Luxx's Loony Bin: Winter Madness

Well, I finally finished another book, so I thought I'd wrap up the old thread and post one more to see us through the end of the year.

Welcome to the loony bin.



Whittingham Asylum
"Set in woody grounds in Lancashire, the now-decaying Whittingham Asylum was at one stage the largest in Britain. Built in 1869 from the designs of Henry Littler, by 1939 its main building and annexes housed 3533 patients and 548 staff."

Art to soothe excite the nerves:

Alice Grace Weld as 'Little Red Riding Hood'...1857

I've always found this image by Lewis Carroll to be more than a little ... chilling.


Fingers on Glass, desitin, 2011 by Maximus




The List of Links
Biblio Beau, the second home for all my reviews
Random Starter Thread
Future Readers
First Hour in the Mad House
Second Hour in the Mad House
Third Hour in the Mad House
Fourth Hour in the Mad House
Fifth Hour in the Mad House
A New Wing
Grounds Pass

Books Read in 2011 (101 Books. Major Events: Birth of Third Monster, Poor health and family tragedies)
Books Read in 2010 (100 Books. Major Event: Second Adjunct Position Obtained)
Books Read in 2009 (145 Books. Major Event: Birth of Second Monster)
Books Read in 2008 (61 Books. Major Events: Birth of First Monster, First Adjunct Position Obtained)
Books Read in 2007 (85 Books. Major Event: Finished my MA in English Lit)

I'm 32 on the intro list.

List of Books Read in 2011

1. Expecting 411 by Michele Hakakha and Ari Brown. 1.1.11. ***
2. Mr. Monster by Dan Wells. 1.4.11. ****1/2
3. Home for a Spell by Madelyn Alt. 1.6.11. ****
4. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. 1.7.11. *****
5. The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter. 1.8.11. ***1/2
6. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. 1.12.11. ****
7. The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter. 1.13.11. **1/2
8. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Abigail Reynolds. 1.15.11. ****1/2
9. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny. 1.18.11. *****
10. Trifles by Susan Glaspell. 1.28.11.

11. Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson. 2.5.11. ***1/2
12. Oedipus the King by Sophocles. 2.6.11.
13. Murder on St. Mark's Place by Victoria Thompson. 2.8.11. ***3/4
14. Murder on Gramercy Park by Victoria Thompson. 2.11.11. ****
15. Murder on Washington Square by Victoria Thompson. 2.16.11. ****
16. Murder on Mulberry Bend by Victoria Thompson. 2.17.11. ****
17. Murder on Marble Row by Victoria Thompson. 2.22.11. ****
18. A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole. 2.24.11. ***
19. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. 2.24.11.
20. Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl. 2.28.11

21. No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole. 3.2.11. ***1/2
22. Murder on Lenox Hill by Victoria Thompson. 3.4.11. ****
23. Let's Kill Uncle by Rohan O'Grady. 3.5.11. ****
24. River Marked by Patricia Briggs. 3.9.11. *****
25. Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole. 3.12.11. ***1/2
26. Murder in Little Italy by Victoria Thompson. 3.18.11. ***1/3
27. Greasy Lake by T.C. Boyle. 3.22.11. **1/2
28. Tracking Trash by Loree Griffin Burns. 3.20.11.
29. Canning for a New Generation by Liana Krissoff. 3.20.11.
30. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. 3.23.11. ****1/2
31. Murder in Chinatown by Victoria Thompson. 3.28.11. ****

32. Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole. 4.2.11. ***1/2
33. Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole. 4.7.11. ***1/2
34. Beastly by Alex Flinn. 4.8.11. **1/2
35. Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole. 4.11.11. ***1/2
36. Murder on Bank Street by Victoria Thompson. 4.14.11. *****
37. Murder on Waverly Place by Victoria Thompson. 4.19.11. ***1/2
38. The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis. 4.22.11. ****1/2
39. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. 4.27.11.
40. The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells. 4.30.11. *****

41. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale. 5.7.11. ****
42. Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole. 5.12.11. ***1/2
43. Demon from the Dark by Kresley Cole. 5.15.11. ****
44. Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole. 5.19.11. **1/2
45. Murder on Lexington Avenue by Victoria Thompson. 5.29.11. ****

46. A Cast-Off Coven by Juliet Blackwell. 6.3.11. ***1/2
47. Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton. 6.8.11. ***1/2
48. Murder on Sisters' Row by Victoria Thompson. 6.10.11. ****
49. The Victorian Governess by Kathryn Hughes. 6.12.11. ****1/2
50. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Rigs. 6.17.11. ****1/2
51. Heartless by Gail Carriger. 6.28.11. ****

