Morphy Joins the Fray - Part 2

Morphy Joins the Fray - Part 1

As of May 15, 2011 - 116 books read.

Best books of 2011

Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip
Soulless by Gail Carriger

111. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: May TIOLI #20 (library), Women of SF, Ultimate Reading list, 111 Science Fiction

Summary: Woman gets caught back during the plague when the flu hits her original time

Opinion: You know it's not good when you wonder when you wish it were over. I finished the book because the story was interesting enough but her style and dialogue were rather tedious. She tried too hard to be humorous in the current time and in the past, everything was confusing. It had potential but needed tighter writing and an editor's heavy hand.

Rating: 5

112. The Land of Painted Caves by Jean Auel

Genre: Fiction

Notes: May TIOLI #9 (24.2 cm), Next in series

Summary: The final chapter to Ayla's story

Opinion: I was dreading the thought of reading this. The reviews have been awful. However, I had to finish the series. I'm a masochist. It's not the worst thing I've ever read, but nothing of interest happened in 757 pages. I skimmed all but the first exploration of painted caves, and that's a lot of skimming. Only read if you have to complete the series.

Rating: 5

113. Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson

Genre: Mystery

Notes: Ultimate Reading list

Summary: Caterer is accused of poisoning her abusive ex-husband's father

Opinion: I didn't like the characters and found the recipes, which were stuck in the middle of chapters instead of at the beginning or end, intrusive. I did like the story though. It's a shame that the main character is so dysfunctional and unlikeable and the secondary characters are one-dimensional.

Rating: 5

114. Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: May TIOLI #16 (birds), Women of Fantasy challenge

Summary: Girl sees ghosts while growing up - what do they want with her?

Opinion: While it shows the weaknesses of a first book - the writing needed tightening up especially - the story was intriguing and I liked the main character, at least during the first half. She got a bit unpleasant when an adult and didn't show much growth. I'm willing to try the next book in the trilogy. While this is the first of three books, it can pretty much stand on its own.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton
At Home by Bill Bryson

On Deck:
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Carry on, Jeeves! by P. G. Wodehouse

115. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Ongoing adventures of Sookie

Opinion: Enjoyable. There is growth in Sookie and forward plot movement yet I can't help but wish she would get if not a happy ending at least some good things happening to her.

Rating: 7

116. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

Genre: Inspirational Fiction

Notes: Ultimate Reading list

Summary: Vignettes of a middle-aged minister in a Southern small town

Opinion: Lovely, gentle, humorous. It's only (slight) failing is the episodic nature of the stories but that might just be the nature of the beast. I like how his faith is such a part of his life but it never felt preachy.

Rating: 8

Glad you posted the link--I would have missed your move to a new thread without it!

Oooh, shiny new thread! I'm patiently waiting my turn with the library's copy of Dead Reckoning (I'm twenty-something in line) and I'm glad to see it's good stuff. :)

Yes, so glad you posted the link! (Were you wondering where everyone went? lol)

I agree 100% with what you said about Doomsday Book and The Painted Caves (though I just could not bring myself to finish DB).

First time visiting your thread! :)

Thanks for your review of The Land of Painted Caves. I saw this book everywhere at my bookstore but never actually picked it up to see what it was about and based on your review, maybe that was a smart choice.

Morphidae - wondered why your reading had inexplicably dried up! Thanks for the Jean M. Auel review. Read the very first one some years ago and was somewhat underwhelmed. They have all been reissued in glossy new covers on the shelves of our book stores in Kuala Lumpur. What may have been my copy will stay on those shelves.

Glad I posted the link. I was feeling lonely!

I liked the first Jean Auel for the first half of the first book, and then got utterly fed up and bored at her 'wonderfulness'. I can't recall if I plodded through to the end or not. I shall certainly not be continuing further onwards, especially as the series dries up so.

I own the Cherie Priest trilogy. I guess I really should get around to reading it one of these days!

I love what you've been reading and your reviews are nicely put, I especially appreciate the Jean Auel review as I read the first 4 books as a teenager and now I know I definitely don't need to read the 5th! Phew and thanks.

117. At Home by Bill Bryson

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: May TIOLI #9 (24cm)

Summary: A natural history of the house and its contents

Opinion: When he wrote about specific people and inventors, I got bored; however, when he stuck to groups like the poor or clergy and the history of objects in culture, I loved it. I especially enjoyed the pieces on servants and beds.

Rating: 7

118. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: 1001 Fantasy

Summary: A retelling of The Six Swans

Opinion: Well written but overall depressing and the main character seemed a bit… flat. I don't know. I can't put my finger on why I didn't enjoy it more. It could have been my mood but I think it was just the bleakness of the tale.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton
Carry On, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

On Deck:
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Language Visible by David Sacks
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

I read The God of Small Things last year, Morphy. I will be interested in seeing what you think of the book when you are done with it.

Added The God of Small Things to my Quit, Yuck, Ptooey collection. I got halfway through the book and decided not to slog through one more chapter about people I didn't care about and where the author gave very little sense of place, time or meaning. Ptooey!

I agree with you there Morphy ... except I slogged it out to the end ... not worth it:)

Oh, I actually really enjoyed The God of Small Things although it was a few years back now that I read it so I couldn't tell you just what I liked about it. I have seen many times that it is definitely a 'you either love it or you hate it' book.

#20: I did not like the book either, although I did finish it.

OMG, I just ordered the first of two parts to the audiobook, The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber, from the library. It has *35* CDs! This is going to take awhile...

Stopping by to say hi, and I'm looking forward to your review of Carry On, Jeeves. Wodehouse is one of my favorites!

#24: LOL! I listened to Diana Gabaldon's books on CD and I think the last one had 48 or so. Yeah, it is going to take a while :)

#20 One of the worst Booker winners definitely. I finished it and spent the next several months trying to forget it. Have a thing about Indian writers - either blown away by them (Rohinton Mistry and RK Narayan) or struggle completely (Vikram Chandra being another case in point). I think the problem with a lot of "modern" writing is that the writer completely forgets they are supposed to be telling a story.

You can add me to the chorus of God of Small Things nay-sayers. Awfully over-rated.

Wow, you guys have almost got me thinking I should go and reread the book. What did I miss.. I am so curious now.

119. Carry On, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

Genre: Fiction

Notes: 2007 TBR list

Summary: Short stories about a bumbling aristocrat and his valet

Opinion: I think I might have been better off reading these as they were serialized as there is a sameness about them that is off-putting. The same story told numerous times, no matter how amusing, gets a little tedious. That being said, I breezed through the book and got some chuckles out of it.

Rating: 6

120. Ceremony in Death by J. D. Robb

Genre: Mystery

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Ongoing story of Eve and Roarke

Opinion: Great continuation. I like how their relationship evolved and I liked the case. I can't really call it a mystery since it was obvious who the bad guys were. Fun romp.

Rating: 8

121. Spirit Dances by C. E. Murphy

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Continuing story of Joanne Walker

Opinion: I enjoyed the story and love the characters. Two items brought it from very good down to good. First, Joanne is becoming Mary Sue-ish. More powers? Really? She is saved by being a bit of a klutz, magic-wise. Second, the ending was cliff hanger-ish. Not that the main story wasn't completed but the last couple of pages left me with the feeling of "What the hell?"

Rating: 7

122. I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron

Genre: Humor

Notes: Ultimate Reading list

Summary: Humorous essays mostly about being an older woman

Opinion: I very much enjoyed the first two CDs, especially the part about what was in her purse but on the last CD the essays weren't as funny and one felt tacked on. It was just a list. But this is good enough that I'll be sending it to my mother for her birthday in July. She'll get a kick out of it.

Rating: 7

123. The Direct Path by Andrew Harvey

Genre: Spiritual

Notes: Can't remember why I decided on this one

Summary: Creating a Journey to the Divine Using the World's Mystical Traditions

Opinion: Good stuff: describing practices from various traditions and how to do them, personal narrative.

Bad stuff: Surprisingly, there was a bit of "One True Way-ism" even if he considers himself of no one faith and it turned me off. Also, this book is aimed more at the person who wants to be a full-time mystic. There simply isn't time in the day to do all the practices he suggests for the average person since we don't have hours a day to devote to the various meditations, etc. Lastly, it got very Eastern woo-woo at times and I had to skim it.

Rating: 5

124. Language Visible by David Sacks

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: Old TBR list

Summary: Unraveling the Mystery of the Alphabet from A to Z

Opinion: The only reason it got a lower rating is because I found the subject matter boring at times. The writing was good and when I learned more about the "culture" of a letter rather than the "technical specs" of how it evolved from its first form, I enjoyed myself. An example is how "Ye" as is "Ye Old English Shoppe" came about. The form Y was used to symbolize the letter thorn which represented the sound "th." Another piece of interest is the difficulty different nationalities have pronouncing certain sounds. Germans pronounce "welcome" as "velcome" or Japanese say "frying" instead of "flying," for instance.

