Helenoel's 75 book challenge 2011

This is my first challenge- and I just finished By Blood Possessed for book 1 of 2011.

Hi Helen: Welcome to the 75ers group for this year. Thanks for being my Santa Thing Santa. I'm eager to receive my books.

Welcome to the group, Helen!

Hi Helen, You are a neighbor to me I live in NW Pennsylvania. I hope you enjoy our group. This is my third year in the group and I cannot stay away.. I hope you enjoy our group as well. Welcome!

Welcome!

Not a neighbor... but I live in SWPA...
I will be trying to follow your thread :)

Finished Meltdown Iceland - a long overdue ER-ARC
book 2.

#7: Helen, I read your review of Meltdown Iceland. If you would like an excellent book on the financial meltdown, I would recommend our own Chatterbox's Chasing Goldman Sachs. I know little of financial matters, but Suz's book is written with people like me in mind. I hope you will give it a try.

#8: Thanks - It is not my top priority, but I appreciate the recommendation. Since I have been to Iceland, and it seemed to be a microcosm of the global issues, I had higher hopes for Meltdown. It was informative, but a bit of a slog.

Wanted to wish you a Happy Belated Birthday. My family and I love to visit the Amish country in PA. We were there in December and hope to be back again in March.

uh oh... you had a birthday? Well Happy Year following your last birthday then!

What are you reading now?

Tales of the Seven Seas another overdue ER-ARC. Good stories, but the writing is a bit prosaic.

Early-in-the-year birthdays sneak up on folks - Thanks for the good thoughts.

#12: Yeah, that one did not bowl me over either.

in our family we have a birthday
dec 27, 28, 30
jan 6, 12 and two more on the 16th.

It makes my head spin.. :P

Tales of the Seven Seas.. Clearly you have an interest in the Ocean!
I noticed the books we share :)

>#14
Wow, that is a birthday cluster. My husband and I are both in January, and my Dad would have been 103 today, but the rest of the family is spread around the year.

Books 3 and 4 :
One was a Soldier review here
http://www.librarything.com/work/8406241/reviews

Stork Raving Mad - Donna Andrews fluffy mystery - fun.

and book 5, From Dawn Till Dusk - beautiful children's picture book

book 6, The Girl with braided Hair

Book 7 Burn

#16: I need to get back to the Donna Andrews series. Thanks for the reminder, Helen!

Book 8 Stonekiller
from the library- OK story, nice geology and archaeology tidbits, but I found it hard to keep the players straight.

#21: I may give that one a try some time. It looks interesting. Sorry you did not enjoy it more though, Helen. I hope your next read is better for you.

Book 9 Tales of the Seven Seas - finished and reviewed. One step closer to returning to the good graces of the ER program

Book 10, A river in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters

From the library- good fun with Amelia Peabody, the rest of the Emersons. Out of chronolgical order-and set in Palestine, not Egypt.... I always enjoy spending a day or few with Amelia.

Book 11- Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs
OK, Typical Tempe Brennan- largely set in Hawaii

Book 12 - A Murderous Procession - good historical mystery set in time of King Henry II

Book 13 - Look at the Birdie: Unpublished Short Fiction by Kurt Vonnegut.
From the Library- Much enjoyed. I had not read any Vonnegut for many years- These older, but previously unpublished stories remind me why I like him.

Book 14, Death of a Valentine by M. C. Beaton

Book 15, Sheer Folly OK mystery set in 1920's England.

I have never seen that Vonnegut....

It was recently published-maybe 2009 or 2010. posthumously. a series of short pieces. My library had it.

Book 16 - Finished Cold Wind: A Joe Pickett novel by boxcj::C. J. Box
Still need to write review for ER-ARC, but I liked it and will read more by Box.

Book 17- Burglars Can't be Choosers by Lawrence Block One from the TBR pile-

Book 18 - stayed up way too late finishing the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I had been avoiding it since it is so popular, and did find some things disturbing, but wow, what a mind it took to create that story.

Those books just never called out to me... Glad that you liked it though!

