Ireadthereforeiam- Part V

My fifth thread! Look at me go, but hang on, more threads than last year but less books? That must mean more talking.
Welcome one and all.

Thread 1: http://www.librarything.com/topic/106611
Thread 2: http://www.librarything.com/topic/119080
Thread 3: http://www.librarything.com/topic/122646
Thread 4: http://www.librarything.com/topic/125084

1- Nathaniels Nutmeg, Giles Milton
2- The Blind Assassin, Margaret Atwood
3- The Cost of Living, Arundhati Roy
4- The Sweet By and By, Todd Johnson
5- The Help, Kathryn Stockett
6- Our Favourite Poems: New Zealander's Choose their best loved poems
7- First and Last, Truman Capote
8- REM- Talk About the Passion, Denise Sullivan
9- Of the Dawn of Freedom, W Du Bois
10- One Day, David Nicholls
11- Orchid Fever, Eric Hansen
12- Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel
13- Taken on Trust, Terry Waite
14- I am the Clay, Chaim Potok
15- Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher
16- Just Kids, Patti Smith
17- I am David, Anne Holm
18- Fall on Your Knees, Ann-Marie MacDonald
19- Silk, Alessandra Baricco
20- Falling Man, Don Delillo
21- The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachman
22- The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
23- The Outsider, Albert Camus
24- The Feel of Steel, Helen Garner
25- Independence Day, Richard Ford
26-The Hundred-Foot Journey, Richard C Morais
27- Better: A Surgeons Notes on Performance, Atul Gawande
28- The Future of Ice, Gretel Ehrlich
29- The Penguin Modern Classics
30- A Life on Gorge River, Robert Long
31- Pioneers of Martins Bay, Alice MacKenzie
32- Hand Me Down World, Lloyd Jones
33- Open, Andre Agassi
33- Cooking Up a Storm, Emma Holly
34- Every Man for Himself, Beryl Bainbridge
35- City of Thieves, David Benioff
36- The Scales of Justice, John Mortimer
37- The Magic Paint, Primo Levi
38- The Adulterous Woman, Albert Camus
39- Freedom, Jonathan Franzen
40- Women, Annie Leibovitz and Susan Sontag
41- Hitch 22, Christopher Hitchens
42- The Fifth Child, Doris Lessing
43- The Catcher in the Rye, JD Saliinger
44- O Pioneers!, Willa Cather
45-Red Shoes (poetry), Elizabeth Smither
46- Midwives, Chris Bohjalian
47- Justice, Larry Watson

Definitely makes me first Megan!

Book 47
Justice by Larry Watson

A lovely story about early 20th Century Wild West, although its not so wild really. The lives of one family dominate the story: the local sheriff and his wife and two sons and an eventual daughter in law. Told from the perspective of each character for a chapter each it gives a nice rounded quality to each person.

Beautifully written and lovely insights into people and their ways. 4.5 stars.

Woah Paul, you sneaked in before the review even- gold medal goes to you :)

Mass Posting in effect...Be Warned

Megan's on the Warpath

..and i lurve everything about 'er

***Stars*** to you!!!

I wish i had your phone #.......i only have the # of a friend in Sidney, Australia...which won't help me...for shit

Oy...again

"...more threads than last year but less books? That must mean more talking. "

It means you are now the mother of two and we are all excited about that!

So, good book review... but where's the pictures????

Just noticed you read Fall on Your Knees earlier in the year, Megan. That remains one of my absolute favourite books!

Hi Megan just thought I'd drop off a star:)

Dropping off a star, Megan.

*Waves enthusiastically* Hi Megan! :)

Starred and ready to go!

Jude: mass posting on my own thread, now that's desperate, :0

Claudia:pictures, still coming, just sorting out the really cute ones from the amazingly cute ones :)

LitChicky: I found it quite strange but very compelling, I still think about it sometimes.

Calm: wow, talk about a fancy one! Thanks

Deb:great, nice to have you here

Stephen: *waves like a maniac* hi back!

Genny: cool, pleased to see you again Genny :)

Megan, I'm beginning to drop idea/invite for our group read on several threads ... a few of us (you, Paul, Carsten, and I so far) are doing a group read of North and South Dec 15-Jan 15. All our welcome! I'll put up non-spoiler and spoiler threads just prior to mid Dec.

eta: fixed the touchstone for Gaskell. Duh!

Oh thanks, I was going to get onto that on my thread eventually....Ive ordered the book from Book Depository for (get this) $4.95. A price not to be sneezed at.
Looking forward to our literary classic read over (my) summer!

Little Lenny (4 months old) and me hanging out in his bedroom.

Very cute and how can he be four months already?!

I'm tempted by the North and South read, because after I read Cranford I was keen to read it, but I really am useless at keeping to any timetable, plus I am going to be knee deep in library books and boxes of books from storage.

Ohh Lenny is so cute! What a little darling, Megan! Nice price on North and South for $4.95! That's amazing! I won't be joining in though, because I'm planning to start a group read next week of The Night Circus - plus, Christmas time is probably my least able to read time of the year.

>16 cushlareads: Cushla, be tempted by North and South group read.....timetables schimetables! 4 months has flown by, saw a 4 day old baby today and couldnt believe mine wasnt that small still :)

>Hi deb, Im seriously in love with that little guy. *gush gush*
Hope your group read of the Night Circus goes well, Christmas is a busy time. Im hoping with all the people around Ill be able to leave childcare to others and sneak off from time to time ;)

ETA tried to add photo of other little guy I'm in love with, but photos unwilling to upload right now....

On the earlier shots Lenny never appeared camera shy but here he seems to be trying to get shelter behind his mum's nose! Cute, wise looking little fellow!

4 months already?! But just as cute as ever!

Ohhh, your list is Awesome Beans! How haven't I ended up here before?! Oh well, I'm here now, hello!

Hi Megan! Is this my 1st visit over here? If, it is, that's a shame. You are starred now. I love your book selections, such an impressive variety, reminds me of someone else I know...
city of Thieves! What a great book!

Lenny is adorable! Thanks for sharing and I hope you can post some more pics!

Awwww... what sweetness! That little bumpkin is growing waaay too fast!
Thanks for sharing the moment!

aww baby! what a cutie he is .. takes after his mom, maybe?

A new thread and a new Lenny photo - huzzah! Does he like to laugh at "mirror baby"?

What a sweetie!

I fixed the touchstone for North and South in my previous post, so it points to Gaskell. Duh! Inviting people to a group read for the wrong book!

>19 PaulCranswick: hi Paul, I guess my nose is a little big- (if that's what you're trying to say ;)

>20 gennyt: Hi Genny, thanks for saying so, I cant hear enough of talk like that :)

>21 elliepotten: Fist visit from Ellie! Yippee

>22 msf59: Mark welcome to my thread, there might be more photos than books, but hey?!

>23 -Cee-: very true about growing too fast, time is zooming by these days

>24 mckait: Hi Kath, I can only wish I was that cute! I had my time as a baby being cute and now Im just mum!

>25 London_StJ: Lenny has only seen himself in a little toy mirror but yes, was transfixed

>26 lit_chick: lol, thanks, I noticed Gaskill's wasn't the first one up at the last minute and changed it in time. helps to have the right book up i guess! looking forward to it even if I will be the slowest in the group :)

Big bro (3) and his big cousin (4) at the A&P Show a few weeks ago.



And a little guitar playing, with amplifier and everything....just like daddy :)

Love the little guy with the guitar Megan...sweet. To say nothing of Little Lenny. Lovely pics.

Guitar pic is priceless, hehe!

Megan, though my boys are now shhh - 26 and 21, I remember those fun, young days with my sons! I was seriously in love with them too - still am , but you have to let them get girlfriends and such! ;) My eldest had a toy guitars from the age of 3 on -and he still plays both the acoustic and electric guitar. Fun memories for me!

