womansheart: Begins reading her way through *Journeys Through Bookland* for year number three.
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2011
Join LibraryThing to post.
This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1womansheart
In the deep south, winter has left snow and ice pretty far down the weather map. It did not make it all the way to Tallahassee, but, close. It actually looks like snow in the air right now, however, it is not quite cold enough to be snow, just precipitation.
This time of year, with overcast skies, acoustic melodies softly playing on the sound system, and fresh homemade soup to be simmering soon on the gas burner in a big French enameled pot, my thoughts turn to my first love ... stories and tales, well told and the time to read and enjoy them.
(I must add that my first choice for reading is in my bed, which provides me with a mattress made with a real foam rubber layer on top of memory foam, which makes for a delightful support system and very comfortable sleeping and reading. I also love my very supportive bed rest with real back support, not a soft, tiny thing, but a Texas sized one big enough for a linebacker).
I loved many of the books that I read last year. I will post some of the very best titles here, on this thread; or I will direct you from here to a separate thread for my favorites of 2010.
My Thingaversary was January 1, 2011. Yea!
This is the beginning of the third year for me as a member of both LibraryThing and the 75 Books Challenge. Time does pass more quickly each year.
Here's what I remember reading since the first of the year. This may not be all of them, and it may not be in the correct order, but, hey, life goes on, right?
#1 - My Name is Memory - A Novel written by Ann Brashares who wrote The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Somewhat interesting plot idea, but, for some reason, it didn't ever take off and sweep me up and away. That left me kinda sad, cause it sounded like a book I would really get into and enjoy. I might have named it *Forget About Me*. Two Stars.
#2 - The Night Watch by Sarah Waters. London, WWII, the Blitz (one and two) bombs, rationing, good characters with tales to tell of their survival in both life and love. Some of the very best writing I've ever read about the close and very dear relationships between women. After a somewhat slow start, this book drew me in and I looked forward to each time I could spend time reading about the lives and loves of all of the characters who peopled this book. Worthy of a re-read, IMHO. Four Stars.
#3 - Soulless written by Gail Carringer is the first in a series that both my husband and I found both clever and humorous. Alexia Tarabotti is the character introduced herein and during the course of this *steam punk* novel became a dear and appealing woman to both of us.
The front cover of the paperback book states that the book is, "A novel of Vampires, Werewolves, and Parasols"
Yes, Alexia generally carries the latter, when she is out and about London, and which serves to not only shade her from the sun and rain, but, also comes in quite handy when spontaneous confrontations occur in her presence and she is in need of a method of defense against the aforementioned supernatural beings.
Alternate history, cross species love affairs, and the experiences of Alexia as a result of her being a preternatural being, which by the way, is pretty great in the City of London and of the world she inhabits.
This is a good, entertaining and somewhat short read. It certainly left both my husband and myself wanting to get the next in the series, which is Changeless and is on our reserve list and will soon awaiting us at the Main Branch of the Leon County Library as we are number one in the queue.
I gave this one Four Stars out of Five and had many laughs and smiles along the way through the book.
BTW - We got Changeless from the reserve list a day or two ago. Onward.
Let's see if I can remember the other one I think I read ...
This time of year, with overcast skies, acoustic melodies softly playing on the sound system, and fresh homemade soup to be simmering soon on the gas burner in a big French enameled pot, my thoughts turn to my first love ... stories and tales, well told and the time to read and enjoy them.
(I must add that my first choice for reading is in my bed, which provides me with a mattress made with a real foam rubber layer on top of memory foam, which makes for a delightful support system and very comfortable sleeping and reading. I also love my very supportive bed rest with real back support, not a soft, tiny thing, but a Texas sized one big enough for a linebacker).
I loved many of the books that I read last year. I will post some of the very best titles here, on this thread; or I will direct you from here to a separate thread for my favorites of 2010.
My Thingaversary was January 1, 2011. Yea!
This is the beginning of the third year for me as a member of both LibraryThing and the 75 Books Challenge. Time does pass more quickly each year.
Here's what I remember reading since the first of the year. This may not be all of them, and it may not be in the correct order, but, hey, life goes on, right?
#1 - My Name is Memory - A Novel written by Ann Brashares who wrote The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Somewhat interesting plot idea, but, for some reason, it didn't ever take off and sweep me up and away. That left me kinda sad, cause it sounded like a book I would really get into and enjoy. I might have named it *Forget About Me*. Two Stars.
