Smiler: Speedier than Lightning in 2011. Part Sept.

Detail from Odalisque in Red Trousers (Odalisque à la culotte rouge), Henri Matisse, 1921

My Threads
Part Un (Books 1-5)
Part Deux (Books 6-29)
Part Trois (Books 30-54)
Part Quatre (Books 55-72)
Part Cinq (Books 73-99)
Part Six (Books 100-110)

11 in 11 Challenge:
Category #1: The Classics 7/11
Category #2: Émile Zola's Rougon-Macquart Series 4/11
Category #3: Mysteries & Crime Fiction 7/11
Category #4: Visual Arts 4/11
Category #5: Books Published Since 2009 8/11
Category #6: New To Me Authors 7/11
Category #7: Big and Scary: books over 400 pages 5/11
Category #8: The Two World Wars and the Time In-Between 7/11
Category #9: En Français 7/11
Category #10: Sooner Than Later: Recent Acquisitions 7/11
Category #11: The Film Might Be Good But the Book is Better 6/11

Currently Reading:
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Les Contes Macabres by Edgar Allan Poe & Benjamin Lacombe
♫ Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

My rating system:
★ - hated it (suffered through 100+ pages & listing it for the trouble)
★★ - it was just ok
★★★ - enjoyed it (good)
★★★★ - loved it! (very good)
★★★★★ - all-time favourite (blew me away—will read again)

⅛ ¼ ⅓ ½ ¾ ⅞

♫ = audiobook
✔ = off the shelf

Books completed in July
122. Blanche Neige by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★★¾ (review)
123. The Old Child by Jenny Erpenbeck ★★★½ (review)
124. ♫ Black Beauty by Anna Sewell ★★★½ (review)
125. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo ★★★½ (review)
126. The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin ★★★★ (review)
127. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes ★★★★ (review)
128. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo ★★★★★ (review)
129. ♫ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (rating & review coming soon)
130. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (rating & review coming soon)

Books I'd like to read in July
*♫ Emma by Jane Austen - (group read, TIOLI #1)
*A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan - (library book, TIOLI #8: Hot)
*Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones - (library book, Children's & YA, TIOLI #17: fantasy)
*Le bois de Klara / Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck - (library book, TIOLI #2)
*The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin - (ER book received May 5th, TIOLI #6)
*L'enfant sans âge / The Old Child by Jenny Erpenbeck - (Library Book, TIOLI #1)
*I Am the Great Horse by Katherine Roberts - (library book, Children's & YA)
*The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo - (library book, Children's & YA, TIOLI #17: fantasy)
*When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (library book, Children's & YA, TIOLI #22: Newbery)
*The Hundred Dresses Eleanor Estes (library book, Children's & YA, TIOLI #22: Newbery)
*To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (library book, Children's & YA,)
✔ Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer - ( Children's & YA, TIOLI #1)
✔ The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman - (Children's & YA, TIOLI #17: fantasy)
✔ War Horse by Michael Morpurgo - (Children's & YA)
♫ A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - (Children's & YA)
♫ Black Beauty by Anna Sewell - (Children's & YA)
♫ Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - (Children's & YA)
♫ The Cat in the Hat and Other Dr. Seuss Favorites by Dr. Seuss - (Children's & YA)
♫ The Roald Dahl Audio Collection by Roald Dahl - (Children's & YA)
♫ The Scarecrow And His Servant by Philip Pullman - (Children's & YA, TIOLI #17: fantasy)

July: Juvenile & Young Adult additional suggested reading:
♫ Once Upon A Time In The North by Philip Pullman (TIOLI #17: fantasty)
✔ The Shadow in the North: A Sally Lockhart Mystery by Philip Pullman (TIOLI #12: direction)
✔ Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (TIOLI #17: fantasty)
✔ Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett (TIOLI #3)
✔ The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant
✔ The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood (TIOLI #17: fantasty)
✔ The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (TIOLI #17: fantasty)
✔ Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (TIOLI #17: fantasty)
✔ Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
✔ The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson
✔ The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (TIOLI #3)
✔ The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
✔ Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde

Optional TIOLI reads
✔ The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman (TIOLI #8: Hot)
✔ Queenpin by Megan Abbot (TIOLI #10: Edgar)
✔ Christine Falls by Benjamin Black (TIOLI #10: Edgar)
♫ Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin (TIOLI #10: Edgar)
♫ In the Woods by Tana French (TIOLI #10: Edgar)
♫ The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin (TIOLI #10: Edgar)
♫ Maisie Dobb by Jacqueline Winspear (TIOLI #10: Edgar)

more suggestions to come...

* = must read
♫ = audiobook
✔ = off the shelf

Books I'd like to read in August
✘*La vie: mode d'emploi / Life: A User's Manual by Georges Perec - (group read, library book)
✘ The Sisters Brothers by Patrick Dewitt (library book)
✔*The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck - (read before ER book)
*Pearl of China by Anchee Min - (ER book)

more suggestions to come...

* = must read
♫ = audiobook
✔ = off the shelf
✘ = to borrow or purchase

*breathing space*

Books I've read so far:

January:
1. Barney's Version by Mordecai Richler (TIOLI) ★★★★ (review)
2. La Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty) by Tahar Ben Jelloun (TIOLI) ★★★★ (review)
3. Regeneration - 1st of the Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker (TIOLI) ★★★★★ (review)
4. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane ★★★ (review)
5. Sanderson: The Essence of English Decoration by Mary Schoeser ★★★★½ (review)
6. Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart (TIOLI) ★★★ (review)
7. Doors Open by Ian Rankin (TIOLI) ★★★ (review)
8. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson ★★★★ (review)
9. A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon ★★★★ (review)
10. The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt (TIOLI) ★★★★ (review)
11. Egon Schiele: The Leopold Collection by Rudolf Leopold (TIOLI) ★★★½ (review)
12. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (TIOLI, Group Read) ★★★ (review)
13. The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket ★★★ (review)
14. The Arrival by Shaun Tan ★★★★★ (review)
15. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak ★★★★ (review)
16. The Bells by Richard Harvell ★★★★ (review)
17. Black and Blue by Ian Rankin ★★½ (TIOLI) (review)
18. ♫ Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens ★★★ (TIOLI) (review)
19. ♫ Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney ★★★★ (review)
20. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom ★★★★ (review)

February:
21. Through a Glass Darkly by Donna Leon ★★★ (review)
22. ♫ Skellig by David Almond ★★★ (review)
23. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman ★★★★★ (review)
24. Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe ★★★½ (review)
25. ♫ The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman ★★★★★ (review)
26. ♫ The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West ★★★★½ (review)
27. ♫ The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ★★★★⅓ (review)
28. ♫ Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll ★★★★½ (notes on the audiobook)
29. Three Seconds by Roslund & Hellström ★★★ (review)
30. The Turn of the Screw and The Aspern Papers by Henry James ★★★★ (review)
31. ♫ The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie ★★★½ (review)
32. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski ★★★★ (review)
33. ♫ Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman ★★★★¼ (review)
34. La Fortune des Rougons by Émile Zola ★★★★ (review)
35. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins ★★★★ (review)
36. ♫ The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton ★★★★ (review)
37. The Eye in the Door by Pat Barker ★★★⅘ (review)

March:
38. ♫ Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood ★★★⅘ (review)
39. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot ★★★★¼ (review)
40. ♫ The Help by Kathryn Stockett ★★★★⅓ (review)
41. Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman ★★★¾ (review)
42. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko ★★★¾ (review)
43. ♫ The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie ★★★ (review)
44. Coraline by Neil Gaiman ★★★★ (review)
45. Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan ★★★★ (review)
46. Dead Souls by Ian Rankin ★★½ (review)
47. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney ★★½ (review)
48. ♫ Already Dead by Charlie Huston ★★★¾ (review)
49. ♫ The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman ★★★★⅓ (review)
50. ♫ Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene ★★★½ (review)
51. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman ★★★¾ (review)
52. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ★★⅚ (review)
53. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy ★★⅚ (review)
54. ♫ Tripwire by Lee Child ★★★★ (review)
55. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri ★★★½ (review)
56. ♫ Matilda by Roald Dahl ★★★★ (review)
57. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James ★★★★½ (review)

April:
58. ♫ Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the dog) by Jerome K. Jerome ★★★★ (review)
59. Sandman: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman ★★½ (review)
60. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón ★★★★⅝ (review)
61. ♫ Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain ★★★★ (review)
62. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick ★★★★ (review)
63. Invisible River by Helena McEwen ★ (Read for Early Reviewers) (review)
64. ♫ Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn ★★★★⅓ (review)
65. ♫ Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson ★★★★⅞ (review)
66. ♫ Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh ★★★★⅓ (review)
67. La Curée (The Kill) by Émile Zola ★★★★⅓ (review)
68. ♫ The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse ★★⅘ (review)
69. The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton ★★½ (review)
70. Mockingjay (Hunger Games 3) by Suzanne Collins ★★★★ (review)
71. ♫ Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë ★★★★⅞ (review)
72. The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman ★★★★½ (review)
73. Apollo's Angels : A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans ★★★★½ (review)
74. ♫ Grass for His Pillow (Tales of the Otori: Book 2) by Lian Hearn ★★★½ (review)
75. ♫ The Fall of the House of Usher: The Pit and the Pendulum and Other Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe ★★★⅝ (review)
76. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway ★★★★ (review)
77. ♫ The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino ★★★⅓ (review)
78. Le Ventre de Paris (The Belly of Paris) by Émile Zola ★★★★⅓ (review)

May:
79. ♫ Animal Farm by George Orwell ★★★★★ (review)
80. Playback: A Graphic Novel by Raymond Chandler ★★¼ (review)
81. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys ★★★★¼ (review)
82. ♫ Dubliners by James Joyce ★★★★ (review)
83. ♫ The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht ★★★★★ (review)
84. ♫ Gros-Câlin by Romain Gary ★★★★⅓ (review)
85. L'argent facile (Easy Money) - Stockholm Noir 1, by Jens Lapidus ★½ (review)
86. The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo ★★★★ (review)
87. ♫ And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie ★★★★ (review)
88. Emma, Volume 1 by Kaoru Mori ★★½ (review)
89. ♫ La petite fille de monsieur Linh (Monsieur Linh and His Child) by Philippe Claudel ★★★★½ (review)
90. Lost & Found by Shaun Tan ★★★★★ (review)
91. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain ★★★★ (review)
92. Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 by David Petersen ★★★ (review)
93. ♫ Mansfield Park by Jane Austen ★★★¾ (review)
94. The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva ★★★¾ (review)
95. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger ★★½ (review)
96. Daytripper by Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba ★★★½ (review)
97. ♫ Killing Floor by Lee Child ★★★½ (review)
98. ♫ Flying Too High : a Phryne Fisher Mystery by Kerry Greenwood ★★★½ (review)
99. Silas Marner by George Eliot ★★★★ (review)
100. ♫ An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin ★★★★⅓ (review)

June
101. Le Chat du Rabbin: La Bar-Mitsva (The Rabbi's Cat, Book 1) ★★★★⅓ (review)
102. ♫ Les âmes grises (By a Slow River) by Philippe Claudel ★★★★½ (review)
103. Monstres Malades by Emmanuelle Houdart ★★★★ (review)
104. Le Chat du Rabbin: Le Malka des Lions (The Rabbi's Cat, Book 2) ★★★★ (review)
105. The Haunted Playground by Shaun Tan ★★★½ (review)
106. In Search of Klingsor by Jorge Volpi ★★½ (review)
107. ♫ The Prestige by Christopher Priest ★★★⅞ (review)
108. Le Chat du Rabbin: L'Exode (The Rabbi's Cat, Book 3) ★★★★ (review)
109. ♫ Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant ★★★★½ (review)
110. ♫ The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey ★★★★ (review)
111. The Tiger : A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant ★★★★ (review)
112. ♫ The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell ★★★¾ (review)
113. The Deadly Doll by Janine Burke ★★★★ (review)
114. ♫ Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach, read by Samuel L. Jackson ★★★★½ (review)
115. La Conquête de Plassans / The Conquest of Plassans by Émile Zola ★★★★⅓ (review)
116. The Art of Asking Your Boss for a Raise by Georges Perec ★★★ (review)
117. ♫ Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller ★★★½ (review)
118. Trapped by James Moloney ★★½ (review)
119. L'apprentissage amoureux by Laetitia Bourget ★★★★⅓ (review)
120. ♫ The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (BBC Radio Collection) by Douglas Adams ★★★★★ (review)
121. Le Chat du Rabbin: Le Paradis terrestre (The Rabbi's Cat, Book 4) ★★★½ (review)

Books I'd like to read this year (the short list)

1. ✔ Prodigal Summer and/or The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
2. ✔ Polio: An American Story by David M. Oshinsky
3. ✔ Of Mice and Men and Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
4. ✔ The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
5. ✔ Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
6. ✔ Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
7. ✔ A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
8. ✔ The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
9. ✔ La Fortune des Rougons by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 1)
10. ♫ Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
11. ♫ Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
12. ✔ The Moment of Seeing by Stephanie Comer
13. ✔ The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
14. ✔ The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
15. ✔ The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
16. ✔ The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
17. ✔ Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
18. ✔ Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
19. ✔ A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
20. ✔ The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
21. ✔ The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
22. ✘ Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky
23. ✔ Samarcande by Amin Maalouf
24. ✔ La vie devant soi (The Life Before Us) by Romain Gary
25. ✔ Stupeurs et tremblements (Fear and Trembling) by Amélie Nothomb
26. ✔ L'enfant de sable (The Sand Child) by Tahar Ben Jelloun
27. ✔ The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
28. ✔ Crete by Barry Unsworth
29. ✔ Blindness by José Saramago
30. ✔ Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey
31. ✔ Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
32. ✔ The Difference Engine by William Gibson
33. ✔ The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
34. ✔ One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson
35. ✔ The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
36. ✔ The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
37. ✘ The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
38. ✔ La Curée by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 2)
39. ✘ Le Ventre de Paris by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 3)
40. ✘ La Conquête de Plassans by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 4)
41. ✘ La Faute de l'Abbé Mouret by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 5)
42. ✘ Son Excellence Eugène Rougon by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 6)
43. ✔ L'Assomoir by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 7)
44. ✘ Une Page d'Amour by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 8)
45. ✔ Nana by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 9)
46. ✔ Pot-Bouille by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 10)
47. ✔ Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
48. ✘ To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
49. ✘ Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans
50. ✘ Cleopatra : A Life by Stacy Schiff
51. ✔ The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
52. ✘ The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
53. ✔ The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman
54. ✔ L'élégance du hérisson by Muriel Barbery
55. ✔ La forme de l'eau by Andrea Camilleri
56. ✔ l'Excursion à Tindari by Andrea Camilleri
57. ✔ L'enfant de Noé by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
58. ✘ La reine Margot by Alexandre Dumas
59. ✔ Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
60. ✔ The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
61. ♫ ❉ A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen
62. ♫ An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
63. ♫ Animal Farm by George Orwell
64. ♫ Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
65. ♫ ❉ As You Like It by Shakespeare
66. ♫ Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières
67. ♫ Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo
68. ♫ Coraline by Neil Gaiman
69. ✔ American Gods by Neil Gaiman
70. ♫ ❉ Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
71. ♫ Dubliners by James Joyce
72. ♫ Gros-câlin by Romain Gary
73. ♫ Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
74. ♫ No Dominion by Charlie Huston (unfinished)
75. ♫ Passing by Nella Larsen
76. ♫ Tales Of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe
77. ♫ Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
78. ♫ The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde (unfinished)
79. ♫ The Blue Notebook by James Levine
80. ♫ ❉ The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
81. ♫ The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark
82. ♫ Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
83. ♫ Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
84. ♫ When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
85. ✭ The Tenant by Javier Cercas
86. ✭ Possession by A.S. Byatt
87. ✭ The War of the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa
88. ✭ Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker
89. ✭ There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
90. ✭ Queenpin by Megan Abbott
91. ✭ The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Traitor to the Nation by M. T. Anderson
92. ✭ The Cavalier of the Apocalypse by Susanne Alleyn
93. ✭ Howard's End is on the Landing by Susan Hill
94. ✭ The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace
95. ✭ The World of Gloria Vanderbilt by Wendy Goodman
96. ✭ Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 by Carol Squiers

✔ = off the shelf
✘ = to borrow, mooch, or purchase
✭ = recent acquisition
♫ = audiobook (off the shelf)
❉ = performance

(ongoing editing)

Looking forward to concentrating on YA and children's books in July too.

Wow Kerry, that was fast! I've got several books still on the June pile, with an ER book among them that I'll also have to fit in, hopefully before July for the reason you mention.

Hello, Ilana! Thank you for creating a new thread. It really was getting a little slow to load that last thread, but I was happy to wait a few seconds to read the goings-on in Ilana Land.

IlanaLand, that has a ring to it, don't you think?

#9 Lol! Try saying that ten times fast! :-)
But yeah, you're right, I kind of like it... a lot.

Well, today in IlanaLand, I spent HOURS changing the theme (i.e. template) of my blog and obsessed over so many details when in fact, to the average viewer, there is basically no difference at all! I think it's sleeker-looking and I like the fact that you might look at it and ask yourself "is it me, or did something change here?" Whatsmore, these days my blog is mostly fed from content that I post here and then think, huh, should have posted that on my blog. But it's all good.

I wrote a big fat total of ZERO reviews and have fallen woefully behind again. But I've also decided sometime this month that... so be it. I write them when, and only when the review muse whispers to me because otherwise I'm just terrified of putting two words together. So be it.

On a more... what I hope is a productive though passive note, I finally joined WWF, which I've been meaning to do for a long time, which also means more petition-signing, and maybe eventually more? Who knows. In the meantime, just getting the word around is a good thing too, right?



I love this guy, especially after having read The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant (which yes, I WILL review eventually).

Hi Ilana. I love the way you organize the beginning of your threads with planned reads versus what you've completed. I also loved your 11 in 11 category "Big and Scary: books over 400 pages." That's exactly how I feel about long books. I'm also glad I'm not the only one who's way behind on reviews and not worrying about it as much as I used to.

Hi Pat, the thing I'm learning about organizing, is that it usually takes me a very long time to devise a "system" that works for me, which usually involves, weeks, month, even years of trial and error and endless tinkering. After that, it's just a question of maintaining and replicating, which makes me feel both lazy and happy to cruise along for a while. Not sure what that says about me as a "creative" person, because seems like anything but really. :-)

*****

I hope nobody will think I'm proselytising here. I'm just a bit stumped as to what to use as my header image and was looking through the WWF wallpaper collection where they have gorgeous photographs of animals of course. This shot is so gorgeous, but not quite what I want in my top post, still, I just have to share:

I love the elephants but I always go toward felines. The tiger' expression (#10) is so adorable. Can't help it; I never met a feline I didn't like best. I have The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival on my TBR list. I hope to read it in July.
~Ellen

Ellen, every time I see an animal (or so it seems), I end up saying that THAT is my favourite animal. No contest, they're nearly all favourites of mine! :-)

That being said, I'll never forget being at the Sydney zoo in front of the lion enclosure and having a *meaningful encounter* with the lioness, who came right up to me and started chewing at grass and pretended I wasn't there, then looked up at me—we stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like ages. It was electrifying (she even let me take a bunch of photos, as you can see). I'm not overly fond of zoos and wish I could see those animals in the wild, though of course an encounter like that would not be very likely to happen with me coming out alive! lol


Lioness I photographed at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Click on the pic to view more photos from my visit that day.