>29 brenzi:, 30 Guitar cracks me up too- he requested an amplifier to plug into, the chair did the trick.

>31 vancouverdeb: I know it'll soon all be memories for me too so am really trying to appreciate all these fun times (just organised a cool overnight cousins trip to a cabin at a local campground, cant wait)

HI Megan! Popping in to drop off my

What a cutie! Always happy to see baby pictures! I got to hang out with Nate's cousin's 1 year old little girl yesterday, so much fun!

Always love your pictures! Your boys are so cute.
Bet you'll have a great time camping! We did a lot of that with our girls when they were little. :)

>33 ChelleBearss: hi Chelle, thanks for the star. She's cute.

>34 -Cee-: this camping spot is super cool, you can rent a tepee to sleep in or there are 5 or 6 cabins of different styles and sizes to choose from. Me and my sis are taking our 4 under 4's and cramming into a 3 room one. Let the chaos begin. That is next Monday night.....

**********************
Have yet to take the kids proper camping, nights too cold half the year and had trouble with early rising until now so could have been loooong days and thiiiiiiin walls :-

I love the chair serving as an amplifier! :)

Deb: he is obsessed with his dads guitar and amp and "box of wires" that all get packed in the car for band practice. Its very sweet, he takes his ukelele to the gate and says he's off to band practice too :)

We used to have a stand up vacuum cleaner with a long handle (microphone) and tennis racquets as guitars and we would sing along heartily to the Beatles, ELO and Elvis as children my tone deaf twin and I. Stopped when we grew up....at about 17 or so!

17? ha ha, was that when your twin moved into, um, dancing?

About that time Megan yeah. He took on the Solid Gold moniker for his "stage shows" which lasted for about five or six years if I'm not mistaken. I on the other hand took back my tennis racquet and vacuum cleaner and moved on to other things!

Well, Paul, we all have our path to follow dont we!? My musical training went as far as considering suicide as a way to get out of piano practice- a tad over dramatic maybe, but I really did dislike it.

Hi Megan. A lot of interesting books on your list - I want to read Terry Waites book, Chaim Potok I am the Clay, Camus The Adulterous Woman. I like Camus very much but have only read three of his most famous books (The Stranger, The Fall and The Plaque) - I have to explore more.

Next in line of rereads (when I finish The Hobbit) will be Dorian Gray. Looking forward to that.

Hi Megan. Not at all musical so nothing to add on that front, hehe. We had our first snowfall yesterday, always my favourite - everything is white, bright, and magical for the moment. Now, if it just stays put for Christmas ...

On suicide Megan - I once had an indonesian worker in Johor Bahru working on a mixed development (10 storey podium, 35 storey office, 32 storey hotel). Found out his girl was cheating on him and ran to the top of the podium and jumped off - straight into a skip of soft sand and surprising survival - his reason for choosing the podium over the much more certain office tower was that...he was afraid of heights!!

>42 ctpress: hi Carsten, Id like to read more Camus too, The Outsider was great I thought. That's all of his I've read, shame on me.

>43 lit_chick: Aaaah, a white Christmas.....doesnt happen often here (as in never) :) Good luck.

>44 PaulCranswick: Oh no, Paul that is a sad story on a lot of levels (so many puns, I cant chose one).
In my family my sister and I delighted in shocking our parents by being over dramatic and saying things like "I cant find my lunchbox, that's it: I'm going to kill myself!". Our poor parents- I still say it now and my partner, who comes from a very literal family, used to look at me sideways until he realised I was being ridiculous (and in my head anyway- hilarious).

**************

In other news, I have purchased some second hand Dickens's Dickens' books written by Charles Dickens. In response to the discussion on ....now whose was that thread again?.......
Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations as well as The Turn of the Screw by Henry James and Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad. And a Franzen one as well.....they have all arrived in the mail already and Im very excited to see them all perched enticingly on the shelf.

Oh, enjoy your Dickens purchases, Megan : ). I can't remember whose thread we were discussing Dickens on either.

I think it was Heather's (souloftherose) thread.

Megan it was on Heather's thread and I'm determined to read some Dickens soon too. yay!!

and - replying to your comment on my thread, doh - it would be fantastic if you came up to Wgtn next year!! and you have to bring Lenny with you. Ok I am going back to wiping out drawers...

Good handful of books you got there, Megan. I love Great Expectation and think it will be one of my rereads next year...are making reading plans for next year already :)

...very excited to see them all perched enticingly on the shelf. One of the joys the Kindle can't provide - although I like this reading-gadget....

Hi Megan! Looks like you've picked up some good classics! I think Mark (msf59) is planning on a Dickens group read in the new year

Hi Megan- I know I was talking about Dickens and his big year coming up, over on my thread. I know I'm looking forward to reading a couple of his books in 2012. Hope you can join us.

I haven't read Dickens in a long time.. not since my kids were young... as ide from Nicholas Nickleby..which I read ..... well, a long time ago, but the kids were older..

I haven't read Dickens in years ( as in school), would be good to go back & read them as a adult - more books to the "read next year list" ......

>46 lit_chick: Hi, so many thoughts on so many threads, its hard to get my brain moving at the best of times!

>47 gennyt: Yes, thats it! Thanks.

>48 cushlareads: I dont need much excuse to get outa here some days;) I know my partner would understand completely if I said I was going on a plane to another city to meet up with people I met on the internet!@!?#!

>49 ctpress: Carsten, I hope I enjoy reading Great Expectations as I dont want to abandon a classic such as this one.....so Ill be reading it to the end no matter how long it takes me :)

>50 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle, Mark? There's no way I could keep up with him (;-)

>51 msf59: Hi Mark (see above)

>52 mckait: Last and only time I read Dickens was about a hundred years ago too Kath....it didn't inspire me to read more, but then again, I have grown since then

>53 roundballnz: We didn't read any Dickens at school....but I'm with you on reading again as an adult, I'm sure I'll get it more now *fingers crossed*

Book 48
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Wow. This book blew me away. It was a case of substance over style, but the style was pretty damned good.

It is the memoir of a girl and her siblings growing up to an alcoholic, but loving, father and an eccentric, to say the least, mother. A lot of bad things happen in the book but so do a lot of fun and funny and loving things. It is a real conflict that runs through the story- the underlying love that the parents have for their kids, and the utter neglectful and uncaring way they parent. They both appeared intelligent people with a somewhat idealistic view of the world.

Part of me liked the ethos and the lessons the parents were trying to teach their kids, but I was reading in horror and disbelief a lot of the time at how the kids were treated. They were moved around all over the place, living in dilapidated and unsafe housing if any, put in unsafe situations with really dodgy people, left alone, left hungry, not clothed, not given medical treatment for injuries ("it'll make you stronger...your body can heal itself given the chance" etc). All the while the father is drinking what little money was there, and working on the next grandiose money making scheme and the mother is chasing her dream of being an artist, resenting her kids existence and refusing to work.

The kids unbelievably manage to grow up smart and motivated which makes great reading. I would have liked to hear more about their adult lives, but as the author is only part way through her adulthood, I guess I cant complain. 4.5 stars.

Yet another winner by the look of it Megan. Into the TBR forest it goes. This is actually the sort of book that Hani likes to read so I'll try to track it down for her.

Oh Megan!! I absolutely loved Glass Castle . Glad you did too! I have to say that I was not so keen on her other memoir, I think it was about her grandparents, Half Broke Horses. You make love it, but I found it too similar to the first , and just too depressing. Maybe I did not give it a proper chance.

