Katiekrug's Climb to 75, Part the Second

The New Novel by Winslow Homer (1877)




Part the First is here

JANUARY
1. Still Life by Louise Penny
2. England, England by Julian Barnes
3. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
4. Mirabilis by Susann Cokal
5. Trespass by Rose Tremain
6. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
7. I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali

FEBRUARY
8. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
9. A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny
10. Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff by Rosemary Mahoney
11. The Church of Dead Girls by Stephen Dobyns
12. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
13. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

MARCH
14. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
15. White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi
16. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
17. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
18. A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie
19. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
20. Life Studies by Susan Vreeland
21. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
22. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
23. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
24. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill
25. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

APRIL
26. Something Missing by Matthew Dicks
-- Haunted Ground by Erin Hart (Did Not Finish)
27. In the Woods by Tana French
-- And I Shall Have Some Peace There by Margaret Roach (Did Not Finish)
28. My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
-- How To Be Cool by Johana Edwards (Did Not Finish)
29. Disquiet by Julia Leigh
30. Without by Donald Hall
31. Room by Emma Donoghue
32. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
33. Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

MAY
34. Idyll Banter: Weekly Excursions to a Very Small Town by Chris Bohjalian
35. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
36. The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood
37. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
38. Silk by Alessandro Baricco
39. Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson
-- A Window Across the River by Brian Morton (Did Not Finish)
40. The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie
41. The Last Talk with Lola Faye by Thomas H. Cook
42. Animal Farm by George Orwell
43. The March by E.L. Doctorow
44. Soulless by Gail Carriger
45. The Lion by Nelson DeMille

Welcome, one and all! I hope my old friends have found me and that new friends will find me soon!

I've starred you. Looking forward to more great recommendations. :)

Hi, Micky! Thanks for the star :-)

Hi Katie, I know from your TIOLI list that you have some great books to read this month - I thought I'd wander over and get a front row seat!

Well, this old friend found you! I'm wondering how your haircut went...the "fate" of going to the hairdresser next to Nortstrom's Rack, next to the Borders closing sale was priceless.

Hi Judy - thanks for coming. I hope the "performance" lives up to the front row seat!

Hi Donna - Haven't left yet, but what could go wrong when I've had the same haircut since college and am just getting a trim, shoes will be marked WAY down, and books are 60% off? The only potential issue is the fact that I've been to this particular Borders about 5 times now and I've pretty well picked it over. But one never knows what one might suddenly become interested in when it's bargain priced!

Hi Katie, found you again : ). I have a duh question for someone ... I see TIOLI lists referred to ... what is TIOLI? Thanks, Nancy

lit chick... TIOLI is "take it or leave it" :)



and what a pretty picture to open your thread with!

@10 Thank you! Makes perfect sense now ...

Oh, dear. Borders books were 70-80% off. I came home with 4 bags full. But no shoes, so that's something, right?

Nancy - Are you doing the Take It or Leave It challenges? I wasn't sure if your messgae (11) was facetious or not? ;-) Lemme know if you are still not sure...

I'm off to dinner now. Later!

Just checking in! :)

@12 Thanks, Katie. No, wasn't being facetious and I'm not doing TIOLI challenge ... now I know what TIOLI stands for, but I'm still not sure what the challenge is. Something to discover for later : ).

>14 lit_chick: They are monthly challenges that many in this group do. If you look in posts for the 75ers group, you'll see different threads referring to TIOLI in the subject. It's too hard to explain succinctly (especially since I had wine with dinner!) but there is a helpful FAQ here.

>13 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia!

>10 curlysue: Kara - I love the Homer painting. I want to get a framed copy for my library.

@15 Thanks, Katie. Everyone is SO helpful ... I appreciate : ).

Any time, Nancy!

Katie, I have a framed copy of Girl in a Hammock which I love. Unfortunately, the print is all "wavy" under the glass (from the humidity here I presume) so I need to get it reframed. I also like the Girl Reading Under the Oak Tree.

donna, I'm a big fan of Homer's paintings. He obviously appreciates a woman who reads! I also love his paintings of the ocean.

so 4 bags of books?

what's the haul?

>21 curlysue: Kara, I am NOT going to list the entire haul! I think it totalled about 60 books (gulp!) but I paid an average of about $2 for each, which is better than I could do at my favorite used bookstore (but let's forget the existence of the library for the moment, shall we?). Here is a selection:

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Death in the Andes by Mario Vargas Llosa
The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner
The Master by Colm Toibin
Blackout by Connie Willis
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks
Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons
Voice of America by E.C. Osondu
The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming

@22 I'm not familiar with most of these titles, Katie, so I'll be looking forward to hearing more about them from you : ). Death in the Andes sounds very interesting ... made me think of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, another beautiful Spanish name, and his Love in the Time of Cholera.

>23 lit_chick: MVL and GGM are the two most well-known South American writers, I think. I have not read anything by either of them, though I have a copy of GGM's One Hundred Years of Solitude on my TBR shelves.

I am almost done with In the Woods - should finish today and post a review. Love it!

Okay, so I lied. I will not be finishing or reviewing In the Woods tonight. I got distracted this afternoon and did very little reading .

#22: Wow! Some terrific reading there. I am jealous :)

I guess I missed the change to a new thread, but I've found it now. I'm glad you managed to find twice as many books as me at Borders. I have Disgrace and Anansi Boys on my "unread" shelf (shelves) and have not read any of the others, but there are quite a few on my wish list (Death in the Andes, Cloudsplitter, Blackout, Death Comes for the Archbishop, The Master).

And you know, there is much to be said for the library, but one drawback (or benefit, depending on your point of view) is that you don't get to keep the books. I come from a long line of unrepentant book hoarders, and when I really like a book I want to have a physical copy. I've been using the library much more this year and that has been great--except that 50% of the books I've borrowed I now want to own. But, I have a hard time justifying buying a book I've already read. I'll just have to keep a lookout for cheap used copies.

Anne, I have the same feelings about using the library. I am going a lot more this year but usually for books I am fairly certain I won't mind not owning. I, too, have a hard time justifying buying a book I've already read, though I do keep a list of such books that I bring with me to used bookstores just in case.

I'm kind of the opposite. I usually prefer to have read a book before I buy it so I know I'm getting something good.

For me, I keep books that I've purchased that I loved, though I don't re-read books very often. That's why only a relatively small percentage of my library is made up of books I've already read. Most of my books are all TBR - about 1000, I think!

Disgrace is on my TBR list....

Anansi Boys I liked...think I gave it 4 stars :)

the others I have not heard of so I will have to check them out

I was a little more "adventurous" in what I picked out since they were so freakin' cheap :)

In the Woods by Tana French

In a nut shell: Darkly atmospheric suspense set in contemporary Dublin.

I have had In the Woods on my TBR shelves for a while now and expect I’ll be adding French’s other two novels shortly. Simply put, I loved this book. I loved the fine character development, the sharp dialogue, and the sweet, dark sadness at its heart.

Beautifully written, In the Woods is less a police procedural than an exploration of memory and experience as it explores two separate but tenuously connected mysteries: the present day murder of a little girl and the disappearance, twenty years earlier, of two children. The two missing children happen to have been the best friends of the lead detective on the murder case and his inability to remember what happened a long ago summer day still haunts him. French’s evocation of childhood summers – that intense feeling of freedom and wonder where the world seems to be all yours – is excellent. Equally good is her depiction of the friendship and camaraderie between the narrator – the lead detective – and his partner. The toll the case takes on each of them and on their relationship is heartbreaking but rings truer than not.

The solution of the mystery of the murdered girl is not all that surprising, but nor was it the heart of the book so it didn’t really bother me. French uses that story to tell a deeper one and one well worth reading. 5 stars

Thanks for great review of In the Woods, Katie. Onto the wishlist : ).

You are in for a treat, Nancy!

I posted this on the Interesting Articles thread, too. It's a post on NPR's pop culture blog about rediscovering the joys of a public library. Much how I felt when I finally got a library card in January after moving to Texas more than 5 years ago!

In the Woods....nice review :) I have something to look forward to I guess :) it is on my dresser along with The Likeness

ETA... nice article Katie....I am lucky, my library is the largest in my county...they have everything you can think of...if they don't have a book you want you can pretty much guarantee that another branch within my county has it...I can do everything on line, from reserve to renewals to changing where I pick my books up :)
But somehow, I don't think of the library as possessing the same books I buy for myself. I see it the way I saw it when I was a kid. I see it the way I saw it when I assumed that all books that didn't have pictures in them were dry and important. I have always associated the library with school and homework and (the horror) being quiet, not necessarily with fun....I think many people think this way

Thanks, Kara. I think you'll like In the Woods.