Funny quote:
The Anglo-Saxons who invaded England from northern Germany said "w" all the time. Think of "Wotan," "wassail," "weapons," "witches," "woods," and "swine," and you've covered most of their hobbies.

Rating: 5

I found your thread and starred it. I'm currently reading the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series and enjoying it.

I very much liked the Mitford books when I read them awhile back.

125. To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: 888 Challenge

Summary: About American heiresses marrying English nobility in the 1800s

Opinion: This was SUCH a fun book. Tons of pictures of fashion and homes. Loads of cultural trivia about how the rich and the aristocrats lived in the mid- to late 1800s. Gossip about everyone from Mrs. Astor to Bertie (eventually King Edward VII.) I found how much control the women had over who was "in" fascinating. Only reason it didn't get a nine is that sometimes there were lists of names that got tedious - such as which sister married which lord, etc.

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

On Deck:
This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson
Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

#36 I'm sure I'll read (listen) to more eventually. They are lovely books.

To Marry an English Lord sounds interesting. Thanks for the recommendation of that one, Morphy.

I second that one, To Marry an English Lord looks excellent.

Edited to add that our local library network doesn't have the book.. :(

Yeah, I had to get it Interlibrary loan. I do hope people will read this. It really it a lot of fun if you like that type of thing.

You've been reading some really interesting stuff lately, Morphy! To Marry an English Lord does sound fascinating. And the quote from Language Visible is hysterical but also made me think. I was a volunteer adult literacy tutor for a couple of years, and one of the things that made it hard for many foreign-language students to "get" English is the difficulty they had pronouncing certain words. One student in particular wanted to learn to speak English well, and we worked long and hard on the correct placement of the tongue in order to make certain sounds. It was like the stuggles I had pronouncing certain French when I was (trying to) learn that language. It took a lot of practice to get it even partially right!

Whoo hoo! I got an ER copy of Naked City. It's a collection of urban fantasy short stories including ones from Jim Butcher and Patricia Briggs!

*does happy Snoopy dance*

I am glad you are so excited about your ER book, Morphy! I hope it proves to be a good one for you!

Hey, just stopping by to see what else you've read this year besides This Book Is Overdue!. You've reminded me that my reading this year has serrrriously lacked in fantasy. Must remedy this...:)

Congrats on your ER win! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on it.

126. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

Genre: Historical Fiction

Notes: Love Brooks

Summary: A Native American male, the first to go to Harvard, and a young woman grow up on Martha's Vineyard in the 1600s

Opinion: Surprising, this is my least favorite of Brook's books. I think it is because it is so bleak, even more so than Year of Wonders. Also, you see Caleb only from a distance and the heroine has a tinge of victimhood to her. Bad things happen and she barely rises above them. I imagine, however, she is an accurate product of her time.

Rating: 7

127. This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: LT Recommended

Summary: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All

Opinion: Another person who recently read this book called it scattered and I have to agree. While I enjoyed some of the chapters, especially the ones on privacy, the awesomeness of reference librarians, and Second Life, the rest were tedious at times and not of much interest. Yes, we know you like libraries and librarians, but you need to tell us why, not just say you do. It mentions LibraryThing ("…where you could become your own librarian!") though, so that's another good point.

Quote:
"Bibliomancy… Divination by jolly well Looking It Up."

Rating: 6

128. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

Genre: Historical Fiction

Notes: June TIOLI #22 ("Z"), LT Recommended

Summary: A Dutch clerk discovers a new way of life in 1800s Japan

Opinion: This book has three stories. The first is set up of the clerk arriving in Japan in 1799. I found this part boring and skimmed a lot, especially when there was a lot of accented dialogue. The second story was about a Japanese woman and a corrupt temple. This and the final chapter about the English trying to take over the Dutch settlement were very good. If the book had just been the last 2/3, I would have given it an 8, but the first tedious part brought it down to a 7.

Rating: 7

129. The Gates of Sleep
130. Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Rereads

Summary: Retellings of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella

Opinion: Mindless fun fluff

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
The Good News Bible by Various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky (old TIOLI, current TIOLI (nonfiction/fiction)
The Wizard of London by Mercedes Lackey (for fun)

On Deck:
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Murial Barbery
Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

#47: My local library does not have Caleb's Crossing yet. I am sorry to see you did not enjoy it more, Morphy.

#48: I agree with the scattered assessment of that one too. I was disappointed in the book as a whole.

#49: Skipping your review of that one as I am going to read it this month.

You have some good reading on deck. I hope you enjoy!

#50 - I haven't read Misty's fairy tale retellings and one of these days I ought to. Currently I have requested Intrigues and am considering hunting down some of the Valdemar anthologies that I missed. I still have mixed feelings about those though I know why she restricts her world...she did, after all, get her start writing Darkover stories.

I was disappointed in Intrigues. The hero seems like a merge of all the previous male characters she did before. He's a little Vanyl, a little Karal and a little Darian rather than being his own person.

I think you'll enjoy her retellings. The Fire Rose is my favorite.

Karal? I cannot place that one...from which books? I can see your point though, even just having read the first one. The first two trilogies remain my favorite ones though I like the first in this series better than the Darian books. I like fairy tale retellings in general and am fond of her 500 Kingdom books (there's at least one there that I haven't read - discovered this when I picked up a collection with a Misty story in it that followed from said unread book) so I expect that you are right. One of these days...trying to catch up on some series now before I add new ones.

I liked The Doomsday Book.. really want to read Four and Twenty Blackbirds , and have no idea why I haven't already, agree with you about the Mitford books, Plan to read some J D Robb, have a few Bill Bryson books, but just couldn't warm up to the first one I tried A Walk in the Woods, but haven't given up on him..agree with you on Daughter of the Forest , enjoy Mercedes Lackey books, and want to read Caleb's Crossing.

in conclusion.. if we were neighbors, we could definitely share books!

also, glad I found your thread!

:)

@elfchild, Karal is the young priest from the Storm trilogy.

@mckait, Welcome!

Oh, right...now I remember. I don't think I have ever re-read the Storm or Wind trilogies which means I haven't read them since they were published. I have so much less time for reading now that I re-read less than I used to.

I've wishlisted The Fire Rose as the whole alternative fairy tales premise appeals and I've never read any Mercedes Lackey and think this is as good a place as any to begin. Will look forward to what you think of The Elegance of the Hedgehog, I loved it but I don't think everyone does.

I've gone to GoodReads. Well, not like GONE, gone. But rather, they have a Facebook feed which LibraryThing doesn't. I sent out a bunch of friend invites yesterday, but no one has responded. Did you get one? Are you still on GoodReads? Anyone else doing GoodReads?

What kind of feed do they have that LT doesn't?

LT posts books added, reviews.. etc
just curious..

I was on GoodReads for awhile but a bunch of people there were really, really mean to me so I switched to LT full-time and I've never looked back.

When I read a book, it posts to Facebook. I don't want added or reviews, I want read.

Yeah that would be really nice. I hate it when I add a book to my wishlist and it posts to Facebook as if I just read it. Annoying.

But maybe LT can get something like that if/when we get some kind of read marker?

I see.. hmmm well, you can ask Tim?
But if a certain person doesn't want it you are basically SOL

who knows though? Ask him :)
Tim is very accommodating.. aside from the one hang up.. :P

I got your invite via email, but haven't been on FB yet to respond. As far as GoodReads goes, I'm happy on LT, but would consider using it for an FB interface.

I dare not add another site... I don't want to get hung up on more than I already have :P
I am on Goodreads, but I don't use it for anything..

I like the GoodReads quotations pages. I'm there, but only occasionally.

I like the trivia and the lists. It's an adjunct to LT though not a replacement. I love the people here too much. Tim knows that people want a better FB link. He's just not doing it for some reason or another.

I use Goodreads to list my wishlist/Tbr pile only and LT for everything else. I've tried to follow the conversation above but I am so lost as I'm not on Facebook so I don't use any interface with other sites. I am such a modern luddite at times!

Phew, I just did a massive catch-up (as in, starting halfway through your last thread at the middle of March). Some skimming was involved.

Somehow I had seen the cover of Caleb's Crossing many times, but not picked it up or realized it was by Geraldine Brooks. It sounds like one I should read.

I used to have a GR account (and, I suppose, I still do) but I could never manage to keep up with both sites at the same time. I'm optimistic that LT will add Lists within the next couple of years, and it would be nice if better FB integration came along with the Read redo. I also just want to post books that I've read.

