Ireadthereforeiam- starting a fresh

Last year I managed 56 books which is OK by me. But as usual Im hoping to top that in 2012.

I promise to come back and place some holiday pics soon, and then maybe get around to reading something too. I got The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins for Christmas and have read about 120 pages so that might be my first finish of the year soon......also The Art of Travel sits at home 80% finished and North and South is on the go too.

I do try.....but on 4 hours of broken sleep my eyes arent up to it, it's been a holiday of little sleep so far.

Here's to another year in the 75 group!

And here is a list of TRY-TO-READ (classics) for this year...

2012 TBR Classics List
Sons and Lovers
Tale of Two Cities
Great Expectations
Crime and Punishment
Libra
The Turn of the Screw
North and South
The Bone People
Midnights Children
One Hundred Years of Solitude

Hi, Megan!!

Glad to see you back:)

Go get some sleep before the new year starts!!

Happy New Year!

I am looking forward to following you around in 2012! I've been happy to make your acquaintance, over here on the 75! Hope things slow down a little for you!

And Happy New Year, Megan!

Hi Megan! Glad to see you back
Dropping off a star for your thread

Welcome back!

Bente: hello back, Im just back from an hours kip and feel a million dollars (thanks to my step mum for watching Little Lenny). Ah, what sweet sleep can do for us ay!?

Mark: has been nice talking to you this past year Mark, looking forward to the 2012 75 group a little too much I think!

Chelle: thanks for the star! Ill be cruising the threads properly once Im back at home and back to some kind of routine (whatever that may mean!)

Jim: thanks for stopping by, happy new year to you

The whole no-screens-and-sandflies thing made my skin crawl. I detest stinging bugs.

Found you Megan! :D

Glad to see you back with us again for 2012, Megan!

I LOVED Christchurch when I was there a few years ago. I hope you guys are recovering after the earthquake. (It was horrible seeing pictures of the cathedral.) Looking forward to what you think about the Dawkins book. I read The God Delusion some time ago and thought it quite well written.

Hi Megan, get rested up for a new year of great reading!!! I'll be following along with you once again.

Forgive me for not catching up... I am just trying to stake a place :)

Hiii Megan! :)

Catch up on sleep before worrying about catching up on LT - you need it with two in tow!

56 books last year is a hell of an achievement when Lenny is factored in! Look forward to keeping up in 2012 and will try to get to see you around Easter time with my tribe.

Hoping you have a great New Year!!

>7 richardderus: Richard, Im with you there, sandflies make for great itchy bites and ankles are apparently a great target for them!!

>8 jolerie: Hi Valerie, lost you there for a while but shouldn't now with the starred thread continuation function (phew, what a mouthful)

>9 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, great to see you back on too, I hope 2012 brings good health and happiness your way

>10 scvlad: Hello Steven! Im so glad to hear you like(d) Christchurch, i do too :) It is in a bit of a pickle these days but Im totally sure the rebuild will bring together a new and amazing central city. Luckily I was out of town for the latest round of quakes. Im loving the Dawkins book, despite its sciencey makeup. Its not incredibly technical so I can get the gist and am chewing through it (read til 11pm new years eve as a treat *sigh* oh how I have changed!!)

>11 Donna828: It'll be great to have you along, I look forward to catching up on your reading too

>12 mckait: Kath, love your cat, and that you stopped by to say hello, so HI BACK

>13 Ape: Stephen, believe me I still have those books you recommended to me way back when- (The Cobra Event and the like)- and will attempt to get them from the library again. Yes, this year I will conquer them all! (mwa ha haaa)

>14 London_StJ: Hi Luxx, now that we have ditched the holiday house for my dad's pad, we are all getting more sleep. Cooler, quieter and meals made and delivered = happy family.

>15 PaulCranswick: I hope you have your itinerary including the South Island Paul! Don't forget about us, the lowly populated, intensely dramatic and beautiful scenery island with few cars on the road and lots of friendly locals :)

>16 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle, happy new year to you too, this one will be a biggie for you in terms of life moments! Hope the planning goes well.

Happy new year Megan!! I got 2/3 way through that Dawkins book a couple of years ago and was really enjoying it, then out it aside. I should find it in a box somewhere...

Glad your MIL took the kids for a while yesterday. Sleep is so good!

Alas our summer holiday is to end tomorrow with a long drive home. In the non-windy sections of road I might try some reading but don't wish to succumb to car sickness. Back to normality such as it is from then on, but as Andrew has more time off work we are planning our next camping trip to make the most of summer and nights that are light til 9.30pm.

Am over half way through my Christmas book The Greatest Show on Earth so am pretty happy with that for now.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, dear Megan!
I"m bringing a star and a hope that 2012 bests 2011 in wonderful books and conversation!

Happy New year Megan, hope the drive home went well. We are heading to Wellington later in the month.

Ha Ha Megan I will make sure that both islands get their fair share of SWMBO! Your place may be my opportunity to make the earth move for my lovely wife!

Happy New Year, Megan!

Happy New Year Megan. As it is now 2012 I think it's time to start dropping off some



Hope you have a good year:)

Happy New Year, Megan!

Happy New Year, Megan! Wishing you all the best in 2012!

Are you home yet? I hope It's today you're leaving and you've spent the night not in Chch - just woke up to a FB feed full of shaken up friends.

Good work on the dawkins!!

Happy New Year, Megan! All the best for 2012.

Happy New Year Megan, I know you guys had more big shakes this morning, hope it is all good in your part of the city. Looking forward to more tales of your gorgeous boys in 2012. And your reading of course..

Hi everyone and big thanks for the new years greetings. We are home safe and sound now. Luckily missed this mornings 5.5 (?) mag earthquake, but arrived to a broken vase and a few things on the floor. Hoping for no movement this evening as we settle back in.

Glad to hear you are back home safe and sound! I was watching the news the other days and heard about all the quakes happening around Christchurch. Hope you guys are all doing okay and hopefully everything settles down now that you guys are back home.

Holiday Photos Time!

Out fishing with Grandad


Big Bro (on right) with cousin George


Little Lenny hanging out at the beach on a hot hot Boxing Day (Grandad got sent back to get a shade tarp)


The rest of the family, kids roasting marshmallows


Christmas scooter riding on Grandads deck, yes that is the sea behind. And there is a lagoon to the right, it is so so beautiful up there.

What a great vacation it looks like you had--and a great-looking family. I hope the shaking settles down FOR GOOD!

Great photos - both boys are so cute!! Hope the shakes are slowing down.

Great pictures! Looks like you all had a great time!

Ah, what lovely photos! How did the fishing trip go? Does your Dad keep an emergency fish in the bait chilly bin, just in case? Mine used to keep a little one just in case nothing was biting, and then if the grandsons were getting grumpy he would get someone to divert their attention, quickly reel in their line, attach the fish and put it back so they could "catch" it and have their photo taken with it. When they got back, it went back into the freezer for next time. There is a set of photos with one grandson and his catches - all the same fish. My stepmother had to do some creative excuse-making when he asked her to cook it for him :-)

I've starred you - I'm not sure if I commented on your thread last year but I used to lurk. This year I will do better!

Glad to know that you and yours are safe, Megan!

Thanks for sharing the pictures! It looks like a lovely vacation.

Megan- Wow, what great photos! I love to fish, as well and would love to be on that gorgeous lake, RIGHT NOW!
And what great looking kids you have!

Looks fantastic Megan - you sound like the perfect tour guide!

Thanks for sharing the lovely holiday photos!

>35 arubabookwoman: thanks for keeping your fingers crossed for some still earth for us! Luckily (for me anyway) the shakes are now mostly settled North East of the central city so although we feel them for sure, they arent as scary :)

>36 cushlareads: thanks Cushla, see above message re: shaking (cheekily taking short cuts I am!)

>37 ChelleBearss: It was a great time away, busy busy busy and fun, oh, and did I mention 10 days straight of sunshine!?

>38 susanj67: Hi Susan, thanks for visiting....and promising to come again!? Great story about the fish! Sounds exactly like something my dad would do, Ill have to fill him in.