The library I use is one of 6 in the city of Plano (I live in Dallas but work in Plano so it's easier to use Plano's system) so even if my usual branch doesn't have what I am looking for, odds are good one of the others will and I can request it. They also have online hold requests, renewals, etc so it's super convenient!

And I Shall Have Some Peace There by Margaret Roach

This was the first book I received through the LT ER program after joining. I love the idea of getting books for free, and this one sounded interesting – I like memoirs and I like stories of people making major changes in their lives, probably because I am such a settled homebody and creature of habit.

And I Shall Have Some Peace There is Roach’s story of leaving a high-pressure corporate job as an executive at Martha Stewart’s company to live in her weekend home in upstate New York. It is a chronicle of her decision to make this change, the challenges involved and how the experience affected her. There is so much potential here, and in almost every way, this book fell short.

There is little in the book to enlighten or inspire. Roach describes the difficulties of living full-time in a rural setting; I snorted as she detailed her list to prepare for the winter, including special boot attachments to navigate the ice and snow and several camp lanterns in case she loses power. I snorted because the town she moved to is about 5 miles from where I grew up where our preparation for the winter amounted to buying some kitty litter to provide traction on ice. So maybe I’m a little biased…?

All that aside, though, I could have made it through Roach’s book had it been well-written and at all coherent. As it was, her circuitous, stream of consciousness style was almost impossible to follow. Eventually, I no longer wanted to try. I skimmed to the end and finally came to the conclusion of the story of a woman who made a choice, had enough money to finance that choice, and felt the need to write an entire book about how brave she was to make that choice. I need to read a paean to someone’s own self-indulgence like I need a hole in the head. 1 star

I am not going to count the book above since I only skimmed to the end...

@39 Well, I will pass on And I Shall Have Some Peace. Had to laugh at Roach's winter preparations! Actually, your comments about her made me think of Elizabeth Gilbert in her all-about-me, narcissistic, verbose work Committed. Puh-lease!!

In any case, you inspired me to join the LT ER. Thanks for that : ).

>41 lit_chick: I haven't read either of Gilbert's books, but I did see the movie of Eat, Pray, Love and didn't like it. I have very low tolerance for petty, self-involved, self-indulgence.

The ER program is pretty cool. I've won two books so far - hope the second one is better!

Katie- Love the painting at the top! I really like Homer's work.

Thanks, Mark!

I am also a fan of In the Woods, Katie. Nice review!

I have the Margaret Roach book already firmly planted on my 'Do Not Read' list. Your review has done nothing to make me want to move it!

I need to read a paean to someone’s own self-indulgence like I need a hole in the head.



love it!

Stasia and Kara - I cannot adequately express how awful I thought that book was.

I got the message loud and clear....you did good!

My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

In a nut shell: Charming collection of Wooster/Jeeves and Reggie Pepper stories.

There is not too much to say about these bits of fluff. I read them on my Kindle during lunch hours and they proved a nice diversion. I enjoyed the Bertie Wooster and Jeeves tales more than the others, as Jeeves is just such a perfect straight man. Some of the off the cuff remarks and descriptions were very funny. My two favorites:

”…I hadn’t the heart to touch my breakfast. I told Jeeves to drink it himself.” from “Leave It To Jeeves”

”She fitted into my biggest arm-chair as if it had been built round her by someone who knew they were wearing arm-chairs tight about the hips that season.” from “Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest”

I look forward to reading more Wodehouse but will do so in small doses. I think it would lose its charm if taken too much at a time. 3 stars

that one looks cute :)

and I like the second remark...funny

>50 curlysue: Hi Kara! Ready for the weekend? I so am...

In other news, I am trying out my first audio book. I was at the library and discovered their decent selection of books on CD. Because I am apparently stuck in 1995 or something, I do not own an MP3 player (sad, I know). It is on the list of potential gifts for my birthday that I gave to my husband, though. Anyway, so right now, I am listening to the book - Stiff by Mary Roach - in my car. I was afraid it would be too distracting, or I would be too distracted to really enjoy it, but I guess all these years of obsessive listening to NPR have paid off because it doesn't seem to be a problem. I am thrilled to discover another way to fit more books into my life!

I am ready for the weekend!!!!

Stiff I really liked....who is narrating it? any one good?

It's read by Shelly Frasier. Never heard of her. I've listened to 15-20 minutes so far and she doesn't annoy me or anything, so that's good...

Hi Katie, Charming is always something to look forward to, even in small doses. Must get to some Jeeves books. I've yet to read any of them :)

Hi Katie, I also listened to Stiff and really liked it. Some audio books really are just like listening to a long segment on NPR.

Ahhhhh...you have a new thread! Dropping by to say Hi since I haven't had time to visit in the past while. :) Hope you have been reading some great reads!

Hi, Valerie! Welcome to the new thread :-)

Well, this seems to be The Month of Abandoned Books for me. I had started How To Be Cool by Johanna Edwards for a TIOLI challenge. It is chick lit and I used to gobble this stuff up regardless of the quality. But this one, about a woman who used to be fat and then got thin but discovered she couldn't shed all her neuroses as easily, was just not good at all. There are too many great books out there to waste my time, so I am moving on.

Disquiet by Julia Leigh

In a nut shell: A spare, barely-there story of a broken family trying to become whole again.

With a minimum of dialogue and description, Leigh captures the bleak atmosphere of an old French chateau where a woman has come for refuge, with her two children, from an abusive husband. Also present are the woman’s mother, brother, and sister-in-law, as well as the body of a stillborn baby. Spare and haunting, Disquiet is a novella of betrayed trust and shattered dreams and the struggle to reconnect in a new reality. Powerful, though at times almost too spare. 3.5 stars

Without by Donald Hall

In a nut shell: Poems on the illness and death of the poet Jane Kenyon.

Donald Hall and Jane Kenyon, both well-known poets, had a long and happy marriage despite a substantial age difference, his multiple bouts with cancer and her clinical depression. Then, she was diagnosed with leukemia, endured a long treatment and eventually died in 1995. These poems chronicle the time of her illness and the period after her death, and are incredibly moving.

Some favorite bits:

"Dying is simple," she said.
"What's worst is...the separation."
When she no longer spoke,
they lay alone together, touching,
and she fixed on him
her beautiful enormous round brown eyes,
shining, unblinking,
and passionate with love and dread."
(from "Her Long Illness")

Tonight the Andover fireworks
will have to go on without me
as I go to bed early, reading
The Man Without Qualities
with insufficient attention
because I keep watching you die.
Tomorrow I will wake at five
to the tenth Wednesday
after the Wednesday we buried you.
(from "Independence Day Letter")

I grew heavy through summer and autumn
and now I bear your death. I feed her,
bathe her, rock her, and change her diapers.
She lifts her small skull, trembling
and tentative. She smiles, spits up, shits
in a toilet, learns to read and multiply.
I watch her grow, prosper, thrive.
She is the darling of her mother's old age.
("Postcard: January 22nd")

This book was published on the third anniversary of Kenyon’s death and lays bare Hall’s pain, both at what she endured and at her eventual death. It is a beautiful, 80-page volume of naked grief and lonely mourning. 4 stars

Wow. Those are really powerful.

Thanks, Katie. I so rarely choose to read poetry. Your intro made me think of another writer-couple: Patrick Lane and Lorna Crozier of Victoria, BC. They, too, have been together for decades; their struggle was not illness but his alcohol and cocaine addiction. He wrote There is a Season about the journey through his first year of sobriety. Very moving.

>61 lauralkeet: Laura, powerful indeed. I've wishlisted both a copy of Without (this one was from the library) and Hall's memoir of his and Kenyon's life together - The Best Day the Worst Day.

>62 lit_chick: Hi Nancy. I rarely choose to read poetry, too, except for the oocasional return to old favorites like Eliot's "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and that Auden poem that was in the film "Four Weddings and a Funeral." I will have to look up There is a Season.

Interesting blog post from NPR on being well-read.

>64 katiekrug: Ineteresting. Thanks for posting the link!

>64 katiekrug: Very interesting. I can't decide if it was uplifting or discouraging--I may have to read it again (but would that be a good use of the time?)

>65 rubarbaru: No problem. I thought it was pretty thought-provoking.

>66 AnneDC: Anne, I also had trouble deciding if it was uplifting or discouraging. It did make me think about my own habits, and I think I tend to "cull" more than "surrender." Something to think about...

Good on you for reading poetry! I have never been able to get into poetry...maybe it's my lack of imagination. :)

Katie- I don't read much poetry either, I'm not sure why, but I really enjoyed the sample you included from Without.