***

I brought back just a few books from the library today:

♫ No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling (which I also got on Audible as an audio... couldn't resist, maybe I'll listen and read along like a big kid!)
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate diCamillo

Also forgot to mention the other day that I brought back Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones. There are more books by both these children's authors coming soon following my reservations. WHEN I'll have time to read all these children's/YA books, I'm not sure. I think July Children's & YA will have to run right through August for me, which wouldn't be a bad thing. Especially as the library lends out books for 6, as opposed to 3 weeks in the summer months...

I can't wait to see what you choose for the top image. I love those elephants but especially loved reading your lioness at Taronga Zoo story.

Oh Ilana, you caved and started a new thread. I was following your example and trying to hold out until July, but perhaps I will start my new thread tomorrow.

You have so many great reads planned for July - I don't know how you are going to choose which one to go with next! I re-read Treasure Island last year and it certainly stood the test of time. Of course Black Beauty is one of my all time favorites!

Ohhhh, I love the elephant picture! Wow, it's breathtaking. And the lion picture is beautiful, how come my pictures never look like that? :P

Y'know, my favorite animals always seem to be based on their behavior. My favorites always seem to be intelligent animals that I find fascinating not because they look a certain way, but because they act a certain way. Like elephants, ants, and apes of any kind.

Oddly, when I tell people I'm attracted to women for similar reasons they don't take me serious. *Shrugs and rolls eyes*

Hello Ilana! I really enjoy the wildlife pictures, but I've always been partial to sea life photography. My Dad has a great underwater camera so he is always posting really cool pictures from his scuba diving adventures.

Are we voting for your header photo??? If so, I vote for any animal of the four-footed and furry/hairy variety. Except for grown chimpanzees. Baby chimps are good, but I don't like adult chimps. They give me the creeps.

WOW! I love your photos. Thanks for brightening my day.

Beautiful pictures Ilana, any of them would make a wonderful header but my vote goes for your own lioness picture - I love it:)

Not feeling well at all today. Tossed and turned all night, then woke up with puffy eyes and feeling like a cold is looming... so kept trying to sleep till just a while ago, but it's no use.

The good news is I found my header image as I was looking through some of my favourite paintings. I cropped it for my purposes, so here is the painting as the artist intended it to be:



Isn't it just sublime? And those colours!

I shall be back to answer all your lovely messages once I've taken care of a few essentials!

Beautiful painting! He was so good with colour.

#15 That whole visit was special but the lioness was definitely one of the big highlights of the day.

#16 Judy, see, I didn't want to be responsible for starting a revolution, and I could see as the number of posts were creeping up that some might think I was being purposefully defiant. I knew I was in trouble when I went to bed worrying about whether or not I should break down and start a new thread. I honestly need to get a life. LOL! :-)

#17 Stephen, I completely get what you mean. One of the reasons I'm awed by animals so is because they have so much to teach us about life. No masks of any kind for them, they just are what they are, always true to their nature. And I believe you about your appreciation for women, no matter what others might think. ;-)

#18 I did see some great underwater photos which I considered posting. I'm not done pillaging the WWF site for all the great wallpaper they have. I done some scuba diving in my life and wished I could capture some of the magic I experienced there, but I didn't have the right equipment for it, and even if I had, I was so immersed in the experience (no pun intended), that I would probably have forgotten all about taking pictures anyway.

#19 Charlotte, I have a folder of animals pictures I collect with a "baby animal" sub-folder, and every time I look at those I turn to mush. What do you think of these two little guys? Don't they look like adorable little devils?



#20 All too happy to share the good stuff, Linda!

#21 Thank you calm. I really like that photo too, but I especially like that it somehow managed to capture a really special feeling for me. There was something so gentle about that lioness, I almost wanted to take her home with me. :-)

#22 So true Joe. There's something about the combination of strong colour and lively pattern contrasted with the nonchalant calm of the model's repose that has always appealed to me tremendously in this painting.

Hello Illana - love your new digs! And I adore the Matisse - so langourous!

Hi Prue, nice to see you in these parts. I must say, it's starting to feel quite homey to me here. I may not ever want to switch threads again! '-)

Oooh, I love the Matisse...I had a cheap print of that at one time....can't for the life of me remember what happened to it...

I've woken up with stuffy head and sore throat for the past two days...and yesterday my ears started to hurt (again)...I know my problem is sinus related....from cool evenings to warm muggy days...and back...isn't good....I feel like i can't "keep up" with the weather....waaa waaa waaa......

{{{{{{hug}}}}}} any way

;-}

Here I am back in Ilanaland. Yes, that definitely has a fine ring to it.

Love the tiger in post 10. Aren't they just about the most handsome animals on earth? Next to Coco and Lucky, of course. Love your lioness pic. I had a similar spiritual experience with an orangutan (sp?) a long time ago. I have a similar aversion to zoos, but I go with my grandchildren. They do have a purpose although I hate to see the animals pacing.

I also like your Matisse painting. My favorite of his is one I saw at the Portland (Maine) Art Museum years ago. At least I think it was a Matisse. I remember that it was of a female artist painting a male nude... and out the window you could see a sailboat on the sea. If I don't find a lit class I want to take this fall, I'll check out the art classes so I can be more knowledgable in that area. I feel like I'm getting a leg up on my art education here on LT thanks to you and some others posting pictures of famous (and not so famous) paintings.

I adore Matisse, his curvy females are so eye-catching.

#28 Hey Jude, sorry you haven't been well, but I'm glad you were able to stop over. I might be tempted to get a copy of that Matisse myself... of maybe make my own copy? Now that's an idea... ;-)

#29 I'm glad you said "spiritual" Donna, because that's just what it feels like to me, but for some reason I never quite dare use that word out loud when it comes to my experiences with animals. But that's absolutely it for me—a direct connection to life and spirit itself, what some call God, or The Universe or Buddha and so on. Gosh. That came out sounding really deep, didn't it? By the way, those two little cuties in #25 are orangutans too (I checked the spelling, you had it right).

#30 Yes, Matisse was a great one for celebrating the female form in such a joyful way.

*****

eta: ok, I finished a couple more books, so time to put the timer on and start knocking out some reviews!

well... so much for setting the timer to get all my reviews done, I just really got into this one, what can I say?



111. The Tiger : A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant ★★★★
(Read for TIOLI: Read a non-fiction book if you read mostly fiction (or vice-versa) & 11 in 11: Books Published Since 2009)

A Siberian tiger in the heart of the Primorye Territory, in Russia's far Eastern wilderness known as the Taiga, has done the unthinkable: it has attacked and devoured, nay, annihilated not one, but two men in succession, probably poachers, as they were out in the frigid and snow-bound woodlands, which generations of "European" Russians, and the native tribes before them, have relied upon to feed themselves and their families. Yuri Trush, the leader of the local outfit in charge of inspecting forest crimes, has been called in to investigate the killings and track the "cannibal" tiger, which is apparently on a mission of vengeance and more than likely to take more human lives.





Part mystery, part suspense story, part historical and socio-economic treatise, A True Story of Vengeance is also a fascinating discourse on nature conservation which explains how one of the best equipped predators in the world, the Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur, Altaic, Korean, North Chinese or Ussuri tiger, has become such an endangered species today.

As I pored over this book, I often had to remind myself that this was not a work of fiction, but a well researched document based on true facts and interviews with those who were directly involved in the ordeals described. Of greatest personal interest to me however, was just how fine the line between fact and myth really is when it comes to the Amur Tigers, who are quite literally revered as Gods by those who live alongside them. In addition to the lore surrounding these tigers, as Vaillant himself points out, the Russian notions of "truth" and "fact" are sketchy at best, and as I plodded along this fascinating true-life story, I amused myself with comparisons to The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht, a novel which I immensely enjoyed not long ago and came away feeling that in the end, both works probably had much more in common than one might at first suppose, an especially amusing thought to me as both works could not have taken more different approaches.


Photo: Joel Sartore / National Geographic

Whew! I'm exhausted getting caught up. Love the Matisse. Just wonderful. Great review of "The Tiger" and all the terrific accompanying photos. I'm crazy for tigers too!

Hey Mark, don't I know it, just staying abreast of your thread is practically a full-time job! ;-)
But it's friends like you that keep me coming back day after day. Today however, I've promised myself to do less visiting, and MORE reviewing. Wish me luck!

Ilana, the tiger photos quite literally made me gasp. Beautiful, beautiful creatures. One can easily see why they're revered as gods. Just magnificent.

Thanks for posting them!

I just added The Tiger to my TBR. I don't usually read nonfiction, but it sounds delightful to this cat lover.

#35 Hi Gail, I just felt I HAD to post some tiger pics along with my review, did a quick search on Google, and there they were, in all their splendour! Magnificent, aren't they? One of the photos (can't remember which now) is actually available as a wallpaper. I may just put it on my desktop, come to think of it!

#36 Jeanne, Mark (msf59) highly recommended this one, and I'm glad I followed up on the advice. I don't read much non-fiction either, though I keep meaning to since there's a wealth of information out there that's fascinating to read about. I'm a big cat lover too (in both senses!), so this one was a natural.

*****

Finished listening to Tropic of Cancer today, narrated by the excellent Campbell Scott. I think if it hadn't been for Scott's soft and agreeable voice lulling me through it, I might have given up somewhere after the twelfth "c*nt" and the sixth "fart" had been uttered. The former word by the way, is the one used to describe just about all women. Lovely. At first, I thought all the bleakness was almost funny. Miller sure took himself seriously when he was writing that one. But I can see why it's considered such a brilliant novel. Just... whew, one really has to be in the right headspace for it and willing to put up with plenty of crassness. I feel dirty all over now, the kind of dirt that no amount of showering will take away. Yuck.

On a more fun note, I started listening to the original BBC radio programme of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase. I'd listened to it some 20 years ago when they ran the series on student radio and thought it was hilarious. When I read the book, I thought it was good, but it paled in comparison to the original radio performance.

Gotta get back to my reviews now...

By the by, here's a little bit of self-promo: if ever you happen to read one of my reviews and like it, by all means don't be shy to go to the main page and hit this little guy: . Along with getting comments on my thread, seeing my reviews on the "hot" reviews spot really makes my day! :-)

Henry Miller..i don't want to cop-out....but i think his works are brilliant...and, I was kicked out of the WOMEN'S MOVEMENT...Antioch College 1971...for saying such

and for actually reading Last Exit to Brooklyn

!!!!!!!

112. ♫ The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell ★★★¾
(Group Read, also read for TIOLI: Name starting with the letter 'Z' in the title and 11 in 11: New To Me Authors)

I had no idea what to expect from this novel, the first David Mitchell I've read so far. I'd heard quite a bit about Cloud Atlas from other LT reviewers and knew that the author had taken a novel approach which offered plenty of mental stimulation and unusual twists. Since I participated in a group read, I saw several comments on the discussion thread to the effect of "so far, it's reading like straight historical fiction, but I bet you Mitchell's got something up his sleeve." I didn't pay too much attention, but I couldn't help waiting for some kind of big twist, a slight of hand which would suddenly transform the world which Mitchell so meticulously created for us.

The story begins in 1799 at the Dutch East Indies Company trading post Dejima, in the harbor of Nagasaki, Japan. The Japanese are't allowed to travel outside of Japan, and very few Europeans are tolerated on Japanese soil for fear the Europeans might 'contaminate' Japan with their culture and beliefs. The book is divided in three parts, in the first, we are introduced to a huge cast of characters, too many to remember in fact, who inhabit Dejima, from the sailors and officers to the surgeon Dr Mariner, and the ubiquitous Japanese interpreters (who sometimes double as spies) and of course, our hero, Jacob de Zoet. Although Jacob has promised a young woman back home in Holland that he will return as a rich man and marry her, our young man falls hopelessly in love with a young female student of doctor Mariner's, Orito, a midwife who's appearance is marred by a burn scar which covers one half of her face. Suddenly, shortly after her father dies, Orito is taken away to a mysterious abbey far away in the mountains, and things take a fascinating turn.

Parts of this book were tremendously enjoyable, with bits of prose which shone like little jewels. The second part of the story held me captive throughout, much like Orito and the other freakish nuns she was expected to share the next twenty years of her life with. Indeed, taken in separate parts, one could say that Mitchell created a most convincing picture, rich with detail, intriguing characters and mysterious motivations. But taken as a whole, the novel didn't quite hang together properly. More editing would probably have been a good idea for starters, but the third part of the novel told me that the author never quite found his focal point, other than Jacob de Zoet who in the end failed to hold one's interest for long. So, a work of genius? I wouldn't say so, no. But a very well written historical novel which is well worth discovering as long as expectations are kept in check.

Liked this review? Just click this little guy ;-)

#38 Jude, my comment did express how I feel about the novel tonight, but what I didn't mention is that parts of it really appealed to me. It's only the second Henry Miller book I've read, other than Quiet Days in Clichy, which I didn't enjoy all that much, as I recall. (eta: just went to see my review. One line: "For some reason the only thing I remember about this book is that Henry Miller was a horny toad. Go figure.")

Actually, scratch that, make that three books; I've also got The Colossus of Maroussi, which I read when I'd just returned from a 5-month stay in Crete and absolutely LOVED. I'll have to give that one another read some time, now I think of it.

I think Miller is a brilliant writer and thinker. I DEFINITELY see why the feminists would have been all riled up about him, I mean, if he felt any love for women at all, he certainly didn't *pollute* his pages with 'nobler' sentiments about them. Or anyone else for that matter. That being said, I have a lot of respect for him as a writer. If anything, he was writing his truth, and nothing but. Good for him, and for us who can appreciate him too, I guess. I'm just glad as heck I was never married to the man. Or even crossed him in the street, come to think of it. Eek!

A children's book that might be too scary for kids:



113. The Deadly Doll by Janine Burke ★★★★

I picked this little book up at the library since I'm trying to get my hands on every book that Shaun Tan, of The Arrival and The Lost Thing fame, has collaborated on. This one featured lovely little etchings by the artist, which were the perfect accompaniment to what I thought was a terrifying story: a package containing a large antique doll which has been in the family for over a hundred years arrives in the mail from France one day; our young heroine used to collect dolls, but at thirteen, she's much too old for them, so she plonks the unwelcome toy down on a chair and promptly forgets about it; but the doll has a will of her own, and won't be ignored.

I've always been really spooked by old china dolls, and this story expresses exactly the kind of horror that those unseeing shiny glass eyes have always inspired in me. Really scary. But as it's a children's/YA book, it has a happy ending of course. Or does it?



A children's book that reads like a children's book but should only be read by 'drinking age' big kids:



114. ♫ Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach, read by Samuel L. Jackson ★★★★½

It seems that this book has risen to best-seller status thanks to a viral online campaign which 'leaked' pdf images all over the internet prior to the book's release. But however it got to the top spot, I'd say it deserves to be there. One big caveat: if you're easily offended by swear words, I'd say you'd best stay away. But otherwise, this book about an exhausted parent reading a bedtime story to a child who will not go the f**k to sleep, and evidently has been refusing to go the f**k to sleep for a good while now, is hilarious. I'm not a parent, but I've done my share of babysitting and au pairing, and boy, could I relate. The free audio version, which I got via Audible, is narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, and though I may have missed the illustrations (which I hear are very lovely) Jackson's reading of this six-minute little tale is just priceless.

Hello Ilana, I haven't found the time yet to read all the posts and reviews on your new thread. I just want to say Hi and tell you that I finished Volpi's "Klingsor" book while in Switzerland. I didn't like it much either, but for different reasons, I guess. I liked the science and history bits best and could well have done without the suspense (was there any?) and the love stories. And the German translation was really bad, as is often the case when the original is Spanish. Anyway, another 1001 off the list! :-)

Some excellent reviews - as always - Ilana. I was very interested in what you thought of Henry Miller - my view is simply that he is a bit dated. I think that The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet will stay on my WL (because I have such a fascination with Japan, if no other reason). Great pictures of the cats!

Nice review of Jacob de Zoet. Consider yourself clicked!

The Deadly Doll sounds like a really scary book. I have a deep fear of those china dolls as well. My sister-in-law collects them and has them all over her house. I hate the way they stare, always seem to be looking right at me. I just know they get up to things when no one is watching. ** Shudder**

#42 Hi Nathalie. I'll look forward to reading your review of In search of Klingsor. I have to say I'm still scratching my head over what could have possibly prompted anyone to list this one among the 1001 books...

#43 Hi Prue. Henry Miller... I'm sure lots of ink has flowed on his behalf. You might be right about him being dates, but my view is that he can't be summed up all that simply. Love him or hate him (or somewhere in between), he still continues to fascinate! Re: cats, I'll have to read more books about animals, just so I can post more gorgeous pictures like that. :-)

#44 Hi Jim, thanks for the click buddy! ;-)

#45 Hi Judy! *Brrrr* your sister's place sounds like it would inspire plenty of nightmares after just a short visit. Have you ever slept over there? I wouldn't read this book to my own kids, if I had any, but it was fun spooking myself out a little bit before sleep while my furry kids were lying all about me making me feel safe and snug!

#47 - Oh yes, we've stayed there countless times. I carefully turn all dolls to the wall in the room we stay in. Then I make sure to put them back the right way, I would hate to hurt her feelings. Of course, turning the dolls to the wall just makes me wonder what's going on in their tiny little heads ...

#48 LMAO!!! I so know what you mean. I'm cracking up, but it's not funny really. How can anyone not see those things are pure evil? ;-)

Hi Ilana. Thumbs from me on your reviews today. I have The Tiger (got it after Mark recommended it) and am looking forward to getting to it. I loved those pictures of the Amur Tigers you posted.

I didn't get very far with The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet this month but I'll give it another try down the road. I'm still in a book funk unfortunately.

I think I'll give that book of Shaun Tan's a pass. I scare easily.

I haven't been on LT as much as usual lately but boy has your thread become POPULAR (and deservedly so). You seem to be perfecting your posts to an art form!

Hi Pat, I'm glad that you still come round and visit regardless of the book funk. Sometimes our attention needs to go to other places, but if you love doing something, like reading, it always goes back to what we love.

I experience frequent artistic blockages. I want to do more artwork, would love to do some every week, every day ideally, but my attention just goes elsewhere, like here on LT and the many books I'm currently invested in. I've learned to just go with the flow, whatever happens. It's just easier that way. "Resistance is futile" - where does that come from again?

You seem to be perfecting your posts to an art form!

