SqueakyChu Goes for 75 - Page 4

The Race of the Butterflies will continue in this thread. My previous thread can be found here.







Are you wondering what TIOLI is? Private message me!

I'm posting three more months to complete: June, July, and August of 2011. Thanks for stopping by!

Harvesting green beans (Photo: SqueakyChu)

My Bookish Plans for June: A meet-up with Bookcrossers at Soho Tea & Coffee in Dupont Circle (Washington, DC) on June 11th.
ETA: As always, this was great fun!

June Reads:
39. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro - TIOLI: a low book
40. Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China's Other Billion - Michael Levy - TIOLI: read a nonfiction book if you mostly read fiction
41. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell
42. The Horned Man - James Lasdun - TIOLI: a book by a new-to-you author and you have two of that author's books in your TBR
43. Farm City - Novella Carpenter - TIOLI: nonfiction for usual reader of fiction

Caterpiller of an anise swallowtail butterfy (Photo: SqueakyChu)

My Bookish Plans for July: I attended a BookCrossing Meet-Up at Birdie's Cafe, site of the OBCZ (Oficial Bookcrossing Zone) of MaryZee in Westminster, Maryland.

July Reads:
44. Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants - Douglas W. Tallamy - TIOLI: Read a book with a 1,2,3, etc. word title
45. Great House - Nicole Krauss - TIOLI: Read a prize winner/nominee by a female author
46. Bitterroot Landing - Sheri Reynolds - TIOLI: book with two sets of double letters in one word of title or author
47. Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home - Nando Parrado - TIOLI: a book with the word skies, grain, mountains, or plain in the title

Beach at Emerald Isle, North Carolina, USA (Photo: SqueakyChu)

My Bookish Plans for August: How about some BookCrossing wild releases at the beach?
Result: I released 4 books between Rockville, Maryland, and Emerald Isle, North Carolina.

August Reads:
48. The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden - William Alexander - TIOLI: Book with a food word in the title
49. The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health and a Vision for Change - Annie Leonard - TIOLI: A title word sounds like a letter of the alphabet (A)
50. Goldengrove - Francine Prose - TIOLI Book with an element of the Periodic Table in the title
51. City of Thieves - David Benioff - TIOLI: title has three words; the middle word is "of"
52. Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace - Ayelet Waldman - TIOLI: A title word sounds like a letter of the alphabet (A)
53. The Accusation - Curt Finch - TIOLI: Aquired in an unusual place (purchased in a bookstore owned by the author of the book!)
54. In the Miso Soup - Ryu Murakami - TIOLI: a tag that starts with "w" (weird)

A unique spelling. . .

What lovely photos to open your new thread!

ETA: Kiwi sorbet sounds delicious.

I've used a cupcake recipe that calls for two ingredients: a box of cake mix and a 20oz. can of crushed pineapple. They weren't bad, especially with a pineapple/coconut cream cheese icing!

Man, now I want fresh pineapple.

What lovely photos to open your new thread!

Thanks, Luxx. I thought I'd use my own pictures this time instead of some from Flickr.

Man, now I want fresh pineapple.

Hehe! My older son told me he stopped by our house for lunch yesterday and ate the fresh pineapple out of the cut fruit salad I had in the frig. Pineapple is his favorite fruit.

Re the kiwi sorbet, I can't wait to try it, but I am seriously trying to lose weight so it'll be a while before I make it. It looks so cool, though, bright green as it is and flecked through with black seeds.

Love the photos, Madeline!

The Kiwi Sorbet sounds good. I do not care for ice cream, but I think I would like sorbet.

I can't call the second picture lovely! My tomato plants are shuddering.

> 8

Thanks, Stasia.

> 9

Don't fear that caterpiller, Roni. It's the caterpillar of an anise swallowtail butterfly (a beautiful butterfly). The caterpillar was eating my parsley plant (not my tomato plant) with my compliments. I'd like to see more butterflies in my garden.

I was just looking into how to get my garden made into certified nature habitat, but my husband just chopped down all of the eunonymous bush along our fence so that all I can now see are the chain links. It's so ugly. :(

Is that a caterpillar that you can find in your backyard?? That is so cool because it looks so tropical and exotic! We definitely don't have anything like that where I live.

It was the first one like that I ever found in my yard. That's why I took a picture of it. I identified it online with the help of others here on LT. Then I found out it eats parsley - just what I was growing!!

I have another parsley plant in my garden this year. I hope to get another such caterpillar to come and visit. I was hoping I'd see that one's chrysallis, but it just disappeared after a few days.

I have a plethora of Painted Ladies in my back yard--they love to plant their eggs on the passion flower vines. Also a few Monarchs and a pair of swallowtails. Sorry, your caterpillar looked like a tomato hornworm to me, but it is much more brightly colored!

looked like a tomato hornworm to me

I had a couple of those, too, but I promptly got rid of them! :)



Those white things on the tomato hornworm are parasites (braconid wasp cocoons). The tomato hornworm will eventually die from them.

14: Yeeeeek!

LOL!! It *is* pretty gross, but the tomato hornworm is not quite as large as it appears here. :)

I find nature fascinating...if you haven't realized that already.

39. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro



I'd heard for a long time that this book was very good. What surprised me, though, was that, once I decided to read it, some people told me how much they hated it. So, without knowing anything about the story (I'd been warned to avoid spoilers), I gave this book my undivided attention. I caught the "hook" right up front, but I don't think that ruined this book for me. I did, however, think that the book would go in an entirely different direction.

More of my thoughts about this book are here.

Rating - 4 stars

#17: Never Let Me Go was the first Ishiguro book I ever read and I very much enjoyed it. I am glad to see that you did too, Madeline.

I also read A Pale View of Hills and When We Were Orphans, but I think Never Let Me Go was the most engaging read of the three Ishiguro books I've read so far.

I have also read Ishiguro's An Artist of the Floating World and I liked it too. I own both When We Were Orphans and Remains of the Day but have not read them yet.

I have An Artist of the Floating World and just wishlisted Remains of the Day. I like the writing of this author. It's easy to read and interesting.

I hope you enjoy An Artist of the Floating World, Madeline. If you would like a reading partner when you get The Remains of the Day, let me know. I am available. And cheap :)

Who knows when I'll ever get to The Remains of the Day? Tee hee! This will be a test of my memory, though.

Well, the book has been sitting at my house for at least 2 years now, so I am sure it will not mind waiting a little (or lot?) longer! lol

Nice review of Never Let Me Go, Madeline; I'll have to pick it up soon. BTW, The Remains of the Day is one of my all time favorite novels (definitely top 20, and possibly top 10).

Thanks, Darryl. If I know your reading taste, I think you'll find Never Let Me Go "lukewarm". :)

I'll definitely get to The Remains of the Day sooner or later (but it might be later)! Your high recommendation of it means something to me, though. Maybe I'll move it higher up the list (...once I get hold of it, that is).

If I know your reading taste, I think you'll find Never Let Me Go "luke warm".

That's what I suspect, too; that's probably the main reason I haven't gotten to it yet.

The Remains of the Day is high on my list of great reads. And they didn't do too shabby on the movie either.

> 28

Since I just wishlisted that book, I'm thinking it needs to really get read sooner. Thanks for your recommendation as well.

>39 SqueakyChu: That one is going on my list. I think I've add at least 5 books tonight by visiting several threads. I really should stop.....but browsing the threads is almost more fun than browsing in the bookstores. :)

> 30

browsing the threads is almost more fun than browsing in the bookstores.

