GeorgiaDawn's Reading Journal for 2012

I fell short of my reading goal in 2011, but I plan to make up for it in 2012! I'm currently reading Patient Zero, my SantaThing book, Diplomatic Immunity: A Miles Vorkosigan Novel, and Unwind from my school's library. (I would finish them quicker if I would read one at a time.) I'm also listening to The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon when I can't sit down to read.

Starred! You are!

I'm looking forward to reading more Miles books this year. Thankfully I have several more to read before I run out, and I hear there will be a book about Ivan out this year. Woohoo!

Also looking forward to your thoughts on Unwind. I've got it wishlisted but there seem to be so many young adult dystopian books out nowadays, I don't know which to try.

I'm going to try to finish Unwind in the next day or so. I've been slow about reading it. I do like dystopian novels, but the market does seem to be flooded with them of late. My school librarian suggested I try this one because students were giving it high praise.

Don't you just love Miles or love to hate Miles or cheer for Miles or want Miles to just be quiet? My feelings seem to change with each chapter. I had not realized that there will be a book about Ivan. That's interesting! I'll keep a lookout for it.

Sometimes I find myself reading too quickly, trying to keep up with Miles. I just want to be able to tell him to slow down and wait up! Not that I think it would do any good :o)
Although he did set an easier pace in the last one I finished, Memory.

Mostly I want to slap Miles. ;) I think his parents would have done far better if they'd disciplined him at least a bit!

And I'm really really looking forward to Ivan's books.

(2) "Starred! You are!"

maggie, is that like "Sam, I am!" ...?

:D

I've got GD starred as well, am looking forward to reading reviews.

yup, yup, yuppie!

I just love diana gabaldon...I've got two left in her series to go...saving them for later.

I very much like Gabaldon, however, having read all of them, I found the last 2 very tedious. It was almost as though she was trying to see how many loose ends she could leave us hanging onto. Nevertheless, I'm going to reread the ones I didn't get around to rereading last year this year.

Did she tie things up in the last two though?

1. Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold

Miles is at it again! I love this series and cannot get enough of it.

I'm at the point where it's difficult to give an adequate review without giving away spoilers for those who are not reading the series. I'll just say that Miles and his family are again drawn into a disaster that involves murder, madness, and mayhem. Miles is desperately trying (with a good bit of help) to solve all the problems in order to make it home in time for a special event.

I love that Miles Vorkosigan series, too, Cindy. Thank goodness he now has Ekaterin around.

Oh, yes! Ekaterin is great! Maybe she can calm him down a bit.

2. Unwind by Neal Shusterman

You are a young teenager. You have been in trouble a few times and not exactly the type of child your parents thought you would be. No problem. They can have you unwound. They can even convince themselves it is for the public good. After all, wouldn't you be more valuable if your salvageable parts could be given to the good people who need them?

I enjoyed this book very much. Neal Shusterman has created a possible future that is terrifying. The characters each have strengths and weaknesses that contribute to the plot and outcome in interesting ways. There are a few twists and turns along the way. I gave this book four stars instead of five because I found it a bit predicable. However, it is written for a younger audience and probably would not be as predicable to them.

14> Sounds amazing @GeorgiaDawn! Wishlisted! :D

I will star you, too. I haven't read Unwind, but I did read the Hunger Games series and loved them. And I just read Divergent. That one was very good too!

I also liked Unwind when I read it a year or so ago. It was such a fascinating premise, and the three protagonists were believable and well-written. I agree that it was a little predictable, but I've probably read too many of these sort of books by now!

I loved the Hunger Games series, too! I have not read Divergent, but will look for it.

I started another Miles Vorkosigan book this morning. I have so many things stacked up to read! Later today, I'll put the list here and let some of you help me prioritize.

I liked Unwind a lot, too, Cindy, and gave it to my sister for Christmas.

The Miles Vorkosigan books are a blast!

Okay, here are the books that are next up in my pile. I have no idea where to start! Suggestions?

Firebird by Jack McDevitt - Love McDevitt! He and his wife are friends of mine.

Under the Dome by Stephen King - No, I have not read this one.

Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich - I've decided that I will read this series.

11/22/63 by Stephen King - Yes, another King in my stack.

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon - Jamie!

Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry - SantaThing book. I put this aside to finish two others.

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams - Georgia author. The book takes place in Atlanta.

I have many, many more. These are the ones that have made it to the surface.

I have not read any of those, GeorgiaDawn, so I can't make a recommendation.

Eenie, meenie, miney....

Fuzzi, I may just do that! :)

I really liked Firebird. Haven't read any of the others.

Of that list, I've only read the Evanovich, but I would definitely recommend it as a quick, fun read. The early books in particular are a lot of fun. Eventually they do start getting a bit repetitive...

I'm with bluesalamanders; I've only read the Evanovich and loved them. I'm only on the tenth one.

I've read up to 14, but it all sort of blurs together after a while (clearly this means I should start back at one, right? ;). I definitely do not recommend the unnumbered Plum books or her not-Plum books. The ones that I've read were very dull compared to the regular Stephanie Plum books.

I've only read Under the Dome which I liked until the very end which left me unsatisfied. Great group of characters though.

I've already got 11/22/63 on my wishlist and you've just added another. Jack McDevitt's Alex Benedict series sounds good.

I've been enjoying Evanovich, but I'm taking a break after #3. I do think you should read them in order though. Have you read the first 2?

I've read the first two Evanovich books and liked the second much better than the first.

For those of you who like Jack McDevitt, I would encourage you to email him (the address is on his website). He and/or his wife respond personally to fans. They are wonderful people!

The Stranger You Seek was very good (maybe a little predictable, but well-written, with a strong central character) and would hold definite appeal to people with a regional interest.

I've gotten a big kick out of the Evanovich series, so that'd be my pick. A lot of LTers are raving about the new Stephen King.

>29 GeorgiaDawn: Spider Robinson is like that too. I think we've had about half a dozen email exchanges over the years. Though sometimes it may take months for him to respond, he does eventually do so!

I read Under the Dome and it was okay but definitely not up to comparison with The Stand or even Cell. It was the last book I paid full cover price for and I did not think it was worth almost $30 even though it was huge. I would compare it to a chinese buffet. There was a lot there but soon after you are done you feel like you did not have anything.

I would recommend the Jack McDevitt. I just read Polaris over christmas and it was great. I have Echo on my TBR pile. They are both Alex Benedict novels.

BOSK!! Great to see you! Echo is great! I love the Alex Benedict novels.

3. Cryoburn: A Miles Vorkosigan Adventure by Lois McMaster Bujold

Miles is on another adventure. This book left me stunned! I enjoyed it very much and thought everything was settled until the last few pages. Now I'm stuck because there is not another Miles book to jump right into. What ever will I do?

4. The Composition by Antonio Skarmeta and Allonso Ruano
This was a short story, but important. What does a child do when he has been taught to tell the truth, but he knows the truth could destroy his family and everything they stand for?

5. Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Even though this is the second in the series, it's the first one I read. I enjoyed the book, but found it very predictable. That may because I know about the series and have watched a few of the television episodes. It was good, but was not the thriller I wanted it to be.

Thank you all for your help in organizing my list. I decided to finish a couple I had started before jumping to anything new. I'm now listening to The Fiery Cross and reading A Discovery of Witches. I put Discovery aside a few months ago, but am really enjoying it now. I think Firebird and The Stranger you Seek are next. I'm considering listening to The Scottish Prisoner because of the wonderful accents. Under the Dome is massive. I may save that for Spring Break.

*waving hello*

Maggs! Hello! I missed you in chat Friday night. I wasn't there long, but we all missed our fearless leader.

ahahahah

Let's see...where was I? I think I was spending some quality time with the great niece and great nephews....

oh, sitting on their sofa reading while they were upstairs wrestling with all the electronic games, etc.