52. Deeper than Midnight by Lara Adrian. 7.1.11. ***1/2
53. "G" is for Grafton: The World of Kinsey Millhone by Natalie Hevener Kaufman and Carol McGinnis Kay. 7.1.11. ***1/2
54. All Different Kinds of Free by Jessica McCann. 7.15.11. ****
55. I Don't Want to Kill You by Dan Wells. 7.17.11. *****
56. The Real Macaw by Donna Andrews. 7.19.11. ****
57. Hexes and Hemlines by Juliet Blackwell. 7.21.11. ***
58. Dead Girls are Easy by Terri Garey. 7.23.11. **
59. Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong. 7.26.11. ****
60. Killed at the Whim of a Hat by Colin Cotterill. 7.31.11. ****

61. Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett. 8.5.11. ***1/2
62. Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs. 8.7.11. *
63. Death of a Trophy Wife by Laura Levine. 8.19.11. **1/2
64. E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton. 8.13.11. ****
65. F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton. 8.14.11. ****
66. G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton. 8.15.11. ***1/2
67. H is for Homicide by Sue Grafton. 8.17.11. ***
68. I is for Innocent by Sue Grafton. 8.20.11. ****

69. J is for Judgment by Sue Grafton. 9.5.11. ***
70. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. 9.7.11. ****
71. Oedipus the King by Sophocles. 9.11.11.
72. The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert by Ann K. Levine, Esq. 9.11.11. *****
73. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny. 9.14.11. *****
74. The Mistress Contract by Anonymous. 9.14.11. *
75. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. 9.16.11. ****
76. Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George. 9.18.11. ****
77. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George. 9.22.11. ****
78. Murder Most Persuasive by Tracy Kiely. 9.26.11. ****

79. Bowery Girl by Kim Taylor. 10.2.11. *****
80. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. 10.3.11.
81. Kindling the Moon by Jenn Bennett. 10.6.11. ***
82. No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon. 10.11.11. **
83. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. 10.18.11. ****
84. The Darkest Kiss by Keri Arthur. 10.26.11. ****

85. Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur. 11.1.11. ****
86. Othello by Shakespeare. 11.1.11.
87. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. 11.1.11.
88. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. 11.19.11.
89. Othello by Shakespeare. 11.19.11.
90. Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart. 11.20.11. **
91. The Darcys and The Bingleys by Marsha Altman. 11.25.11. ***

92. Sentenced to Death by Lorna Barrett. 12.5.11. ***1/2
93. The Valley of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 12.5.11. ***1/2
94. Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. 12.6.11. **1/2
95. Whip Smart by Melissa Febos. 12.11.11. ****
96. Eliza's Daughter by Joan Aiken. 12.14.11. ****
97. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. 12.20.11. *****
98. Snuff by Terry Pratchett. 12.26.11. *****
99. Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor, et al. 12.26.11. ***
100. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi. 12.27.11. ****1/2
101. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. 12.29.11. ****

88.
Author: Samuel Beckett
Title: Waiting for Godot
publication: Paperback
Pages:
Genre: Drama
Acquisition:
Date: November 19, 2011
Rating: *****

This semester I have one of those students - the student who likes to argue minute details that are only marginally grounded in discussion for reasons unknown. Today he argued tried to argue about the philosophical idea behind the theatre of the absurd (and spoke in circles), and then started another argument about chess when I suggested it as a theme in the play in response to the constant movement/countermovement at work. It's ... frustrating, but only because it doesn't contribute to the discussion of the literature.

89.
Author: Shakespeare
Title: Othello
publication: Anthology
Pages:
Genre: Drama
Acquisition:
Date: November 20, 2011
Rating: *****

Yup, again

90.
Author: Amy Stewart
Title: Wicked Plants
publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Novelty
Acquisition:
Date: November 20, 2011
Rating: **

I picked up Wicked Plants for the novelty read it really is, and I've been slowly reading it in the middle of the night when I'm up with Doc. I found it to be a bit careless and unprofessional. The Kindle edition, at least, is rife with typographical errors (anyone else know of Rorneo and Juliet? No?), and the writing itself just didn't appeal to me. A horticultural manual would have been far more entertaining than half-narratives strung together with terrible graphics and sheltered under Latin names.

Heh, love that last pic...

He's a creative one, my Maximus.

Oh dear, a student like that sounds like hell. Or like he deserves to be consigned to that asylum to preserve YOUR sanity...

It doesn't make for easy class discussions ... but at least he hasn't plagiarized.

Seven. I'm up to seven cases this semester (and a total of five students). I am just flabbergasted.