>39 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, so good to see you around the threads again. We are all safe (as is everyone in Christchurch really), just frustrated by the seemingly never ending earthquakes

>40 msf59: Hi Mark, the lake is a lagoon and has all sorts of little waterways at the north end that you can explore in a kayak right up to the native forest at the edges. Book your ticket! Its 5.5 hours drive from the nearest international ariport!

>41 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul...but in reality it was my dad doing the events planning for his 6 grandkids (aged 5 months-5 years). Events for adults included hunting and providing a meal or two of whitebait patties, venison, blue cod and hot smoked trout (caught that day). Needless to say I like holidays at dads place :)

>42 London_StJ: Im a show-off, what can I say ;)

Happy New Year Megan - lovely snaps from your holiday :-)

Great photos Megan, is that somewhere in Marlborough? Looks like you guys got the pick of the weather last week.

>34 LovingLit: Beautiful photos, gorgeous boys!

Happy New Year Megan! Gorgeous photos too... *stares out at the driving rain and wind and dreams of sunnier climes*

Hi Megan. I've started a discussion on this year's tutored reads thread about the tutored read of A Tale of Two Cities that we discussed last year. Would love to hear your thoughts if you're still interested.

Heather: Hi, Ill check out the tutored read thread asap :)

Kiwi: It was the West Coast...just north of Franz Josef Glacier in a little town called Okarito. White Herons breed there on the lagoon. We had 10 days of sunshine and I was surprised to hear that there had been heavy rain elsewhere in NZ.

Richard: cheers Richard, Id have to agree about the boys, talk about cherubic cheeks!

Ellie: driving rain and wind? Sounds ......cosy? (if youre inside that is, in front of a fire, with a coffee and a book!)

Book 1
The Art of Travel by Alain deBotton

Perhaps I was expecting too much. This book didn't appear very cohesive to me, more like grouped ramblings of a philosophical nature loosely tied to travel. But still, it was interesting to get through, especially with the photographs dotted throughout. Interesting points for me included:

The pleasure we derive from journeys is perhaps dependent more on the mindset with which we travel than on the destination we travel to.......What then is the travelling mindset? Receptivity might be said to be its chief characteristic. We approach new places with humility. We carry no rigid ideas about what it interesting.

I mean, anyone can go on a kontiki tour of Europe, but not everyone who does can really say they have travelled. IMO. I am more suited to the backpack and travel alone style of travel as I believe this forces you to interact and immerse yourself in where you are. And that because of that you learn more about yourself as well as the place you travel to. That's not to say I wouldn't take on the offer of a free cruise though :)

So sorry deBotton, although I sang your praises this time last year, this one only gets 2.5 stars.

May I tell you a secret? I find de Botton insufferably pleased with himself.

I must concur with Richard .........

Such great pictures Megan! And I guess it helps when everyone looks like they are enjoying themselves. :)
Oh how I've missed beaches... :(

Its OK Richard/and Alex.....I am getting a glint of that myself these days. I loved a few of his but have had diminishing returns ever since The Joys and Sorrows of Work (or whatever its called, no touchstone....).
PS Richard, HA. It didn't work- you're not going to draw me into a fight like you did about Jonathan Franzen.

Hi Valerie: Yes ....I didn't take pictures of the tantrums, or of crazy hour (that time just before the kids dinner time when they all cry and go nuts). Just the good times get memorialised!

I have only read one of deBotton's books, but I enjoyed it. I think I may give that one a pass though.

Happy New Year Megan!! What great pictures--thanks for sharing. Starred again.

Hi Megan!
So sorry about the NZ jitters. It's so beautiful there I imagine moving would never be an option.
Lovely pictures of your vacation and the boys!
But you already knew that ;-)

daily *smooch* for Megan and boys

Hi Megan! Nice vacation pics. Christmas in summer must be so nice.
I read The Art of Travel last year. I was left with the impression that de Botton suffered from depression. Who could dislike traveling that much? When I read The Architecture of Happiness I got the impression that he was pleased with himself.

56: Stasia, I was really taken with deBotton a while ago, but the last few I read have taken the lustre off my impression of him. The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work and Essays on Love I loved, and the 4 others I really really havent. Thems the breaks I guess :)

57:Hey Berly, thanks for the star, Ill be seeing you at yours soon :)

58: Hi Claudia - pretty jittery here, but they are moving north and away from me so in truth, its not so bad at all. Its a very localised business earthquakes. (fingers crossed!)

59: Why thank you Richard, I appreciate it. Ill try not to tell my partner Im smooching with a learned gentleman from another hemisphere....

60: I was left with the impression that de Botton suffered from depression. Who could dislike traveling that much? Now that you mention it, I agree. I was thinking at the time he was just being a grumpy bum, but maybe it is more than that. Christmas in summer is good, it coincides with long summer holidays too which is lovely.

Answers taken from the books I read in 2011.....thanks Stephen (Ape) for resurrecting this "quiz" that I duly stole :)

Describe yourself: I am the Clay

Describe how you feel: Open

Describe where you currently live: City of Thieves (there has been a spate of thefts from houses left vacant in earthquake "red zones")

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Seven Seasons in Greenland

Your favorite form of transportation: Red Shoes

Your best friend is: The Outsider

You and your friends are: Just Kids

What’s the weather like: The Future of Ice

You fear: The Cost of Living

What is the best advice you have to give: Fall on your Knees

Thought for the day: Every Man for Himself

How I would like to die: The Feel of Steel

My soul’s present condition: Freedom

Hi Megan, interesting but I had the exact same reaction to The Art of Travel and couldn't finish a couple of other ones. Insufferably pleased with himself seems very apt to me.

And Okarito, that place is gorgeous, only been there once but loved every minute of it.

#62: I love that meme! I like the answer to 'you fear' especially.

I love the quiz and I am impressed by how well your books worked with the headers. I read way too many series books with non-helpful titles, like Charlie Bone. But I am going to give it a try on my thread! My favorite of yours is Your Fear and How I Would Like to Die, not that I wish either one on you! Have a great weekend.

I'm sorry to hear that The Art of Travel was a disappointment. I'll move it a bit further down my TBR list.

>63 KiwiNyx: Kiwi, Im glad to hear you liked Okarito, it's truly a secret gem, although not so secret now.

>64 alcottacre:/65 Hi Stasia/Berly: My fear really is The Cost of Living too! The environmental cost more than the personal cost probably.

>66 kidzdoc: a sad but true fact: not all books are great for all people :)

The Len-ster tries his first solids, a few weeks ago now :) He is also on the move so watch out big bro, he'll be chasing you soon!

Awww, so cute! And starting solids is so fun, until they start becoming picky eaters.

#68: He is growing like a weed! I love the chubby cheeks.

>68 LovingLit: *wistful sigh*

Lenny - great little man, finally someone who eats his dinner and decorates his face at the same time - just like me!

Hey Megan - trying to catch up. That's a great picture of Lenny!

awww what a cutie!

>34 LovingLit:: What a beautiful setting for a family celebration. It looks like everyone had a great time.

Lenny is growing so fast. Your boys will have so much fun together when he tries to keep up with Big Brother! Keep those pictures coming. ;-)

The Lenster's adorable! You know how some babies look like they smell good? Lenny looks like he smells good (yes, even with food smeared all over him)

Valerie: yes, the fussy years, I try to be hard core about it and deny any food other than what is offered, it works but feels cruel sometimes.

Stasia: And those chubby arms, theres actually a crease between the wrist crease and the elbow crease! I love it.

Richard: me too Richard, its something about their innocence. I cant help but sigh.

Paul: you've got a food catcher though havent you? (aka beard)

Brit: catching up is harder than it seems isnt it! Thanks for stopping by.

cutie boy!! And it looks like at least some of the food made it into his mouth.

Chelle: I know! And he sleep 12 hours at night, that makes him extra cute in my books.

Donna: I cant wait to see them hooning around the house together on bikes and skateboards and goodness knows what else.