Of course that comment made me smile (why, thank you!) But basically I just copy what I see others doing on LT and mix in a bit of my blogging experience... for better or worse. ;-)

You know you're always welcome here to talk about anything you like.

Such a busy bee over here! Loved your review of Thousand Autumns. Glad you could join us for the Group Read. I liked the book a bit more than you.
The Deadly Doll does sound creepy. I think dolls are scary too! I keep waiting for their little heads suddenly to spin around!
I'll have to check out Go the F**k to Sleep. Sounds like a hoot. I didn't realize it was so short.

Hi Mark! I've been reading comments over on the group read thread for Jacob de Zoet and know that you liked it quite a bit more. As I said before, it was hard to rate this book because some parts had me sit up and pay close attention, and others... not so much.

I wish I could join The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle group read you're heading in July. Especially as it was the first Murakami I read maybe a decade ago, and having read quite a few other novels by him, I do want to get back to it (I even purchased a used copy for that purpose). It's just a question of timing again, since I want to focus on Children's & YA books and maybe fit in an Orange book or two as well next month. So many books, so little time...

I tell ya, this kind of problem I can take any day! :-)

*****

My trip to the library today yielded the following 4 books:

♫ The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame - I also have an illustrated hardcover edition my mum gave me, so I just might listen to Martin Jarvis's narration as I read along...
eta: Gha!, looks like I got tricked into borrowing the abridged version. What a bummer. I do wish they'd make that more obvious *grumble grumble* and of course I'll just HAVE to listen to it anyway, just because it's Martin Jarvis. Don't you hate when they do that?!?

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo - heard so many good things about this one + it's been on the wishlist forever!
I Am the Great Horse by Katherine Roberts - recommended by Kerry (avatiakh), it's the third novel told from the horse's mouth (so to speak) I've collected for July. The other two are the classic Black Beauty by Anna Sewell and War Horse by Michael Morpurgo.
La faute de l'abbé Mouret / The Sin of Father Mouret by Émile Zola - next in line in the Rougon-Macquart series.

It looks like I've got more reviews to knock out—I read a bunch of short books today I had planned to read for TIOLI this month. At this rate, I'll have to hire someone to write my reviews for me! :-)

Hey, we'll team up on another Group Read, somewhere down the road!

Congrats on the 2 Hot Reviews! You are a bona fide Hottie!

Oops, looks like we cross-posted. What can I say Mark, great minds think alike! ;-)

eta: I'm sure I have you to thank among others for those hot reviews! Big thanks!

Oh, you've got a treat in store, Ilana, in Despereaux. It has a lot to say about story-telling, as well as being a most engaging story in and of itself.

I'm enjoying (and thumbing) your reviews.

Gail, I have so many books I've been dying to get to lined up for July, and Despereaux is definitely one of them. As I've said several times, I'll have to extend Children's & YA July into August as well to make sure I can fit in all those books I've neglected for too long! Perfect summer reading too of course.

Much thanks for the thumbs. Simple things like that make me so happy. :-)

Speaking of reviews, nose to the grindstone, and off I go again...

I read The Wind in the Willows for the first time a couple of years ago and really loved it. Hope you enjoy the horse books, if you like War Horse you should go on to Morpurgo's Private Peaceful. I have a massive pile of YA/children's books out from the library so can't wait for July to start.
I'll probably read Mitchell's Black Swan Green before I tackle the Thousand Autumns book.

115. The Conquest of Plassans (La Conquête de Plassans) by Émile Zola (Les Rougon-Macquart, book 4) ★★★★⅓

Zola's ability to spin stories that seem completely true to life and at the same time are filled wall-to-wall with drama, no matter what the subject at hand is, always amazes me. Book 4 of the Rougon-Macquart cycle introduces us to the cozy bourgeois household of François Mouret and his wife Marthe (née Rougon, she is also his first cousin) in Plassans. The couple have an almost idyllic life, wanting for nothing. François contentedly looks after his garden and lettuces, making the occasional business deals which keep the coffers well stocked, while Marthe looks after their three almost grown children, Octave, Serge (who plays a small part here but is the protagonist of the next book, The Sin of Father Mouret) and the mentally handicapped Désiree. When they decide to rent the upper floor of their house to an abbot, the severe Faujas and his mother, their whole world is transformed beyond recognition. Marthe, who until then has never been interested in religion becomes so fervently passionate about her renewed Catholic faith that the abbot starts fearing for her mental wellbeing, and for good reason. Soon enough, Faujas' sister and her husband, who are both a questionable lot, move into the house as well, and they all joyfully and quite horribly abuse Marthe's exaggerated sense of generosity, while Faujas turns a blind eye, intent as he is on bigger plans of his own. While at first he is treated with disdain and suspicion, he means to put the whole of Plassans in his pocket by first ingratiating himself to those who can help him land in a position of power and ultimately devising sinister political schemes.

I have no interest whatsoever in politics, which do play a large part in this novel, but this hardly mattered. The evolution of the family and their home life, from a quietly contended and orderly nucleus to an insane den of vice, religious paroxysm and murderous passions—which end up literally tearing the house itself apart—had me enthralled until the spectacular ending. Recommended? I would say so, yes.

Liked this review? Just click this little guy ;-)

Kerry, I'll have to keep my eye out for Private Peaceful, but I AM trying to read books off the shelf, since I've accumulated so many since joining the 75ers, in large part because of you, I might add! I'm stoked for July too, so many books I can't wait to read!

Ok. I gave in and reserved Private Peaceful at the library just now. Sheesh. I sure am a pushover that way. :-P

Black Swan Green is on my wishlist and so is Cloud Atlas, but I'll look forward to your comments on the former, which I might read next too sometime in the indeterminate future...

eta: this is what I've got playing right now... Gnossiennes by Erik Satie. I can never get enough of this album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLFVGwGQcB0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHEpuj96bCg

116. The Art of Asking Your Boss for a Raise (L'art et la manière d'aborder son chef de service pour lui demander un augmentation) by Georges Perec ★★★
(Read for TIOLI: Low Books and 11 in 11: En Français)

A funny little book recommended by Darryl (kidzdoc) in which Perec set out to write an "unreadable" circuitous text which is free of punctuation and based on a flow chart that describes the almost insurmountable challenge that an employee faces when attempting to ask for a raise from his superior. Perec attempts to present every possibility demonstrated in the flow chart: You go to see your boss, Mr. X in his office. Is he there? No. You stop by the PA, Miss Y's desk for a chat. Is she in a good mood? No. Too bad, you walk around the office for a while and try again. Is Mr. X There this time? No. You try Miss Y again: is she in a good mood now? Yes. Good, you chat with her for a bit until Mr. X arrives. Does he invite you into his office? No. He tells you to come back later. Only later, he might be felled by an attack of measles, and you'll have to attempt the circuit one more time when he's recovered. This time trying to overcome the possibility of your boss suffering from food poisoning, sending you to another irrelevant department, or maybe not one but two of Mr. X's daughters having caught the measles, with risk of contamination, and so on. The book is only 100 pages long, and what makes it amusing is the repetition of the same actions over and over again, into which Perec introduces tiny variations for great comic effect. I liked it a lot, though I made the mistake of putting it down about halfway through and when I picked it up again on a different day and in a different mood, I must say I couldn't help but ask myself why I was even bothering. Recommended if you're into experimental and quirky. If you're curious, the interactive flow chart is right here: http://www.theartofaskingyourbossforaraise.com

Liked this review? Just click this little guy ;-)

Hi Ilana,
I've been away for a couple of days (work....) and you have been reading!!!

I love the pictures of the tigers -- but I'm a feline lover through and through. All felines, all the time. As soon as I finish Fun House I'm going to read The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival (I hope I can make it fit into a TILOI challenge).

As others have said, I love the Matisse. Nice choice.

#59 I am going nuts trying to find the name of the first book in this series...or doesn't it matter? Your review was wonderfully enticing!

63: Haha, Prue dear...ummm, you do realize the series is posted right there on the book's page, right? The first one is apparently called The Fortune of the Rougons?

#63 - Oh doh! Oh double doh! I never realised that if you clicked on the...never mind. Hang me by the heels and call me stoopid!

Ha, no no, trust me, it seems to be very common for people to overlook that. I see a lot of people asking 'what are the other books in the series' and 'what's the next book in the series' and all that, without realizing it's listed right there. :P

Ape & Prue - Okay, I just learned something, too. Thank you. I'm pretty compulsive about reading books in a series in order, even when folks say you can effectively read them in any order.

#62 Ellen, I guess you're right, I have been doing a bit of reading, haven't I? I can't say I'm displeased about it, though I should really start making room for my art projects, which I've been woefully neglecting in favour of my bookish pursuits. What's a girl to do when so many hobbies beckon??

I hope you enjoy The Tiger and... if you can't fit into a TIOLI challenge, just create your own, that's what I always do! ;-)

#63 Prue, I find that series link really useful and I always make sure to use it when looking up books because I like to start in publication order whenever possible. I've read several of Zola's Rougon-Macquart books on their own and they are perfectly enjoyable that way. Reading the whole 20-book series is a bit of an entreprise, but I decided after close to 30 years of brief flirts with his works that I wanted to read them all in order to get a better appreciation for this huge project he undertook, and so far I must say it has only increased my appreciation for each individual work.

#64-66 Stephen, I'm not sure at what point I found that feature, but it's SO useful. Sometimes I can spend hours looking for some tiny thing that is really obvious, so don't be shy to point me in the right direction whenever needed too. xx

#67 I like reading them in order whenever there is some sort of buildup; a recurring character we get to know, or series of events and so on, but otherwise I'm just as happy not to do so. Recently I read Josephine Tey's The Franchise Affair, and though it too is part of a series, the Allan Grant character was so minor in the story (so much so that I kept wondering when he'd show up, when he already HAD) that it didn't make one bit of difference.

The Deadly Doll reminds me of an episode of The X-Files!!...and I want a copy...

Go the Fuck to Sleep is so dear to my heart....and I never had children...but Samuel l Jackson could read the Phone Book and i would "swoon"

;-}

The basis of the story of The Deadly Doll has been *done* in various mediums many times over, I'm sure. It just taps into a fear that, while it obviously shared by everyone, is nonetheless rather ubiquitous no doubt. Believe it or not, I didn't watch the X-Files when it was being aired. If I remember correctly, I was a design student than and had no time for TV. Or anything else, mind you.

Samuel l Jackson could read the Phone Book and i would "swoon"

Tell me about it! The phone book, maybe, but not anything in my case. I immediately looked up on audible what other audiobooks he might have narrated and was excited when a whole bunch of hits (over 40) came up, only to realize that nearly all the other ones were in The Bible Experience series, which I'm sorry, but just isn't my cuppa.

The only author title that interested me was Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales which are read by several other narrators as well, and which I have already (though it reminds me I should get around to listening to it!)

Nuts. I went a bit nuts. Over a book of course. Ever since Kerry (avatiakh) posted the following video on her thread, and reminded me how much I love illustrator Benjamin Lacombe's work, I've been obsessed with the pop-up, yes*, but, also with another recent project of his; his version of Snow White, which so far only exists in the original edition as Blanche Neige. I think I obsessed over the latter more for the very simple reason that it was *hard to get* as not available on the local Amazon site, and instead of looking further into other merchants, like an idiot, I went and ordered it on Amazon.fr (France) since the price came out to the same as that of the other vendors. Well it came in today and I got hit with duty charges on top of everything. Argh. But no matter. The book is gorgeous to behold, large, and extremely well printed on beautiful quality paper. I'll be posting about it and showing plenty of visuals when I review it, but in the meantime, here's the cover image just to give you an idea:



* now that I've reminded myself of the pop-up again, which has been sitting in my Amazon cart ever since that damn video, I'll have to go and buy it. After all, my birthday is coming up very soon, so I should double treat myself, right?

Don't get me started on Pop-Ups

I own Jabberwocky and The Pop-up Book of Nightmares

sorry..nothing en Francais....

;-}

Nothing more cheerful in the world than a Pop-Up! J'adore!

#72 Jude, Jabberwocky sounds amazing though I think The Pop-up Book of Nightmares would just induce... more nightmares. *gulp*

#73 You guys aren't helping me save money, that's for sure. But it's a gorgeous book isn't it? Maybe I should start by looking at this here book I just got before rushing to buy another one. Sounds reasonable, right? :-)

Mea culpa, there's nothing more enticing than a beautifully made book. There are some interesting websites dedicated to popups, I had to research it once and found it really interesting, most of the paper engineering was/is done in Ecuador.

Kerry, I'm actually so grateful that you've pointed me towards so many amazing books already, and I love you for it. If ever I sound like I'm complaining, it is only in jest, believe me. And also maybe because my bank account is hurting a little bit. ;-)

As for pop-up books, DO share you links if you've kept them. I would never have known about Ecuador if you hadn't told me about it. I'm surprised they're not made in China, like everything else these days.

And by the way, did YOU end up getting Il était une fois? I'm chomping at the bit now... keep wanting to pop over to my Amazon tab that's already open and waiting for me to put that order through...

No, I didn't get any of the French popup books, I was able to contain myself... this time! Don't forget that I've been collecting for some years so do have a few popups though I do love that one....
I get so many recommendations from people here on LT that my head is almost ready to blow, but am always happy to see others get so much pleasure from YA and children's books.

Popups: I was surprised that I found the column I wrote, though not as many links as I remember, I haven't checked if they all work:

http://robertsabuda.com

The POP-UP World of Ann Montanaro - an exhibition of books from her collection by Rutgers University
http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/libs/scua/montanar/p-ex.htm
Mark Hiner is a UK paper engineer who has published several popup books and on his site you’ll see the development of a book through its various drafts.
http://www.markhiner.co.uk
The history of the popup and moveable books and some of the artists from the past and their books are showcased here:
http://www.library.unt.edu/rarebooks/exhibits/popup/

Travel with the popup lady to Ibarra, Ecuador which is the home of intricate popup book production. Her diverse site features the world’s largest popup book as well as links to articles on the history of the moveable book.
http://www.popuplady.com/
http://www.popuplady.com/art02-triptomecca.shtml

Finally, an interview on the making of Maurice Sendak’s Mommy? can be viewed on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhk-pd0Mm7g

Wow, Kerry, you've really spoiled me! I just had a quick look-see through the links and can't wait to go back and have a closer look.

I thought The royal family pop-up book was definitely bizarre and The Beatles Musical Pop-Up looks like it's right up my alley. I also love the historical examples from the 19th century. Hours of fun! Many thanks for all that info. Have you seen the Maurice Sendak book with thine own eyes?

*****

Some mail came in today, which is a very exciting and unusual event these days, not only because I rarely receive mail, but mostly because we've been having a mail strike here in Canada for a while now. I got The Blind Contessa's New Machine in the softcover version, which has just come out, and if possible, has an even more beautiful cover than that of the hardback copy, though of course that's highly debatable:

  
(left: hardcover, right: softcover versions)

Nice cover! I like them both. That's a great book.

Hi Joe! You're right, they're both great. I just happen to love butterflies and that border treatment that reminds me of fine lace. Don't know if I'll be able to fit it in this month, but I look forward to it.

I look forward to hearing what you think of it when it fits your schedule.

#81 Joe, since I've given myself the mission to review every book I read this year, you'll be sure to hear about it. I see it was among your favourites in 2010, and I get the feeling I'm going to like it too.

*****

Yesterday, I went to see The Tree of Life at the cinema with my dad. I found it was a gorgeous movie, both visually and in it's intention, and the approach to the storytelling, which is described as impressionistic, was really interesting, but the whole display of a cosmic connection, while it made the story that much more meaningful, was too heavyhanded. Can't say I really connected emotionally, probably because the "typical 50s childhood" is so removed from anything I've ever known, as my parents did all they could to get as far as possible from that mentality when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s. But there is such a universal message here that of course it did speak to me and I have to say much of the gorgeous cinematography remains with me: it's visual poetry in motion.

There was a Future Shop store in the mall we were at and I had mentioned I wanted to get a new TV, so we went to have a look (I've never shopped for a TV in my life). The one I had is perfectly fine, but it's a 20 year-old Sony box TV, which wasn't compatible with new technology. So I thought I'd just go see what was available, ask a few questions, and come back some other time, but next thing I knew, my dad offered to buy me one as my birthday gift (which is coming soon). I was a bit shocked at the huge expense for him. I was literally just going to strongly hint at the pop-up book I've been coveting. Anyway, we got a 32" LED Samsung model, which when I was at the store I thought looked HUGE. I'm glad about the LED thing, and my dad happily sat around keeping me company in my living room while I set up the whole thing with my cable box and new DVD which I insisted on purchasing myself. I was so excited yesterday, was like a kid on Christmas day. But then, I got up this morning and it looked so SMALL!!! Now I'm wondering if I should just not say anything and go and upgrade it to a larger model... or is that totally unreasonable? I welcome feedback on this.

Anyway, I blab, and meanwhile I wanted to do the book meme I've seen on Donna and Stasia's threads. Another post coming up!

Hello Ilana - I have read mixed reviews of your beautifully-covered book - I'm going to watch out for your review. Must confess I almost bought it JUST for the cover...it is gloriously tempting.

Hmmm, TVs... I suppose they would seem to look bigger in the store, when you are looking at them from a foot away, huh? *Shrug* Nice of your father to do that though. :)

Bonjour Ilana! Just stopping by to wish you a Happy Canada Day.

Hi Ilana- I enjoyed your thoughts on "The Tree of Life". I'm a big fan of Terrence Malick. This film seems to have a mixed reaction. I hope I can try to see it at the theater, before its to late.
Congrats on the new TV. Yah!

#83 Prue, the reviews I paid attention to were very encouraging. The story sounds like something that will appeal to me and to be perfectly honest, the cover kind of closed the deal for me.

#84 Stephen, my dad likes spoiling me whenever he can. And yes, I guess when the screen is sitting on a shelf at eye-level, it gives a quite different impression size-wise.

#84 Hi Judy, thank! Hope you've been having a lovely day too!

#85 Mark, "Tree of Life" is one of those movies that are definitely worth watching on the big screen. I hope you're share your reaction to it when you do see it.

I just sampled quickly to see what "Game of Thrones" looks like on the new TV ini HD and... WOW! It's a while new experience. Now I probably WILL watch all the episodes all over again. :-)

I just figured out how to watch DVD with my new setup (looks like there's no getting around using 3 remote controls, *groan*.

Now I'm about to set up my Apple TV to enable me to watch movies from my computer on the big screen, which was one of my prime motivators for the acquisition to begin with!

Hello Ilana - our area switched off analogue a few months back so we were kind of forced into getting a new tv for my mother , here. She loves the big screen but cannot work the new remote at all - so my days are now punctuated additionally by changing channels for her throughout the day to catch her favourites...Every now and then she tries to do it herself - with some weird results. I spent 20 minutes going through the manual to remove subtitles from the screen one day. lol.