>68 jolerie: Valerie, I think it helps if you can connect to the poetry in some personal way. The Donald Hall collection was special to me because my father has always loved Hall's work and because my mother passed away from cancer at an early age and Hall managed to capture that sense of utter barrenness and loneliness (not to mention anger and betrayal) that you feel when you lose a loved one.

>69 msf59: Thanks, Mark. Poetry is so personal; if you never happen to come across any that touches you, it probably isn't worth the time of trying to wade through. But, oh, when you do find that connection, it's truly awesome :-)

Thats so true. I never thought out connecting it to something personal to myself... All my memories of poetry have been the stuff they would force us to read during school and then we would have to interpret what we read and it really didn't matter what you said as long as you didn't hand in a blank piece of paper. Those were always a torture for me.
I will have to be on the lookout for some good poetry in the future.

Hello!

I'm sending early birthday greetings to say I hope that the 26th of April is a very special day for you.

Katie, I also have never been a fan of poetry....but you are right and I never thought of it that way that it helps if you can connect to the poetry in some personal way.....

I think I will look into Without....those "bits" you posted made me tear up....losing a boyfriend who was just 23 to aplastic anemia....those bits brought back memories

thank you

>71 jolerie: Valerie, I think a lot of people get turned off all sorts of things when they are told as teenagers they should appreciate it!

>72 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda! My birthday week officially starts tonight with a family dinner, so your timing is perfect.

>73 curlysue: Kara, Don't know about you, but I am a sucker for morbid, angry, depressing stuff and Without fit the bill :-)

I am moving right along through Room and Jane Eyre. I should finish the first this weekend but am only about a quarter of the way through the second. I have two crazy busy days at work next week and then am off to Houston for 10 days for a big conference, so I'm not sure how much reading I'll get done. I would like to finish Jane Eyre by the end of the month so I can count it in the TIOLI challenge.

I picked up two audio books for the drive to Houston and back (and countless hours sitting in traffic): Idyll Banter by Chris Bohjalian (a collection of essays/columns about moving from the city to rural New England) and Daughter of Time which I have heard mentioned on the threads but was not familiar with. I will also bring my Kindle with me, which has some NetGalley books loaded, along with the first in the Gaslight mystery series by Victoria Thompson. That should be enough to get me through the evenings especially since i will be exhausted by the end of each day...

I am inexplicably stressed about not being near my books when the May TIOLI challenges come out. I LOVE browsing my shelves and seeing what I can/think I can fit in!

@75 Hope you are enjoying Room, Katie. I'm in the camp that loved it!

"I am inexplicably stressed about not being near my books when the May TIOLI challenges come out. I LOVE browsing my shelves and seeing what I can/think I can fit in!"

You are too cute!! Too bad I can't hold the May challenge until you get back from your trip to Houston. :)

>76 lit_chick: I am liking Room, Nancy. Almost finished. Should be able to do my review tonight.

>77 SqueakyChu: Hey Madeleine, thanks for stopping by :-) I know I'll manage somehow - probably just doing lots of tag searches and such through my LT library. Not as much fun as having the books at my fingertips, but it'll do...

Room by Emma Donoghue

There are plenty of excellent reviews of this book here on LT and elsewhere, so I won’t say much. I know some readers were enthralled by the first half of the book and liked the second half less. I was the opposite, finding the transition Jack and his mother had to make very interesting and thought-provoking. It’s difficult to go into it here without spoilers….

As others have noted, the book is narrated by 5-year old Jack and his voice is wonderful. The dichotomy of a horrible situation being seen through the eyes of a young child who doesn’t know any better made this a gripping read for me. The narrow perspective provided by Jack serves to make the reader more acutely and uncomfortably aware of the heartbreaking circumstances and allowed me to engage with the story in a unique way. 4.25 stars

@79 The narrow perspective provided by Jack serves to make the reader more acutely and uncomfortably aware ... Well said, Katie. So glad you enjoyed Room!

glitter-graphics.com

I need to get to Room...eventually :)

Thanks, Nancy!

Happy Easter to you, too, Kara!

Haha...your comment about being nervous while being away from your books is endearing. :) It goes to show just how much you love your books...or at least how much you love the take it or leave it challenges! I need to get into that at sometime, but I may have to wait until next year when I have this whole LT thing comfortably under my belt.

I've been waiting for Room to come out in paperback before I pick that one up but I've heard such great things from it even though the subject matter can be disturbing!

Katie- Good review of Room. I'm so glad you liked it. It's funny how many different views and opinions there are, on this one, especially the 1st and 2nd halves. I liked the 1st part, just a bit more.

>83 jolerie: Hey, Valerie. The TIOLI challenges are great fun and really easy to do. Hope you like Room when you get to it.

>84 msf59: Thanks, Mark. I liked the first half for the way it showed Ma's love for Jack and absolute commitment to building a safe world for him. But the second half was more thought-provoking for me and I loved how Donoghue depicted Jack's reactions and transition to a new reality.

> 83

Valerie,

The TIOLI challenges are a fun way to get *really* involved with LT. They're pretty easy to do. Start with just one book.

1. Pick a challenge.
2. List a book (on the TIOLI wiki) to read for the challenge.
3. Read the book and mark it COMPLETED on the wiki before the end of the month.

Really! That's all there is to it.

Madeline and Katie, you guys are such great people here on LT and there is no way I could say no... :) I will have to take a look at the May challenges and dive right in!

:)

>87 jolerie: and 88: LOL! Converted another one, Madeleine!

Haha!

thank you for your warm thoughts on my thread :)

Hi Katie--I see you got to Room. I was fascinated by the first part but in truth am not sure I could have handled having it go on longer than it did. I think I was relieved to get to the second part, and like you found it thought-provoking.

I know what you mean about being away for the new challenge month. Fortunately I will be right here by my shelves :D

>91 curlysue: *waving* at Kara!!

>92 AnneDC: Hi Anne! Even being away from my books, I'm still eagerly awaiting the new challenges :-)

Katie, Happy Birthday to you! I hope you had a great day today. Are you in Houston yet? I'm heading home after four days in Kansas City. I'll be glad to be by my books for the new TIOLI challenges. ;-)

>94 Donna828: Thanks, Donna. I leave for Houston tomorrow morning - not looking forward to being gone for nine days...

ETA: I almost forgot -- how was the LT meet-up? Any pictures? I'd love to make it to a get-together at some point.

Hearkening back to Elizabeth Gilbert -- I'm wondering if the short stories she wrote before she got into the self-indulgent memoir game are any better? I'm sure they are lurking around my library system somewhere, so I shall check it out sometime soon.

Re libraries, the advent of the Internet has made this SO much better. My local branch was the first Carnegie library in Brooklyn, but it's small, under-resourced and I think I have more novels than it does on my shelves. That said, the system as a whole seems to have 90% of what I need; I can slap holds on books online and get them delivered to the branch, which is LITERALLY across the street. I can grab my keys, take books in and swap them and be home in 10 minutes total for the whole errand.

>96 Chatterbox: Suz, I would give my eyeteeth to have my library that close! I use both the Dallas Public Library system and a nearby suburban (Plano) one that is close to my office but both are at least a 15 minute drive away. I only recently started using the DPL system and have been disappointed in the selection. The smaller suburban system is much better which was surprising until I realized the city one is probably suffering more from budget cuts, while Plano is a fairly affluent city. Luckily, at both, I can request books they don't have and they come pretty fast.

>95 katiekrug:: Have a safe and productive trip, Katie. I'm such a homebody that nine days sounds like a long time to be gone - for me anyway.

Pictures are on the Kansas City meet-up thread or on my Profile Page. I may post one or two to start out my new thread later this week.

>96 Chatterbox:: My library isn't across the street, but it is within walking distance. I almost always drive, however, because I don't want to lug a bunch of books on a 1.5 mile walk!

@96 Elizabeth Gilbert finished me with Committed. I've not encountered such narcissistic, verbose crap. Why do writers choose to go down the road of self-induglent memoir game? Is it lucrative?

Katie, hope your conference is good : ).

Have a safe trip!!!

and Happy Belated Birthday!

Living it up at the Westin Galleria and Reliant Park in Houston. Good times! Is my sarcasm coming through?!?! Blech. I am such a cranky traveler...

>98 Donna828: Hi Donna! I'll have to go check out those pictures. I saw the one on your thread - I love putting faces to names!

>99 lit_chick: I have read no Gilbert and do not plan to. Not appealing to me at all.

>100 curlysue: Thanks, Kara!

