cameling's reading slumber room - beanbag #8
This is a continuation of the topic cameling's reading slumber room - loveseat #7.
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2011
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1cameling
January Reads
Told in the Coffee House - Cyrus Adler
Journal of an Ordinary Grief - Mahmoud Darwish
When the Devil Holds the Candle - Karin Fossum
Sanchez Across the Street - Barbara Mujica
The Three Evangelists - Fred Vargas
The Nonesuch - Georgette Heyer
There Came Both Mist and Snow - Michael Innes
Along Came Trouble - Sherryl Woods
French Milk - Lucy Knisley
The Draining Lake - Arnaldur Indridason
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson
The Grand Inquisitor's Manual - Jonathan Kirsch
The Grand Sophy - Georgette Heyer
Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Dogs - Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
Dust - Martha Grimes
Death in the Stocks - Georgette Heyer
Solo - Rana Dasgupta
February Reads
Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand - Fred Vargas
Avempartha - Michael J. Sullivan
A Paramedic's Story : Life, Death and Everything In Between- Steven "Kelly" Grayson
They Found Him Dead - Georgette Heyer
Dangerous Waters : Modern Piracy and Terror on the High Seas - John S. Burnett
Indulgence in Death - J.D. Robb
Dark Road to Darjeeling - Deanna Raybourn
Chips, Clones and Living Beyond 100 - Paul Schoemaker
Stealing Lumby - Gail Fraser
Waiting - Ha Jin
March Reads
Twelve Bar Blues - Patrick Neate
Arctic Chill - Arnaldur Indridason
The Savage Garden - Mark Mills
Apple Turnover Murder - Joanne Fluke
Don't Look Back - Karin Fossum
The Passion of Artemisia - Susan Vreeland
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - Katherine Howe
Look Again - Lisa Scottoline
The Red Door - Charles Todd
Treachery in Death - J.D. Robb
The Cellist of Sarajevo - Steven Galloway
Black Seconds - Karin Fossum
April Reads
Nemesis - Jo Nesbo
Alice at Heart - Deborah Smith
The Green Mouse - Robert Chambers
I Shall Not Hate - Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish
Dolci di Love - Sarah-Kate Lynch
Sunflowers - Sheramy Bundrick
The Madonnas of Leningrad - Debra Dean
Beneath the Lion's Gaze - Maaza Mengiste
Plain Jane - Fern Michaels
Griffin and Sabine - Nick Bantock
May Reads
The Indian Bride - Karin Fossum
Death of an Englishman - Magdalen Nabb
The Egyptian Jukebox - Nick Bantock
The Snack Thief - Andrea Camilleri
The Chukchi Bible - Yuri Rytkheu
Stagestruck - Peter Lovesey
State of the Onion - Julie Hyzy
Search the Dark - Charles Todd
Eye of the God - Ariel Allison
You Can't Stop Me - Max Collins
June Reads
A Life Force - Will Eisner
Away Off Shore - Nathaniel Philbrick
Behold Here's Poison - Georgette Heyer
Salmonella Men on Planet Porno - Yasutaka Tsutsui
The Torso - Helene Tursten
The Terracotta Dog - Andrea Camilleri
Rosalind Franklin and DNA - Anne Sayre
The Captain : The Journey of Derek Jeter - Ian O'Connor
Upon a Dark Night - Peter Lovesey
July Reads
All Different Kinds of Free - Jessica McCann
Kabuki : Circle of Blood - David Mack
Napier's Bones - Derryl Murphy
Lumby's Bounty - Gail Fraser
The Water's Edge - Karin Fossum
The Foreigners - Maxine Swann
Betrayal in Death - JD Robb
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles - Haruki Murakami
City of Thieves - David Benioff
August Heat - Andrea Camilleri
August Reads
The Post Office Girl - Stefan Zweig
From the Observatory - Julio Cortazar
Blue Lightning - Ann Cleeves
Clandestine in Chile - Gabriel García Màrquez
The Devil's Star - Jo Nesbo
The Constantine Codex - Paul Maier
The Wandering Falcon - Jamil Ahmad
Anya's Ghost - Vera Brosgol
Bonk - Mary Roach
Memories of My Melancholy Whores - Gabriel Garcìa Màrquez
Mycophilia : Revelations from the Weird World of Mushrooms - Eugenia Bone
Spies of the Balkans - Alan Furst
Duplicate Death - Georgette Heyer
The Chalk Circle Man - Fred Vargas
Troubles - J.G. Farrell
September Reads
Nothing to Lose - Lee Child
For All the Tea in China - Sarah Rose
Lampshades - Carole Morin
The Wave - Susan Casey
Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast - Bill Richardson
Track of Sand - Andrea Camilleri
Thornyhold - Mary Stewart
Moonlight Becomes You - Mary Higgins Clark
Until Thy Wrath Be Past - Asa Larsson
The Red Market - Scott Carney
October Reads
Robbing the Bees - Holly Bishop
Charlemagne's Tablecloth - Nichola Fletcher
Rounding the Mark - Andrea Camilleri
Godfather of Kathmandu - John Burdett
Stork Raving Mad - Donna Andrews
In Red - Magdalena Tulli
The Foie Gras Wars - Mark Caro
November Reads
The Faster I Walk, the Smaller I Am - Kjersti A. Skomsvold
Conjugations of the Verb - Glen Chamberlain
The Night's Foul Work - Fred Vargas
The Woman Who Heard Color - Kelly Jones
The Journey of the Raindrop - Suzanne Burkett
Dangerous Waters - John Burnett
Nordic Nights - Lise McClendon
After Midnight - Robert Ryan
Blackbird - David Crookes
Skeleton Hill - Peter Lovesey
The Last Nude - Ellis Avery
December Reads
When the Emperor Was Divine - Julie Otsuka
Violets of March - Sarah Jio
Homer's Odyssey - Gwen Cooper
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - Aimee Bender
Mister Blue - Jacques Poulin
The Preacher - Camilla Lackberg
The Artist of Disappearance - Anita Desai
Old Filth - Jane Gardam
97 Orchard - Jane Ziegelman
The Confession of Sandy Harris - Alan Moreton
The Golden Scales - Parker Bilal
Bloodline - Mark Billingham
The Sense of an Ending - Julian Barnes
The Shadow Woman - Ake Edwardson
A Family Matter - Will Eisner
My 1st thread is here
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2cameling
I felt bad going beyond 300 posts in my last thread, so here I am even though it's just a couple of weeks before the new year starts.
3cameling
Going back to posts in the previous thread about disappearing traders, I mourn the disappearance of my cobbler. I'm with the clan that trumps comfort but I've managed to find comfortable shoes that are also pretty. And when I have a pair that I really like the look of, i'd prefer to keep them for years. Hence I have about 140 pairs of shoes... but in my defence, that's because I don't wear them all the time, and therefore some have lasted me more than 8 years.
4cameling
Marky-Mark - a quick trip to be sure. We're here to attend a friend's wedding annivesary party on Friday and thought we'd stay for a few days to catch some sun.....and to visit Hogwort's Castle in Universal . :-)
5cameling
97 Orchard : An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement - by Jane Ziegelman was read on the flight over and I couldn't put it down.
