.

*Walks around making loud obnoxious noises*

Used a 50% coupon at Borders today for my grandson. The Walking Dead II. Library from now on, books are to expensive without coupon.

Happy New Year Stephen! I'm already skimming over the mentions of zombie erections on your thread - that's soo 2010.

#34: They should scare me, but I still drink them, even with my level of anxiety. I would sleep into oblivion without caffeine. I don't seem to have an inner "wake up!" button.

#35: Ditto on the mornings. XP

#36: Ha! That reminds me of The IT Crowd t-shirt: "The Sun Is Trying To Kill Me". I want!

::hands Stephen some bubblewrap:: That should do the trick. No more stumbling into stuff. Or at least not getting bruised or cut up at least.

#39: You can hear some really freaky stuff outside at night. My sis swore she heard a pterodactyl once, but I think she was trying to get out of trash duty.

#40: Yuuummmm....mustard! I googled sexy mustard, but I'm not really finding anything weird enough to fit on Stephen's thread. :(

Cindy: Indeed, I couldn't justify spending money on graphic novels consider how much they cost and how quickly they are read, unless I wanted to own it for the art, or if it was a really big omnibus. Coupons and public libraries are always good for those! :)

Heather: Happy New Year! You are right, zombie erections are so old news. But...do you really want to start wracking my brain for new things to talk about? ...

Sara: Hmmm, surely you can find SOMETHING. Try harder!

Luxx: Bah! I like sunrises and crisp morning air and the smell of dew-covered grass. Nighttime is overrated.

I will gladly take mutations that benefit me ;)

#45: I like when people think there are monsters outside. My step-dad thought the Chupacabra was attacking our house, but it was only a possum.

And look! There is even a cuddly zombie chupacabra that will eat you and your sheep

Katie: ...OMG I WANT ONE! It's not as cute as the ebola and smallpox plushies...but still adorable. :P

Ok, there was an obvious stat I didn't think of until I saw it on Rachel's thread, so I'm stealing it for myself. Here is my star break down:

: 10

: 26

: 37

: 10

: 4

AND, here is the entire year's books, divided by star rating. Of course you can sort the collection I have listed on my profile for more depth, but I'm posting it here anyway! ...


1) Pluto, Animal Lover
2) Farhenheit 451
3) Brave New World
4) The Last Town on Earth
5) Bonk
6) Fun Home
7) A Boy's Will/North of Boston
8) The Road
9) The Terrorist of Irustan
10) World War Z


1) Mulengro
2) The Iliad
3) The Fall of Rome
4) The Coming Plague
5) Scourge
6) Whitechapel Gods
7) The Passage
8) Another Bullshit Night in Suck City
9) The Dream Room
10) From the Dust Returned
11) Spook
12) First Light
13) Microterrors
14) Garage Band
15) Packing for Mars
16) Microcosm
17) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
18) The Mind Tree
19) The Dead Man
20) The Contract with God Trilogy
21) New York: Life in the Big City
22) When the Emporor Was Divine
23) The End of Summer
24) The Resurrectionist
25) The Earth Dwellers
26) The Planets


1) Plague
2) The Hound of the Baskervilles
3) Brave the Betrayal
4) Where the Red Fern Grows
5) Ghost Ocean
6) Frieze
7) Pandemic
8) Crooked Little Vein
9) Escaping Tornado Season
10) When Elephants Weep
11) Blood Lies
12) Blood, Tin, Straw
13) The Black Sun
14) The Future of Ice
15) In the Skin of a Lion
16) A Winter Haunting
17) Ravel
18) Into the Silent Land
19) The Edge of Reason
20) Mad Kestrel
21) Grayson
22) Pox Americana
23) I Am America (And So Can You!)
24) Dawn Song
25) Eifelheim
26) Blue Pills
27) Vaccinated
28) I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X
29) River of Darkness
30) Virus X
31) The Haunting of Hill House
32) Horrorween
33) The Conqueror Worms
34) Mr. Apology
35) The Mullah's Storm
36) The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun
37) Pride of Baghdad


1) Inferno
2) The Snow Lion's Turquoise Mane
3) Fell Cargo
4) Nighttime is My Time
5) Jubilant Thicket
6) The Aeneid
7) Cruel and Unusual
8) The Wereling
9) Fright Time #8
10) Rivers of Gold


1) Lab 257
2) Little Things
3) The Amazing Adventures of The Escapist (Vol 1
4) They Hunger

Wow - some good titles there - Wish list increasing!!!

#46: Oh, yeah, libraries are great for finding graphic novels. Once someone donated a couple huge adult graphic novels at a library I used to work at (Erotic Comics 1 & 2 by Jim Pilcher). Nobody really wanted to put them out on the For Sale shelf (can you blame them? especially with a Christian school next door), so guess who got to buy them for a $1 each? :) Hee hee! Need you ask?

Try harder! -- I'm a-trying! But mustard is just not sexy, no matter how many naked bodies you put it on. :(

#47: Yes, I always get possums and chupacabras mixed up. :P

#48: You, my dear, have too much time on your hands! I was gonna do the stats for my 2010 reads, but my butt has rooted itself in front of the TV....

seriously.. I am clearly too old for this thread..
can't keep up

nice list though Stevadore

Thank goodness I was already adding the books you read in 2009 to my obese wish list after your reviews ... otherwise this list you just posted would just overwhelm me and I'd need to lie down, Stefano.

*Waves* Hi Stephen! Finally caught up on your threads!

Tamara, Please help me find you. I've lost your thread.

Hi Stephen, Happy New Year! Funny, but I hadn't even given thought that we were starting a new decade until I saw your mention of it here. *Time has lost all meaning for me*. I'm loving all your stats. Wishing you all the best for 2011!

#55: *Time has lost all meaning for me*.

Ditto!

Hi There and Welcome Back! I look forward to following you in 2011!

I'm going to steal the star .gif for my own use. It's much better than using boring old asterisks!

ETA: I just realized something funny about myself while googling for star clip art: when I see an inverted pentacle I automatically tilt my head to the left to orient the image "correctly."