I really liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the second book in the series. I still need to get to the third.

book 19 the Veiled One by Ruth Rendell

Book 20 Open Season by C. J. Box and Book 21 the Viognier Vendetta by Ellen Crosby. On a library kick. Just discovered C. J. Box - Open Season is the first of his Joe Pickett Series. pretty good.

Library kicks are good things! I am sure your local library appreciates yours.

Book 22: Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron by Jasper Fforde. First thing I've read by him- looking forward to the rest of the trilogy, but may need to find something else to read in the meantime.

You might try his other series starting with The Eyre Affair. They are a hoot to read!

book 23 - Sheri S. Tepper's new the Waters Rising Very good- eco-post-apocalyptic with her usual attention to characters and social issues. 4.5 stars

I do like Tepper!

Book 24, the Night Visitor by James Doss

Finished The Body in the Gazebo by Katherine Hall Page - from LT-ER program. still ned to write review- but it was pretty good.
Acquired a Nook Color recently and I don't want to/ am too cheap to buy e-books, so have been downloading from Project Gutenberg as well as loading it up with professional journal articles and govt. publications that I should be reading for work. Did read Little Fuzzy on it. Somewhere in a box in the attic I have a hard copy - fun older sci-fi. recommned it if you haven't read it.

So books 25 and 26 are done. Currently reading Galileo's Dream - long and slow going for me, but I'm enjoying it. First of Kim Stanley Robinson I've read.

Touchstones not loading today.

Book 27 (finally) Galileo's Dream not sure I understand it all- time travel and alternate histories braided with the historical story of Galileo.

Congratulations on your Nook Color! I love my Nook, although it is not the color version.

Book 28- Savage Run by C. J. Box - number two in the Joe Pickett series- I like these mystery/thrillers with a Wyoming Game warden.

#48: I have read the first several in the Joe Pickett series. I need to get back to those books some time.

Remember:

http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Unbound-NOOK-NOOK-Color-and-NOOK/Free-Fri...

Free Friday for Nook!

Thanks for the reminder.

Book 29 The Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

Elm Creek Quilt Camp detours to Hawaii with attendant personal crises and happy resolution. Nice fluffy reading from the library.

I think my sister reads that series...The author is from nearby. At least,
her roots are here, I am not sure where she lives now. I am a huge fan of fluff..
and have been on a fluff kick for a few months now..

The author teaches at Penn State according to the end flap. This series is really fluffy, but good fun and they are set in generic central/western Pennsylvania , except when they go to Hawaii..

:) I live in SW Pa .. her father in law was...
hmm, I think a driver's ed teacher and something else in our
school district, back in the day. In fact, I believe he is the one
who kicked me out of driver's ed for being a smart a$$ when he asked me
what is the first thing you do when you get into a car. I said close the door.
I wasn't trying to be a smart a$$, and to this day, don't know what he was
shooting for?

Book 30 - The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde.

Had been recommended- I agree- Great fun, took a little while to get into the spirit, but the man has a very interesting mind.

#56: I am glad to see you enjoyed your introduction to the Thursday Next series, Helen!

yes, Thanks to several people who recommended the series.

Book 31 Dead Man's Bones by Susan Wittig Albert

Vacation reading - #32, The Titan's Curse by Rick Roirdan and #33, Death of a Rug Lord by Tamar Myers.

Happy vacation, Helen!

#33 Going for the Gold by Emma Lathen

Thanks Stasia- too short, but nice to get away for a break.

#34 Winterkill by C.J. Box - I like this series about a Wyoming Game Warden.

>64 Helenoel: I've enjoyed the few in the series that I've read. I recognize many of the places described because I've visited my nephew out there several times.

hmmm that looks tempting..

# 35 Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

One more that had been recommended- they were right.

#36 The Borrowers by Mary Norton - somehow missed this as a kid, but it would have been fairly new when I was the "right age". Glad right ages are flexible.

# 37 Nerve by Dick Francis

#67: I greatly enjoy that series! I am glad you enjoyed your introduction to it, Helen.