Through the 19th and 20th century, New York has seen waves of immigrants from various countries. In the 1800s, blocks of apartments known as tenements were developed specifically to house the incoming immigrants. The author concentrates on 5 families that lived at 97 Orchard in New York through the 1800s and early 1900s, and divides the book according to each family of Germans, German Jews, the Irish, Russian Jews and Italians.
These families however, appear rather briefly in each chapter and seemed to be incidental to what the author wished to share. The focus of the book really is a sociological study into why these waves of immigrants decided to come to America, how they came over, when Ellis Island was established, the food cultures these immigrants brought with them, how they adapted to the American way of life, the different trades that sprouted because of the different immigrants around the tenements to provide them with the ingredients from their homelands and more interestingly, how some of these immigrant foods have been adopted into the American food culture through the years.
Some old recipes are also provided from each culture in each chapter as were copies of some of the food shopping lists and accounts from each period. The sociological aspects of the book rivaled, in my opinion, the food history, and made this one of the more fascinating books I've read this year.
4 stars
Through the 19th and 20th century, New York has seen waves of immigrants from various countries. In the 1800s, blocks of apartments known as tenements were developed specifically to house the incoming immigrants. The author concentrates on 5 families that lived at 97 Orchard in New York through the 1800s and early 1900s, and divides the book according to each family of Germans, German Jews, the Irish, Russian Jews and Italians.
These families however, appear rather briefly in each chapter and seemed to be incidental to what the author wished to share. The focus of the book really is a sociological study into why these waves of immigrants decided to come to America, how they came over, when Ellis Island was established, the food cultures these immigrants brought with them, how they adapted to the American way of life, the different trades that sprouted because of the different immigrants around the tenements to provide them with the ingredients from their homelands and more interestingly, how some of these immigrant foods have been adopted into the American food culture through the years.
Some old recipes are also provided from each culture in each chapter as were copies of some of the food shopping lists and accounts from each period. The sociological aspects of the book rivaled, in my opinion, the food history, and made this one of the more fascinating books I've read this year.
4 stars
8kidzdoc
Nice review of 97 Orchard, Caroline. I think that the French restaurant we dined at last year during the post-Thanksgiving meet up, Cafe Charbon, is on Orchard St. I'll check later; I'm on the commuter train heading from the PHL airport to the town my parents live in.
9Chatterbox
Amusing cross-cultural illustration at the top here!
I'm with you on shows. My all-time faves are dying now, aged, 7 years. Mostly because the leather is cracking around the toes. Some shoes come and go quickly; others endure for decades or as long as I can keep their soles attached. Hmmm, sounds like I'm talking about books...
I'm with you on shows. My all-time faves are dying now, aged, 7 years. Mostly because the leather is cracking around the toes. Some shoes come and go quickly; others endure for decades or as long as I can keep their soles attached. Hmmm, sounds like I'm talking about books...
10ronincats
I just sent 3 pairs of Cole Haan loafers back to the company--I loved them because they had those Air Jordan insoles and were SO comfortable from day 1. However, the rubber/plastic that formed the soles is disintegrating big time after only 8 years and not that much wear lately. I'm like Caro--I have over a hundred pairs of shoes, but spread the wear out over a lot of them and they tend to last 20 years for the most part. Btw, CH sent me $50 worth credit per shoe. Which might buy me one new pair, except their current designs don't excite me. I want them fairly flat, casual, and with arch support!
11cameling
#6 : good evening, Roni. First time I'm using this new thread connector ....love how it works
#7 : thanks for stopping by, Kerry and a very merry Xmas n holiday season to you to.
#8: safe travels, Darryl. Hope your train runs smoothly n you get some sleep n reading done.
#9: Haha you're right Suz ..... you could have been talking about books. My cheaper shoes don't last as long as my more expensive ones, but given the price, I can't complain if I get at least a couple of years of wear out of them.
#10: CH give great service, Roni. I always send my shoes to them if the knelled start wearing or if they need resoling. I haven't liked many of their recent designs though, even though I lean towards heels. So it's a good thing I've still got a few good pairs.
Sitting by the pool now the sun has started to set. Am liking my Kindle Fire but because of the glossy screen I can't use it in the sun. So it's like the iPad. Good thing I brought my older keyboard Kindle with me. No problem reading on that in the sun at all. I've been trying to peek at the titles of books being read by other people by the pool.so far I have spied the Charlemagne Pursuit and 3 other Kindles. Two other people are reading books but arr too far from me to see the titles.
#7 : thanks for stopping by, Kerry and a very merry Xmas n holiday season to you to.
#8: safe travels, Darryl. Hope your train runs smoothly n you get some sleep n reading done.
#9: Haha you're right Suz ..... you could have been talking about books. My cheaper shoes don't last as long as my more expensive ones, but given the price, I can't complain if I get at least a couple of years of wear out of them.
#10: CH give great service, Roni. I always send my shoes to them if the knelled start wearing or if they need resoling. I haven't liked many of their recent designs though, even though I lean towards heels. So it's a good thing I've still got a few good pairs.
Sitting by the pool now the sun has started to set. Am liking my Kindle Fire but because of the glossy screen I can't use it in the sun. So it's like the iPad. Good thing I brought my older keyboard Kindle with me. No problem reading on that in the sun at all. I've been trying to peek at the titles of books being read by other people by the pool.so far I have spied the Charlemagne Pursuit and 3 other Kindles. Two other people are reading books but arr too far from me to see the titles.
12tututhefirst
Caro: since I'd decided to focus on Histories (including Bio/memoirs and WWI) and Mysteries in 2012, your review of 97 Orchard: really lit up my stars. Sounds like something I'd really enjoy. Thanks for the lead. Also thanks for the interesting comments on the Ipad/fire vs the plain old e-readers and the glare issue. Hubster is getting a Nook tablet under the tree and I'm suspecting he'll have the same issues, altho he'll be able to read in bed while I'll need a clip on light.
As my kids used to tell me "Nobody's perfect."
As my kids used to tell me "Nobody's perfect."
13msf59
Caro- Thanks for checking in! Glad you brought along the old Kindle, the life-saver. Enjoy your days in the sun.
14-Cee-
Hi Caro! Watch that sun - don't get burned!
I'm happy you are getting a vacation and good weather :)
I'm happy you are getting a vacation and good weather :)
16Carmenere
Nothing says Christmas like Santa Camel! Looks like he doesn't need a sack, he keeps all of our books in his humps. Anyway, Happy Holidays to you and yours, Caro!
17cushlareads
Caro where are you? I can't keep up. California? I need to go back to your last thread. And don't forget to tell us about Hogwarts at Universal... my son would love that (unless it's scary - which I'm sure it will be).
97 Orchard is going onto my wishlist - food and immigration and New York in one book sounds great.
97 Orchard is going onto my wishlist - food and immigration and New York in one book sounds great.
19brenzi
Hi Caro, hope you're enjoying the Florida sun. 97 Orchard : An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement sounds fascinating so onto the teetering tower it goes.