What, seven cases of plagiarism??? That's astounding. I'm left gobsmacked by the sheer chutzpah. And the effort to plagiarize probably isn't any more than the effort required to do the work -- is it??

Plagiarism = .25 second Google search + Copy/paste

It's disgusting. The last one tried to use work as an excuse (being "too busy"). Because, you know, cheating doesn't matter if you're busy.

...

7 cases among 5 students?!!! How lazy are these students? They are aware that they won't have access to Google during their exams, right? Which means they'll need to understand the subject if they're to even have a prayer of passing?

Found you! Gatecrashing the party even if there is no link on your last thread....and smuggling in a nice bottle of Savignon Blanc

11 - Mmm, yum.

12 - As a general rule I've found that students won't even read the material that I tell them will be on the final exam. It's a losing battle.

Starting next semester, anyone I catch plagiarizing will receive an "F" for the class - and because it's the consequence for academic dishonesty they won't be able to drop to avoid it on their transcripts. I have my department head's blessing, too: "We must need stronger consequences."

Bah.

But here's my happiness:

*Gasp* So I did miss the new thread! And you read Amy Stewart! Well, I'm glad to be here now, Luxx dear! *Hugs*

Too bad you didn't like the Plants book though. I liked Wicked Bugs way better but I still gave Plants 4 stars.

Love the men! And you won't hear me say that often. :)

4 Men and a Lady! A lot to be thankful for....

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Lovely photo of your family, Luxx. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

As for your Carroll photo, I find most of his portraits disturbing. At least that photo involves more clothing than some of his other ones. O_o

Great photo. Your two older boys are both immersed in tasks they obviously enjoy. ;)

15 - At least that photo involves more clothing than some of his other ones.

There is something to be said for that! I took a history of photography course as an undergrad, so I have a folder of photos, and Carroll's are certainly the most disturbing. I wonder how much of that is our present culture, or if he really is just creepy.

16 - T-Rex is a fixture, and Max has made a recent discovery. ;) Goofy children are fun.

13 - I think the the format (Kindle, on my phone, in the middle of the night) influenced my perception of Stewart; the formatting was very unprofessional, and often made it more difficult to actually read. I'm glad you enjoyed it, though!

14 - And a happy Thanksgiving to you, and to all else who drop in!

I'm afraid that doing this may run Stephen off, but I want to share our holiday card with all of my lovely LT friends.

I'm positive I missed tons of people in my quick trip around LT to share some well wishes. I promise it wasn't intentional, and I hope everyone has a delightful day, whether or not they celebrate Thanksgiving!

Wishing you the bestest Thanksgiving, ever

You deserve it, with such a lovely Family

J

Happy Thanksgiving, Luxx! Which of the Luxxettes is the Thanksgiving turkey this year?

Love the card!! "All the monsters were stirring, and their footsteps were loud", indeed!

Happy Thanksgiving to the menagerie!!

Wow, that is really a great card, I love the crazy non-posed pictures. They really show your family's fun personalities.
So let me get this straight: you have got a 0 year old, a just-turned-2 year old and a 3 year old.
*shakes head incredulously in wonder at how so much is accomplished in your house*

The pictures only killed my computer a little bit, and they were so worth the wait. :)

What a beautiful and really fun holiday card, Luxx. I love holiday cards where families look like they're having fun and the love and fun shines through yours.

Thank you, everyone!

so much is accomplished in your house
Um, not much is. Or if it is, it's only during nap time. ;)

24 - Oh good! I'm glad we were worth it.

Now I'm off to try to convince the littlest monster that it's bedtime. I hope everyone has had a perfectly lovely day/holiday.

Luxx, your happiness makes me happy, too. Thanks for 'sending' us that delightful Christmas card!

I've always thought that cheating deserved an instant and emphatic *F* for the class. Good for you!

LOVE the family portraits Luxx!! The finger up the nose one is a definite keeper! :)

Beautiful Christmas card, Luxx!

>17 London_StJ: I think it's probably a combo of modern sensibilities and Carroll just being creepy himself. Lynne Truss, probably best known for writing Eats, Shoots & Leaves, wrote a comic novel, Tennyson's Gift, in which Carroll is a major character and a bit of an oddball. You should give it a read if you can find it although it might be easier to look for The Lynne Truss Treasury, which is the edition I have. Hope you're having a lovely weekend.

29 - I'll bookmark that one, thanks!

27/8 - Thanks to you, too!

91.
Author: Marsha Altman
Title: The Darcys and The Bingleys
publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: I don't know the official genre of these kinds of sequels
Acquisition: Free on Austen's birthday
Date: November 25, 2011
Rating: ***

Take a moment and picture Pemberly. Now, take another moment and try to picture this: a Scotsman in kilted glory swinging in on a chandelier from out of nowhere - in Pemberly - to land beside a swashbuckling Darcy.