Hi Stephen,

Just stopping by to wish you much happiness in the new year.

Joanne

Hi, Stephen ~ Just dropping by to wish you a Happy New Year and, as you say, New Decade! Love all your lists, and agree with you 100% about The Terrorist of Irustan. Excellent book! Cheers!

*La-la-la-la...* WAIT. You had a tooth extracted?! Did I miss something at the end of the Prequel?!?! I thought it had been feeling better... o_O *runs to check other thread*

Okay. I thought the decade started last year, just like life starts when you are born at zero. This decade started at 2010 and the one before that started at 2000. Yes?! No?!

Er . . . maybe?

::consults Magic 8 Ball::

"Better Not Tell You Now". Scary thought. 0_o

2001 & 2011 are the decade starts in my book... because you don't start counting things at '0'... but I know there are differing opinions :)

Hi Stephen, I think I lost your thread for a couple of weeks but I've got you starred now. Also, just wanted to thank you for your encouragement to try graphic novels. In the last couple of weeks, I've read The Arrival, The Night Bookmobile and Asterios Polyp and liked them all. I'm just about to start The Invention of Hugo Cabret. How's your tooth doing these days?

Can't remember why I came in here.

*shuffles out, scuffing run-over slippers and tugging on misbuttoned cardigan*

See I was so distracted by the prequel thread that I almost forgot to come search for your new one. And ended up 66 behind. Again. Ah well... starred.

Hi! I think your reading list is quite interesting. And I've got somehow the impression that this will be a very varied thread. :) Starred.

I have absolutely nothing to say, so I am saying it. 'It.'

Wow, 20 posts overnight! I can barely keep up with my own thread, my goodness!

Ok so first off, welcome to all first-time visitors of this thread; Sally, Tamara, Linda, Joanne, Mary, Faith, Pat, Bekka, and Kathy! So many of you!

I'm a-trying! But mustard is just not sexy, no matter how many naked bodies you put it on. :(

Ok...perhaps you are right.

58: ROFL

61: Actually, I had a bad tooth extracted before Thanksgiving (mostly because I couldn't afford to get it fixed) and then another one started giving me problems on Christmas Eve. -.-

62: You are right of course! 2010 would have been the new decade, of course of course. Sorry, I'm an idiot. I think it's because just this year I switched from saying "two-thousand-and-ten" to "Twenty-Eleven." It feels like a new decade. Ok, fixing first post now...

65: I'm so glad you gave Graphic Novels a chance. Eventually we'll have everyone convinced they are a viable form of literature. Even RICHARD! :)

*Waves at everyone he couldn't address directly because there are so many darn post!*

#70: I can barely keep up with my own thread, my goodness!

*drily* Try keeping up with everyone's.

I've read raphic novels...several series, in fact...but don't make them a steady diet item. Too thin for me, I like real heft and muscle in my men novels.

70.. I knew that rd had read graphics.
I tried the one.. even though it was my favorite author
and the art was gorgeous, they are not for me.

I gave it to my son Adam, (Mr Mendoza's Paintbrush) and he loves it!

I keep thinking it's the start of a new decade too - maybe because they kept saying it on TV on New Year's Eve - but you're right, if we started a new millennium at 2000 it would have been last year! *feels strangely bereft*

Now, did everyone miss that reference to ANOTHER BAD TOOTH STARTING ON CHRISTMAS EVE???! Get your glasses on ladies, we might be in for another bout of Staring Fiercely At Stephen... Or maybe he'll go to the dentist early this time. *coughs pointedly*

Oh, and starred by the way, of course... :-)

Stasia: Good point!

Richard: Ah, enlightening. I guess I'm glad you don't prefer your men novels to be classics published over a century ago. :P

Kath: Hey, at least you gave them a try. Now you really need to get on those zombie/disease books, y'hear!? :P

Hi Ellie! As a matter of fact, I think I did hear some TV broadcasters calling it a new decade. Well good, at least I'm not the only one! As far as the OTHER bad tooth goes, it has mostly quit hurting already...although last night it gave me a little pain again. I think it happens whenever I eat pizza. It's misleading because it seems soft but you have to take into consideration the chewy toughness of the crust. Lesson learned! (Maybe...)

*peers grimly over glasses*
not likely

/delurk/

Found you:) I look forward to seeing what you read in the coming year.

Wishing you a year of Good Books, Good Friends and Good Health.

/returns to lurk mode:)/

Technically, decades start on the ones because there isn't a year zero, so years 2001 through 2010 are a decade. And 2001 is the first year of the new century. Blame it on Pope Gregory and that new-dangled calendar of his...

Sara, I think I found something mustard related that is weird enough for here:



Has naked zombie lady legs, with the weird fish head, and a nonsensical string of words. LOL!

I think you should have sticked with the prequel until you finished your first book ;-)
But on the other hand... I love threads without books that are screaming to be added to mountain TBR....

Kath: *Shudders*

Calm: Hello! Thanks for visiting, and for all the kind words. Stick around if you can...assuming you deem it safe to do so, that is. :)

Jim: Hmmm, I don't know. When I think of, say, the 80's, I think of the years 1980-1989, not 1981-1990. *Shrug*

Kate: Oh dear, now that's just plain strange!

Anita: Perhaps, but I think I might finish a book before this thread ends because I'm hoping to participate a bit in Ellie's Readathon, that'll help!

Thanks for pimping the Read-a-Thon Stephen! I'm going for a super-late night today, hopefully followed by a late-to-rise morning tomorrow, which should make the wee hours of read-a-thon night a little easier. I think it'll be movies and naps tomorrow, save my reading enthusiasm for 8 o'clock!

Dropping by for the first time to say 'Howdy'. And if the eccentricities of your thread topics puts some people off, it's gotta attract some people too. Don't know who'd be that weird though... ;)

I'm new among the 75ers this year (decade) and you have both an interesting book list and a highly unusual conversation going on here. Definitely starred for repeat visits! Nice to "meet" you Stephen!