It's certainly more dangerous! :)

Ahem. I will have you know that I've been eating Victor's weight in pineapple for two days now.

Thank you.

#31: It's certainly more dangerous! :)

Isn't that the truth? That is how the BlackHole got to be the BlackHole!

40. Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China's Other Billion - Michael Levy



This was an Early Reviewer book that I'd been skeptical about picking. I thought I'd go ahead and try it, though, and was rewarded for my choice. This is a funny and educational memoir of a Jewish Peace Corps volunteer who spent two years teaching English in a rural town in China in 2005. More here.

Rating - 4 stars

#34: Love the cover of that one.
I need to read something by Ishiguro so I can join in the conversation.

#40: Nice review, Madeline! I will look for that one.

> 35

Kerry, I've read three books by Ishiguro now. Each was very different, and each was enjoyable in its own way.

>37 SqueakyChu:

Thanks, Stasia. Have you ever read Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman? Kosher Chinese reminded me of that book (also recommended) but it takes place more currently (in 2005). I was pleased that I liked the Kosher Chinese more than I thought I would. The author is very funny.

You can tell that both Michael Levy and Mark Salzman developed a great affection for the community and culture each served in China. That feeling of loving a different people and culture is precisely what I felt after having been immersed in Israeli culture for a year serving its own people (albeit I was in the role of a nurse instead of an English teacher and I was *supposed* to be serving a development town - but that's another story. Ha!). The feeling has to do with deep affection and appreciation for others despite their flaws and differences (especially in mentality!). I guess that's why Angelo Colorni's book, Israel for Beginners, affected me so negatively.

Hey! I just realized that Michael Levy also lived in Israel. I wonder if *he* wrote a book (or will write a book) about that experience? I'm sure I'd enjoy it, if he did or would.

#37: Yes, I have read Iron and Silk. Have you read River Town by Peter Hessler? It is in the same vein.

I haven't read River Town but that book was also recommended by someone on Amazon who also reviewed Kosher Chinese. Think I'll go add your recommendation to my wish list.

#39: Hessler has since done a follow up book that I have not read yet (my local library does not have it) entitled Oracle Bones, if you want to look for that one too, Madeline.

Thanks, Stasia. I'll probably look for River Town first since that was already recommended and look for the book you recommended if I like River Town.

Hi Madeline - I've now read the three graphic novels by Will Eisner - two were 500 page epics but I flew through them all and definitely recommend my favourite, The Contract with God, if you haven't read it yet. Must go and update my thread.
I won't be getting to Ishiguro anytime soon - I need to concentrate on a few of my 11 in 11 categories that I've been ignoring all year.

41. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell



I very much enjoyed reading this book - until its ending. How can a book be so good and then leave its readers so puzzled with the situation of its characters so unresolved? I guess we, the readers, could script our own ending.

My review continues here.

Rating - 4 stars

Nice review, Madeline! I have had that one in the BlackHole for a while now. Maybe I will eventually read it :)

Thanks! It's a quick read, Stasia, if that will help you pull it out of the Black Hole more quickly.

#45: Impetus! That is what I need, lol.

42. The Horned Man - James Lasdun



The story was interestingly plotted, but, oh, so difficult to understand. More here. I hope others do better with this novel than I did.

Rating - 3.5 stars

I think I'll skip "difficult" for the time being ...

I'm struggling through Saturday. I'm half done and it's boring me to tears. Why, oh why? I liked the other two Ian McEwan books I'd read previously...

On another note, 40% of my family succumbed. My older son bought a Kindle. My daughter has one as well. Her fiance gave it to her for her birthday. The rest of the family is safe. Neither my husband nor I want one, and my younger son doesn't read (well, hardly ever...).

This reminds me of the years that I resisted getting a computer. It's a good thing I finally broke down and got one. Had I not gotten one, there would be no TIOLI challenges today! ;-)

I'm definitely glad that you eventually gave in and got a computer!

LOL!!

I wonder if there are people who actually willingly choose to not have a computer and how their life would look like....

43. Farm City - Novella Carpenter



This is a fun book about a woman, daughter of ex-hippies, who moves to a run-down section of Oakland, California, to start her own urban farm. You can read more about this light, entertaining book here.

Rating - 4 stars

> 52

I really resisted for a long, long time. Then my husband and I broke down because we needed an improved way to do bookkeeping for our home-based business. I still resist software upgrades. I don't want to learn anything too complicated!

The person who pushed us was our techie older son. He also tells us when a new computer is absolutely needed. :)

Hahaha, having a techie son is definitely convenient. (My mother-in-law loves having an 24/7 IT service available) Whenever I mess up the computer I just go to my husband who does IT for a living. :) As well I believe I am the only one of my friends that DOESN'T have a cell phone. People look at me like I've landed from a different planet when I say I don't own one...

Farm City sounds interesting.

> 55

Valerie, my son finally stopped giving out "available any time" IT services to relatives other than us, his brother or his sister. Everyone was inundating him with problems as he, too, does IT for a living. His job is with our county school system.

My son has a house about half a mile from where my husband and I live. I find that I get a more loving response to my request for help if I text him, though! :)

> 55

If you look for this book, Lori, see if you can get it on audio. That version was delightful. I had both the audio and hard copy available to me as they were both from the library. I used the audio for short trips in my car.

I get through books faster having both versions of a book usually, although I spent way too long getting through this book because I kept picking up yet other books I thought I needed to read immediately (then found I didn't, after all).

44. Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants - Douglas W. Tallamy



“You may understand how important natives are to sustaining biodiversity and that adding plant biomass and diversity to your property is the key to supporting local wildlife. But in all likelihood, your neighbors do not -- yet. … Don’t forget to stand just beyond arm’s reach when you muster the courage to tell them that if they follow your advice they too can have more insects in their yard next year!” (Douglas W. Tallamy)

What an excellent book! I brought it home from the library to use as a reference, but once I opened it up, I could not put it down. It's fascinating...and important! You can learn more about this book here in my review.

Rating - 5 stars

I have been meaning to read Never Let Me Go for ages....I dont think I want to see the movie and now that Ive seen the trailer for the film....I wonder if I will even read the book!

Never Let Me Go seems to be the kind of book that people either very much like or dislike. No one is too lukewarm about it. I am more lukewarm than most, but I did enjoy reading it.

40: Kosher Chinese sounds fascinating - Adding it to Mt. TBR. Unfortunately, my library doesn't have it yet, but, um, it does have all those others - Oracle bones, Iron and Silk, River town . . .

And bringing nature home is there too . . . Love your photos.

> 61

Hi Ardene, I was pleasantly surprised by Kosher Chinese as I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. I think it's probably not yet in your library because it was an Early Reviewer book. Its publication date is in July (this month) some time. Hopefully, copies of this book will make their way into public libraries.

I just loved Bringing Nature Home. That book really spoke to me.

Thanks. Glad you like the pics!

I was lukewarm about Never Let Me Go. I think The Remains of the Day was much better.

> 63

Yeah. I've yet to get to The Reamins of the Day. It comes so highly recommended by so many LTers.

And it's one of the few books to movies where they did an excellent job.

> 65

And it's one of the few books to movies where they did an excellent job.

Good to know that.

58: Bringing Nature Home went directly to my Amazon cart. And the author is local-ish, has made appearances in the county. I have a section of my back yard that is awaiting inspiration.

> 67

Catherine, a neighbor of mine heard the author speak and is going to give me a CD of his. Bringing Nature Home is such an inspirational book. I'm on a quest now to rid my garden of invasive plants and begin to replenish it with native species.