Yes.

The Darcys & The Bingleys, upon first inspection, is the sequel that all Austen fans truly hunger for; what does happen after the collection of unlikely but highly romantic proposals? With that premise, the novel begins well, but quickly veers off into extremely awkward sexual territory, and by the novel's conclusion has devolved so greatly that the characters and setting are not only unrecognizable, but can really only be accepted as rather unflattering satire (similar to a "work" like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).

While it's far from being the worst thing I've read this year, I really can't recommend it to fans of Austen.

Your boys are so gorgeous :-) I don't think I've posted on your thread before, but I love the pictures you post. I'm also interested in your plagiarism experiences, as one of my friends is a University lecturer in New Zealand, and has exactly the same problem with her students. I don't think they fail the whole course for plagiarising, but they get an F on the assignment, and she is still amazed at how many try to argue that they didn't do it, or that it shouldn't matter.

That's a great holiday card!

31 - Thank you, I'm fond of them. :)

I've discussed the problem a bit with a number of other lecturers, and everyone has a different approach. One, a close friend, has a tendency to let cheaters go with a warning, but found out the hard way that those same cheaters will always try to take advantage (she took one student at her word that it was an "honest" mistake, and my friend found out later that I had already caught the same student cheating). Most will give a failing grade for the assignment, but my department head and I agree that perhaps the consequences are not severe enough to truly deter cheaters, which is why I am going to up my response for blatant plagiarism.

It's laziness. Dishonest laziness. If you think you may fail, then at least fail gracefully.

32 - Thanks! I can't wait until they actually arrive.

Luxx, thanks for the heads up. I had almost purchased The Darcys and the Bingleys yesterday because it was discounted at the bookstore but The Buddha in the Attic caught my eye and I decided to take that one home with me instead. I'm so glad I did after reading your review.

What a coincidence! I certainly say it's not one worth purchasing.

Great card! What a great idea for a card! I especially like the picture with the upside down child :)

I read The Darcys and the Bingleys at the beginning of the year and found it rather fun. It was my first venture into the Austen sequels territory. I also wouldn't recommend purchasing it, it's one to get from the library.

37 - There are definitely some laughs to be had, but I found the concluding events to be too far fetched, and it ultimately spoiled my reading. It would be a good library book ... or free download (which is how I got it).

36 - He was whining, so I flipped him over to try to get a picture with the other two. ;)

The semester is winding down, so I'll soon have times to aunt the threads again! Today is my last lecture day, and Wednesday is my only on-campus exam. I'm always sad to see another group of students go. I love my job.

92.
Author: Lorna Barrett
Title: Sentenced to Death
publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: cozy mystery
Acquisition: Necessary baby-feeding ebook
Date: December 5, 2011
Rating: ***1/2

I have apparently missed a book or two in my reading of this series, but my understanding was not hindered by the oversight.

My reading of Sentenced to Death is mixed. I appreciate Barrett's acknowledgement of the difficulties all cozy authors must face: most importantly, how librarians/booksellers/bakers/candlestick makers keep coming across bodies in an otherwise "perfectly safe" environment. Barrett's characters readily recognize the growing crime rate in their community, and proper concern is mixed. This seems to be a flag for the end of the series, as the murder rate will soon outgrow the constraints of a small tourist town.

What I found most difficult about the novel is the murder itself; while Barrett eventually justifies such an outlandish act, the details of the murder are still so extraordinary that it's dificult to believe the murderer could even get it right.

This is one for fans of the series, but probably not one worth picking up for readers not already invested in Tricia and her community.

Now off to my second of three classes.

I am sorry to hear of so many cases of plagiarism, Luxx. You would certainly hope that students would know better.

Love the holiday pics! Thanks again for sharing your family pictures with us.

Stasia! Good to see you!

The semester is at an end, and I can only hope that I have fewer cases in the spring.

93.
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Title: The Valley of Fear
publication: paperback
Pages:
Genre: mystery
Acquisition: work text
Date: December 5, 2011
Rating: ***1/2

The Valley of Fear is published by Conan Doyle in 1914. Feeling shackled by the character for which he is best known, Conan Doyle's writing of the famous eccentric shows his narrative burden; Holmes himself is literally absent for over half of the book, as Part II explores the background of a particular character from Part I. This shift in genre is not entirely successful, as it does not seem to manage the expectations of the established audience; however, both narratives are enjoyable when read as separate bodies of work, and I would argue that they would be most successfully read as such.