Next Friday, I should be there, as usual. This snow mess should be all gone by then.

We've had high temperatures the last few days, and we finally got rain last night. It's cloudy now, supposed to rain more today. Then it's going to get back in the high 70s!

I'll probably be around next Friday, too. No plans that I know of now.

Happy reading!

I'm still slogging through A Discovery of Witches. I'm enjoying the book, but I'm finding that it's a story that could have been told in far fewer pages. Vampires are dangerous. I get it. I got it in the first 3 references. I don't still to be told halfway through how dangerous vampires are, especially in long, lengthy passages that go. on. forever.

I can see how this book appeals to teenage girls. Maybe they need to reminded over and over and over of dangerous creatures. Come to think of it, some need to be reminded daily. Several times a day.

Even with all the repetition, the story is good and the plot is interesting.

I too had issues with A discovery of witches, also finding it far too long for the amount of plot covered. Spending a page and a half describing how the heroine puts on a pair of riding boots was just too much detail! I also disliked the wimpy heroine and overbearing hero. But most of the secondary characters were great, and I loved the Bishop family home which we get to in the last section of the book. I don't plan to read the sequel though.

oh, thanks for saying that. I HATE books with wimpy heroines so can wipe that one off my wishlist.

I didn't think she was wimpy and absolutely adored A Discovery of Witches. She's no kiss-ass heroine, I admit. But she didn't make snap decisions, it took her awhile to figure out what to do at times and I rather liked that. I'm really looking forward to the next book.

Here was my review:

This is one of the few books in recent months that I slowed down near the end because I didn't want to finish it. I didn't want it to be over. And now I have to wait until at least next summer before the second book in the trilogy comes out and I'm bummed. The characters are richly woven and the story, while fantastic, is homey and basic. It's a story about people. Yes, they are witches and vampires and daemons, oh my. But they are just people in many ways and I really liked that. They are cranky and have doubts and waffle and love and protect each other even when angry or when someone screws up.

oh great... now what do I do ;(

Get it from the library and decide for yourself :-) You can always quit if it isn't your cup of tea, and if is . . . well you will have had a great read at no expense!

I will finish the book because I've heard so many good things about the book. I just wish it moved at a faster pace. (This morning I read again about how dangerous vampires are. :) )

I thought A discovery of witches was worth reading but, as you say, the same thing could have been accomplished in far, far fewer pages. For me, the book only really got going in the last 100 pages or so.

I'm in the last third of the book, and the pace has picked up considerably. I'm enjoying it much better now.

6. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Diana Bishop is a witch who has spent most of her life trying to avoid using her magic. When she travels to Oxford in order to research original manuscripts of alchemy, Diana discovers that other creatures (vampires and daemons) are as interested in her as she is the old manuscripts. They know more about her than she knows herself. After spending years fighting her magic and denying her rich magical heritage, she must learn to use her magic in order to save her family, herself, and the vampire that stepped into her life.

The plot of this book was interesting, but moved along at a very slow pace. I almost stopped reading a couple of times. I am glad that I stuck it out. While I did enjoy the book overall, it seems to me that the same story could have been told in much fewer pages. The first half rehashed the same themes over and over: vampires and witches do not befriend one another, vampires are dangerous, the three creatures (vampires, witches, and daemons) are not to mix company. As I passed the halfway mark, the plot moved quickly and the previously established rules were broken on every page out of necessity. The more I read, the more I liked the book and the characters.

This book has a definite cliffhanger. If that drives you crazy, wait until you have the sequel to start this one.

I'll have to put this one on my TBR list.

I've been telling myself 'no more books about vampires and werewolves' because I keep trying them but most of the time I find they're not for me. But so many people seem to be enjoying A Discovery of Witches that I think I'm going to cave soon and give it a try.

As I said above, I did enjoy the book. However, it drags a good bit through the first half. I will probably read the sequel, but it's not one that I will pre-order and sit by the door waiting. I will add it to my ever growing TBR list.

A woman I work with raves about it and keeps asking if I've read it yet, plus there are some pretty enthusiastic comments on LT. I appreciate hearing yours and Athabasca's thoughts on it, it reminds to keep a level head about it. And I keep reminding myself that my coworker enjoys vampires, werewolves and witches a lot more than I do.

If you read it, let me know what you think!

7. The Great Santini by Pat Conroy - 5 Stars

As a marine, Bull is one of the best. As a father, he is not one of the best. Through the pages of this book, Pat Conroy tells the story of Bull and his family as they make a home in South Carolina during Ben Meecham's senior year in high school. New friends are made, new relationships forged, and old family habits are faced with laughter and heartache. The four Meecham children, their Mid-Western Marine father, and their Southern bred mother come alive within the pages of The Great Santini. They struggle with their undying love for family and the love/hate relationship they have for the lives they have very little control over.

Pat Conroy has a gift for the written language. His rich Southern heritage permeates every page. With one sentence he can invoke anger, bring you to tears, or make you roar with laughter. His words are eloquent and harsh, stirring and sharp. He is a master.

I know they made that into a movie a number of years back, with Robert Duvall.

I'll keep it in mind for my "to read" list...I hate to add anything more right now!

I haven't seen the movie, but I found it on Amazon today. I highly suggest this along with his other two books I have read, The Lord's of Discipline and The Water is Wide. I've got a couple of other books by Pat Conroy in my TBR pile.

Oh, Pat Conroy... I loved The Prince of Tides to bits. Absolutely adored it!!! Couldn't make it more than a few pages into Beach Music. I think I own a few more but haven't gotten to try them yet.

GD, I came into this thread to thank you for bringing Jamie & Claire into my life. :o) I'm just about done with the 3rd Outlander book on my iPod and have the 4th one here ready to load. (Oy, 39 discs!) What would I do without at least a few minutes of Jamie Fraser in my day?

You are very welcome, Clam! I'm listening to The Fiery Cross and reading through The Scottish Prisoner. I would certainly love to meet my own Jamie! :)

I haven't read The Prince of Tides, Beach Music or South of Broad. I'm not sure when I'll get to those. I haven't heard much good about Beach Music; I may skip that one.

8. The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

I can't believe that I forgot to add this book! I finished it a few days ago and enjoyed it very much. This follows Jamie Fraser and Lord John Grey after Jamie's release from prison. Claire is not is this book, but she is mentioned and thought of many times by Jamie. The Scottish Prisoner is part of the Lord John series and helps to explain the complicated relationship between Jamie and John. I found that I liked Lord John much more after reading this book.

I seem to recall reading The Lords of Discipline back in college, most likely when I had a crush on a guy from the Virginia Military Institute. I don't remember the particulars to any extent, though.

#61 - Was this another audio or an actual paper copy? Because I am about to load the 39 discs of Drums of Autumn but after this I may start actually reading the books. LOL

By the way, I think Gabriel Aubrey might make the perfect Jamie.



*Readies the Dragon's supply of drool buckets*

OK! Ok! Ok! He is cute, almost beyond believing.... so cute.. *wanders off muttering*

....too fuzzi... ;)

But Jamie is fuzzy!

It was a typo... she meant "sooo fuzzi...."

cute guy. hate Jamie.

He's really grown on me... so to speak. ;o)

I'm telling Aragorn.

:oD

#62 - I have it in audio and paper. Due to the stacks of actual paper books I have, I opted for the audio on this one. I still have three more Gabaldon books to go, but I've got to take a break.

9. Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer

My brain hurts. Robert Sawyer certainly makes you think! I've read this book before, but I remember skimming through it at the time. This time I decided to take my time and give it the attention it deserved. Through the characters in the book, Sawyer brings all sorts of controversies to the surface. The issues he touches on are political, religious, and moral. I didn't necessarily question my beliefs; however, I did think a great deal about how my beliefs (political, religious, and moral) all fit into the great scheme of things. I thought it was very interesting that Sawyer chose to use extraterrestrial aliens to make humans take a good look at humanity.