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Read by Shelly Frasier

This was my first-ever audio book, and it was a good introduction to the format. Roach takes us through the different possible fates of bodies donated to science after death and provides a lot of fascinating historical anecdotes dealing with the same. This was my first encounter with Roach’s work, and I look forward to getting to more of her books. I appreciated the excellent detail and humor throughout.

The narration by Shelly Frasier was very smooth, and she hit just the right notes of wryness and irony in the humorous asides and stories being recounted. The only problem, really, was that there were a few scratches on some of the discs (I borrowed this from the library) and I missed out on some parts. While I enjoyed listening to the book – done mostly during my commute to and from work – I find that I am left only with general impressions. I don’t know if this is because of the new-to-me format or the nature of the book, or my inexperience in listening rather than reading, but I can provide very few details. I think most of my deep reading will have to be done the old-fashioned way. 3.5 stars

Katie- Congrats on your 1st audio! I listened to both Bonk & Packing For Mars and really enjoyed both. Stiff will be my next Roach.

Hi Katie! What an interesting subject matter/title for a book. I guess it would make for a good first audio book given the subject matter, it can't be too dull right? :)

>104 jolerie: Definitely not dull, Valerie!

@102 Yay to your first audiobook, Katie. I only started listening to them this year, but I love them for walking. In my limited experience, I too have sometimes felt at the end of a book that I'm left only with general impressions. But I've felt the opposite too ... Jeremy Irons, for example, just bowled me over with his reading performance of Brideshead Revisited.

>106 lit_chick: Hi, Nancy! I am currently listening to Daughter of Time, a classic mystery by Josephine Tey and I am definitely getting more out of it. In fact, it is fabulous!

#99 -- Probably because they can get away with it, Nancy! That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it. Esp. after producing a blockbuster, no one was going to say "no". But I'm interested in seeing if she can write fiction.

I did hear her interviewed recently, and found her unexpectedly interesting and insightful. She was talking about creativity and the process of trying to channel it. I couldn't square that with the banality of that eat, pray love balderdash.

Oh, I LOVE Daughter of Time. My mother gave it to me when I was a child, and I have literally read the words of the page. The cover is hanging by a thread, and there are words you can't read on it any more because the fingers have turned the pages too many times in the last 38 years.

I was not previously familiar with Daughter of Time. It sounds fascinating. Onto to the wishlist it goes!

Hi Katie, I also listened to Stiff. You made a great choice for your first audio book!

>108 Chatterbox: Suz, re: Daughter of Time - that is the best kind of book. My copy of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is similarly well-used and well-loved.

>109 rubarbaru: Rubarbaru - I finished Daughter of Time today and highly recommend it. The audio I had was read by Derek Jacoby and it was excellent. I'd like to add a "dead tree" copy to my library.

>110 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. It was great fun!

Read by Derek Jacoby - sounds even better! I will definitely have to check it out now.

Just checking in so my thread doesn't start to moulder... Still in Houston, still working, still looking forward to going home :-) 13-16 hour days leave me too tired to do much reading, but I am still managing a bit of Jane Eyre each night. And I started a new audio in the car - Idyll Banter by Chris Bohjalian (and read by him). I am not entranced by it. I find his voice kind of annoying...

Glad to see you enjoyed Daughter of Time. I have it sitting on my TBR shelf and it will be the next Josephine Tey that I read.

I think you'll enjoy it, Judy.

Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Audio book; read by Derek Jacoby

What a delight! I have never read any of Josephine Tey’s books but have seen glowing reviews here on LT. I stumbled across this audio book at my local library and decided to give it a try during my drive from Dallas to Houston. Never has I-45 passed by so quickly…

Daughter of Time is not a traditional mystery. It is the story of a Scotland Yard detective who is laid up in the hospital after an injury and who, in an effort to alleviate the boredom of being bed-ridden, begins a historical investigation into King Richard III of England. Richard is widely believed to have had his two nephews killed in order to secure the throne for himself. A detailed explanation of all the political and familial machinations would be too difficult to attempt here, and some of it was a bit difficult to follow on audio (had I been reading the book, I would have been flipping back a lot). But Tey does a wonderful job of elucidating the situation and laying out the evidence.

There is very little action in this book, but it’s filled with wonderfully-drawn characters and sharp dialogue. Highly recommended for fans of mysteries, history, or just darn-good stories. 4.5 stars

Idyll Banter: Weekly Excursions to a Very Small Town by Chris Bohjalian
Audio book read by the author

Eh, this one really didn’t do it for me. I have read and enjoyed a couple of Bohjalian’s novels and have a few more TBR, so when I saw this collection of his columns for a newspaper in Burlington, Vermont, I thought it would be a good choice. Not so much… The first problem was the reading. Bohjalian has a strange, awkward pacing that I found off-putting, especially when he ended every essay as if the last few words were separated by periods. It. Was. Very. Annoying.

Also bothersome was the self-congratulatory tone. Why, look at me! I moved from New York City to the wilds of Vermont and what fun I’ve had learning the ways of the natives! Being from a small town, I loathe this kind of patronizing condescension. Bohjalian takes great delight in recording the eccentricities of small town folk who name their cows, shop at the general store, hunt deer, and participate in civic activities. I got the sense that he wanted desperately to fit into this community but by continually drawing attention to its “otherness” (in his eyes), I don’t see how he ever could.

And finally, I don’t think Bohjalian is as funny as he would like to think. He continually employed a faux self-deprecating humor that fell flat. And there was always a pause after one of these “humorous” asides, as if he was giving the listener a chance to finish laughing. I don’t think I chuckled once through the whole thing, much less laughed.

I did listen to all 4.5 hours while sitting in Houston traffic, because it was (slightly) more enjoyable than listening to reports on the radio of how crappy Houston traffic is. 2 stars

Stiff I read and liked....glad you liked the audio!

ouch for that Idyll Banter by Bohjalian in audio, can't win them all :)

you liked 2 out of the 3 audio books so far...:) I haven't tried an audio yet, think I'm scared LOL

wonder if you would have a different take on the Bohjalian if you had read it? or would it seem like just Idyll Banter also ;)

Kara, I wasn't sure about the audios... I've only used htem in my car and it's definitely a better experience if you have a good chunk of time to listen. Starting and stopping makes it less effective.

I don't think I would have liked Idyll Banter even as a "real" book but my negative reaction might not have been so strong.

Well, I've made it back home. And what did my sweet husband surprise me with? Two new 6-foot bookcases! Love him! And it was an excellent gift because I hit up two bookstores in Houston and came home with three bags of books :-) The haul includes several off my wishlist, including Censoring an Iranian Love Story, The Surrendered, The New York Trilogy, March, and The Slap. I also used a coupon at B&N on my way home and picked up We, the Drowned.

I am ridiculously exhausted from the trip - helping manage a conference that attracted over 78,000 people will do that to you. It's definitely good to be home...

Nice haul and great score on the bookcases! March and We, the Drowned are on my wishlist while The New York Trilogy is in the TBR pile.

Pictures? when you are rested of course :)

Kara, I don't have any pictures from the conference if that's what you mean. But if you meant pictures of the shelves, I'll post some once I get them filled up and organized :-)

Sounds as if you've already got all the books you'll need to fill those new cases!!! I wish I had somewhere to put new bookcases...

What a lovely surprise- new bookshelves - I would be in 7th heaven - especially when it came time to fill them! :)

>123 katiekrug:: Of course Kara meant bookshelf pictures. That's what gets us LTers excited. That was a cool and practical gift for sure. Welcome home!

Which is better--new books or new bookshelves? Hmmm. I think my husband is philosophically opposed to any more bookshelves. Welcome home, and it is good you have somewhere to put your new books. I'll be waiting to see what you think of The Surrendered when ever you get around to it.

Hi Suz, Judy, Donna and Anne! I would vote for new books being better than new bookshelves, but the shelves are a close second. I am, unfortunately, almost out of space for new shelves. The hubby put these in our foyer area flanking a little sofa table where we have family photos and knick-knacks from our travels. I just put books on the shelves this morning in no order - just ones that haven't been organized yet. I am trying to resist the urge to do a total reorganization because it will take most of my day and I really want to finish Jane Eyre which I've been reading off and on since mid-April. But I do so love organizing and arranging my books...

Ok, by popular demand, here is a photo of the new bookcases. They will soon be filled... Apologies for the bad quality - I took it with my phone. And seeing this reminds me that I need to hang the photographs that are below the table. They've been sitting there for months - sigh...

Wahoo! The new cases look great, Katie : ).