Look/sounds/is scary. Might have to give it a miss. Nice synopsis though :)

Good morning, luxx!

42 - Nah, Sherlock Holmes isn't scary; you barely "see" the body.

43 - Good morning to you, too!

94.
Author: Carrie Fisher
Title: Wishful Drinking
publication: paperback
Pages:
Genre: Autobiography
Acquisition: Couldn't resist
Date: December 6, 2011
Rating: **1/2

Carrie Fisher is a woman born for the spotlight; with two famous parents she didn't even need to become a cultural icon to find her way into cultural history. However, thanks to a minor film series she's not only a cultural icon, but a shampoo bottle, PEZ dispenser, and even a sex doll (as she is quick to point out herself). And while I believe she is a great storyteller, that unfortunately does not make her a great author.

Wishful Drinking the stage show would be much stronger than Wishful Drinking the book. As a text, however, Fisher's story falls far short of the mark, lacking coherency and development. Full of excessive exclamation points and lacking in organization, the book did not live up to its promise. There's a reason why one of the cover-reviews suggests finding someone to "read this book out loud" - it must be better than reading it to yourself.

I totally agree with your review Luxx, I felt let down by the book too.

Enjoy your "down" time between semesters, Luxx. With three active (and darling!) boys, I'm sure you'll be plenty busy. Your students are lucky to have a dedicated teacher like you. I've taken classes where the teacher is burned out which is a painful experience for all.

46 - I have, too, and it doesn't do anyone (including the instructor) any good.

I feel fortunate to have so many friends in school, because I feel like it gives me feedback on what students expect, what truly benefits them, and what is ineffective. Sure, it's the perspective of adult learners, but I think it's pretty valuable for all. I try to avoid becoming "that" teacher, especially for my distance learning courses.

45 - I think it would probably be a fun show to attend, but I'm glad to hear it wasn't just me being cranky. I'm reading a much better memoir right now - Whip Smart, which I picked up at the same time.

95.
Author: Melissa Febos
Title: Whip Smart
publication: paperback
Pages:
Genre: Memoir
Acquisition: Couldn't resist
Date: December 11, 2011
Rating: ****

When Melissa Febos worked as a dominatrix in a dungeon in New York City she enjoyed casually naming her job for the shock factor of such a revelation; just naming her occupation in unsuspecting company gave her the sense of power that draws her to the job in the first place. The title of her memoir - Whip Smart - seems to serve much the same purpose: it's more for shock value than a true advertisement of the details of the memoir.

Yes, Febos worked as a dominatrix for several years, and her memoir details her interactions with some clients, her relationships with her coworkers, and the way her business influenced her personal life. But more poignant than her occupation - and of greater concern to the memoir - is Febos's drug abuse during her rather tumultuous undergraduate years and her subsequent recovery.

In a way, the "shock value" of the title worked - I, for one, am more likely to purchase a memoir detailing the experiences of a counter-culture figure than that of another drug-addicted college student. However, Febos easily pieces together the details of this time in her life with what appears to be blunt honesty, and it is her narrative voice that ultimately renders this memoir effective.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy memoirs in general, to those who wish to read an interestingly candid discussion of recovery from heroine addiction (without the gospel), and, yes, to those interested in an anthropological discussion of subversive sexual culture.

SO what are your plans for Christmas this year, Luxx? Now that semester's out, you must be enjoying the extra time on your hands. ;-)

Just stopping by to say hi!

Good synopsis of Whip Smart, sounds like its dual subject matter could be conflicting, maybe there are two stories in there. My obsession with NYC might see me seeking this book out :)

51 - It's a fun read!

50 - Hi there!

49 - Now that the semester's out ... I have my hands full with an infant that won't sleep. Well, that's a half-truth - he sleeps fairly reliably from 8:45-11:30, and then wakes every half hour or so, regardless of what I do.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to prep materials for a conference on January 6, polishing my syllabi and course materials for next semester, searching for a full time job and crying over the $30k a year childcare is going to cost.

Wait, Christmas? Huh? Oh yeah, that's coming up. Luckily I have all my shopping done and wrapped and tucked away, and I'm planning (hoping) on baking next week. We have a black tie holiday party tomorrow night, and you know what I'm most excited about? The fact that we have a hotel room that night - so maybe I'll be able to sleep for more than an hour at a stretch. Woohoo!