I also trying to get my garden (still in need of great help!) registered as a certified wildlife habitat. Join me!

I'm one of those who didn't enjoy Never Let Me Go very much. I read it back in 2008 and had heard so much great things about it, that I was bound to be disappointed. I too caught "the hook" from the beginning and just found it to be a long, depressing slog.

On the other hand The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox has been on my wishlist for quite some time (no book bullet for me, ha!) and I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

Bringing Nature Home, I'll pass on. I'm hopeless with plants, other than Succulents, it seems. My best friend gave me a gorgeous potted cherry tomato plant a month ago (I live in an apartment, so no garden) and although I tried my best, it just refused to live under my care. I just threw it away today, sadly enough. I did collect a nice harvest of tomatoes at least. May it RIP.

Actually, Ilana, Bringing Nature Home is not about gardening. It's more about what we must do to preserve biodiversity in our plants. In other words, it means ripping out invasive species that do not belong in our immediate environment and allowing native plants to "do their own thing".

We are pretty big on natives here in NZ- regeneration of native plants is big on a lot of agendas. And in our own gardens- not only do they look great but they are practically self-care!

68: Cool! I'm nowhere near there yet, but something to aspire to.
71: Practically self-care is an attractive prospect.

> 72

Part of the process of becoming a certified wildlife habitat is not having it completed, but rather aspiring to slowly change a garden/yard into one that supports wildlife. To begin, you only need to have the very basic requirements as noted on the web link in #68. The fun then is to slowly change your garden/yard to eventually make it into a more wildlife friendly place.

This is a project that will probably take me years - if not the rest of my life, but it will be fun for me as I love gardening and nature. I'll be able to read and learn about native animals and plants as I slowly change the outdoor environment around my house.

Fear not of becoming certified immediately if your garden/yard has the basic elements already present. I thought mine did so I sent in the application. Now the work begins as I learn more about what I can do to make a difference.

Hmm, I don't seem to have much in the way of qualifications. I've been in this house for a bit over two years, and I've gotten rid of the grass but not yet replaced it with anything permanent (I've been planting annuals in pots and raised beds as experiments), aside from a butterfly bush, which last year was a scrawny thing 2' high, and this year is a gigantic 6' sphere, and which attracts hordes of bumble bees who wallow in the flowers, but it's not native. So, I dunno, but I like the idea and I've ordered the book because I think it will give me a coherent direction to consider.

Well, I've been working on my garden for 30+ years, and it still look slike I haven't started organizing it yet. It would help if my younger son (who no longer lives here) would remove his rusting, chopped-up motocycle and broken down jetski from my back yard. :(

Some people just seem to have a knack and an eye for organizing and growing a garden. I hope mine looks more attractive to bird and insects than I would imagine it looks to people! :)

I think you'll really like the book, Catherine. I found it fascinating!

If you have living plants in the ground then I think you're doing pretty good! That's my approach to gardening, at least. Have I managed to keep it alive for a season? Excellent! Then I win.

Hi there, Madeleine! I'm trying to catch up on your thread. Your reviews of Farm City and Kosher Chinese are great--I think you have a knack for telling just the right amount about the book. I'm adding those to my wishlist!

Oh, a thumb and much, much interest in the whole Bringing Nature Home idea, Madeline. You've got me more interested and sort of galvanized.

#75 I hardly have a knack for planning a garden either, but I figure if it looks weird I can always move it to somewhere else!

45. Great House - Nicole Krauss



Okay. Jill (mrsteme) wins this round as I finally read an Orange Prize nominee that I really, truly like. Most Orange Prize books I disdain. I posted my review of this book here.

ETA: Thanks, Terri (teelgee), for sharing your book with me.

Rating - 4.5 stars

> 76

Haha, Luxx! In the garden, my plants have a better chance of surviving. My houseplants don't get rain. :)

> 77

Thanks, Carly. Both Farm City and Kosher Chineseare fun reads - light enough for the summer but with great information as well. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

> 78

Gail, please *do* explore this idea much more. It's my opinion that one person cannot change the world, but one person can lead the way. It's when a force of many individuals form, that we, as a group, might influence others and change the world.

Remember when "organic" was a hippie, fringe term? Now "organic" has gone mainstream with money to be made and health benefits to be drived (bad and good, I suppose).

Keep me informed as to what you're doing. I just bought a Joe Pye weed (larval home) and continue to pull ground ivy out of my lawn. What I hate about this, though, are the mosquito bites. They suck!! (No pun intended). Ha!

#80: I have really got to get to that one some time soon! I very much enjoyed Krauss' The History of Love.

> 79

Megan, I am always planting plants in the wrong places. It's just that it's much easier to move smaller plants. I now have two hydrangea bushes that are limp with heat in the sun. I'm going to wait until after they both bloom and then request my husband move both bushes into dappled shade (whever that might be!).

> 83

Stasia, I predict that you'll like Great House better than A History of Love. I found the characters so confusing in the latter.

#83: Another incentive to check out Great House! Maybe next month - this one is pretty well booked.

>82 SqueakyChu: and 84:
If you possibly can, Madeline, try to transplant in the early fall. Somehow the cooler temps and greater moisture encourage the plants to put down deep roots, and avoid the heat stress that results from summer replanting.

I've been gathering yard waste--including weeds that haven't yet seeded--and putting it in a pile in the undeveloped part of the back yard, kind of an open-woods, dappled shade place. My plan is to get a good-sized collection of this going, purchase one of those frames used for raised gardens, and start amending the rock-like clay soil so that I can get some natives going back there.

Another idea is to use about 5 layers of newspaper, one layer cardboard, cover with wheat straw or other mulch, water well for a week or so. This serves two purposes: it prevents weed growth and it also amends the soil into some rich stuff. I used this in the front borders this spring and it's worked surprisingly well.

The latest thing we did is plant sunflowers. Sounds lame, but it really helps the bee population; there's a constant benign buzzing around the mailbox.

Sorry for such a long post, Madeline; gardening and being as good a caretaker as I can is one of my passions.

Nice review of Great House, Madeline. I'll read it later this year.

I've had The History of Love on my wishlist seemingly forever Madeline, but now I'm intrigued about Great House too.

I liked the little anecdote about the American-accented Hebrew. I come across supposedly French characters (or presumably fluent speakers) who more often than not have the most unlikely pronunciation all the time, and it always amuses me too.

I'm planning on reading Great house later this year as well, never tried her The History of Love. Lovely review.

> 88

Thanks, Darryl. I predict you will like it. :)

> 89

You'll get a kick out of the few Hebrew words in the narrative, Ilana, even if you don't hear the book on CD. (Just pretend those words are spoken with an American accent). Ha!

> 90

Thanks, Kerry. I think you'll like both books. Krauss is a terrific writer, but I thnk her talent shine through much better with Great House. There are individual chapters which tell different stories in which I became so intrigued that I didn't want to the chapters to revert back to previous characters.

> 87

Gail, please *do* make long posts about gardening on my thread. I'm eager to hear what you have to say.

I'll defer having the hydrangeas transplanted until the fall then. What you said makes sense. How late in the season? September or October?

I've been gathering yard waste (etc.)>

Oooh! Sounds like a great idea.

I like your ideas about the newspapers/cardboard and the sunflowers. My garden will have to be a work in progress.

