Roni 'ncats Relishes 2012: Books and Arts and Crafts Part 2

Important Note: This is actually the THIRD thread















My final 2011 thread may be found here

My first thread for this year may be found here

Books read in 2012

* indicates re-read, # indicates library book, + indicates Kindle book, % indicates Book Off The Shelf (BOTS)

January
1. The Night Circus# by Erin Morgenstern (387 pp.)
2. Cannery Row# by John Steinbeck (196 pp.)
3. Darkship Thieves% by Sarah A. Hoyt (479 pp.)
4. Gabriel's Ghost by Linnea Sinclair (447 pp.)
5. The Family Trade% by Charles Stross (308 pp.)
6. Maxwell's Closet+ by Steven Belskie
7. The Goose Girl# by Shannon Hale (400 pp.)
8. Salt: A World History+ by Mark Kurlansky (450 pp.)
9. A Proper Companion+ by Candice Hern
10. Organized Simplicity+ by Tsh Oxenreider (256 pp.)

February
11. The Pride of Chanur* by C. J. Cherryh (224 pp.)
12. Crochet Master Class+ by Leinhayser and Weiss (191 pp.)
13. Troubled Waters# by Sharon Shinn (391 pp.)
14. Tuesdays at the Castle# by Jessica Day George (225 pp.)
15. Chanur's Venture* by C. J. Cherryh (312 pp.)
16. The Kif Strike Back* by C. J. Cherryh (299 pp.)
17. Chanur's Homecoming* by C. J. Cherry (398 pp.)
18. The Peach Keeper# by Sarah Addison Allen (271 pp.)
19. Enna Burning# by Shannon Hale (317 pp.)
20. The Wild Ways# by Tanya Huff (295 pp.)
21. Midnight in Austenland# by Shannon Hale (272 pp.)
22. Timeless by Gail Carriger (386 pp.)
23. Oath of Fealty* by Elizabeth Moon (471 pp.)
24. Kings of the North* by Elizabeth Moon (478 pp.)
25. Echoes of Betrayal by Elizabeth Moon (451 pp.)
26. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children# by Ransom Riggs (348 pp.)
27. The Hidden Family% by Charles Stross (309 pp.)

March
28. Firebird # by Jack McDevitt (375 pp.)
29. Undone Deeds by Mark Del Franco (323 pp.)
30. Murder of a Royal Pain % by Denise Swanson (248 pp.)
31. Finding Clarity + by Kim Novak ((242 pp.)
32. Lord Pete %r by Dorothy Sayers (481 pp.)
33. River Secrets # by Shannon Hale (290 pp.)
34. A Gift of Dragons #+ by Anne McCaffrey (304 pp.)
35. Ready Player One # by Ernest Cline (372 pp.)
36. Glory in Death # by J. D. Robb (293 pp.)
37. Blood Maidens # by Barbara Hambly (244 pp.)
38. The Cruellest Month # by Louise Penny (311 pp.)
39. The Genesis of Science # by James Hannam (355 pp.)
40. Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead + by Christiana Miller (330 pp.)
41. Among Others # by Jo Walton (302 pp.)
42. A Discovery of Witches # by Deborah Harkness (579 pp.)
43. The Kingdom of Gods % by N. K. Jemisin (600 pp.)
44. Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, & Politics in the Book of Revelations by Elaine Pagels (177 pp.)
45. The Coroner's Lunch # by Colin Cotterill (257 pp.)
46. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie # by Alan Bradley (373 pp.)
47. Petty Treason # by Madeleine Robins (316 pp.)
48. Entangled + by Barbara Ellen Brink (340 pp.)

Books acquired in 2012

This will be only dead tree books and books for which I actually paid money on my Kindle. All the free Kindle books don't count.