96.
Author: Joan Aiken
Title: Eliza's Daughter
publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: historical fiction
Acquisition: Free on Austen's birthday
Date: December 14, 2011
Rating: ****

Perhaps it is due to the fact that I am less familiar with the source material for Joan Aiken's Eliza's Daughter, but I found the novel to be much more enjoyable than many other Austen sequels I have read. The story is largely conscious of the restrictions of the time period, and develops a story that is believable in such a context. I found the narrator compelling, if not always sympathetic, and enjoyed watching her blossom from a discarded child to a capable woman - not an easy feat in Regency England.

Oh thank GODDESSES here you are! Thank you for the card, it's wonderful!

#53: I have pretty much stayed away from all the Jane Austen rip-off novels (the one I did attempt to read I halted after about 30 pages), but I may give this one a try. Thanks for the review, Luxx.

Hey Luxx - hope you're enjoying your school break!

54 - I'm so glad you liked it, Padre! Sorry to have gone AWOL - life is totally nuts around here, and I feel like a headless chicken. Crazy neighbor continues to make life pretty unpleasant, holiday drama, three kids, hunting for a full-time gig, and a skeleton in a pear tree. Wait, is that how it goes? Well, it is around here.

#55 - It was charming, but I don't know that I've ever read the first novel (although I know the general story), so I'm more likely to enjoy it.

56 - You too!

Skeleton in a pear tree? That's how things roll at Luxx's house. I could have guessed.... :)

Hang in there, Luxx. Someday you'll miss all this! :)
And the memories will make you smile while you are relaxing by the fire with Mike... wondering about grandchildren...
It all happens so very fast!

Holiday cheer to all!

58 - I'm totally making chocolate covered pretzels in the shape of finger bones. For Xmas. Oh yeah.

59 - It's been a crappy year, but I'm choosing to hang on to the good and forget the bad!

97.
Author: Suzanne Collins
Title: The Hunger Games
publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: dystopian
Acquisition:
Date: December 20, 2011
Rating: *****

Recently, my partner and I were in a book store, and he turned to me and said, "The Hunger Games - that's a classic, isn't it?" And because the title has been floating around my subconscious for an untold length of time I frown and say, "Well, I think so." Some books are like that for us - we'll hear a title a number of times, until we tend to think it's much older and more relevant than it is.

Although The Hunger Games isn't actually "a classic," it is certainly poised to be. Collins takes traditional dystopian tropes and melds them into something both horrifying and enthralling. More compelling than 1984, more horrifying than Fahrenheit 451, and more sympathetic than Ender's Game, Collins manages to take a weave a story that, while not original, remains with the reader more than those of her predecessors. This strength lies in the development of her strong protagonist - Katniss - and the pure humanity that Katniss brings to the narrative.

I'm going to read that damn series eventually...

So glad you liked The Hunger Games, Luxx. :D

more horrifying than Fahrenheit 451

More horrifying than BURNING BOOKS?!?

Impossible. Simply not possible. Nope.

63 - I may not have said that before I had children, but I thought so.

I love Fahrenheit 451.

62 - Thanks! I may try to pick up the next one while I'm on break.

61 - I have a feeling you would enjoy it.

I'm finally starting to get some things done around here! My mom makes twelve kinds of cookies for xmas; I don't know how she does it. I made five before I called it quits (plus Swedish nuts, nut brittle, chex mix, xmas crack, and oyster crackers).

Showing off my xmas gift...

Oh my, these gorgeous kids are growing up too quickly. Hide your daughters people in the Annapolis area!

I'm trying to keep up with you mother in the cookie department. It's easy to do without kids hanging around the kitchen! I know you will have a wonderful Christmas, Luxx. How could you not with such a delicious family?

Next year, when my clingy baby will be running around with the big monsters, I'm sure I'll get more cookies baked. Today I made one more batch, plus fudge. Yum!

Christmas breakfast will be caramel french toast, bagel bake, cinnabons, sausage and gravy, and home fries. Thankfully, I can do my part the night before, and just put things in the oven on xmas morning, leaving Michael to fix up the savory. All of our family comes to our house to see the kiddos, and it's always a good time.

Kids make Christmas fun again. It's awesome.

Donna, will you be seeing the grandbabies for the holidays?

Hard times when sleep is all you wish for for Christmas :/ They are sco cuuuute those monsters of yours. Littlest looking very grown up all of a sudden (my littlest's balloon cheeks take weeks off his age :)).

Here's to a fantastic Christmas!

Those are some cute boys you have! Glad to hear you liked The Hunger Games. I'll be interested to hear what you think about the rest of the trilogy.

#65 The gift that keeps on giving! So sweet ;-)

Hope you get a night of unexpected, refreshing, and peaceful deep sleep! Maybe Christmas night?

OMG CUUUUUTE!

*sigh* MAryland is too far away.

72 - Oh, it's not that far - I could probably drive to you faster than Stasia could drive across her own state...