Ellie: Always good to have a plan. I'm still debating whether or not I should wake myself up a little earlier. I want to participate, I just don't know if i can read that long! *shrug*

Emilie: Yes, sometimes I wonder if I should be concerned about all the crazy people who actually read my thread. :P

Mary Lynne: Hello! Nice to meet you, and welcome to the thread. Stick around while if you like, though I do recommend you stick your head out from time to time to get some fresh air. Can NOT be good to breathe this air consistently.

Stephen, sweets, NOBODY can read that long. I've got food planned, I'm going to be napping (or 'crawling onto my twirly chair in exhaustion', if you like), and if I just can't read any more I'll probably watch an episode of something on DVD for a break. This is where being a night owl trumps being an early bird though, mwahahaha... :-)

hey ho, Stefano .. it's just day 2 of the year and I'm already behind some of the threads, including yours.

#79: Holy crap, that does belong on here! :D If I have nightmares about that thing tonight, I'll know who to blame.

#81: When I think of, say, the 80's, I think of the years 1980-1989, not 1981-1990.

Same here.

#85: Yes, Stephen, you should be concerned about all the crazy people who read your thread. They're a bunch of wierdos! You know who you are, you, you, and especially YOU!

#88: Are you talking to me? Moi? I know I am not the only crazy person here! Am I? Hmmm.

Ellie: Yes, I think being a night owl trumps being an early bird most of the time...I just can't help it! :(

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do exactly. I might just skip reading the first night, go to bed early, and wake up super early and try to read for 12 hours straight or something... *shrug* I don't know, we'll see!

Caro: Sorry! Fortunately there were only 4 posts here when I woke up this morning, so I might be able to keep up today!

Sara: I'll know who to blame.

Not me! I didn't post it! :(

Stasia: Don't worry Stasia, you aren't crazy because you read my thread.

You're crazy because you read EVERYONE'S thread! :P

Thanks, Stephen. Of course, I am considering the source in this case :)

Helloooo, Stephen. So glad that the duel yearanicity threads are over and we can concentrate on the new. See ya at Ellie's readathon.

Stasia: Yep, you know when I call you crazy you are in deep!

Lynda: Indeed, althought it wasn't as much of a problem for me. I couldn't read many of the threads that reached over 300 posts, so it was easy to ignore them and just concentrate on the 2011 threads.

It's nice everything is settling down though! :)

Matters calendrical: Does anyone remember that 2000, a year supposed to be a leap year, was not? Because of the mismatch between calendar and sidereal years, every 400 years we skip a leap year. And that one was it...the LAST YEAR OF THE CENTURY AND THE MILLENNIUM that it was.

*cue portentous music*

Stasia: Don't worry Stasia, you aren't crazy because you read my thread.

You're crazy because you read EVERYONE'S thread! :P

True story. But don't worry, Stasia - you're in good company on the insanity front.

Happy New Year, Stephen!

Happy New Year, Stephen! See you over at the Readthon thread in ... 3 hours!

Richard: Nope, I don't remember that. I was 12 years old and oblivious to such things, remember? :P

What Luxx said!

Happy New Year Laura and Roni! :)

Ok everyone, I'm gearing up for Ellie's readathon. I'm not going to post hourly updates tonight because I'm only reading for 3 hours or so, so I'm going to try to read straight through them without any distractions. Tomorow I'll update a bit more regularly!

Uh, I don't think I participate in the Ellie readathon. :( I think my supervisor might frown on my sitting in a corner and not working. Just call it a hunch. ;)

>47 katelisim: WAIT! THAT is a chupacabra? What is it exactly?

I spent a week in December with my granddaughter, who was always running away from the chupacabra, and I thought it was something she made up. She's 4 and will not explain anything to me. Surely one of you whippersnappers can fill me in?

Just a quck update:

Hour 1 (3pm-4pm)
Pages read this hour: 28
Total pages read: 28

I was reading a bit slowly at first because I found I was a very concious of when I was turning pages and what time it was, but after a few pages I was drawn into my book and the hour flew by! Yep, I don't think this is going to be a problem at all!

Go you! Reading for two hours now and read about 65 pages I think, plus munching on pizza, as usual... :-)

101: It is a legendary creature (like Big Foot) that is said to inhabit the Americas. It drinks the blood of livestock, most commonly goats and sheep. Check the interwebs, lots of info out there. I believe Discovery or the History Channel had some special on it a while back. And of course, that stuffed animal is made all cute. The real thing is much scarier ;P

oh wish I could participate- I will be sorta kinda reading tonight so I guess its my own reading participation. XD

Hi Ellie! Hope you are doing well, I'm off to visit your blog/thread RIGHT now. :)

Hi Sara, Terri, Katie, and Tamara! ^_^

Hour 2 (4pm-5pm)
Pages read this hour: 27
Total pages read: 55

Hour 3 (5pm-6pm)
Pages read this hour: 36
Total Pages read: 91

Hey everyone. Back from a 2 hour stretch. I noticed hopping on here just long enough to post that quick update took a big chunk out of my reading time for the 2nd hour, I definitely like the idea of reading multiple hours before updating, so I'll probably do that tomorrow.

1. Where are you reading from today?
Ohio, in various positions in various pieces of furniture throughout the house, mostly! Granted I mostly stayed sprawled on the couch tonight but I have a feeling that'll change tomorrow.

2. Three facts about you?
I'm so bad at thinking of what to say when such questions are asked, I have nothing interesting to say! Errrr, ummmmm, ok. 1) I'm bad at answering these questions, 2) I never have anything interesting so say, and 3) ...errr, ummm...crap!

3. How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
Well, I have the book I'm reading now and then I have 7 books to choose from if I finish it.

4. Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours)?
Well, not exactly...though it would be nice to get my first 2011 book finished! :)

5. If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
Nope, first-timer here.

Well, I've read more today than I have in probably a couple months, not counting the one graphic novel I read at the end of December. Can only imagine how many pages I can wrack up tomorrow. I'm off for now, but I'll be cheering you all on!

*Go Stephen, Go Stephen* No, really, GO, so you can come back nice and early and carry on reading!

Go go go!!! Keep reading!!!