I don't know how late you can wait, Madeline; you're in Maryland, if I remember correctly and I've not lived there. I'm thinking the first half of October would be about right for that area, as you want the roots to start before any sort of soil freezing begins. A bit of frost won't hurt, though.

And believe me, I don't know of any gardener, amateur, professional, new or experienced, whose garden is not a work in progress. That's what makes it both fun and absorbing.

>91 SqueakyChu:: Thanks, Darryl. I predict you will like it. :)

And so does LT: "LibraryThing thinks you will love Great House (prediction confidence: high)"

Blech! Saturday is boring me to tears. I'm giving up on that one. I stopped reading it and have no desire to get back to it.

Here's an article about our Bookcrossing Meet-Up in Westminster, Maryland. I always think they're so much fun!

Madeline, just a note to thank you for your recommendation of Come from the Four Winds. I finished the book this morning and enjoyed it very much. There is so much of Israeli history that I do not know!

I'm so happy that you had a chance to read Come From the Four Winds. That was such a special book, albeit an obscure one.

...and, of course I'm so proud of my cousin Robert and his wife Helena. I know that Helena is no longer alive, but I'm not sure about Robert. He was in a nursing home when I was in Israel back in 2001.

Jenn (nittnut) lent me her copy of the book or I might never have had the chance to read it otherwise.

That was really nice of Jenn.

It's no go for You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem. I am really not enjoying that book. What is it's genre? I don't know. Urban stupidity, maybe?

I'm not happy as I bought that book thinking I like this author. So far, though, only Motherless Brooklyn was a worthwhile novel. I gave up on Girl in Landscape (boring...) and forced my way through As She Climbed Across the Table (bizarre, but entertaining). Lethem's Men & Cartoons was a great book of short stories, though. I *loved* the story called "The Dystopianist".

Lethem's just so inconsistent in his writing.

*sigh*

I read that a couple of years ago and thought it fairly forgettable but did want to try Motherless Brooklyn.

Motherless Brooklyn is an amazing book, although the ending is a bit weak. It's really worthwhile reading, though. Go for it, Kerry!

It's so big..I'm scared of tackling big books....whimp whimp

It's not really that big. It's fast reading...and a fascinating story. I repeat, go for it! You won't be sorry. When have I misled you? ;-)

Just catching up on all the threads Madeline. :)

I'll get to it, just have a pile of others screaming for attention.

> 106

Hi, Valerie! Thanks for stopping by.

> 107

Oh! Is that what I heard?! :)

Bringing Nature Home arrived yesterday, and I doubt I'll get to reading it for awhile, too many others in the queue, but I flipped through briefly. What the book says about my formerly wimpy but now giganto butterfly bush is that although it may attract butterflies (actually it attracts far more bumblebees), it does not provide a place for them to breed, and this is a problem.

I own Motherless Brooklyn Not a clue where it is though :)

> 109

What you can do is just add a plant that provides food for larva next to your butterfly bush. In addition, if others like your butterfly bush, suggest that instead they get other native species that provide both food and a larval home instead. Butterfly weed is native to this area and might be a good choice. It has bright orange flowers which also attract buttterflies.

I think it's fascinating to learn more about how to improve one's garden. I just situated a Joe Pye plant next to a phlox. I've yet to see my first butterfly (or caterpillar) on either plant. The summer's not over yet, though. My garden has a long way to go.

My next project is to enlist my husband's help in digging up some poison ivy plants (to which I'm highly allergic).

I'd love to hear what else you'll be doing to your garden, Catherine.

> 110

Stasia, I think you should look for it and talk Kerry into reading it when you do!

#112: Kerry? My Kerry? The one who has read 3 books in the entire 23 years we have been married? Somehow, I do not think that will happen!

No! avatiakh Kerry!! :)

Lol, Stasia - he sounds like my husband, who only reads travel guides and online news.

#114: Well, that makes a great deal more sense! LOL

70>

In other words, it means ripping out invasive species that do not belong in our immediate environment and allowing native plants to "do their own thing".

It's not quite clear from this one-sentence summary whether the book addresses this, but the reason why some non-native species are called "invasive", after all, is that they thrive without intervention, and will in many cases outcompete natives. (In this area, English ivy and kudzu spring to mind as being particularly bad offenders.) So "ripping out invasive species" isn't just a one-time thing, it's a continuous, active intervention. A lot of people -- and by no means am I suggesting that you fall into this group -- believe that if you just let an area "go wild" -- i.e. "do its own thing" -- it will attain good biodiversity with native species, which unfortunately is not the case. Or that the packets labeled "wildflower seeds" at the hardware store are actually natives, rather than (as is usually the case) a random mixture of species from all over the country or even elsewhere, some of which are aggressive invaders!

I'll have to take a look at Bringing Nature Home, too; I'm not looking to completely eliminate non-native species, but want to move toward natives + edibles. Tomatoes may not be native, but I'm keeping them anyway!

> 117

A lot of people -- and by no means am I suggesting that you fall into this group -- believe that if you just let an area "go wild" -- i.e. "do its own thing" it will attain good biodiversity with native species, which unfortunately is not the case

By saying that, I really didn't mean letting nature "go wild". I'm working on ridding my yard of the more invasive non-native plants and adding some native plants. All of this will go very slowly. I've pulled out all of the English ivy I can find. I'm now working on ridding my lawn of ground ivy (a smaller invasive species). I haven't figured out what to do about patches of Japanese stiltgrass. I discovered that my younger son has a house with a lawn that only contains that species of invasive grass.

I hope to learn more about what plant species will enhance my yard as well as which are best to provide food and refuge for wildlife.

Some invasives I'm keeping. My daughter planted a mimosa tree over the grave of her cat. She's moving out, but I get to keep the cat's grave and the mimosa tree. :)

In addition, I'm learning about wineberries. These are invasive, thorny, wild bushes producing raspberry-like fruit. I've come to find out they're edible and had great fun with my husband and a friend last weekend picking these just to eat. I'm conflicted as to what to do about the one that's been poking into my yard.

In addtion, vinca (periwinkle) is an invasive species. My periwinkle was a gift from a deceased friend. I doubt that I'll pull it all out.

I like the idea of substituting plants for lawn, but I really have no eye for this. I'm going to give it my best shot, though, in small pieces.

I have a great little vegetable garden. All of the edibles in this garden are being organically grown. This week we should be able to pick some tomatoes. I'm going to try more heirloom species of veggies in the future.

I personally think that it should be against the law to plant invasive species like ivy where they can escape to neighboring yards. I have lived in this house for 21 years and have constantly battled the ivy on the back fence. Now one of my side neighbors has planted the s**t! I have vinca confined in an area in my front yard and keep it there. If a dog owner has to clean up after the dog, someone with ivy should keep it in their own yard, too.

*end of rant*

> 119

Rant heard.

*nods head*

Memzel, I think it might be that sometimes people are just not aware. For years I'd rant over a neighbor that pulled up all of the sweet-smelling honeysuckle vine from my back fence. I missed it terribly. Not only that. The poison they used damaged part of my azalea bushes. How nice it would have been had they told me what they were doing ahead of time so that we both could have worked together for a more satisfactory solution. That was before I learned about invasive species.

Now the same neighbor is ranting over a popular tree I've planted. It's trunk is entirely in my yard so it's of no business of my neighbor's. Unless it falls, that is!

You do know that garden centers still sell ivy as an ornamental plant? A good way to begin combatting invasive species is to start with garden centers being encouraged to stop selling them.