Caroline: that's nice of you to say! And funny :) He does smell good btw, apart from the immediate post-spew periods. Then he just smells like baby spew :/

Hi Cushla: 2/3 in, 1/3 out repeat. That's the formula so far :)

Not catching up.. but I did stop for photos.. great as always :)

OMG a small child who sleeps 12 hours a night?! Where do I sign up for that?
I fear that when I have children they will be needy and up all night ... that won't go over well for me ;)

>81 mckait: Kath, that's just what the photos are for- to catch the likes of you. :)

>82 ChelleBearss: Chelle believe me, you want to sign up for it if you can. It is awesome, now if I could just get big bro to synchronise, I'd be a happy mother. 11.15pm, 12.30am, 5.30am....that was last nights fiasco. Poor little boy was just back into good sleeps when a 5.1 earthquake scared the hell out of him at 1.30am 3 nights ago, and now its carnage again.

Must - go - to - bed - and - read.
Too - tired - to - think.

Megan - hahaha....beard has gone actually...face is a clear as Lenny (well almost).

Just stopping by to say hi and oh how cute is the Len-ster!!

Finally catching up to say - if it's not too late - Happy New Year and new thread for 2012. Love the pictures of the boys, as ever. Sorry the deBotton was no so good - I've never read any of his and am not rushing to...

Best of luck getting hold of The Siege . It really is wonderful! I hope a copy will come due at your library very soon!

>84 PaulCranswick: oh for a baby's complexion *sigh*

>85 vancouverdeb:/87 Hi Deb, thanks for stopping by, Ill keep my eye on the library website and pounce on it when it is taken back!

>86 gennyt: Hi Genny, never too late. Happy New Year to you too. deBotton is a bit hit and miss in my experience. I get the feeling he churns them out and cashes in on his reputation now.

awwww... cutie-pie picture!

btw Megan, think you could get a little more of that food into his mouth? He's looking a bit undernourished! LOL

Megan, when you mentioned the creases in his arms it made me think of my brother-in-law whose mum accidentally chose the wrong formula when he was a baby and was fed the one with extra everything. They wondered why he was so chubby until she finally realized a year later when he was coming off the stuff! I guess it was like protein shakes for babies.

Book 2
Absolution by Olaf Olafsson

I snuck this book in while my partner is still on holiday from work, taking advantage of his presence during the day to get the whole thing read in 2 days.

This is a beautifully and sparsely written book. The devil is in the detail here. Every day activities, thoughts and banalities are described alongside personal thoughts, which are actually what steal the show.

This narrator flips back and forth from now to 50 years ago, from New York City in ill health to Denmark as a young man. His intense love for a woman causes him to act in a way he first banishes from his memory, but is ultimately intensely ashamed of. In his ill health he reflects on young life and the relationships within his current family. He is not a very nice person, but I felt compassion for him regardless. Clever writing. 4.5 stars.

Hmmm - Absolution sounds like an interesting book that I'll have to look into and most likely add to my wish list. I've got a weakness for Scandinavian authors, sparse writing and details... Great review. Thanks for the heads up on that book, Megan!

I've been lurking here and not posting. I fell in love with Okarito when I first visited back in the 70s, it was the first youth hostel I stayed in. There wasn't anything much there, but from what Keri Hulme's been saying in the media there must have been quite a bit of development in the past few years.

Love the Lenny photo, looks like he's enjoying the change in diet.

I thought The Art of Travel was quite interesting but I've had trouble getting into some of his other books, The Consolations of Philosophy sounded so interesting but I could never get past chapter 1. I think you have to be in the right mood to read him.

>89 -Cee-: Cee, he's really getting the hang of it now, squawking if Im not fast enough and opening that mouth ALL the way. I think he's a fan of food like his mother

>90 KiwiNyx: Hi Kiwi...haha, great story. Some babes are so chubby and round they roll rather than crawl!

>92 vancouverdeb: Deb, Im not sure Ive read many Scandinavian authors...apart from that Dragon Tattoo fiasco that I really disliked, I cant think of any. Ill have to check my stats....just did, looks like 8 of my read books were originally written in a Scandi-language (hey, if people can say Scandi-crime, I can say Scandi-language!)
I hope you like it if you do come across it.

>93 avatiakh: Hi Kerry, if you read Keri Hulme's full article (somewhere in the blogosphere) its easy to see that the other article took the most controversial statements and based itself around them. Still, she did say them. And yes, Okarito has changed even in the 13 years Ive been visiting dad there.
There are still no street lights or shops, but the kayak rental place does have a coffee machine now (and they do greatcoffees), and there are a few ostentatious properties popping up. It's still amazing, but as usual people discover and change places as beautiful as this!
Did you stay in the old school house Youth Hostel? Or was that just an old school house then...

I've added Absolution to my WL Megan - and it would help me colour in Iceland on my Europe map!

Yes, the old school house. I have a photo somewhere though probably not worth scanning, I was always quite proud of the stamp in my hostel book.
I'll have a look for the full article. Glad to hear you can buy good coffee though. It is a shame when lovely quiet places have to change.

Cushla: great! you wont regret it, at least I dont think you will :)

Keryy: here you are!

Thanks, I guess they still can't squeeze many people in.

You are so fun, Megan! Scandi-Crime and Scandi-language! :) hehe! Why not! Love the picture above!

>98 avatiakh: Kerry that seems so still be the case :) Id love to book out the whole place (all 2 rooms) and have our family in there. It's so cute.

>99 vancouverdeb: Why thank you :) It is a cute pic isnt it, and the snowy mountains behind top it off.

............................

Just back from an impromptu shopping spree megan-style (which basically means as fast as you can and buy cheap!).

The Extraordinary Cases of Sherlock Holmes (Puffin Classic) for $7, The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver for $15, a t-shirt style maxi dress (with thin straps) which I'll henceforth call my housedress, and a $5 t-shirt. Happy me!

YAY!

Yay for fun quick shopping! I'll be keeping an eye out for your thoughts on The Lacuna, it's on my to-read list

as fast as you can and buy cheap!

Sounds like a mommy shopping spree! Huzzah for a few great buys.

I have a couple of Olaf Olafsson books but not that one yet Megan. If I'm not mistaken he has relocated to the states and writes in english, but he would certainly qualify as Scandi as far as I'm concerned.

Just popping in to catch up... then off to do some errands.
I have mostly not jumped into the scandi thing.. aside from one book..
so many books.. sigh..

>101 -Cee-: I know Cee, I hardly ever "go shopping", as far as I'm concerned shopping isn't a pastime, it's a chore. I'm useless as shopping really. My mum laughs as she tells people the story of how once when I had to go deep into the bowels of a MALL I was so grossed out, I was almost itchy, I had to spend my voucher quick and get OUT :)

>102 ChelleBearss: And I notice The Lacuna is an Orange Prize Winner.....I will have missed Orange January, but isn't there an Orange June or July this year somewhere on LT?

>103 London_StJ: Yes, completely the case Luxx! And while Im thinking about it, the shopping trip was especially fruitful as we found a $10 note on the ground of the car park when we were leaving! I felt sorry for the person who lost it, but also happy for us for finding it. :)

>104 PaulCranswick: I remember you commenting on that one when I posted that I had got it at the Rotary Book Sale last year, I'd never heard of Olaf Olafsson and it was a random purchase for me, but a great one as it turned out.

>105 mckait: Hi Kath, I haven't jumped into Scandi either, just a random book choice that came good :)
Is the Scandi thing mainly crime? That would be a deterrent for me as it's not my genre really.

Just to prove I'm an utter nutjob, I'll admit that despite all the social phobia I actually rather enjoy shopping. Yeah, that's right, no one ever sees that one coming. 8-)

Woah, curve ball!
I guess you can be anonymous enough amongst shoppers.....I mean its not like the shop assistants actually talk to customers these days.
Im sure Id be a better shopper if there were more $$$ in my account!

106/ I think it's July.

I hate shopping but I seem to do an awful lot of it.. I wonder what that says about me?

Megan: I know, I like shopping, but I can rarely do it. Still, I don't hate browsing around a store just to see what kinds of things people are coming up with these days. And non-talking shop assistants is KEY. The thought of having to talk to an owner of a small local shop doesn't sound pleasant at all, but since major chain stores are operated by (incredibly life-like!) robots I can handle it. ;)

All I have to do is mutter "thanks" and if they absolutely insist on wishing me a good day then a "you too." 3 word is exactly my capacity limit, so I'm quite okay with it! :)

Now I'm off to put the quiz on my thread.