Also, those three facts really were crap. Surely you can come up with something better! Like... what color is your warmest blanket? Or... when did you first eat cheese? Anything, my good sir, anything! They don't have to be GOOD facts, but at least give us something! LOL.

#108: Well, I thought "...errr, ummm...crap!" was very insightful. I tend to say that at least a dozen times a day.

Hmmm, three things about Stephen... 1) He has a strange paranoia about the size of the pompom on his Santa hat. No, that's not a euphemism. 2) He loves Richard Preston and Mary Roach's science books. 3) One day he's going to come to England and I'm going to lock him in a cage in the bookshop and flaunt him as a tourist attraction. Yes, really.

Hope that helps... :-)
*runs back to safety while Stephen's still asleep*

LMAO. #3: That's one scary prediction.

Actually, it was his idea. You didn't think I'd come up with such a warped business opportunity, did you?! *looks around at Stephen's thread and quietly points out the zombie erections and mutant mustard*

I should've known. ::rolls eyes:: Sheesh, Stephy, ya weirdo.

Zombie erections and mutant mustard . . . ugh, I just flashed on my snack earlier: tofu dog in mustard. :P Glad I didn't read that beforehand.

I guess I'll start sharpening my poke-the-freak stick now. And I might as well start hitch-hiking too. I doubt I can scrape up enough to fly me and my critters across the globe. On to Ellie's li'l bookshop freakshow! Yay! :)

Ahahaha! The image I got was from Hocus Pocus (Disney movie with Bette Midler, Sara Jessica Parker) where the Sanderson Sisters have the bullies in the cages above the brewing potion. The 2 hopping around poking them and grabbing at their feet :}

Woah, I haven't seen that one in ages! Thanks, katelisim. I know what I'll be googling next. :)

Oh yikes. Well, it's 2am in Stephenland so I guess we won't be seeing him for a while yet... Plenty of time to plot his man-slave captive downfall, mwahaha!

Readathon? nice ..
sounds like a lovely way to spend a day.

In fact, i had one of my own on sunday.. finished one book and read another.
Monday.. it was work .. :P

#95: Yeah, I know. I have been hanging around this group far too long! :)

Steeeeeeephen? Are you awaaaaake yet? *dangles pan of frying bacon and waits*

Hour...16? (6am-7am)
Pages read this hour: 12
Total pages read: 103

Hey everyone. I'm getting at it a bit late this morning. I woke up as scheduled, but by the time I got up and ready and took Shyanne outside for awhile 6am was almost gone. Now I'm trying to get caught up on all the late-night activity and I'm watching the 7am hour slip away! I'll just have to skim a lot and come back to it after the readathon is over.

110: Here's what you do. You encourage and inspire me by telling me my pompom is REALLY big, so I can have enough confidence to travel to England. Then you collect a pile of Richard Preston and Mary Roach books and stick them in the cage to lure me in. Shut the door when I jump inside and mission accomplished!

*makes notes studiously*

Welcome back to the fray sweets! Now GET READING! 4:30am my ass. :-)

Hehe, I got up at 5:30 but Shyanne is a slowpoke when she goes out! :P

Hour 17 (7am-8am)
Pages read this hour: 15
Total pages read: 118

Another slow start as I spent half the hour trying to catch up on everything. Didn't get caught up but I think I can settle down now and get some reading done!

Hour 18 (8am-9am)
Pages read this hour: 33
Total pages read: 151

Wave of Terror is getting very good. It's sort of strayed from the topic at hand but I'm finding it very enjoyable to read. I'm nearing the end of it now and should have it finished sometime soon. Already trying to figure out what to read next. The denser historical fiction with small text or the widely spaced, short-chaptered (and icky) Christian fiction book that I probably won't like. Hmmm....

Oh sure, blame the dog... *wonders if she can lure a kitten up here and say her hypnotically twitching tail sent her to sleep* Maybe not. Evidently remnants of the 'I sound like I'm drugged' mindset haven't quite worn off yet.

Keep reading, young man! *perches glasses on end of nose and smiles encouragingly*

(Mournfully)
I wish I could read-a-thon today. I have a big tempting stack of Christmas books and it's chilly outside.

Hi Stephen - just dropping by to say Happy New Year! But tell me, how am I supposed to keep track, if you're ALREADY HALF WAY THROUGH YOUR SECOND THREAD OF THE YEAR?! HMMMM?! ;o)

Hour 19 (9am-10am)
Pages read this hour: 29
Total pages read: 180

I'm nearing the end of my book! Woohoo! Not much to comment on though. I read straight through the hour, although I did find myself reading slowly and absorbing every word. I'm eager to finish this thing off now!

Hour 20 (10am-11am)
Pages read thsi hour: 14
Total pages read: 194

Finished! Woohoo, my first book of the year. Wave of Terror was lovely, although I wish it were more complete. The ending kind of leaves you hanging a bit. Still, a very enjoyable read and I'm happy not only that it is my first finished book of the year but the first book I've ever finished in a readathon. Yippee!

Now...errr...onto that Christian Myster. *Strangled sob* I'll be alright... I'll live through it... ...probably...

Do I look enthusiastic about starting it?



D'oh!

About as enthusiastic as I would be.

Oh no! I'm as enthusiastic as a robot? I didn't realize I was so unenthusasitc about it! ;)

This robot seems pretty excited about your reading choice :P

#128: Who's a robot? You? I know you could not possibly mean me!

Waving at Stasia. Lifting eyebrow at robot...

Hey, Ren!

Hey everyone! Sorry I can't respond indivudually, been trying not to stay online too long...

..which failed this hour. I only read 14 pages last hour because I finished my book, and spent the rest of the time taking that picture and gearing myself up for...The Next One. But then I started browsing the readathon threads and decided to add the book to my LT library and create my Books Read - 2011 LT collection and...whoops, look, it's 11:45 now.

Oh well, I'll go crazy and read tons the next 3 hours with my renewed energy! Unless this next book is as bad as I have made it out to be in my head beforehand...

GET READING OR I'M GOING TO COME AND SORT YOU OUT! *pauses*
And not in that way dear, I'm just too tired...