>130 lit_chick: Thanks, Nancy!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

This was a re-read for me. I think I originally read it as a teenager, and remember liking it. There was a lot in the story I did not remember – the horrors of Jane’s childhood at Gateshead, her friendship with Helen at Lowood, and the recurring religious theme, in particular. It took me almost three weeks to read the book – not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because life kept getting in the way. When I was able to sit down and read, I tore through the pages quickly. It was kind of an odd reading experience for me – I was never eager to pick it up but when I did, I didn’t want to put it down. Also strange was the fact that I liked it so much almost despite the fact that I didn’t really care for many of the characters in it. Mr. Rochester was creepily over-bearing, St. John Rivers horribly sanctimonious, and even Jane grated on me most of the time. I most enjoyed the flashes of fire in her when she was roused to great emotion, but those times seemed few and far between. Despite all of this, I really enjoyed the book and am having a hard time figuring out why exactly. Nevertheless, it’s a 4.5 star read for me.

Maybe Jane's bewitched you with her fairy powers? ;)

Nice review of Idyll Banter. I too am from a small rural town and find condescending royalty quite annoying. And of course we name their cows, shop at the general store, hunt deer, and participate in civic activities. Our cows were Moozart and Beeftoven; my dad met his now wife at the general store; Thanksgiving as a kid meant the parade, little mints my grandmother pulled out for turkey day, and our parents all going deer hunting; and who doesn't love a good walk-a-thon to raise money for the volunteer ambulance crew?

W-a-y behind on threads, Katie, but trying to catch up a bit.

I am glad to see you enjoyed your recent re-read of Jane Eyre, which I love. I need to do a re-read of the book too!

>133 MickyFine: You may be right, Micky!

>134 labfs39: Lisa, we had a little carnival to raise money for the volunteer ambulance and fire department :-) It was the highlight of the summer!

>135 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. No worries about keeping up! You are a welcome visitor any time :-)

Love your new bookshelves. I think instead of asking for books or book gift cards, I will have to hint about new book shelves for Christmas, I am in serious need of some shelving!

@132 Great review of Jane Eyre, Katie! Thanks for that : ).

Hi ,Judy. Sounds like a good Christmas wish to me!

Hey there, Nancy. I'm glad you liked the review. I wasn't sure how to talk about it, so it was more just my comments than an actual review...

Yup Donna was right :) I meant pictures of the book shelves ;)

Nice! so do you have books tucked away somewhere to fill them OR do you have space for new arrivals? ;)

Kara, I have books to fill them up but will also have some expansion space :-)

I wonder how long that expansion space will last...

Anne - not very long, since over the weekend, I used a birthday gift card from Amazon AND placed an order with bookcloseouts.com!

hehe @ 143

and lunch breaks all this week right?

No lunch breaks! Must.Exercise.Self.Control.

Yeah right...

keep saying that ;)
works ALL the time for me

Just wanted to chime in to say how much I love your new bookshelves. Your hubby truly understands that the way to a book lover's heart is through books and bookshelves are like the cherries on top of a cake! :)

Book Closeouts is a dangerous place! Just ask Linda!

So, I had today off. Had my annual physical (bleh) and then treated myself to a little trip to Half Price Books (clearance shelves only - this is the deal I make with myself...). Then I was on the way to the library to return some books I never got around to reading (as usual) and stumbled across another HPB I was not aware of. And yes, Kara, all of this took place right around what would have been my lunch hour had I been at work ;)

Haul includes: The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell, Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank, The Fountian Overflows by Rebecca West, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Book Shop by Penelope Fitzgerald, Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig, and The Outcast by Sadie Jones.

ETA: What's up with the touchstones?

Nice mix of books. I recommend Never Let Me Go which I quite enjoyed.

Hi Micky. That one has been on my WL for a while now so I hope to get to it sooner rather than later.

Having an annual physical trumps certainly deserves a book buying spree...lunch time or not :)

The Vanishing Act was a good one :) Never Let Me Go I have waiting patiently...

touchstones have been hit or miss all day, mostly MISS!

The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood

This was an ARC I received from NetGalley. It’s actually the first one I requested as I was playing around with the site. I have not read any romantic suspense in quite some time, though it used to be regular fare in my reading diet. This one was better than a lot, but not as good as some.

The plot is fairly typical: damsel in distress, though this damsel was more interesting than most – smart, funny, accomplished (but emotionally wounded, of course). The hero is perfect - ideal - in that hero kind of way – handsome, strong, sensitive, somewhat vulnerable, etc. etc. Damsel meets hero under extreme circumstances, chemistry ensues, hero protects and saves damsel, hero and damsel admit their love and live happily ever after. It’s formulaic, but it works, especially if one is in the mood for escapism.

There were a few things that bothered me about this book, some of which can be cleared up before publication. The misuse of words: at one point, one of the characters is “plummeted” by another (I think the word is pummeled); another time, “she glimpsed up at him” (glanced?). It was kind of distracting. Also, the resolution of the threat(s) against our damsel were a little too quick, as was the resolution of the romantic tension between damsel and hero. Obviously, there is going to be a happy ending but the best romantic suspense builds up to satisfying conclusions, while this one just raced to the finish.

I wanted to get this read and reviewed since I received it a couple of months ago. I might have enjoyed it more had I been mood-driven rather than duty-driven in reading it. 2.75 stars

ETA: no touchstone for this one yet...

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
Audio book read by the author

The Uncommon Reader was a wonderfully sharp, funny and charming story of the universality of reading and how books can expand one’s world. Bennett uses the premise of Queen Elizabeth discovering the wonder of books and reading as a way to discuss themes and truths that will resonate with any book lover.

While one would assume the Queen has everything she could possibly want, it is not until she begins reading for pleasure that we (and she) begin to see the narrowness of her world, despite all her unique experience. Bennett’s Queen is a sympathetic figure, and his telling of her story is both gentle and very humorous. He accomplishes a difficult task: enabling the (common) reader to identify with the Queen of England. And that feat points to what seems to be his central point: the experience of reading – no matter who you are or what your circumstances – is by its nature universal and democratic.

I loved this novella – especially the end (no spoilers here!). I intend to pick up a physical copy of the book to add to my personal library. 4.5 stars

>154 katiekrug:: oh yes, I loved that one! A quick read and oh so satisfying. I think of that book every time I see the Queen in the news.

Katie- Great review of The Uncommon Reader. I really enjoyed that one, as well, plus I love those "short" books!

Oh, I loved The Uncommon Reader!

His The Clothes They Stood Up In is good, too.

Hi Laura, Mark and Joanne - Thanks for the love! The Uncommon Reader was definitely a treat. I will be looking for more of Bennett's work; The Clothes They Stood Up In looks similarly fun and quirky.

No books completed so just checking in... I have 4 going at the moment:

The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie (audio; one of my favorite brain candy authors)
Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson (Kindle; first in the Gaslight series set in 19th c. New York)
The Last Talk with Lola Faye by Thomas H. Cook (random grab at the library)
Complete Without Kids by Ellen Walker (Kindle; hoping to learn strategies for dealing with well-meaning questions about children, or lack thereof)

Busy weekend ahead: usual errands and chores, engagement party for my cousin, and LOTS of yard work. I'm hoping to finish the Thompson book and get more into the Cook one (or give up on it; it hasn't grabbed me so far)...

Another Uncommon Reader fan here too, Katie.

Congrats on the haul of books! Some terrific reading there.

@159 Interesting remarks re well-meaning questions about children, or lack thereof. I also never wanted and consequently never had children ... a decision I have never regretted! I've taught high school for many years, so finally, when people would ask, "How many children do you have?" (not "Do you have children?"), I started replying, "Hundreds." On a serious note though, I do completely understand how such "well-meaningness" becomes extremely tiresome.

Hi Stasia and Nancy!

>161 lit_chick: I understand the assumption behind the questions, as we live in a society that celebrates children and families. Nothing wrong with that - I like kids, I just don't want to have any. My husband and I have a very full and rewarding life and have made a decision that I hope people will respect, just as we respect others' alternative choices. I think there are a lot of people out there who have children out of some sense that they are supposed to. A feeling of duty is not the best foundation on which to build a family, IMHO.

Silk by Alessandro Baricco

A slight (88 small pages) but rich novella of a 19th century silk merchant who travels to Japan and falls in love with a concubine, without ever exchanging words with her. Silk is like a beautiful piece of music with motifs repeated throughout and each of the merchant’s journeys to Japan is a variation on a theme. The language is spare but lyrical and caught me up completely. A quick but very satisfying read. 4 stars

#162: A feeling of duty is not the best foundation on which to build a family, IMHO.

I agree. I had children because I wanted them, not because it was expected of me (although I must admit both of mine were surprises!). I respect people who decide that they do not want to have children. It is not an easy decision one way or the other and the correct decision needs to be made for everyone involved.

#163: That one is already in the BlackHole. One of these days I will get my hands on a copy.