I use Good Reads to post to Facebook as well. I haven't checked in lately because I read very little on vacation and I don't post everything. I second the grumble about LT posting anything one adds to ones library to FB. I'm trying to make use of the collections feature to keep track of what I *want* to read and they end up on FB as though I read them. boo.

I keep the BlackHole on GoodReads and that is all I do there. The only reason the BlackHole is there is because LT did not have the 'Collections' feature when I started it.

131. The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: June TIOLI #6 (new 2+)

Summary: Unedited articles from a government work program for writers about area foods from the 1940s

Opinion: I am not the target audience for this. If I was, I probably would have rated this higher. But I am not a foodie or historian and scanned much of the book. I did enjoy the articles on automats, restaurants and about the foods in the various "feeds" across the US.

Rating: 4

132. The Wizard of London by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: June TIOLI #18 (same number), Reread

Summary: Retelling of The Snow Queen

Opinion: Episodic and only a small part of the book was about the actual fairy tale retelling. It was barely about the Wizard and mostly about other people. But it's a Lackey and I like it.

Rating: 7

133. The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Reread

Summary: Retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in early 1900s San Francisco

Opinion: This is my second copy. I'm almost ready to buy a third copy as I've worn this one through. As much as I love it, I couldn't rate it higher as after the sixth or seventh reading (tenth?), it doesn't have quite as much emotional impact and charm.

Rating: 8

134. Reserved for the Cat by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: June TIOLI #23 (dog/cat cover), Reread

Summary: Retelling of Puss in Boots in early 1900s England

Opinion: This is my second favorite of Lackey's Elemental Masters series.

Rating: 8

135. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Reread

Summary: The widow, Ista, goes on a pilgrimage to reclaim a portion of her life

Opinion: Not as good as The Curse of Chalion, but still a pleasant read.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Sebastian by Anne Bishop
The Way We Pray by Maggie Oman Shannon

On Deck:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Redwall by Brian Jacques

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a good one.. I look forward to your thoughts,

136. Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton

Genre:Urban Fantasy

Notes: June TIOLI #20 (awful cover), Next in series

Summary: Ongoing adventures of Anita Blake

Opinion: Mild SPOILERS Ahead

Same old formula. Gory body opening scene. Check. Bonding with Edward. Check. Feeding of ardeur with a stranger. Check. Woman-hating cop issue. Check. Sex issues angst. Check. New power saves the day. Check.

It is only saved from being awful because I am still able to scarf her books down in a couple of hours. It's an addiction, I tell you.

Rating: 6

new Anita Blake? I'll have to get on the list at the library. I *love* your opinion and expect that mine will be similar.

I've been trying to figure out where I am with Misty's assorted universes. I think that I have read most of the Elves on the Road books a few years ago but I then gave her a break before reading the Roberta Gellis collaborations. It's hard to tell because not all of my books have been unpacked.

oh! someone mentioned the "unpack" word... I have more to do.

137. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Genre: Fiction

Notes: Can't remember how this got on my TBR list, other people on LT were reading it

Summary: About people in an apartment building in Paris

Opinion: Honestly, I don't see the appeal of this book at all. It's all philosophy and no story. Maybe a third of the book is story and that is being generous. The rest is pontificating on various philosophical subjects which bored me. I skimmed much of it. Blech.

Rating: 4

I read The Fire Rose a number of years ago and really enjoyed it. I will have to look for some of her other fantasy fairy-tale based books starting with Reserved for the Cat.

That Hedehog book is definitely a love it or hate it book from what I can tell. Personally, I loved it but I also love reading philosophy so that may have helped.

Your recent reads have reminded me that I really want to find some of those Merceds Lackey fairy tale retellings. They're already on the wishlist but reminders are always good.

Thank you Morphy.. I feel less .. less, for wanting to avoid Elegance at all cost.
I don't even know how I ended up with a cop..
:)

138. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Genre: Fantasy (Children's)

Notes: June TIOLI #17 (unseemly occupation), 1001 Fantasy

Summary: A jailed thief is made an offer he can't refuse

Opinion: Unlikeable characters - the hero whined - and a traveling plot made this uninteresting to me even with the "surprise" reveals.

Rating: 5

139. Sword-dancer by Jennifer Roberson

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: 50 State

Summary: Del searches for her brother, sold to slavery, with Tiger's guidance

Opinion:

SPOILERS:

Shows its age with a lot of stereotypical behavior even though the heroine is supposed to be outside the norm. Too much "from frying pan into the fire" plot devices, not enough characterization. And I found out half way through the book that Del was NOT a nice person. It felt like a betrayal.

Rating: 5

I thought I was the only person in the world who didn't like The Thief! I've heard that the series gets better, but I haven't been able to bring myself to pick up the next book.

I read the plots of the other books and, no, I doubt I'll pick them up either.

Hey, Morphy! Just passing through - oh, and I'm officially a fellow WI-er now! :)

Well, a neighbor anyway. I'm in MN!

Oh, that's right. Sorry - I'm fairly easily confused!

Hi, Morphy! Caught up on your thread now, though like Zoe some skimming was involved for me too. However, I love knowing I can come to your thread anytime I want advice on which fantasy novel to look for at the library when I'm hungry for some fantastical reading.

140. Sweet and Deadly by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Mystery

Notes: To complete bibliography

Summary: Everyone around the heroine is seeming to be getting murdered, why?

Opinion: Eh. It was an okay read if you can get past the dated racism and chauvinism. This was Harris' first novel and it shows but there is a hint of her enjoyable style.

Rating:6

141. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: June TIOLI #12 (nonfiction/fiction), LT Recommended, GD group read

Summary: A black woman's cells, taken without her consent in the 50s, become the basis for major medical scientific discovery

Opinion: Excellent book considering that I wasn't particularly interested in the subject matter. The author made it personal and compelling. I especially liked the relationship between Skloot and Deborah, Henrietta's daughter.

Rating:8

142. The Way We Pray by Maggie Oman Shannon

Genre: Spirituality

Notes: June TIOLI #12 (nonfiction/fiction), personal interest

Summary: Various ways we connect with the Divine

Opinion: I really wanted to like this book. I am interested in the subject matter but somehow the author made it dry and boring. I found some good ideas and references, so rated it higher than the writing itself warranted.

Rating: 6

143. Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer

Genre: Romance

Notes: June TIOLI #7 (flower), to complete bibilography

Summary: In 1940s Georgia, an ex-con marries a poor mother of three after seeing her advertisement for a husband in 1940s Georgia

Opinion: Lovely and compelling story. Spencer makes you love the characters who overcome challenges and grow throughout the book. The hero's bliss in such simple things as a haircut or being able to eat bread whenever he wants is endearing.

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
The Bible by various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen

On Deck:
The Pretender's Crown by C. E. Murphy
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

144. The Pretender's Crown by C. E. Murphy

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: To complete bibliography

Summary: Continuing fantasy story of Belinda - assassin, witch, bastard - in alternate Elizabethan Europe

Opinion: The many characters have distinct personalities yet none are all that likeable which makes this a difficult book to me to enjoy. This is a violent, ugly world with rare moments of content. I'm hoping that the alien plotline becomes more woven in as more books are published in this series. It feels tacked on at this point.

Rating: 6

Well I'm keen on the Morning Glory book so that's added. With C.E. Murphy, the premise is intriguing, are there others in the series that would be better to read?

The first book is The Queen's Bastard and really needs to be read first.

I've never read any LaVyrle Spencer...you make me want to try some. Have you read the Mercedes Lackey/Roberta Gellis collaborations? They are set in the same universe as the Bedlam's Bard and Serrated Edge books but during the reign of Henry VIII. It's on my list this summer to try to read the books in that universe that I have not yet.

Yes, I've read the Lackey/Gellis but they aren't my favorites and it is unfinished. And it looks like it may never been finished.

145. Unnatural Issue by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban fantasy

Notes: To complete the series

Summary: A mage desires to put his dead wife's soul into his daughter's body. The daughter thinks not.

Opinion: I was very intent on reading this book until I got tired of Suzanne's crush on Charles about half way through. Then it wasn't as much fun. He barely interacts with her and she goes to the extremes to be close to him. It isn't until the last page that she finally snaps out of it and it's only to change her attentions from one man to another. Otherwise a decent book and shows a little bit about what it what like at the beginning of World War I.

Rating: 7

Missed one. This should have been #144.



146. Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen

Genre: Fiction (it is classed mystery, but there was no mystery!)