That sounds like a worthwhile read!

10. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

I hesitate to say that The Woman in Black is a good book. It is a tremendous ghost story full of horror and lasting revenge. I will, no doubt, be thinking about it for a while. I did not see the movie, but I will now even though I know it will probably not compare favorably with the book.

The real strength of The Woman in Black is Susan Hill's writing. After all, in this cynical age, what is it that can persuade us of the presence of a melancholy or malevolent ghost? We don't really believe in ghosts in any sensible, scientific way; but the words of Susan Hill are composed so as to draw up the fears of childhood, that ultimate human fear of being alone and vulnerable to larger forces. The book is scary. It is artfully crafted and absolutely capable of raising the hair on the back of your neck.

I too have resisted seeing the movie, even with Daniel Ratcliffe, because I thought the book was so very good, that the movie would simply have to be a disappointment.

jillmwo - You describe the book beautifully! Thank you!

11. Timeless by Gail Carriger

Timeless is the last book in the Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger. I love this series! There is very little that you can take serious in the books. There are vampires who are more concerned with fashion than their next meal, werewolves who have difficulty controlling their hair, and at the center is the main character who can render any of them human again with a touch. In this last installment, Carriger ties up her loose ends nicely. While some characters took on new, challenging roles, they remained true to personalities Carriger had developed in the previous books.

Gail Carriger will be at Dragon*Con in Atlanta this year for the first time. I can hardly wait to meet her!

12. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

13. The Boo by Pat Conroy

14. The Appalachian Trail Guide, North Carolina-Georgia

15. Under the Dome by Stephen King

Wow! This one had me from the first chapter! Scary, sad, tense, emotional, relief, hope, despair. Classic King.

Sounds like it was a worthy read. I might have to dip back into the Stephen King opus.

I have not been able to read Stephen King since I threw one of his endless opuses against the wall because I found it repetitive and endless and the writing dreadful.

I enjoyed Under the Dome, I listened to it on my iPod and it kept me up at night - couldn't wait to find out about the dome.

Re: Jaimie and Clare. I introduced a friend to this series and she devoured them, leaving her family to fend for themselves for dinner, housecleaning, etc. It was really funny. Her husband got so curious as to what this "Jaimie" thing was all about that we were talking about that he read the books too. One night she and I went to a movie and when we came home her house was all dark except for candles in the windows. Curious, I dropped her off and called the next day to find out why the power was out at her place, but not ours. Turns out when she came through the door, her husband greeted her with one of her old kilts on (and nothing else), informed her in as best a Scottish brogue as he could manage, that the "bairns were at the neighbours for the nicht, and would ye like to join me in the bedroom lass?" Needless to say, my friend loves the Outlander series. :)

LOL - Great Outlander-related story!

#82 - Katylit - I love that story! Thank you for sharing!

#82 That's priceless! What a good hubby.

No matter what inspired it, I like that story.

Good man to be married to, great sense of humor!

16. The Harvest by Scott Nicholson

The Harvest takes place in a small, North Carolina community tucked away in the mountains. It is a quiet community complete with moonshiners, a preacher struggling with his sinful thoughts, and a psychology professor who has premonitions. Insert an alien presence feeding on all the life around it, and you have The Harvest.

This was a free Kindle book and definitely worth the price! Like other books I have read in the last year or so, there were places where I thought the book was dragging and wanted it to move faster. Even with that, I did enjoy the book and will try others by Nicholson.

17. 12/21/12 by Larry Enright

Interesting take on the Mayan calendar.

18. The Turtle Boy by Kealan Patrick Burke

This is the first in a series of stories about eleven year old Timmy Quinn. One incident at a local pond shows Timmy that he is not a normal boy; he sees things others cannot imagine. This is a great story to read on a dark, rainy night. It's very creepy. The story clings to you and will not let you put it down. I will definitely be reading more about Timmy.

The first sentence in Chapter One had me hooked: "All the world's a stage, Timmy Quinn, but it's not the only one..."

19. Triggers by Robert J. Sawyer

I’ve been a Robert Sawyer fan for several years. His latest book, Triggers, falls in a long line of science fiction books that are hard to put down. Sawyer challenges you to think about life as we know it. How would life change if we could not only know about another person’s life, but also have their memories? Knowing all of their most private thoughts? Privacy would no longer exist in any manner. In Triggers, Sawyer’s characters must learn how to adjust to these incredible changes in their lives.

20. Reamde by Neal Stephenson

This was my first book by Neal Stephenson. I enjoyed it and will read more, but I felt that this story could have been told in far fewer pages. That’s really the only negative I have about Reamde.

The book is centered around Zula Forthrast and her uncle, Richard Forthrast. Richard made his fortune from a video game (an entire world) called T’Rain. Through a series of seriously bad circumstances that involve T’Rain and a computer virus, Zula finds herself as a hostage (thanks to her boyfriend) of the Russian mafia. The book follows Zula and her captors around the world as she tries to find a way to escape. Unfortunately, her freedom hinges on the virus inside T’Rain.

This book is exciting and will keep you interested. The characters are fully developed and each plays a vital role as the plot develops. They range from CIA operatives and the Russian Mafia to computer geeks trying to earn a little extra gold inside a game. There is a great deal of technical information, but once you get past that the story is great.

Looking forward to hearing what you say about Reamde--my son finished it recently and really enjoyed it.

I like Robert Sawyer too, Flashforward was great. I've got to read more of his work.

21. The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice

There are a few books by Anne Rice that I love: Violin, The Witching Hour, and Interview with the Vampire. The Wolf Gift will not make that list. I expected this to be a great book about werewolves. I did finish it, but it was a struggle. I don't want to give too much away, but I begin to have doubts when the character who is stricken with "the wolf gift" was never really upset or shocked by his transformation. Yes, he did research and look for answers. However, I found it hard to believe that on his first night out after the change he runs around doing good and seemed perfectly okay with the fact that he grew fangs. There is a very cool mansion that is central to the book, but there are only so many ways to describe a house. I guess I should add that it's very convenient when most of the main characters have unlimited financial resources and seemingly perfect lives.

This book has had some great reviews, and I certainly hope people enjoy it more than I did.

I have started Killing Floor by Lee Child and 11/22/63 by Stephen King. So far both are very good.

Hey! I'm reading Killing Floor right now, too. :) I'm enjoying it. Wondering what it took for a British guy to write such an American novel. I keep wanting to watch for flaws or cultural errors, but find myself getting caught up in the story and forgetting about it. Sometimes I'm wondering about the wits of Reacher though. Seems like he should figure some stuff out sooner than he does.

I'm actually listening to Killing Floor and the narrator, Dick Hill, is wonderful! I love that it begins in Georgia. Of course, this may not be a good thing as the book progresses, but it's cool right now. :)

22. Killing Floor by Lee Child

I enjoyed this book very much, but found it a bit predictable. It was still a fun read; I will definitely be reading the next in the series. I did note a few things that only a person from Georgia or the south in particular might notice. The biggest thing was an incident where a character hid in a peanut field. I can't imagine anyone being able to hide in a peanut field during the day. The author mentions the stalks, but there are really no stalks on peanut plants. Another was the way Augusta was pronounced by the narrator. Yep, these are petty and make no difference in the plot or my enjoyment of the book. I did like reading about Macon (only a couple of hours from me) and the Atlanta area.

Thank you, DrNewt, for suggesting the series.

Yes. Another Reacher creature! :)

A series, another series! Not just one book to add to my never ending list, but an entire series! I don't know if I should thank you or send Morphy's Roombas after you. :)

oh, no, Morph's Roombas on the loose!

Georgia, I had to pick at his description of calling hotels to see if a certain person was staying there (hotel clerks do not give out that information), and when he found one that said yes, he asked the room number and was given it! Big, big no no. Possibly a sleazy clerk might sell that information, but give it out over the phone? No.