#68: I do not think I have ever read that one. Guess I should take a look before I get too old for it, huh?

# 70 - Not sure you can get too old, as long as you keep a childish (or should that be childlike) attitude.

#71: Oh, I am a big kid wrapped up in a 49-year-old body :)

Book # 38 The Big Over Easy: A Nursery Crime by Jasper Fforde. I needed to finish it in a library copy - the one I got the library book sale was missing the last signature of pages, and duplicated the penultimate one.
Good fun, but I like Tuesday Next better.

Book # 39 The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke

interesting to read 1950s Sci-Fi in light of modern technology. Clarke had amazing insight, but the writer in the story still used a typewriter and paper... Still a good story.

#73: I have not yet read Fforde's Nursery Crime series. One of these days I will give it a try though.

Book # 40- Cat of the Century by Rita Mae Brown Sneaky Pie and Rita are at it again- Aunt Tally turns 100 in the midst of horses, murders, Virginia hunt country, cats and dogs. Good fun from the library.

zI read the Mars book a long time ago.. !
RMB's Sneaky Pie brings back memories, too .

# 41 Lost in a Good Book #2 in the Tuesday next series.

# 42 - Harry Potter and the half blood prince

yes, some of us are a bit slow on the pop culture front.

#79: Well, at least you are catching up now! :)

Agreed, it's never too late to read Harry.. have you seen the movies?

I never see a movie until I have read the book, assuming there is a book. I saw a couple of the earlier movies- figure I'd better get ready for the DVD to come out. My son is not a HP fan- his last name is Potter and he is sick of being called "Harry" - So I won't have big pressure to go see the movie soon.

I hope that someday you do watch all of the movies.. like the books they get better as they go along.
I hope to see the latest one later this week.

I probably will- will likely do a marathon and get them all in order.

I have done and enjoyed that ! IN fact, my son and I have done it recently to
"get ready " for the final movie .

# 43 birds of a feather

# 44 Fire and Ice by Dana Stabenow - e-book on the Nook.

#87: I like that series. I hope you enjoyed the first book of it, Helen.

I did enjoy it- good characters- nice sense of place. will be looking for the others .

#89: I am glad!

# 45 Time to Depart by Lindsey Davis- Good times with Falco and Helena in Rome. I'm trying to read these in order, but my various libraries are not always cooperative so it may take a while.

#91: my various libraries are not always cooperative so it may take a while.

I know that feeling! Good luck on getting them all, Helen.

# 46 Out of Range by C. J. Box Wyoming Game warden Joe Pickett spends time on a temporary assignment in Jackson and the Tetons and brings down the bad guys again. Good stuff.

#93: I need to return to that series one of these days. I have read the first several books in it. So many books, so little time. . .

#94 -
I'm glad there are still several long series that I am slowly working through. I always feel sad when I finish a series I enjoy. Falco, Joe Pickett, Thursday Next still are stretching into the future. I have intentionally not yet read the last of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin books. Plan to reread all in order first- Sometime later.

#95: I always feel sad when I finish a series I enjoy.

I am the same way. It is nice that there are so many good series out there to pick up and enjoy though.

I love the Falco series too. I did a big catch up when I first discovered them about 5 years ago, now I read them as soon as they come out in paperback. At least she is still writing them!

I've enjoyed all the Joe Pickett novels I've read. Out of Range was interesting to me because of the uniqueness of where the murder took place.

# 47 of my 75 - A Red Herring without Mustard by Alan Bradley. Flavia is gaining a bit of maturity - but still charmingly childlike with adult abilities in detecting and investigating and falling into the solutions to mysteries. Book cover says # 4 is in the works.

# 48 - on a batch from the library- mostly series mysteries - Pardonable Lies by Jacquline Winspear - Maisie Dobbs Number 3

I need to get back to the Maisie Dobbs series. I really like the books.

101-- I have really enjoyed the first three -

# 49 - listened to Blue Heaven on CD from the library while driving home around Hurrican Irene.

I am glad to hear you were driving around Irene, Helen! I hope you and yours are OK.