Megan, just catching up here..... Beautiful children! Beautiful vacation shots!! Thanks for letting us look.

Poor Megan - allergic to shopping :(
But hey! You got cash back! Cool!

Megan - I think it depends what you're shopping for. If it is music and books I will happily spend hours in the stores. Clothes I will never window shop - it is always a case of a quick in and out. Know your size (too big in my case) and what you want. Shopping for food and groceries is a real pain if SWMBO is involved as she will weigh up all possible alternatives before the thing hits the trolley (it always turns out to be the same stuff anyhow). Shopping generally with my beloved is in fact a chore in the extreme. She will if shopping for clothes (she always seems to be doing this) reject the first thing that catches her eye proceed to take out and try on maybe thirty alternatives and then invariably buy the first thing that caught her eye!

Well, Megan, yes there is definitely Scandicrime, but I've discovered a several Scandinavian books/ authors that I love! Per Petterson of Out Shooting Horses is one of them, and The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker is another. Per Petterson has several other books, one of them being I Curse The River of Time which I hope to get to soon. A few of us have decided that Gerbrand Bakker is such fabulous writer, we are planning a group read once his next book, The Detour comes on in English in late April. Please join us if you wish! Lit Chick is in on it, as are a few others , possibly Paul and Carsten. I'm not quite sure who as yet.
As for shopping , other than a lovely long browse in bookstore, I don't much care for shopping either..

>109 ChelleBearss: thanks Chelle, Ill def be joining in with The Lacuna or another Orange winner

>110 KiwiNyx: Interesting contradiction! I guess there are certain things that we need to buy though...like food ad some clothing and BOOKS :)

>111 Ape: since major chain stores are operated by (incredibly life-like!) robots I can handle it.
Haha some things are true worldwide it seems. Service has definitely gone down hill in the last 10 years, to your delight by the sounds of things.

>112 jeanned: Hi Jeanne, Ill have to go to your thread next to see said quiz....hope I can find it! There are so many 75'ers these days :)

>113 LizzieD: THanks- I am always thinking about putting more photos on, then restraining myself. Good to know they're well received :)

>114 -Cee-: I love finding cash. Sometimes if Ive lost money I take pleasure in the thought that the person who found it will be having a great day.

>115 PaulCranswick: Well Paul, book shopping doesn't count! I love that of course. CD shopping too....most else I cant deal with. I even asked the lady in the shop to choose a paint colour for our bathroom because I couldn't deal with the options, she thought I was kidding.

>116 vancouverdeb: Thanks for the recommendations. Ive heard talk of The Twin and have meant to look into it. Ive not heard of many of your authors though, I guess there have always been scandi-authors but they are just more in the lime light now. Good on them :)

Even though I had a crazy busy day with a 4, 3, 2 and baby-year old to look after, I managed to get a few chapters into The Night Circus. Yippee, I wish I could have got a photo of myself in the eye of the hurricane of kids.

I was calmly seated in my camping armchair, under an erected shade tarpaulin, in the 26 deg C heat, by the paddling pool which was filled with mostly nude little kids splashing about and squealing like mad! Granted, the reading part only lasted 15 minutes tops, but it was a nice scene.

That's amazing that you were able to get any reading done at all! Sometimes I wonder how we are going to manage with a 3 year old and infant. I know Whit is reading The Night Circus and enjoying it!

Book 3
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (Group Read)

When I started reading this book, my first thought was "hey! This book is not about the American Civil War!?" When I signed on for the group read and saw the title, I immediately assumed it was (I have since realised there is another book of the same title that is about the American Civil War). Oh well, I thought, Ill just read it anyway. haha, what a doofus.

So - not being a fan of period dramas or historical fiction, I guess me and this book was a doomed pairing from the start. But Im glad I've read it now, even if it was a chore. (is this blasphemy? I know its been well received by most of the people who did the GR).

What actually happened in this book? Not much if you ask me. Near the end when Elizabeth is explaining to someone her issues with Mr Thornton, she does so in one page. And it basically summed up the whole book for me. So much information for very little plot. And as for it being a love story? Um, maybe on the last page it became one.

Yes, the social issues were important and interesting, yes the historical aspect was informative and the etiquette requirements mindboggling. But all in all for me it was a non starter. 1.5 stars.

>120 weejane: hi! I hope I enjoy The Night Circus more than my last read ;) And that Whit does too.....
You'll manage with a 3 year old and an infant because you have to! I wondered the same thing when I was preggo and was very unsure I could pull it off. Having an easy second baby does help, a lot, but all you have to do is get through each day without harming or neglecting your kids and you're doing well.

Hoping that you find The Night Circus more your thing than N&S. I really liked it.

#121 It's not blasphemy :-) I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it more but I'm really impressed that you finished it given that you were not enjoying it that much.

Megan, I can't imagine that you won't like Night Circus...!
Finger crossed that you love it as much as I did..

oh and count me in among those who hate to shop!
I consider it a chore as well.. to my sister, it is life blood...gak!

Megan- Funny, every time I see North and South I also think of the American Civil War. Sorry that one didn't work for you, most LTers seem to love that book.
Enjoy the Night Circus. It's a very good read.

> 123 hi, Im sure Ill like The Night Circus more....am already :)

>124 souloftherose: Heather: I have this thing about finishing a book once I start, it can be hard sometimes, and I dont know why I'm so hard on myself!

>125 mckait: Id better get my skates on reading it as book club is next saturday! Never mind that I watched a dvd instead of reading last night.....Bridesmaids is a great laugh and Im glad I did :)

>126 msf59: Maybe I need to read the other North and South now! There's a lot of good talk about The Night Circus too, I hope it can live up to the hype for me. Damned expectations :)

Just stopping by, Megan ... and trying to catch up on threads.... no mean feat considering how chatty the 75ers are. ;-)

Hi Megan,
Thanks for your review. It's helpful to me.
Not sure if I want to read North and South by Gaskell.
To tell you the truth, I read another book of hers Wives and Daughters and felt quite generous giving it 3.5 stars. It all seemed somewhat superfluous to me and so outdated. But then I am no expert on that time period - and actually don't care to be.

It just didn't rock me and I'm thinking North and South might not either. Too many other books I want to read.

Megan - I haven't enjoyed reading a review as much as your North and South one for a long long time. For me it wasn't the best thing I've read and I can certainly sympathise gleefully with some of your splendidly realised criticisms. Love to read critical reviews especially when written so wittily as yours was. The John Jakes mistake was also understandable as the touchstone for the book always soundbite Jakes first and needs to be changed.

Not blasphemy to me either Megan, and like Heather I can't believe you kept on going!! Now I have a picture of you at the beach on the day you had all those extra kids with you with N&S!! (Tell me you were reading something else that day.). Some books you either love or you don't.

>128 cameling: Hi Caroline: I've been doing the race to catch up on threads too, and feeling overwhelmed! Ive decided to slow down and just go to the ones that provide free coffee (Hi Joe!) Just kidding of course, but there is a large volume to get through isnt there!

>129 -Cee-: Hey Cee...It's definitely an acquired taste! And now Im thinking that my personal challenge to read 10 classics this year might come back to haunt me. Yikes.

>130 PaulCranswick: Haha, thanks Paul, I was kind of going for a smart a$$ review there, glad you got it! My confusion with the title was purely from my own assumptions. It was a laugh to me that the other touchstone actually WAS a book about the American Civil War!

>131 cushlareads: I was reading something else! Glad I havent offended with my (see above post) smart a$$ review :) Saw all those extra kids again yesterday at a day out at my sisters. This time they all played together outside and didnt need so much supervision, so I got lots of down time to catch up with my sis.

Hi Megan, speaking of catching up ... is it even possible? I'm beginning to doubt that it is! LOVE the family pics of your Christmas holiday. Woot!

I'm delighted that you participated with us in the group read of North and South even though it turned out not to be your thing. Appreciate your honest review. Would be a boring world (and a boring LT) if we all loved the same books!

Hey Megan, just catching up with you!