I do like Reacher though, I'm reading the second book now. Is Lee Child from England? I thought I read that somewhere.

Someone rang?

#103 - You send those Roombas while I avert my eyes from the name of the series.

Lee Child is from England but has been living in the US for a while.

This is totally off topic but inspired by the name of Lee Child. To have a surname like his would be unthinkable in Sweden but in the UK such names seem pretty ordinary?

I'm employed by a company that is head-quartered in the UK and one day I started to receive emailed news bulletins from someone with Careless as his surname.

All of us in Sweden deleted these emails without reading them, judging them to be spam. Then one colleague investigated matters and concluded that this was a living person employed to spread this bulletin (among other things).

O tempora o mores ;-)

Expect the unexpected...

23. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Yes, I read the book. Based on it's recent popularity, I expected a book that would be shocking. I did not find this to be the case. It was entertaining and I was surprised at the end, but I'm not sure I will finish the series. I was underwhelmed.

Popular Culture! It so befuddles me. Why would some reporter ask the President of the United States if he had read the book? I'm glad you confirmed for me that neither he, nor I, really need to find time in our busy lives to read it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/book-banned-fifty-shades-of-grey_n_1503...

That's probably why the reporter asked. Yet another episode of stupid people having too much power.

Ok, I guess, maybe, the issue of what libraries do, or don't, add to their collections might have some Issues of National Importance... Really? When compared to what?

Nevermind, I know I am skating perilously close to talking politics in The Green Dragon, and I do not want her to bite me.

I'm another Reacher creature, Cindy, as Jim put it, so I'm glad to see you enjoyed Killing Floor. I remember being really pleased when I read it a few years ago and learned that many more in the series had already been written. You have a lot of fun reading ahead of you! I'm all caught up now, darn it, so I have to wait impatiently for each new one to come out.

I'm a huge Reacher Creature as well. I think I have read them all twice now. Yes, I'm a dork. :) I was fortunate enough to meet Lee Child at Bouchercon 2009 in Indianapolis, IN. He is one of the nicest authors! It makes reading his books that much more entertaining when I know he is a pretty cool guy. Again, I'm a dork. :) You will find some pretty far out things in the books but I still find them entertaining. I'm not sure if you heard but they are making a movie out of One Shot. Tom Cruise will be Reacher. I'm not a huge fan of that idea but it will be fun to see Reacher come to life on the screen. (Side note: I pictured Vin Diesel as Reacher when I first started reading the books. LOL!)

Hmm, I see Reacher as a younger Liam Neeson.

*not EVER as Tom Cruise*

I could see Liam Neeson as Reacher. I guess Tom Cruise is one of the producers so he got the lead role. He is just so short...how is that going to work?!? Just my thoughts. :)

I'm not a fan of Tom Cruise in anything.

24. Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz

I am a huge fan of Lisa Lutz and her Spellman series. The Spellmans are a family of private investigators, except perfect David who is an attorney. While the family works tirelessly for their clients they also find the time to investigate each other. In fact, they may spend most of their time investigating each other. These books are laugh out loud funny; I never tire of reading about this family.

25. 11/22/63 by Stephen King

If you had the opportunity to change the past would you? What would be the future repercussions from even a small change? What if Kennedy had never been assassinated? In 11/22/63, Stephen King explores those questions through the life of Jake Epping. Jake finds himself in the past and sets out to change the lives of several people and the President of the United States. As Jake finds through his efforts "the past is obdurant." He fights his way past obstacles that are seemingly impossible to overcome. Jake could never imagine what one little change would do to his world. This book was fascinating and played with my emotions from page to page. I am still not sure how I feel about the ending. This one will have me thinking for quite a while.

#117 - I gave that to my husband and he still hasn't cracked it. I'm thinking I will have to swipe it and read it before he does.

I enjoyed it very much. It's not my favorite book by King, but definitely worth reading.

26. Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 is one of favorite books so I decided to try the graphic novel. It was okay, but much was lost in the translation from the original. I'm not a big fan of graphic novels; that certainly impacts my opinion.

I am a big fan of graphic novels, Cindy, and I still agree with you on this one. Very disappointing.

jnwelch, I agree. Too much of the original meaning was lost.

27. Kindred by Octavia Butler

In 1976, Dana, a young African-American woman, is transported back to the early 1800's and finds herself saving the master's son on a plantation. Without knowing how or why, every time the son, Rufus, in is a dangerous situation Dana is jerked out of her life just in time to save him. After traveling back through time a couple of times, Kevin, Dana's white husband, grabs Dana when he notices that she is fading yet again. This time Kevin and Dana both are transported. Kevin has to pose as Dana's master in order to help keep Dana safe. That is more difficult that it appears to be. Through these travels, Dana meets her ancestors and is able to witness and live through the mistreatment of the slaves on the plantation. Dana also discovers the truth about her ancestors and their relationship to Rufus Weylin.

28. Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi

Tom Stein is a struggling agent in Hollywood when he receives a most unusual client. He is hired to represent an alien species and plan their introduction to the world. This book is short and a bit silly. It was still fun to listen.

Wil Wheaton is the narrator for Agent to the Stars. He is perfect for this book. If it were to ever be filmed, Wheaten is a natural for Tom Stein.

My library doesn't have Agent to the Stars on audio, but I noticed it has Scalzi's Fuzzy Nation narrated Wil Wheaton. I think I'll give it a try. I've wondered what Wheaton has been up to after Star Trek.

123 sandragon - He's been on Eureka and Big Bang Theory, he's published a few books, he's...well, he's done a lot of things. You might check out his blog :)

Thanks, Blue. I had no idea. I still think of him as young Wesley Crusher. Not sure about trying his memoirs, but I've heard good things of Eureka and Big Bang Theory and, yay, my library has those on DVD (no cable at my house).

You're welcome, sandragon! I've never seen Big Bang, but I love Eureka. He's also in The Guild, which is available free online, and he has a new youtube show about board games called Tabletop. He's come a long way from Wesley Crusher :)

29. Bossypants by Tina Fey

I listened to this book based on recommendations from clamairy and a RL friend, and I am so glad I did! The book was very funny! Tina Fey discusses circumstances and situations that most women have in common in addition to those things that only a person in her career would experience. The mix is funny and refreshing. I downloaded the PDF so I could search for specific quotes. They may come in handy later.

#127 - It's so good I think I might be getting copies to give as gifts!

30. The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

The tragic story of the Wingo family is uncovered as Tom Wingo works with his sister's (Savannah) psychiatrist after her most recent suicide attempt. In an effort to help his sister survive, Tom is forced to work through the problems in his own life and discovers how his past plays a part in his present.

Oh my goodness. Sad, happy, sad. As with all of Pat Conroy's books, there are many life lessons to be learned from The Prince of Tides. I found it very good, but heartbreaking. I now need to read something lighthearted and funny.

I loved The Prince of Tides. I read it back when I was first recovering from my own family's many problems and my own, too. Heartbreaking, true, but so much worse if not uncovered and talked about.

Many fine people have had troublesome families and have survived to have a wonderful life!

Yes, heartbreaking... but oh, the writing! That bit in the beginning when he remembers how his mother made it look as though she caused the moon to rise, I got goose bumps reading that. I still remember that thrill and it's been about 30 years since I read it.

Pat Conroy is a master. He can convey such emotion in just a few words. Yes, clam, the part about the moon is nothing short of brilliant.

Maggie, you are absolutely correct! I knew when I started the book that it would play with my feelings. I bounced all over the place. This is a book that needs to be read.

31. Across the Nightingale Floor by Liam Hearn

This book follows the lives of a young man, Tomasu, and young lady, Kaede. They are each ripped from their families for different reasons and are searching for a future they can call their own. Their individual futures are held in the hands of others who have their own purposes and intentions for Tomasu and Kaede.