I don't know how you guys can be doing this read-a-thon thing AND keep up with your threads! But I'm sorry I didn't join it this time, sounds like so much fun! Go Stephen, Go Stephen, Go Stephen, Go Stephen, ...

#135: I don't know how you guys can be doing this read-a-thon thing AND keep up with your threads!

I was thinking the same thing. There can be only one explanation--Stephen's become a cyborg, too! :O Maybe that little Christian robot is the real Stephen. ::runs for cover::

> 136: somehow it is not even hard to imagine that LOL

Hour 21 (11am-12pm)
Pages read this hour: 8! :(
Total pages read: 202

I kind of got distracted by LT this hour. Adding my current read to my library and getting caught up on everyone else's readathon adventures, before I knew it the hour was up. But, that's ok, I kicked it into gear the final 3 hours!

Hour 22 (12pm-1pm)
Pages read this hour: 38
Total pages read: 240

Ok, so this Christian Mystery isn't terrible. Errrmmm, only a few brief mentions of churches and bibles and praying to magical beings and whatnot. Not so bad.

Hour 23 (1pm-2pm)
Pages read this hour: 37
Total pages read: 277

Hurray! Ok, this book isn't exactly my thing, but watching the pages creep up so quickly definitely helps. It's not so bad when I look ahead and see the next chapter is only 4 pages long. Readable...

Hour 24 (2pm-3pm)
Pages read this hour: 24
Total pages read: 301

It's over! While I didn't participate during the entire time, I had a lot of fun while I did read. And wow, I read 301 pages...A WHOLE BOOK pretty much. I wasn't quite expecting to read that much. It's 3pm, but I'll probably forego any more reading tonight. Oh dear, and there is a pretty big football on tonight starting at 8pm...probably won't be off until almost midnight. Oh dear oh dear.

Oh well, it was fun! :)

Congrats sweetie, and thanks for the heartfelt cheering... *sinks into chair and wonders if she can muster up the energy to actually make something to eat now* Goodnight, goodnight... :-)

Woo-hoo Stephen! I think many of us finished our first books of the year with this.

Well done, Stephen. It's morning here and I'm already feeling a bit jaded with a full day stretching out ahead of me. Enjoy your football game or at least fall asleep watching it.

Well done, Stephen!

Thanks everyone. I'm afraid to say I have a lot more reading ahead of me...I'm WAY behind on all the 75er threads now. :o

1. Wave of Terror by Theodore Odrach



Pages: 334
Rating: 4/5

Historical Fiction

Wave of Terror is set in 1939, in a backwater town of the Pinsk Region marshland where, like everywhere, Stalin's regime is spreading fear like the plague. Only this one is filled with communist propaganda and transforms it's victims into mindless servants who are worked to death to fuel a war they know or care little about.

This one is quite different from other similar books I have read. Of course it focuses on the fear and confusion involved during such trying times, but it focuses less on the fear and more on the confusion. Kulik, the main character, is a school headmaster who under law must force his teacher to teach in Belorussian despite not being able to speak it themselves, let alone the children. The poor are offered the possessions of the rich as a showing of generosity yet they accept such gifts while watching the previous owners carted off to be tortured (I mean 'interrogated') in prisons and camps. Some peasants try to conform to the ideas of communism to the displeasure of others, and some are simply paranoid that everyone around them is an informer out to find them guilty of a crime they didn't commit.

The author's ability to capture the mass disarray and frenzied panic of the people is what sets this book apart. The author lived through this, so it makes sense. This isn't some historical fiction novel written by someone who wasn't there, who read about the subject and who chose to emphasize the horrors of Stalin's heinous acts. Instead it is the bewilderment of the peasants that is the heart of this novel, because the writer lived through it himself. It shows, and it makes for an incredibly engaging read.

Great review, Stephen. I was waiting to see what you thought of it before I got it so I'm glad it turned out to be a good book.

some are simply paranoid that everyone around them is an informer out to find them guilty of a crime they didn't commit.

I would say, from what I know about Stalin's time, they had plenty of good reasons to be paranoid! Loved your review, so much so, this one's going on the ever-growing wishlist!

*waves hi* Found and starred you for 2011.

nice review.

Stephen, 1 minute till game time. Go Bucks!

Pat: Yes, indeed. For some reason the first couple chapters felt a bit dense to me. Not sure why, but it matured well.

Ilana: Most definitely, and hurray for opressing people's wishlist and forcing my opinions on other people! Not that I bare any resemblence to Stalin. I will note, however, that if you don't read what I read I'll send you to Sara's (see post 136) dungeon where she will teach you what PROPER citzens read. Errr, I mean I mean...ummmm... cookie? *offers platter*

Hi Landshark. *Waves* Thanks, and welcome to the thread. :)

Cindy: Oh! For a second there I thought you were from Ohio too! Yep, the game's about to start right now. Ok, I have to admit, I have very little confidence here. Granted last year's win against Oregon was fantastic but...well, low expectations for me. I'll be cheering, but I expect lots of groaning too...

Well, they are kicking off RIGHT now, so off I go.

Stephen, Not form OHIO but still a true Buckeye fan.

Double posted.

Ok, I'm back to say...

WOOHOO!!!

Good start... ^_^

I guess I shouldn't mention that I'm rooting for Arkansas, right?

Wait, what? Who said that?

Gave your review a thumbs up and added it to my amazon wish list. Not an Ohio State fan, but live about 40 minutes from Pryor and hope for good things for him in his life. as far as I'm concerned none of the football players owed any of these communist bureaucrats an apology. I doubt if one of them makes less than 6 figures and would never even dream of driving through the community where Pryor grew up. Sorry, I start to rant when it comes to the NCAA.

Tom: I'd say I'm pleased and confident with Ohio State's defensive showing so far, considering Arkansas' only score came off a drive they started at midfield, but Chekwa just got hurt so now I'm worried again. :(

Regina: I don't blame you, the NCAA is indeed a bit of a mess. I'm NOT a fan of the BCS system in particular. An utterly riciulous concept! Hopefully we'll get playoffs sometime soon.

Holy smoldering smokes Bat Man! There are 98 posts since I last checked.

