JMaloney17's Just Reading a Few Books Over Here

Hi all!
I had a good reading year in 2011. I did not read all the chunksters that I meant to read in 2011, but that is ok. It was a stressful year workwise, so I forgive myself. I have no reading goals for 2012, and it is quite a relief. I can read what I want without feeling guilty about not reading what I am "supposed" to read. Yeah!

Best reads of 2011:
George R.R. Martin series
Karen Marie Moning series
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
The Passage by Justin Cronin

So for those of you who do not know me, I tend to read classic Brit lit, series books (fantasy, paranormal, regency romance, some sci fi), historical fiction, adventure tales and post apocalyptic stories. I also like spanish and south american writers and magical realism. But really I will read just about anything.

Happy reading to all!

Jennifer, I seem to be the first! Look forward to keeping up in 2012.

Welcome back!

Hey everyone. I am just setting this up today. I only have a couple of hours before I go out for the evening. Hopefully I will get around to finding everyone's threads by Tuesday. I was pretty far behind as it was.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!

Is there a best of 2011 thread up yet? I need to get that going too. I posted a few of my favorites at the top of my thread but those were just off the top of my head.

I am excited to see what new books are coming out in 2012. The Millions is going to have an article up on Tuesday about what to look forward to in the coming months. My B&N gift cards are revving their engines!

Happy New Years!

Glad to see you back again this year!

Glad to see you back with us again, Jennifer! Happy New Year!

Ah! Jenn! Good.

Ack! I got a bunch of stuff to cross stitch for Christmas. I have become obsessed with them. I have finished one bookmark and am nearly finished another. It is seriously cutting in to my LT time. So I have not gone and done any of my beginning of year starring. I now have plans to do all this stuff on Friday since I have the day off and will have the house to myself.

Until then ... Reading and bedtime.

Sleep tight all. (Except those on the other side of the world, you all can ... "Have a Great Day!")

Good night, Jenn!

I haven't done cross-stitching in ages. But I'm glad you're enjoying a crafty phase. :D

From Kath's (mckait) thread

1) Find out the song that was #1 the week you were born.
2) Find that song on YouTube.
3) Post that video on your thread without shame.

Mine is Fame by David Bowie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfeaNKcffMk

#1 Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre (with an accent over the last e)

I really wanted to like this book. I found it very difficult to read. Everyone had three names that were all similar, and then there was all the British spy slang. I also thought the story was very slow, disjointed and kind of dull. The main character George Smiley ended up very depressed when all the action was done with and everything had been solved. I did relate to that, since that is how I feel at the end of a big long-term project. Only thing is, there was no action to be exhausted from and no adreneline-high to recover from in this book!

If I read it again, I think I may like the book more. But, I just don't want to do that.

I have the old BBC version of this at home waiting to be watched. I am wondering if I will appreciate it more, since I will be able to distiguish the characters more easily and maybe feel more of the tension. I will have to do that soon.

>13 jmaloney17: I definitely plan on tackling this book at some point as I want to watch the new film. Colin Firth AND Benedict Cumberbatch? I am so there. ;) Hope your next read is a more enjoyable one for you.

#2 Game of Patience by Susanne Alleyn

Another great mystery by Alleyn. I have to thank Richard again for recommending them. Arstide Ravel is an agent for the French police post-Revolution and pre-Napolean. He is tormented, he hates and loves his job. He is lonely and sad, but hopeful. I have the order of these books messed up so I am not sure where it lands in the five or so books that are available. The historical accuracy is excellent. The book moves along at a good pace. Though I knew who the murderer was pretty early on, how Ravel figured it out easily kept me going. These are quick reads. The books run around 250 pages. I highly recommend them.

Jenn - I have never really fallen in love with Le Carre's books (with or without the accent over the e!). The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is much the best of his efforts which tend to be repetitive and action lacking.

Just found your thread! It must have been hiding from me these past few weeks. Anyway, *starred*!