20cameling
#12 : Tina - I'm a little disappointed that Amazon couldn't figure a way to offer the same type of e-ink just for the books that their other Kindles had because that's really, in my opinion, what gives them the edge over the iPads and Nooks. But perhaps in their next generation they will be able to offer this feature just for e-books and allow for the glare for all the other apps that you can run on the Fire. Sound a little fantastical? probably...but one can always hope. ;-)
#13 : Enjoying the sun indeed, Marky-Mark, and I got some good sun-soaking pool time in although I'm glad today's our last day because it's 95 degrees ... way too hot for me. I'm looking forward to being back in the cold come tomorrow afternoon. Some snow would be a nice touch too. ;-)
#14 : Hi Cee ... weather has been very cooperative and our friend's renewal of vows and anniversary party after should be a blast.
#15 : Slathering on the sunscreen so I don't burn, Kim ...and my fading summer tan has received a nice boost ... along with a new cluster of freckles.
#16 : Happy holidays to you and yours too, Lynda. I hope someone remembers to feed said Santa Camel after he delivers all the books. ;-)
#17 : Cushla, I'm in Orlando until tomorrow when we'll fly back to Boston. It's been fun visiting with friends here and we were going to go to Islands of Adventure, the park where the Harry Potter attraction is, but it was a 2 hour wait alone just to get into Hogswort's Castle, nevermind what the lines would have been like to get on the Quidditch ride. So we bagged it. The large crowd is also becasue this is Christmas week and there are tons of families here from all over the world. I'm coming back to Orlando at the end of January anyway because my company's having our Customer Conference here, so a few of my colleagues and I are planning to stay the weekend after and rent an apartment, and then we'll do HP then. The lines shouldn't be that long then because it'll not be in the middle of Spring Break, any school holidays or major holidays.
#18 : Thank you, Joe. I'm at least getting some delightful runs in in the morning on a trail around the hotel since it's nice and warm. No chance of outdoor running once I get home tomorrow since the dry cold air plays havoc with my lungs.
#19 : Hi Bonnie, 97 Orchard has given me a new perspective on some of the foods I enjoy eating, and I've been paying closer attention to everything I've been eating here in Orlando. We've gone to some really great cafes and restaurants ... *sigh* diet is definitely going to be on my menu after Christmas. ;-)
#13 : Enjoying the sun indeed, Marky-Mark, and I got some good sun-soaking pool time in although I'm glad today's our last day because it's 95 degrees ... way too hot for me. I'm looking forward to being back in the cold come tomorrow afternoon. Some snow would be a nice touch too. ;-)
#14 : Hi Cee ... weather has been very cooperative and our friend's renewal of vows and anniversary party after should be a blast.
#15 : Slathering on the sunscreen so I don't burn, Kim ...and my fading summer tan has received a nice boost ... along with a new cluster of freckles.
#16 : Happy holidays to you and yours too, Lynda. I hope someone remembers to feed said Santa Camel after he delivers all the books. ;-)
#17 : Cushla, I'm in Orlando until tomorrow when we'll fly back to Boston. It's been fun visiting with friends here and we were going to go to Islands of Adventure, the park where the Harry Potter attraction is, but it was a 2 hour wait alone just to get into Hogswort's Castle, nevermind what the lines would have been like to get on the Quidditch ride. So we bagged it. The large crowd is also becasue this is Christmas week and there are tons of families here from all over the world. I'm coming back to Orlando at the end of January anyway because my company's having our Customer Conference here, so a few of my colleagues and I are planning to stay the weekend after and rent an apartment, and then we'll do HP then. The lines shouldn't be that long then because it'll not be in the middle of Spring Break, any school holidays or major holidays.
#18 : Thank you, Joe. I'm at least getting some delightful runs in in the morning on a trail around the hotel since it's nice and warm. No chance of outdoor running once I get home tomorrow since the dry cold air plays havoc with my lungs.
#19 : Hi Bonnie, 97 Orchard has given me a new perspective on some of the foods I enjoy eating, and I've been paying closer attention to everything I've been eating here in Orlando. We've gone to some really great cafes and restaurants ... *sigh* diet is definitely going to be on my menu after Christmas. ;-)
21cameling
I borrowed a copy of The Confession of Sandy Harris from the Kindle library. Sandy, is in love with Brett and finds herself pregnant, but fearing her family's disapproval and possibly being disowned, she takes a bold and dangerous action to abort the child.
While she wrestles with her guilt, her family come to learn of her predicament and rally around her. Brett too, comes to learn of the aborted pregnancy and upon reflection, gains a little maturity and goes to visit her. What Sandy realizes, a little too late, is that her father is not the ogre she believed him to be, Brett is not the selfish guy he had previously portrayed himself to be, and that her mother will always be her staunch ally and protector, regardless of the situation.
However, there is a darker side to the story and one which Sandy couldn't bring herself to tell anyone until 3 priests are murdered and she finds herself the accused. When she finally confesses her darkest secret to Rev. Dr Ratcher, she opens the proverbial can of worms, and exposes the nasty world of sexual abuse by priests.
The main message, to me, was that regardless of the depth of one's sins, the love of God is such that forgiveness is always within reach.
3 stars
Also read The Golden Scales by Parker Bilal which I gratefully received via Netgalley.
A child goes missing during her mother's drug induced blackout, and her mother spends years coming back to Cairo trying to find her. Adil Romario, national soccer hero in Egypt is missing and Makana, an ex-police inspector from Sudan who had lost his family and forced to seek refuge in Cairo, is engaged by an elderly Egyptian tycoon to find him.
What are his investigations bringing to the surface? Whose feathers are being ruffled, who has the most to lose and who has the most to gain? Everyone has secrets they're trying to protect.
Before long, Makana finds himself being followed as he tries to trace the last whereabouts of Adil, the people he knew and the places he had been to. He catches the attention of an ambitious journalist who seems to be shadowing him, and the local police honcho who may be using Makana to fuel his own career advancement. In the meantime, the mother of the long missing child is found tortured and murdered just days after Makana has met her by chance at a cafe he frequents. Something about her murder disturbs him, and he finds himself trying to find answers, and in doing so, puts himself in the way of violent danger from multiple fronts.
This was a very thrilling read I couldn't put down .... good thing I had a couple of hours by the pool in the sun. :-)
4 stars
While she wrestles with her guilt, her family come to learn of her predicament and rally around her. Brett too, comes to learn of the aborted pregnancy and upon reflection, gains a little maturity and goes to visit her. What Sandy realizes, a little too late, is that her father is not the ogre she believed him to be, Brett is not the selfish guy he had previously portrayed himself to be, and that her mother will always be her staunch ally and protector, regardless of the situation.
However, there is a darker side to the story and one which Sandy couldn't bring herself to tell anyone until 3 priests are murdered and she finds herself the accused. When she finally confesses her darkest secret to Rev. Dr Ratcher, she opens the proverbial can of worms, and exposes the nasty world of sexual abuse by priests.
The main message, to me, was that regardless of the depth of one's sins, the love of God is such that forgiveness is always within reach.
3 stars
Also read The Golden Scales by Parker Bilal which I gratefully received via Netgalley.
A child goes missing during her mother's drug induced blackout, and her mother spends years coming back to Cairo trying to find her. Adil Romario, national soccer hero in Egypt is missing and Makana, an ex-police inspector from Sudan who had lost his family and forced to seek refuge in Cairo, is engaged by an elderly Egyptian tycoon to find him.