Notes: June TIOLI #23 (dog/cat cover), brother recommended

Summary: An ecoterrorist fights against an island's development by stealing a lobbyist's dog and wife.

Opinion: I liked the mad hijinks yet it was a little too violent and crime ridden for me to really like any of the characters except for maybe the lobbyist's wife. I could sympathize with the ecoterrorist; however, his methods made me uncomfortable. Fun but flawed.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
The Bible by various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
What I Eat by Peter Menzel
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

On Deck:
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy
Hanging by a Thread by Monica Ferris
Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

147. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

Genre: Fiction

Notes: Ultimate Reading List, LTMP, GR 5.10 Summer Fun

Summary: Sidda opens mouth and inserts foot. Southern Mother Vivi disowns her. The Ya-Yas come to the rescue.

Opinion: This is the first book in awhile that I immediately wanted to read again as soon as I finished it. I didn't want it to be over. I loved the friendship between the Ya-Yas. The relationship ups and downs between Sidda and Vivi. The exquisite painful losses handled with grace, however dysfunctional. The descriptions of food, place and family. My only issue, and what kept it from being a 10, is how the flashbacks were handled. They didn't quite fit. But I laughed, I cried, I giggled, I nodded in agreement - I loved this book.

Rating: 9

Quotes:
"My mother is not the Holy Lady, she thought. My mother's love is not perfect. My mother's love is good enough. My lover's love is good enough. Maybe I am good enough."

"How tender can I bear to be? What good manners can we show as we welcome ourselves and others into our hearts?"

>105 Morphidae: I've seen the film, but I haven't picked up the book and I'm not sure if I will or not...

>105 Morphidae: I think you would like The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells. I read it with a friend (whom I rarely share book interests with) and we both liked it a lot. It's one of those books you can't help but stay up all night reading.

148. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: LT Recommended, SC 20.3 Something That Makes You Happy (reading)

Summary: Essays on books, reading and authors

Opinion: This started off excellent. I enjoyed the stories and his writing was evocative. But as I continued, Conroy became more and more wordy with lots of metaphors and by the end it was so florid I was having to skim. I think the essays at the beginning were his earlier work and when he got a heavier editorial hand. With more recent essays, editors let him have his way and that meant a lot of purple prose. I couldn't read the stories because the writing got in the way. Shame. He has a way with words that is beautiful and touching when not overdone.

Quote:
"… others choose to read because it offers one of the only safety nets where love and hope can find comfort."

Rating: 5

149. Hanging by a Thread by Monica Ferris

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #4 (locale), SC 20.5 Bigger is Better, To continue series

Summary: Ongoing story of an amateur PI and needlework shop owner

Opinion: I certainly don't read this series for the plot (or what there is of one.) I read it for the local flavor and the well-liked characters. I like reading about restaurants I've gone to, streets I know and places I've been. I read it for the tidbits about needlework and shop-keeping. The mystery was so-so but how she figured everything out was pretty lame.

Rating: 7

I think I actually like Goddy and Jill better than Betsy in that series. I don't really dislike her, but I just think the others are more interesting characters.

What's nice is that there *are* interesting on-going characters in her books.

I think I just said this recently on someone else's thread, but I really don't mind if the rest of the book is so-so, as long as I really like the characters. I like the idea of the needlework shop setting - I think I'll put the series on ye olde wishliste.

#109> I've been wondering about that series...it's nice to know that the characters are interesting...I'll have to see if our library has any of these. I read Maggie Sefton's knitting mysteries but never followed up on Mary Kruger's after deciding the first one was only OK.

Just wanted to say I like how neat and tidy your reviews are! :)

150. What I Eat by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: SC 15.10 Reading is Easy, LT Recommended

Summary: Book of photos with essays about what 80 people from around the world eat in a day

Opinion: It is a lovely book and I learned a lot. I found it fascinating to see what people eat and was surprised at how popular hot and spicy food was especially outside the US. The authors are especially nice. I sent an email with a question and the reply was prompt and courteous.

Rating: 9

151. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Genre: Spirituality

Notes: June TIOLI #2 (foreign title), LTMP

Summary: Classic Chinese religious text

Opinion: Ugh. Another one where I'm grateful that it was very short. It was absolute nonsense and Orwell must have read it because it's lesson of "Ignorance is Strength" could have come right out of it. Black is White. Good is Bad. Action is Worse. Perhaps one day I'll read an annotated version and get more out of it. But not any time soon.

Rating: 2

152. Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: June TIOLI #9 (food)

Summary: Tales from a New York Times restaurant critic

Opinion: Oh what fun. I love her writing and her stories are humorous and touching. She dons all these disguises so the restaurant doesn't "make" her and she takes on the character she plays with all their strengths and weaknesses. Some are nice, some not so nice. But all are interesting.

Rating: 8

153. Rules of Prey by John Sandford

Genre: Mystery

Notes: June TIOLI #4 (locale), Ultimate Reading list, LTMP

Summary: Mystery/thriller set in Minneapolis about a serial killer, first in series

Opinion: The police detective, Lucas, is old style where he does things that no cop could get away with but perhaps wish they could. I'm on the fence on whether I like it or not. I'll try another in the series before deciding. It certainly moved right along but I don't know if I necessarily want to read more about a philandering, violent, law-breaking police detective.

Rating: 6

Everyone keeps raving about Garlic and Sapphires. I must get to it soon!

#119> me too. I've even got an 11 in 11 category for food. What I Eat also sounds fascinating.

I've got a new tag: "Morphy rec'd" for stuff you've rated an 8 higher.

ETA: punctuation

Hi, Morphy! Great quote (in #108); too bad the book didn't quite measure up.

What I Eat is part of a great series that I have been meaning to get into. Garlic and Sapphires sounds fun. From your review, it kind of reminds me of the books by Calvin Trillin, whose books I read and enjoyed back in the 70s or 80s.

Finally catching up! You've got quite a few books that I'd like to read. On the list they go. :) Happy reading

155. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb Corrected numbering

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: July TIOLI #3 (two sets doubles), 1001 Fantasy, LTMP

Summary: A royal bastard apprentices to the king's assassin

Opinion: Excellent writing but dear god, this entire series is depressing as hell. I'm not sure why I'm re-reading the first trilogy other than as I said, the writing is so well done and the secondary characters all have their unique presenses - Chade, Fool, Burrich, Patience, Verity, Molly. I can picture them in my mind in personality if not appearance.

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
Good News Bible by various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

On Deck:
The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
Sebastian by Anne Bishop
Complications by Atul Gawande

I do love Robin Hobb's writing, too. You are right-on, as usual, Morphy.

I love Robin Hobb. My husband gave up halfway through the Ship books because he thinks she is too depressing. I can't read too many of her books back to back for that reason but the character's are so compelling that I can't not read her either. After J/YA July is done I'm either going to get around to reading the Soldier Son books or, more likely, start in on the Rain Wild books.

I just checked her FB page and it says she is working on a third book with the Rain Wild characters. I'm hoping it will be out in my lifetime.

I love Robin Hobb! While reading her first three trilogies, I didn't notice that they were depressing, but looking back on them now, I know they were. I must have been to engrossed in the stroy to care. I do remember having a hard time reading Soldier's Son trilogy because it was depressing. I still need to finish the first in her Rain Wild's book. I was halfway through before I put it down. Anyways, Assassin's Apprentice is one of my favorites. One of these days I'll re-read it too.
Happy reading!

156. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

Genre: Fantasy, YA

Notes: July TIOLI #17 (fantasy YA), LT Recommended

Summary: Retelling of Grimm's The Twelve Princesses

Opinion: A simple and straightforward but enjoyable tale. The story title made me think the book was about the princess, Rose; however, it was much more the story of the hero, Galen. No character building and the personalities seem a bit flat yet the world was interesting and the story well told.

Rating: 7

157. The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

Genre: Horror

Notes: To complete bibliography, SC 15.8 Up in the Air

Summary: Roland must bring three people out of one world (ours?) and into his

Opinion: This would have gotten a lower rating for being slightly tedious; however, reading King is like eating potato chips. You just want a little more, please. I'm not sure what it is about his writing but you feel compelled to continue. Perhaps because his characters are so interesting even if what they are doing is boring.

Rating: 7

#116 Wow 2/10! Is that the lowest mark you've given Morphy? I think I can almost smell the book in KL it must stink so badly.

#118 Agree with you on the first Prey book. Read it a couple of years ago in Phuket and was undecided and underwhelmed. To be honest grew into the series from about Book #3 onwards. Think it is worth the trouble and the characters get better over time.

simply passing by waving hi.

>130 PaulCranswick: Yeah, 2/10 is the lowest I give. If it's a 1/10, I simply can't finish reading it. I'll eventually pick up the next Prey, if you say it gets better.