#3 A Treasury of Regrets by Susanne Alleyn

Another great mystery by Alleyn. This one is a poisoning. I am extremely impressed with the historical detail. I am learning so many interesting things. I think there is one more of these books out there. I hope Alleyn writes some more.

#13: I read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and did not care for it either. It was one of those books that I think I should like, but just did not.

#4 Still Life by Louise Penny

I finally got to this book. I liked it pretty well. I have heard it is not quite up to the others in the series, so I will definately read another one of these days.

I know what you mean Stasia. I really felt like I must have been missing something. Andy's father loves LeCarre's books, particularly TTSS. I almost feel like I have let him down by not liking it more.

Just poking my head in here to say I'll be following along on your thread. I'm halfway through The Count of Monte Cristo - I was enjoying it a lot and then life threw it onto the back burner, but I will finish it!

Jenn, I am so remiss! I read your appreciative review of Game of Patience and meant to come back to clue you in to Susanne's really interesting web presence:

An interview with Aristide

Susanne's essay on the Revolution and the 99% Movement, which I found compelling.

And those disturbing Fragonards.

Sorry it's taken me so long. And keep moving forward on the Pennys, all will become clear as soon as next book.

Oh thanks Richard! I appreciate the links; and I will definately pick up the next Penny book soon.

Welcome back phoenix.
Glad to see you here ursula. Keep going on CoMC. It is worth it.

#5 The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Excellent. I am on the next book already.

#6 Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
OK. So now the next book needs to come out. I will comment more on the Lynch books when I have some more time.

I have not been very good at keeping up this year. Work has been super crazy!

#7 The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

#8 The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter

It seems like I am missing a book, but I don't know what it is!!!!
That is so annoying!

I currently am reading the second book in the Rothfuss trilogy called The Wise Man's Fear.

I remembered!
#9 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
I actually did not really like this book. I can see where an 10 or 11 year old would though.

Hi Jennifer- I hope you liked The Name of the Wind. I was a big fan and I've been trying to fit in the follow-up the Wise Man's Fear. Hopefully in the next couple months.
I've heard good things about The Lies of Locke Lamora. That's on the schedule too. Have you listened to the Sword & Laser Podcast? If not, I think you would really like it.

Mark:
The Wise Man's Fear is very good. Think I even like it more than The Name of the Wind. You should move it up on your list. I will have to check out that podcast. Thanks for letting me know.

#10 The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

Excellent! I just read The Name of the Wind about a month ago, and really liked it. This one is even better. This part of Kvothe's story sees him turning into a man and discovering the value of relying on and trusting others. There is sex, sword fighting and poisoning (all my favorite stuff)! I can't wait until the next book comes out!

Jennifer- After that strong endorsement, I will move The Wise Man's Fear up the List, possibly even getting to it soon. I already have the audio ready to go.

Excellent. I hope you enjoy it.

#11 Legend by Marie Lu

This post-apocalyptic view of the future of the United States was good. Not great, but interesting. The basics of the story were good (i.e. militaristic state, place, compelling characters). However, it just needed some more "oomph." The characters were not quite developed enough, and there was no real reason for one of the bad guys to be as bad as he was. It also kind of feels like a first half of a book, eventhough this is a series. I will probably read the next to see if the author improves on her character development.

#12 A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny

The second in the Three Pines mysteries by Louise Penny. A good cozy mystery. Things are starting to become interesting with Gamache's past. It looks like some wrenches are being thrown in his path. I am interested to see what they really are in the next book.

I agree with you about Legend, Jennifer. Not bad, but I was hoping for better.

I also really enjoyed The Wise Man's Fear and Louise Penny's Three Pines series.

Hello folks. I have not been on here in a really long time. Work has been nuts though I have been reading. Basically every free moment has been spent reading. I also was in St. Louis (with no internet) a lot because my father had to have half of his liver removed. He is fine now though.