>133 lit_chick: Hi Nancy, the summer holiday is but a memory in my head now :( BUT the weather has been so good here in the last few weeks it feels like holidays all over again :)

>144 mckait: glad you stopped by- come again!

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

A chance stop yesterday paid dividends in a find of two cheap cheap books, By George by Wesley Stace and The Screwtape Letters by C S Lewis. For $1 and .50c respectively! What a bargain, both fairly new looking books too.

The Screwtape Letters! *sentimental mist* "My dear, my very dear, Wormwood:"

I disagree with his position, but no one can beat CS Lewis for sheer imaginitive bravery. Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and that last one I can never remember the title of...the Narnia books (!!)...he left a wonderful legacy.

Mere Christianity was well-written, I grant, though of course Lewis and I don't agree on, well, anything really....

Book 4
The Wall by Peter Sis

Billed as a graphic memoir, this large format picture book with words, is a delight. Spotted on Kiwinyx's thread....I grabbed it from the library as soon as I could.

Words are dotted about multiple pictures and progressing through the book takes us through the illustrator/authors life chronologically. The illustrations are childlike and sweet, but technical and beautiful as well. The words are not prolific (the book can be read carefully in 15 minutes) but are concise. There is a good general history of the Cold War and post WWII Europe outlined.

I will go back again (and again) to look at the illustrations in more detail. 4 stars.

>136 richardderus:: That Hideous Strength, Ricardo.

Caught up here, Megan. Len is SO cute!

>137 LovingLit: *lalalalala* Not looking at blue words no no no

>138 tiffin: Bingo! Thanks, Tui!

>136 richardderus: Hi Richard, I actually *shh dont tell* dont know anything about CS Lewis or this book of fictional letters he has written. I read a few of his Narnia ones as a 12 year old and that's that. Now of course Im very interested to see what this Screwtape thing is all about.
Imaginative bravery? sounds intriguing at the least :)

>138 tiffin: Always a good thing to comment on a woman's baby's cuteness, gets you a free pass round here for ever more :)

>139 richardderus: just blue book titles, or are blue post headings putting you off too? Dont let The Wall put you off, its super short and pleasing to read. You dont even really need to concentrate! I managed to read it all whilst playing with Lenny on the bed.

Oh Megan, I read quite a few of C.S. Lewis's books in my late teens and earliy twenties. I might have to do a re read of The Screwtape Letters. I'm sure that you will enjoy the book!

Just supping a glass of Old Coach Road Pinot Noir (thanks to talk on Richards thread about wine- what isn't he talking about?), and considering my list of "wait-for's" at the library.....

Marcelo in the Real World
Stitches (decided against, read Blankets instead)
The Shock Doctrine
Complications
Voyage of the Arctic Tern
The Cobra Event
the Demon in the Freezer
Book of a Thousand Days
My Side of the Mountain
Blackwater Lightship
Dragon Talk
Tigers at Awhitu
Lost in Shangri-La
The Ghost Map
Guardian of the Dead (decided against)
Room

ALL LT referrals apart from The Shock Doctrine. Im too tight to pay the $2 to reserve them so I wait for them to come in and then grab them if they're at a library near me.
So much to do in 2012, so much :)

Yay Richard Preston! :D

Quite a list you have there... I hope they make their way to you soon!

Megan - if we make it to NZ in March/April I will bring Room and Blackwater Lightship for you.

>83 LovingLit:: Hi Megan. I would have trouble sleeping, too, if my bed were shaking in an earthquake! It's great that Lenny sleeps so well through the night. Haley (16-mo-old g'daughter) does, too, but she's up most of the day. Grandma needs an afternoon nap when she's around!

>91 LovingLit:: Absolution...Scandi author named Olaf...wishlist!

>121 LovingLit:: It looks like I might have been "saved" by not finding a library copy of North and South. I don't have time for a slow book of that length! I might cheat and watch the BBC production sometime. More my cuppa tea. ;-)

>135 LovingLit:: Woo Hoo! for The Screwtape Letters.

And...I'm finally caught up again. How can I get so far behind this early in the year?

Hi Megan. That is so funny...I thought North and South was about the Civil War too! After reading your witty and frank review I am still not going to read it.

And thank you. I am going to try and hold the picture of your summer pool outing in my mind for the day because our snow from last night is getting rained on now and it isn't pretty.

And we could be shoppers together...NOT! I don't like shopping either. Except for books. I can browse a long time in the book shelves, but for everything else I am in and out as fast as possible. How is it that all 3 of my kids like to shop? At least it is less agonizing now that they are old enough to be dropped off at the mall with friends and I don't have to go. : )

>143 Ape: yes, Richard Preston books, referrals from you Stephen :)

>144 mckait: I love the long list, books can be returned to any of our cities libraries so they travel around a bit, all I have to do is check the website and grab what's at one of my 4 locals.

>145 PaulCranswick: Wow Paul, that would be amazing :) You're too kind! I will have to check my pile to see what might interest you.....um.....New Active Birth....Healthy Meals for Babies and Toddlers....*keeps looking*
I'm sure Ill find something good for you!

>146 Donna828: Hey Donna, you might still like North and South! Dont take my critique as gospel, a lot of people loved it. You'll probably know after the first chapter or two if its your cup of tea :)

>147 Berly: urgh, rain on top of snow makes for a messy scene! I hope it either clears up soon, or snows again to make it all nice and pristine once more :)
I am loving this summer, I dont think Ive had a day of rain in 5 or 6 weeks (although it has been raining at night sometimes which is great for the vege garden).
I hope my boys will never count shopping as a valid pastime. Probably more a girl thing anyway (I hope). Ill do a drop off, but that's as close as I want to get!

Sorry to break your bubble. One of my three shoppers is a boy. However, I suspect running into girls is part of the allure for him!

Megan, hahaha those books would definitely give SWMBO the wrong idea. Don't really want her broody again to be honest - the three terrors have vetoed any more and I would be far more interested in active conception!

Hi Megan- The Wall sounds great! I had not heard of this one. Will have to add it to the GN WL. I like your upcoming library list too. Stitches is amazing and of course you know I recently loved Lost in Shangri-La. Enjoy!

>149 Berly: I was scared you were going to say that! funny. My partner and I first bonded over our shared hatred of malls (along with our love of music), so surely the chances of our offspring being shoppers is small to none!? (wishful thinking)

>150 PaulCranswick: Sorry Paul, I dont have those kinds of books! I was going to offer you North and South but figured you already had it! (damn, Im so cheeky today!)

>151GN WL? Gi-normous Wish List? :) Im looking forward, nay- salivation over, all my to-be-reads! I might even have to break my rules and abandon any slow movers that are holding me up.

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

I signed Lenny up at the library today and got him out 7 little board books. Im so proud of his first library card!! I also got myself some beautiful kids picture books just because of the artwork in them.

The Beatrice Letters- Lemony Snicket (who IS Lemony Snicket anyway?)
100 Things- a lovely Gecko Press book. They are a publishing co that imports the worlds best kids books and translates them into English
Billy- A Lolly Leopold Story by Kate de Goldi, a NZ author who wrote a novel that I very much enjoyed....The 10PM Question

Kids books with great art in them are like magazines for me, just lovely to flick through, and easy to read while watching a pot boil or a 6 month old make a break for the concrete steps.

Wow - impressed with Lenny - less than a year old and already signed up to the library. Won't be passing you the books necessarily in expectation of swaps although if they are not in my library already I would be of course most grateful.

yay for Lenny's first library card! He is going to love having all those new books for Mommy to read to him!

Yay for Lenny's library card!!!

>153 PaulCranswick: the kids resources are amazing at the libraries here, most of the books I got out today are practically new. I didnt think your kind offer came with conditions....but as a host to visitors to this country I am obliged to give something! A coffee maybe :)

>154 ChelleBearss: I think a kids library card is able to get out up to 30 books, yeee ha!

>155 cushlareads: I know - it even comes with a key tag bar code thing so I dont even have to search my wallet for it.

Oh that's exciting that Little Lenny already has his own library card. I think I purchased my sons SO MANY books that they nearly had their own library!;) Those were the days! Would you believe I started reading to my eldest son the day he came home from the hospital? LOL! You can't start too soon. As they got a little older, then yes, we went to the library, but I am not sure what age - likely early in the first years. Good for you and Lenny!