#88 LOL. My dad is proud to call himself a luddite, so I can fully understand. I'm not a tech wiz by any means, but it doesn't take me to long to figure things out once I've read the manual and played around a bit. And of course, there's a always google when I can't seem to get around a problem. The aforementioned "skills" allowed me to have my whole new setup working just fine by yesterday. Can't wait to actually watch a movie so I can lay back and enjoy for a while!

I've been meaning to do this meme ever since I saw it on Donna's thread. I can't believe how long it took me to fill out! I was just trying to be as precise as possible, I guess...

Favorite childhood book? The Little Prince was, and remains a favourite.

What are you reading right now? Slowly making my way through A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin for ER, listening to Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. About to start on another book as well, which I'll choose after I'm done here.

Bad book habit? Reading into the small hours of the morning.

Do you have an e-reader? Not yet. Have no need for one as not doing any travelling right now, but an iPad is not out of the question eventually.

Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once? I seem to like having several going at any one time so I can quickly travel from one world to another.

Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? Couldn't say. I started blogging many years ago at a time in my life when I was getting practically no reading done. Now that I spend so much time reading and on LT, I don't seem to blog as much.

Least favorite book you read this year (so far)? That would have to be Invisible River by Helena McEwen, and Early Reviewer YA books that reminded me of the time I had all four molars surgically removed and the pain that ensued.

Favorite book you’ve read this year? That's a tough one to answer. So far, I've awarded 5 stars to no less than 7 books... so I'm going to say The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht for Adult Contemporary novels, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman for YA novels, and The Arrival by Shaun Tan for Graphic Novels.

How often do you read out of your comfort zone? I'm always willing to explore, but I try to stay away from depressing books.

What is your reading comfort zone? Classics, Children's & YA, Crime Fiction & Mysteries, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Graphic Novels. Did I forget anything?

Can you read on the bus? I did when I had to, but I try avoiding taking buses whenever I can. If I must, I listen to audiobooks.

Favorite place to read? In bed late at night, when all is quiet.

What is your policy on book lending? Only to people I know will give them back in immaculate shape, unless it's a book I don't mind losing.

Do you ever dog-ear books? I did in a former life when I didn't know better, but NEVER now.

Do you ever write in the margins of your books? Long ago as a student, but never, no.

What is your favorite language to read in? English and French, probably in that order.

What makes you love a book? A beautiful story, fascinating characters, wonderful prose, vivid imagery, a sense of being in a whole new place, however odd, that somehow still feels familiar. All of the above, or separately, or none. Sometimes, there's no explaining what makes me love a book.

What will inspire you to recommend a book? If I thought it was a great read, I'll absolutely recommend. I'll sometimes recommend books I didn't like all that much if I think they have merit, when I think others with different tastes might enjoy them.

Favorite genre? Fiction. Can't be more specific because just about anything goes.

Genre you rarely read (but wish you did)? Non-fiction. There are so many fascinating books on fascinating topics. It's just a habit to get into I suppose.

Favorite biography? Another genre I rarely read, and probably should make an effort to investigate more often. I'm a big fan of Audrey Hepburn though, so I'll say Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit by her son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer.

Have you ever read a self-help book? Yes, quite a few, but I forget all the good advice as soon as I've put them down, so what's the point? Besides, it's all just common sense.

Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? It's a tossup between The Arrival and The Tiger's Wife. One made me want to draw, the other made me want to write.

Favorite reading snack? I rarely snack when I read, don't want to get the pages dirty!

How often do you agree with critics about a book? Hard to say, sometimes yes, sometimes no.

How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I don't usually mind, it's just my opinion after all. But it's more difficult when I know the book or the author is widely admired, as I found out this year when I read my first two Jane Austen books.

If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose? Russian and German.

Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? I've read many books that have intimidated me. These are usually multi award-winning books (especially books by Novel laureates), which I either fail to appreciate or worse, can't understand. The best examples I can think of right now are The Black Book by Orhan Pamuk and Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel, both of which I had to abandon.

Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin? Among the Nobel Prize authors on my TBR: Light in August and The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner, The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass, Snow Country & Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata, Blindness by Jose Saramago (the latter because I know it's rather depressing), anything by J. M. Coetzee.

Favorite Poet? I don't read much poetry, but so far, Charles Baudelaire.

Favorite fictional character? Nana from the eponymous book by Émile Zola

Favorite fictional villain? Bel Ami from the eponymous book by Guy de Maupassant

Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation? Easy reading like crime fiction and mysteries, maybe even (dare I say it?)... chick lit, but if I do, then I have to counter-balance it with a great classic set in the location I'm going to, or some great literary contemporary fiction.

The longest I’ve gone without reading. While I was studying design into my mid-30s when I was climbing the career ladder, I probably didn't read more than a handful of books in any given year, though it's hard to say how long the periods between books could be, since I have very little memory of those times.

Name a book that you could/would not finish. The one and only book by Marc Levy I tried to read, which I thought was pure garbage. The Corrections and The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin, both of which spoke of serious dysfunction in a way I found too depressing to go on.

What distracts you easily when you’re reading? Music, lots of noise, like neighbours partying, racing thoughts.

Favorite film adaptation of a novel? Memoirs of a Geisha and Breakfast at Tiffany (though I know many disagree about that one).

Most disappointing film adaptation? Captain Corelli's Mandolin. I'm not a fan of whatshisname who they cast as the romantic lead. Ugh!

The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time? Probably more than I would readily admit to.

How often do you skim a book before reading it? Sometimes when I'm in the used book shop. Otherwise, I buy most of my books online, so not often.

Do you like to keep your books organized? Yes, but it's a challenge because I never have enough shelving space.

Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? I keep only those I know I'll want to read again. The others I'm glad to give away, trade or sell.

Are there any books you’ve been avoiding? Anything by J. M. Coetzee

Name a book that made you angry. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb is the first that comes to mind. I got nearly to the end but it made me so upset, I SLAMMED it into the trash can (eta: have never thrown a book a way before or since). Also, more recently, Pride & Prejudice... when I got to the part about Lydia running away and all the fuss that was being made about the family's reputation. It just felt much too close to home. But I threw it at the wall and it bounced back right at me, so I kept on reading and things got better.

A book you didn’t expect to like but did? The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maughm, an old copy of which was given to me by my father eons ago, and which I let perish on my shelves. When I finally picked it up, I was amazed that I'd deprived myself for so long.

A book that you expected to like but didn’t? The Eyre Affair and The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde. It seems that author does nothing for me, though I wish I did enjoy him.

Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading? Fun, easy to read literary fiction; Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winnifred Watson, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon and The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga come to mind. Also most mysteries, graphic novels, and art books.

Enjoyed your Q&A, Ilana - may I tentatively suggest that Kawabata is actuually fairly easy going? Don't be intimidated by Snow Country -it's quite lovely.

Thank you Prue, I'm glad for your suggestion. I've actually got both the two books by Kawabata I mentioned in a single edition, which I will move up the TBR because of your comment.

*****

I got up much earlier than my usual this morning, because I have a date with my good new friend L, who I met in one of my art classes and happens to be 93 years old. She has the most wonderfully wrinkled face, and when I asked her whether I could draw her, she said "of course!" and also said she'd like to draw me as well. So this morning, I'm going over for brunch and then, if we feel so inspired, we might do some sketching. I also asked her if she minded me taking photo portraits of her and she said she didn't see what the interest was (of course she'd say that) but that would be ok with her too. She just called me a few minutes ago to tell me "not to kill myself" trying to get to her place too early (she knows I am NOT a morning person), "you'll get here when you get here", she said. Anyway, I should be getting ready, but I'll still have a quick look around the threads to get my fill.

Morning Ilana- I enjoyed reading your quiz! So you hurled She's Come Undone into a trash can? So I take it you didn't like it? LOL! I loved that book too.
Enjoy your brunch and the rest of your day.

Hope you are having/had a nice day today, Ilana. :)

Ooh, i like that meme..it's not "silly" like some I've seen (oy, I'm almost rhyming)

Regarding TVs...i'm considering getting an HDTV (mine is an analog magnavox from 2003...purchased in 2005)...but the size issue for the new fangled ones has me confuzzled...i think a 32" would be good for my room size/viewing distance...but, i'm trying to find a good price and the LED Samsung is a contender...

Too hot here, despite a thunderstorm earlier.....my ears don't hurt but my eyes keep wanting to close......nappp napppp...

;-}

#93 Mark, She's Come Undone had nothing, not a single thing in it that was enjoyable to me. Just. Couldn't. Stand. It. But I'm confused, when you say "I loved that book too", do you mean you did or you didn't??

#94 It's a good day so far Stephen, thanks for you kind note. Too darn hot out, but at least I'm staying cool indoors.

#95 Jude, I thought this meme had interesting questions too, which is why I picked it up. I'll probably post it on my blog too. You know... to help spread the meme all the more.

I was passing by Future Shop earlier, and it was so damn hot walking the short distance to my place from my friend L's that I decided to stop over and look what size they had after 32". It jumps to 40", which is really huge for me, and for the same model, LED Samsung, etc, It was literally DOUBLE the price. Yikes! So I decided I'm extremely pleased with the one I have, thank you very much.

Happy napping darlin'!

*****

I had a great time with my friend L today. Brunch was lovely, I helped her out with a minor computer thing, then we sketched each other's portraits. Fun! She's off travelling for most of the summer, so it was nice to get to spend a good slice of time with her.

Ok, no thread hopping for me today, I'm joining the read-a-thon now to try to give myself a bit of a leg up on all the reading I want to do in July. Off I go.

Loved your Q&A, Ilana. Glad to find someone else disappointed by The Eyre Affair (I just didn't get it) but I'm sorry you didn't like She's Come Undone. Lamb's later book, This Much I Know is True, is one of my all-time favorites. He so accurately captures the experience of having a sibling with schizophrenia. A bit depressing though, so there is that.

The White Tiger is sitting on my TBR shelf. After your comments, I need to get to it, after I do the zillion books I've signed up for in this month's TIOLI.... lol

I'm way behind on the threads Ilana. I'm simply stopping by to wave hello and to see what you are reading.

All the best to you,

*trying not to register at amazon.fr to order Blanche Neige*
What a beautiful book! I had a look at the amazon pictures, and I really feel tempted to get it, but... better not. At least not now. Maybe some time when I have more money to spend and then I'll order the very cheap Rougon-Macquart books along with it.

My heart melted when I read the story about your Dad buying the TV. Dads forever spoiling their daughters... My Dad also insisted on buying my new TV when I moved to Italy.
(And when it was delivered my mother was sitting for hours with the TV guy who set up the programs and explained the functionalities to her - we had analogue, digital and satellite programs then - and when I came home from work my mother just said "It's kind of complicated, but here's the remote control", and I had to find out for myself).

Sounds like you had a great day with your new friend!

And now I am going to read your meme.

#97 Good morning Ellen, Jasper Fforde writes the kinds of books that I feel should appeal to me, but I get through a few chapters with difficulty because I just don't get it either. It made me upset because 'where's my sense of humour', but that's one thing that can't be forced. As you point out, both our TBR's for this month are wayyyy overloaded, so it's not like we don't have anything else to read! :-)

#98 Hi Linda, it's nice to have you just stop by, sending hugs your way.

#99 I understand exactly what you're going through with Blanche Neige Nathalie. I went through that for the past several months, or whenever it was that Kerry posted that video initially. Now I'm going through the same with the pop-up book, Il était une fois. I honestly thought I'd send my dad strong hints about that book as a great birthday present for him to get me. Him buying me such an expensive gift as a HDTV has extra poignancy for me, because he has such very humble means, but he insists on spoiling me once in a while. I know it means a lot to him to be able to do that at all, so it makes me extra grateful, but also have unavoidable guilt.

I had just a little bit of trouble setting up my whole new TV system, but figured it out just fine in the end, with a bit of phone help from the cable company. I'm so proud to have figured it all out almost all by myself, and now I can finally watch all those movies I had bought on sale on iTunes on a decent sized screen!

Morning Ilana- You have been an early riser lately! Usually don't see you around here until later in the pm. Yes, I'm a fan of She's Come Undone and like Ellen, I liked This Much I Know is True even more.

Loved those little guys way back at #25. They were so cute!
I, too, am in the market for a TV. My old 1994 RCA big screen croaked last Monday. And that presents me with a huge problem (literally) - how to get the corpse out of the house and disposed of. Wish I'd thought of this when I bought it. In the meantime, I am living a life without any television but what I find online. Weird. If I were nine I would be frantic over it - there were several time periods when we did not have a TV - either for economic reasons or because I was being punished for non-performance in school. At this stage it isn't so bad, but I know I won't be able to go forever without a replacement. Too bad I can't just dismember the corpse and dispose of it piecemeal, but that won't work. That picture tube weighs a ton and a half.

Oh my, that book - The Deadly Doll - gives me the creeps!!! DO NOT LIKE DOLLS - or clowns or marionettes or puppets. Ick. Still - I may want to scare the crap out of myself in the future, so I will be putting it on the GFW for when that day comes.

Glad you had a good time with your friend, Ilana. She sounds like a very interesting woman.

I finished listening to the audio of Black Beauty, a classic by Anna Sewell. I learned some interesting things about this book from the Children's/YA July thread, which I'll share on my upcoming review. I'm glad I started with this book for my trilogy of stories told from a horse's point of view.

I'm off to a much overdue visit to the family doctor this morning. I've had a lump in my underarm for years now, which several doctors have told me is only a cyst and nothing to worry about. But it's been hurting more than usual lately and making me a little nervous, so I'm going to demand (as opposed to ask) to set up a meeting with a surgeon so I can have it removed once and for all, and that way I'll have peace of mind. I'll probably feel better about wearing anything sleeveless too afterwards, though I know it'll be many months before I can see a specialist any kind of procedure can be scheduled.

I'll be brining the audio of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis with me as there's usually plenty of waiting time to fill in at the waiting room, since my doctor likes to take her time with each of her patients, something I always feel grateful about when my turn comes around.

#101 Hi Mark, missed your reply as I was busily posting my latest comment. I know this new schedule is unusual for me. I've had several appointments in the morning lately, which are helping me be a bit more conventional in my waking schedule. I wish I could become a morning person, and in fact, I DO wake up around 5 or 6 in the morning most days, but since that comes after just 2-3 hours of sleep (lights out around 2-3 in the morning usually...), I don't usually stay up. Maybe if I did so for about a week, I'd finally manage to switch over...

As for Wally Lamb, I'm afraid it's just never going to happen for me. But that's ok, I'm sure he's not hurting as he's got plenty of great fans like Ellen and yourself!

#102 Ha! I managed to make you like orangutans! Granted, they're just babies, but still!

I have the same problem with the "TV corpse". My old box TV weighs a ton and a half too! I was thinking of keeping it for my bedroom because it still works just fine, but one, it's wayyyy too bulky for my small room and secondly, I never watch TV or movies in bed, and don't particularly want to start doing so. So I think I might list it for really cheap on one of those free sites like Kijiji so that someone else can have the privilege of paying me to cart it away! I did that once with a huge piece of furniture (and I do mean huge and VERY heavy), and it worked out just great as everyone was happy with the transaction.

My new friend L is really great. She's a great friend to have, and she'd be my ideal granny too, so interesting, active and inspiring. She's 3 years younger than my maternal granny would have been, and I asked her in jest if she'd agree to adopt me as a surrogate granddaughter since I so much miss having grandparents, and she said it wasn't out of the question! LOL. :-)

Hey Ilana! Love the things you share about your life - your 'elderly' friend sounds so lively - imagine going off travelling at 93! Here in my country town there is a place that recycles TVs - I think it is a workshop run by people with disabiolities - so we just took ours there. I did the opposite from you, and bought my mother a new flatscreen when they switched off analogue in our area earlier this year. She just cannot manage the new remote though, so I have to get up and change the channels for her several times a day so she can get her fabourite shows. Even if I am on a work teleconference, she will ram the office door with her walker until I get up to change it! Feisty old girl, my mum!

Ilana...I'm glad you are going to the doctor to get that lump checked!

Please keep me posted.

#105 Feisty mum indeed! :-)

#106 Linda, I will PM you right away, thanks for your concern.

*****

I'm just a little bit more than halfway through The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and it's fun, but I can't say I'm loving it either. The whole "son of Adam" and "daughter of Eve" thing puts me off a little, though I couldn't begin to say why as I don't know myself.

117. ♫ Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller ★★★½
Narrated by Scott Campbell
(Read for TIOLI: even number of letters & 11 in 11: The Classics)

It's a good thing I'd read some Henry Miller and already knew what a horny toad he was before attacking this novel, so the general crudeness, irreverence and cynicism didn't exactly come as a shock. I do not know whether I could have appreciated this book had I read it at another time. It is bleak. It oozes sweat and blood and s**t. It forces us to face things we'd probably rather put aside, ignore, pass by without looking back. That Tropic of Cancer was banned and was the cause for an obscenity trial when it was originally published in the United States in 1961 is hardly surprising. Aside from all that, I was amused with Miller's description of his first years in Paris as a struggling writer so poor, he never knew how he'd come by his next meal, yet somehow always had a little bit of change to have a go with whatever prostitute was at hand. Is it an autobiography? Not exactly. It it fiction? Sometimes. It is a stream of consciousness set free of any possible inhibition. It sometimes veers toward the big philosophical questions of man and the world we live in. Of more interest to me were the stories and anecdotes that 'he', or the writer who narrates the story, has experienced with various people he has come across. A few friends. Various employers. Countless prostitutes. Several generous hosts. There is nothing comforting to be found here. Women, which are often mentioned, are systematically referred to as c*nts. Our writer seems to have nothing but contempt for his friends and benefactors. But there is truth. Unvarnished, unadulterated, often very ugly, but absolute and complete candour of the kind that, even by today's standards shakes us out of any kind of complacency. One of my favourite parts of the book comes at the very beginning, when he gives us a general idea about what kind of experience we, the readers, are in for:

"It is now the fall of my second year in Paris. I was sent here for a reason I have not yet been able to fathom. I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive. A year ago, six months ago, I thought that I was an artist. I no longer think about it. I am. Everything that was literature has fallen from me. There are no more books to be written, thank God. This then, this is not a book. This is libel, slander, defamation of character. This is not a book in the ordinary sense of the word. No, this is a prolonged insult. A gob of spit in the face of art. A kick in the pants to God, man, destiny, time, love, beauty. What you will. I am going to sing for you, a little off key perhaps, but I will sing. I will sing while you croak. I will dance over your dirty corpse.*

There were times when I found Miller's conceit absolutely hilarious. There were times when I couldn't wait for him to move on to the next thing, or maybe do so myself. But I must say that what got me through it all was Campbell Scott's excellent narration. He is impassive, neutral, with a gentle voice that helps smooth over some of the harshness. This was a most welcome quality in the parts where the filth of the places, people, faces, language, seemed to latch onto me too. I couldn't say I exactly loved this book, but I certainly see why it's considered such an important work of literature. Recommended? Yes. But you've been given fair warning.