You may be shy Sir, but you are VERY popular -- deservedly so.

Hugs!

Oh Crap...i've not been here..

Don't hate me Stephen...life gets...busy

*********STARRED************

Oy!

;-}

Errr, I mean I mean...ummmm... cookie? *offers platter*

LMAO! :-D

Actually, I haven't had dinner yet so... do you cook? ;-)

(off to search for food now)

It's not the BCS, but their book of rules, which makes War and Peace look like a novella, that they use to make the lives of athletes, coaches and yes even fans lives miserable. I literally know of a coach who had to sneak money to their athlete so they could catch a bus to attend their mother's funeral. The NCAA has since changed those rules for emergencies like that but they are power hungry fat cats who make rules to justify their existence.

Looking gooooood! Bucks!, Bucks!, Bucks!

And with that, I've added Wave of Terror to the TBR list. Sounds very interesting. Congrats on finishing book #1 of 2011! *w00t woot*

Linda, there's evern a picture of him in this thread. Shy? Bah! He's a rock star!

I added Wave of Terror to the BlackHole. Great review, Stephen.

(I was rooting for Arkansas, lol)

Hey Linda. Ummm...maybe that's just me talking to myself alot during the readathon? :P

Jude: Hm? What's that? You weren't here? I coulda swore...maybe that was just a tree branch scratching my bedroom window...just the wind... *nervous laugh*

Ilana: Of course I cook! ...that is, assuming by 'cook' you mean open up food-in-a-box with lots of instructions involving something along the lines of "expose to heat until edible." Even then, no guarantees I won't mess it up somehow. I once accidentally added salt instead of sugar to a bowl of cereal so you just never know...

Regina: No arguments here!

Lynda: Hurray! I cannot believe they won that game! They almost let is slip away, I guess that's what happens when you defense is so beat-up, but they held on and wound up winning the game in the end. So happy.

Didn't get to bed until 1AM last night and probably didn't get to sleep for at least an hour after that, yet I still woke up at 6:30. Ack, I'm a hopeless early bird, there's no helping it.

Hi Faith, thanks! It's nice to get that first book under my belt. Although for future reference, I don't recommend writing reviews after reading for several hours straight. Brain not work! :(

Tom: Like a picture I once posted on Ellie's thread, that can't be me. His fat head is a dead giveaway. Clearly an imposter, and a horrible one at that! ...

Thanks Stasia! Oh, and...

Ummm... s'ok... I found something to eat, thanks! (chewing on own hand rather than eat Stephen's *cooking*)

Oookkayyyy, Ilana, but there is always enough for two! *Waves box of Hot Pockets*

:P

LMAO!

>165 Ape:: Or, as I like to say when my grey matter isn't quite working: "I cannot brain today, I have the dumb." *insert blank stare here*

>160 Carmenere: White people should NOT try fancy hand-slappin' stuff. It's just embarrassing.

Hello Ape man, it took me ages to wade through all the posts and find you! A big shiny stars on top of your head for next time though :-)

Faith: Yes, unfortunatlee I has the Dumb to offten.

Richard: Aha! I knew you could be embarrassed somehow! Parading around your thread in a man-thong just wasn't having the desired effect... D'oh.

Katie: With their legs sticking out the way they are, it looks like they are dancing. :)

Hi Jess! Hopefully the next time you visit I won't be on a new thread already... :o

*waves as she tries desperately to catch up*

No hard feelings for falling behind around here, Angela. I can barely keep up myself sometimes!

*hanging on to Angela's toes as I valiantly try not to drown in the explosion of posts*

I almost forgot that this is a book thread until you posted the review of Wave of Terror, Stefano. ;-) Good review ... I like historical fiction ... so....... i guess i should add this to my obese wish list.

Saving Wave of Terror to the wishlist. Nice review!

Caro/Tamara: Muahaha!

*reads ellie's notes*

*reads Kath's post*

#144 & 149: Oh dear, my brain does go in odd places sometimes all the time. I read an erotic short story awhile back named "Stalin's Moustache" (or some such silliness), in which an ordinary guy gets a lot of *ahem* female attention once his *ahem* male rooster grows a moustache like Stalin. So I think I'll skip Wave of Terror. I'm not mature to handle it. See? At least I'll admit it.

::puts the deadbolt on:: Hmm, I'm picky about who enters my dungeon. And as for "proper citizens", I think I'm the last one to go there. My reading level is very, very low, if you hadn't noticed, and usually borders on the obscene. :P

#162: Shy? Bah! He's a rock star!

I'm with ya on that one. No way would I post my pic on the web. I wouldn't want to scar you all for life. ;)

#164: Of course I cook! ...that is, assuming by 'cook' you mean open up food-in-a-box with lots of instructions involving something along the lines of "expose to heat until edible."

Ha! Sounds like me. Seriously, I've burned more pots/pans and set the smoke alarm off more than I'd like to admit. That's why I just stick with raw foods and the wonderful, wonderful microwave (even though that thing has turned against me a time or two).

#171: Aawww! Why don't my cats ever do sweet things like that to each other? All they have on their minds is "Kill! Maim! Destroy!"

#176: (throws out safety vests) Just don't tell me what we're floating in. This is Zombie Headquarters, y'know. XP

#178: Ooh, I want a t-shirt that says that.

At least I'll admit it.

Yes, it's always good to admit those kind of things. Me? Nah, I'm still convinced I'm a perfectly innocent young man surrouned by a bunch of perverts around here. ;)

ve burned more pots/pans and set the smoke alarm off more than I'd like to admit.

Yep! I love those in-a-box-food products that come in it's own little cooking tin. You just pull it out and toss it in the oven and it practically cooks itself. :D

#182: Nah, I'm still convinced I'm a perfectly innocent young man surrouned by a bunch of perverts around here. ;)

You are the only one convinced.

Not listening lalalalala!

Ah, the madness has returned... I'm back from the sleep of the dead! (And a whole day yesterday of watching Gilmore Girls and listening to Mum telling me I looked like I'd just been dug up.) Back at work... *yawn*

Hi Ellie! I thought I knew what Gilmore Girls was, but after googling it I realize I don't. After a bit more research I realized I was thinking of the Golden girls. More of my TV cluelessness, whoops! :(

Video game update!