Interesting discussion on kids or sans kids. I have a few friends who haven't got them and they are very happy. They all adore kids and are great with them but treat their friends' children as their extended family and it's a nice way to look at things.

In my situation I definitely wanted them and had them quite young, both surprises like Stasia's, but what really got my goat after I had my second daughter were the people who would ask me: 'when are you going to try for a boy?' They might as well have said: 'your girls aren't good enough'. Now that is a truly stupid question to ask someone.

>164 alcottacre:: Stasia, it's a great little read. Hope you enjoy it when you get to it! And I agree. Having children is a highly personal decision and that decision should be respected, either way.

>165 KiwiNyx:: Hi Kiwi. It's amazing to me how many stupid questions people can ask!

Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson

This is the first book in the Gaslight Mystery series, set in turn of the century New York and featuring Sarah Brandt, a midwife, and Frank Malloy of the New York City Police. I enjoyed the historical tidbits and details regarding life in the city at that time, especially those related to the corruption and attempted reform of the police force. The mystery was solid and interesting, though the ending was both unsurprising and rather melodramatic. I plan to continue reading the series, as it is light and eminently readable, perfect for when I am not in the mood for anything complex or brain-taxing. I look forward to the development of the relationship between Sarah and Frank, two likeable and intriguing characters. 3 stars

>163 katiekrug:: This one sounds intriguing. I'm definitely adding it to the "to read" list!

I'll be interested to see what you think, Amanda. It took me maybe an hour or so to read...

My order from BookCloseouts.com arrived this afternoon. I love it when I order books and then can't remember what exactly I am expecting, so opening the box is like Christmas morning :)

The haul:
Felicia's Journey by William Trevor
Selected Stories by William Trevor
The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo
Segu by Maryse Conde
The Deportees and Other Stories by Roddy Doyle
Blonde Roots by Bernardine Evaristo
Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace
The Old Romantic by Louise Dean
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley
Seven Types of Ambiguity Elliot Perlman
A Dangerous Woman by Mary McGarry Morris
Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
The Gendarme by Mark T. Mustian
How to Read the Air by Dinaw Mengestu
Death to the Dictator! by Afsaneh Moqadam

That truly is one of the best feelings in the world! :)
Hahaha..are you buying more books to fill up your new bookshelves?? ;)

Actually, my new shelves are already filled :( But I'll squeeze these in somewhere!

I thought William Trevor's Selected Stories were just amazing. It took me forever to read them all because it is such a large book, but I loved reading them. (How funny that you've filled those shelves already!)

I think I'll be dipping in and out of Trevor's stories, Anne. That's usually how I read short story collections.

The new shelves relieved over-crowding, so everything is nice and neat right now. Except for the giant pile on my family room floor...

Speaking of my new bookcases being filled...



There weren't enough adjustable shelves (IMHO) so the middle shelf ended up being very tall. I filled it in by stacking hardcovers horizontally to add some height.

If worse comes to worst - and it probably will - I can use the tops of the cases as extra shelves.

ETA: The shelves hold my short story collections and literary and historical fiction (authors A through G). And I have just revealed almost the full extent of my dorkiness :)

I am trying to scan your shelves to see if I can recognize any of the books based on the spines. :) That would be a fun game..haha
I think I see A Wind in the Door series???

Nope, no L'Engle on those shelves. I think the only book of hers I own is A Ring of Endless Light.

And I ALWAYS scan the shelves when people post pictures of their libraries, too!

Doh! I was so sure based on the colours..haha
Still scanning. Now I really want to find one. :)

Pillars of the Earth? If I am wrong, I give up because I'm squinting so hard my eyes are going cross-eyed..haha!

Ding ding ding! Right you are!

WOOOHOOOO! What a silly sense of accomplishment...hahahaha

I feel like I should send you a prize or something ;)

I see half a shelf of Philippa Gregory down there at the bottom :-)

Of course, now I am scanning your shelves to see if I can find Pillars of the Earth : ). They look great!

Congrats on the haul, Katie!

You made quick work of filling up those shelves, Katie. Good job! While Valerie, Nora, and Nancy (I hope I got those names right) are scanning the books, I'm checking out the photos. We are such voyeurs here on LT. ;-)

Note to self - if you want visitors to your thread, post pictures :)

Hello, all!

Nora I have a love/hate relationship with Philippa Gregory. I really liked the Wideacre trilogy but have some issues with her other historical fiction, though I did enjoy The Other Boleyn Girl.

Hi, Nancy and Stasia!

Donna - After books, looking at other people's photos is my favorite thing to do :) Those are mostly wedding pictures and snaps of my parents.

Silk is on my TBR pile! glad you liked it :)

Nice haul from BookCloseouts! Gothic Tales looks good, need to check my library on that one.

The shelves hold my short story collections and literary and historical fiction (authors A through G). where are H-Z??? are they in the giant pile on the family room floor? :)

top of the cases will work for extra shelves! with maybe some cool/funky bookends :)

Hi Kara. I think you'll like Silk. The Gothic Tales was an impulse purchase (come to think of it, most of them were...)

H-Z are on other bookcases in my "library" (intended as a dining room, but we have no use for one because our kitchen is big - lucky for me and my books!). The library opens onto the hall where the shelves pictured are located.

I am abandoning A Window Across the River by Brian Morton for now. I just can't get into this story of impossibly smart, cool New Yorkers grappling with insecurity. I'll keep the book on my shelves and see if it appeals to me some other time.

Katie- That's a might book haul! Good for you! Also love the shelves. Don't you just love, kicking back and just looking at 'em?

Mark - that is one of my favorite things to do!

I love going into my library and looking at the books too! I always say to myself, 'You know, you have some really good books here!'

Stasia, I do the same thing. And then I go visit another bookstore or the library and end up just adding to the stacks...

Don't we all?!

The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie
Audiobook, read by Susan Boyce

Jennifer Crusie is my go-to brain candy author. She writes smart, funny, contemporary romances. There is little depth in her novels, but she consistently writes strong, sharp heroines and wonderfully quirky secondary characters. They are the perfect kind of book to listen to.

Apparently, this is a re-release of one of her early works, and I did not like it as much as some of her more recent novels (Bet Me, Welcome to Temptation). It’s a classic opposites attract romance with two endearing lead characters and a strongly drawn supporting cast. Not much else to say – a fluffy escape during rush-hour traffic. 3 stars

>167 katiekrug: Looks like an interesting book - thanks for posting the review! I may check it out next time I am in between books and need a quick, enjoyable read.

>170 katiekrug: looks like a great haul - and yay! for Elantris!

Love the bookshelves, too!

Hi rubarbaru! Thanks for stopping by. I see you're on a Louise Penny kick. I've read the first two and need to get to the rest...

Yah for fluff! We all need those once in awhile. :)

The Last Talk with Lola Faye by Thomas H. Cook

Do you ever pick up a book, smugly knowing exactly what to expect, and read maybe 100 or 150 pages, getting more and more frustrated because the author is taking so long to get where you know he is going, but you keep going because once he gets there you know it will be worth the wait? And then there are only 50 or so pages left, and you realize the author is not doing what you expected and you realize you probably would have enjoyed the book more had you gone in with no expectations?

Such was my experience with The Last Talk with Lola Faye. I thought it would be a tight, suspenseful mystery with a big reveal at the end. About a quarter of the way in, I had already decided what that big reveal would be and how the story would resolve itself. I wasn’t totally wrong, but instead of enjoying the process of getting there, I was impatient with what I perceived to be Cook’s digressions, mis-directions, and ham-handed way of telling rather than showing. It was only in the last third of the book that I realized Cook was telling a much more subtle story, and that the suspense – the expectation by the reader of some sort of action-based denouement – was actually driven by the careful disentangling of threads.

Last Talk is a dialogue between Luke, a mediocre historian and academic and Lola Faye, an old acquaintance. Years ago, tragedy struck Luke’s family and he has spent years with the ghosts of his past and his certainty about what happened. The novel switches between Luke’s recollections and his conversation with Lola Faye in a hotel bar. Slowly, everything Luke thought he understood is revealed to be based on his own assumptions and biases. What takes the place of Luke’s “truth” is a story of miscommunication, misplaced anger, and missed opportunities. The youthful Luke is a character entirely devoid of sensitivity, empathy or understanding, despite his academic brilliance. The adult Luke is a man frozen in place and numb to the world. Neither one evokes any sympathy in the reader, and the redemptive ending of Luke’s story seems a little too pat and happy.

Despite these flaws, I admire how Cook deftly drew me in and shattered my assumptions and expectations of the story, just as Luke’s are during the course of one evening. 3.5 stars

#200: I do not think I would have enough patience for that one!