71 - I think so!

70 - Well, the gift was the new camera. ;) But you're right on both levels - the boys and the gadget!

Oh man, sleep on Christmas Eve would be the best gift Victor could give me ever.

69 - Thanks! Have you guys found out yet, or is it still far too early?

68 - Max was much squishier at this age, but Doc is still pretty munchable. But, seriously, this kid is going too fast - we have one tooth all the way through. A tooth! At five months! Not allowed. Nope.

B-tastic was feeling pretty crappy today, so I took him to the doc to make sure he's tip-top for the holidays. The doctor looked in his right ear, and says to me, "Does he have a high pain threshold?"

It's not something I had ever considered, but he actually does seem to, and I said as much. Apparently his ear was very very red, and the doctor was surprised he wasn't complaining more (or sooner, I guess). Poor monster.

Claudia, you're magic! Doc only got up twice last night, and spent the whole night in his own bed (instead of in the cosleeper in our room). It was amazing.

It's still too early for us to find out. I think we can find out in feb. We did visit the midwife today and heard the heartbeat for the first time!!! It was so awesome! I just love that sound.

Sorry to hear about the kidd-o with the ear infection, but glad to hear it wasn't bothering him more.

I hope the sleep continues!

YAY! only twice, huh? amazing! :-/

Hey, the night before he was up every hour, so just twice is an improvement.

75 - Oh man, I love that sound, too. Were you able to record it? I have Doc's heartbeat recorded, and I love it.

That would have been an excellent idea! We go back for a regular check-up next Friday, so maybe I'll try it then. We're bringing WillWill with us so he can hear it.

Merry Christmas, Luxx!

Merry Christmas to you and your precious family!

Love the new pictures, Luxx!

ETA: I wish you and your family the merriest of Christmases.

Merry Christmas! I hope and the boys have a great day!

to you and yours Luxx. Hope you and your boys have a wonderful year.

Happy holidays to you all as well! Big hugs and Monster kisses!

Merry Christmas Luxx!

mistletoe smooches!

Merry Christmas to you and your lovely boys, Luxx!

hey Luxx, poor form on the hourly waking. I marvel at Little Lenny's ability to sleep as I was so unused to it with #1 :/ I hope you get a break soon from sleepless nights.

Merry Christmas, Luxx!

98.
Author: Terry Pratchett
Title: Snuff
publication: Hardback
Pages:
Genre: Fantasy/Satire
Acquisition: Preordered
Date: December 26, 2011
Rating: *****

Snuff by Terry Pratchett is a novel of evolution: Vimes evolving, culture evolving, and Pratchett evolving. Featuring an older, more diplomatic Samuel Vimes, Snuff does not attempt to stick to maintain, but rather to accept the changes that time brings. While this is presented most obviously in the world's acceptance of goblins as a people, this is also evident in Vimes's own approach to the crimes he sees, the shift in how others perceive Vimes, and the way in which Pratchett himself tells the story. While not the humorous satire that I've come to expect of the series, I still enjoyed Pratchett's masterful storytelling, and his commentary on our own society.

99.
Author: Laini Taylor, et al.
Title: Lips Touch: Three Times
publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance
Acquisition:
Date: December 26, 2011
Rating: ***

Lips Touch: Three Times is a collection of three supernatural "romances," each exploring the consequences of a single kiss; at least, that's what the product description suggests. Only one story truly follows this pattern, with the other two loosely weaving in an element of romance used to justify the artistic title. In the end, the book contains three very different works, with varying levels of success. This is a collection to which each reader will respond differently, and so the ultimate quality of the work will rely primarily on the reader's expectations. From my own point of view, the stories were nothing groundbreaking, and did little to hold my interest, but will likely satisfy the expectations of the new audience for the genre.

And I'm up and running for 2012!

My personal goal is to make it to 100 books every year, and last night I accomplished just that!

100.
Author: Marjane Satrapi
Title: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
publication: Paperback
Pages: 153
Genre: Comic
Acquisition: Work text
Date: December 27, 2011
Rating: ****1/2

In October of 2011 I attended a conference called "Contentious Issues in Composition," focusing on - you guessed it - common debates that pop up in community college English departments.* One panel I attended discussed the potential use of graphic novels in the classroom, and, while the discussion itself was not well planned, the presenter's knowledge was clear, and I was introduced to some amazing works that I agreed held a lot of potential. So, always happy to experiment with the design of my course and the materials I use, I took the leap and settled on Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood as the final text for my spring lit/comp courses.