I did not read this book during the group read. I gave it three stars because it was beautifully written. There were parts that were appealing, but overall I was a little disappointed. It never really grabbed me. At some point, I may follow up with the next book to see what happens.

After the last two books, I definitely needed something light. I'm listening to Redshirts by John Scalzi and narrated by Wil Wheaton. So far, so good! I have a stack of books beside the sofa waiting to be read. Decisions, decisions.

At these times I wish there was a genre called 'well written fluff.'

so... is that a contradiction in terms? Can fluff be well written? Is that like: Can cotton candy be well prepared?

oh, OK, I admit. Yes, it can. But I just don't know of any......

Maybe something from the Hobby Mystery or the Cozy Mystery category: http://bookcountry.com/books/Map/Default.aspx

I too would like for it to be such a genre although I think it would be hard to agree what is fluff ;)

You know, folks, there's nothing keeping us from establishing such a genre for our own purposes here. Well-written fluff could represent a cross-genre genre, as it may include all kinds of enjoyable reads. LT has tags and lists. (Oooh, maybe that's the right route to take. Start a list....)

Calling Morphy!!!!! or a Morphy-act-alike....

who likes making lists?

Have at it!!! I started it off with Redshirts

http://www.librarything.com/list/347/all/Well-written-Fluff#

Of course, if Morphy wants to do one of her stellar spreadsheets, that would be a wonderful kindness.

I love to make lists, like my mother before me.

How does the rest of the world cope without lists?

So much depends on the definition of fluff. I would consider The Ladies' #1 Detective Agency series to fit in that category, I would also consider the Harry Dresden books to fit there and the Miles Vorkosigan saga. So. What is fluff?

To me, it's something I can relax into without being on guard. I know pretty much what to expect and the author isn't likely to shake me out of my comfort zone. It isn't going to require my brain to work hard to understand or keep up with the author.

Sorry Georgia! This is your reading thread, maybe it's the wrong place to ask my question.

I would nominate Marian Chesney books as 'fluff', although fun fluff!

143 - MrsLee - I want and need "fluff". Discuss away!

The Dresden books are definitely fluff!

I would probably love them as a diversion if it wasn't for the fact that I just can't take vampires and werewolves in an urban setting ;-)

How about the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich? I think those qualify as fluff. I've only read the first two, but I have the others. My library was selling them for 50 cents each. :)

147 - Absolute fluff, and I guess they are not poorly written, but the character starts to annoy after 3 or 4 of them. IMO

I'm a few chapters into Old Man's War and I think it qualifies as fluff. Very fun fluff. I'm getting a kick out of the Old Farts Club.

Hmn, I'm undecided on whether John Scalzi is fluff or not. It's like with some other authors who I suspect of having hidden their messages so well we just eat their medicine without even a blink.

Well, The Android's Dream at least is fluff. And Agent to the Stars. I'm less sure about Old Man's War.

I agree with both of you. The Android's Dream was definitely fluff, IMO. But I can see how Scalzi might have more to say in Old Man's War. I'm still just in the beginnings of it, but if this is medicine I'm happy to take it. I haven't read any others by Scalzi yet; I'm looking forward to more!

I don't know, in my mind he is very Heinleinesque in his writing and I'm in two minds about that. Somehow I like it and somehow I feel it ... formulaic?

32. RedShirts by John Scalzi

This book will not win any literary awards, but I loved it! If you like StarTrek TOS, you will probably enjoy RedShirts. This is about the crew of the Intrepid and their assignments for the Universal Union. Members of the crew have noticed that something is just not right about their ship and away missions. Yes, you guessed it, one of the crew members always dies.

(This is definitely fluff!)

Sounds like my kind of fluff :)
*goes off to mark one more down for the TBR list...*

Busifer - I listened to the audio version with Wil Wheaton narrating. He was great!

I think I'll get the actual paper book - I have discovered that fiction previously unread is hard for me to get my head around when I have to listen to it. Probably a side effect of it being read in another language than my own?
For some reason lectures and such works well but fiction - no :(

I might have to get the audio version. I've been salivating to get Redshirts back when I first heard Scalzi was working on it.

I just read it, too, and I thought it was great. I'd like to listen to the audiobook at some point - Wil Wheaton is a fantastic narrator for this sort of thing (and so appropriate!).

Very appropriate! If I like the paper version I might get the audio version - fiction that I have already read works just fine in audio :)
(Love LoTR as narrated by Rob Inglis!)

Busifer, mostly I listen to books I've read already too. I have to tie myself to a chair to listen to books I haven't read. But since Wil is reading it... Had to have it.

I can't just sit and listen; I have to be doing something. I listen to audio books when I'm cleaning the house, getting ready in the morning, driving, or similar situations. Occasionally I will have to backup and hear something a second time.

Going back to fluff, I think the Sookie Stackhouse books qualify. Easy, quick reads. Entertaining. No thinking involved. :)

I'll have to check out Redshirts. I wonder if my dad would like it. He likes more "pure sci-fi" and not that "fantasy crap." :)

#162 - Same here. I will spend a whole day* transferring 47 discs to my iTune and iPod, but I can't just sit and listen to a book.

* I'm not sitting the whole time just visiting the PC every 10 minutes or so to switch discs and hit the right keys to install.

33. Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James

Yes, I read it. No, it is not shocking. I don't know if I will read the third book. I really don't care what happens to these characters. *sigh* (So, why did I read it? Everyone around me who NEVER reads has been reading this series. I read the first two out of curiosity and to see what they were talking about. Meh.)

34. The Gunslinger: The Dark Tower I by Stephen King

I read the first two installments of The Dark Tower series several years ago. I want to finish the series so I decided to start over since I had only read the first two books.

I read the Dark Towers series a couple years ago, and really enjoyed it. I loved the western/fantasy feel of it, and that it wasn't the typical King horror. I enjoyed book 4, Wizard and Glass the best. Learning about Roland's and the other gunslingers' past was really cool in my opinion.

I'm currently reading The Wind Through the Keyhole which is King's new story in the Dark Tower series.

#165 - I've always wanted to give that series a try, but I just can't seem to find/make the time.

Clammy - Which series? bwaaaahahahaha

I would certainly recommend the Stephen King series. The other, no, I would not recommend it.

Oh, heh heh. I meant the King series. I'm afraid I'm not even vaguely interested in the other.

It's so dangerous to read these wonderful threads, always new authors/books discovered. Now I've got Redshirts lined up for my next Audible and it sounds like I'm going to have to read more John Scalzi. I love the idea of a well-written fluff list, perhaps some of the Outlander series would apply, although they're all not particularly "fluffy" when it comes to size/weight! I would definitely agree about the Miles Vorkosigan series and Bujold's Sharing Knife trilogy too.

Yes, dangerous! I try to hold off adding books to my wishlist immediately after reading these threads.

Maybe we should start a dedicated 'well written fluff' thread...

#170 Speaking of Bujold her latest captain Vorpatril's Alliance is now available at Baen in eARC. Expensive but I had to have it. I'll start it tonight! Yay Ivan! My favorite Barrayaran.

I'm just on my second read through of the eARC of Captain Vorpatril's Alliance. I won't say anything more ;)

See? DANGEROUS threads!! LOL

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance - I want!!

Well-written fluff thread. I want.

Will the thread be well-written? Or are we just celebrating that rare combination of fluffy content with excellent writing? Or both? What shall we do? (tone of voice suggests silly questions)

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance - very tempted! But I will wait for the final version to be released. $15 seems like a lot of money for an un-proofed copy.

I'm going to wait, too, Sandragon, but I really want it now!

The Parasol Protectorate books by Gail Carriger are also fluff. I love those books! Gail Carriger is scheduled to be at Dragon*Con this year. Whoo hoo!