Hey Megan you're drinking the wine and I get coffee - come now!

I love that you take the kids to the library :)
That was one of our weekly adventures and it was so much fun!
We had story hour where they had a story and a craft.. they all loved that ..
me too!

My two had library cards as soon as they were able to...I now have two 30 year old avid readers. Good start for Lenny, Megan!

>157 vancouverdeb: newborn babies get given a little black and white picture book while they're still in hospital, as part of a goodie bag. Designed to get them hooked young I guess:)

>158 PaulCranswick: um.....*searches for excuse*....it because of the time difference! Of course you can have wine so long as the sun is over the yard arm :)

>159 mckait: Libraries are such great places to go when you need to get out of the house! Toys books story time comfy chairs CAFES (!!) magazines internet.....

>160 tiffin: my 3 year old has defected slightly from books to DVDs but he always has at least 4 or 5 stories each night before bed so Im sure he'll swing back to the book.

Wow! Times have changed that they give the little ones a book while in hospital!!! That's great Megan ! I was a child bride, you understand!;) I'm kind of excited myself!!! Our younger son is finishing up his computer science degree in May and he just texted me that he got a really plum job with the a big communications company here on July 3rd! I'm so excited for him! He is will turn 22 this in May!!! :)

Enjoy the Siege, Meganrushka!;) It's is great!

Catching up a bit, Megan. Thanks for the recommendation of Absolution. I will look for that one and glad to see that you liked The Wall. I did too.

>162 vancouverdeb: lol, child bride! I believe you :) Great news on your son job move! I can see now how your kids wellbeing is a HUGE factor in their parents happiness....a happy healthy life is exactly what I want for my kids

>163 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, I hope you get your hands on Absolution as it is a lovely little read. How are your studies going? You've started already I take it? Thanks for taking the time to stop by my thread, I like having you around

Book 5 (kind of)
Snake and Lizard by Joy Crowley/Up in the Tree by Margaret Atwood and Billy A Lolly Leopold Story by Kate De Goldi

3 Kids books.
Snake and Lizard is a longer "chapter book" that I wasn't sure Wilby would be into as his attention span seems to be near zero....but he was really into it. We read one or two stories a night (amongst others). Stories have maybe 500 words in them- and have illustrations (small) dotted throughout.
Snake and Lizard are unlikely friends and each story details an event in their shared lives. They have humour and sometimes a little twist that older kids would get but that go straight over Wilbur's head. Very nice NZ book. 4.5 stars.

Up in the Tree Since Margaret Atwood is an author of "real books" too, I included this in my trio. She wrote the book in the 70's (?) and illustrated it too. She was on a budget which accounts for the simple colour palette of red/blue/purple. I love the simplicity of two kids being stuck in a tree ("oh no we've run out of tea!" etc). 4 stars.

Billy A Lolly Leopold Story is written by Kate De Goldi whose novel The 10 Pm Question I loved, but I got this one for the illustrations also. Jacqui Colley is the illustrator and she has filled the large format pages with beautiful collage style works.
Kids are so lucky to have such great NZ artwork available to them.
And NZ being what it is, my sister met the author at a wedding where they had mutual friends. She also reviews books on our National Radio programme so I feel like I kind of know her :) 4 stars.

Book 6
Complications (A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science) by Atul Gawande

Ive been seeking this one out from the library for months so snapped it up the other day when I noticed it was in. I then promptly drove the car until little Lenny was asleep, parked up by the river under the shade of a willow, and read for an hour. Then last night I read from 10pm til after midnight. And today I finish it.

It reads like a thriller or a very tense drama, you cant wait to see how the girl with necrotizing fasciitis pulls through, or how certain doctors get away with doing routinely shoddy work (including putting the wrong length screw into a joint replacement, noticing and not doing anything about it). Gawande is frank in this book, so frank I wonder how he hasn't been made an outcast by other surgeons.

He weighs up the dilemas of modern medical treatment well, presenting a balanced and reasoned set of conclusions. And does so in a way that makes you not want to stop reading. 4.5 stars.

Hey Megan, long-distance *smooch*

Megan - you have had a great start to the year....way ahead of last years average at this stage. Not a great fan of books about medicine but you certainly make Complications seem interesting.

>167 richardderus: hey Richard, thanks for the fly by hi!

>168 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, I cant go by a good real life drama. And a small fascination with the horrors of surgery.....throw in some flesh eating bugs? Sounds good to me :)

Megan...hahaha have a lovely weekend with as little flesh eating as possible!

Thanks Paul...having a good one so far. Caught up with 4 good good old school friends tonight (people I figured out I have now known for way longer than I haven't known them). The occasion being that one who lives in Melbourne usually is here for a short week.
So a lovely BBQ at my place (sausages, vege kebabs, grilled flat mushrooms, salad, fruit salad and icecream) and a house full of satisfied folk.

Sounds great...we are going over to our Iranian friends house this evening for food and (probably if SWMBO is not looking) a glass or two of finest Scottish single-malt.

Hi Paul- hope the glass (or two) of the finest Scottish single-malt hasn't come back to bite you today :) And that your dinner was lovely.

Megan - we got home (somehow) at 3 this morning. Whisky fuelled sleep until 9.30 woke up dehydrated but fine! The persian food was excellent and the company grand.

I am a huge fan of reading "Chapter books" to little ones. To be honest..
to me it doesn't matter if they understand.. but they associate quiet time,
cuddling and laughing with books, you know?

I read my kids Dickens..and Jules Verne, Kipling and all sorts of things..
used funny voices and made it into a good together time. In time the older
ones were there for the story and the younger ones got there too..

I loathe Sesame Street and all of the tv shows that jump from one thing to another
so quickly.. hated it way back when and rarely let them watch.. We did watch Mr Rogers
and Bob Ross and other things of course.. I think it teaches kids to have short attention spans.
I am no expert, but that was just my feeling. I felt it was jarring to me to be jerked
from one thing to another.. so.. just didn't watch it much.. andthe rare times they did..
it was only for 15 minutes or so at a time.

I love that your kids get books at birth! Great idea.. !
Ours Get Hep B vaccines, if parents don't opt out. Which they should.
Books are better.
All of the above is simply my opinion of course .. I don't expect to be agreed with :P

>174 PaulCranswick: hope there are no dry horrors going on, quick drink some lime cordial

>175 mckait: Hi Kath- Dickens to tiny little ones! That is great. I too have found that funny voices go a long way in holding attention spans. Im just not sure I'd have the stamina for Dickens ;)

Kids TV does jump at ridiculous speeds from scene to scene, a few times when Wilbur has seen one I have watched him start to want to talk about a thing he has seen on screen, and then all of a sudden that was 2 scenes ago and he is stammering as he tries to take in the next lot. It was painful to see and he's never seen anything apart from DVDs that I deem appropriate since.

You can never expect to be agreed with in this life! But in this instance I do :)

#166: I have seen several good reviews of Gawande's books. One of these days I may actually get a chance to read them!

Kath, how wonderful, reading Dickens to your young children!

>177 alcottacre: chuck it in the black hole Stasia! One day you'll get to them all....maybe...if you stop adding to it :)

>178 lit_chick: ditto Nancy, its super cool

4 Steps to getting a library book delivered to your home

-1- Read about cool book on Joe's thread
-2- look online to see if library has it
-3- text partner who works in library building to collect it for me
-4- ta daaaa, Blankets delivered directly to me :)

#180 Ah! If only I had #3!! : )

Ah me too! I'd love to have a husband / partner who worked in a library, who I could text! Instead for me I pick out books for my husband when I am at the library. It's like he's the Prince and I present him with books to for his yes or no. Mind you he generally makes dinner and also helps with the grocery shopping, and dog walking. I guess I cannot complain .

wow that's a pretty good book delivery system!

Seems both Lenny and mother are skilled at manipulating New Zealand's superb Library system. hahaha

I want to be #3! :(

Congrats to Lenny on his first library card!
Good work, Mommy!