Hi Megan- Good review of the Glass Castle. I was a big fan too! Actually, I also liked Half Broke Horses, which does focus on her maternal grandmother.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.... I tried to avoid reading that one.. I really did. It came to me and I gave it away.. I had seen the author on Oprah and did NOT want to read the story.. I turned the show off early on. Too much for me. Then .. drat it.. my daughter sent it to me. ... then I had to read it! It was an incredible book. It is a terrible story.

Great review, Megan. I also loved The Glass Castle. Incredible story. Walls' next book, Half Broke Horses, which is about her grandmother, is also wonderful.

Great review! I read that a few years back and remember being appalled but loving it anyway

>57 PaulCranswick: I read it within a 24 hour period, necessitating the neglect of certain household duties, but not my kids!

>58 vancouverdeb: I really enjoyed reading it as although it was very very sad I didnt find it traumatising because at least there was some love and good times in there. I'll look for Half Broke Horses....thanks for the recommendation

>59 msf59: Just checked library website, and Half Broke Horses is there, its on my list, thanks Mark.

>60 mckait: It is a terrible story, but she tells it so well, somehow managing to be impartial. And we know it turns out OK in the end for her at least so I could bare it.

>61 lit_chick: ...hmmm, maybe we get the rest of the story about the land in Texas in that book?

>62 ChelleBearss: Chelle, that pretty much sums up how I felt reading it. Appalled but loved it. This was a book club choice and I think we'll all be raving about it.

Book 49
Telling Tales compiled by Nadine Gordimer

A book of short stories, some fancy names contributing. The very first story by Arthur Miller, I loved. Unfortunately it went down hill from there. Susan Sontags story about letters was damn near indecipherable. What the hell was she on about?....I can feel my pulse rate increasing now as I think about it... *calm down Megan*

There were a few that I really liked but the ones I didnt annoyed me. So all in all an average read. 2.5 stars.

I'm a big fan of terrible stories that are told well. I've had that one on my wishlist for awhile too. I doubt I'll get around to it anytime soon though, too many books!

>66 Ape: Yea, I think its important for terrible stories to be told, and even better when they are told well. But in the same breath I dislike it when awful events of cruelty are sprung on you in a book. Cos once the image is in your head it's very hard to get it out again.

Don't I know it...

Your comments about books that contain annoying stories made me laugh. I agree. There are some books I simply want to chuck against a wall. Then, there are others that take my breath away.

There you go, Megan!! I was not so keen on Half -Broke Horses , though I loved Glass Castle , yet many here loved both. Just goes to show taste is very individual. I may have not given it a proper chance.

I saw your message on Nancy's thread re The Twin. I just loved it!!!! Yes, I think it would make a great group read!

Megan I think the problem with short story collections of the type you reviewed so entertainingly is that with submissions the selfish writer will contribute something he/she maybe would never have got published elsewhere. Always found Sontag's work pretentious nonesense - glad to find us intune on that one!

>68 Ape: I need a brain-image-eraser...know any zombies who could help me out there?

>69 Whisper1: Linda there were actually about 6 of the stories I really liked, so much so that I might even read them again! But yes....the others perplexed me!

>70 vancouverdeb: Just goes to show taste is very individual
Its funny isnt it, if anyone of the people whose threads I followed recommended something wholeheartedly I'd probably read it, and then probably be surprised if I didnt like it!

>71 PaulCranswick: *huge sigh of relief*
Ive been seeking out a little Sontag and secretly disliking it thinking to myself that "she must be good and I just dont get her". Nice to know that my initial feelings are shared by someone as well-read as you Paul!

Megan, I had that Telling Tales home from the library a while ago and ended up not reading it after looking at a few reviews. I haven't read any Sontag.

Nope, I don't know anyone with a brain-image-eraser. I do have a frying pan though, I could try whacking you in the head with it but I'm afraid the images erased from the trauma might be more random than desired. :(

>73 avatiakh: if I wasnt such a stickler for finishing a book that Ive started, I would have just abandoned the annoying ones and selectively read the goodies. Thats the good thing about short stories, its not long til the next one starts.

>73 avatiakh: would that be a teflon frying pan or a cast iron one?
*considering the teflon one*

Oh, don't worry about that. It has a rubber handle so it won't be cold or sharp on my hand or anything. You're so considerate. *Hug*

What? You were being concerned about me, right? :P

y'all crack me up you do..

Don't you hate it when you get a bad read! A 2. 5 with the way I rate is what I call a slap down! ;) Anything below a 3 on my mental rating system means I REALLY DISLIKED it! ....;)

The cool cabin my sis and me and our kiddies shared the other night.


Little Lenny chilling out in the shade while the big kids went MUDSLIDING! Cool fun.

>76 Ape: Yes, I always worry about people and their degenerative frying-pan-wrists :)

>77 mckait: me too Kath

>78 vancouverdeb: There is a huge difference between a 2.5 and a 3 in my mind. Im with you there!

Your retreat does look cool Megan - a sort of Beverley Hillbillies meets the Kiwi Kool-Kats! Enjoy your break and dont forget to collect Lenny from his shady spot.

LITTLE Lenny???? What happened??? How'd he get so big? Camera trick, right?
and MUDSLIDING???? hope there was a lake nearby!
I so love that cabin - how very cool!
gorgeous scenery all around...
Hope you had a great time. :)

>81 PaulCranswick: Yes, the interior of the cabin was more hick than swish....but very do-able for a night away. And the surroundings were (are) lovely, beautiful birdsong and native trees, stream.

>82 -Cee-: Little Lenny will always be my little baby (in my head). haha, and yes there was a little stream running that we filled up buckets from to pour down the hill and get the mud all nice and slidey. We had so much fun! You sit in little sleds to go down which is good on the washing....

Sounds like you had a good trip!! Did you go mudsliding too? ;0

I am thinking the same thing as #82 LITTLE Lenny???? What happened??? How'd he get so big? Camera trick, right?

#79 Sounds like you had a fun time away Megan :-)

Cozy cabin! Sounds like you had a nice trip.
I've got Dicken's slated for next year. Why have I dismissed him for so long, I don't know, but it's time to revisit ole Chuck D.

looks like a cozy place for a break Megan and echoing the "little Lenny" comments. My they do get big quick!

What a great Mom you are! Camping and mudsliding.....

It took me a few years to agree to water balloons at birthday parties.
They were kinda fun - why did I fight it so long????

Wait, I'm confused, are the colors on that picture off or is it really that purple? I ask because the gravel to the left and the sky to the right are purple too, and it all just looks so bizarre... :o

>84 ChelleBearss: Yes Chelle, I went mudsliding too: adults apparently go faster than kids :)

>85 lit_chick: Talk about 90th percentile! He's massive.

>86 souloftherose: I really did, its good to break the routines sometimes

>87 Carmenere: Chuck D: classic, that's funny, I'm going to call him that from now on!

>88 calm: I swear I can see both of my kiddies growing these days, its a sign I'm enjoying them I reckon, I can see the time slipping away from me :(

>89 -Cee-: Talk about re-living your childhood- I had a great time hooning down the hill on a plastic toboggan. Never mind that I nearly broke a hip.....I mean, you know, at my age and everything....

>90 Ape: Hi Stephen, I used a fancy panorama function on my camera so it may be distorted somewhat, it was just on dusk so the sky was dark-ish and the cabin a light brown-ish colour.

Ok, good, glad I'm not hallucinating or anything...

Chuck D. LOL! That's a keeper of an expression!

I'm with 82/85 - Sheesh! Huge baby is huge!

>92 Ape: maybe you accidentally hit yourself in the head with that frying pan Stephen, do you see stars? (it may well be the middle of the night where you are so that may no be the best test question for you) Have you had any funny mushrooms lately?

>93 lit_chick: Bringing historic literature into the modern era.