What are his investigations bringing to the surface? Whose feathers are being ruffled, who has the most to lose and who has the most to gain? Everyone has secrets they're trying to protect.
Before long, Makana finds himself being followed as he tries to trace the last whereabouts of Adil, the people he knew and the places he had been to. He catches the attention of an ambitious journalist who seems to be shadowing him, and the local police honcho who may be using Makana to fuel his own career advancement. In the meantime, the mother of the long missing child is found tortured and murdered just days after Makana has met her by chance at a cafe he frequents. Something about her murder disturbs him, and he finds himself trying to find answers, and in doing so, puts himself in the way of violent danger from multiple fronts.
This was a very thrilling read I couldn't put down .... good thing I had a couple of hours by the pool in the sun. :-)
4 stars
25PaulCranswick
Caro. 2011 is almost completed and we look forward to 2012 in a more self-imposed abstemious frame of mind - thanks to you and Darryl in large part haha. For what is left of 2011 I wish you every indulgence and the fullest happiness with the hubster in the bosom of your family. I further trust that 2012 and beyond sees you happy, well-off and in a good a humour as I have come to expect and cherish (book drought impending excepted). Hope that we get the chance to meet up in 2012 in KL.
26ChelleBearss
Merry Christmas Caro!!
28richardderus
mistletoe smooches!
32LauraBrook
Merry Christmas, Caro!
33msf59
Caro- Merry Christmas, my friend! I really appreciate all you do for me and everyone else here on LT! You are a treasure. Hope you had a safe trip home! Hugs!
34-Cee-
MC!Very lightly snowing! Yippee!
Have a safe and fun day... waiting to hear about your holiday food! ;-)
35ChelleBearss
Thank you Thank you for the great books!
I've just started the first book in the Louise Penny books, can't wait to get to The Brutal Telling and I've always wanted to read Love in the Time of Cholera!!
Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!
I've just started the first book in the Louise Penny books, can't wait to get to The Brutal Telling and I've always wanted to read Love in the Time of Cholera!!
Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!
37TheTortoise
>21 cameling: Caro, thank you for reading and reviewing The Confession of Sandy Harris.
I hope you will take the time to borrow and review The Book Traveller which I think is a much better book!
Happy Christmas!
Alan
I hope you will take the time to borrow and review The Book Traveller which I think is a much better book!
Happy Christmas!
Alan
38cameling
Travel was remarkably light yesterday, both at the airport and on the roads coming home. So we had time to unpack, and for me to throw a crown roast of lamb and a honeyed ham into the oven and make some hollandaise sauce for the steamed asparagus. Friends came over for dinner bringing a bean salad, a roast duck stuffed with cranberries, a pear and gorgonzola salad, a potato gratin, brownies, and apple pie and a pear tart.
We ended up with 5 people staying over because of all the booze consumed (and because they were warm, stuffed and lazy and didn't relish going out into the frigid weather). Made blueberry muffins, a pile of crispy bacon, and herb scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning. The last overnighter has just left. Now we've got to get cracking to pack, make sure we get all the bags of presents into the car, and drive down to New York for the family's Christmas dinner. I hope we get there in time for the Disney Christmas Day parade on tv. ;-)
It snowed this morning .... what a wonderful sight to wake up and see the flakes drifting down past the windows.
Thank you all for another wonderful year of friendship, good cheer, humor and support. Lots of love and a very Merry Christmas and holiday season to everyone!
We ended up with 5 people staying over because of all the booze consumed (and because they were warm, stuffed and lazy and didn't relish going out into the frigid weather). Made blueberry muffins, a pile of crispy bacon, and herb scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning. The last overnighter has just left. Now we've got to get cracking to pack, make sure we get all the bags of presents into the car, and drive down to New York for the family's Christmas dinner. I hope we get there in time for the Disney Christmas Day parade on tv. ;-)
It snowed this morning .... what a wonderful sight to wake up and see the flakes drifting down past the windows.
Thank you all for another wonderful year of friendship, good cheer, humor and support. Lots of love and a very Merry Christmas and holiday season to everyone!
41cameling
Had a lovely time in Manhattan yesterday. I first met with Darryl to load ourselves with tubs and packets of dekiciousness from Russ & Daughters,. I'm not convjnced we didn't enter into a bit of a time warp while we were there because i don't quite jnderstand how wethen managed to get out with our parcels, take the subway and get to University Place with an hour to spare. I think the Gods of The Strsnd, the holy mecca of bookstores inNYC had somethjng to do with it and we were both lured down the street and into her hallowed portal, allowed to leave only after I had a full cart of books.
Sheepishly, we carried our loot over to Scarpinas where we met with Judy, Jim, Katherine, Suzanne and Richard for a delightful gabfest. Food and book talk .....what better way is there to spend a couple of hours?
Despite the pull of the Strand for a second visit, I didn't think my will.power would be able to resist another assault within the same day, so I walked down a couple of doors to the Forbidden Planet and did my best not to come away with more than a tote of graphic novels.
So with a backpackers full of yummy smoked herring, whitfish salad, wasabi roe and pastrami salmon, and 3 tote bags filled with books I hoofed merrily down to .... St Patrick's Cathedral on E.51st St. Where I was to meet the family .
The merry hoofing held.out only until I got to 36th street after which I wondered if my now somewhat aching arms may have stretched by a good 5" from the now less than joyful weight of the totes. A quick stop at a cafe was made to rest my arms and get a warm cup of green tea and off I went ...bravely throwing myself into the seemingly maddened crowd that swelled rather alarmingly.
Bags of books, backpackers with yummy treasures intact, I arrived at St Pat's only slightly battered by the crowd with 10mins to
My laptop refuses to work today and so I'm using my Kindle Fire.
Leaving for Boston tomorrow and will post a review and list of purchased books later
Sheepishly, we carried our loot over to Scarpinas where we met with Judy, Jim, Katherine, Suzanne and Richard for a delightful gabfest. Food and book talk .....what better way is there to spend a couple of hours?
Despite the pull of the Strand for a second visit, I didn't think my will.power would be able to resist another assault within the same day, so I walked down a couple of doors to the Forbidden Planet and did my best not to come away with more than a tote of graphic novels.
So with a backpackers full of yummy smoked herring, whitfish salad, wasabi roe and pastrami salmon, and 3 tote bags filled with books I hoofed merrily down to .... St Patrick's Cathedral on E.51st St. Where I was to meet the family .
The merry hoofing held.out only until I got to 36th street after which I wondered if my now somewhat aching arms may have stretched by a good 5" from the now less than joyful weight of the totes. A quick stop at a cafe was made to rest my arms and get a warm cup of green tea and off I went ...bravely throwing myself into the seemingly maddened crowd that swelled rather alarmingly.
Bags of books, backpackers with yummy treasures intact, I arrived at St Pat's only slightly battered by the crowd with 10mins to
My laptop refuses to work today and so I'm using my Kindle Fire.
Leaving for Boston tomorrow and will post a review and list of purchased books later
42msf59
Caro- Glad you had such a nice time in NYC! Maybe one of these days, I could join you guys! I also can't wait to see the GNs you got.
I started the 3rd Fossum book, When the Devil Holds the Candle and, as usual it grabbed me right away. She is quickly, earning her place as one of the best crime writers out there!