Madeleine, I'm impressed by your gardening! I think next year I'm going to try to plant some blackberry-type bushes and maybe a fig tree, but right now I pretty much just have the plants that came with my house (some of which I can't even identify!).

I wish I could do more in my garden but there are just too many mosquitoes out there! :(

I think it would be fun to do blueberry bushes. I'm not sure I have enough are with sun, though.

46. Bitterroot Landing - Sheri Reynolds



This book would have been a good Oprah pick a few years back. It’s that schmaltzy. This is a story of a woman who attempts to overcome the effects of childhood sexual abuse. I was more intrigued with the beginning of the book than with its ending.

SPOILER ahead maybe?

Jael is a very misfortunate and sad individual at book’s beginning. However, I don’t understand why this young woman never ended up in individual psychotherapy by book’s end. A support group and a friendly social worker is simply not going to put an end to this young woman’s visual and auditory hallucinations. My reaction to this novel? Get this young lady the help she truly needs!

Rating - 2.5 stars

This book would have been a good Oprah pick a few years back.

That's all I needed to know. I would only read this if you put a gun to my head (and maybe not even then).

Mmmm...blueberries and heirloom tomatoes! Yum!

I do see your point, Madeline, about various plants that are non-native but have a particular connection for you. Certainly I wouldn't be able to rid my yard of all non-natives. However, while I love the look of my neighbors' mimosas, I get a little tired of pulling up the seedlings. Still, I'm pulling other things anyway, so what's a few more good yanks in the interests of friendship?

I like the idea of the joe pye weed (and of course it's not a weed if it's where you want it!) and the butterfly plants as well. I'm looking into some natives that need less sun for my backyard project. As you say, it's slow going...one plant that is particularly successful in shady areas is native rhododendrons--many, if not all are evergreen and thus especially nice in the winter.

Our neighbor to the back has a truly beautiful yard, but has decided the part that borders us is a good place to store an unused truck topper and assorted whatnot. This fall I'm putting in some hollies (super evergreens and bird feeders) to hide the junk.

> 124

That's all I needed to know. I would only read this if you put a gun to my head (and maybe not even then).

Haha! Oh, Darryl...

I guarantee you would not be impressed by this book. :)

It wasn't all bad, though. Sherri Reynolds has such down-and-out characters. I read Reynolds' The Rapture of Canaan a while ago and sort of liked it.

> 125

Lucky for my neighbors, though, the mimosa seems to be dying. :) I'm not that upset about it. When it dies completely, I'm replacing it with a chokecherry (a native volunteer in my yard) or I'll buy a redbud to replace it. I'm now kind of hoping it will die. :)

Gail, I like the idea of rhododendrons, less ubiquitous than azaleas. I might look into these as bushes for the front of my son's house. I told him I'd buy him something as a birthday present. His birthday's in August, but I'm thinking it would be better to buy these in late September when it would not be so hot. Less stress to the bushes, I think.

My husband has a construction business (concrete contracting). He stores his materials to the side of our house (which happens to be the front door of my neighbor's house). They built a tall fence! Fortunately, we're friendly and my husband did their concrete patio. :)

I LOVED Motherless Brooklyn, which I followed up with Men and Cartoons, which I thought was brilliant, even though I rarely do short stories. I also read Kafka Americana and really enjoyed it at the time.

I've had a brand new copy of Chronic City sitting on my shelf for too long now, but I'm always afraid that reading it might make me hanker for a toke! lol

> 128

I *will* give Jonathan Lethem another chance, Ilana. When he does something I do like, I like it *very* much. I'll give Kafka Americana a try and will try Chronic City as well. After you get to the latter, tell me your thoughts about it.

I think that Lethem just wants to be "cutting edge". Sometimes he's just too far off the wall, though. *sigh*

*back to liking this author*

:)

I've read just enough of him—and happened to fall on things that I liked a lot—to decide that he's one of my favourite authors, but it's very likely I'll hit on something I'm not that crazy about either, just haven't taken the opportunity to read more by him as of yet.

But I'm glad you're willing to give him another chance. When he's good, he's very very good, imho.

#123: This book would have been a good Oprah pick a few years back. It’s that schmaltzy.

Oprah recommended Anna Karenina too, so all of her picks were not bad :) Of course, if a book has that Oprah Book Club sticker on it, I avoid it like the plague, lol.

> 131

Oprah's "new" book club is unlike her "old" book club. Now she often chooses classics whose worth was well established before she "chose" them.

I felt really bad about the old Oprah Book Club. It was a great idea which did stimulate people to read. The only problem was that the books she chose began to seem formulaic after a short while. Down-and-out person (usually a woman) resolves issue and is finally at peace. Those books (and that formula) grew old very fast.

One book I really enjoyed that Oprah picked then later was so down on was James Frey's A Million Little Pieces. He was castigated by her after choosing his book for "creating" what was supposed to be a memoir. The book, despite its not being truthful was, to me anyway, a fascinating read. I enjoyed the experience of reading it.

Now I feel embarrassed that I actually tag those relevant books as Oprah picks. But then, I tag them for whatever they've been recognized for. And it's not like they end up in my collection to begin with because Oprah chose them, God forbid.

No need to feel embarrassed. She *does* pick one book each month. They *are* still Oprah picks.

#132: I never new that there were "new" and "old" Oprah book clubs :)

Yeah. She said that she was ending her book club, and then....Voila! She started it up again.

See this wikipedia article. Oprah took a hiatus from her book club for one year between 2002 and 2003.

I was highly amused by Jonathan Franzen's upset when his book was chosen as an Oprah pick. That was just beneath him (he who aspires to be an upper crust author of literary ficton). I didn't like The Corrections all that much anyway. If I'd been Jonathan Franzen, though, I'd have been upset to have my book picked as well. Of course, the increased sales didn't hurt a thing, I suppose.

#137: You can tell I really paid a lot of attention to Oprah, huh? lol

By the way, I actually have a trade paperback copy of A Million Little Pieces, the James Frey Book and will gladly post it on BookMooch to a USA recipient if anyone asks. I recommend the book. Just remember that it may not be 100% nonfiction. Otherwise, the book is very engaging.

The James Frey controversy was back in the days that I could actually hear better so I did see and listen to that telecast. Oprah was rough.

>123 SqueakyChu:, 124, 133, 134: I'm glad I'm not the only one...happy that Oprah could get people to read who otherwise would not, but really avoiding any of her picks.

> 142

Hehe! Her seal on the outside of books scares me away, too!

It is funny that whole Franzen/Oprah thing isn't it. He probably got even more publicity from rejecting her accolades. It does come across as a bit snobby though, I'm all for bringing more books to more people however its done.

47. Miracle in the Andes - Nando Parrado



This book has a funny story to go with it. I was in the R.E.I. (sporting goods store) with my Israeli cousin who was buying a tent and sleeping bag. He was taking so much time shopping for his camping equipment that I migrated to the book section and started reading this book. By the time he was finished shopping, I'd read so much of this book that I only thought it appropriate to buy it. Fortunately, it was well worth the money. I got an R.E.I. discount as well!

Parrado's story is amazing. Even if you've read the book Alive, which is the story of the 1972 plane crash involving a team of Uruguayan rugby players and you know the story of their survival, reading this first person narrative by one of the two individuals who finally made contact with the man who helped rescue them, will literally take your breath away.

My review is here. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you don't want to read this book, then at least read Alive by Piers Paul Read, the 1973 classic book of survival in the Andes mountain.

Rating - 5 stars

145: You needed your cousin's delay to migrate to the book section? I read Alive but years (decades?) ago. Miracle in the Andes is hereby wishlisted.