>94 London_StJ: my poor over sized baby....maybe its the steroids Im putting in the milk....(big bro asked me the other day where the hole was that I put the milk in for Lenny- cute!)

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Reading-wise, am trudging through This Cold Heaven: Seven Seasons in Greenland at the moment. Its not even that Im not enjoying it, more a concentration lapse. I'm hoping to snap out of it soon.

I think I would remember if I hit myself in the head with a frying pan, Megan. Sheesh! *Rubs giant red lump on his forehead and wonders where it came from*

Actually, I have a scar on my eyebrow and for the life of me I can't remember how it got there. I'm convinced it was a small scratch that maybe I picked at unconsciously or something, but I have no clue. It's kind of big and noticeable too, so... o.O

Stephen: You should grow your eyebrows out to cover the scar! Im a genius!

Well, I don't trim them or anything, so they're as grown out as they are going to be. It's just above the eyebrow though (Kind of starts in my eyebrow and shoots out towards my forehead.)

It's a wonder I'm not completely senseless (instead of mostly senseless) what with all the damage I've done to my forehead-area. I have a marks from a cinderblock, cast-iron stairs, and the weird mystery scar. I seem to be fine though, I mean I only act a little weird and it's not like I'm OH LOOK A BUTTERFLY! *Points to a blank space on the wall*

Stopping by to say Hi, Megan! Hope life is going well!

>98 Ape: Eyebrow weave? 'Im thinking you'd look great with one overgrown eyebrow cascading over your eye, and the other one normal. You know you'll get good advice if you come to me :)

>99 vancouverdeb: Hi, going great guns here, if somewhat tired great guns. 3 year olds in our house sleep less than 4 month olds.

Sleep??? I'm thinking you can kiss that goodbye for a while :(
Don't worry. It's only for about 18 years! lol

Are you kidding Cee? I have slept less since my kids are grown than I did when they were little!

oh.. and cozy looking little place :)

oh, sorry Kath - you are lots busier and a bigger worrier than even me! :{
but then, I didn't have all those boys!

Well, Megan - there you have it...

>101 -Cee-:/103 I'm moving back into baby's room so that when big bro gets up daddy can deal with him- after all, I need my sleep so I can produce all that healthy baby-boosting milk I'm so good at. I mean there's not point in us both being woken up is there?!

>102 mckait: Kath, what you have said worries me, I was looking forward to the stage when they wont get out of bed til midday. You wont see me complaining (unless there's a smell emanating from their room).

100: Meh, I'm really not at all self-conscious about scars or bodily injuries of any kind. My arms are always scratched up from Shyanne's rough-housing and it doesn't bother me a bit. I'd cringe and want to cry if someone caught me smiling but a mutilated arm? Pfft.

>Ha ha Stephen, good to have a few scars to show off in a tough-out competition. I usually win on account of the 30cm scar down the side of my thigh from hip surgery. It doenst bother me now although it was mortifying as a kid to have people comment or stare. Scars are cool, cos they contain a story.

Just bid on 4 books on online auction while "watching" the general election results coming in. Oh the tension!

Looks like the left will have a lot of say in whatever parliament is formed after the final ballot papers are counted. A lot of the minor parties are getting more votes at the expense of the left-leaning Labour Party, but under MMP the left should be able to group together to provide a strong counter balance to what will be a (right-leaning) National Government.

Megan not sure whether the tension is from the auction or the general election - my money is on the auction - good luck by the way.

Paul the tension was for both!

But at the fair today I picked up 3 books which was instatnly gratifying.....only $2 each. 2 gifts (A Good Keen Man by Barry Crump, Starter for Ten by David Nicholls) and one for me Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach. Yee ha, and I caught some sun too :)

Megan read Starter for Ten earlier this year and it was Ok lah as they say over here. Probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't seen the film first.

OK Lah!
Me and my sis say that all the time, funny that you mentioned it. She used to work in a casino in Darwin frequented by a lot of Asian businessmen who said "lah" after a lot of things. We thought it was so funny we adopted it.
I got Starter for Ten for her as she liked One Day.

Hi there Megan! If you are suffering a lack of sleep, as well as election tension, I am glad to read that you have at least picked up some good books at a bargain price!

I am very envious of all of these book sales and fairs that the rest of you seem to find so often.
I can't even find a book sale at the local libraries. sigh. Wait.. what am I thinking?? That is probably
a good thing. I am pretty sure that I don't have even an inch of book shelving space left!

Deb: election tension over, the inevitable happened, right leaning government (asset sales, less help for the poor and more help for the money makers)

Kath: it is the season for fairs here (as in ferris wheels and candy floss type fairs) and often there is a stall selling books.

*Brag Alert*
My partner now works in the same building as one of the libraries that we go to often. Yippee, all I have to do is text him and he can bring a book back for me that afternoon. This is going to be great!
*End Brag Alert*

Ah, Megan! That is so cool! You are so lucky! Woohoo!
I have to drive 25 miles for my library books. I finally figured out to request my books online and have them held for me. When they are ready I get an e-mail... so I don't make a useless trip! Most of the books I want are not to be found in that library anyway. They have to be shipped from other libraries. I wonder if that is expensive for them? Gas-wise? Unless volunteers do a lot of it? Dunno.

Megan and Claudia - my home library is a 14 hour flight away! grrr. The national library of kl has quite a paltry collection but I do occasionally visit.

116: I've wondered about the cost of inter-library loans as well. The library I request from is a part of a multi-library system (I think 5 or 6 of them) and they exchange books with another system of libraries that has several libraries as part of their group. It sounds very costly!

Even if they had a regular cycle/routine where they just circled around to each library on a specific schedule, dropping off and loading up books on the van/truck each stop, it still sounds like it would get expensive fast.

ETA: Then again, if it were only, say, 2 libraries that are exchanging books, they would only need to make a trip between libraries once or twice a week probably. With each library you add to the system there is more traveling, but also 1 more library to help with the costs, so I suppose it all evens out... *Shrug*

Stephen - When I request a book from my library it could come from almost anywhere in the state of Maine (as well as New Hampshire). It's part of a rather spread out system - so I have to think it's costly. Not complaining - just very surprised since libraries don't have much for budgets.

Hi there, Megan!!!

Claudia/Stephen: my cities libraries (about 14 of them) all interchange books, you can drop off a book you got from anywhere to any of the libraries. But it costs $2 to reserve a book, and then you can get is sent to the one closest to you. I try to just go where the book is that I want and my city is pretty small really :)

Paul: I think it's safe to say that your new library is the book depository! Not quite free, but you get to keep the books :)

Wait, you have 14 libraries and you city is SMALL!? :O

yes! We have more than that probably, but some are small, there are about 5 biggish ones and one main one (that is still cordoned off in the central city because of the earthquake damage to all the buildings in there).
It's awesome.
ETA our city is about 400,000 people, maybe that's not so small, I'm not sure :-

See everyone, he is still little.

Book 50
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

After The Glass Castle I ran to this book when I saw it at the library. It is the story of the author's maternal grandmothers life, told in first person as if written by the grandmother. So its a biography, but a novel.

They sure bred them hard back then: growing up in a hole in a hill (even if it did contain a Persian rug and a sideboard), off on her own at aged 15 to be a teacher, managing a ranch and flying planes among other things. But overall, just working really hard her whole life.

I had hope this book would give me a sense of how the authors mother could have become to be so self absorbed, selfish and cruel to her own children, but her mother actually seemed quite together. Half Broke Horses rounded out the story told in The Glass Castle but wasnt able to give me the feeling that I really got to know the narrator. Good but not great. 3.5 stars.

(Edited for touchstone)

400,000? Yeah, pretty huge by my standards. According to Wikipedia there were 6,704 citizens in my town in the year 2000.