January
1. The Shadow of Saganami by David Weber (PaperBackSwap)
2. Disappearing Act by Margaret Ball (PaperBackSwap)
3. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (Kindle-Amazon) $14.99
4. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (Kindle-Amazon) $.99
5. Impossible Things by Connie Willis (PaperBackSwap)
6. Ashes of Victory by David Weber (paperbackswap)
7. War of Honor by David Weber (PaperBackSwap)
8. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penney (library sale) $1.00

February
9. Crochet Master Class by Leinhayser and Weiss (Amazon-Kindle) $15.99
10. Undone Deeds by Mark del Franco (Amazon) $7.99
11. Timeless by Gail Carriger (Amazon) $7.99
12. Echoes of Betrayal by Elizabeth Moon (Amazon) $16.58
13. Reading the Old Testament by Lawrence Boadt (PBS)
14. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (PBS)

March
15. Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey (BookMooch)
16. Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers (ER)
17. Solstice Wood by Patricia McKillip (PBS)
18. Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, & Politics in the Book of Revelation by Elaine Pagels (Amazon)

Well, my "Part 2" didn't get changed to "Part 3". Anyone know of a way to manage that?

Roni
The same thing happened to me today and, in addition, I have two part 3 threads... Yikes.

Roni congrats on the new thread even though it is posing as the old thread in name only. If you missed changing the title at the top I am not sure how to edit it retrospectively.

Maybe I should check to see if a second thread showed up?

Yup, I've got a second thread too. I think maybe I used the link on the bottom of the old thread to try to get back to the new thread--although I had set it up in a new window, so I don't quite know how that would happen. I put a note in the second message to ignore it. Yes, Paul, I think I was in such a hurry to get my tickers and lists over here before someone visited that I forgot to change the title while that was still a possibility. Rats!!!

It's evil demon gremlins. Or else your cats???

7: Oh well. It's still better than the old system of losing stars.

So I decided that I had to have Crochet Master Class so I could see inside. Plus others, because I can't buy just one book. Not sure how to add hours to the day though.

Hi! I thought I had better post here so I don't lose track of the thread. :-)

I only see this one as the new thread, Roni. Did you start another 3rd thread and I just don't see it?

I'm going to have to check out the Connor Grey series at some point though I'm swamped with reading material right now. I one of those who found Miss Peregrine more peculiar than anything much else, not sure that I'll continue with the next one.

Dropping a note so I can find you again.

Just posting to keep track of you. I don't want to miss a second of your crafts and book chronicles. ^_^

Just got a call from my teacher at the pottery studio that 2 of my 3 mugs slumped together while firing--it should be interesting, but it definitely won't be mugs! I'll be bringing home about 5 pieces on Saturday (was going to be 6 pieces!).

Welcome to all that have found me, Linda, Paul, Suzanne, Katherine, foggi, Caro, Leah, and Eris!

Pretty picture of the dogwood above . . .

I found ya!

New thread! You seem to be doing pretty well at controlling your book acquisitions this year - well done!

#15 Sorry to hear about the mug slump :-(

The number doesn't change by itself. You need to edit it when you create the new thread.

Oooh, I actually can't wait to see the slump mugs - sounds pretty cool, really, although I understand you being disappointed when you put all that work into them. I guess what I'm (very awkwardly) trying to say is that they're likely not a lost cause and probably look pretty neat!

Stopping by *Waves*

Thanks for visiting, Brenda, Sara, Heather, Morphy, and Amber. Yes, Morph, I missed my window of opportunity in my haste. Heather, I think I'm doing really well on the ones I'm paying for, as opposed to the PaperBackSwap and BookMooch acquisitions. But I'm not even counting the free Kindle books that I'm getting from Amazon.

Amber, it will probably have to be something hanging, like macrame or beads, because Annie says they don't stand up straight. We will see--I may go by tonight to pick stuff up instead of waiting till Saturday.

Speaking of free Amazon books for Kindle,



Book #31 Finding Clarity: A Mom, A Dwarf and a Posh Private School in the People's Republic of Berkeley by Kim Novak (242 pp.)

This is the first book of a purported mystery series, written by a veteran journalist. Clari is a former TV reporter, now a mom of two with her oldest son a dwarf. To protect him from bullying, she and her husband (a great relationship here, btw) are sending him to an expensive private school above Berkeley. But when the headmaster suddenly disappears and a strange new person steps into the spot, finding out what is going on in order to protect her son is paramount. This book is funny, from the clique of toothpick-thin moms to the evil school board member, to Clari's own insecurities. The characters are deliberately stereotypical, and then they step up and go beyond it. There is definitely potential here for a good cozy mystery series. Even though I got it for free, it would have been worth the normal $2.99 price for sure.

I think I'd like slumped mugs. They would sum me up perfectly.

Found you! Thread confusion averted.