We used to read to our girls from anything - incl the newspaper. Wendy's favorite pastime was "reading" the junk mail... just had to make sure it didn't make it to her mouth!

And for Bridget's baby shower (that would be for my sweet granddaughter Sama) I asked everyone to bring a book w/inscription for the baby's library. It caught on and there were some great books! Sam has always loved reading :)

Have fun!

>181 Berly: I know, I cant believe my luck that his job transferred to work in the same building as the library! He cant either as it is way closer than where his last job was based.

>182 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb. You're a nice wife to pick out books for your husband! If I were doing that it would have to be a music biography or a beer book (history OR brewing).

>183 ChelleBearss: Im pretty happy with it Chelle, I have to keep my fingers crossed that the book I want is at the right library...and then that it can be found without asking a librarian, co, you know, men dont like to ask for directions :)

>184 PaulCranswick: true Paul, although maybe Im really manipulating Andrew :)

>185 Ape: Hi Stephen, it'd be cool to work in a library, shame you need a degree to do that, I mean as if we need to learn how to work the Huey Louie Dewey Decimal System.

>186 -Cee-: Good lesson in that there are words everywhere to be read! And what a great idea for the baby shower gift idea, Im buying up Puffin Classics for our kids. And for me :)

Fast drive-by hug

Woah! What was that? Did anyone just see that comet?

Comet?

Or comet?

#179: One day you'll get to them all....maybe...if you stop adding to it :)

Never!

Richard: both/neither...it was you!

Stasia: Well, we were all thinking it..... :)

Indeed if i had #3 I may use the library more .... I can only get near one on the weekend.

consider me green with envy

I feel pretty chuffed actually Alex :)
Its a good library. And being home with the kids all week I can easily make it to a library daily if I choose. Sorry, I shouldnt be rubbing it in!

LOL! How is life, Meganorushka! ;) Looks to be pretty exciting between comets and an automatic library book picker upper. That's some pretty fancy language I used there... ;)

Hi Deb, all good around these parts. Looking at 23 deg C today (again), had planned a trip with friends to the park/pool for a picnic but had a small child vomiting throughout the night so will probably just lay low around home instead. Poor little monkey....he said all sad "mum, I dont like spew".

Oh, poor little man. I hope he's feeling better.

He is already better luxx, you know how quick they bounce back from a bug.... I just have a LOT of washing to do today :) Lucky we're looking at a lovely sunny day ahead.

awww poor monkey! I don't like spew either :(

Just stopping by to say hi!! As for that dreadful $160 fee that I paid for those two DVD's , that was the actual cost of the DVD's , and the librarian was so sympathetic, offering to put stop on the late fees and telling me that if I found the DVD's within the next 6 months, I could get a refund. I'm not sure why they were so expensive and neither was she. One was a the 1 st part of an MI5 series and the other was something similar to that - maybe Prime Suspect? Perhaps because they were a part of series that could only be purchased that way? I don't know. I just paid up and got it done with!! Oh well.

Driving by, Megan ...

All good, I'll keep Bookdepository & NZ post going - You keep the Libraries working sound like a deal ?

now what other world problems can we solve .....

Tickets booked and flying into Christchurch on 26 March. Will spend the next week or two planning how to spend the 15 days. LT meet up?

Hi Megan - I loved Complications too when I read it and then I read his Checklist Manifesto and that was good too. He was in Cambridge a few months ago on an author's tour and we popped into the Harvard Book Store for it. He's such a personable guy and so funny too with some of his stories.

This thread is always so busy, and always fun... never daunting like some..
and often has pics.. what more can one want?

Hi Megan, I'm enjoying all the library love on your thread. Children's books (and library sections) have come a long way since I was a kid. Yay for Lenny getting his first library card! When does he get his own LT account? I love reading aloud to my grandchildren. They're a bit more particular now that they're older, but the little ones just seem to love language of any kind. I think those names in Dickens books would be almost as much fun to read as Dr. Seuss!

>203 PaulCranswick:: It looks like another meetup "down under" -- wish I could tag along!

Hi Megan

What lovely, lovely photos! I love them!

Chelle: I know, its too sad seeing them so unlike themselves, hes back to 100% now though

Nancy: woah, another comet? Oh no its a shooting star :)

Alex: OK, your plan sounds good. Hmmm, what next indeed, tackle world peace?

Paul: Woah, that is great, good choice coming straight to Chch, Ill try to arrange a still earth for you....now, let me get my ideas sorted for your itinerary....
and LT meetup? Of course!

Caoline: I bet he's a smooth character, in a good way. He def sounds smart

Kath: he he, are you talking about your daunting thread by any chance? Traffic congestion there is tough, maybe you should put in a roundabout ?

Donna: I cant say enough good things about our libraries, they are awesome! We cant tempt you to a little 16 hour flight to NZ for the meetup?

Whisper: glad you like the pics! Any time

In other news, it's going to be a great day today so we are packing up the kids and their cousins (and all the gear in a tramping pack) and taking the ferry to Diamond Harbour for the afternoon. Will spread out a picnic rug, laze around in the shade and watch the kids run about crazily.
Cant wait!

Thought I'd join the gang hanging out and buzzing by here, Megan! That sounds like a great day indeed.

Have fun on your picnic! I'm glad the vomiting has stopped... hope the washing is ón the line (gale force winds up here, so must go and check mine...)

Joe: thanks for the visit, it got to 27degC I think today so was lovely and hot. Then the legendary nor'wester wind swooped in and blew us to smitherines :) Wasn't that bad really, just the gusty usual.

Cushla: my washing dried in about 7 minutes here, that hot wind is full on but it sure dries clothes fast :) Was a great day but having problems with scrappy kids. Mine and my sisters (3 and 4) eldest usually take about an hour to warm into settled playing so the first bit is always high drama. I want to let them sort it out themselves but always seem to jump in to mediate which Im sure is part of the problem :(

Hi Megan, Right now I'm about ready to take a 16 hour flight to anywhere! Might not even need a plane...
Your day yesterday sounds lovely!

btw, I love the expression "picnic rug"! That's exactly what it is! Why didn't I think of that?

> Hi Cee, havent you heard of picnic rugs before? I thought that is just what they were called...well, when they are at home its just called a rug or a blanket....but when its on grass its another story :)

Book 7
The Night Circus

DISCLAIMER: this "review" is just my opinion, please dont hate me all you 5-star-raters of this popular book! :)

Oh dear. I didn't like this book. I thought I was going to, I nearly did in the first 50 pages, but no. It is magical, it is fantastical, it is very OUT THERE, and it requires a reader who can deal with all of that.

I liked the main character Celia, but didn't feel like I got to know any of the other characters (OK maybe the twins, a bit). I didn't feel I knew Ceila's love interest at all, in fact I couldn't even see why she liked him. He was a personality-free zone from what I was reading. And the story didn't even make sense to me!?@! I didn't understand "the game" why or how "the game" was being played or what "the game" even was.

The first half of the book was all tantilising and teasing with bits of information you just knew were leading you towards something important, characters and tents and different dates all over the place; and the second half was all where did the plot go? The only saving grace for me was the writing, there were some lovely bits, a few choice paragraphs here and there that kept me form abandoning this book.

I know that fantasy isnt my genre so perhaps Im being a bit harsh, then again, maybe not. 1.5 stars.

Don't worry. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. This is a hate-free zone. :) i'm one that loves a good fantasy, so this was a great book for me. Good review, though!

phew! Thanks Jim :)

Megan, count me as another who always appreciates an honest review! Be a boring world if ... (add cliche).

+1 world would be boring if we all agreed ......

Nancy: good to hear I'm not persona non grata around here, I knew you were an obliging bunch :)

Alex: ditto, would be boring, but if it brought world peace (you remember, our next project?) I would take it ;)

Why beat around the bush....reminded me of Roger Ebert's movie book "I hated, hated, hated this movie"...ok seriously, Megan - I get you - nothing as irritating as a plot (and a Game) that doesn't make sense.

LOL @ roundabout..

Shocked that you didn't like Night Circus!!!!
And really didn't like it at that.. funny how differently
books appear to different readers eh?