Animal Farm by George Orwell

A perfectly executed political allegory and indictment of totalitarianism, Animal Farm is also an engaging story full of insight and humor. There are purges, obligatory "spontaneous" celebrations, and a cult of personality to make Stalin proud. But in the end, it is heartbreaking to an extent I did not expect. Each character is beautifully drawn, from Napoleon, the porcine leader of the rebellion, to Benjamin, the cynical and depressive donkey. Orwell is masterful in his depiction of the transformation of a revolution into nothing more than a re-ordering of the status quo. Brilliant. 5 stars

Hi Katie,

Wow -- lots of great reads this year. I loved The Uncommon Reader, and think I need a copy for myself as well (mine was a library copy). I loved your review of Animal Farm. Another classic I've missed. Have a great weekend!

#202: Great review, Katie! I read Animal Farm for the first time last year and could not believe how relevant the book still is.

Hi Anne and Stasia! Thanks for your kind comments!

>202 katiekrug:: I'm glad to see Animal Farm is still being read today and still has relevance. This one blew me away when I read it eons ago.

You've been knocking out the books, Katie. I'm huffing and puffing trying to keep up with you.

>206 Donna828: - Donna, they've been pretty short and/or easy reads :) Right now, I am zooming through The March by E.L. Doctorow which is a historical novel about Sherman's March to the Sea in 1864. It is wonderfully engrossing!

Loved your review of Animal Farm, one I own but am still yet to read.

Thanks, KiwiNyx! I'd urge you to bump it up a few slots on your TBR pile :)

Just an update...

I should finish The March by E.L. Doctorow today. I am also listening to the 3rd Three Pines/Inspector Gamache mystery - The Cruelest Month - narrated by Ralph Cosham (I have the physical book but heard such great things about Cosham's narration that I wanted to try it out; it is v. good!). I have some brain candy from the library waiting for me, but I also want to start Mansfield Park for the group read... decisions, decisions.

It is very dark outside, with storms threatening, and I have a nasty headache, so I might leave work early and go home to huddle under the covers. Bliss!

That does sound like bliss -- other than not feeling well. Hope you get your day of rest and relaxation AND you feel better!

What Anne said, Katie! I hope the headache is gone by now!

Hi Anne and Stasia. I did come home and took a long nap. Feeling better - just worn out. The long weekend should provide some time for rest and relaxation!

The March by E.L. Doctorow

”I don’t know what to think. I’ve lost everything to this war. And I see steadfastness not in the rooted mansions of a city but in what has no roots, what is itinerant. A floating world.” (page 61)

The March is, quite simply, exactly what historical fiction should be. It brings alive a specific time and place, creates characters that are complex and reflective of their period, and brings to the reader the sights, smells and sounds of that period.

Doctorow tells the story of Sherman’s March to the Sea and the end of the American Civil War through numerous characters – white, black, free, slave, army, civilian, rich and poor. The sheer number of characters and stories could be overwhelming but they are connected by the March itself, a shared experience, and really the central character of the book. Through a kaleidoscope of images and stories, Doctorow pieces together a portrait of war, death, brutality, kindness, hope and redemption.

One of my favorite parts was the brief glimpse we are given of President Lincoln very near the end of the war. Wrede, a doctor observes: ”His affliction might, after all, be the wounds of the war he’d gathered into himself, the amassed miseries of this torn-apart country made incarnate. Wrede, who had attended every kind of battle death, could not recall having ever before felt this sad for another human being.”

This book sucked me in, both as a very good, well-told story, and as a fictionalized account of a part of American history I am not deeply familiar with. My one complaint would be that a map of Sherman’s route through Georgia and the Carolinas would have been helpful, as would some indication – perhaps in an afterword – of what characters were real or based on historical figures and which were purely fictionalized (some are obvious, but I now have a lot of Googling to do). 4 stars

These new touchstones are driving me crazy. All of a sudden, LT can't find ones I've used with no problem in the past. ARGH!

Great review, Katie! I haven't read a Civil War book for awhile. This looks like a good one.

Katie- I loved the review too! I read this one a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I'm a big fan of Doctorow's work.

>214 katiekrug:: Thumbs up for a great review of The March, Katie. You've made me want to reread it as part of my Civil War project...but I notice I have a few other Doctorow books on the shelf that I should read first. I think I've been saving them. I just read about Sherman's March in Tony Horwitz's book, Confederates in the Attic, and he claims that Sherman got a bum rap. Guess you had to be there to know for sure...

>214 katiekrug:: Great review! That's a novel that I've never had any interest in, but I think I may reconsider it. I enjoy historical fiction, though the Civil War is not my favorite time period (although I loved Cold Mountain). I've encountered too many Civil War novels that are basically textbook retellings of famous battles with some bland dialogue scattered throughout. It sounds as though Doctorow has side-stepped this and written an engaging narrative!

Hi everbody! I'm still not feeling up to snuff and have decided to stay home from work today. I will be curling up with Mansfield Park and maybe alternating it with a thriller or something else I don't have to think too much about.

#216 - Thanks, Anne. I think you'd enjoy The March.

#217 - Mark, sad to say this was my first Doctorow. I will be rectifying that in the future!

#218 - Donna, Doctorow's portrait of Sherman is pretty complex but I think he ultimately comes out looking more positive than negative. Confederates in the Attic is on my WL.

#219 - Amanda, The March is first and foremost a novel. I ended up learning a lot (e.g. I had no idea that freed slaves joined the march or that Sherman headed north through the Carolinas after reaching Savannah) but it was more through osmosis than through being beat over the head ;) Do give it a try!

Hope your feeling better Katie!

Animal Farm I read in high school and hated it!!! my son had to read it 2 years ago for school so I decided to revisit it and see what my adult thoughts were on it...happy to say I gave it 4 1/2 stars :) your right it is heartbreaking and brilliant at the same time... nice review you gave!

The March has been waiting for me :) glad you liked it! and nice review! I really need to get to this one.........

Hi Kara. Feeling a bit better, thanks. The March is definitely worth reading!

Hi Katie, hope you're feeling better, at least the extra reading time must be quite nice. I loved your review of The March and have added it to the list, excellent write-up.

I hope you're feeling better. I have The March on my shelf--maybe I will add it to the Civil War challenge as a shared read (as an alternative to Cold Mountain). But I might not get to either one this month.

>223 KiwiNyx: KiwiNyx - Just woke up from a 2.5 hour nap - feeling MUCH better :)

>224 AnneDC: Anne - The March is probably a much easier read than Cold Mountain which is on my TBR shelves...

>224 AnneDC: & 225: Cold Mountain is a very slow and descriptive read, but it's also poetic, beautiful, and Inman's journey toward Cold Mountain symbolically becomes his quest for forgiveness/salvation after being in the hell that is war. I highly recommend it, but it's one of those novels you definitely have to be in the right mood for because it isn't an easy read; however, I found it very rewarding!

Just catching up! I just finished 1984 and really enjoyed it and thanks to your review of Animal Farm I will definitely be bumping that one up on my list.

I noticed the same thing as you about the touchstones. They load much faster but not always the correct one...

#226 - Amanda - I've wanted to read Cold Mountain forever but it's one of those books I know I will need to devote a lot of time and thought to, and I never seem to have enough of either :)

#227 - Valerie - I saw your review of 1984 and put it on my sooner rather than later list...

Five blissful days off from work (today is comp time from working so much at the beginning of the month, tomorrow I took vacation time, and then three for Memorial Day long weekend)! I am going shopping today, seeing the newest film version of Jane Eyre, and stopping in at one or two used bookstores I haven't been to before. The sun is shining, the humidity is gone, a breeze is blowing, and it's supposed to be about 83 degrees out. Perfect, perfect, perfect.

And to top it off, it's cleaning lady day so I'll come home to shiny floors, scrubbed bathrooms, and dusted furniture :)

Will report on any new book purchases later today. Though maybe I won't find anything that interests me....?

Have a great day, everybody!

Your day sounds lovely!

I hope you like Jane Eyre. I did!

Sounds like a wonderful day, Katie. I'll be interested in hearing about the books and the movie.

Sounds like you have a fantastic day ahead of you! The cleaning lady day sounds particularly wonderful to me right now. :)
Hopefully you find plenty of books to perk your interest. I will be eagerly awaiting to see what you come home with!

ditto what snat said in 226 about Cold Mountain....I really liked it :)

Enjoy your time off, goodness knows it is well deserved!