When I began Satrapi's book (the first in a series of four), I was immediately struck by her narrative voice, and the familiar-yet-alien culture in which she grew up. My own experience with graphic novels is limited to a few flops ("classics," The Watchmen, and a few others), and a few successes (most memorably Fun Home), and so I approach her text primarily as a student of the genre. I found the book to be thought-provoking and moving, as well as informative. The stark illustrations are as captivating as they are simple, and provide food for thought on the equality (or lack thereof) of human existence.

In the end, I am very satisfied with my choice, and I look forward to discussing the work in the classroom in April.



*I actually presented at this conference on the response of English faculty to social networking and the evolution of the language as influenced by technology. It was a great experience, and I'm building on my arguments for a second conference next week.

Congrats on reaching your goal!

I have often wondered if I would like Persepolis but was always a little wary because it is a graphic novel. After your nice review though, I've put it on my TBR list! Thanks!

93 - Thanks!

The genre has always made me nervous, and I've found that I'm not a fan of "traditional" superhero comics, but I enjoy it as a medium for nonfiction. Somehow, drawing the material seems even more intimate than traditional narration. I pulled a few other titles from the presentation in October (nonfiction, true crime) that I want to check out.

Congrats on 100!

WOO HOO on reaching 100!

I **adored** the movie made from Satrapi's graphic memoir.

Ooo, I didn't realize it was a film! Off to Netflix I go...

And thanks!

>97 London_StJ: Are YOU in for a treat! The film is awe-inspiring! Be sure to watch the extras on the DVD...dunno how they do that now that Netflix lives up to its name....

I've been meaning to watch the movie version of the book but I haven't read part 2 (My library only has the Childhood one) so I've kind of torn as to whether or not I should watch it before I read the 2nd book.

Well, no matter, YAY FOR 100 BOOKS! ^_^

Felicitations on reaching your reading goal, Luxx! :D

99 - I'd probably want to read the book first, unless the movie is all that's available. I certainly want to finish the series now that I've read the first, but I also want to read more nonfiction graphic novels. I just ordered a couple with xmas money, including Feynman, Green River Killer, and Stitches, not to mention Habibi and Aaron and Ahmed.

100- Thanks!

Lux, Also read Blankets and Carnet De Voyage by Craig Thompson. I have enjoyed all of his GN.

Graphic Memoirs are great. Fun Home is one of my favorites, which you mentioned in your review. Blue Pills is good too.

101.
Author: Suzanne Collins
Title: Catching Fire
publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Dystopian
Acquisition: sequel
Date: December 29, 2011
Rating: ****

Despite Katniss' relief at the conclusion of The Hunger Games, it is evident to the reader that "it" is not over; the feeling of unrest, the political ramifications of her actions, and the building personal tension scream out for a sequel, which is presented in Catching Fire.

In this second book of the trilogy, the reader is fully (albeit briefly) introduced to the "head" of this horrendous civilization, and as Collins further develops the society outside of the games it becomes clear that not everyone in the Capitol is as repugnant as President Snow, but rather have been indoctrinated into his insanity.

There is little relief for Katniss and her loved ones, as she struggles to again find her path through the mine-field that is her society. While even more predictable than the first, the second is just as compelling, and leads directly in to the concluding novel, Mockingjay.







This morning, Brooks came up with a new game: library. Out of nowhere he came up to me, a bag of books over his arm, and said, "Excuse me, library?"
"What?"
"I said, excuse me, library?"
"Do you mean librarian?"
"Yes. Excuse me, librarian?"
"Yes, sir, are you returning books, or checking them out?"
"Returning them. Please put them on the shelf."
"Ok."
"Excuse me, librarian? Can you help me learn about dinosaurs?"

Do I even need to tell you I melted? I don't know where he learned this, either, because I've only taken him to the library once, and then for story time, but we had so much fun this morning.

Oh, what a great game to play.

Brooks is my hero.

Hi Luxx, congrats on 100 books! And what a great Brooks story. Hope your sleep hours are increasing (mine have decreased severely...looks like I spoke too soon). happy new year and see you on the 2012 threads :)

Yes!!! Playing library should be mandatory everywhere! (says the librarian ;))

That is the cutest story ever!!

Even better - B did the same thing to Michael tonight, only Michael didn't do it "right."

Apparently, when Brooks returned imaginary books to Michael, he opted to put them on the book shelf on his computer cart. B then gave him "a look" and said, "The books go on the bookshelf, librarian. The white one. Right there" (referring to our 20-foot white shelves which, to be fair, sit right next to M's computer cart).

Corrected, the librarian-in-training then put the books on the correct shelf.

See you in 2012

Happy New Year Luxx!! Loved your holiday card photos. You are blessed. : )