>131 Whisper1: *waves*

Princess of the Midnight Ball is on my nightstand for the July J/YA theme. I shall lower my expectations but still look forward to it. And thank you for the frank review of Rules of Prey. I've seen a lot of recommendations for Sandford but his protagonist does not sound like someone I want to read about so I won't bother. at least for right now. I prefer to like my protagonists.

Princess of the Midnight Ball is also on my nightstand. I usually like fantasy stories that are based on fairy tales so I will probably enjoy this one.

# 133 / 134 Can I be utterly English and ask...what is a nightstand?

Paul, it's the bedside table, you know the ones that we were all describing the contents of on Prue's thread a short while ago.

I am well behind on threads, Morphy. I hope to keep up with you better for the rest of the year though.

>137 alcottacre: Whatever you can do. You are always welcome!

#138: Thanks!

158. Sebastian by Anne Bishop

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Reread

Summary: Mostly a fantasy love story set in a world called Ephemera which is held stable by Landscapers and Bridges.

Opinion: Meh. This is my least favorite set of books by Bishop. It's a baby Black Jewels world. The people aren't as intensely written, the story isn't as engaging, the dark eroticism isn't present, the world isn't as interesting. She tries, but just doesn't do it.

Rating: 6

159. Complications by Atul Gawande

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: July TIOLI #8 (hot), SC 20.2 Rookie at the Top

Summary: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science

Opinion: Oh what fun. I zipped through this in a day. Engaging read though the subject matter was often scary and sometimes gross. I liked that he didn't bring doctors across as infallible beings that we must listen to. They are human just like the rest of us. That’s also the problem - they are human and make, sometimes horrible, mistakes.

Rating: 8

#141: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I need to get to it soon.

I liked Sebastian more than you did though I found the second book much less compelling. I concur that it is not the Black Jewels books, even at their least compelling. Complications looks fascinating. I will have to see if our library has it.

Favorite childhood book? My father read The Lion's Paw by Robb White to me when I was sick as a child. It's one of my few good memories of us together.

What are you reading right now? Redwall by Brian Jacques, A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman - 1 chapter a day, The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard Burton - approx. 10 pages a day, Good News Bible - a few sections a day and The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert - 1 page a day.

Bad book habit? Requesting huge piles of books from the library and ending up with late fees.

Do you have an e-reader? No.

Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once? As noted above, several at once.

Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog thread? I didn't use to record my books or do reviews (as small as they are.)

Least favorite book you read this year (so far)? Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu was awful.

Favorite book you’ve read this year? I have five books that have gotten a 9/10. The best was Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart.

How often do you read out of your comfort zone? About 10 to 15 percent of my reading is out of my comfort zone.

What is your reading comfort zone? 35% Fantasy, 11% Science Fiction, 8% Nonfiction, all other genres less than 7%

Can you read on the bus? No, even a glance at a book can cause motion sickness.

Favorite place to read? In my car, near the water, on a warm (not hot) day with a burger and fries

What is your policy on book lending? I figure that any book I "lend," I will never see again and plan accordingly.

Do you ever dog-ear books? No, I have lots of bookmarks.

Do you ever write in the margins of your books? Only nonfiction.

What is your favorite language to read in? English is the only option.

What makes you love a book? Likeable characters, a sense of humor or joy.

What will inspire you to recommend a book? I ask what the other person likes and make recommendations based on that.

Favorite genre? Per above, fantasy.

Genre you rarely read (but wish you did)? History. I find it terribly boring.

Favorite biography? The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by Shauna Reid

Have you ever read a self-help book? Yes, I need a lot of help.

Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

Favorite reading snack? Something warm, soft and savory.

How often do you agree with critics about a book? Rarely. I read them to get a general idea of the flavor of the reviews, but that's it.

How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I have no problem saying something is horrible.

If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose? Spanish.

Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin? Anything by Proust.

Favorite poet? None, I don't read poetry.

Favorite fictional character? Polgara

Favorite fictional villain? None, I don't like villains.

Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation? Something within my comfort zone.

The longest I’ve gone without reading. A month when I was very sick. About all I could do is watch tv.

Name a book that you could/would not finish. The last one was Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

What distracts you easily when you’re reading? Used to be nothing - I'd read in a bowling alley. Now even the ticking of a fan can distract me.

Favorite film adaptation of a novel? The first one that comes to mind is Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Most disappointing film adaptation? Earthsea - the only similarity was in the names of the characters.

The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time? I think $150, many years ago.

How often do you skim a book before reading it? I always read the last section/chapter.

Do you like to keep your books organized? In general, I'm not compulsive about it.

Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? I rarely buy books. We simply can't afford them. The ones remaining have been purged several times. What we have we'll keep at this point.

Are there any books you’ve been avoiding? Ulysses by James Joyce.

Name a book that made you angry. Crime and Punishment is nothing but whining by a scumbucket.

A book you didn’t expect to like but did? The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

A book that you expected to like but didn’t? Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. The style made it a slog. I quit 3/4 of the way through. Furthest I've ever gone in a book before quitting.

Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading? Don't feel guilt for any reading. So, my favorite reading is fantasy - preferably a pig-boy/girl story.

Interested Morphy how do you calculate the percentages for your comfort zone reading?

I'm a compulsive list maker. I have all the books I've read since 2006 in a database and one of the fields is genre. I've read 1307 books since January 2006. As an example, I've read 462 books I classify as fantasy.

I've read seven books that got 10 out of 10 stars and six books that got 2 out of 10 stars.

I've read 80 books by Mercedes Lackey (some repeats) and have read 463,301 pages.

I can slice and dice all sorts of ways. :D

OK Morphy I get it. At least I'm not the only nut to keep a record of the number of pages I have read and how many pages on average per day this equates to! I wonder if there is a medical term for our affliction! btw what do you do when a novel or story starts at say page 7 - do you deduct these or are they calculated as freebies (I count them as I need whatever help I can get) My average this year is around 140 pages per day but my total has reduced by having three tomes in excess of a thousand pages. Yours must be @ 200+ right for the year so far?

I really enjoyed the Black Jewel Series as well since it was so different from the usual fantasy that I read but sad to hear that the other series isn't as promising.

Just out of curiosity, what all do you track in your database? I've got a fairly detailed spreadsheet going, but I always feel like I'm forgetting to record some super-important piece of data.

>147 PaulCranswick: Looks like my average pages per day is 230.

I use the page number of the last page I've read. While not all books start with page 1, some have intros with Roman numbers so I figure it all evens out.

>149 casvelyn: Well, I wouldn't say it's all "important" but what I record is:

Whether I've entered the book in LT
Month and Year I read the book
ISBN
Title
Author
Publisher
Genre/Category
Original Year Published
Pages
Dewey Decimal Number, if applicable
Where - (own, library, DailyLit)
If it's a re-read
Rating - 1 to 10 stars
Notes - why I'm reading it, a challenge, a list, etc.
Summary - plot summary - just a sentence
Opinion - a short review, I shoot for at least 25 words

It's data. It's all important. (I think I too am a bit obsessed.)

#150: I may start incorporating some of your fields into my spreadsheet next year, Morphy. I hope you do not mind if I 'borrow.'

>152 alcottacre: Heck no. Feel free. They aren't exactly mine either!

160. Acquired Tastes by Peter Mayle

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: LT Recommended (per request for subject)

Summary: Essays on a life of luxury

Opinion: Light and humorous. I especially liked the essays on servants and staying in hotels. I could have wished for a little more meat, but in general was exactly what I was looking for - what my life will be like when I win the lottery. Heh.

Rating: 7

161. The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Women of Fantasy challenge

Summary: A young Pict is fostered to the King's Druid and discovers a girl child of the Good Folk on the doorstep

Opinion: The characters saved this bloated and slow-plotted story. I couldn't have finished it if I didn't like both the main and secondary characters. I almost didn't finish it because it is so plodding. There were times when I picked it up and thought, "Do I have to read this?" It could have been a much better book if cut in half.

Rating: 6

162. Redwall by Brian Jacques

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: July TIOLI #17 (YA SF/F), 1001 Fantasy, Ultimate Book List, LTMP

Summary: A young mouse saves an abbey being attacked by an evil rat

Opinion: This is a perfect novel for a child. As an adult, I found the characters too good and the plot too straightforward. You would be presented with a problem and it would immediately get solved. Problem, solution, problem, solution. Also, there is a lot of death but it is brushed over and the characters are barely affected by it. All that being said, it was an interesting world and some of the secondary characters had more depth. I rooted for the good guys and they won. Satisfactory but nothing special.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
Good News Bible by various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Finding God When You Don't Believe in God by Jack Erdmann

On Deck:
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

#153:

I read a few Redwall books as a kid (and re-read Redwall for a children's literature course in undergrad). While I agree that the character deaths in Redwall don't make a huge impact, I remember reading Martin the Warrior as a kid and being VERY upset by one of the character deaths. I'm not sure what my reaction as an adult would be though.