#2 - The Night Watch by Sarah Waters. London, WWII, the Blitz (one and two) bombs, rationing, good characters with tales to tell of their survival in both life and love. Some of the very best writing I've ever read about the close and very dear relationships between women. After a somewhat slow start, this book drew me in and I looked forward to each time I could spend time reading about the lives and loves of all of the characters who peopled this book. Worthy of a re-read, IMHO. Four Stars.
#3 - Soulless written by Gail Carringer is the first in a series that both my husband and I found both clever and humorous. Alexia Tarabotti is the character introduced herein and during the course of this *steam punk* novel became a dear and appealing woman to both of us.
The front cover of the paperback book states that the book is, "A novel of Vampires, Werewolves, and Parasols"
Yes, Alexia generally carries the latter, when she is out and about London, and which serves to not only shade her from the sun and rain, but, also comes in quite handy when spontaneous confrontations occur in her presence and she is in need of a method of defense against the aforementioned supernatural beings.
Alternate history, cross species love affairs, and the experiences of Alexia as a result of her being a preternatural being, which by the way, is pretty great in the City of London and of the world she inhabits.
This is a good, entertaining and somewhat short read. It certainly left both my husband and myself wanting to get the next in the series, which is Changeless and is on our reserve list and will soon awaiting us at the Main Branch of the Leon County Library as we are number one in the queue.
I gave this one Four Stars out of Five and had many laughs and smiles along the way through the book.
BTW - We got Changeless from the reserve list a day or two ago. Onward.
Let's see if I can remember the other one I think I read ...
3cameling
Whoopeee.... you're back, Ruthie! Starred you.
I've been wondering about Night Watch ever since I read and loved Fingersmith. Your review's convinced me I should add it to my obese wish list.
I've been wondering about Night Watch ever since I read and loved Fingersmith. Your review's convinced me I should add it to my obese wish list.
4LizzieD
Belated Happy Thingaversary, Ruthie!
Glad to see you back for another year's reading, and I loved The Night Watch so much that I ordered her backlist....which I haven't read, alas.
Glad to see you back for another year's reading, and I loved The Night Watch so much that I ordered her backlist....which I haven't read, alas.
7BookAngel_a
Found you! And...happy thingaversary!
8Cait86
Starred! I'm glad you liked The Night Watch, which I loved when I read it last month. Sarah Waters is really an incredible writer.
10alcottacre
Ruthie! You are back!
11dk_phoenix
Hello hello! Happy to see you liked Soulless! I thought the second one was pretty darn good, and the third was my favorite so far.
12Donna828
Found you! You certainly started the new year off right the year you joined LT on January 1st. Happy Belated Thingaversary, Ruthie.
13jdthloue
Found you! STARRED you!
I ordered the Gail Carriger books back in early December...and have only received Changeless...the "middle child" as it were....I need to pick up the other two, because I've heard good things about this series!...and i tend to be a "sequence" geek!
;-}
I ordered the Gail Carriger books back in early December...and have only received Changeless...the "middle child" as it were....I need to pick up the other two, because I've heard good things about this series!...and i tend to be a "sequence" geek!
;-}
17alcottacre
I am waving along with Caro!
19womansheart
Always proof-read carefully to see if you any words out.
-Author Unknown-
***************
I've been *left* for a while.
From now on, I will post when I can and comment when I am able.
_________________
I don't know the exact number of books that I have read since I last posted. I do know that there are a bunch. Some of them are very good and worthy of a review and some of them are completely forgettable. Each one has, in it's own way, been a way for me to travel through the days of my life with distraction, inspiration, amusement or mild disdain.
I will say, for any of you who enjoy the books written by Kate Atkinson, that her recently published book, Started Early, Took My Dog, is an intriguing mystery, a tale well told. It is a story told in fairly concise bits, allows many voices, many characters, many locales, many morals, some ambiguity, victims, heroes, survivors and and, inevitably a group of people who do not survive to the end of the story.
Although this book is not what I would define as noir literature, it would be an interesting and compelling audio book, read by the late Humphrey Bogart, as his world weary, gruff voice would enhance the world weary, gruff tale.
I rate this book four and a half stars out of a possible five, for the excellent writing; including the stimulating vocabulary, the fresh dodgy characters and the familiar steadfast ones from her previous books. (Notice these two especially, The Little Girl and The Dog, they make worthwhile contributions).