You needed your cousin's delay to migrate to the book section?

Hehe! I wasn't planning on staying in that store so long. My (male) cousin was worse than shopping with a woman! Of course, he had his wife on the phone so they could consult with each other before buying her sleeping bag! :)

I'm not really complaining because just having him here to visit was so much fun. He's my first cousin's youngest son and was to be in the U.S. only for less than two weeks to attend a school/related conference in Rhode Island. He took some time out to to visit my family here in DC. It's always much too long between the times my DC/Israeli family members get to see each other.

Just popping by while I try to catch up on everyone's thread. Hope you're having a fantastic weekend Madeline. :)

Sounds like you enjoyed the visit, Madeline. It's so nice to see the far-flung family members every once in a while.

Boy, I thought the challenges had taken off before, but now your project is increasing geometrically. You must be so proud and pleased...and deservedly so. Congratulations.

147: A cell phone is a modern necessity for shopping. How much of your family is in Israel?

> 148

Hi, Valerie. So far the weekend's been fun. I went to visit a friend in town from New York tonight. Tomorrow is the birthday party for my future daughter-in-law...so the fun continues. Hope all is well with you.

> 149

I so much loved visiting with my cousin (actually the youngest son of my first cousin). He's such a friendly individual so our visit was terrific. His grandmother (my mom's sister), who died a few years ago, was my favorite aunt and a great mentor to me. I miss her so much, and have consoled myself with knowing it was her grandson who was here visiting.

Yeah, Gail. It's amazing to see what the challenges are doing. I'm totally amazed at Cheli's challenge for August and all the "friends" lining up to read with each other. What a kick!

> 150

Catherine, My mom's entire family is Israeli. My mom was born in the US, grew up in Yugoslavia, and fled to the US during the Holocaust. Since my mom is no longer alive and I'm her only child, I am the only non-Israeli on that side of my family. My mom had a sister and brother, both of who immigrated to Israel. Neither are alive any longer but both now have Israeli-born children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I love them all. It is a very special treat to get to any of them here in the US from time to time.

I read Alive years ago, so Miracle in the Andes is definitely a book in which I am interested. Thanks for the recommendation, Madeline!

You're welcome, Stasia.

LOL - all stores should have a book-section for those who accompany shoppers!!! :)

all stores should have a book-section for those who accompany shoppers!!! :)

Isn't that the truth?!!

Amen to that! :)

153: That sounds both interesting and emotionally fraught. Great that you all remain in close contact.

> 159

In 1972-1973, I lived and work in Israel. That was my golden opportunity to meet and really grow close to family I had never known before (all except for one aunt). I am determined to keep our family link as strong as possible despite the distance. My younger son and future daughter-in-law plan to honeymoon in Israel next year after their wedding. As long as we continue to visit each other from time to time, that link will remain unbroken.

48. The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden - William Alexander



I'm so glad I bought this book! I picked it up during the LibraryThing Dupont Circle Meet-Up when our group visited Second Story Books. I'm a softy for gardening and foodie books so I couldn't resist this one.

Here's my review of it. It's very, very funny.

Rating - 4 stars

>161 SqueakyChu: Oh, good, our public library has that one!

> 63

Oh, do get it!

I just found out that the William Alexander is an LT author, so I wrote him a note to tell him how much I enjoyed his book.

#161: I already have that one in the BlackHole or I would add it again. I am glad to see that you enjoyed the book, Madeline. Now if only my local library would cooperate and get a copy so that I can read it.

Get an interlibrary loan from thornton37814's library! :)

Heh! I'm reading some rather long-titled books this month...

#165: I double checked my local library and it now has the book. I will get to it soon.

Er, the size of my books (they're getting bigger) and my stop-and-go reading (I'm staring many books but stopping them mid-way) is affecting my poor butterfly. At this rate, the race is all but lost. :(

> 167

Hurray!

#168: At this rate, the race is all but lost.

The race may be lost, but you can still enjoy the views along the way :)

Hmmm? The books I'm reading this month seem to have rather long titles... :)

The tomato book looks like it got good ratings, sounds good, let me check out if our library has it....
*Sad face*
it doesn't

There don't seem to be too many of the "tomato" books in circulation as only 429 LT members have a copy of it. The author turned out to be an LT author, though. Hooray!

49. The Story of Stuff - Annie Leonard



My, this is a depressing but good book! It talks about the "stuff" we acquire, from where it comes and to where it ultimately goes. Reading this book is difficult as the reader figures out that much of what we acquire we really don't need and that, later, the disposition of our "stuff" is what is ruining our planet. I like the information given by the author because I feel it is presented with good research, an authoritative voice, and excellent resource material for further study. As a result of reading this book, I will continue to try to do my part to downsize the amount of "stuff" I needlessly acquire.

Rating - 4 stars

Madeline, I'd been meaning to tell you that I enjoyed your review of The $64 Tomato. It's been on my shelf for quite some time now, and I really don't know what made me buy it, because I'm not a gardener and can't hope to be unless I decide to move somewhere with a patch of earth. It was the title that caught me for sure, AND reading somewhere that it's funny, which I'm glad you've confirmed. Not sure how I'll handle the animal cruelty though.

While I haven't read The Story of Stuff, I did post a teaser for the full-length video on my blog a few years back, and more recently, also posted the video The Story of Bottled Water which was just the push I needed to finally stop buying bottled water. She's doing some great things and really knows how to make it seem like a lot more fun to make the right environmental choices. It's a message we need to keep hearing though because it's so easy to get caught up in the false need to get *stuff* all the time!

> 175

You're an animal person, Ilana, so the animal cruelty will surely affect how you feel about that book. Since I wrote to the author (an LT author, as I mentioned above), I did tell him that I didn't like the part about animal cruelty.

This week I had the good fortune to visit a wildlife rehab center in Cape Carteret, North Carolina. There I saw two baby opposums being rehabbed. I don't know what happened to them as I don't hear very well. Perhaps they were orphaned. Anyway, the wildlife expert did mention how docile these animals are. We actually have an opposum that lives in our yard and sometimes steals leftover cat food at night. The author of the above book trapped an opposum (in his book) and then went on to say how vicious that animal was. Perhaps I, too, would be vicious if I feared for my life.

There has got to be better ways for people and wildlife to co-exist. We take over their land and then want to kill them if they disturb us in any way. *sigh*

-------

By the way, I also bought the book because I liked the title. I so rarely buy books, but I did get that one on the day of our DC Meet-Up. I could see me planting tomatoes that ultimately cost me $64 each. As it is, I hardly have any tomatoes at all. The heat wave and the blight did in all of my tomato plants already. I just got back from the beach late tonight, but tomorrow I'm going to fully examine the extent of the damage.

--------

The "stuff" book is really great. It makes so much sense. My only concern is that it's the people who read this book who already know what to do and those who do not read such books who really need to know what to do (and what not to do). I guess I can always lead by example - even if people laugh at what I do (and they do).

We take over their land and then want to kill them if they disturb us in any way. *sigh*

That's exactly how I feel about it Madeline. Sometimes I feel like we humans are the parasites on this earth. I can't, never could, never will understand what makes humans think they own everything and can just treat this planet like a giant disposable balloon.

You're right too about what you say about the fact that too often, those who are interested in this kind of literature and information are those who are already active with helping to find solutions. I thought An Inconvenient Truth was flawed in many ways, but at least that movie was seen by countless people who don't often take the chance to listen to the important issues it raises.