Megan interesting discussion on libraries. Guess you're right about Book Depository but I tried and failed to sneak an order in yesterday as I have changed my credit card and the Bank here is presently hyperactive re c-card fraud and is not allowing on line transactions for the moment.

Stephen: well, it is a city...maybe you live in a town? The town I grew up in (only 3o minutes drive from my city) had 10,000 people in it and one library

Paul: your credit card must run red hot at book depository HQ. You couldn't use SWMBO's credit card just this once?

Our town = 1000 +/-
libraries - 1 teeny, tiny part time summer (1 v. small room)
nearby libraries - 1 @ 25 mi away
Reall good library - 1 @ 50 miles away, but I can't use it. Can't get a card for love or money. Must live or work in city.

#123 He might be little - but he is getting big! Oy! That little sweet pea!

Megan - no way unfortunately - hers are all maxed on handbags and shoes! Have an alternative card which I have brought today to secure my order.

#123 - Awwwww!!

I live in a city of about 350,000 and we have access to 16 libraries. They will deliver books from any library to my 'home' library. It does seem like a big expense but I love that I don't have to drive all over town to pick up a book.

Claudia: gotta get yourself a green card for that big city library! Imagine the books there just waiting for you, think...there must be a way

Paul: got to get that order in before Christmas I guess, cant be having not deliveries between now and then

Chelle: Your system seems about the same as ours Chelle, one of the benefits of city living I guess.

Book 51
The Outsiders by S E Hinton

Bought for a song, this is another book I thought I must have already read at high school. But once I started reading it it didn't ring any bells whatsoever (what is wrong with me!?).

Told in the first person by Ponyboy Curtis, a 14 year old "greaser" orphan with 2 older brothers who are his only family, it is the story of a time in his life when friends (and brothers) are all that matters. It really does convey this well, not through spelling it out for the reader, but by the ways the boys act towards each other and what they would do to have each others backs.

What a great story and what a fantastic telling of it. And the ending wraps everything up in a really neat way. 4.5 stars.

Megan- Sorry Half Broke horses didn't work for you. I definitely liked it more. I have never read the Outsiders but I was always a fan of the film, what an amazing young & up and coming cast!

Mark: I still liked Half Broke Horses, just not intensely. It wasnt quite the crazy ride The Glass Castle was. I would like to see the movie of the Outsiders. I like a lot of the actors in there.

Megan - I also remember reading The Outsiders when I was young - I was very much affected by it, but can't really remember the plot now. Could be interesting to read it again.

Lenny is such a little darling!! I'm the same as you, Megan. I loved The Glass Castle but I could not get into Half- Broke Horses. I tried, but it's still sitting on the shelf....

Hi Megan, delurking to say I liked The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses equally - but for different reasons. I think for me that the first book by an author will make more of an impression because of the fresh voice. In this case it was a 'crazy ride!'

You have two extremely cute boys. My newest granddaughter Haley was at the tip-top of the growth charts her first year. When she started walking in earnest, she slimmed down so much that we can no longer call her Giant Baby. :-). I'll be certain to post some new pics of her at Christmas; she will be 15 months old then.

Waving hi (at 3 am... jet lag!!!). Lovely pic of wee Lenny! (and yes he still looks little in that photo.)

Carsten: Im wondering whether to upgrade my rating to a 5, Im thinking on it....

Deb: why thank you (re: lenny= darling comment), I cant get enough baby love comments here :)

Donna: Lenny's growth is slowing and he's waking in the night now so I have started him on FOOD! Kumara (sweet potato) went in yesterday and he slept better last night anyway. Phew.

Cushla: drat that jet lag! Hope it doesnt take too long to sort itself out.

Hi Megan!
Don't grow those cuties too fast. YAY for real food!

Claudia: it's the end of an era :(
My little newborn is a big foodie now (after one teaspoon of mush!)

And now we have Nove-L. I haven't had a proper browse yet, but I can see it as something I would use if the catalog is good.

>142 jeanned: huh? Am I missing something?

>143 LovingLit:: This is NZ's first chance to check out ebooks at the library. I should have been more specific as to how I thought it tied to the discussion of library availability. There more here: http://www.publiclibrariesofnewzealand.org.nz/article/new-ebooks-and-digital-med...

Little Women and Sense and Sensibility arrived in the post today. I'm going crazy for classics!

That little Lenny is so darn cute! I felt just about the same as you did about The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses Megan. But I think the lure of TGC is just the shocking realization that all of what she relates actually happened; it's not fiction. Half Broke was a more realistic story as in "This isn't hard to believe.' At least that's my take.

E-books are already available at Auckland Libraries, I've downloaded a couple over the past months. Good that the smaller regions are able to offer it as well.

I have missed a lot.. beautiful baby pic,
14 libraries !!! and a huggy who practically works in one.. wow!

I LOVE Little Women. .. I have read it many times. I gave the set to my daughter..
so I don't read it any more. Hmmm Bet I could get it for nook!

#145: I'm going crazy for classics! LOL. I know the feeling, Megan :) and both novels are such wonderful, wonderful stories.

I usually watch the Winona Ryder-movie-version of Little Women in the wintertime.

Carsten why oh why did you have to go and mention Winona Ryder - it is late here and I'll never get to sleep now!

>146 brenzi: I think you've hit the nail on the head with the comparison of the 2 books.

>147 avatiakh: i could get E books from the library...just wouldn't know what to do with one! My computer is from the ark....

>148 mckait: Hi Kath, glad you caught up on all of my non reading gossip, and my recent purchases which I am very excited about reading.

>149 ctpress: maybe I'll read Little Women alongside the North and South group read these holidays?

>150 PaulCranswick: yes, Winona is pretty nice isnt she!

#150: LOL, Paul....sorry....I know you need to catch up with your sleep...

#151: She is beyond nice, Megan :) Those eyes....ahem. If I could just be professor Baehr....

Haha, you guys and Winona, she's soooo last decade! :)

Off on a mid week getaway tomorrow, wont be seeing you LTers again til Wednesday! (apart from Cushla maybe)

Megan don't care - I was going to say that she stole my heart away but given her notable aptitude for cleptomania I have decided not to press charges!

Ha, ha, Paul - you must also consider a girl who are able to get her own clothes without using your credit card.

Megan - have a nice getaway.

Phew, finally caught up and you've gone off for a holiday. Well, Lenny is still cute and you're still writing great reviews so all is good.

she's soooo last decade!

Have you SEEN the women that make up today's pop culture? Blech!!!

You could make a dozen tupperware sets with the amount of plastic any given female celebrity has nowadays.

I watched one of my favorite movies last night.. Winona Ryder is in it..
How To Make and American Quilt. LOVE that movie.

Megan, delighted you are going "crazy for classics"! I've also never read Littlw Women, but I keep meaning to. Like your idea of having a "classics" Christmas vacay - with LIttle Women and North and South.

Just wanted to report in that I'm home from meeting up with Megan and the gorgeous Lenny, who is as cute as his pictures and such a chilled out baby!! We both forgot our cameras (sorry!!) but had a lovely breakfast then went to Unity Books, where Megan was restrained and I was not. It was so cool to meet another LT friend.

Megan it was awesome to meet you - hope you are somewhere inside out of the bucketing rain!

Edith Wharton has been plugged remorselessly this year on the threads so I'll plug Winona instead who was stunning in the film version of the Age of Innocence. Don't care if she was so last decade - I'm a decade still further back and would gladly catch up to the noughties in order to be naughty with....just a minute SWMBO is coming!