By the way, start back at the beginning with Atkinson's earlier published work(s) to have the background on the core and recurring characters you need in order to enhance what you will read in this one. ****1/2
Happy Trails - R
-Author Unknown-
***************
I've been *left* for a while.
From now on, I will post when I can and comment when I am able.
_________________
I don't know the exact number of books that I have read since I last posted. I do know that there are a bunch. Some of them are very good and worthy of a review and some of them are completely forgettable. Each one has, in it's own way, been a way for me to travel through the days of my life with distraction, inspiration, amusement or mild disdain.
I will say, for any of you who enjoy the books written by Kate Atkinson, that her recently published book, Started Early, Took My Dog, is an intriguing mystery, a tale well told. It is a story told in fairly concise bits, allows many voices, many characters, many locales, many morals, some ambiguity, victims, heroes, survivors and and, inevitably a group of people who do not survive to the end of the story.
Although this book is not what I would define as noir literature, it would be an interesting and compelling audio book, read by the late Humphrey Bogart, as his world weary, gruff voice would enhance the world weary, gruff tale.
I rate this book four and a half stars out of a possible five, for the excellent writing; including the stimulating vocabulary, the fresh dodgy characters and the familiar steadfast ones from her previous books. (Notice these two especially, The Little Girl and The Dog, they make worthwhile contributions).
By the way, start back at the beginning with Atkinson's earlier published work(s) to have the background on the core and recurring characters you need in order to enhance what you will read in this one. ****1/2
Happy Trails - R
20Copperskye
Hi Ruth - So nice to hear from you. I'm first on the hold list for Started Early, Took My Dog. I loved all the previous Brodie books and am happy to hear that this one holds up too!
21womansheart
If you would like to read the review, in the final version for any reason, you may check it out here.
Caio
Caio
22Berly
Ruthie!! How nice to hear from you. You have been sorely missed, and I mean that in an "I want you to know that you are loved" kind of way. I love Atkinson. Big hug.
23tututhefirst
I echo Kim in welcoming you back....we've missed you and your gentle sense of fun, not to mention your insightful comments on a very interesting batch of books. I look forward to hearing more from you. Hope you're enjoying the spring.
24tymfos
Hi, Ruth! Good to see you here again.
Kate Atkinson is on my Ever-Expanding list of authors to try. Your comments have given me a nudge to bump her up the list. (Hey, her name starts with A, so she's there by default.)
Kate Atkinson is on my Ever-Expanding list of authors to try. Your comments have given me a nudge to bump her up the list. (Hey, her name starts with A, so she's there by default.)
25gennyt
I've just got myself a copy of Started early and am looking forward to it very much. Glad to hear it lives up to expectations.
28alcottacre
Ditto what Linda and Kim said, Ruth!
30PaperbackPirate
Hi Ruth! I hope you're getting a lot of reading done this summer.
33womansheart
Thanks for stopping by you two.
I'm really hoping I can re-join the 75er's in 2012.
Thanksgiving was very good. We were camping at a beautiful State Park (Grayton Beach) here in northwest Florida. Also, Thanksgiving Day was my birthday, so that was nice.
Lovely to be in touch and wish all the very best for both of you along with your families and friends.
I'm really hoping I can re-join the 75er's in 2012.
Thanksgiving was very good. We were camping at a beautiful State Park (Grayton Beach) here in northwest Florida. Also, Thanksgiving Day was my birthday, so that was nice.
Lovely to be in touch and wish all the very best for both of you along with your families and friends.
35Berly
Belated Birthday Wishes and early Christmas Cheer!!! Big Hugs. Truly hope to see more of you in 2012.
36richardderus
mistletoe smooches!
37womansheart
Thanks for the smooch, R.
That is a remarkable picture of mistletoe Mr. Derus. Well done.
That is a remarkable picture of mistletoe Mr. Derus. Well done.
38womansheart
Well, thanks to our intrepid leader, Jim, the new Challenge is up and I've joined.
My plan is to post to my thread much more in 2012 and have better days with less pain and more energy.
Here's to all of us in 2012! Hip, hip, hooray!
My plan is to post to my thread much more in 2012 and have better days with less pain and more energy.
Here's to all of us in 2012! Hip, hip, hooray!