...and I just got a copy of An Inconvenient Truth which I hope to read soon.

In the "tomato" book, there's tons of information about what the author did to keep deer out of his garden. Here in Maryland, there have been occasional deer hunts in public parks to thin out the deer population. It's so sad.

My younger son and fiancee have deer in their yard all the time. We've been wondering what stole *all* the peaches and pears from his only two trees. Overnight, all of the fruit disappeared. Was that the work of people, raccoons, deer, woodchucks, or squirrels? We'll soon find out as he just installed a surveillance camera around his house!

Oh, how depressing!

I hope the deer aren't the sole culprits in your son's fruit disappearance mystery. And if they are... I'd rather not find out what they do to discourage them. :-|

Personally, I think it's the woodchucks. We'll see.

They won't do anything to the deer. In fact, if it's deer, they'll be relieved it wasn't people. They were thinking that it was a prank. This is their first house so they were freaked out by this happening.

Anyhow, they've seen the deer eating a few fruit. The deer have no way, though, to reach the top of the trees.

50. Goldengrove - Francine Prose



I read this book only because it fit into Dejah_Thoris's TIOLI challenge to read a book about an element of the periodic table. The book came from the library even though I have 400+ books in my own house that I should have been reading instead.

The story begins with the drowning death of Margaret, sister to Nico and girlfriend of Aaron. Everyone deals with death in his own way, but Nico and Aaron have a particularly bizarre way of working through their feelings. What was interesting about this was the psychology of the situation. Was Nico really trying to step into Margaret's shoes? How about Aaron? Was he really trying to turn Nico into Margaret? This was a believable story and a good introduction for me into the writing of Francine Prose. It grabbed me enough to want to seek more of her novels.

Rating - 3.5 stars

51. City of Thieves - David Benioff



I selected this book because I found it on my TBR shelf and also because Patrick (pbadeer) selected it for his TIOLI challenge to read a book with a three-letter title having the middle word "of". I took the book to the beach on the chance I'd be interested in reading it. After the first few pages, I was hooked. Like Patrick, I gave this book about friendship during the siege of Leningrad an excellent review.

Rating - 4.5 stars

Just getting caught up with your doings, Madeline. Woodchucks can climb trees? Didn't know that. Still, wouldn't any animal leave some sort of traces of said fruit around on the ground? How weird. Even raccoons will leave some sort of mess to indicate they've been there. I'll be interested in the solution if it's ever found.

City of Thieves sounds really good.

ETA: And so was your review--really good, I mean, and thumbed.

Hi Gail,

I haven't been around LT much lately - too busy! Thanks for stopping by.

I found out that woodchucks can climb trees when I was trying to research what (or who) might have stolen the fruit. The woodchuck has a den in my son's yard. I think the fruit may have been taken to the den for the baby (babies?). I'll be sure to let you know if we find out anything.

I'm sure you'll like City of Thieves. It was really great.

Oh good, I'm glad to hear the deer are safe with your family members.

One of the perils of being bilingual, at least in my case, is that I know both languages very imperfectly. So at first when I read 'woodchucks' I thought it was a kind of bird until I looked it up, so now I understand why the question about they being able to reach the tops of trees.

The book came from the library even though I have 400+ books in my own house that I should have been reading instead.

The story of my life since I joined this group, which encouraged me to join the library. My 'to read' collection right now stands at 487 books. Yikes.

You win, Ilana! I "merely" have 425 books on my TBR mountain. :)

We do have a kind of bird called "woodpeckers". I think they eat more insects than they do fruit, though. Anyway, I can see how you figured out that they wouldn't snatch the whole fruit if they were birds. :D

52. Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace - Ayelet Waldman



I actually liked this book better than I thought I would. It gave me some insight into the author herself as well as her outlook about the topic of mothering.

Here's my review.

Rating - 4 stars

Thumbed your review and I've added this to my tbr list. I have Love and Other Impossible Pursuits on my tbr pile but never seem to get to it. Welcome back, City of Thieves is also on my tbr pile though as I've read two books already this year about the siege I'll have to leave it for a few more months.

487 books? 425 books? Amateurs, I tell you, amateurs!

I have almost 10,000 books in my TBR database.

Bwhahahahaha. I win!

Er, what'd I win?

> 188

Kerry, I also have had Love and Other Impossible Pursuits just sitting around. Now that I've read Bad Mother, I may get to her novel a little sooner.

Don't miss City of Thieves. It is excellent. My husband is reading it now. I, too, don't like to read similar books back to back. Books (and characters) seem to meld together in my mind if I do that.

> 189

Wow! Do you mean 10,000 books that are TBR and you physically own, Morphy? If so, don't worry about me beating your record because my little house wouldn't even hold that many books!

I think you won years of reading enjoyment! :)

Oh heck, no. My actual TBR physical pile is 30-ish books from the library. The huge number is from my TBR Access database. If I had to pick books from that list that I would realistically read, it would be closer to 1,000, I bet. We own about 1,500 in various stages of read and unread.

190: I, too, don't like to read similar books back to back. Books (and characters) seem to meld together in my mind if I do that.

And then there's the problem of dissimilar books melding together. I'll pick up a book and begin reading... and... several moments of confusion, sort of like layers of images, difficult to distinguish one from the other... then suddenly, oh, yes, this is the book about... and other books recede into the background.

189,191: I have almost 10,000 books in my TBR database.

I think long before I got 10,000 entered, I'd stop doing the actual work myself, and decree that my database of TBR is all of LibraryThing...

Earthquake in DC! My first ever.

> 191

Phew! I'm glad you're not going to try to read 10,000 books any time soon. :)

My own library here at home has 610 books. I plan to get rid of most of them after I read them.

>192 qebo:

And then there's the problem of dissimilar books melding together.

Yeah. There's that problem, too! :)

Hope everything is okay after the quake Madeline!

I think there was some structural damage to old buildings in the area, but I haven't heard of anyone injured by the earthquake. It was very strange, though, to have my whole office building shake for fifteen seconds. Being in DC, the last thing anyone thought of was an earthquake! Now a hurricane is headed our way...

I'm glad you're okay! I think our city did pretty well considering how ill-prepared we are for an earthquake. I haven't heard of any injuries either.

ETA: Check out what happened to the UMd library during the earthquake!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/umd_libraries/sets/72157627383474133/
I'm glad I don't have to clean that up.

Gosh, mother nature is lashing out isn't she? At least she didn't send the quake AND hurricane all at once. Hope you weather that well though Madeline.

Apparently, I've got 770 books at home currently. I find that hard to believe because not so long ago I had less than 500 and could barely fit them all in. Mind you 129 of those are audiobooks, which obviously don't take up any space at all, save for on my hard drive, which can take quite a lot.

I've been reading several books concurrently for a while now, and I always make sure that they're all very different, that way I keep the stories and characters straight without problem. Otherwise it would be impossible for me to do that. I'm surprised that I even can do that at all, since there have been plenty of time in my life when I couldn't muster up enough concentration to read ONE book, never mind four, five, six...

Out here on the west coast, earthquakes are an expected event, but I was surprise to hear of an earthquake centered in Virginia. I heard that the Washington Monument suffered some cracking, hope it can be repaired.

Stay safe through Irene, Madeline.

> 197

The earthquake was weird to me rather than frightening. It lasted 15 seconds and then everyone, except me that is, was scared for the rest of the day. One colleague was afraid to go to the bathroom at work, thinking there'd be an aftershock when she was out of the office. I haven't felt any aftershocks yet. It's been two days.