Hi everyone, (individual hellos coming I promise)....just got home from our 2 night getaway to Wellington. Was great to be in a city again and wander around the shops carefree (and toddler-free).
Took part in my first EVER LT meetup with Cushla (Cushlareads) which was super cool. Of course it involved a book shop....Unity books comes HIGHLY recommended if you're in Wellington.

Lenny was a dream and we have returned well-rested and 9 books richer :) (photo to come)

I'm anxious for a photo of your meet up with Cushla. These meet ups are wonderful!

I love the photo of Lenny!

Hi Megan, delighted you and Cushla had fun! And Lenny too, of course. Well rested and nine books richer ... does it get better?

Paul/Carsten: I like Winona too, I was just joshing about her being "so last decade", I mean who am I to talk, all my CD collection is "so mid 90's UK indie".

Kiwi: Good to know you can count on me to post pics of my progeny...watch this space....

Stephen: I know! I mean, I for one would prefer to see REAL women on the big screen, you know, ones with real bodies that are - wait for it - unique and interesting and human. :)

Kath: never seen How to Make and American Quilt, was it made in the 80's? My friend and me have recently started a weekly 80's movie night and have yet to pick the next one (so far have had Footloose and Working Girl).

>159 lit_chick: Nancy: I really like the copy I have of Little Women, short in stature, but broad. And pink (which is odd for me to like, but there you go). Im looking forward to the physical act of holding the book, and the contents too!

Cushla: cant believe I found my camera 2 hours after our meetup. Silly. But I took a picture of Unity Bookshop this morning to post so watch this space :)

Paul: hope SWMBO didnt bust you waxing lyrical about Winona :) I personally liked her best in Reality Bites.

Whisper: As mentioned up there.....silly me temporarily lost camera just in time or meet up, I SO thought I had packed it, and yes, after the meet up I realised I HAD packed it, in another bag. Duh. Great meet up though.

Nancy: (again) see pic of books acquired.....happy as a sandboy (whatever that is)

Books collected on Wellington getaway!!


Unity Bookshop (Willis St Wellington), I got over excited there and had to have a few deep breaths.


The view from our hotel window. Yes, we experienced some rain. But then it would miraculously clear up again, for some minutes at a time! Didnt dampen the holiday at all.


And the little one who got left behind :(
Poor little fella, had a great time at his aunties place.

Glad you guys had a good time!! Nice pictures!

Hmm, how to explain a weekend to Wellington to visit that book shop... cultural trip to Te Papa perhaps..I will think of a way.

Great photos!! I'm trying to figure out what some of the books are. I can see The Remains of the Day (LOVED that book) but what's the one next to it? And what's the book that looks like a squid on the bottom row?

Leonie, a Wellington meet-up next year would be fantastic. Perhaps Unity would give us a big spender discount... oh wait, they already do that with their yellow card.

More lovely photos!

beautiful photos :)

I am so happy for you, that you had a nice trip and a meetup too!

Sadly, The movie was made in the 90's, but I hope you will take a look at the info..
you might like it and decide to watch it one day ....

Chelle: it was nice to get away from NORMAL life for a few days, eating out was my highlight (no cooking or cleaning!)

Kiwi: Im sure you can come up with a reason to visit Wellington, my next reason will be to go book shopping and have an LT meetup!

Cushla: The one next to The Remains of the Day is the one I bought while you were under your pile of books that you were buying....The New Penguin Book of American Short Stories. And while I'm here I'll list them all; from top left, clockwise

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The New Penguin Book of American Short Stories
Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley/Gavin Bishop
The Second Enjoy Five Year Retrospective Catalogue (art catalogue)
The Complete Short Stories by Evelyn Waugh
The Art of Travel by Alain deBotton
The View from Mount Improbable by Richard Dawkins
War Talk by Pat Barker
2 Stars by Paul Theroux
These last 3 are Pocket Penguins....handy (and collectible!)

Luxx: thanks.....and one more coming up because we cant forget Lenny-licious!

Kath: just about missed you there....That film is one to see....its on my DVD WL :)

Book 52
Seven Seasons in Greenland by Gretel Ehrlich

Love this writer, but this book dragged a little bit for me. There was a lot of history of the exploration of Greenland and the Arctic, and too little (I thought) of her individual experiences there.

She writes in a near indifferent way, not placing judgements on any information she imparts. I liked this to an extent, but ended up part way through just wanting to know what Gretel thinks. All in all a lovely rambling book, written beautifully, but perhaps needing larger chunks of time that what I could give. 3 stars.

Megan- So glad to hear about the LT meet-up! Yah! Thanks for sharing the photos too! I love the baby pic!

Hi Megan -
Wonderful pictures - esp Lenny and Mom!
Glad you had a great time.

"nice to get away from NORMAL life for a few days"
I know exactly what you mean! ;-)

Mark: Lt meetup NZ style, just the 2 of us :)

Claudia: Thanks for stopping by, normal life can tend to get on top of you if you dont mix it up a little!

Book 53
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

A lovely little story. I can barely describe it because it's so odd, but I was totally engrossed in it. I will read this one again I'm sure, and soon.

The story is told in a way that makes you see the world in the eyes of a child and is very sweet and innocent. I cant wait to read it to my kids. 4.5 stars.

Almost forgot...the edition of The Little Prince that I read also contains an essay by the same author. I didnt like reading it and didnt really get it, so haven't acknowledged it at all (til now). It is called Letter to a Hostage.

In the blurb it talks a little too enthusiastically about how, yes, these two pieces of writing can be published in the same book because they "contain similar themes". OK.

Hi Megan. What sweet picture of your and Lennie! Such a darling ( both of you! ;) I read The Little Prince way back in my teens, but I wonder if I would benefit from a reread...

Hi Megan, just passing the word that the threads are up for North and South group read. Everyone is welcome!

North and South (Non-Spoiler Thread)
North and South, Chapters 1-26 (Spoiler Thread)
North and South, Chapters 27-52 (Spoiler Thread)

I’ve also added the threads to our group’s wiki page.

Deb: I particularly liked the sweet little pictures dotted throughout the book. They were as innocent and naive as the story :)

Nancy: nice one on being so super organised! I am going to aim to read the first half before New Years, if not more. Now I'm just going to have to book in at dad's office for computer time for regular thread-checks....our holiday starts 23 Dec and we are staying at a house just down the road from my dads place. His office window overlooks the town and a beautiful lagoon, so I could have trouble keeping my eyes on the screen :-}

That little Lenny just steals the show Megan. What a cutie pie. Loved your photos from your meet-up Cushla. And a lovely haul besides. It doesn't get much better.

174: Cuuuute!

I seem to be saying that a lot lately. Far too many adorable mom'n'child pictures on these forums as of late. :)

Hi Megan! Loving all the photos - esp the one of you and Lenny. He's adorable.

Thanks for the review of Seven Seasons in Greenland. I have several books by Gretel Ehrlich on my TBR list. At least now I'll know what to expect.

Bonnie: my Wellington holiday is but a memory now....but a good one, and now I can occupy my mind with the summer holiday plans. I actually have a whole notebook for my lists!

Stephen: Why thank you *blush blush*- oh, you mean Lenny.

Kelly: (I keep wanting to call you Violet- cant think why!) I would like to read all of Gretel Ehrlich's books, I really like her style, I think the one I just read was a little drawn out for me though.

Violet?! how lovely... past life thing perhaps?

>174 LovingLit:: AWWWWwwww...

Megan, you and Cushla will have to meet up again - this time with a camera! What a good time the three of you must have had. I think a baby adds fun to any gathering! How did you manage to buy all those books with Lenny in tow? He must be a book person to let you browse and buy.

The Little Prince is somewhat mystifying but always delightful. Hmmm... I wonder if that can be a read aloud when my grandchildren come for Christmas. Maybe they can explain it to me!