I am often a dissenter when it comes to popular books..
but I adored that one :)

Hi there Megan! Well, I've got Night Circus in my TBR pile and it's not calling to me. I'll try it eventually. I'm not much for fantasy, which I suspect that it is. Ah oh!

I always find dissents interesting, Megan. I can't make up my mind as to whether I'd like this one, but I appreciate getting your honest take on it.

Carsten: haha, the book was a book club one and got discussed last night. It polarised, there were 2 loves, 2 hates and one who didnt read it (and inst going to now based on discussion).
I imagine the movie reviewer you mentioned would have to have slightly more in his repertoire than "I hated, hated, hated this movie", although sometimes that's ALL you can think of :)

Kath: it is so strange isnt it. All the things I said I disliked about the book, my sister said that was what she loved! We were both looking at each other going "are you crazy?". We were cracking up. She usually loves popular fiction and I am often the dissenter like you :)

Deb: Wait for the cal Deb, if/when it comes, who are you to argue?

Joe: I was surprised myself Joe, I mean it's had really good reviews here and everywhere. Oh well, onwards and upwards. I need me a gooood one next....

Book 8
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (YA)

Im useless at remembering who recommended books, but someone out there on LT talked about this and it looked interesting. It is a short and simple read and a pleasant one.

A boy called Sam leaves his home in New York to live alone in the forest. It is never really explained why he leaves apart from that he wants to. There is also a question that remains unanswered that bothered me: what were his parents thinking "letting" him do this? He was only 11? 12?

Lots of interesting information on food gathering and methods, and a lovely house he built for himself in an ancient tree trunk made it seem more plausible (or do I mean possible?) but it all seemed a little out of reach for a city kid. Nice, but naive. 2.5 stars.

Enjoyed reading your review of the Night Circus - I have seen it everywhere but am going to leave it for now. Magic and I do not compute...

ah but we will need lots of different ideas if we are to get near world peace - am I not right ? when you look thru that global window ?

Cushla: glad you liked it, I laughed to myself writing it too :) It IS everywhere at the moment isnt it. Ive barely seen a negative review so was nervously putting my toes in the water there.

Alex: I'll just take peace in my house at present, never mind the rest of the world. Why hasn't someone yet invented the soundproof parents room (with nanny)? You'll have to excuse me, my nearly 4 hours of sleep is coming back to haunt me.

Hi Megan!
What happened? The sweet baby boys are ganging up on you? It happens sometimes - but you will have days where you are on top and the earth will re-balance itself.
Sleep would help - right? Good luck!
;-)

Hey Megan. Just trying to catch up after being off-line for almost a week.

Re The Night Circus as they say in Québec, chacun à son gout! ;)

#225: Sounds like Walden for kids. Well, sort of. It just reminded me of another lonely boys adventure I read a while back which was very good - Hatchet - a Robinson Crusoe story.

LOL!! Yes, Megan, I''ll wait for the call of The Night Circus. As you say, if it calls , who am I to argue? And if it doesn't call... well.... so be it!;)

The Night Circus is waiting for me at the library. I am calling out to my inner child these days as I prepare to read The Narnia Chronicles (for my class), Game of Thrones (because I want to give it back to my daughter after keeping it so long), and now TNC. February will be full fantasy immersion for me. Oh dear, wish me luck!

Megan, my husband has been after me for years to go to China with him. If I ever get talked into that long flight, I might as well "hop" down to NZ for a meetup...but don't hold your breath. ;-)

Waving hello Megan.

Claudia: the boyS were fine, it was the eldest that was the trouble, waking at 415am for the day. What the? Made for a write off of a day yesterday as everyone was grumpy and easily annoyable.....today is another day though :)

Brit: glad you're back, hope you get through the day without sustaining injury ;)

Tiffin: aaaah....no parlez vous .....ah, no comprendo....

Carsten: kids adventure stories have a lot going for them, I read Robinson Crusoe last year and liked it

Deb: Im still waiting for the call of the second half of the English Patient. It's been sitting unread for 6 months on my bedside table.

Donna: ooh, China is somewhere Id like to visit too, lets make it an LT trip, although for books to buy in English it might not be the best place to go :) Ive been very close to mainland China but never actually there.

Heather: hello to you too.

#237 Megan, i am waiting for the call of The English Patient too - I read the first few pages about 20 years ago and haven't picked it up since!

Book 9
Blankets by Craig Thompson

This is what I can count as my first proper graphic novel. Flicking through the book it looks like a comic strip until you look closer at the black and white drawings. Each picture in its little (or big) box is a stand alone artwork. I was quite amazed at the amount of emotion that was able to be conveyed by a simple line drawing. These images coupled with the words and thoughts of the characters made up a wonderful multi layered story.

The story itself covers the authors tough childhood and adolescence, his alienation from his peers, his obsession with drawing, his growing skepticism with religion and his first love. It is told very well and very convincingly. I was completely drawn into his world, and the images added so much to the narrative. 4.5 stars.

#239 I really enjoyed that one too. He's got a new one out called Habibi which I'm hoping my library will get.

Last year with your Lenny arrival consideration you didn't quite get to the 75 finish line - this year it looks like you'll be there by August!

Heather: I got Blankets out at the library as Habibi was already out. Bu I plan to check that one out asap too.

Paul: I know! I seem to be racing through them at the moment. Although the first 2 I actually had started and made a good go of in 2011...and...one of this years "books" happens to just be 3 kids books.
But I am very excited about reading at present which I cant help but blame LT for :)

While strolling thru your thread, I was 58 posts behind, I got a great idea. My son, almost 13 BTW, is such a sluggish reader and he just can't get started on the Lord of the Rings series that he wants to read for school this semester. So it looks like I should read him a chapter every night before bed. Perhaps after a few chapters he'll be interested enough to continue on his own. *all crossable crossed*

Hi megan.. hope the boys are sleeping better?

*Wonders if it is too soon to reread Night Circus?*

Lynda: great idea, or you could read along with him chapter by chapter and discuss after...maybe this would go better after reading him a few chapters.

Kath: big bro got his first treat in a week this morning for staying in his bed all night. Phew. Its never too soon to reread a good book! You should go for it! I assume you dont mean me rereading it?!

:) no.. lol.. I mean me.. but that was funny.. !

phew again :)

When are you going to start a new thread, madam? One that I may visit without Being Reminded of your Apostasy from the Morgensternians?

Signed ever so ominously, Rêveur Grand Inquisitor and Torturer in Chief.

eek, I wondered if you'd ever visit me again based on my thoughts on The Night Circus!!? To answer your question...within 12 hours! Sir!

The fact that your response was so strong tells me what I need to know...that it's truly got something special. If you'd said "meh kinda boring don't see the fuss" I'd be more likely to holler at you.

Don't worry, we can't all enjoy the same books!
I loved The Night Circus and raved about it to my best friend. She is now reading it and about halfway through asked me if I would be mad if she didn't finish it!

Funny, Chelle!
chacun à son gout = each to their own taste, Megan.

Megan- Good review of Blankets! Tania, (Wookie), just finished and loved it too! Congrats on your 1st "real" GN. I hope this is the beginning of a long-lasting love affair.

Richard: people seem to be either hot or cold on it I reckon, its just one of those polarising books !

Chelle: isnt it weird, there's no accounting for taste :)

tiffin: ah ha! that make sense to me now. Cliches are cliches for a reason, cos theyre true!

Mark: This is one instance where reading outside my comfort zone has paid off. I can definitely see myself reading more GNs- look I can even use the acronym!

My get-from-library-asap list from up-thread is coming along nicely...

Marcelo in the Real World
Stitches (decided against, read Blankets instead)
The Shock Doctrine
Complications
Voyage of the Arctic Tern
The Cobra Event
the Demon in the Freezer
Book of a Thousand Days
My Side of the Mountain
Blackwater Lightship
Dragon Talk
Tigers at Awhitu
Lost in Shangri-La
The Ghost Map
Guardian of the Dead (decided against)
Room
The Siege being home delivered straight after work!

Alas, my library delivery system has a huge glitch in it. My partner (the deliverer) has moved to a different role within his organisation, and to a different office! No more library text/deliveries for me. Pride came before a fall :(

Hmm, we need a new delivery system for you ...