So far I have finished God of War III, Darksiders, Puzzle Quest, and Dark Void.

Dark Void was okay. There were lots of graphical wonkyness (textures popping in and out) and it froze on me once without having a good reason for doing so. The game is fun but not great, worth playing but not a MUST play.

I'm playing Final Fantasy III and Bioshock 2 now. Addicted to both...not good.

I'm realizing now how lucky I was not to have purched any computer games. I'd be circling amongst the chairs all day and probably never get anything done. D'oh.

So, does anyone know a site like LibraryThing for videogames? I've asked it in the past but STILL haven't found anything. I really want to write some reviews for these but I don't have any worthwhile place to add them to.

#186: I'm too lazy to look (actually, my break's about over), but why not just use LibraryThing for your videogames? That's what I do with my cd's and dvd's. I was tired of having my stuff spread over various cataloging sites.

GILMORE GIRLS??

does that have anything to do with GRANT-LEE PHILIIPS ...."Virginia Creeper" CD????

;-}

Sara: I can't! :( I like all the bookishness of this site, I can't defile my LT library with 'lesser' things! Love video games, like music, movies are ok...but I can't add them here. CAN'T! :(

Hi Jude!

I catalog (hmm, I always thought it was spelt catalogue, and now it's telling me spelt isn't right. . . .?) on GameStop's PowerUp Rewards site. Can't review there though.

Yeah, I've found a few places that allow you to catalogue (my spellcheck says it's fine. Then again, I force it to learn fake words all the time so...) but none that allow reviews as well. Oh, and it's also hard to find a place that loads fast. Video game sites are usually loaded with high resolution images, videos, animated advertisements, and all that. Which is why I don't use GameSpot's website. :(

As I rarely finish my video games, I feel I shouldn't review them. So I don't think I'll be much help. I might skims the interwebs later if nothing else to do. Oh, I force my spell check to learn fake words and foreign words, especially the stupid T9 on my phone that doesn't even know real words *exasperated le sigh

>186 Ape: Yeah, when my auntie/sister kept going on about Gilmore Girls I kept thinking of the Golden Girls too... But my auntie called her kitten Rory, and my sister started talking about it, and I saw a clip on the Dewey read-a-thon site, and lo! Now I'm hooked, halfway through season 1 and just ordered the next 3 to keep me going... yay! What a brilliant series.

Naturally, since the read-a-thon I haven't read a bloody page... Or even a NOT bloody page! Dammit!

Katie: Let me know if you find any! I know I've searched plenty but haven't found anything. I haven't tried in awhile though. Kind of gave up... *shrug*

Ellie: I'm much the same, dear. Yesterday I read 4 pages. Today I think I've read...10? Throughout the day I've told myself since it's such a simple little mystery it won't be a problem reading a few chapters before bed. Then I go to bed and listen to music instead D'oh!

So, I vow not to buy books then fall into TWO charity shops and a donation box, then I vow to spend the evening reading and spend it faffing about online and watching DVDs. *sighs* I've got time to redeem myself, right? I mean, it's only 6 January, and I can probably plead back-to-work madness, right? RIGHT?!!

Back-to-work madness can explain the lack of reading, sure... but charity shop shopping is a bit of a stretch I think, and TWO charity shop visits is just plain inexcusable! :)

Stephen! I was sure I had dropped by here to let you know about our readathon starting tomorrow but I guess I didn't! Don't know if you can join us but you're more than welcome of course!



Welcome one and all! I've just posted our new thread for our Jan 7-8 read-a-thon
so come on over and join the discussion there!

Hey Iliana! I'm rather exhausted, in fact I haven't even read much over the past couple days after that amount of reading in a single day, however I will definitely be sure to check the thread out and cheer! :)

I think I found a site to catalogue, review, and discuss video games (and all media). Not sure how great the discussion/forums are though--they're a bit based on locale because they double as a way of lending and selling to people (though you choose if anything is available for this). I don't know, check it out though.

https://www.gafal.com/default.aspx

No troubles. I can understand you being worn out. It'll probably take me a few days to recuperate too once it's over, even if I DO plan on getting some sleep during that 24-hour period.

Thanks Katie! I'll look into that one.

Ilana: Indeed! I slept as I normally do at night, and didn't even read the whole time I was awake the night before, and was still tired afterwards.

Does that mean Ellie is a cyborg too? Oh dear!

Why not start a separate identity to catalog(ue) and review your games here? "Ape2" or "ApeGames" or something even you, after your readathons and game-playing excesses could remember. You could also link your reviews and discussions of games to this thread, and still be able to have book conversations all nice and separate! And don't enter a catalog(ue) of your already-played games yet, just catalog(ue) new games, so it will be at least a month before you use up the free 200 or whatever it is.

I considered that, Richard, but the 200 limit would be a problem. I suppose if I only entered games on the current consoles (Playstation 3, Wii, and Nintendo DS for me) it wouldn't be so bad, since I don't own so many of those... *shrug*

*cough* catalogue is the British English spelling (and probably Australian/NZ too?) and catalog is the American English *cough*

As you were.

catalogue is the British English spelling

Oh! So it IS wrong. Good, that's that cleared up.

Hm, I'm pretty sure I usually spell it as catalogue...or atleast use both regularly. I must have an inner-Brit under the slow accent and cheeseburger grease stains on my shirt.

Stephen, congrats on surviving your first readathon and thanks CatyM for the edification on "catalog". LOL This is such an intellectual thread. Really!!

Hey, cool, did you go with the LT cataloging thing for your games, Stephen? I ask, because I saw ApeGames on the homepage when I was logging on. Weird timing, huh? But feel free to throttle me if I just stuck my foot in mouth. :)

Kim: Intellectual? Err, if you say so. :P

Sara: Actually, DOUBLE weird timing, because I just came here to post about it and your post popped up when I clicked the Post a Message button! :o

So yes, it's true, ApeGames has been born. That's right, a clone of ME! Hide your snack foods, cross your legs, and lock away your daughters, there's TWO of me now!