Megan, here at LT I answer to Kelly, Violet and VB. It's all good.

Kath: I like to think that in my past life I was a sloth, and that some of me continued on to my current life

Donna: I know, I cant believe I couldn't find my camera, thought Id left it at home, and then found it just after out meet up. Silly. Lenny is young enough to sit in the pram and either look about, or sleep. Its a great great age for book shopping.

VB: good news, Ill call you one of the above at all times!

********************

Finally spotted Bad Mother at the library so grabbed it (have been looking since I read Michael Chabon's Chronicle of fatherhood, Manhood for Amateurs), and couldnt go past the sequel to The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing, so got Ben in the World too.
Very excited to get reading with all my spare time and all :/

#174 When I opened your thread I landed on this picture.
It struck me as my past, your present, and his future - in spirit.
A beautiful snapshot of RL! ;-)

Megan, I'm dropping out of lurk just so that you'll know I'm here too and loving family pictures and that bookstore!!!! *sigh*

174 - Oh, that sweet itty bitty! Do you just chew on his face all day long? I find myself losing time when nibbling on Doc, and Lenny looks like he has extra-kissable cheeks.

The Little Prince has been on my radar, but I can't remember what inspired the interest. But "odd" is good for me!

Hi Megan - Just wanted you to know I finished The Adulterous Woman by Camus and loved it. Wished it was longer :)

Claudia- that's a lovely sentiment! Thanks for sharing it with me. Oh for the time to stare at our babies faces all day. I'm a goo-ball when it comes to him. Glad you liked the Camus mini!

>194 LizzieD: Peggy: thanks for de-lurking, I like it when people confess their lurkedness and drop by. That bookshop was great, and their bags are cool too- block print repeat square images with Unity Books and some book spine illustrations under....I made (Im such a nerd) my book club Christmas cards with them!

Luxx: Im all over his squishy cheeks, and kness. Those chubby knees just make me crazy with love. If I could catch big bro I'd smother him too but he's too fast now :(
AND he wipes my kisses off too *heart breaks*

One sleeping baby, and one sleeping big bro (who was up for the day at 4.45am, yes, 4.45AM).
Yay, I get to do LT, make dinner, make mini Christmas pudding sweets for book club tonight, put out the washing and maybe (just maybe) read one page of Ben in the World before one wakes.
*rushes off to start making dinner*

My Christmas treats. I have the tins full of Latvian Christmas biscuits (on the right) for all of December. I used to help my Nan make them every year at this time and now Im making them with and for my kids and nieces and nephews. I love family traditions.

YUM! What a great Mom! :)

what Cee said !

Those look really yum.

Megan - very seasonal treats indeed! SWMBO likes to bake with the girls (as helpers not ingredients of course!) and I have noticed my eldest daughter Yasmyne starting to take a more active interest in the kitchen recently. Her and Belle were making themselves what they call Oatmeal and I call Porridge when I got home yesterday and Belle's effort in particular reminded me strongly of the Gruel scene from Oliver Twist. Despite managing to keep a fairly "yum yum" face as I struggled to swallow the lumpy concoction I didn't follow her by asking "Please Sir can I have some more?!
Great when families keep those family traditions going - well done!

Yum!!! What are the ones on the left?

Claudia, Kath and Kerry- thanks! They are too yum....there goes my minute weight loss.

Paul: "Please sir can I (not) have some more?" Good diplomacy in keeping a straight face there.

Cushla: you too can make these mini Christmas puddings, Mallowpuffs with melted white chocolate, then a jaffa and a mint leaf on top. Most of these ingredients natives of NZ I think?

Book 54
Ben in the World by Doris Lessing

I enjoyed The Fifth Child and this sequel to it does scratch that itch of "what happened next". But it is a little unbelievable and it wasnt the story I wanted to hear (one of the problems of indulging in the imagining what might happen to a character). In this book Ben, a different boy who is considered to be a throwback with Neanderthal type features and traits, is a homeless drifter. He ends up being used by various people but also forming odd relationships with caring types.

It seemed a little far-fetched in its plot, and although the ultimate drama involving him being studied by scientists was solid, I felt it could have taken precedence over most of the other things that led him to that point.

The way Ben is presented to us as a person changes from book to book, so a dangerous animalistic boy becomes a more scared, quiet and preyed-upon young adult. I couldnt see how this transition came about considering his testosterone levels would (Im sure) have made him succumb to increased violent tendencies. Instead he seems to have a lot of insight into his differences and an amazing ability to control his urges. 2.5 stars.

Thoughts of dieting over the holidays are not to be considered.
Enjoy yourself.. and give pleasure to others with your beautiful treats..

Kath: that is true, its a sin to forgo treats at Christmas, and Im not one to sin. Much. I am one to eat (much). :)

I love your 'recipe' for the Christmas puddings, I'm tempted to try making a small batch.

Megan I have most of Doris Lessing's work and to be honest I find it a bit patchy. At her best she is very very good but at anything less than her peak her writing always fails to grip. Haven't read this one that I can remember but I think I did start it and cast it aside in frustration as the plot was unbelievable. btw Good review.

>209 avatiakh: do it Kerry! They are easy and always a hit.

>210 PaulCranswick: Paul, I'm struck by the same feelings on Lessing I think. Another thing that doesnt grab me about her style is the way she describes happenings in a sentence or two that could (should?) be given more detail. Sometimes it comes over as a listing of events rather than plot development.

Megan, your baking looks fabulous! Couldn't agree more that there's nothing like family traditions over the holidays - or any time, for that matter. Enjoy : ).

Interested in your comments on Doris Lessing. Haven't read anything by her, but her name is certainly familiar.

Hi Megan,
I loved Time Bites (reviews of other books) by Lessing... but it's the only thing I've read by her. I did buy a couple others that I have not yet read.
I'd like to read a good novel she has written herself... would you rec The Fifth Child? or something else?

Paul - please feel free to jump in if you have a good rec. I don't think Megan would mind?

Nancy: Im not aware of any other family traditions we have, so I'll hold onto the Christmas biscuits as long as I can.

Claudia: I would recommend The Fifth Child, even if it is sparse the story is a good one that raises many interesting issues.

**********

Book 55
Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman

18 chapters of observations on motherhood and family life. I think Waldman comes across as a very realistic and balanced parent in this memoir (although who would portray themselves otherwise?). She faces some tough choices and justifies them well, while doing a good job of debasing her critics arguments.

I gather there had been some controversy in the States about her comment that she loved her husband more than her kids. Her stance doesnt bother me at all and in my case I cant even say if its true or not. Each to their own and all that.

Her many references to a mothers amazing ability to judge each and every action another mother performs kept me entertained. I am guilty of having thought "I would never do that", in relation to someone elses parenting style. Thanks goodness I only thought it. Others havent been so restrained with me, and it bugs the hell out of me. I demoted half a star because the comedy in it distracted me a little from the good writing. 3.5 stars.

Hi Megan, love the christmas baking, the mallow puff puddings is a great idea. I do something similar but make chocolate truffles for the pudding then finish the decorations on top in the same way.

Ou family christmas tradition is puns and wordplay. There is usually a prize for the best pun of the day. I always remember one of the ones my brother did one year, he was holding a strawberry up, making it jump about the table and saying 'I wanna bat, let me bat.." The answer was 'Strawberry Fields Forever'.

LOL! It took me a few seconds, but I got it in the end :) That is very clever. I forgot we do have another family tradition, to go around the Christmas dinner table and each say what our highlight of the year was. It a great way of remembering to be grateful for all we have and all the cool things we do each year. Its fun.

Megan- I thought the name Waldman sounded familiar. I have her last novel Red Hook Road in the stacks. I heard it was amazing.