I know what you're talking about, MickyFine, and it was very upsetting to me as well. I haven't reread any of the Redwall books except the original, either, though. I had a dozen or so when I was a kid.

Ooohh - it's years since I read In Cold Blood and I think we have become a little more inured to such senseless violence, but I remember it being very interesting - and would pronbably find it more so after seeing the film about Capote. Will await your rewardingly pithy review!

#147 - Paul, there may not be a medical term for your affliction, but my daughter calls me The Book Nerd. (I have no idea what she would call you guys - you are way out of my league! lol And rather fascinating for it!)

#161 - So if Morphy was to start a band it would be "Avid Reader and the Book Nerds" - I dont see us making the charts somehow with our baggy eyes and anoraks!

Hey, it's the Promiscuous Reader and the Book Nerds. Get it right!

163. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Genre: Children's

Notes: TIOLI #21 (reread less than 21)

Summary: A boy and his tree

Opinion: I think my experience this time was colored by a bad review I recently read. I remember liking this book when I was young but I was rather disgusted by both the tree's submissiveness and the boy's greediness.

Rating: 6

164. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: LT Recommended

Summary: Mercenary has to discover who killed her guardian - the werewolves or the vampires?

Opinion: Enjoyable start to a new series for me. Kick-ass heroine and no sex in sight. Okay, I like sex in my books, but sometimes in urban fantasy it gets ridiculous. You can figure out who she's going to end up with, but there is no love at first sight here. Interesting world-building tops it off.

Rating: 8

165. Heartless by Gail Carriger

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #15 (6 or 7/2011), Next in series

Summary: Alexie saves the queen with her usual flair while eight months pregnant

Opinion: Lots of fun. Especially liked the extra time with secondary characters, Akeldama and Biffy. Alexie seems to have a litle more heart in this one and doesn't come off quite as abrasive. The furniture moving scene is hilarious. Most fun since Soulless.

Rating: 8

166. Vengeance in Death by J. D. Robb

Genre: Mystery

Notes: Next in series, SC 30.2 AKA

Summary: Eve has to prove her bane, Summerset, didn't commit murder

Opinion: I didn't enjoy this as much as the first few, I'm not sure why. Perhaps because it feels darker in tone. Yes, I know these are murder mysteries, but some of the humor is missing.

Rating: 7

Waving, as I wander by....

#166: I just finished Blameless and cannot wait to get my hands on that one! Glad to see you enjoyed it, Morphy.

Stray thoughts...

I just read some reviews for a book and most of them had the word "challenging" in them. There isn't a more likely word to make me NOT want to read a book. My life is challenging enough. I don't want to work at my reading, too. Blech. I want enjoyment. I want, "OOooh, that was so much fun that I want to read that book again right now!" I want pig boy/girl stories and romance novels and kick-ass hero/ines and tales about finding a place to belong. Give me Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code and Anne McCaffrey. Give me Eddings and The Help and Stephanie Plum. The Thirteenth Tale. Anne Fadiman. Bildungsroman.

>164 Morphidae: I've always loved Shel Silverstein but always hated The Giving Tree, for the same reasons you saw this time. And also because everyone else liked it.

>170 Morphidae: I've been thinking along similar lines since reading The Ask and the Answer. It was well-written, but horrible and depressing and I didn't enjoy the reading experience at all. Yet everyone else seems to love it. It made me reflect on what I want from fiction and how that's apparently different from the norm. Most importantly, I want to enjoy the books that I read. I do like books that make me think, but they still need a good and enjoyable story.

I just read The White Tiger and it was very well written and I breezed right through it. Yet, I won't give it a high star rating because the story itself was, well, disgusting is the best world for it. Filled with corruption. And the protagonist is a murderer and proud of it.

Whereas, with The Count of Monte Cristo the writing was a bit of work yet the story was so awesome that it's one my highest rated books.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is what you were. I have to ENJOY the story. There are certain themes that I will always find enjoyable (pig boy/girl) but otherwise I'm just looking to have a good time.

>170 Morphidae: & 171 The older I get, the more I find myself distinguishing between books that are well-written and books that are well-read. All the writing talent in the world can't compensate for an unpleasant storyline or unlikable characters.

167. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

Genre: Fiction

Notes: Booker Prize

Summary: A taxi driver in India defends the murder of his boss

Opinion: The writing was excellent and the story was interesting but the main character is slime and the corruption in India was unpleasant to read about. The rating is more for the writing than the enjoyment.

Rating: 7

168. Naamah's Blessing by Jacqueline Carey

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: July TIOLI #8 (Hot), Next in series

Summary: Moirin has to go to alternate history Mexico and South America to bring back the heir of Terre d'Ange

Opinion: Yum yum. After nine books and several rereads, I don't love these with the intensity I first did yet Carey still tells excellent stories even if they do weigh a ton. I loved the alternate look at Aztec and Incan culture. The only thing lacking is some freshness. It almost feels like a rehash of the third Kushiel book - "bad magic guy takes over town, heroine is the only one to be able to save the people, etc." Still I loved it and consumed the 600 page book in two days.

Rating: 8

169. Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: July TIOLI #15 (June/July 2011), Next in series

Summary: Kitty and her friends head to San Franciso to help an ally keep an object of power from a baddie

Opinion: Popcorn. Fun popcorn. Um. Not a whole lot to say. Her relationships are stable - always a nice and, honestly, a unique thing to see in urban fantasy. The plot is light but I love the characters.

Rating: 7

170. Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Next in series

Summary: A mercenary in alternate Atlanta has to retrieve some maps for a were-pack and discovers that two gods are at war

Opinion: There's a richness about Andrew's writing that appeals to me. Her characters have depth and the plot has little twists and turns. There are some qualities I find less than admirable in the two leads which brings the rating down a little but it is made up for by how absorbed I get while reading this series.

Rating: 8

171. Bad Attitude by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Genre: Romance

Notes: To complete bibliography

Summary: A sniper, jailed for attempted murder, is offered a job he can't refuse

Opinion: One of Kenyon's weaker books. The plot is unrealistic, even for her, and rather basic. The heroine was inconsistent - bitchy at first and then became somewhat wimpy. I rather liked the hero though. His story was emotionally engaging.

Rating: 6

172. Among Others by Jo Walton

Genre: Urban fantasy

Notes: LT Recommended

Summary: A fifteen-year-old who loves reading science fiction/fantasy is sent to boarding school

Opinion: Uck. I'm not sure what others found attractive about this book but it certainly wasn't my cup of tea. It is basically a teen girl's diary. Yawner. The fantasy was minimal and the people were on the whole unlikeable. There was a lot of whining and nothing really happened. The "climatic" showdown with her mother lasted all of one page. SO not recommended.

Rating: 5

Quote:

"Bibliotropic," Hugh said, "Like sunflowers are heliotropic, they naturally turn toward the sun. We naturally turn towards the bookshop."

173. Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong

Genre: Urban fantasy

Notes: SC 5.5 Maple Leaf Rag, Next in series

Summary: Hope is hired by a cabal to infiltrate a gang and bites off more than she can chew

Opinion: Armstrong writes fluff. I get what I expect with her - a quick, fun read with likeable characters. Hope and Karl push the edges of likeability but overall it's a decent story.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
Good News Bible by various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8 Lee
Life of the Beloved by Henri J Nouwen

On Deck:
The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
Outlaw Mountain by J. A. Jance
Naked City by Ellen Datlow (ed) ARC!

*waves* I'm so behind on threads. My library bought the audio version of Naamah's Blessing at my request and I get to pick it up tomorrow :)

#180: I love the bibliotropic quote, Morphy! Thanks for sharing it.

>182 elfchild: elfchild, I'm sure you will enjoy it!

>183 alcottacre: Stasia, it's about the best thing in the book.

Great books Morphy. A couple I've read and a couple I just picked up from the bookstore. :)

Hey Morphy. I realized today I don't follow you thread. I'm such a horrible person, right!? I noticed you read a Redwall book recently. One of my favorite books from childhood is Lord Brocktree. I never read any of the other books, but I re-read that one at least a couple times, and will probably do so again in the future for nostalgic purposes. :)

You are SUCH a horrible person. Not like I posted lately. I'm SO behind. I should catch up today with a butt load of books.

174. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8 Lee

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: SC 10.8 Baby, It's Hot Outside!