* This excerpt transcribed from the audiobook version and likely contains many inaccuracies, especially in the punctuation.

Liked this review? Just click this little guy ;-)

Hi Ilana- Good review of Tropic of Cancer. You earned a Thumb. I read this, probably 10 years ago and was quite impressed. I've wanted to get back and read more of his work.
Hope your day went well!

Well now I am all in a quandry! I had previously no real interest in reading Tropic of Cancer but your review is intriguing...hmmmm...I have put it on my BD Wishlist, but, you know, that doesn't mean I HAVE to get...I will see how the spirit moves me down the line.....thanks Ilana (I think!)

Children's/YA for the (tom)boys:



118. Trapped by James Moloney ★★½

Our young hero has just moved to a new town and is itching to try out his skateboard in a big storm pipe that seems perfect for skateboarding. As he's about to enter the huge cement tunnel, some local boys come to warn him off, telling him that there was a terrible accident the previous year and that two boys were badly hurt. But of course, our young man can't resist the call of the wild. Did curiosity kill the skateboarder?

Another book I borrowed from the library in my quest to get my hands on every book that Shaun Tan of The Arrival and The Lost Thing fame, has worked on. A handful more great etchings by him and the story was fine, but I've never been a fan of skateboarding, actually find it stupidly reckless, so can't say this story really spoke to me.



Children's/YA for the boys and girls, though probably mostly for girls:



119. L'apprentissage amoureux by Laetitia Bourget ★★★★⅓

Wonderful illustrations help relate this short story about "an education on love" which begins (approximate and shortened translation from French) "Once upon a time in a country far far away, a handsome prince met the princess of his dreams. After many difficult travails, the prince got his princess, they lived happily ever after and had many children."

"And what then?"


We find out the prince and the princess had the run of the palace, could listen to stories till late at night, then sleep in all morning and eat sweets as much they wanted to, and so on. But what follows is a series amusing 'real life' situations our young royals might have come across in the course of their idyllic relationship. Here are a few examples:




But what happened when there was only one ice cream cone left?




or when they couldn't agree on the names of their future children?




How did the prince remain charming when he snored at night? And how did the princess stay sublime when she got pimples all over her face?




and how did the princess manage not to feel abandoned when the prince travelled far away to kill the demons?



This book is sadly only available in French at present, but the illustrations alone are well worth the detour. In the meantime, you can view them in a larger format by clicking on the images here, then clicking on the image a second time when you are on the Flickr page. My thanks to Kerry (avatiakh) for pointing out this fantastically imaginative and talented illustrator to me.

#109 Thanks for the thumb buddy. I know it's a little bit (a lot?) crass of me to actually spell it out and outright ASK people to thumb my reviews, but the fact is I just don't get as many visitors as some of you people in the 'popular clique', so just trying to even out the odds a little. *Heh heh* ;-)

#110 "thanks (I think)" is a pretty well normal reaction Prue. This is probably true for all books, but in this case I'd say of great importance, to pick it up when you feel that in your face, no punches pulled, man at his worst macho stance is something you might be in the mood for. Amazon is right when they say "Still pretty rough going for even our jaded sensibilities". But most of the stories in there are absolutely priceless. And the man sure has a way with language "c**nts" and all (though that word did make me bristle the more it came up over and over again).

*****

Today I received my most recent ER win in the mail: Pearl of China by Anchee Min. It's about Pearl S. Buck, so I'll have to actually FINALLY read The Good Earth, which has been sitting on my TBR for years now. That'll be on the reading list for August.

Also got the following kid's books from the library:
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (recommended by Whisper1)
The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo (also recommended by Whisper1)
When You Reach Me ("borrowed" from msf59's library)

and also the most definitely non-kids graphic novel Sweet Tooth: Out of the Woods (also rec'd by msf59)

Excellent review of Tropic of Cancer, I guess I will give it a try sometime, and yeah, clicked the little guy.

Morning Ilana, I thumbed your review of Tropic of Cancer. I have both "Cancer" and "Capricorn" on my shelves, almost unread, for about 20 years now. So far I could never get over the first few pages, and though I still don't feel like reading them right now, I am now hoping there will be a time in my live when I can appreciate them.

L'apprentissage amoureux is another book I'll try to ignore... or maybe I'll just have a quick look at amazon.fr... just looking doesn't hurt, or does it?
15,20 EUR and only two left... they know how to give you a buying panic!
But no, I'll have a look at the childrens book section of my library, maybe they have some nice Italian books with beautiful illustrations as well and for free.

I hope your doctor's appointment went well and you won't have to wait that long for the surgery.

Excellent review of Tropic of Cancer, Ilana! I need to make room to read this sometime this summer.

Ilana- I hope you enjoy When You Reach Me. It's a very good YA. I'm not sure Sweet Tooth will be in your niche, but I hope it works for you.

Thanks for reading ToC for us - now I feel I don't have to as I know what it's about. My mother used to have a copy of it when I was a child, but somehow I never picked it up. I think I remember the cover art as being off-putting and so I was never tempted to read it.
Love the illustrations in Book #119.

What a good review of Tropic of Cancer,Ilana! I've never read it, but now feel I understand what it's about much better, and why people continue to read it. Thumb from me.

#113 Hi Piyush, hope you'll let me know what you thought about it when you get to it. And thanks for the click! :-)

#114 Nathalie, I might eventually be tempted to move on to Tropic of Capricorn myself. Especially since I believe there is an audio version of it narrated by Scott Campbell again. I found he was really helpful in making some of the more revolting parts more palatable somehow. That being said though, I'm tempted to get a print copy of ToC to read at my own pace sometimes, because no matter what, Miller truly is a great writer, and his use of language makes for great prose.

I had a look at Amazon.ca for L'apprentissage amoureux just after I'd finished reading it, as I was tempted to get it for myself. It was around the same price as the one on Amazon.fr. Finally I decided not to get it, since there are so many other books I want and I can't just keep buying books I find at the library, since that would defy the whole purpose of borrowing them to begin with, wouldn't it? lol. I'm sure you'll find interesting and well illustrated books in Italian as well. And if not, you know where to get them!

#115 Thanks Darryl! I definitely got something out of this book and I'm sure you will find plenty to keep you interested there to. Or any case, I hope you do.

#116 The description for When You Reach Me certainly held my interest, and the fact that it's a Newbery Medal winner is also a good calling card. Not sure at all about Sweet Tooth on the other hand, as you say, but there's only one way to find out. Worse comes to worse, I won't like it. End of story. ;-)

#117 Charlotte, don't mention it, I'm happy to read books so you don't have to. LOL. At least then you can focus on those books you really want to read. I've seen all kinds of cover art for ToC, and yes, some of it is less than appealing, but I have to say I rather like the one I posted along with my review and wish I could find a new print copy of it with that cover, in fact.

#118 Hi Joe, I'm sure different people will interpret what their experience of the book was differently, but I tried to give as balanced a picture of it as I could, no matter how subjectively. Thanks for the thumb!

Well, I just abandoned The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe today three quarters of the way through. I had the audiobook narrated by Michael York, and I don't know if it was his particular style that bugged me or what, but I couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters, and even though I had just one hour left to go (which is easily filled when doing much-needed tidying up around the house) it just seemed like too much of a long slog to go through for me. Couldn't be bothered to finish it, even though it counted toward TIOLI, which is saying a lot. I'm sorry about this, because I know this is a very popular book, but there you have it.

On the other hand, I just took advantage of the latest Audible sale and got a couple of books that had been on my wishlist for quite some time: Watership Down and The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn, the former read by a narrator I already know and like (Ralph Cosham) and the latter performed by Elija Wood, which seems very promising. Both are eligible for TIOLI in more than one category and are re-reads from childhood.




Did anybody else see the movie version of Watership Down when it came out back in the 70s? I did and was deeply moved by it. Of course I fell in love with the bunnies and was traumatized by their plight, not to mention all the graphic violence, since I was at that time already an active animal lover: my mum and I were vegetarian and I regularly brought home any kind of critter in need I happened to come across, which my mum was never very pleased about, but could hardly discourage.

I loved The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the other Narnia books when I was a kid, but they just may not work as well with adults as other YA titles. I just watched the movie of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, one of my favorites from that series, and it had its moments, but it didn't grab me. I may be at the wrong age now for these, and maybe that's what happened with you, Ilana.

I didn't see the movie version of Watership Down, although I liked the book when I read it way back when. I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn last year, and that one I definitely enjoyed. Plenty there for an adult to appreciate.

I think you hit it on the nail Joe. While I was listening to TLtWatW, I kept thinking that there was probably a point in my life when I would have been wrapped up in that story. I just started worrying that maybe I *wasn't in touch with my inner child* if I couldn't appreciate it now, but your comment reminds me that I really shouldn't overthink it. Either it works, or it doesn't, right? I'm sure I'll find plenty of YA fiction that appeals to me. For instance, I look forward to finishing the Dark Materials trilogy with The Amber Spyglass. Just now about to load Huckleberry Finn on my iPhone and go out for a walk with Coco.

The movie version of Watership Down was truly terrifying in some parts. Even the stills that I've seen on the internet give me the creeps. If you do a quick search for visuals of that title, you'll see what I mean.

I have to own up to being a Wally Lamb fan, too, Ilana, including She's Come Undone. Can't say as I've ever been angry enough at a book to throw it, but there have been a few that got passed off very quickly.

How did your portrait drawing session with your new friend go? Old people have such interesting faces with lots of character. At least that's what I tell myself when I look in the mirror. My gray hairs and wrinkles prove that I've lived a full life, right?

I love it when you share images from the books you're reading with us. Speaking of which, that's a winsome picture of the bunny in msg. 120. I'd like to reread Watership Down someday as it was such a long time ago that I read it. I haven't seen the movie either.

I'd be up for a group read of Watership Down if others are interested. It's been quite a while since I read it!

I read the Narnia books when I was in my early twenties and did not enjoy them. I thought the religious overtones were so heavy-handed that these detracted from the narrative aspects of the story. My son really enjoyed watching the BBC episodes and the first of the more recent movies.

I read Watership Down at about the same time and saw the movie a few years later. I remember being very impressed that the animators were able to depict the violence of the book in a way that was stark and powerful without being gratuitous. Definitely not for the very young or squeamish.

#123 Donna, that whole incident with She's Come Undone happened nearly 20 years ago, or shortly after it was published, so it's all a bit fuzzy in my memory. I do remember very much disliking the main character and getting upset about the unrelenting bleakness of the story, which I can't for the life of me remember now. I guess 'bleak' has never really worked for me, with a few rare exceptions.

The drawing session was fun. I wasn't happy with any of my sketches, save for one maybe which had some potential. My friend is very wrinkled all over and I find that just fascinating, because, as you say, it shows she's lived a full life. We drew each other and neither of us was happy with our own drawings, but I suggested we do it again another. I also took a bunch of portraits of her and might just work from photos since I tend to work very slowly.

#124 Jim, I was considering reading Watership Down some time this month, but then again, I'd be just as happy holding off so we can get a group together, if enough people show interest. How should we go about finding out about that?

#125 Jeanne, I know what you mean about the religious overtones. Actually, I'm saying that and I didn't even get to the crucifixion allusion with Aslan. I was just annoyed with the whole "Son of Adam" and "Daughter of Eve" thing. But beyond that, I just didn't find any of the characters interesting. And really, Michael York's reading annoyed me to no end.

Definitely not for the very young or squeamish.

You can say that again. I think I was 9 years old when I saw it, and probably had nightmares about it for a while. I don't think I'd be up for seeing it again today even, though I remember it was very well done with a beautiful illustration style and great animation (for the time).

Do you think you'd be up for joining in a group read of it, as Jim suggests?

I just noticed you had listed Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee as one of the books you disliked most. I read the first few pages of it and thought to myself that going on with it would just be a very long punishing experience, even though it's a relatively small book.

Ilana, I quite share your feelings re. "Narnia". I bought the whole collection some years ago, not knowing what to expect. I read the first two, got really bored during the second one after having been underwhelmed by the first and gave up early in book #3. And I doubt I would have liked them much better as a child. The idea of the parallel world, reachable through a hidden wardrobe in an old mansion is enchanting, but everything after that... not so much.

Watership Down... I remember the movie trailers, I was 8 or 9 then. The trailers were so sad (+ the music!) that I didn't go to see it. Bunnies were my favorite animals at that time. Some of my classmates went and almost cried their eyes out. Is it something I should read now? I'd also join a group read.

Huckleberry Finn: as a child it was a bit too much for me, though I liked Tom Sawyer. I read HF from end to end only 2 years ago and liked it a lot, though it is not exactly a favorite.

#125, #126 & #127 I have read the entire Narnia series a few years back and didn't think much of them either.

I should be able to finish Tom Sawyer by this weekend, till now I have liked what I read, Huckleberry Finn will come a bit later in the year.

I missed the whole C S Lewis boat as a child and not tempted to take it up now. Rabbits are such a destructive pest here that I don't think I shall be taking up WSD either!

Waving hello with great enthusiasm, though!

I'd join in on a group read of Watership Down - I love that book.

Looks like there's about 5 people already interested in a Watership Down group read. I'll put together a thread when I get a chance to breathe from work.

A Moveable Feast, the restored edition, is now available on Kindle and I just bought it. I don't know if I'll get to it in July (my mother just extended her stay at my place for another week), but I want to read it asap!!

#127 The idea of the parallel world, reachable through a hidden wardrobe in an old mansion is enchanting, but everything after that... not so much.

That's exactly how I felt about it Nathalie.

I thought I'd read Huckleberry Finn as a kid, but now I'm not so sure as I listen to the story, and yes, I agree it's a bit much for a young child, but then again I guess you get different things out of it at different ages. Elija Wood is excellent, and it adds a lot to the experience hearing the accent and different speech mannerisms. Maybe I should have started with a re-read of Tom Sawyer because I can't remember that story at all, but it's too late now as I'm up to chapter 11 of HF and enjoying it just fine as is.

I'm glad you'll be joining in for Watership Down. Not sure exactly when we're holding the group read... I guess August? I'll ask Jim about it.

#128 Piyush, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who wasn't thrilled with Narnia, but I have to ask why you even bothered to read the whole series if you weren't that impressed with the first couple of books?

#129 Sorry you won't be joining in for WD Prue, and mostly that rabbits represent a destructive force in your part of the world, so I understand your lack of enthusiasm for this book.

#130 Great, we'll be glad to have you calm!

#131 That's awesome Jim. Once the thread is up, I'll let people know about it on the Children's/YA threads.

#132 I saw you just added that book on my home page. Will look forward to your comments on it. I'm sorry to hear you won't be getting your own space back for a while longer however.

*****

I finished The Tale of Despereaux last night. It was a cute story, but I can't say I was bowled over by it either. Oh well. I'll be starting another book tonight, and will probably go with Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck, if only because it's due back to the library relatively soon. But we'll see. Lord knows I have plenty of options!

I would love to do a group read, Ilana. I will start trying to put my hands on a copy of WD now. I think we have one in a box...

As for Disgrace, your phrase 'punishing experience' is so very apt...jagged prose, contemptible characters. Brutalizing.

I've never read Watership Down. I love bunnies. I didn't see the movie either, and suspect it would be hard for me since I'm a total basket case when it comes to animals in pain (sobbed for 20 minutes before I could physically leave the theater when I saw "Gorillas in the Mist"; just about lost my mind watching Jeff Bridges ride the horse to death to save the girl in the 2010 version of "True Grit"; etc.).

Is the book full of graphic descriptions of bunnies in pain or distress?

(Considering the group read.....)

#135 You know, I was so young when I first read it that I don't remember it all that well. I remember as a child finding some scenes almost unbearable, but also that it was a great story.

Maybe someone else can answer Ellen's question better than me?

I loved Watership Downs both the book and the movie...remember the song, Bright Eyes. Anyway I can't commit to a group read but wish I could.

Ilana - I read Huckleberry Finn a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it though would never class it as a children's book. (touchstone - unbelievable that it links to a book by June Edwards).
So many interesting topics on your thread but I'll have to come back when I have more time.

Excellent review of The Tropic of Cancer...Thumbs up!

What a joy to see the incredible illustrations of book #119.

I so enjoy visiting here!

#137 I can't say I remember the song Kerry, but maybe if I heard it again it would be familiar to me. Too bad you can't join in the group read, but that's ok, I'm sure you've got plenty keeping you occupied.

I agree that Huck Finn is NOT for children, but more for the YA and adults readers. I enjoy if a lot in some part, and then other parts don't hold my interest much, but I'll try to persevere.

#138 Thanks for the thumb Linda!

As for the illustrations, I felt I couldn't NOT share them, especially as the book isn't available to English readers. But I believe it's mostly you who gave me the idea to accompany my reviews with visuals.

Glad you like coming over. I feel privileged that you do because I know you're one busy lady with plenty of people to visit. You are always more than welcome of course.

*****

I saw the following art test on Darryl's (kidzdoc) thread, and just had to try it out. Here are the results, which I think are surprisingly accurate in some ways, even though sometimes I didn't really like any of the choices given to select images from.

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Balanced, Secure, and Realistic.

Pastel drawing by Mary Cassatt (eta: this is NOT the painting that came with the test, but one I chose to replace it with instead)

Impressionism is a movement in French painting, sometimes called optical realism because of its almost scientific interest in the actual visual experience and effect of light and movement on appearance of objects. Impressionist paintings are balanced, use colored shadows, use pure color, broken brushstrokes, thick paint, and scenes from everyday life or nature.

People that like Impressionist paintings may not alway be what is deemed socially acceptable. They tend to move on their own path without always worrying that it may be offensive to others. They value friendships but because they also value honesty tend to have a few really good friends. They do not, however, like people that are rude and do not appreciate the ideas of others. They are secure enough in themselves that they can listen to the ideas of other people without it affecting their own final decisions. The world for them is not black and white but more in shades of grey and muted colors. They like things to be aestically pleasing, not stark and sharp. There are many ways to view things, and the impresssionist personality views the world from many different aspects. They enjoy life and try to keep a realistic viewpoint of things, but are not very open to new experiences. If they are content in their live they will be more than likely pleased to keep things just the way they are.

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

#133 It was the time of one of my summer vacations and I didn't have much else to read. The more relevant reason however, is my compulsion to finish anything I have undertaken and the compulsion extended to finishing any series I started. While, I have broken clear of that habit atleast, I still do not leave a book unfinished.

Taking the art test must have been worth it - if only for that gorgeous Mary Cassatt pastel.

I did that test some days ago and was declared "Traditional, Vibrant and Tasteful", with a painting of "Islamic Art" I didn't like at all, so I didn't post it. That pastel drawing is beautiful.

Yeah, I got the "Traditional, Vibrant and Tasteful" verdict too. Can't figure out how they figured that out; my choices were quite varied, although I did not choose anything from the cubist or abstract offerings. And a few times my choice was the lesser of three evils, which, I don't think was the right way to test. There ought to be a chance to pick 'none of the above' and still progress with the test. Does this make me cranky and difficult or just sore about being adjudged 'Traditional', i.e. dull?