*Makes a joystick joke*

#209: (hears The Twilight Zone music playing in the background . . . somewhere)

That's right, a clone of ME!

I'm SCARED! :O

I'm scared too. I mean, what if he commits a crime and frames me? Or...am I the evil twin? Duh duh duh!

#204-- That's it; there's been so many of these instances where I subconsciously use the British version that I declare past-life Katie was British.

Stephen! You have so many new pranking options!

#205 *grin*

I love the picture on the games account, Stephen. Which one is you?

>209 Ape: Holy shit.

Katie: Definitely. Although no one will ever convince me that there is a U in color!

Caty: Well, both have a maturity level well above me so I'm not sure it matters. :P

Ellie: Definitely, but maybe there is something positive to be taken from this. Hey, maybe Other Stephen can take Original Stephen to the airport and, whenever Original Stephen gets nervous Other Stephen can kick him in the rear!

...errrrr, would that attrack security if I'm seen trying to kick myself throughout the airport?

...and...is this starting to sound like my Jekyll and Hyde review again? *nervous laugh*

delurks - I may be able to handle a cloned "ape" but when the second one starts posting on the first's thread (#210), I feel the need to flee...

Hey, hey, hey! You know how you love my crazy late-night ramblings? Well, go to the read-a-thon thread, I think I just outdid myself...

I'm going to try and make a 15-second bookshop tour video tomorrow, so long as there aren't loads of customers around. Would that be worth a four-hour download time or not? :-)

Stephen, since you are into British spellings. Just maybe Ellie is rubbing off on you. Oops sorry. couldn't help myself lol.

Patrick: Ah, well...I usually have that effect on women. This, however, is new...oh dear.

Ellie: ROFL! It's not so much the post itself but the obscure connection you made between that memory and the rather benign mention of that particular song.

But yes Ellie, do get some sleep.

Cindy: It's probably not far from the truth! I'm one of those people that watches an Irish movie and then talks with an Irish accent for a week. So yes...is it possible to type with a British accent? :P

...and I don't even WANT to know how Richard is affecting me. :P

#210: *snorts* Joystick. Not going there tonight. 0:) See? I even have my false halo on.

#212: You, my dear, are most definitely the evil twin.



Great. Now look at what you're making me google on a Friday night. :/ Ha! Like I have anything better to do.

#214: Uh, after Ellie's post, I hope neither one. Eating poo . . . XP

That is NOT me! Nope. I'd never wear anything under overalls. Doesn't that defeat the purpose? If they were over-halfs you'd have to cover the other half up, obviously. :P

*Gasp* Ellie. I saw what you did. I saw the comment you left Other Stephen. I see what's going on here. *Glares at Other Stephen*

Oh dear, THAT was horrible accident. Ummm, well, I declare I am allowed to go 20 posts over 250 this thread after that. :O

LOL! Someone fighting with their computer again?

#222: I'd never wear anything under overalls.

(shudders at the thought) TMI, mister. :P

*Glares at Other Stephen*

Yay, a split personality fight! I'm betting on Other Stephen. He's more evil.

Or...am I the evil twin?

That's easy to determine. Which of you has the goatee?

I am hiding both of my girls from both of you, Stephen :)

Stasia! Catey + Keith, Beth + Stephen. We could all be related and be one big happy family!!!

LOL! Trust me on this - Stephen and Beth would never talk to each other - two peas in a pod :)

Now, the Catey + Keith thing has possibilities!

Catey would talk to him. He'd just nod at her. Unless she was discussing video games...

Catey would talk to Keith or to Stephen? I am a bit confused.

#248: I am a bit confused.

That tends to happen a lot on Stephen's thread. It's one of the side effects . . . among other "things". (scratches self)

Btw, Stephen, any signs of making a new thread?

Catey would talk to HIM (Keith). He (Keith) would just nod at her. He has to have something to say. 'Course, get him going on something and he won't stop. It's just the getting him going part...

Hehe, don't worry Stephen, I like ORIGINAL Stephen better. He has a nice Santa hat on his pic. The other one's a bit hairy. :-)

249 LOL so true

LOL! Someone fighting with their computer again?

Yes, my browser died and THAT happened.

Tom: Two Stephens combined couldn't come up with enough testosterone to grow a goatee! :(

Stasia, 244: Haha! Mhmm, that sounds beth. I mean best! :P

Terri, 245: ...I deem this prospect scary enough to be suitable for my thread...

Sara, 249: Yup! But you are on your own with the itchy scalp.

Ellie: Oh, Original Stephen is a bit hairy as well! You are right though, Other Stephen could use a full-body wax or something. Maybe I'll send him to Richard for advice... :)

Hi Kath! :D

Estrogen governs hair growth.

Crap. -.-

Do not worry, Stephen. Beth already has a boyfriend :)

*Sigh of relief*

Phew! It's over! Until next time. Ellie is holding another read-a-thon this Mon.-Tues. Thanks for stopping by!

Hi Ilana. I wish I could have cheered a bit more but the thread started getting a bit big for me. I have dial-up internet so once threads start getting up in the 300-post range they pretty much stop loading for me. Glad you all had a good time though!

No troubles Stephen. The participants were posting plenty and Stasia took up the cheerleading and of course did a great job with it. I'll think of you when my threads get too big. My own thread is getting up there and I'm just curious, does it still load for you or not? If not I'll start a new one. Just for your benefit Stephen. ;-)

Thanks Ilana! Yours is still loading fine for now, although it took me a long time to load your thread the first time I viewed it because of the big picture (fortunately LibraryThing loads text before images though, so I could still read.)

Cool, thanks!

You gonna cheer for me, Stephen? *flutters eyelashes*

How can I be cheering when I'm reading along with you, deary? ;)

That's what your evil twin is for, Stephen--to do all your bidding. I'd probably make him read, though, instead of cheering. Don't know what he'd do if he got too close to Ellie . . . . :o

You're right, Sara, and I think he'd probably look better in a cheerleaders outfit than I do...

NEW THREAD!

Click here.