Summary: About American Chinese cuisine, restaurants and the fortune cookie

Opinion: Entertaining enough. I enjoyed learning the origins of certain dishes and Chinese-American culture. The Jewish-Chinese connections were fascinating. But the book, like Chinese food, while appetizing, had no real substance to it. Fluffy nonfiction.

Rating: 7

175. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: July TIOLI #14 (time periods), SC 30.8 Summer Solstice #1, 50 State, 1001 Fantasy

Summary: A vampire discusses his history from New Orleans to France and back again with a journalist

Opinion: Needs more story, less description. And this is only the first of Rice's books. I heard she got worse as the books went along. I only made it through because I had seen the movie and could picture what was going on. The film was pretty faithful to the book except for the ending.

Rating: 6

176. Life of the Beloved by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Genre: Spirituality

Notes: July TIOLI #19 (random-5)

Summary: A "letter" from a Christian to a Jewish friend about how we are are beloved children of god

Opinion: I was hoping for more meat, less filling. Maybe I'm looking for a lost cause. I like more straightforward talk about god and less frou-frou. I still haven't found a book that I can connect with about this subject. I'm a generic Deist. I (want to) believe in a loving god, everything else is details.

Rating: 5

177. Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Kate and the pack have to fight in a tournament to keep the bad guys from winning the prize

Opinion: Kate is a great heroine. While powerful, she's no MarySue. While there is a romance, there was no "love at first sight" nor is there the "which guy will she end up with" crap. The plot is engaging, the world interesting and the characters well rounded.

Rating: 8

Yeah, I actually liked Interview with the Vampire and enjoyed the second one as well, but the third was absolutely brutal to get through. There were flashbacks that repeated over and over with only minimal changes each time. One of the most boring books I've ever read.

178. Outlaw Mountain by J. A. Jance

Genre: Mystery

Notes: July TIOLI #7 (America), SC 15.5 Mind the Gap

Summary: An elderly lady is murdered and Joanna must deal with all the family members

Opinion: The mystery is good enough but the real attraction for me is Joanna's relationships. They are so real - never perfect, always changing. The plot bothered me a bit. Too many players were thrown into the works. It was confusing and I don't typically get all that confused with lots of characters.

Rating: 7

179. Blood Lite by Jim Butcher, et al.

Genre: Horror

Notes: July TIOLI #11 (themed anthology), SC 30.6 Shakespeare Under the Stars #1

Summary: Short story collection of horror tales

Opinion: This was supposed to be a collection of HUMOROUS horror stories but I failed to see the humor in the vast majority of them. I can only think of two that I found funny rather than just horrific and I have a pretty broad sense of humor.

Rating: 5

180. The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: July TIOLI #19 (random-2), SC 50.1 Hodge-Podge #1

Summary: Kvothe's continuing adventures as a University student and as a bard

Opinion: It could have been cut by about 250 pages, but overall a really good read though sometimes felt episodic. Sometimes when reading something this long, you get the feeling of, "Will this never end?" Happily, this was not the case and Rothfuss kept my interest throughout the book.

Rating: 8

181. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Genre: Urban Fantasy, YA

Notes: August TIOLI #22 (uncommon name - Rose)

Summary: Teenage dhamphir (human/vampire cross) gets dragged back to vampire school along with her best friend.

Opinion: Angst. Angst. A bit more angst. Could be any teenage girl in any boarding school. Mean girls. Gossip. Parties. Rebellion against authority. BFF. Forbidden romance. Yadda yadda yadda.

Rating: 6

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
Good News Bible by various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman
Conspiracies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

On Deck:
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
She Walks in Beauty by Caroline Kennedy (ed)

I remember reading a lot of Anne Rice when I was in high school and I enjoyed them back then. I hope to reread most of them again sometime in the future just to compare my reaction then to now.

More good reading recently. You know I always check in your Currently Reading List whether you've finished 'The Daily Book of Art' as I am very intrigued with the title and can't wait to read your review on it.

Morphy, I read this review today, and although I do not have time to read this right now, I hope I can get to it soon. Maybe you will like it: http://nancypearlbooks.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/tooth-and-claw/

>198 KiwiNyx: You are going to have a long wait. It's a book you read a page a day and it's in the john. So it won't be reviewed until next year!

>199 maggie1944: I really didn't like the last book I read by that author, so I doubt I'll pick it up.

200 - OK, I don't have any experience with the author, so I respect your take on it.

#196: I tried that one too. I do not think I even made it to the 50 page mark.

Morphy: Are you enjoying 1001 Nights? I read it not too long ago, so I'm curious about what you think of it so far.

It's more readable than I thought it would be but still rather a drag. I read only a little at a time.

After awhile, the stories all blended together for me. I still really enjoyed it, though. A friend of mine is a Professor of Ancient Persian (seriously.), and he told me that the translation (the Burton one) is really a distortion of the proper tone; Burton used ver formal language in his translation, so it reads as if it were high literature, but it originally was very low-brow and meant for 'the masses'. Apparently the original is really bawdy and funny. After he told me that (I was in the middle of reading it at the time), then I could tell in parts that it was supposed to be that way. Stupid Burton screwing up a good read.

Oh, hey; I finished a list yesterday! I made my way through all the Caldecott winners. Thought you'd appreciate the excitement I feel at polishing off a list! WOOHOO!!

You GO, Girl! I love finishing a list.

:D

182. Conspiracies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: August TIOLI #3 (Arthurian), SC 50.1 Hodge-Podge

Summary: Continued story of a mage academy for orphaned teens

Opinion: What's with the depressing teen stories? Do they all have to be bleak, unhappy, whining kids? I don't think so. Lackey and Edghill tell a great story but they need to leaven it with some humor and joy.

Rating: 6

Is this the sequel to Intrigues or a different series? I'm waiting for Intrigues to either be acquired by the library or to come out in paperback. Gollee, I am going to miss Borders.

183. Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Next in series

Summary: A plague deity comes to Atlanta and plays havoc with Kate and all she cares about

Opinion: Have I told you that Andrews rocks? Yes, the couple is now together and they've had sex. But it makes sense four books in. A rich story. Snarky humor. Characters to love despite their failings. Love these books.

Rating:8

184. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Genre: Romance

Notes: August TIOLI #4 (of), SC 30.6 Shakespeare Under the Stars #2

Summary: Regency romance

Opinion: A typical Regency romance yet still well done. I was wondering if the hero was savagable at the beginning, but all it took was the love of a good woman. Awwwwww. Both hero and heroine were (eventually) likeable and the plotting was absorbing.

Rating: 8

185. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: August TIOLI #22 (uncommon name)

Summary: A group of mountain girls have to attend a school in order to be chosen by the Prince for his bride

Opinion: See, now this is more like it. Aimed at teens - there is drama, teen angst, and mean girls and yet there is also success, humor, and joy. Lovely story and look forward to reading more by Hale.

Rating: 8

186. Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts

Genre: Romance

Notes: August TIOLI #18 (music in title), SC 30.2 A.K.A

Summary: Second in a trilogy about a trio of friends who have to find magical keys to free three goddesses

Opinion: It's a typical Roberts. Good set up and plot. (Above) average Janes and Joes with a twist. The emotional connection wasn't quite there with this one though. I like to get a little teary now and then with my romances and didn't have that with this one.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
Good News Bible by various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

On Deck:
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
She Walks in Beauty by Caroline Kennedy (ed)
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

>208 ronincats: No Intrigues follows Foundation. This is the second book in the Shadow Grail series which starts with Legacies.

Okay, thanks! The titles sounded like they could go together.

I have not read Patchett's State of Wonder yet, so I look forward to your thoughts on that one, Morphy.

I'm adding Princess Academy to my list. Thanks Morphy!

187. She Walks in Beauty edited by Caroline Kennedy

Genre: Poetry

Notes: LT Recommended

Summary: A collection of poems about a woman's journey from first love to motherhood and through loss and middle age

Opinion: This is rated pretty high for me since it's poetry which is not my normal genre. I got a few keepers - one that brought me to tears (Love by Roy Croft) - but overall I have to say that poetry just isn't my thing. I did try.

Quote:
Grown Up by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Was it for this I uttered prayers,
And sobbed and cursed and kicked the stairs,
That now, domestic as a plate,
I should retire at half-past eight

Rating: 5

188. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Genre: Fiction

Notes: August TIOLI #4 (of)

Summary: A doctor goes into the Amazon jungle to confront a mentor and locate the body of a dead co-worker

Opinion: This was a book club read. I was really looking forward to it because I so like Bel Canto but this was a disappointment. The main character was a doormat, changing little through the book and the mentor was a totally unlikeable piece of work. Lastly, the plot wrapped up in two pages and then the book just … ended. I did enjoy the author's writing. She gives a fabulous sense of place and is descriptive without being purple.