I took the art test and got "Conscientious, Fulfilled, and Spiritual," along with Botticelli's Primavera. I love Renaissance art, although I don't know how the test figured that out, as I chose mostly abstract pieces. I don't usually like abstract art, but some of the choices were three ugly paintings and the abstract one had the best color scheme.

If 'my' painting had been one of three to chose from I wouldn't have chosen it. I often went for the abstract ones as well, and even the description says I like vibrant colors and geometric patterns. And then they give me a painting of 2 beige fantasy horses. I don't remember name and painter, and I am sure it's great and famous, but I don't like it.

#140 Piyush, did that compulsion to finish series spur you on to reading all books when the series had 10 or more volumes? And Narnia has, what? 7 of them? I can't even imagine myself reading so many books I don't especially like. I gave myself permission to not finish books a few years ago when I realized that I had an incredible amount of books that were "on hold", meaning that when I wasn't enjoying a book, I'd put it aside telling myself I'd get back to it eventually. When I realized I was just deluding myself, I decided to call a spade a spade. I've made a rule that I have to read at least 100 pages before quitting a book, because sometimes it takes a while get into certain books. But life is too short, and there are too many great books out there to force oneself to finish books one isn't enjoying, was my thinking. It's very liberating actually, you should try it sometime! ;-)

#141 Actually Prue, the painting that came with the test results didn't appeal to me in the least. Don't know who it was by, but it was some impressionist thing I thought was quite ugly. So I took matters into my own hands, did a quick search for Cassatt paintings, as she is one of my favourite impressionists, and inserted the one that you see to replace the other one. And voilà!

#142 & 145 Natalie, see my note to Prue above regarding the choice of painting. It was either replacing the image with one I liked, or not posting the results. Since I thought the description was quite apt in some ways, I chose the former option, because as you say, I wouldn't have chosen the image they accompanied the results with in one of 3 choices either. Did the "Traditional, Vibrant and Tasteful" descriptive text at least seem the least bit fitting to you?

#143 Charlotte, it's exactly as you say, many of my selections were a matter of choosing "the lesser of three evils" too. All the same, I was surprised with the results. I mean, I like impressionism, but wouldn't say it's my favourite art movement of all, so was surprised to find the description fitting in some ways. What about you? I don't know how they describe "Traditional, Vibrant and Tasteful"... In my case, although I'm realistic alright (in some ways at least), I would certainly not say I'm "balanced and secure", at least not emotionally, but in other ways I guess it's true.

#144 Something tells me the test might have a much more sophisticated algorithm than we might suspect. WE think it's going by our actual choices, when in fact it might be making much more subtle associations. No, I don't really think that, though I did entertain that thought for a minute or two, because I didn't choose that much impressionist art either, or so I thought, but I guess for me it was often the lesser of three evils.

*****New rules to be instated as of August September*****

- At least HALF my monthly planned reads must be off the shelf selections.
- For every book purchased, must read 2 books off the shelf.
- Max. of 2 book purchases per month.

I tried to re-organize things around my living room the past few of days, and I realized that books have now taken over every available surface. I don't really mind this since I find they have a decorative quality, but I also realized that at this rate, i.e. me borrowing and purchasing books at at least 5 times the rate at which I read them, this problem is only going to get worse.

Also, it's happened too often now that other LTers have mentioned books that had me thinking "oh, that sounds really good, I should read that" and realized I already HAD that particular book in my collection. In fact, ALL the books I have here (more than 400 "to read" selections), or most of them anyway, are books that I really look forward to. So what gives?

The first two rules are pretty realistic and I think I'll be able to manage them (well, maybe not so much the second one, and the first one will be a challenge too, come to think of it). The third rule... well... we'll see about that!

Oh, bless your heart, doll, for making rules....regarding Books! I think you might be able to follow them....sadly, I can't control the Book Addiction....but, I have a big house (neener neener!!!)....though floor space (for book cases) is shrinking...(Next Stop: the walls)....even upstairs!

Read The Narnia Books in college (no wise cracks, now!) and, while I enjoyed the story...the overbearing Catholicism of the thing gave me the hebejebees....since i left The Church when i was 19.....

;-}

#142..Natalie, You and I scored the same reading on the art test. I was surprised at my result as I don't particularly like Islamic art.

>146 Smiler69: It probably is more complex. Here is the text for people who like Renaissance paintings:

You are conscientious, fulfilled, and spiritual.

The Renaissance was a cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life. Beginning in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence affected literature, philosopy, religion, art, politics, science, and all other aspects of intellectual enquiry. Renaissance artists looked at the human aspect of life in their art. They did not reject religion but tended to look at it in it's purest form to create visions they thought depicted the ideals of religion. Painters of this time had their own style and created works based on morality, religion, and human nature. Many of the paintings depicted what they believed to be the corrupt nature of man.

People that like Renaissance paintings like things that are more challenging. They tend to have a high emotional stability. They also tend to be more concientious then average. They have a basic understanding of human nature and therefore are not easily surprised by anything that people may do. They enjoy life and enjoy living. They are very aware of their own mortality but do not dwell on the end but what they are doing in the present. They enjoy learning, but may tend to be a bit more closed minded to new ideas as they feel that the viewpoint they have has been well researched and considered. These people are more old fashioned and not quite as progressive. They enjoy the finer things in life like comfort, a good meal, and homelife. They tend to be more spiritual or religious by nature. They are open to new aesthetic experiences.

That's more or less me exactly, except I'm probably not much more conscientious than average.

Oh, bless your heart, doll, for making rules....regarding Books! I think you might be able to follow them....

Yes, well, if you go back and read what I wrote, you'll see that I don't really trust myself to actually follow them, but I guess it's the intention that counts. It's not so much that I mind the books accumulating so much as the fact that I already have so many great books that are being neglected because of the unending flow of newcomers. I think the first rule is the most realistic of the three, after that... not so much!

Re: shelf space: what else are walls for if not to build shelves on?? I'm waiting for a gf to help me build a new set of them, but it might be quite some time. I wish I were handy that way, because every single wall here would be filled with books from floor to ceiling!

Re: Narnia books, I'm trying to come up with a wise crack, but you'll have to help me out since I've never been to college.

#149 Linda, no I REALLY want to know the definition for "Traditional, Vibrant and Tasteful"!

#150 Thanks for sharing that. Until my early 20s, I'd say the Renaissance was probably my favourite period in art, so I wonder if that definition would apply to the person I was then? Would make sense, since we all change over time, right?

*****

Ok, so now that I have my ER book finished and out of the way (The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin), I'm itching to start up another book or two today, especially since I have little energy for anything else. But seeing as I'm about to fall so behind on my reviews that I might never catch up again, I guess that's where my attention should be focused right now. *Sigh*. All that reading sure is a lot of WORK! :-)

120. ♫ The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (BBC Radio Collection) by Douglas Adams ★★★★★

Please note: the point of this review is not to discuss the plot of THGttG, but rather to convert those who are diehard fans of the books and are not familiar with the radio show into devotees of the BBC radio series which first aired in 1978, since it, after all, was the basis for the books, and not the other way around. But if you're not familiar with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, read on to find out what all the fuss is about.

Skip this part if you are already familiar with THGttG since most of this content is lifted from Wikipedia:

In the [Primary Phase], Earthman Arthur Dent is about to have his house demolished to make way for a new road, but before work can start his friend Ford Prefect informs him that the world is going to be demolished by a Vogon constructor fleet "to make way for a hyperspace bypass" and that he, Ford, is in fact an alien writer for a book called "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Hitching a ride aboard the Vogon ship which has just destroyed Earth, the pair eventually find themselves aboard a stolen spaceship called The Heart of Gold. Onboard is Ford's two-headed semi-cousin and President of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox, a woman Dent once met at a party called Trisha MacMillan (who has styled herself "Trillian") and a depressed robot called Marvin. Beeblebrox is searching for the mythical planet of Magrathea and the answer to the "Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything". Dent and the others later find themselves at The Restaurant at the End of the Universe and are ultimately held captive aboard a Golgafrincham ship which is just about to crash-land on Prehistoric Earth.

Why the original radio version is zillions of times better than the book:

It's like comparing the experience between a mono radio show featuring a crappy banjo player with front and centre seats at a live symphony orchestra playing a concert hall. Well, sort of. THGttG was the first radio comedy show to be recorded in stereophonic sound and it was acted out by a full cast of professional actors, but what really sets this show apart is the sound effects which were completely innovative at the time. "One of Adams's stated goals was to be experimental in the use of sound. Being a fan of Pink Floyd and The Beatles (and especially the experimental concept albums both bands produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s), Adams wanted the programme to have the feel of a "rock album...to convey the idea that you actually were on a spaceship or an alien planet — that sense of a huge aural landscape".

Of course today, there is a quaint quality to those sound effects, but that is part of what adds to the overall charm of the experience. But best of all, though some kind of alchemical process, what might seem funny in the book, here actually SOUND absolutely hilarious. I first discovered this show in the late 80s when a local radio station aired the series, and must say that more than 20 years later, a reading of the book (which not surprisingly seemed awfully flat) it felt just as fresh, off the wall and yes, innovative as it did the first time around. Not convinced? Well you might want to give Vogon poetry a try, you just might like it.

If you thought this review didn't totally suck, just click this little guy and turn me into a superstar!

121. Le Chat du Rabbin: Le Paradis terrestre (The Rabbi's Cat, Book 4) ★★★½ (review coming soon)

Our cat spends time with the aging Malka of Lions, who is a living legend but is questioning the meaning of life. The whole, unvarnished truth: I had to do a quick google search to help me remember what the book was about. I enjoyed it when I read it, but completely forgot about it as soon as I finished it, to the point where I realized I'd forgotten to list it on my thread. This is by no means a reflection on the quality of the book itself, but probably more due to the fact that I've spent the better part of my life on existential questions, and lately would rather focus on other things. Like avoiding the big questions—which is more work than you might think!

122. Blanche Neige by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★★¾
(Read for TIOLI: Children's Fantasy & 11 in 11 #4: Visual Arts)

We all know the story of Snow White, but what makes this picture book truly exceptional is the originality and quality of Benjamin Lacombe's illustrations, most of which are full page colour images (sometimes double page), with some excellent pencil drawings as well. His style might seem at first glance to be geared toward children, but part of what makes Lacombe's work original is the macabre quality of his style which is sometimes seen in the concept of the image itself, but often worked in to the incredible detailing, which makes one want to spend a long time observing each illustration. Add to this the fact that this large book is very well printed on quality paper, and you have yourself a truly special experience. It is as yet not available in English, but I would still urge you to pick up a copy wherever possible. The only reason I did not award this book a full five stars is that I would have liked to see the story end on another big and beautiful full page colour treat, and was left wanting at the last page. Call me spoiled.

Here is a small preview:

Wow! What fantastic illustrations. I'm going to have dust off my French and find a copy of this.

Your THGTTG BBC audio review couldn't be more timely. I've got the primary and secondary phases for a car trip we're taking, and your review made my day in confirming how much fun that's going to be. Can't wait!

123. The Old Child (read in French as L'Enfant sans âge) by Jenny Erpenbeck ★★★½

A young girl is found standing in the street holding an empty bucket. She is very fat. Huge, in fact. She does not remember her name, or her age, or where she came from, or anything about her life. She is a blank slate. The authorities put her in a reform school after evaluating she must be around fourteen years old, and the girl is delighted to find herself in a world made up of rules and regulations. The author gives us some insights into her mind, and we know for instance that the girl is quite happy to be the last in class, to be thought of as stupid by the teachers, to be despised by the other inmates. To her, this is a comfort zone which also seems to be the path of least resistance. She has no aspirations whatsoever. In fact, the thing she would like most would be to be forgotten in this place and left there forever. But of course, things begin to change, and since they can't get much worse, things start getting better, though the girl doesn't question these changes, going along with the flow, until her body starts to break down.

This is a poignant story, very simply told, but fraught with meaning, something which is especially clear when the reader gets to the end. It is apparently a commentary on life in East Germany pre-unification, and the tight rules, controls and scrutiny under which it's citizens had to live. Beyond that, I felt like I was being a voyeur who was given the ability to look into the mind of one who has every interest in wanting to be and remain mediocre and be completely forgettable. I was of course spurned on, trying to understand why she makes those choices, and though we are given a resolution in the end, I found we were left with more questions than answers.

I discovered Erpenbeck recently though Natalie's (Deern) thread, when she reviewed Erpenbeck's more recent book, titled Visitation in the English translation. I decided to start with The Old Child simply because it was the first book which got her on the map and also because I wanted to have something to compare Visitation to. I'll be reading that one very soon.

I found an excellent review of The Old Child here.

#155 Joe, let me know what you think about the Secondary Phase. I don't think I'll listen the the whole series, but would like to get that one if only because the Primary and Secondary phases were recorded back to back and form a kind of cycle, from what I've gleaned online.

Nice review of The Old Child, Ilana; that definitely makes my wish list.

The illustrations in Blanche Neige are spectacular!

Hi Ilana- Wow, smoking on your reviews! I love the illustrations of Blanche Neige. This is only available in French? Boo!
Good luck with your rules! Reading books "off the shelf" is a big priority with me too! 400 books, huh? Double Wow! I have about 1/2 that and that's ridiculous!
I'll have to keep the BBC version of Hitchhikers in mind, for future use.

Did I mention before how much I like those Blanche Neige illustrations? Well, now I totally love them! I'm thinking about how fantastic a framed one (or two or three) would look in my little hovel. Where I'd put it (them) I have no idea, but that's not the point.
I wish I could tell you, Ilana, what exactly the quiz results said about me being so Traditional and Vibrant and Tasteful and all, but I don't recall what it was. Probably I was too bummed about being thought traditional. And Tasteful? Really? Doesn't sound like me. But it was a fun quiz just the same. I've rarely (never) met a quiz I didn't want to take.

Love the review of Blanche Neige and have to tell you that after waiting for several weeks as my library only has a couple of copies I've finally got my hands on The Secret Lives of Princesses. I've seen this several times in the Italian and Spanish editions (it was originally published in French) but was prompted to check for an English edition after seeing it in a Buenos Aires bookshop in May. Full of beautiful bold illustrations by Rebecca Dautremer, you might want to peek inside this one. Back in 2008 I lucked on a fantasy illustration in picturebooks exhibition in Siena, Italy and was introduced to a lot of interesting European illustrations, I have a feeling there was art from this book on display. I'm still kicking myself that I didn't buy the catalogue.

We have THGttG radio show audio and I should listen to it. My teenagers were mad keen on everything to do with the Hitchhiker's Guide for a long time.

#158 Thanks Darryl, glad I could contribute to your wishlist. :-)

#159 To be exact Mark, my "To Read" collection is currently at 466 books, 65 of which are audiobooks, would you believe it?!

#160 Charlotte, I found that the three words they used to describe me weren't convincing to me, but the actual description rang true. You should take the test again and pay closer attention to that part, then tell me what you think about it.

About the illustrations, I'm very happy to own the book so I can look at them whenever I'm so inclined, but I'm not sure I'd like having those images on my walls where they might fairly creep me out.

#161 I was so glad when you posted the video for Lacombe's Il était une fois because I'd completely forgotten about this artist. I believe I might have come across him at one point when I discovered StumbleUpon and spent hours every day looking through visual arts sites. There were several other interesting artists I discovered then, but silly me, I didn't take the time to bookmark them all, or if I did, I can find where those bookmarks have gone to. I did find Cyrano which I've reserved.

*****

Would you believe I went to donate a half dozen of brand new books at the library today and was told they can't accept donations anymore because they're out of space? This is especially sad since this particular library is quite poor compared to some of the others. In any case, they took this batch, but it looks like I'll have to find other ways of passing on those books I don't want to keep once I've read them.

124. ♫ Black Beauty by Anna Sewell ★★★½

Considering I've always been a lover of animals and badly wanted to ride horses as a little girl, I'm surprised that I hadn't gotten around to this book much earlier in life. Originally published in 1877, the story follows Black Beauty, so named by one of his owners, from his carefree youth as a colt in a farm while still under his mother's tutelage, and through the better part of his life, as he passes from one owner to the next with conditions often going from bad to worse to unbearable, notably when he is forced to (over)work as a cab horse in London. Black Beauty narrates his story in the first person, and while I enjoyed having the horse's point of view, I was annoyed by the extent of anthropomorphising, with our narrator seemingly able to understand human speech and reasoning, and have a wide range of all too human feelings too, which might be acceptable for a young reader, but not for this adult, though interestingly enough, it seems that Sewell did not write the novel for children. The story makes repeated allusions to the mistreatment of animals, and horses in particular, and seemed in parts overly moralistic, though as another LT member pointed out to me, it was the first work of fiction advocating the humane treatment of horses. According to wikipedia "[Sewell] said that her purpose in writing the novel was "to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses"—an influence she attributed to an essay on animals she read earlier by Horace Bushnell (1802–1876) entitled "Essay on Animals". Her sympathetic portrayal of the plight of working animals led to a vast outpouring of concern for animal welfare".

I have two other books lined up this month which are also told from a horse's point of view (War Horse by Michael Morpurgo and I Am the Great Horse by Katherine Roberts, and it seemed to me necessary to start off with this great classic which also happens to be one of the best-selling books of all time. Though I didn't love it, it is still recommended reading for animal and horse lovers.

125. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo ★★★½

A cute, Newbery Medal winning story about a tiny mouse with huge ears called Despereaux. He lives in a castle and discovers he is able to read when he runs into a fairy tale book quite by accident. He somehow meets Princess Pea and falls desperately in love with the girl, but ostracized by his peers and his own family for having shown himself and talked to humans, he is sent to perish in the dungeon with nothing but a bit of red string tied around his neck (why the string, I never found out really). Fighting against the odds, which are all stacked against him what with the dungeon which is impossible to get out of and is filled with psychotic rats who like nothing better than making people miserable and obliterating mice, he somehow manages to save the princess thanks to some soup and a needle, a spool of red thread that gets away, and a truly ugly girl with cauliflower ears whose greatest wish is to become a princess some day. I liked the story, but didn't love, as I thought I would, though couldn't explain why. But now, having written this quick review, I'm actually liking the story a whole lot more somehow, so may have to come back and revise my 3.25 score.

> 147 Cracked me up!! Love the "rules".

> 154. I took French in high school, not sure I could do this, but I love the illustrations so may see if I can find it (Seattle Public Library, you think?).

I love your thread, Ilana. I can't even come close to keeping up, but I enjoy checking in now and then.

ETA ---> OH - and j'adore the Cassatt painting! I'm a fan of Impressionism and she is one of my favorites. This portrait is stunning. Breathtaking, even.

Morning Ilana, I haven't found the time yet to read your reviews in detail, but Blanche Neige is now definitely a must-buy. But I'll wait with the order at amazon.fr, I am sure you'll add some more French recommendations to my shopping cart this month.