The odd thing was that I never heard the earthquake. In addition to my being hard of hearing, I was trying very hard to listen to a telephone webinar on Office 2007 with one ear and had muted my other hearing aid. I felt the whole office shake. After a while, I wondered what happened so I went to ask someone, but the whole office had evacuated, but no one had come to get me! I ran up two flights of stairs very quickly. I was pretty pissed. It's a good thing the earthquake did no harm to anyone.

Hurricanes are awful because they usually take my electricity out. That means no computer access - sometimes for days. You know the end of the TIOLI month is coming up soon, too!

I have to try to stop this concurrent book reading. Everytime I do that, I get so overwhelmed that I stop reading many books at once. It's hard to stop myself, though.

> 198

I've never felt an earthquake before this one. I was very excited to experience it. Now I never want any other earthquake to happen unless it's a small one and does no harm or damage.

The Washington Monument suffered some minor cracking, but the National Cathedral suffered some very costly damage to its spires.

Hurricanes here cause lots of damage. I worry about the oncoming Hurricane Irene which is due to strike land on the North Carolina shore, our family vacation spot. I'm glad we spent a beautiful week there last week. I fear for the damage that might occur as a result of this hurricane.

I should be fine in Rockville, Maryland...in my dark and quiet house. I just need to be sure that I have enough lamp oil so I can keep reading! :)

*waving* at Madeline - stay safe!

Madeline, when I lived in Virginia, we had a smaller earthquake--4.something--and it was totally unexpected. It wasn't enough to cause damage, but just enough to know that there had been an earthquake. Here are some hurricane tips from someone who was without power for 2 weeks after Hurricane Ike in Houston:

--If you're a beer drinker, get cans, not bottles. Cans stay colder in an ice chest even when the ice has mostly melted.
--Get battery-powered fans and mosquito repellant. If you're without power, you'll likely be outside a lot.
--Get some cash in small bills. Even when stores re-opened for key supplies, they didn't necessarily have credit card access.
--Get some propane/charcoal so you can BBQ all the stuff in your freezer, and in your neighbors' freezers.
--Charge your cell phone!
--Take a shower right before the storm hits, in case water service is interrupted. Also, do laundry. You don't want to run out of clean undies :)
--Buy some bananas, apples, or other fruit/veggies that will keep OK for at least a couple of days without refridgeration, and some of those little single-serving milks that don't have to be refridgerated before opening. We got pretty tired of eating cereal, canned goods, etc.--it would have been nice to have a little more fresh food.
--Make sure you're stocked up on things like toilet paper and paper towels. If stores don't fully reopen or get restocked for a week or so, you could be in trouble!

> 200

*waves to Stasia*

I'll try.

> 201

Those are great helpful hints, Carly.

I'm lucky for having natural gas to my house. In past storms, I've always been able to use our stove. During one winter ice storm, we were without electicity for five days, but we ate well. :)

A couple of helpful web sites:

http://www.ready.gov/

http://72hours.org/

Thanks, Darryl. I think we should be okay here. The hurricane has been downgraded to a category 2.

I have to read all 3 of your last 3 books! Good news, my library has the Stuff one, I've wishlisted City of Thieves and Bad Mother is stocked at my library but currently on loan thus giving me time to read the other 2. Yay, now lets just hope I get around to them all.

53. The Accusation - Curt Finch



I was unsure whether or not to purchase this book. It was sitting on the counter of my favorite store in Emerald Isle, North Carolina. The store was Emerald Isle Books, an indie book store in the town in which my family and I vacation every year. The owner of the book store, who also happened to be in the store at the time, was also the author of this book. My skepticism came because I noticed that the book was self published. I asked at the counter, and had the book highly recommended to me. Being that the author was a former Baptist minister and pastor of Chapel by the Sea, a beautiful setting I always see in Emerald Isle, I thought I'd take a chance on reading this book.

Fortunately, I fell into the rhythms of this book, and, before too long, I was captivated by it. The story is of a Baptist pastor who receives an anonymous letter accusing him of sexual impropriety with children. This is immediately followed by the abduction of an eight-year-old child from Vacation Bible School in his church. I followed the story of pastor Ron Fowler with much attention. It was a believable story of a devoted married man, father, and clergyman. Police and FBI agents worked with the pastor to solve two puzzles: who wrote the letter and who abducted the child.

I really enjoyed the way the story was told. It was very believable. Moving very slowly from day to day and told in a first person narrative, it revealed the moment-to-moment reactions of the pastor. His reactions included emotions, literary references (which I loved reading, by the way), and personal philosophy. I feared there would be "preaching" in this book, however that was not the case. Even as a Jew, I could appreciate the theological references and how individuals can question God's role in difficult situations.

For those who choose to read this book, be aware that the very minor grammatical and typographical errors of this self-published book do almost nothing to distract from the story. I recommend this book to others and hope that, one day, this book will be picked up by a publishing company and find even more readers.

Rating - 4 stars

> 206

Hi, Megan!

You've got some great reading ahead. Each of the three books you've chosen are very different. My favorite is probably Stuff because it's a true call for action and so well written. My husband just finished reading City of Thieves and he, too, liked it very much. In Bad Mother, some parts were better than others but the good parts were very, very good - so much so that I've developed a new interest in Ayelet Waldman's thoughts and will look for more of her writing in the future. Enjoy!

To all,

If anyone is interested in getting my copy of City of Thieves via Bookmooch (US only), just private message me to reserve it for you. Beware that it is a trade paperback with a Bookcrossing label on the inside of the front cover, a small coffee stain on the outer edge (my coffee) and some wavy pages (it got sort of wet in my beach bag while vacationing). If you can ignore what the book looks like (it's really not all that bad!), the story is terrific!

#207: Thanks for the recommendation of that book, Madeline. I know I will not be able to obtain it locally, but maybe next year when the book buying ban is over. . .

I didn't know you were on a book buying ban, Stasia. What are the parameters? (I always think these are amusing.)

I can only buy 10 books for myself this year. Thus far, I have purchased 3. I am hoarding my other purchases for the Joplin meet up in November!

Sounds like a good plan, Stasia!

54. In the Miso Soup - Ryu Murakami



I bought this book mainly because the author's last name was Murakami. I then came to find out that Ryu Murakami was no relation to Haruki Murakami. I was curious about this book becasue I've seen this author's name quite a bit. I took the book to the beach where my daughter tried to read it. She told me that she gave up halfway through because it made her nauseaous. Hey! It's a murder mystery, and it does get a bit grisly. Her finace then read it with wth no problem.

The story is of a young Japanese man named Kenji who works illegally as tourist guide to Japanese sex clubs. He is employed by Frank, an American man who purchases three nights of Kenji's services, much to the dislike of Kenji's girlfriend Jun who was planning on spending the Japanese New Year with her boyfriend. Frank is very strange, to say the least. The book has one very gory murder scene, but most of the story is simply the mesmerizing tale of how Frank keeps Kenji in his radar even when not with him. I found this an engaging tale and one of great weirdness. I liked it.

Rating - 4 stars

I *finally* got my next thread to save. If you ignored it, you can now un-ignore it. It still has no content, though. It's now saving and has content.

I'm now moving forward completely to that thread. It will have my reads (and comments) for the next four months.

"One of great weirdness"--I like that phrase!

Hehe! I did enjoy reading that book, though, even though it had that gory part. I really didn't know what to expect since my daughter refused to finish it.