Rating: 6

189. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Genre: Mystery

Notes: August TIOLI #15 (food), SC 5.6 As American As…

Summary: An 11 year old needs to solve the mystery of the dead stranger in the garden

Opinion: I found the bratty heroine annoying as all get out which made it difficult to enjoy the story such as it was. Mostly it was her running around on her bike finding clues with no effort. Her sisters were mean, her father distant, and the other adults one-dimensional. Not sure what the hullabaloo is all about.

Rating: 5

190. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Genre: Magical Realism

Notes: August TIOLI #1 (wonderful), SC 30.8 Summer Solstice

Summary: An apple tree, two sisters and a small Southern town - magic

Opinion: A delightful book and I loved each character. When I was done reading, I was grinning and wanted to start the book all over again. There were some plot holes and situations got tied up too neatly, but I just didn't care. I adore books that uplift and make me smile.

Rating: 9

191. Key of Valor by Nora Roberts

Genre: Romance

Notes: August TIOLI #18 (music), Next in series

Summary: A single mother has to find courage to stand against the enemy and to open her heart

Opinion: Typical Roberts romance with a touch of the fantastic. Not all that deep, but you feel good at the end of the story. I particularly liked the interactions between the hero and her son. It felt realistic and light-hearted.

Rating: 7

192. Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: August TIOLI #2 (pig-boy), SC 30.3 If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium #1, Next in series

Summary: Arthur has to return to the House to gain control of the second key before Grim's minions destroy his family

Opinion: The series books are quick reads but I am tired before the story is done. It is non-stop action with no character development much less a place to breath. I have the author down as one that I want to read the entire bibliography but if I read another like this, I'll probably remove his name from my list.

Rating: 6

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
Good News Bible by various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

On Deck:
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Dragon's Blood by Jane Yolen

Don't give up on Nix without reading his Abhorsen Trilogy. These Keys to the Kingdom books are definitely children's books, all action and imagination and little else, similar to the Artemis Fowl books.

The Abhorsen trilogy is why I was going to read the rest of his books. I really enjoyed them. Pity I haven't liked anything else of his.

#218: Too bad about that one as I also loved Bel Canto.

#219: Not sure what the hullabaloo is all about. - Me either. I read the second book in the series, which I liked better, but am not inclined to read any further.

#220: I enjoyed that one a lot too. I am glad to see the book has another fan!

>225 alcottacre: re Sweetness: I doubt I'll read the second one.

re: Garden Spells - If Mount TBR wasn't so high, I'd immediately get another book by the author.

Awful: Been fighting with the state vocational rehab program. They are paying for me to go to college for an accounting degree yet getting them to actually PAY for the tuition and books takes numerous phone calls and emails each semester. It's aggravating. My classes start next Monday and it took me until yesterday to authorize payment on my books. Since I do everything online, the books have to be mailed to me so I can only hope that they get here in time.

Awesome: Pool therapy! I go twice a week and exercise for AN HOUR. An hour is amazing for me and I don't have enough words to say how much I enjoy being in the pool. I grew up in Florida - so basically I grew up in a pool. I've missed it so much due to my mobility issues and lack of pools in Minnesota. It's also fabulous that I'm actually getting exercise. This should really kick start more weight loss!

Hooray for pool therapy! It sounds fantastic. I've read your blog and I'm rooting for you.

I haven't been posting much on my blog lately since I've stalled out on the weight loss. I'm really hoping this pool therapy will get me going again.

A pool sounds lovely right about now. Is it indoor, so you can go all year round?

It's a therapy pool at a rehab center. It's inside, has a zero entry ramp for wheelchairs and people who can't do steps, is 92 degrees, has benches and rails throughout, etc. I was really worried about the heat at first but after an hour in the water, I'm quite chilled. I understand why they keep it so warm now.

Delurking to add my yay and well done! After Zoe mentioned your blog and went and found the link from your profile page - I think what you're doing is amazing and wanted to say I am also rooting for you.

ETA: I think I enjoyed Garth Nix's Keys of the Kingdom series more than you are but I agree they're nowhere near as good as his Abhorsen trilogy.

Zoe and souloftherose, your support means a lot to me. Thanks.

I need pool therapy too. I badly want one because most exercise is terribly hard on my joints, but swimming I could do.

#229 etc Morph wish you all the best with your efforts to lose weight. 25 years ago I was a semi-pro cyclist and weighed in a 125 lbs. I am now 215 lbs which does not sit comfortably on my 5ft 6 in frame. As you I am determined to do something about it and swimming is clearly one of the best exercises possible. There are innumerable friends on library thing and visitors to your blog with fingers and toes crossed that you will steadily reduce and feel better about everything.

I've been going to the pool 2 or 3 times a week at the Y for the low impact aquacize class--gets me off my butt and is kind to my poor knees. I know, my weight has been creeping up and I desperately need to get some control over it again. Best of wishes for you in doing the same.

The first time I got into the pool and could MOVE for the first time in over a decade, I burst into tears. For my body to be able to do what it was meant to do - to walk, to move - was amazing. I can't recommend it highly enough for those that are mobility impaired in some fashion.

Thanks for all the support.

I grew up in Florida, too, and spent lots of time in the water. I'm moving back South next month (assuming all goes as planned) and one of the things I'm most looking forward to is more year round water activities -- and access to an indoor pool for aquasize classes and laps.

I know exactly what you mean about being in the water -- it's a wonderful feeling. I wish you the best of luck with the therapy.

Rooting for you, Morphy! Pool therapy sounds definitely the way to go! (Which reminds me: where's my bathing suit? Time to do a little pool therapy of my own.)

Hooray for you Morphy, pool therapy sounds good. I could certainly go for a pool today, it's actually quite warm here for a change.

I stopped by to leave you the link to the September Series and Sequels Thread. Hope to see you over there.

Sending you my encouragements as well! Pool therapy sounds like a great way to get in shape. If it didn't require so much geer and prep work before and afterwards I'd probably be hopping in the pool everyday :)

Hi, Morphy! *waves* I never made it in the pool the other day. My bad. But it's like Jolerie said, all the prep work and the time that takes makes it hard to get around to. I did however make it in the hot tub (at around 10:30 p.m.).

To give an example of the challenges for me, for my 9am therapy appointment:

6:30am Start getting dressed - use sock puller to get socks on, etc.

7:00am - Metro Mobility shows up. I get a different driver every time so have to explain: Put the wheelchair on the bus but don't set it up until I'm on the bus because otherwise I won't be able to get past it. I walk to the lift. I sit on the bench seat while my wheelchair is set up. I get strapped down. I then usually have to explain to the driver how to get out of my subdivision. Other passengers are picked up and dropped off.

8:15am - Arrive at Courage Center. Wait for pool aid to come. Pool aide pushes me to the changing room. Since I have a wide wheelchair, it doesn't fit through the doors so it has to be closed then reopened within the changing area. Take off shoes and socks. Rest a minute. Take off clothes. Rest. Put on bathing suit bottoms. Rest. Put on bathing suit top. Repack bag. Open changing room door. Wait for aide. Stand up and sit down on chair as we move through too small doors and chair has to be closed/opened (3 doors worth). Arrive at pool. Wait while aide sets up poolside wheelchair at shower. Shower.

9:00am Enter pool and exercise.

10:00am Exit pool. The closed/open wheelchair dance to changing room. Remove bathsuit top. Wrestle wet bathing suit bottom into submission. Rest... a lot. Dry off. Put on clothes and shoes. Rest. Wait for aide to push me back to the front area.

10:30am Metro Mobility shows up to take me home.

11:30am Arrive back at home ready for a nap.

***

Sooooo.... what are your challenges? ;)

Okay, okay, I take back what I said about the prep being a pain. And I will never kvetch about it again! All that and you still keep on doing it. You are my hero, Morph.

Yeah, you win hands down! And I thought shaving was bad enough. All that is really to say that I really need to get off my butt. :)

#244: You are my hero, Morph.

Mine too!

Wow! Next time I think that swimming is great except for the hassle of getting there and changing etc, I'll remember this story and make the small effort without further complaint (I hope!).

It is all relative indeed. I'm not complaining and not looking for pity. I don't have the words to describe how fabulous it is to be in a pool and move. Even if it doesn't help me lose weight, I will keep this up because of how terrific I feel. I just wanted people to be aware of how precious physical mobility is and that most challenges can be overcome if you want something badly enough.

#248 Good for you Morph!

The REAL New Thread

(Old one was pointing to an oops.)