I started the 3rd Fossum book, When the Devil Holds the Candle and, as usual it grabbed me right away. She is quickly, earning her place as one of the best crime writers out there!
43qebo
So with a backpackers full of yummy smoked herring, whitfish salad, wasabi roe and pastrami salmon, and 3 tote bags filled with books I hoofed merrily down to .... St Patrick's Cathedral on E.51st St.
Well, it was a nice day for a long walk, but maybe not so much when you've doubled your weight with books. :-) It was nice to meet you!
Well, it was a nice day for a long walk, but maybe not so much when you've doubled your weight with books. :-) It was nice to meet you!
44-Cee-
Hi Caro! Glad you had a great time in the city. Sounds like you needed a cart for your purchases :D
45mckait
You are beautiful in the pictures, as always!
I don't envy you lugging totes filled with books, but now that it is
over, I look forward to hearing what you bought!
I don't envy you lugging totes filled with books, but now that it is
over, I look forward to hearing what you bought!
46cameling
#42 : Marky-Mark .. Fossum is definitely one of my favorite Scandicrime authors. I'm glad you're enjoying When the Devil. I've not yet read one of hers that I haven't liked or even found mediocre. I've still to acquire Bad Intentions, The Caller and Broken but I plan to do so next year.
#43 : I definitely used up whatever calories I consumed during lunch from that walk, Katherine. :-)
#44 : Ha! If I'd thought about it, I may have asked the Strand for loan of the cart I used in their store, Cee. This is why Edd's so useful on these book buying trips - he be my beast of burden. haha
#45 : Thank you, Kath. It was the glow from a delightful LT lunch and successful book and fishy buying. ;-)
#43 : I definitely used up whatever calories I consumed during lunch from that walk, Katherine. :-)
#44 : Ha! If I'd thought about it, I may have asked the Strand for loan of the cart I used in their store, Cee. This is why Edd's so useful on these book buying trips - he be my beast of burden. haha
#45 : Thank you, Kath. It was the glow from a delightful LT lunch and successful book and fishy buying. ;-)
47cameling
Bloodline by Mark Billingham
When a woman is killed in her home with a small piece of plastic found clenched in her hand, DCI Tom Thorne is hard pressed to understand the motive behind her murder or who the murderer might be. He is, however, surprised to discover her mother had been one of the women killed by a serial killer, Raymond Garvey fifteen years ago. But when another woman's murder is brought to his attention, also with a piece of plastic in her hand, the plastic later found to be a piece of an x-ray film, and is discovered also to have been the daughter of another victim of Garvey that DCI Thorne starts to suspect he may have another serial killer on his hand.
He researches the victims of Raymond Garvey and the man himself. In the meantime, a pair of siblings are also murdered in their home, also children of another of Garvey's victims. The race is now on to identify and find the surviving children of all the Garvey victims since they appear to be the target. But who's trying to kill them and why?
As DCI Thorne and his team pursue all possible clues in their investigation, they are constantly a few steps behind the killer. He engages a retired colleague to help with some of the research into Garvey and his past.
In the meantime, we are presented with a possible defense for Garvey through some journal entries by the killer himself. Was he really responsible for killing all those women?
The identity of the new serial killer eludes us all until the very end. DCI Thorne isn't Sherlock Holmes, he makes mistakes, he has personal problems to deal with, and he has a list of people he needs to try and protect from a serial killer. But can he, and will he get the killer before it's too late?
The author manages to keep the right level of tension throughout. I liked the way he kept this from being anything but predictable.
4 stars
When a woman is killed in her home with a small piece of plastic found clenched in her hand, DCI Tom Thorne is hard pressed to understand the motive behind her murder or who the murderer might be. He is, however, surprised to discover her mother had been one of the women killed by a serial killer, Raymond Garvey fifteen years ago. But when another woman's murder is brought to his attention, also with a piece of plastic in her hand, the plastic later found to be a piece of an x-ray film, and is discovered also to have been the daughter of another victim of Garvey that DCI Thorne starts to suspect he may have another serial killer on his hand.
He researches the victims of Raymond Garvey and the man himself. In the meantime, a pair of siblings are also murdered in their home, also children of another of Garvey's victims. The race is now on to identify and find the surviving children of all the Garvey victims since they appear to be the target. But who's trying to kill them and why?
As DCI Thorne and his team pursue all possible clues in their investigation, they are constantly a few steps behind the killer. He engages a retired colleague to help with some of the research into Garvey and his past.
In the meantime, we are presented with a possible defense for Garvey through some journal entries by the killer himself. Was he really responsible for killing all those women?
The identity of the new serial killer eludes us all until the very end. DCI Thorne isn't Sherlock Holmes, he makes mistakes, he has personal problems to deal with, and he has a list of people he needs to try and protect from a serial killer. But can he, and will he get the killer before it's too late?
The author manages to keep the right level of tension throughout. I liked the way he kept this from being anything but predictable.
4 stars
48cameling
Finally home after a meandering drive back from NY. We stopped in New Canaan to stretch our legs, buy cupcakes from a cute bakery, have lunch and visited The Elm St Bookstore, a very cute small independent bookstore. The hubster and I definitely couldn't resist its lure.
Ok, so here's the list of my NYC purchases.
From the Strand:
The Sense of an Ending - Julian Barnes
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris
Point Omega - Don DeLilo
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit - Jeanette Winterson
Proud Beggars - Albert Cossery
A Small Hotel - Robert Olen Butler
The Guinea Pigs - Ludvik Vaculik
By Nightfall - Michael Cunningham
The Flower Mat - Shugoro Yamamoto
The Echo Maker- Richard Powers
Operation Mincemeat : How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory - Ben McIntyre
Edible Stories - Mark Kurlansky
The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris - David McCullough
Telling Tales - Nadine Gordimer
From the Forbidden Planet:
Picket Line - Breena Wiederhoeft
A Family Matter - Will Eisner
Discworld Graphic Novels - Terry Pratchett
Nelson - Edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix (no touchstone)
From The Elm St Bookstore:
The Feast of the Goat - Mario Vargas Llosa
River of Smoke - Amitav Ghosh
Ok, so here's the list of my NYC purchases.
From the Strand:
The Sense of an Ending - Julian Barnes
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris
Point Omega - Don DeLilo
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit - Jeanette Winterson
Proud Beggars - Albert Cossery
A Small Hotel - Robert Olen Butler
The Guinea Pigs - Ludvik Vaculik
By Nightfall - Michael Cunningham
The Flower Mat - Shugoro Yamamoto
The Echo Maker- Richard Powers
Operation Mincemeat : How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory - Ben McIntyre
Edible Stories - Mark Kurlansky
The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris - David McCullough
Telling Tales - Nadine Gordimer
From the Forbidden Planet:
Picket Line - Breena Wiederhoeft
A Family Matter - Will Eisner
Discworld Graphic Novels - Terry Pratchett
Nelson - Edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix (no touchstone)
From The Elm St Bookstore:
The Feast of the Goat - Mario Vargas Llosa
River of Smoke - Amitav Ghosh
49mckait
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit - Jeanette Winterson is the only one I read.. and I enjoyed it.. nice haul!!!