I have probably read 50 trashy novels since the last time I was here, so I will not bother listing them. I read 50 Shades of Grey and it went downhill from there! I am giving myself another month to read crap, then I will be going back to something that requires more than basic literacy to read. (Seriously, the last one I read was about Dick and Jane doing something naughty to one another.)

At any rate, I hope all is well in the reading world, and everyone is enjoying their summer. I will be browsing for recommendations soon.

Jennifer - nice to see you out and about again. Glad to hear that your Dad is on the road to recovery. "50 trashy novels" are still books (well possibly)

Boy I really am failing this year with my upkeep of LT. I have read a couple of decent books lately. The Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson being one. I plan to start The Twelve by Justin Cronin soon. I also just finished a couple of fantasy books that you may not know about. The first was free on Nook Frey by Melissa Wright and the second in the Frey Saga called Pieces of Eight, which was only $2.99. They were better than I expected them to be. Fairly well written. There were a couple points where I would get confused about what they were talking about, but I ended up figiring it out. Not sure if it was the authors fault or mine. I have had a bad cold, which is not always conducive to thinking.

Biblio-Mat
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/biblio-mat-for-2-a-new-inven...
Totally Cool!

Given the stress of your dad's situation, and the pressures of work, I'm just pleased to have you hear at all, Jennifer. I hope you decide to come back in 2013 and will have a somewhat easier and more online-friendly year then.

I can't believe you were in St. Louis & didn't let me know! I could have taken you out to dinner or something....Hope you're Dad's doing okay!

Jennifer- I plan on starting The Twelve mid-December. Have you cracked it yet?

Thanks all. It has been a crazy year. My dad is acting like he has a whole liver and nothing ever happened. You would never guess he had half of it removed. I was really worried since he is a brittle diabetic. I did not expect him to heal all that well.

Work has really been the bane of my existence. I ended up in the hospital with an ulcer about a month ago. Since then I have been ignoring work and not stressing about getting everything done on time. That is why I have been on here a little more lately. I really like my job, but I think I am going to have to find a new one. I have been complaining about my workload for two years. While I know the powers that be are sympathetic and very concerned about my health, they really do not seem to be able to do anything about the workload. I was trying to get them to hire a second person, since I basically have two jobs. The money unfortunately does not seem to be there. I guess I will not be there instead! I can "really like" another job.

Yes, I was in STL, but I was not doing anything but staring at my father and making sure he ate, drank water and did not pick anything up. He lives by himself, so it wasn't until my last week there that I was comfortable enough to leave him alone for a few hours. He does not follow the rules! It drives me crazy. I always have trouble doing things in STL, because I am always going back and forth between my parents homes, and I do not drive so I have no independence. Though, I will make a concerted effort to contact LTers the next time I am there.

On another note, I read a book! Well I read a few, but the only one I can think of at the moment is The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

I finished this about a week and a half ago. It took me a long time to read it. It was is paper form. I did not realize how much more opportunity I have to read when I am using the Nook. For one, Andy does not let me stay up and read with the light on, because he cannot sleep with it on and has to get up pretty early for work. But I have the Nook with the Glow Light, and he can tolerate the glow from that. And it is much easier to walk and read with the Nook, than a regular book. And it is much easier to read the Nook during commercials of a TV show for some reason.

At any rate, the book ... .
I liked the story a lot. I must say I really thought I was going to be reading a different book. For some reason I thought it was going to be historical fiction. It started pretty slow for me, but I was curious from the first. I really enjoyed it. I thought Henry was a interesting character, but insane. I sympathized with Richard, and thought he was interesting though easily manipulated. Or rather, naive and gullible. Bunny was a boob, and I did not really feel sorry for him. Definitely worth the read.

I just finished Ready Player One by Ernest Cline the other day. I really liked it. It takes place in the future, but the future is obsessed with the 80s. It is a quest story and has a lot of the good v. evil themes in it. If you like sci fi, the 80s, gaming, Star Wars or anything along those lines, you will like this book.

Happy Holidays all!