I am not even going to attempt to catch up to the 150+ posts that I am behind, Ilana :) You are just too popular!

I'm another one who is balanced, secure, and realistic. No surprises there!

>147 Smiler69:: I have been doing pretty well with my unwritten rule to read more of my own books. It helped that earlier this year I donated a boatload of books that I knew I would never read or reread. This took out the "overwhelming" part of the equation so that I could be "balanced" in my reading choices.

#165 147 Cracked me up!! Love the "rules".

What can I say? The intentions are there, but it's no use trying to delude myself either. :-P

I hope for your sake they have Blanche Neige at the public library. As you've seen here, it's worth the detour.

Mary Cassatt is one of my favourite impressionists too. I don't recall having seen that particular drawing of hers before. The colours alone grabbed me. I recently bought an art book with a good selection of her work. "Art Books in August" as a theme maybe?

I love having your visits and comments Ellen, though I don't expect anyone to keep up with me full time!

#166 Hullo Nathalie, nice to see you in these parts, as always. :-)

I am sure you'll add some more French recommendations to my shopping cart this month.

When I started reviewing French books here, I didn't think there would be much interest from other LTers, but it makes me happy that we can suggest titles to each other. You're the one who suggested Bel Ami to me after all, which turned out to be among my favourites this year.

#167 You are just too popular!

Look who's talking Stasia! Thanks for dropping by all the same. I'd better make my way to your thread before you start up a new one. Or is it too late already? ;-)

#168 Hi Donna! I feel blessed with you frequent visits lately, such a treat! :-)

I got rid of a bunch of books I didn't want to read a couple of years ago when I had a garage sale. So out of the 400+ books on my tbr, there are very few that don't appeal to me, though there are some I don't want to read right now. I joined the "Off the Shelf" group some time ago, but haven't spent any time. I wonder if that would be helpful? Not that I need to be spending MORE time on LT!

*****

I picked up The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes last night just before bed and ended up reading the whole thing in one shot. This children's book was heartily recommended by Linda (Whisper1), and I'm glad I followed up on her suggestion. I'll be reviewing it soon.

Yesterday I picked up 3 new books at the library:

Cart & Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones, a second book by this new to me author to read this month for Children's/YA July.
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, again, a 2nd book by another new to me author for out monthly theme. This one was strongly recommended by Kerry (avatiakh)
Les Contes Macabres by Edgar Allan Poe (translated Charles Baudelaire) & illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe. This one I almost purchased online sight unseen, but thought I'd have a look at first after all since it's $$$. Of course, it looks absolutely sublime and morbid too, il va sans dire.

#165 147 Cracked me up!! Love the "rules".

What can I say? The intentions are there, but it's no use trying to delude myself either. :-P

I hope for your sake they have Blanche Neige at the public library. As you've seen here, it's worth the detour.

Mary Cassatt is one of my favourite impressionists too. I don't recall having seen that particular drawing of hers before. The colours alone grabbed me. I recently bought an art book with a good selection of her work. "Art Books in August" as a theme maybe?

I love having your visits and comments Ellen, though I don't expect anyone to keep up with me full time!

#166 Hullo Nathalie, nice to see you in these parts, as always. :-)

I am sure you'll add some more French recommendations to my shopping cart this month.

When I started reviewing French books here, I didn't think there would be much interest from other LTers, but it makes me happy that we can suggest titles to each other. You're the one who suggested Bel Ami to me after all, which turned out to be among my favourites this year.

#167 You are just too popular!

Look who's talking Stasia! Thanks for dropping by all the same. I'd better make my way to your thread before you start up a new one. Or is it too late already? ;-)

#168 Hi Donna! I feel blessed with you frequent visits lately, such a treat! :-)

I got rid of a bunch of books I didn't want to read a couple of years ago when I had a garage sale. So out of the 400+ books on my tbr, there are very few that don't appeal to me, though there are some I don't want to read right now. I joined the "Off the Shelf" group some time ago, but haven't spent any time. I wonder if that would be helpful? Not that I need to be spending MORE time on LT!

*****

I picked up The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes last night just before bed and ended up reading the whole thing in one shot. This children's book was heartily recommended by Linda (Whisper1), and I'm glad I followed up on her suggestion. I'll be reviewing it soon.

Yesterday I picked up 3 new books at the library:

Cart & Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones, a second book by this new to me author to read this month for Children's/YA July.
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, again, a 2nd book by another new to me author for out monthly theme. This one was strongly recommended by Kerry (avatiakh)
Les Contes Macabres by Edgar Allan Poe, translated to French by Charles Baudelaire & illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe. This one I almost purchased online sight unseen, but thought I'd have a look at first after all since it's $$$. Of course, it looks absolutely sublime and morbid too, il va sans dire.

Stop mentioning the Lacombe books!!! I can't find them anywhere that doesn't charge an arm-and-a-leg!!! Stop, I say!! I want all of them, now!

Other than that, you are doing so well in the reading/reviewing...I, on the other hand, have hit a mini-funk (funkette?) and can barely stand to look at a printed page...I hope this is temporary..otherwise i'm sunk because i owe reviews .......oh, do i ever..

hugs, doll
J

aargh - there's another one, and it looks just as good! I fear I know where my combined Christmas and birthday money will be going in a few months.

#170 Stop, I say!! I want all of them, now!

*Heh heh* that's how I feel about his books too. I just consulted the library catalogue and see they have quite a few short children's books illustrated by him too. I'm not sure about those... I'll borrow a few to have a look of course, though I can't help but wonder if he still retains the wonderfully spooky vibe that makes me appreciate his images all the more.

A funkette (love that word!) is northing to worry about. And as for the reviews... you'll get to them when you get to them, not like anyone is holding a gun to your head, right? Go forth and be free like the wind!

But don't forget to come back to see what other books I post about to torture you. ;-)

#171 aargh - there's another one

the funny thing is when I wrote my reply to you above, I hadn't even considered Les contes macabres, so I promise you, my suggestions are (mostly) quite unconscious. This latest book really is quite expensive though.

*****

OH, OH, OH! Just did another quick search for other Lacombe books (sorry Jude, sorry Nathalie!) and found Le carnet rouge, which is the story of William Morris, he of the Art Nouveau movement, probably best known for his sublime wallpaper designs. Have just reserved it from the library, so I can decide whether I want to buy it once I've had a good look at it (all you guys who can't get these books so easily, sorry to be such a tease...)

eta: just went back to the library catalogue and reserved 6 more books illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe, since they are all small and fit into our Children's/YA theme. Apologies in advance.

Torture away, doll!

It feels so good.......(thank god there are no children present on this thread....*snort*)

I go forth, to seek Lacombe........I doubt that my Library System would have any...i could check, sure...but owning them would be much more pleasurable...

;-}

FYI - I started the group read thread for Watership Down. It's here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/120280

#163> Who narrated the edition of Black Beauty that you listened to? I know that the right narrator can make all the difference and with books like this that are no longer under copyright, *everyone* has their own edition.

There are 2 Benjamin Lacombe books at our library. Something called Cherry and Olive and a picture book called Lin Yi's lantern : a Moon Festival tale which he illustrated.

(thank god there are no children present on this thread....*snort*)

LOL! I'm glad you feel that way about it. Let me know what you find at the library, or what books get you to break down and finally purchase.

#175 That awesome Jim! I'll zip on over there in a minute or two.

#176 I got the version read by Simon Vance, who is one of my favourite narrators, so there was no problem there. No, it's just one of those books that I would probably have enjoyed more when I was a young girl, or if I had children of my own to read to. Happens.

I had seen those two Lacombe books on Amazon and see they have the second one at the library too, sounds quite wonderful. Can't wait to hear what you think about them!

#170: I love those pictures! Thanks for sharing them (even though I am drooling at the thought of owning such lovely things)

I ordered Cherry and Olive, one of the few Benjamin Lacombe books available inexpensively in the U.S. Can't wait!

#154 The illustrations are just too good!
#146 Yup, Narnia has 7 and I did read them all! But thats the longest series I have read, no 10+ books series for me yet. But as I said, I am almost cured of my obsession to finish a series (know for sure won't be reading any more Twilight books)

#170 You shouldn't thank me Stasia, I just put them there to make everybody drool. ;-)

#171 From what I've seen so far Joe, his books are definitely not cheap here either. Hope you enjoy Cherry and Olive.

#180 I'm not touching the Twilight series with a ten foot pole. No offence. I'm not that much into the vampire genre to begin with. Anne Rice did a great job decades ago, and the idea of a whole generation of teens just swimming in this vast ocean of vampire fiction is just a bit sickening to me.

#181 Ten foot is probably a safe enough distance and you would definitely be not offending me with that comment! The only thing I like about Twilight is the soundtrack for the movie, Neutron Star Collision - Muse.

Vampire fiction (also werewolf, zombie and other paranormal creatures) is not a genre I seek out though I've gotten caught by a few series. I read the first two Twilight books because they were SO popular I wanted to see what the fuss was about and...well, I didn't throw the second book across a room but I thought about it. I A good friend (whose recommendations are usually quite on for me) informs me that they improve about midway through book 3 so I might give the third a shot at some point...if I get more bored with the TBR list).

#180> I'm not morally opposed to long running series but my reading time is so much more limited now than it used to be that I lean toward standalones and shorter series. I'd love to read Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth...someday.

I'm ok with vampires and werewolves as long as romance is not the prime motivation in the novel. That said I don't seek them out. What amazed me about the Twilight series was how many adult women got completely swept up in the hype. I read them and that was about it. Up until a couple of years ago I read most of the popular YA books but since the paranormal and romance types overtook the genre I've tended to avoid most of them. I like the vampire books aimed at boys with more horror, humour and/or adventure attached. And my favourite is still Lonely Werewolf Girl.

Don't do it elfchild! Save yourself! Saaaaaaave yourself! They do not get better. It's just more of the same. Remember - there's hope for you. I, on the other hand, for the sake of friendship, am doomed to viewing whatever remains of the super-pukesome Twilight movies in addition to having 'had' to read all of those waste of paper, so-called books - also for the sake of friendship.

#185> ROFL...I have a long list of things I really want to read before I attempt the remaining 2 Twilight books and my tastes currently lean heavily toward middle grade fiction (particularly lower middle grade fiction that has the possibility of being read aloud to a little kids) rather than angst ridden teen/YA stuff. If I am lucky, they will have faded away before my daughter is old enough to want to read them. Please note that I am perfectly happy to read YA stuff that isn't full of teen angst. I have a really, really low tolerance for horror and so steer clear of the genre.

#182 Piyush, would you believe me if I told you I'd never heard Neutron Star Collision before? I just looked it up on YouTube (sought out the Twilight-free video) and you're right, it's an excellent song, thanks for bringing it to my attention.

#183 I've always had a bit of a renegade streak, which pretty well sealed the decision for me to NOT read or watch anything to do with Twilight precisely because there was/is so much hype around it. In some ways, I guess that keeps me out of the loop for many things, but I just refuse to let marketers decide what I'll spend my precious time on. When I can help it. I don't seek out those genres at all, but I'm always willing to make exceptions. For instance I'm a real sucker (pun not really intended, but ok) for the True Blood series, which I watch religiously whenever there's a new season (as there is now).

#184 Kerry, I think you've pointed out something that I hadn't made a conscious decision about, but I agree that the romance aspect of it is part of what makes so much of the teen paranormal literature unappealing to me. Romance is a genre I've never particularly favoured, and when it's served up with a big dose of teen mentality, well all I can say is, it usually makes my stomach churn. And by the way, no thanks to you, I've just had to add Lonely Werewolf Girl to my WL, and wouldn't you know it, they have it at the library too. Sheesh. (sounds amazing) ;-)

#185 Ok Charlotte, so now you have to explain what kind of good friend would force you to do yourself violence that way.

*****

Yes, well, in a whole different galaxy, I started The Wind in the Willows this afternoon. I knew it was a wonderful book, and I'm almost certain I read it as a child, but I'd forgotten just how charming and sweet in a not the least bit cloying kind of way it is. But I'm also awfully tempted by the Benjamin Lacombe Edgar Allan Poe book, which keeps staring at me from the corner of my coffee table, and which I think I'll start reading little by little too.

I feel like I'm being so wild and reckless when I've got a whole selection of books going at once. Sometimes I can have a lot of different books going and keep all the storylines straight, but I never know when they might start all blending into one another, so it's always a risky proposal. My therapist agrees with me that my wild and reckless ways with books is probably the sanest kind of addiction I've ever had! :-)

The thing is, Ilana, just that - they are good friends. Probably my only friends. I see them every day at work and what the heck - you do things for your friends. To be completely truthful, I did try to get out of it after the second book, but one of them said it got better in the third. It didn't. By book number four I was skimming. As for the movies, it's gotten to be a thing we do. I try not to groan or snicker too much so that they can enjoy the movie and I do try to find something complimentary to say. That part is pretty difficult to accomplish. Surely by next year I will have completed my 'hitch' in Twilight land and will then be free.

I loved The Wind in the Willows. I have a beautiful illustrated copy of that book. My mother and I read it together when I was in my teens. Undoubtedly we could have read it earlier, but for some reason we did not. I liked Mole the best.

Mr. Toad is fun, too. They did Wind in the Willows as a musical here, and his silliness really shone through.

I'm glad that you are enjoying The Wind in the Willows. I read it for the first time a few years ago (it did not capture my imagination as a child) and my daughter enjoys the Cosgrove Hall stop-motion animation TV show (the episodes we can get, only 2 of the 5 or 6 seasons have been released in the US). I remember taking out every illustrated edition our previous library had to figure out which one we wanted to purchase (and reading it at that time because I never had). The original Shepard drawings are nice but we fell in love with the Arthur Rackham.

A thumb for your review of Despereaux, Ilana, although I liked it a lot more than you did. The combination of the charming illustrations and the whole story-telling/reading theme just drew me right in--of course, that's added to my passion for small things. Right now, among others, I'm reading The Doll People, a completely charming story of (surprise!) a family of dolls and their adventures in and out of their doll house. Most enjoyable.

Hello...are you "at home"

available for chat????

;-}

Hello Ilana - just saying *hi* - not much to add to all this children's/YA reading - though I join the chorus about the Lacombe illustrations - just gorgeous.

#188 Wow Charlotte, I don't even know what to say about that. I can't even imagine reading Twilight just to please someone. I'd just as soon bang my head against the wall during a few hours. ;-)

The copy of The Wind in the Willows I'm reading was given to me by my mum, who bought it back in 1985. It has the original illustrations by Shepard, which I quite like. I got that book along with several others (including Dante's Divine Comedy illustrated by Gustave Doré, which I've yet to get to) before she left for France. I can't believe it's taken me over 25 years to get around to it, but all good things come to those who wait. I'm liking Mole a whole lot too, though have to say that all the characters have wonderful characteristics.

#189 Joe, Toad is a pretty funny guy. I'm just about to start the chapter about him. A musical version of it must have been fun, though I can't say I'm a big fan of musicals as a general rule.

#190 Marie, I discovered Arthur Rackham when I did some research to find all the artists who had done versions of Alice in Wonderland early on, and must say his version was among my favourite. I'm following your example and have reserved three versions of TWitW illustrated by Michael Hague, Michael Foreman and Arthur Rackham, though of course there are countless others.

#191 I'm surprised you liked my review of Despeareaux Gail, since you told me a while back you loved that book so much, but a thumb is always welcome! :-)

#192 Hey Jude, well, guess you got your answer to that already. ;-)

#193 Hi Prue. Lots of children's books being read in these parts this month, and I'll probably spill over into next month too since I have so many of them lined up. Always nice to get your visits!

*****

I've been feeling quite miserable these past couple of days. Can't sleep through the night as keep waking up from nightmares in a deep anxiety and then it takes me forever to fall asleep again. I don't function at all well when my sleep is perturbed, so I've cancelled plans for tomorrow and hopefully can get rested up properly soon enough. In the meantime, I've got plenty of books keeping me company.

So sorry to hear you are not sleeping well, Ilana - I find that I too go through periods of repetitive 'anxious' dreams...what works for me is to work out the meaning of the dream and then rationalise where the issue is. Just acknowledging that it is ok to be anxious about something seems to help.

Just acknowledging that it is ok to be anxious about something seems to help

You know what? That might be the best piece of advice I've gotten in a while. I can't believe I didn't think of that myself. Thanks Prue.

The only Benjamin Lacombe my local library has is Lin Yi's Lantern by Brenda Williams (illustrated by Lacombe). I may check it out just because the illustrations you've posted are absolutely delicious.

Sorry you're not sleeping well, Ilana. In theory, insomnia sounds good because it's "extra time to read," but as a lifelong insomniac, I know full well it's just misery. I was well into my "tweens" before I learned that it wasn't normal to take 2-4 hours to fall asleep each night!

I admit that Ambien is one of my best friends.....

#196 - I am so glad to be of assistance - sometimes we get anxious about being anxious!

I sometimes feel like I'm repeat posting the same comment but a couple of days apart, but anyway, I read and absolutely loved The Wind in the Willows a couple of years ago (when I was in Israel actually). I have the film, Mr Toad's Wild Ride (1996), which stars most of the Monty Python actors in a Wind in the Willows-like caper. Rather silly but...

I hope you sort your sleep/dream problems.

I remember riding "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" at Disney World (having grown up just an hour from that site, and remembering when it originally opened when I was 12 years old!). Maybe it's time to read the book. The ride was pretty fun.

I am going to have to dig out my copy of The Wind in the Willows just to see who the illustrator of it is :)

I understand about the sleep problems, Ilana. I hope you get some rest tonight.

#187 Glad I could help, Ilana :)

The reason I escaped reading book 2 was because when I told my friend that I read the ramblings of a teenage girl, the response I got was, "Oh, you already read Book2!"

Hi Ilana- Hope you get your sleep back in order and get some rest today! We are here if you need us. Hugs!

Hope to hear that your sleeping problem has been conquered. It must be wretched to be put in such a state by one's dreams.

I have to admit that I did not read all 4 books for my friends - just the last 3. And one friend, in particular, pushed me into it. She is very commanding. But - it's part of her charm.

Ilana, sorry I have no useful advice for you. Sleeplessness is the one thing, and if the usual techniques don't work I always found it easiest to accept it and to stay up, mostly reading (nice and friendly books!). But nightmares are so much worse. For a long time I could only sleep with the TV running on mute on a shopping channel, so I would wake up to something harmless and not to some horror movie. Then I changed something in my life and the dreams went away. I had never seen a connection between my nightmares and this one element in my life, so it wasn't anything obvious. Maybe it helps if you go back to the day when the dreams started? Was there anything different? A situation that made you feel all uncomfortable?

The Wind in the Willows is another childrens classic I have never read. There was too much Enid Blyton in my youth.

I just remembered you wrote about your oncoming birthday and checked the birthday thread.