On the run again today.. take care :)
50-Cee-
>48 cameling: I have a few of those, want a few of those, looking forward to hearing about a few others, but have not read any of them yet... I would encourage you to get reading, but then you will entice me with your reviews. Oh the sweet agony of all this temptation ;-)
Great and heavy haul!
Great and heavy haul!
51Donna828
Hi Caro, delurking to say how much I've enjoyed your threads with talk of books and travel over the past year. I also must thank you for your recommendation back in early November of The Faster I Walk the Smaller I AM. It is one of my new Christmas books thanks to my DH. I read the first line - "I like it when I can be done with something" - and knew I had chosen well... thanks to your excellent review.
You looked like you were having such fun at the NYC meet-up. Aren't they the greatest? Have a Happy New Year reading some of those books from The Strand. I'll get there one of these days. ;-)
You looked like you were having such fun at the NYC meet-up. Aren't they the greatest? Have a Happy New Year reading some of those books from The Strand. I'll get there one of these days. ;-)
52qebo
You've reminded me of another Richard Powers book that I own but haven't yet read, and another that I've had on the wishlist...
53cameling
#49 : When are you going to slow down, Kath? You're like the Duracell bunny ...always high energy! ;-) What's on the menu for today?
#50 : haha.. your response is like mine when I read hauls brought in by some of the LT folks, Cee. any white fluffy stuff by your way today? If yes, please send some down.
#51 : Oh I'm so glad you're looking forward to reading The Faster I Walk the Smaller I Am, Donna. It's one of those books that sits with you a long while after you get to the final page and close the back cover.
LT meet ups are great! I do so enjoy meeting LTers in the flesh so to speak (so far, they've all turned up nicely clothed) and I hope I have the opportunity to attend others perhaps in different cities if they coincide with some of my travels so I get to meet more people who don't live around my neck of the woods.
#52 : Ooh...and which other Richard Powers book do you own, Katherine? Curious minds want to know. ;-)
#50 : haha.. your response is like mine when I read hauls brought in by some of the LT folks, Cee. any white fluffy stuff by your way today? If yes, please send some down.
#51 : Oh I'm so glad you're looking forward to reading The Faster I Walk the Smaller I Am, Donna. It's one of those books that sits with you a long while after you get to the final page and close the back cover.
LT meet ups are great! I do so enjoy meeting LTers in the flesh so to speak (so far, they've all turned up nicely clothed) and I hope I have the opportunity to attend others perhaps in different cities if they coincide with some of my travels so I get to meet more people who don't live around my neck of the woods.
#52 : Ooh...and which other Richard Powers book do you own, Katherine? Curious minds want to know. ;-)
54cameling
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes is by far the best book I've read in 2011 ! I can safely say this with 3 days to go before we herald in the new one.
The winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize, this novel is the most brilliant piece of writing I've read this year. It's a book about Anthony, an elderly man, and his memories, of his childhood, his past, his friends, his family, his present and the quiet analysis of himself through various events that take place in his life.
It's an intense look at friendship, changes in perspectives, remorse, and the question of whether anyone can really know another person's mind and what leads them to take certain actions.
Though slim in volume, the depth of philosophical ideas cast amidst the occasionally whimsical narrative makes for an engrossing and thought-provoking immersion between the pages. A brilliant stroke of genius, however, is the way the author layers the philosophical content amidst major events that strike Anthony at various stages of his life, catalysts that lead him to uncover new facets in his character, and a surprising discovery.
And for those who will read this book, I'm pleased and proud to say, I'm with Anthony... I didn't get it either.
5 stars
There's no way I can read anything else at this time because I want to keep thinking about some of the ideas presented in this book, and just let the story continue to swirl around like a lazy river on a summer's day in my mind for a little while longer.
So now to run some mindless errands ... grocery shopping and a spot of room cleaning .....note I didn't say house because the thought of cleaning the tornado-struck house shoots bolts of terror in my tiny weakly fluttering heart.
The winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize, this novel is the most brilliant piece of writing I've read this year. It's a book about Anthony, an elderly man, and his memories, of his childhood, his past, his friends, his family, his present and the quiet analysis of himself through various events that take place in his life.
It's an intense look at friendship, changes in perspectives, remorse, and the question of whether anyone can really know another person's mind and what leads them to take certain actions.
Though slim in volume, the depth of philosophical ideas cast amidst the occasionally whimsical narrative makes for an engrossing and thought-provoking immersion between the pages. A brilliant stroke of genius, however, is the way the author layers the philosophical content amidst major events that strike Anthony at various stages of his life, catalysts that lead him to uncover new facets in his character, and a surprising discovery.
And for those who will read this book, I'm pleased and proud to say, I'm with Anthony... I didn't get it either.
5 stars
There's no way I can read anything else at this time because I want to keep thinking about some of the ideas presented in this book, and just let the story continue to swirl around like a lazy river on a summer's day in my mind for a little while longer.
So now to run some mindless errands ... grocery shopping and a spot of room cleaning .....note I didn't say house because the thought of cleaning the tornado-struck house shoots bolts of terror in my tiny weakly fluttering heart.
56tututhefirst
Caro....what a splendid writeup of the Julian Barnes book! I went immediately to the big ILL site and put myself on the list. by the time my name comes up, (I'm #28) I may have some room in the queue, and if not, will be sure to make some. It looks way too good to pass up. What a great way to end the year!
57cushlareads
I loved The Sense of an Ending too (and I didn't get it till the end either). Great write-up! Have you read any of his other novels? I pulled Oscar and Lucinda out of a storage box last week... It must be in the running for my oldest TBR book because I think I bought it new when it was first published!
58jnwelch
That's a great review of The Sense of an Ending, Caro. This book has generated more discussion among people I know than any I've read in ages. The one flaw, for me, if you can call it a flaw, is I think he could have included more about Adrian without tipping his hand. But it still has me thinking about it for all the reasons you give.
59katiekrug
De-lurking to add that I, too, liked The Sense of an Ending - the title is brilliant on so many levels, as well. And I didn't totally "get it", either - though I think I got more than Tony did. What a great book!
60cameling
#55 : Katherine, I am on the wait list at the library for Galatea 2.2. Gold Bug Variations sounds good .. I think I'll add that to my obese wish list. Thanks for the recommendation.
#56 : Thanks Tina. It's a great book. I hope your wait for a copy isn't too long.
#57 : Thanks, Cushla. I can't believe I've not picked up anything from Julian Barnes before. This is the first of his works I've read. I've also just bought The Lemon Table. Have you read that one? How wonderful that you've got Oscar and Lucinda to look forward to reading... it's marvelous. I've got that on my re-reading shelf.
#58 : Thanks, Joe. I'm not sure I actually want more about Adrian because he kept so much close to his chest. From Tony's point, he mostly only understood people on the surface, so without the diary he couldn't resume to understand Adrian's thoughts. It was only during the later contact with Veronica and the friendship he shared with his ex-wife that he started to become more aware of the deeper aspects of their personalities.
#59 : Yes, Katie, after reading the book, i thought the title very apropos too. This is definitely a book to be placed on the re-read shelf.
#56 : Thanks Tina. It's a great book. I hope your wait for a copy isn't too long.