Oh I'm devouring it. So funny! So Ivan!

Jealous!! :)

35. The Drawing of the Three: The Dark Tower II by Stephen King

36. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

37. Choke by Chuck Palahniuk

38. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

39. Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King The last story in this collection is the best. I'm not much for short stories, but I did enjoy these.

40. Being George Washington by Glenn Beck

I read this based on advice from a friend. It was better than I expected. It read more like a diary than a history book.

41. Club Shadowlands: Masters of the Shadowlands 1 by Cherise Sinclair

Oh. My. Goodness. This was recommended by a RL friend. I read it, but I will not continue with the series. If you like erotica, this is for you!

Now, back to science fiction!

42. Beneath These Waters by Sharyn Kane

This book is very interesting. It examines the history of the lands and people around the Savannah River; it is based on archeological evidence and studies of the area.

I snorkel and scuba dive in the Flint River, not the Savannah. When I find an artifact, I always wonder about the person that created and used the item. Who were they? What were they like? When did they last use the item? Did they have a family? This book shares evidence that answers these questions about other peoples who lived in the area that is now Georgia and along the Georgia/South Carolina border.

That is so cool that you found a book that addresses your wonderings. I am impressed.

43. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent is the first in a trilogy of dystopian novels. Sixteen year olds must choose a particular faction that they will work for and live with. Each faction focuses on a different value in society. As each sixteen year old is tested prior to choosing, they learn which faction they are most suited for. Some of these young men and women find that they are suited for more than one; these are divergent. No one wants to be divergent; it is dangerous to be different in this future society.

This story is told from the point of view of Tris, a young woman who struggles between the faction she thinks she belongs in and the one in which she was raised. She is forced through competition with others in the faction she chooses to determine rank and try to determine who is a friend and who is an enemy. As if Tris' own issues are not enough, she discovers that an evil is at work that will destroy the lives of the entire society.

Divergent is a fast paced young adult novel that holds your attention and leaves you wondering what else could possibly happen. Life is certainly not fair in this future world.

44. Blackout by Connie Willis

Three historians from the year 2046 travel back to World War II to experience life and review the historical records. They pose as normal, everyday people who could not have effected the outcome of the war or changed history. As each tries to go back to their current time they discover that time travel may be more complicated that originally thought. What will they do if they are stuck in London during The Blitz?

I enjoyed Blackout very much. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I can't say too much. Connie Willis does a wonderful job of making the reader feel as isolated as the historians.

I've already started the sequel. I'm also reading Jurassic Park for the first time. The book is much darker than the movie!

Oh, I do loves me some time travel. Oh gawds, it's a series!
0.0
*runs away screaming*

Oh, I read Jurassic Park after seeing the movie and enjoyed it very much! The sequel wasn't bad either.

Well, a duo, though there are recurring characters from a couple of her other books, To Say Nothing of the Dog and Doomsday Book}.

Oh! I was confuzzled because LT has it listed as part of a series of four: http://www.librarything.com/series/Oxford+Time+Travel+series

I'd consider them more companion novels than a series, apart from Blackout and All Clear, which are one story cut into two books.

I can remember a few scenes from Jurassic Park that didn't make it into the movie. Loved the book when I read it in middle school. Was my first Crichton book, and started my love of his novels.

45. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

After watching the movies over and over, I finally decided to read the book that started it all. Wow! The book is darker than the movies, but that does not lessen the book's appeal. I enjoyed it very much.

46. White Lies by Jeremy Bates

One little white lie. That's how it all began.

This book moves along quickly as we follow a teacher in a new community trying to recover from one little white lie she told to a hitchhiker. She never dreamed a remark made in desperation would cause such turmoil in her life.

I enjoyed the book, but there are parts that are a bit of a stretch. However, it is unsettling to see how one small statement can escalate into life changing events.

47. All Clear by Connie Willis

All Clear picks up where Blackout ends. This series was very good. I loved the insight into the lives of normal people during The Blitz. Things don't turn out perfectly, but Connie Willis brings the threads together nicely.

48. Legion by Brandon Sanderson

Legion was available on Audible free! This story by Brandon Sanderson is about Stephen Leeds and his hallucinations. His hallucinations are in the form of other individuals. He sees and interacts with these individuals in order to draw on their unique skills and abilities. With the help of each of these personalities, Leeds is able to solve a mystery that takes him to Jerusalem in search of a special camera.

This was a good, interesting book that I enjoyed. As with all of Sanderson's books, there are surprises and plot twists along the way.

49. The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

Caleb and Camille Fang are performance artists who create "art" by acting out scenarios in public that are designed to shock and surprise. No one except the Fang family is aware that these are planned events. As children, Annie and Buster Fang were parts of these events whether they wanted to be or not. As adults, they are trying to overcome their childhood and distance themselves from their parents' reputation. When Annie and Buster suffer problems in their own careers, they are forced to go home for a time. The children, called Child A and Child B by their parents, revisit their childhood memories and discover just how far their parents will go in the name of "art."

Caleb and Camille's dedication to their art superseded everything else in their lives. Their children pay for this dedication by trying to find their place and overcome their childhood. I'm still trying to decide what I think about this book. Even though there were funny parts, the more I read the more disturbing I found the book.

I am glad you enjoyed the Sanderson book! Hope you are doing OK, taking care of yourself, and your Mom, too.

I'm reading The family Fang at the moment and am really enjoying it. I look forward to seeing what you think.

#196 - Much darker, and just better, I thought. The sequel The Lost World is good, too. (Though it is mostly a re-tread.)

The only Crichton I've ever read was The Andromeda Strain which I enjoyed but which gave me the willies. Can't stand to think too much about pandemics in the news, just because of that book.

I'm also a fan of Crichton's Eaters of the Dead that got made into the movie The 13th Warrior. Really good retelling of Beowulf.

Yes, Eaters of the Dead is awesome stuff!

Huh, I did not know that The 13th Warrior was a retelling of Beowulf. I only know the general idea of Beowulf, guess I should get off my duff and read it one of these days.

I think Eaters may be my favorite Crichton book, but I also really enjoyed Timeline. I guess it's when he writes with medieval themes, that I like best.

I liked Timeline a lot, too. They made a movie of it that unfortunately was disappointing.

I haven't read Eaters of the Dead, but I'll add it to my list!

Sounds so gruesome. But so many recommendations! What a morbid group?

Not really that morbid. LOL It's just the title. It's not as graphic as World War Z, for example. :o)

I loved World War Z! :)

50. Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley

This was a fun book. So innocent.

Yes, I found that one to be a charming read as well.

Charming! Perfect description! I'm reading The Haunted Bookshop now.

And you got me with a book bullet...

52. The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

The Haunted Bookshop continues to follow Roger and Helen Mifflin as they share their love of books with patrons of their quiet book shop. A mystery develops and must be solved as a book keeps disappearing and reappearing in the book shop.

I enjoyed Parnassus on Wheels a bit more, but this one was still fun. Like Parnassus on Wheels, this book is charming (Thank you, jillmwo.) in it's simplicity and innocence.

207: The movie was very disappointing. I liked the night arrows scene though.

I listened to Neil Gaiman's short story, Click-Clack Rattlebags. It was only about 12 minutes, and I wanted more! The story was fun, and Gaiman's narration was wonderful! The story is free from Audible. For every download, Audible is donating $1.00 to Donors Choose, an online community helping with supplies for public schools.

Thanks for the tip on the Neil Gaiman audio short. I just downloaded it, my first Audible story. Click-Clack the Rattlebag is wonderfully creepy. Much better than Bradbury's The October Game which I read last night and foundgross and disturbing rather than scary.

I listened to Click-Clack the Rattlebag too, after dark, as he requested. *shivers*

Did you see that Legion by Brandon Sanderson was also free on Audible?

Yes, MrsLee! I listened to Legion, too. Fun story!