Hi Megan - that little Lenny is too cute for words! Such smoochable cheeks! Hope you're enjoying the summer so far, looks like you're not short on good books to read. :) See you on the N&S thread!

Bad Mother sounds like one I will grab if I see it at the library. I'd heard of the fuss about it but hadn't seen it to look at, and it's the kind of book that could be very annoying, so thank you for reading it first!

The mallowpuff puddings look good. I haven't done any baking this Christmas but have got Teresa's birthday coming up so will be doing a bit in January.

Mark: Both her names are pretty odd sounding, she is tough to forget now. I want to read more of her husbands novels too....

Laura: hi, thanks so much for giving me feel-good-mummy-moments. Im puffed up with pride about my babies :)

Cushla: do grab it, its a quick but good read, and it makes you remember to remember that you're a good mum and what a hard job it is.

De-lurking to say Hi!!

>221 Berly: hello back, and merry Christmas

************

I have been crazy busy in the last few days- and- running on 4 +1/2 hours sleep for the last 2 nights. Ack. But, we're all set for our summer holiday as of tomorrow. It'll be intermittent internet usage for me so I'll say it now....

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY

Oh, and on my OWN christmas shopping spree I got...

The Book of Rapture by Nikki Gemmell
The Second Plane by Martin Amis
Nothing to be Frightened Of by Julian Barnes
Friendly Fire by Alaa Al Aswany

Was going to get The Night Circus for $38 but got the above for $5 each instead.

As well as a lego man key-ring torch! (yes, for me).

Merry Christmas, and a wonderful summer holiday! Please spoil us with tons of pictures!

Megan - sensible book buying! The Julian Barnes book is a tad morose if I remember - he is discoursing upon death and religion.

Merry Christmas, Megan : ).

Wow, just got caught up on 186 posts! Great pictures of the kiddos, soo cute.
And how cool that you and cushla were able to meet.
Hope you and your lovely family have a wonderful Christmas and hope the sun has come back out so you can celebrate outdoors.

All the best for the holidays and I hope you weren't affected by the quakes yesterday.
I love that you got yourself some books for Christmas.

Luxx- good point about pictures! I must remember to take some, you wouldnt have wanted any of yesterdays testing car journey. 7 hours in the car, baby crying and needing cuddles, big bro getting car sick.... you get the idea. But we are here now, and it is fantastic to be away!

Paul: death and religion = holiday reading!

Nancy: thanks, going great so far, I love family fun and mayhem

Linda: thanks for taking the time to catch up this late in the year....i hope to get more pics up of cute kids next year

Kerry: we were already out of town when the latest swarm of quakes hit, I have to say I had a tear in my eyes thinking about it all though. It is such an emotional drain, just when you feel the earth is standing still it goes and rattles again. I was so glad not to be there last night for the aftershocks at 11, 1-30, 3 and 6-30. I would have got NO sleep. Sad but at least no major injuries or deaths, what a Christmas pressie!

Glad to hear you're ok Megan. I was travelling yesterday so didn't hear about it until late last night. What terrible timing. I'm glad you are out of it this time. Merry Christmas :).

Glad to hear your family was no where near the latest earthquake.
Happy Holidays and happy holiday reading. (you decided against The Bone People for Christmas reading, right?}

I'm so glad you weren't there Megan. Hope you have a lovely Christmas and 2012 is a much better year for Christchurch.

Merry Christmas, Megan! Have a wonderful holiday. I'm glad to hear everyone in your area is okay, after the quakes.

Peace to you and the ground under your feet, Megan!

#229 lol

Megan to you and yours I wish a wonderful christmas and new year...especially for LT baby Lenny enjoying his very first Christmas. Hope Santa brings both him and his big brother all they want. It really has been a pleasure to get to know you during this last year. Your humour, erudition and irreverence have been greatly treasured by yours truly and I look forward to continuing our acquantance in 2012. Hope to get to your neck of the woods next year sometime and, who knows, you might be able to help SWMBO and I see the sights and sounds there.

to you and yours Megan. Hope you have a wonderful 2012

Those earthquakes sound so scary - hope the earth settles soon.

Merry Christmas Megan!

Glad no one was hurt and, not to minimize the earthquakes, everyone survived the car ride. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday and please do share some pictures! Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas Megan. Hope you all have a good day.

mistletoe smooches!

Wishing you all the very best Megan!

Merry Christmas, Megan!

Merry Christmas, Megan!

Oh thanks everyone! I cant reply to you all now, but it is so lovely to log on and see all your messages, happy Christmas to you all.
We are having a lovely day here at the beach...sunny and lovely, just consumed ham, salads, a BBQd lamb and wine beer and fizzy. THe kids are all running around semi-clad and sun-screened and its just marvellous.

Merry Christmas, Megan!

Kiwi: Thanks, hoping to stay away til all still again

Violet: Decided against The Bone People for Xmas reading, am doinf Little Women and North and South instead.

Cushla: Yes, here we go again maybe? Hope not....

Mark: thanks, and best wishes to you too

Claudia: hello, merry Christmas to you!

Paul: so kind of you to say, hope you do pass by on your trip and that I can make some good recomendations for your travels

Calm: hi, and thanks for droping by :)

Chelle: Merry Christmas (from your cruise!?), hope youre having a fab time

Berly: car trips with a newly diagnosed travel-sickie.....spells trouble for ride home if you ask me :/

Heather: you too! Have a great holiday

Richard: is that what mistletoe looks like, I just found out. Thanks for the Xmas smooch :)

Ilana: Hi, and greetings to you too, hope a great time and some good food are coming your way.

Carsten: Christmas Greetings to you Carsten, enjoying some time by the fire maybe? Phew, too hot for that here, Im sweating it out on a beautiful sunny day

Darryl: Cheers to that, baby loking a lot like my littlest right now (please dont think we would jam him into a Christmas stocking though!)

Laura: thanks, I wish you happy holidays too

sounds like you are having a glorious day enjoy :)

>249 kiwiflowa: Thanks.... long may the weather continue like this. Swam in the lagoon today (was a tad chilly but the warm wind was lovely coming out), had a BBQ down the beach with a fire and had to go back for a tarpaulin for shade it was so hot!

Megan dear...sweetie-puss...where is your 2012 thread? Can't risk losing you in the mad scramble on 1/1! Set one up soon and come yodel about it, k? K!

I am so far behind... but wanted to say hello!

Here is a rare occurrence I find myself agreeing with RD and Kath in the same post. Don't absent yourself from the group next year as you (or is it Lenny) are one of the first "go to" threads when I switch on. Also am way behind, full of flu and not at all jealous of the sun, sand, fun and frolics in your neck of the woods (I'm lying again).

Happy new to you all !!! bit early but just in case I don't get here tomorrow

Alex

hi Richard, Kath, Paul and Alex
Thanks for checking in and encouraging the 2011 thread......of course ill be setting one up. But it wont be til 2011 as its just too hard to get online here on holiday for any extended time. I'm getting through the day on 4-5 hours of broken sleep as it is and spare time = snoozing or reading!

I should get a better nights sleep tonight and tomorrow (last days of being away) as have moved to dads place and have a room each now :) :) :) The place we rented was hot at night as there were no fly screens to keep out the sandflies so had to keep windows shut from early evening :( :( :(

Im doing very poorly on the reading front this holidays....for reasons involving up to 8 pre-schoolers in one area.....it has been M A N I C!! But fun.

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone

Oh man, I don't envy you seven hours in the car with two bitties. Yikes!

I hope you get some good rest tonight.

Luxx I just managed to get an hours sleep (upon the insistence of my step mum who looked out for Lenny), so I write this freshened up and no longer sleep deprived :)

See you in 2012

Happy New Year Megan and I'll catch up with you on the new 2012 group.