#57 : Thanks, Cushla. I can't believe I've not picked up anything from Julian Barnes before. This is the first of his works I've read. I've also just bought The Lemon Table. Have you read that one? How wonderful that you've got Oscar and Lucinda to look forward to reading... it's marvelous. I've got that on my re-reading shelf.
#58 : Thanks, Joe. I'm not sure I actually want more about Adrian because he kept so much close to his chest. From Tony's point, he mostly only understood people on the surface, so without the diary he couldn't resume to understand Adrian's thoughts. It was only during the later contact with Veronica and the friendship he shared with his ex-wife that he started to become more aware of the deeper aspects of their personalities.
#59 : Yes, Katie, after reading the book, i thought the title very apropos too. This is definitely a book to be placed on the re-read shelf.
61jnwelch
>60 cameling: I can understand that, Caro. For me, Adrian was intriguing enough and important enough that I would've liked more on him for the reader. I think it could've been done without affecting Tony's understanding. One of the appeals of the book is its lean presentation, but a bit more on Adrian would have been welcome.
BTW, Arthur and George is another good Julian Barnes book, based on a true story in the life of Arthur Conan Doyle.
BTW, Arthur and George is another good Julian Barnes book, based on a true story in the life of Arthur Conan Doyle.
62gennyt
#48 What a great book haul! The only one I've read is 'Oranges', many years ago. I was reminded of it recently when Winterson's new autobiography was being serialised on BBC Radio.
I'm envious that you've picked up River of Smoke - I want to read that soon. I had it in my grasp in the form of a library copy as soon as it was published, but someone else reserved it before I got round to reading it - very frustrating!
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!
I'm envious that you've picked up River of Smoke - I want to read that soon. I had it in my grasp in the form of a library copy as soon as it was published, but someone else reserved it before I got round to reading it - very frustrating!
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!
63msf59
Caro- Wow, that's an excellent book haul! That should keep you busy for awhile.
I loved your thoughts on The Sense of an Ending. I recently read it too and was very impressed. It's a book that cries for a re-read! And I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
I loved your thoughts on The Sense of an Ending. I recently read it too and was very impressed. It's a book that cries for a re-read! And I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
64-Cee-
Ah, well... I guess The Sense of an Ending is going on my WL!
Great review and so much support from the LT crowd. :)
Great review and so much support from the LT crowd. :)
65cameling
#61 : Ooh..thanks for the recommendation, Joe. I love Arthur Conan Doyle. Forget the obese wish list ... I went out and bought a copy from the Book Depository this morning. ;-)
#62 : Since reading Sea of Poppies, I just couldn't resist getting River of Smoke when I saw it, Genny. I'm too impatient to wait for a copy from my library after I found out that I'd be #32 on the wait list. He's a popular author at my library. Wishing you a happy new year too!
#63 : Hi Marky-Mark .... I just finished putting all my lovely new purchases away last night. I could almost hear the shelves groaning under the weight of new additions to the TBR Tower, but as my goal next year is to read more off my TBR Tower and to buy fewer books, I think I'm justified in ensuring I have a sufficient collection to reduce the risk of my failing the challenge.
I've since purchased Arthur and George and The Lemon Table and I hope they'll be literary gems as well. Do you have anything else by Julian Barnes in your TBR pile?
#64 : Whoopeee.. Cee's added this wonderful book to her WL. My job for the day is done. ;-) Thank you.
#62 : Since reading Sea of Poppies, I just couldn't resist getting River of Smoke when I saw it, Genny. I'm too impatient to wait for a copy from my library after I found out that I'd be #32 on the wait list. He's a popular author at my library. Wishing you a happy new year too!
#63 : Hi Marky-Mark .... I just finished putting all my lovely new purchases away last night. I could almost hear the shelves groaning under the weight of new additions to the TBR Tower, but as my goal next year is to read more off my TBR Tower and to buy fewer books, I think I'm justified in ensuring I have a sufficient collection to reduce the risk of my failing the challenge.
I've since purchased Arthur and George and The Lemon Table and I hope they'll be literary gems as well. Do you have anything else by Julian Barnes in your TBR pile?
#64 : Whoopeee.. Cee's added this wonderful book to her WL. My job for the day is done. ;-) Thank you.
66cameling
Day off work because the hubster is sick. Running a fever and feeling dizzy. Sounds suspiciously like the mysterious bug I came down with in November. Double-boiling a cornish hen with herbs and will give him a bowl of the broth later. He has no appetite, but has a great capacity for low moans, groans and almost incessant whispers for fresh mugs of tea.
Had to cancel our dinner party plans for tonight.
Have some pork ribs, lots of garlic cloves, celery, black pepper corns and stock in the slow cooker .. that will be the hubster's dinner.
Had to cancel our dinner party plans for tonight.
Have some pork ribs, lots of garlic cloves, celery, black pepper corns and stock in the slow cooker .. that will be the hubster's dinner.
67kidzdoc
Ohh...I don't feel so good, either. Can you send some pork ribs my way?
Nice review of The Sense of an Ending, Caroline. I'll reread it (and finally review it) early in 2012.
ETA: I agree with you; The Sense of an Ending was my favorite novel that was published in 2011. My favorite novel that I read this year was The War of the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa.
Nice review of The Sense of an Ending, Caroline. I'll reread it (and finally review it) early in 2012.
ETA: I agree with you; The Sense of an Ending was my favorite novel that was published in 2011. My favorite novel that I read this year was The War of the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa.
68PaulCranswick
Caro - back from my drug fuelled absence (well antibiotic and anti-asthmatic laden anyhows).
Impressive shopping spree but dont forget after tomorrow we have to cut down. 20 goodies and also impressed that one of them has been read already...and that it is your fave of the year!
Sorry to see the hubster is also sick. Bit worried that you don't prescribe the same torture with the onions that you recommended for me! Hope he gets well soon.
Love the Duracell Battery image of Kath btw lol.
Impressive shopping spree but dont forget after tomorrow we have to cut down. 20 goodies and also impressed that one of them has been read already...and that it is your fave of the year!
Sorry to see the hubster is also sick. Bit worried that you don't prescribe the same torture with the onions that you recommended for me! Hope he gets well soon.
Love the Duracell Battery image of Kath btw lol.
69mckait
oh dear... a day behind makes a difference..
Yesterday it was take out Chinese. Adam loves Chinese and so
we brought home a pile of it.. I will send it for Dan's lunch..
and I am not cooking today. We will just eat leftover everything.
I am totally avoiding your blue text today..
I haven't read in so long, I may have forgotten how.
I thumbed your terrific review of Sense of an Ending... but I will probably not be reading that one..
at least not any time soon..even though the oracle thinks I will love it :)
I suspect you will be partying tonight?
Yesterday it was take out Chinese. Adam loves Chinese and so
we brought home a pile of it.. I will send it for Dan's lunch..
and I am not cooking today. We will just eat leftover everything.
I am totally avoiding your blue text today..
I haven't read in so long, I may have forgotten how.
I thumbed your terrific review of Sense of an Ending... but I will probably not be reading that one..
at least not any time soon..even though the oracle thinks I will love it :)
I suspect you will be partying tonight?