53. Seduction and Snacks by Tara Sivec

A RL friend recommended this book to me. It was funny and crude, but not the type of book I usually read. If you like romances, erotica, and don't mind the language, then you will probably enjoy this very much. My friend did! I gave it three stars.

54. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

A historian, Kivrin Engle, lives in a time when she can go back in time to witness events as they took place. Despite Professor Dunworthy's warnings, Kivrin is scheduled to travel to the14th Century and see for herself what Oxford was like in the 1320s. Kivrin has studied the time period, had her immune system enhanced, and is ready to go through the net and travel back in time. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes on both sides of the net, in the current Oxford and with Kivrin in the 14th Century.

This book was fantastic! The characters are interesting and the plot was well developed. I was scared for Kivrin and concerned for those she left behind. I hated to see the book end, but my emotions needed the relief!

(I love the name Kivrin!)

So glad you loved this book--I did too. The picture of 14th century England that she paints feels so real.

(225) Sounds interesting. I just added it to my wishlist (to read).

I agree, Marissa. Her descriptions were vivid and detailed.

I enjoyed Doomsday Book as well, although it's been a while since I read it. I do seem to recall a scene at Christmas time on the High Street intermingled with fears about bringing the two scientists back from the distant past. Or am I muddling this with some other Willis story?

Doomsday book is one of my favourites, even though she makes some horrible errors in UK details. But I love the story and characters so much that I don't care! Jill, yes, there are some great Christmas scenes in the book.

There are also good Christmas scenes in Blackout and All Clear. Out of those three books, I enjoyed Doomsday Book the most. I need to read To Say Nothing of the Dog now.

She actually has a collection of Christmas related short stories out called Miracle and Other Christmas Stories. It's an interesting combination--SF and Christmas--but it works in her hands.

And To Say Nothing of the Dog is one of my favorite books, along with her Uncharted Territory--I hope you'll like it!

I will definitely look for these books. Thank you for the recommendations!

55. Wool by Hugh Howey

Wool is about a future earth where people live in subterranean silos. These silos house hundreds of individuals who each have specific jobs to perform to maintain life in the underground city. The people spend their entire lifetime inside the silos. The only ones who go out are those who are sentenced to "cleaning." No one has ever returned from a cleaning until one person decides to question why things are they way they are in the Silos.

I loved this series of stories and look forward to more from Hugh Howey.

Sounds very similar to The City of Ember.

I'll have to put this one on my TBR list.

catzteach - There are some similar ideas, but definitely different stories.

56. First Shift: Legacy by Hugh Howey

When a select group of humanity decides to save itself from impending disaster, which side do you want to be on? What if you have no choice? First Shift: Legacy by Hugh Howey throws the reader into a near future in which those decisions are made for you without your consent or knowledge. This is the sixth installment in the Wool series, but it is actually the story of how it all started. I found it chilling and unnerving; I could not put it down. Much of this installment takes place in Georgia. I think that made it all the more horrifying to me.

Before reading this installment, you should read Wool Omnibus Edition or the first five stories in this series. As soon as I finished this sixth story in the series I downloaded the seventh. Hugh Howey has me completely wrapped up in his all too near future of mankind.

Wow! This one really grabbed you.

Yes, it did! The installments are not long so you can move through them rapidly. I really want to start the next one, but I have so much to do before my boys get there this week.

How are you? Are you home?

Nope. Up really early here on Kuau'i, and can get some LT time in before my vacation pals arise. We are shopping, going to a music festival, and having dinner out tonight. Our third partner will be going home on Tuesday so we are trying to squeeze in all good things before then. And then we are flying out on Thursday.

Have a wonderful time and stay safe!

i was reading Wool about the same time as you. I read the first part on kindle then found the omnibus at the Humane Society Thrift Store. I did not check for additional stories but now see I need to read First Shift; Legacy. I have been on a real post apocolyptic binge. I just finished A World Made by Hand and The Witch of Hebron by James Howard Kunstler and would definitely recommend them if you like a little post apocolyptic fiction.

Thanks, Bosk! I do like post-apocalyptic fiction. I'll check those out!

I just finished the next in the Wool series.

57. Second Shift: Order by Hugh Howey

This story continues to follow the people living in the Silos and also those who were behind the plan. Second Shift: Order focuses on Silo 18 and "The Great Uprising." This uprising was mentioned in the first five books. It was interesting to read about what actually happened as opposed to the stories passed down through the generations.

GD, I sincerely hope you have a fine Thanksgiving Day and that your family is able to gather together and give each other the support you all so very much deserve to have. Be sure to take some time for yourself! And relax as well as eat good stuff!

Maggs - Thank you! We have had a wonderful day! I even took a much needed nap this afternoon. I hope your Thanksgiving day has been relaxing.

58. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

What else is there to say?

God bless us, everyone?

Awww. One of the best books, ever. :o)

Well, as an introductory read to the holiday season, you couldn't do better! (And you got a nap as well! You must be feeling festive at this point.)

GD, I am home, now confronted with my having trashed the house by unpacking and futzing around. It will take the entire 3 day weekend to fluff up the nest, and get things settled. Greta Garbo is home, also, and I think a bit confuzzled about who she live with these days. She had a great time at Katie's house, learning to love Katie, and her two little Chinese Chin dogs. Katie reported that the dogs were having fun playing with each other, and that made my heart happy. The Niece's children have been given their Hawaiian gifts and disappointment reigned when the G.D. ukelele had too much cheapness to even do an imitation of a musical instrument. Dang. The grass skirt and hula fixings made a much better impression. The eldest rec'd a t-shirt and a cool little flashlight with a pleasant "thank you". Good on him.

OK, now i have to try to catch up on other threads.

I'm so glad you are home safe and sound, Maggs! Take time for yourself and get plenty of rest.

Good suggestions. I did laundry, and bought some books for Mark's Christmas Swap (75 books challenge people), deposited some of MY money in the rental house account to see it through being without tenants for yet again a month. December is just not a good time for renting...

Nonetheless, i still have my head above water, although just by the thinnest margin.

I refuse to be worried. I like assuming it will all work out.

I hope you are doing OK. I imagine havin the boys around has been great fun. And your Mother? She's doing OK? Hospice people are helping?

Send me a PM any time.

59. The Plagiarist by Hugh Howey

Hugh Howey has a way of taking life and twisting into something eerie and, on some level, believable. The Plagiarist involves college professors, digital simulations who don't know they are not real, and, of course, plagiarism. I enjoyed this book, but quite as much as Howey's Wool series.

60. The Willoughbys by Lois Lowrys

While I was reading this book, I thought Lois Lowry meets Lemony Snickett. The Willoughbys claim to be an old fashioned family. On the surface things may look happy and serene, but of course that is not the case. The parents are trying to rid themselves of the children and the children are trying to do away with their parents! There is even a rich recluse, an orphan, and a nanny who saves the day.

61. In the Tall Grass by Stephen King and Joe Hill

Do not go near the grass no matter what cries you hear coming from the grass. Do not go near the grass.

Bwaa haa haa....
Sorry. Love the blurb for book #61.
:oD

Clam - In the Tall Grass was more like a short story for King. It was still creepy. :)

Here's another one.

62. Throttle by Stephen King and Joe Hill

The first sentence sets the tone for the book: "They rode west from the slaughter...." A motorcycle gang is splintering with the younger guys on one side and the older, long time members on the other side. They are both involved in the slaughter mentioned in the first sentence, but disagree on how to proceed and handle the situation. As they travel, they realize they are not moving away from the trouble. It is literally following them every mile of the way.

63. I'm Starved for You by Margaret Atwood

The community of Consilience is a social experiment designed to combat spiraling unemployment, overcrowding, and rampant crime. No one moves into Consilience and no one leaves. Every move is monitored and people share homes with alternates, each taking the home for a month at the time. Even when things appear to be working, people still have dreams and desires. They crave excitement in their lives Some will go to almost any length to make those dreams come true.