*snort* about maybe I won't find anything that interests me....? at the bookstore

waiting for the list :)

Well, I ended up being pretty disappointed in the movie. I think I would have liked it better if I hadn't just re-read the novel a few weeks ago. I don't expect a movie adaptation to follow the book absolutely faithfully, but I felt like there were a lot of important elements of the story that were omitted, as well as a lot of the most powerful emotional moments. The cinematography was gorgeous though, and the actress playing Jane was excellent. The actor portraying Mr. Rochester was okay - a little too good-looking, I think. Mr. Rochester is not supposed to be hot!

One of the bookstores I planned to go to appears to be out of business :( So I only made it to one, but it was having a 20% off everything sale, so that's good :)

The haul:
A Passage to India by E.M. Forster (an old favorite from college)
Being Dead by Jim Crace (mentioned on someone's thread recently; sounds intriguing)
The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor (some of my favorite short stories)
The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (nice hardcover 3-volume set)
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
Lord of the Flies by William Golding (never read it!)
Property Of by Alice Hoffman (her debut novel)
The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford (2 in 1; mentioned in The Uncommon Reader
... and there may have been a few more...

What a great haul! Congratulations for the five days off! Think you can get any reading done? ;)

Thanks, Stasia!

Nice haul Katie!!

Being Dead I have, I got that one off of Donna828 thread :)

Lord of the Flies I remember really liking when I was a teen...I need to read that one again :)

Sorry about the disappointment on the movie....at least you liked the book :)

enjoy your time off

ETA...I just looked at Property Of...that one looks good too!

Great job on the books, Katie. Sorry you didn't like the movie but I'm glad to know I can safely pass that one up. I was interested because I just finished Jane Eyre but I hate when the movie doesn't live up to the book.

You got some great books! Lord of the Flies and A Town Called Alice are two of my all time favorite books. I'm jealous of your acquisition of The Forsyte Saga, that's one I've wanted to read for ages.

Hi Kara, Pat and Judy! Thanks for stopping by.

There will probably be more books hauls in the near future - my husband wants to go to Half Price Books' flagship store in Dallas for the 20% off everything sale, and we have talked about heading to a used bookstore about 45 minutes away that we haven't been to since our second date (which was Memorial Day Weekend 2007)!

>240 katiekrug:: Going to a bookstore is a great way to commemorate your dating. Have fun! Maybe you need to stop somewhere and buy some more bookcases while you're out and about. You have plenty of time on your 5 days off to put them together. ;-)

Ahhh...Lord of the Flies. I remember reading that during high school and honestly if it wasn't part of my school readings I don't think I would have caught half all the metaphors and symbolism that was in that book. That book had a lot going on. After dissecting and ripping that one apart in English class, I must say I really enjoyed it. :)

Great recent haul, I love the line right at the bottom of the list: ".. and there may have been a few more..". That sounds so familiar.

I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy the recent adaptation of Jane Eyre. I really liked it although perhaps my experience was too different as I saw the film before I (re-)read the book. What scenes from the book did you feel were a detrimental loss?

#241 - Donna - Yes, I think more shelves are in my future... But where to put them?!?

#242 - Valerie - I will definitely have to set aside time to really concentrate on Lord of the Flies to get as much out of it as possible!

#243 - KiwiNyx - I think that may become my standard last line on book hauls. I'm usually so embarrassed by my excess, I can't list them all...

#244 - Micky - I don't want to give too much away for others who might want to see the movie... But one thing that springs to mind is that I thought it was odd that the film completely omitted Jane's relationship with the kind teacher at Lowood (can't remember her name). To me, that teacher and Helen Burns taught Jane that there were good people in the world who could care for her and erased some of the grimness of her childhood, making it more understandable that she could see and accept kindness in others later on. Helen appears in the film but much of their relationship was skimmed over. I just felt like it took away from seeing Jane's development as a frightened child into a woman aware of her own self-worth which is so integral to the story (IMHO, of course).

Soulless by Gail Carriger

I’m not quite sure how to characterize this book – it’s a mix of historical romance, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, steampunk, alternate history and probably a few other things I don’t know about. This was my first foray into whatever this genre is, and it was a light, easy, occasionally fun read. Ultimately, though, not really my cup of tea.

Alexia Tarabotti is a preternatural – a being with no soul – living in Victorian London where vampires and werewolves exist side-by-side with “regular” folk. She stumbles upon a bit of a mystery and matches wits with Lord Maccon – a werewolf – who doesn’t appreciate her meddling in his investigation. Alexia and Maccon, of course, fall in love, solve the mystery and get married.

This is the first in a series and, while Carriger builds an interesting world and injects some sharp humor into her descriptions and dialogue, I quickly grew tired of it all. Maybe because it was my first introduction to this kind of novel, it just seemed a little too “cute” to me. I don’t think I will continue with the series; it wasn’t terrible but there are too many other books out there that I know I will enjoy more. 2.75 stars

ooh, interesting. I've been eyeing that series up for a while now but couldn't make my mind up whether it was my thing or not. Perhaps it's because it seems to be a little bit of everything? Your review might just help me keep it at arms length for a while longer, especially as there are other books I would much rather read at the moment.

@246 Well done review of Soulless, Katie. Doesn't sound at all like my thing, but I LOVE the book cover : ).

#247 KiwiNyx - that's just how I felt - not the worst thing I've ever read but with so much else on my list....

#248 - Nancy, the covers of the whole series are pretty cool :)

>246 katiekrug:: I've been curious about this one and have heard mixed reviews. It was interesting to get your take on it as it sounds like I might have a similar reaction. I've found that a lot of these paranormal/fantasy books that are increasingly popular (like the Sookie Stackhouse and the Dresden Files series) are enjoyable and intrigue me at first, but by the 3rd or 4th book in the series I've become jaded due to repetitive plot structures that all the witty one-liners and occasional inventive twist can't save. I may have to give Soulless a pass and avoid the inevitable. Great review!

Hi Katie, it sounds like you're feeling better. Hope you're having a great weekend!

#250 - Amanda, I kind of figure there isn't much point in reading the rest of the series because it will just be more of the same. The first book itself got kind of repetitive...

#251 - Thanks, Anne! Feeling much better. Have a great weekend yourself!

I enjoyed Soulless more than you, Katie, but not as much as others in the group have done. I hope your next read is more to your taste!

>245 katiekrug: Totally valid opinion. I think they cut a lot of the earlier stuff to focus on the Jane and Rochester relationship, which is the heart of the story for most people. *shrug*

>246 katiekrug: Sorry you didn't enjoy Soulless. I've really enjoyed the series thus far, but I think it's cuteness which annoyed you, made me like it. To each their own. Hope your next read is better!

#253 Stasia - it wasn't decent escapist fare but not enough to keep me reading the series.

#254 Micky - to each their own is right :)

My five days off from work went much too quickly (as they tend to do...). I was able to finally devote some concentrated time to Mansfield Park which I am enjoying. I haven't finished it yet and probably won't for several more days. I am flying through a mindless thriller which has been the perfect thing to read today, given constant interruptions from my husband who was working on various projects.

Hoping to get some good news tomorrow about a new position at my company that I applied for - fingers crossed!

Hi Katie! I think this is the 3rd Souless review that I've seen in the past little while. One person enjoyed it, another hated it, and you fall nicely right inbetween. :) I will eventually have to read this one myself to see.

Good luck tomorrow!

Thanks, Valerie!

The Lion by Nelson DeMille

Decent escapist fare. DeMille is not a great writer but he can put together a pretty good page-turner. And I do enjoy the protagonist's smart-ass thoughts and remarks. 3 stars

(Cannot for the life of me find the correct touchstone, so I used the one for one of the earlier books in this series.)

I've read four of the John Corey books, but not either of the "Lion" books. DeMille can write a page-turner so they're entertaining reads anyway. I've got The Lion's Game on my shelf and really should add it to my summer reading list. Thanks for the reminder!

I've read four of the John Corey books, but not either of the "Lion" books. DeMille can write a page-turner so they're entertaining reads anyway. I've got The Lion's Game on my shelf and really should add it to my summer reading list. Thanks for the reminder!

Joanne - The Lion's Game was my introduction to John Corey and to DeMille. I have Plum Island around here somewhere, and have read the others. I liked Night Fall about TWA 800 a lot, and thought Wild Fire the weakest.

Agreed. Night Fall and Plum Island (especially Plum Island) were my two favorites.

Another John Corey fan here. I haven't read Wild Fire or The Lion yet, but will eventually get to them.

Well, I got that new position I applied for at my company :) I may have to start counting the books I read to get up to speed for it... but I don't want to bore you all with the ins and outs of recruiting and retaining members at non-profit professional associations :)

Congratulations!!

Thanks, Barbara!

Looks like it's time for a new thread. Come on over here!