I wish you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ilana, many fantastic books and paintings (and whatever else you like) and always sweet dreams!

Totally missed that (and I wanted to bake you brownies!). A happy, happy b'day to you, Ilana.

Happy Birthday Ilana


glitter-graphics.com

Hope you have a great day, Happy Birthday Ilana!

Have a great Birthday, Ilana!

Have a Blessed Birthday!

I am trying to decide between The Hunger Games and The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing for my TIOLI. They both seem good!

Happy Birthday, Ilana! Have lots of fun and good reading!

Okay, we can send your thread right to the thread police ---

HaPpY bIrThDaY, Ilana!!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday!

#197 Ellen, I'm wholly sympathetic to your sleep problem. As a general rule, I don't have problems sleeping, and actually need more than the average person to feel rested, but I do get hit by bouts of insomnia for weeks at a time (once lasted for months actually), so I know how tough that can be. I tried all kinds of over the counter stuff which didn't work, and in the end got Ativan prescribed, but I only take that if I've gone several nights because it can be so addictive. Thankfully, I had quite a restful sleep last night and feeling better today, so no need to medicate this time.

#198 All too true!

#199 Oooh! I'll have to get my hands on Mr Toad's Wild Ride because I used to love Monty Python and still enjoy seeing those actors on whatever projects they happen to be on. Thanks for the suggestion!

eta: BOO! Can't find it at the library, nor on Netflix or iTunes!

#200 You should definitely read the book Ellen, it's quite lovely.

#201 I hope you get some rest tonight.

Done! I'm sure your wish helped, thanks Stasia!

#202 My best friend actually warned me off Twilight after she went to see the first movie with her teenage daughter. She told me it was a sappy romance and that all the little girls in the audience screamed their heads off whenever one of the two main leads was onscreen, which was enough to convince me it was NOT for me!

#203 Thanks Mark, you're a great buddy and this group as a whole is just awesome. No wonder I spend so much time here!

#204 Charlotte, I've only ever had one pleasant dream that I can recall in my life. Most of the time they're quite scary of just very stressful. Which is why I'll probably require therapy for the rest of my life. :-)

I was friends with a girl who was incredibly bossy some years back, but one day she complained to me that I wasn't present in the relationship enough and that I was always demanding to have things my way, which was completely untrue. It was actually hairier than that. Hence, past tense. Different strokes for different folks, and I'm sure your friend is completely different.

#205 Maybe it helps if you go back to the day when the dreams started?

That would be difficult to establish, since they started when I was very young as a child. We try to work it out in therapy, and we have our work cut out for us, let me tell you. lol. I've always had quite a nervous constitution and tend to be more affected than most by even seemingly innocuous things, so... yeah.

Believe it or not, I'm not familiar at all with Enid Blyton. Just looked up her page to see some of her titles, some of which sound vaguely familiar, but that's about it.

Thanks for the birthday wishes! :-)

#207 No worries Charlotte, I'm playing it very low key today because not at my best physically speaking. I had plans which I decided to reschedule further on in the week so I can get all the rest I need. The pedicure with gf and dinner out with dad can wait!

#208 Love the glitter graphic calm, thanks!

#209-213 Thanks for the birthday wishes, Cindy, Pat, Jacqueline, Joe and Ellen! Makes me all warm inside and you should see the smile on my face right now!

Ellen, I've already resigned myself to the fact that I'll have to start a new thread soon enough, especially since this thread is particularly image heavy. But best wait till tomorrow methinks, just in case one or two more people happen to drop by for bd business. ;-)

eta: Thanks Jim!

Ok, I'm already way behind on a bunch of threads, but today, to treat myself I'm going to go sit and read to my heart's content, something I don't spend enough time doing in the daytime, when I usually end up trolling on LT for hours at a time (and still, never manage to keep up with everyone! HA!)

I'm sure I won't be able to stay away too too long though, so see ya'll soon!

Happy Birthday Ilana!! Hope you have a great day. Actually, my father was born on this day too. He would have been 81. And I'm at the end of the month. Yah for July!

Thanks Mark!

Happy Birthday Ilana!

Thanks Brit! :-)

I came back just in time to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ilana!

I was going through my starred list to swing by everyone's thread to say HI and I realized quite quickly that I had lost you...but I find you just in time for you to start a new thread. :)

#221 Thanks Valerie!

but I find you just in time for you to start a new thread.

More or less, yeah! :-) Still, I'm going to stretch this one out just a little, if only because I love my header image so much and not quite willing to part with it yet. Maybe I'll even stick in another review or two in here.

So today I thought I'd just cozy up with Coco on my lap (who likes to give my fingers a thorough licking when I stroke his face) and get ahead on The Wind in the Willows. Now, I can't remember reading this story at all as a child, though I undoubtedly have. Anyway, I was expecting just a quiet pastoral kind of story and had what I can only term as a shock when things took a most unexpected turn. You know when you think you know something that's been around forever and you suddenly discover it's not at all what you thought it was? Was kind of like that. I was hoping to finish it today, but I had to put it aside for a while just to recollect my thoughts. Never expected such an impact from THIS book, that's for darn sure!

I'm checking in late with birthday wishes Ilana. Hope you had a relaxing evening and are able to put those sleep problems behind you.

Belated Happy Birthday to you-oo!!

Ilana, I have a question concerning the Rougon-Macquart series. I'd like to download book #2, La Curée, some time this week, and amazon offers 2 versions, calling one of them the 'unexpurgated edition'. Should I go for that one?

#224 You're not really late with your wishes Judy, since I'll actually be celebrating on Wednesday as wanted to get some rest above all else yesterday.

#225 Thank you-oo Prue-oo! :-)

#226 Nathalie, would you believe I had to look up "unexpurgated" so I could give you a proper answer? Since it also means "uncensored", I would suggest you definitely go with that version. This book is all about excess in all it's forms, not excluding sex of course, and it would be too bad to lose Zola's original intentions in my view.

#227: thank you for the advice, I got that version now. I didn't look up the expression, I thought it might mean something like 'unrevised'. But uncensored excesses? Sounds promising! :-)

I read the Kindle sample, which is the main part of the first chapter, and I can't believe that this lazy coward Aristide has become so rich and successful. I guess I'll get an explanation soon. I now see the advantage of reading those books in order!

I now see the advantage of reading those books in order

Yes, I find it makes for an altogether different experience.

When you see how dear Aristide comes by his riches, I doubt you'll have more respect for that wretched man. Despicable? You be the judge. ;-)

You didn't tell me...that, what, yesterday was your birthday???

How am i supposed to know this?? Check you out with Interpol?

I am peeved!!

So, what, are you 22?

;-}

126. The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin (465 pages) ★★★★
(Read for TIOLI: country in adjectival form & 11 in 11 #7: Big and Scary: books over 400 pages)

There was a crash from the kitchen behind and the hummingbirds stirred, their short futile flights disturbing the air like sighs.
'What colour are they this time?' asked Bertha, welcoming the distraction.
'I was told to make 'em all gold. Wasn't easy. Hummingbirds don't like to be painted; some of 'em just give up, just lay themselves down and don't fly no more.'
Bertha knelt down and lifted up the cloth. She could see flickers of brightness moving in the darkness. When all the guests sat down for supper at midnight they would be released into the winter garden like a shower of gold. They would be the talking point of the room for maybe a whole ten minutes; the young men would try and catch them as favours for the girls they were flirting with. The other hostesses would think a touch grimly that Nancy Cash would stop at nothing to impress, and in the morning the maids would sweep the tiny golden bodies into a surrendered heap.

The Almighty Mrs. Cash prides herself as being the most elegant hostess in Newport and Fifth Avenue, and there is little she isn't willing to sacrifice for appearance's sake, as we find out in the first chapters of the novel. Mrs. Cash always has her way, even with her headstrong daughter, the regrettably named Cora Cash, and she is determined that Corra must marry a titled heir; preferably a prince, though a duke might do. As the heiress to the largest fortune in America and a beautiful young woman with a winning figure to boot, Cora has little doubt that she will find a suitable prospect with ancient and noble lineage and a desperate need for cold hard cash. But she intends to marry for love as well. And as in a fairy tale crossed with a page from a Jane Austen novel, she meets cute with just the right sort of fellow in the form of Lord Ivo Maltravers, a handsome Byronic young Duke with a penchant for Brahms and Schubert, who falls in love with her right on cue, and soon the couple have the most celebrated marriage of their time, with droves of fans come to admire Cora's superlative wedding gown.

But once ensconced at Lulworth, Lord Ivo's family domain since the 13th century, the spirited young woman finds herself at odds with the expectations that are placed on her as the lady of an ancient estate. With her American optimism and can do approach, she does her best to make her new home more habitable and happily throws money toward improvements which, instead of earning her the favour of her noble husband, seem to backfire and garner his wrath instead. And then there is Lady Charlotte, who has contrived to introduce our young Lady to the celebrated artist Louvain who insists he must paint her portrait as his inspiration dictates.

I signed up for this Early Reviewers book when I saw this emerging author described as a "glorious storyteller who brings a fresh new spirit to the traditions of Edith Wharton and Jane Austen", which was hard to resist. I received the novel against great odds, and immediately decided I wouldn't like it, having reverted to my inherent distrust of marketing stratagems. There was not much to like about any of the characters. The story itself felt familiar, and didn't present many real surprises, but I found I could only put down this novel with great difficulty and was drawn to this Upstairs Downstairs world which forever fascinates. Does this debut novel compare to Wharton and Austen? One sees it has been strongly inspired by their influences, but I have not read enough of either to consider myself an authority on the subject. Recommended? Why not? It's pure fun and filled with enough melodrama to offer the perfect kind of light entertainment. I probably liked it more than I will willingly admit.

#229 Actually Jude, I've been 27 for quite a while now. ;-)

A belated Happy Birthday, Ilana!

Thanks Roni!

Well, if you're celebrating your birthday on Wednesday, then I'm early! Happy Birthday to you, Ilana, whenever you celebrate. Why not have a week of pampering and partying?

That sounds pretty good Donna. I didn't do anything special yesterday, and somehow, that was ok. Had plans, but cancelled them so I could rest up as sleep is erratic lately. So I was thinking to myself that I should get myself a cake some time this week and invite a couple of people over. Better yet, maybe my best friend, who is an excellent baker, would agree to make me one if she has time. In any case, it'll probably end up being a birthday month, so you're not in the least bit late!

Just caught up, hope you had a great birthday!

In the Children's/YA corner:



127. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes ★★★★
(Read for TIOLI: Newberry/Newberry Honor Award Book)

Everyone finds it easy to tease Wanda Petronski. First of all, that strange Polish name sounds weird. And she shows up at school wearing the same washed out blue dress every day. But what makes her the real target of jibes and taunts is that she always insists she has one hundred dresses in every colour all lined up in her closet at home. For Peggy, the most popular girl at school, this is more than she can resist, and every day she makes a point of asking Wanda how many dresses she has in front of everybody, just for a bit of fun. But her friend Maddie, doesn't like it. She'd like to say something to make Peggy stop, but she herself comes from a poor home, and what if Peggy turns against her too? Then one day, everyone realizes that Wanda hasn't shown up to school for a few days and they start wondering if they're at fault after all...

A really wonderful little book originally published in 1944, and the winner of a Newbery Honor, which was originally recommended by Linda (Whisper1). The original lovely colour illustrations by Louis Slobodkin have a light, whimsical touch. I loved the simple and touching story, and the imaginative Wanda certainly leaves her mark.






128. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo ★★★★★
(Read for 11 in 11 Challenge, Category #8: The Two World Wars and the Time In-Between)

Joey remembers with terror the day that when he "was not yet six month old, a gangling, leggy colt who had never been farther than a few feet from [his] mother" was taken to a horse sale to be purchased by a mean old drunken farmer who had made a bet. But when he meets the farmer's son Albert, things take an altogether pleasant turn, as the boy takes an immediately liking for our equine narrator and the two become fast friends. But the Great War is looming, and Albert's father, who is running out of cash, is forced to sell Joey to the army to keep the farm afloat one day, which is how Joey suddenly becomes a war horse. He is trained and prepared for combat and then thrown into the most wretched battle sites, with machine guns and giant craters felling almost everything in sight, the cold and mud weakening men and horses alike, and his riders falling one by one. Soon Joey is taken on by the medical unit to help carry the countless dead, dying and wounded. Through it all, Joey encounters all the many facets of humans in the most inhumane of circumstances. But Joey is a very special horse, and there are plenty of men and children alike who are willing to go to great lengths to ensure his wellbeing.

I found it impossible to put this little 165 page book down and read right through to the incredibly touching ending, which had me reaching for tissues to wipe the tears away. This book probably owes a lot to it's forebear Black Beauty, but here the narrative seems much tighter and more intimate somehow. This is a novel that should not be missed for the great message of hope against all the odds and ugliness of war it conveys. Morpurgo says he was inspired to write this story because of an old dusty portrait of a horse which has always hung on the wall of the village hall. On the picture's bronze frame are the following words: "Joey. Painted by Captain James Nicholls, Autumn 1914."

Many thanks to Kerry (avatiakh) for recommending it.

Hi Ilana- Good review of War Horse. I think this is the next Steven Spielberg film, which comes out later this year. I'll have to find a copy.

Hi Mark, yes you're right, it seems the movie is due out for Christmas 2011. I'm definitely going to see that one. Here's the trailer in case you haven't seen it http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2760350745/

War Horse is going on my wishlist right away. I recently read a book that mentioned in passing how the rich felt they had to donate their horses to the calvery in WWI, which was like sending them into an abattoirs'. I don't know about the movie, might have to wait to rent that one. Those kind of movies cause me to bawl out loud and make a fool of myself!

Great reviews as usual Ilana. I saw a review for American Heiress I think on Judy's thread earlier on and added it to my list but your review just reaffirmed it for me.
I hope to get to Wind in the Willow sometime this month but July is shaping up to be a very SLOW reading month for me.

#241 That movie will for sure have me crying like a baby, but I don't care. Such a good story in Steven Spielberg's hands has got to be good. The preview sure looks promising.

My only regret about TIOLI this month is that I didn't do an Equine theme challenge as I meant to the 4th of July cutoff date just passed me right by. I have three excellent books all told from the horse's point of view and nowhere to fit them into. Mind you, that's not entirely true since I managed to fit Black Beauty into "books I read before 21" challenge.

#242 I think I might go and finish off The Wind in the Willows right now actually, thanks for reminding me Val. I spend so much time here on LT, which is great, but also means I don't do enough stuff away from the computer, so I'm off to it!

I noticed it was a shared read for us this month so I'll try to get to that one next. :)

Love your review of War Horse, and thanks for the link to the trailer, I knew about the movie but hadn't followed up. I was gratified when in London to come across the Animals in War Monument in Park Lane.
I have The Hundred Dresses on my tbr pile, should have read it by now.

and wishing you a Happy Birthday

Okay, I'm putting War Horse on my wish list and making sure I have plenty of kleenex available when I read it! I may not be able to sit through the movie......

3 more books for my ever-growing wishlist and not much money to spend. But War Horse seems to be a must.
I'll read Watership Down first and if then any tears are left, I'll get this one.

Nice reviews, Ilana. As a kid I loved Eleanor Estes' Ginger Pye and The Moffats, but I never read this one.

War Horse sounds really good, too. I'm pretty sure it's the basis for the Tony award-winning Broadway play.

#244 Valerie, I just finished The Wind in the Willows last night. I'll look forward to your comments once you're done with it.

#245 Kerry, thanks so much for sharing the link to the Animal Monument. It looks absolutely beautiful and must be quite an impressive sight in person. Next time I'm in London I'll be sure to go visit it.

The Hundred Dresses is really a quick read, which is another good reason to put it toward the top of your pile.

#246 I may not be able to sit through the movie......

One thing's for sure, the story is plenty touching enough as it is, and then Spielberg certainly knows how to tug at heartstrings, but my impression is that it'll be a movie that should not be missed.

#247 I look forward to Watership Down, and yes, I'll probably shed tears with that one as well. I don't know for sure if I ever actually read the unabridged novel. I know I had an illustrated book based on the movie when I was little, but somehow I don't think it was the complete novel because in my vague memory, I seem to recall it was quite a small book. Whatever the case may be, it'll be like a completely new experience.

#248 Thanks Joe, I'll have to look up other titles by Eleanor Estes eventually. I've added the two titles you suggested to my wishlist already. I know Ginger Pye was a Newbery Medal winner, and also that The Middle Moffat and Rufus M. were Newbery Honor books. Have you read the last two?

I've just had a quick look on wikipedia, and you're right, the play is also based on Morpurgo's book. Apparently they use life-size horse puppets. That's one show I would love to see!

*****

As I mentioned, finished The Wind in the Willows last night and immediately followed up with The Amber Spyglass, the third and last book in the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. I have a huge selection of fantasy books for children & YA this month, but opted for this one because a) it's a selection from my own shelves and b) I wanted to get to it while the 2nd book is still fresh in my mind. It's off to a promising start but I'm keeping my expectations in check since I know it can't possibly live up to The Golden Compass. After that, I'll look forward to moving on to one of the Diana Wynne Jones books I got at the library.

Today I'm off to get a pedicure with my best friend. We were supposed to do that on my b-day Monday, but I put it off to today since wasn't feeling all that hot. It looks like we might have thunderstorms, and the pedi place is just 10 mins walk from my place, but we decided it doesn't matter and we'll just bring umbrellas in case we get caught in the rain. BEST OF ALL she just called me now and said she had a surprise for me, and I guessed what it was: a Strawberry Shortcake. Not only is this one of my favourite birthday cakes EVER (my mum used to make them for me, since it's always strawberry season at this time of year), but my friend K also happens to be a gourmet cook and amazingly talented baker. She made me one last year and I practically begged her to make me one again, but since I know she's awfully busy, I didn't dare hope my wish might come true. I'm a very happy camper right now. :-D

Please note; I know I'm due for a new thread, and I promise I'll start one up soon, i.e. probably tomorrow or Friday at latest. Thanks to the thread police in advance for allowing me to overflow a little. xx

Sorry I missed your birthday, Ilana! I hope it was a good one!

Picked up The Hundred Dresses on Monday. Saw you gave it 4 stars. Not going to read the review,since it is such a quick read.

> 249 I haven't read the last two, Ilana. I may have to go into Moffat mode!

#250 Stasia, you haven't really missed it since I'm still celebrating. In fact, going to b-day dinner with my dad tomorrow!

#251 You're right to avoid my review. I do the same when I'm about to read a book, no matter how long or short it is.

#252 Joe, I look forward to going into Moffat mode too, though it won't be this month for sure considering I currently have enough Children's/YA books on the "July" pile to keep me busy right until September!

I'm drooling over that description of the strawberry shortcake. Any pictures?

Sorry Pat, no pics, so you'll just have to imagine a delicious shortcake in your mind's eye! :-)

#253: Have a great time with your dad!

Thanks Stasia!

*****

NEW THREAD!