We are all well- returned from New England as far as northern New Jersey Saturday. Got in before rain. Headed west early Sunday on very empty roads - some rain, not much wind. Lots of after effects, but we got home safe. All my sunflowers got knocked down and power had been out at home, but nothing worse. Many in our general area still have no power- we were well west of major winds, but ground was already soggy and trees were uprooted onto powerlines.

# 50 -- 2/3 there. Just finished The well of lost plots : a Thursday Next novel by Jasper Fforde - then with my son's help, evicted a bat from the living and dining rooms. Somehow an appropriately surreal evening before his return to school tomorrow. In the morning will have a stern discussion with husband on the need to replace the sand filled draft blocker at the base of the attic door, although it might have been my lapse this time.

# 51 - A Dying Light in Corduba - more on Falco and Helena - in Hispania this time- from the library

# 52 - In Plain Sight by C. J. Box. Darker than some of this series, not my favorite, but I think it advances the story - this is a series worth reading in order. Game Warden Joe Pickett still doing what is right... mostly.

# 53 Polar Shift Clive Cussler has quite the imagination. Just close enough to plausible science to be entertaining. Good reading while staying home out of the way of the flood emergency.

# 54 The battle of the Labyrinth Yes, it is YA, but this is a pretty good series- and I can read my son's books- he is taking over all my old Sci-fi so turn about is fair.

# 55 - Hiss of Death by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie- Animals and Murder in Virginia horse country as our heroine faces a different kind of mortality.

# 56 - White Shell Woman
and #57 The Dinosaur Hunter

# 58 The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss as an audiobook from the library. Much enjoyed. - Pennsylvania connection and a time period I did not know much about - early days of US - financial machinations resonated with modern world- some things never change.

# 59 - another audiobook- lots of long car rides lately - O Pioneers by Willa Cather

# 60 - Three Hands in the Fountain Falco and Helena - staying fairly close to home this time. Pretty Good.

# 61 - Out of Sight - not great-

#115 I love the Falco ones based in Rome best of all, I think, with all his family annoying him!

# 62 - Pirate King - the newest by Laurie King - Mary and Sherlock do Gilbert and Sullivan with various entertaining twists- a bit different than earlier ones in the series, but good reading!

# 63 Tag Man by Archer Mayor

# 64 The Mysterious Affair at Styles e-book on the NookColor

# 65 - The Color of Magic on the Nook. I think I read it years ago- but may start going through Pratchett in order - this was the first Discworld novel

Only ten to go- I may make it to 75!

# 66 - The Escher Twist not great literature, but I enjoyed it.

# 67 - Mariners Compass by Earlene Fowler
cozy mystery- no blood and guts - pretty good.

# 68 I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley - fourth in Flavia DeLuce series- still good - Flavia has an interesting Christmas and grows up a little bit. Chemistry and intrigue.

#69 The Ballad of Tom Dooley: A Novel by Sharyn McCrumb two stars.

# 70 - The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner. From last years SantaThing- slow starting, but worth sticking through. Good stuff- Probably was also slowed down by seasonal distractions-

# 71 The Thunder Keeper by Margaret Coel

# 72 The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise
from the library- peculiar in a British humor sort of way, but a good story, if a bit slow-starting.

Three more books to go and eight days.. piece of cake..

# 73- Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde and
# 74 - The Artful Nuance - by Rod Evans - read in very small bites throughout the year..

One more to go- what shall it be?

Something short? :)

>130 drneutron:- yes, something short.
# 75 Wings by Terry Pratchett

Finished my challenge by the skin of my teeth. IT made for a good year. Looking forward to 2012's reading.

Excellent! Congrats!

Congrats!!!

What timing! 75th book completed on the last day! I haven't read that Pratchett - is it a good one?

> 134 Wings is part of the Bromiliad trilogy - written for kids- short and sweet, but definitely Pratchett.. I enjoyed it, but it is not as engaging as his adult works.