I decided to knock out some of these quick reads since it's difficult for me to read for any extended period of time right now. I've got a few more lined up.

Short fiction fits in nicely during stressful periods. You can grasp a whole idea (assuming the author has done his/her job) without it taking a month of Sundays to complete. I think it's a wise move on your part.

Now you've got my curiousity going about In the Tall Grass...:)

Yayy. My library has ordered In the Tall Grass on audio so I can put it on hold. I'm in the mood for creepy short fiction. And creepy stories on audio always seem so much scarier than when I read paper versions. But the library site doesn't say who reads it. Was yours on audio, GD?

Georgia, you're really whipping through the books these days!

sandragon, I do not have In the Tall Grass on audio, but I'd love to listen. I'll look for the audio version.

clammy, all of these books were short. With everything going on here, I'm finding it difficult to concentrate for very long. The short works are perfect!

Marissa, don't read In the Tall Grass in the grass. :)

64. Georgia Boy by Erskine Caldwell

Georgia Boy is a collection of stories about a family in Georgia. The mother tries to hold the family together as the father moves from one money making scheme to another. I found it humorous in places, sad and desperate in others.

Hi GD, since I've been thinking about you so much, thought I should drop by and see what you've been reading too. Probably a very bad idea actually 'cause I just downloaded Wool Omnibus and In the Tall Grass to my Kindle (such a dangerous item on its own!!). But they both sound so good I just can't pass them up.

I really want to read Parnassus on Wheels too, as I enjoyed The Haunted Bookshop so much.

65. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

I've had the book for a while, but just got around to reading it. I enjoyed it very much! Wilkie Collins had my stomach in knots in places. I kept wanted to "fix" everything for the characters. Now I need something light.

katylit - Let me know what you think about those new Kindle books. :)

66. My Mother was Nuts by Penny Marshall

I bought this when Amazon had it as the Daily Kindle Deal and then got the audio version so I could try Amazon's Whispersync. Penny Marshal's deep Bronx accent made the book! The book starts with the description of her family (parents, siblings, and grandparents) living together in a two-bedroom apartment. She discusses each member in detail, finding humor in the good and bad. She then takes you on her journey describing her life to the present. I was thoroughly entertained through the whole book!

67. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

The only other book by Edith Wharton that I have read is The Age of Innocence. After reading Ethan Frome I'm sure I will read more of her books. Her writing is very detailed and emotional This book tells the tragic love story of a man, his wife, and his wife's cousin. I did like the book even though it has heartbreaking scenes. I will be looking for something funny, again!

Is Ethan Frome sort of like Wuthering Heights? I found the latter to be terribly depressing.

I thought it was dark, but the imagery was amazing. It was like dark poetry to me, whereas Wuthering Heights was just annoying to me.

I love Edith Wharton, when I "discovered" her I read everything of hers I could get my hands on. The Age of Innocence had a character with my maiden name, which as a teenager I thought very cool, so that started me off on my love affair with Wharton.

I really enjoyed the Stephen King single GD, whew! Definitely, don't go in the long grass!! Now I'm reading The Midget's House and really liking it too, reminds me of The Night Circus, Water For Elephants and The Haunting, :)

I think Ethan Frome is indeed darker than Wuthering Heights, although I giggled at you, @MrsLee, when you called WH "just annoying". But Ethan Frome is tragic and deeply pathetic while Wuthering Heights ultimately has things go "right" -- at least for one couple -- in the end.

68. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

I read this book many years ago, but could not resist the audio version read by Tim Curry.

I'm currently finishing up reading a couple of books and listening to Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I'll start one of my SantaThing books (thanks again, Morphy) next.

You seem to be having a great time reading! How did the math seminar go? Was it just one big interruption?

I'm almost done with Insurgent. I'm curious to see what you think of it. One of my friends loved it and another didn't enjoy it at all, although they both enjoyed Divergent.

Maggs - I'm learning to let a few things go and take some time for myself. The math seminar was really a good one. I can't say that about all of them. I got things that I could actually take back to my class and use.

I spent the afternoon today helping a friend's child study for his exams this week. They cooked a very good supper and we had a good time catching up.

catzteach - So far, I'm enjoying Insurgent. It was a bit slow at first, but it's picking up. I'll let you know!

69. archy and mehitabel by Don Marquis

I read this book based on Maggs' recommendation. Prior to reading this book, I had no idea who archy and mehitabel were. They first started as a series in a newpaper by Don Marquis. Archy was a cockroach and Mehitabel, an alley cat, was his friend. Archy would jump on the typewriter and type poems in free verse about himself and Mehitabel. The poems are observations from Archy's point of view and included a great deal about society.

This book was definitely different, and I enjoyed the change of pace.

GD, if you liked archy and mehitabel, you may wish to look for the sequel, archy's life of mehitabel. (Should we explain to non-archyphiles that because he was a cockroach using a manual typewriter -- remember them? -- he couldn't use the shift key, which is why names associated with him are always in lower case?)

Which one you reading next, GD?

Morphy, I think I'll start with Garden Spells. I sounds so interesting!

hfglen, I love that he can't use the shift key! Yes, I remember them well! I learned to type on one of the blasted things. :)

Just to jump back a couple of weeks, I adore Wharton, thought I've only read The Age of Innocence, Ethan Frome, The House of Mirth and her collection of Ghost Stories and another collection of short stories. (I'd suggest skipping Mirth.) I own a bunch of her other books, just haven't gotten to them yet. But I have her big fat biography sitting here taunting me.

I was hooked on her in college when I read her short story Roman Fever and was completely blown away by the ending.

I need to get a copy of Roman Fever. I've never read it.

I'm pretty sure it's free online somewhere. It's only a few pages long.

70. A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon

I've read several of the Outlander books. This novella tells the story of what happened Roger MacKenzie Wakefield’s parents. It is not necessary to read this in order to follow the other books, but it does shed light on the mystery of Roger's family.

71. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

This is the second book in the Divergent trilogy which takes place in post-apocalyptic Chicago. In this installment the "divergents" become more open and active in an effort to keep one faction from taking over and controlling the other four. Tris learns things about her family and Tobias that force her reevaluate her feelings. If you don't like cliffhangers, you might want to wait until the third book is published.

72. Look Homeward, Clockwork Angel by Elias Anderson and E.C. Belikov

This is a story about an unlikely band of three individuals (an ex-lawman, a master mechanic, and a lady who is mad at the world) setting out to right wrongs for people who can't help themselves. They are paid, most of the time, to work just outside or barely within the confines of the law.

Look Homeward, Clockwork Angel is a steampunk novel that almost goes over the edge with respect to body enhancements for some of the characters. The plot was good, but I got lost in trying to not correct obvious mistakes in the text. They need an editor. That being said, I will probably read the next in this series and see how it goes from there.

Edited because I need an editor!

Clockwork?

Yep, Clockwork. :)

73. Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in The White House by Elizabeth Keckley

I read this after watching Lincoln. Ms. Keckley bought her freedom and that of her son. She had a reputation as a master seamstress and was able to support herself. Through a series of events, she made her way to Washington and Mrs. Lincoln heard of her reputation. In addition to making her wardrobe, Elizabeth became Mrs. Lincoln's confidant and friend.

Ms. Keckley tells the story from her point of view, following Mrs. Lincoln through four years in The White House and after President Lincoln's assassination. The narrative includes many letters and first-hand accounts.

It was interesting to read Ms. Keckley's account of President and Mrs. Lincoln. It is clear that she respected both of them and enjoyed their company.
Edit | More

That sounds interesting, GeorgiaDawn--have to check it out...

Where is your 2013 thread?

I haven't started the 2013 thread. I have been on the road all day. I think I'll start it now! :)