70cameling
#67 : Alas, Darryl .. I read your post too late ... the hubster ate all the pork ribs .... and fell back into a semi-coma. He's requested gnocchi today, so I'm taking that as an indication that the man's back on the good health wagon.
I've got The War of the End of the World in my TBR Tower already, and will be making it one of my 2012 reads. I'm ashamed to say the only Mario Vargas Llosa book I've read so far has been Captain Pantoja and the Special Service. I've been meaning to get to some of his other ones and I was so tempted to pick up Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter when we were at the Strand last week, but I thought I ought to exercise some restraint since my cart was already full. Still ... today's the last day for book shopping so I may head out to Barnes & Noble this afternoon for a last treat for the year.
#68 : Welcome back to the land of the living, Paul! How nice to see you up and about. SWMBO's good nursing has done wonders.
I'm going to post the 2012 Read More Buy Less Challenge thread today for anyone interested in joining me on this quest.
#69 : Not to worry Kath, my blue text will always be here .... whenever you're ready to revisit them. mmwwahahahahahaa.....
Marinated a steak in olive oil, parsley, garlic, rosemary and a bit of cumin in the fridge. Planning on grilling that with a side of gnocchi in pesto for lunch today.
If the weather holds, we will head out to Boston for First Night. I hope last night's rain and the rise in the temperature today will not have damaged the ice sculptures. Definitely not staying till midnight to watch the fireworks over Boston Harbour though ... too crowded, so we'll leave around 11 or so and head over to a friend's apartment in Charlestown where they're having a party and watch it from there.
To all who are already celebrating....
glitter-graphics.com
I've got The War of the End of the World in my TBR Tower already, and will be making it one of my 2012 reads. I'm ashamed to say the only Mario Vargas Llosa book I've read so far has been Captain Pantoja and the Special Service. I've been meaning to get to some of his other ones and I was so tempted to pick up Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter when we were at the Strand last week, but I thought I ought to exercise some restraint since my cart was already full. Still ... today's the last day for book shopping so I may head out to Barnes & Noble this afternoon for a last treat for the year.
#68 : Welcome back to the land of the living, Paul! How nice to see you up and about. SWMBO's good nursing has done wonders.
I'm going to post the 2012 Read More Buy Less Challenge thread today for anyone interested in joining me on this quest.
#69 : Not to worry Kath, my blue text will always be here .... whenever you're ready to revisit them. mmwwahahahahahaa.....
Marinated a steak in olive oil, parsley, garlic, rosemary and a bit of cumin in the fridge. Planning on grilling that with a side of gnocchi in pesto for lunch today.
If the weather holds, we will head out to Boston for First Night. I hope last night's rain and the rise in the temperature today will not have damaged the ice sculptures. Definitely not staying till midnight to watch the fireworks over Boston Harbour though ... too crowded, so we'll leave around 11 or so and head over to a friend's apartment in Charlestown where they're having a party and watch it from there.
To all who are already celebrating....
glitter-graphics.com
71cameling
The Shadow Woman by Åke Edwardson
During Sweden's outdoor summer Gothenburg Party, an undercover policewoman is attacked. In the middle of the August heat, a dead woman is found in a local park with no identification.
This is police procedural at its best. As with some crimes that take place, there are no immediate clues and it is only through the tenacious investigations by a determined homicide team who broaden their search to all directions, even grasping sometimes at the most fragile leads.
The author brings us into the world of Chief Inspector Erik Winter. Even with the identification of the dead woman seemingly leading nowhere, he still has a colleague in hospital, the victim of a brutal attack, and a shooting that takes place, also at the Gothenburg Party. The situations that take his attention away from the dead woman's investigations aren't placed as red herrings, but, I think, more as somewhat subtle sociological statements on the effects of immigration in Sweden, and to strike a more realistic note in the novel, the note being that most crime squads do not have the luxury of only working on one case at a time, but have to juggle multiple unconnected cases.
This is not a fast-paced thriller with a lot of action, so I'd recommend this only to readers who enjoy a slow, gradual and detailed look at peeling back layers of clues, and finding the connections between the past and the present.
3.8 stars
During Sweden's outdoor summer Gothenburg Party, an undercover policewoman is attacked. In the middle of the August heat, a dead woman is found in a local park with no identification.
This is police procedural at its best. As with some crimes that take place, there are no immediate clues and it is only through the tenacious investigations by a determined homicide team who broaden their search to all directions, even grasping sometimes at the most fragile leads.
The author brings us into the world of Chief Inspector Erik Winter. Even with the identification of the dead woman seemingly leading nowhere, he still has a colleague in hospital, the victim of a brutal attack, and a shooting that takes place, also at the Gothenburg Party. The situations that take his attention away from the dead woman's investigations aren't placed as red herrings, but, I think, more as somewhat subtle sociological statements on the effects of immigration in Sweden, and to strike a more realistic note in the novel, the note being that most crime squads do not have the luxury of only working on one case at a time, but have to juggle multiple unconnected cases.
This is not a fast-paced thriller with a lot of action, so I'd recommend this only to readers who enjoy a slow, gradual and detailed look at peeling back layers of clues, and finding the connections between the past and the present.
3.8 stars
72cameling
Here's my last book finished for 2011. A Family Matter - Will Eisner
Another graphic novel hit by Will Eisner, this one takes a look at family dynamics. A 90-year old man is confined to a wheelchair after a stroke and one his daughters invites the rest of the family over to celebrate his birthday.
As we are introduced to each of his sons and daughters, we're given an initial glimpse into their current lives. When they each come over to the party, we're given a glimpse into their past relationship with their father. Family relationships can be complicated, and there is none better than Mr Eisner at exposing the darkness in the souls of men and women while offering a glimmer of light.
4 stars
That's it, folks. My next review will be over in the 2012 thread.
See you over there, i hope.
Happy New Year!
Another graphic novel hit by Will Eisner, this one takes a look at family dynamics. A 90-year old man is confined to a wheelchair after a stroke and one his daughters invites the rest of the family over to celebrate his birthday.
As we are introduced to each of his sons and daughters, we're given an initial glimpse into their current lives. When they each come over to the party, we're given a glimpse into their past relationship with their father. Family relationships can be complicated, and there is none better than Mr Eisner at exposing the darkness in the souls of men and women while offering a glimmer of light.
4 stars
That's it, folks. My next review will be over in the 2012 thread.
See you over there, i hope.
Happy New Year!
73ronincats
Caro, I am SO stealing that graphic! I'm making a final round of the 2011 threads before collating my 2011 statistics and finishing off my thread, but not doing the Happy New Year thing on each thread, only on my own when I wrap it up (after the KU-North Dakota basketball game which is on ESPNU right now). It's been a great year here--I look forward to your thread in 2012. Tomorrow.
74cameling
My last book haul for the last day of the year (it's not yet midnight here, so I haven't yet hit the 2012 book buying austerity drive.
Arthur and George - Julian Barnes
Stradivari's Genius - Toby Faber
Tenant and the Motive - Javier Cercas
The Waitress Was New - Dominique Fabre
Broken - Karen Fossum
Arthur and George - Julian Barnes
Stradivari's Genius - Toby Faber
Tenant and the Motive - Javier Cercas
The Waitress Was New - Dominique Fabre
Broken - Karen Fossum