Slumped mugs sounds like some sort of Harry Potter bar drink. :)

Hi Roni, found you and starred you. I can't wait to hear about all those library books you are going to be reading - I can see my wishlist growning by leaps and bounds!

Thread confusion! Slumped mugs. :)

Life is interesting, isn't it, Ren?

Judy, I just hope I can find time to get through them all!

Sarah and Jenny, Annie put my mugs on a square plate to fire, so they would stick to the kiln shelf, and the plate dropped in the middle as it fired, tumbling my mugs into each other during the firing.

Book #32 Lord Peter by Dorothy Sayers% (481 pp.)

This is a short story collection of all the 20 short stories written with Lord Peter Wimsey as the main character. Finished finally, as it has been sitting on my tbr pile for several years, in honor of Mystery March, these were quite enjoyable and clever.

Yay! I love Lord Peter (and Harriet).

Oh, there you are.

I confess to being interested in seeing the slumped mugs; not that I don't admire your normal works, but I have a quirky streak.

I will definitely post them, but because we have rain coming in tonight, I will probably not get them now until Saturday.

Can't wait to see the slumped mugs, Roni.

Good review of Lord Peter .. and it's a great nudge to remind me to get back to Ms Sayers .. I've enjoyed the few Lord Peter books I've read thus far.

Hi, Roni! So many excellent titles on this and your last thread! Can't wait to read Timeless. And Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. And I've been thinking about rereading the Lord Peter books, which I adored when I first read them back in the 70s and 80s.

Hi Roni! I found you. The double thread issue is such a pain. I've seen quite a few people that have had that issue

Looking forward to seeing your slumpy mugs!

Isn't it ironic that more people seem to be waiting to see the slumpies, than whole and completed pieces? I wonder what that says about us all..........

Just keeping my place and sort of catching up... *waves*

Sayers is good. I liked Gaudy Night.

>35 lunacat:: I like the lovely, finished pieces too, but I think slumped mugs are something few of us get to see. Perhaps it's novelty. Or perhaps we are all a bunch of weirdos. That's okay too.

Of course, it could also be that we just like every cool thing Roni does. ;)

Hey Roni -- I've got Lord Peter -- it's great to have the stories in one place. When I think of that collection, "Striding Folly" comes to mind. Have you read any of Jill Paton-Walsh authorized follow-ups?

And I want to see the slumped mugs, too!

>38 beserene: We like everything Roni does.

I feel like it's Christmas! So many visitors and all saying such nice things!

Jenny, I think you have a point in the interest about the slumped mugs. Caro, Hannah, and Sarah, the pictures will be posted Saturday afternoon, although I fear that the anticipation may prove more interesting than the actual object. But won't it be fun figuring out what we can do with the "piece" to make it usable in some form or another?

I've never read all the Lord Peter books, but it is my intention to, one of these days, and this collection of all the short stories certainly fuels that desire, Joe and Dejah. So Caro, you and I appear to be about in the same place in reading them. If you are going to reread them, Mary, maybe we can coordinate at some point.

Kath, it is always good to see you here, especially knowing how you are dealing with niece and her infection and new baby, sister's father-in-law, and husband's sister--so much going on!

Ren, you are too funny! But sweet, very sweet!

Knowing all those books are going to show up at the library any day now led me to power through another one I already have checked out last night.



Book #33 River Secrets by Shannon Hale (290 pp.)

This is the third of the four Bayern books by Hale, starting with The Goose Girl and Enna Burning. So far we've dealt with people who can understand the language of air and fire, and this book deals with an embassy of Bayern going to Tira to try to bring about a more lasting peace after the wars of the last book. Razo is the primary character here, another of the group of Forest-born that supported Isi in the first book. These are interesting middle-school fantasy world books, along the lines of Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic series, and I enjoy them.

I like the idea of the slumpies because while we have a clear idea of what a mug is, and while we can admire a variation on that perennial theme, a slumpie is going to be something new, unexpected and utterly distinctive! OK, so not utilitarian, but who cares? It's a mystery, and it might be cool and gorgeous.

Maybe you can call them Dali mugs...?

>43 scaifea: Perfect!

I may have to dig into that Shannon Hale series, Roni. I've liked other books by her, and a number of Tamora Pierce's books, like the Alanna series.

Book #34 A Gift of Dragons by Anne McCaffrey (304 pp.)

This was my first venture into checking out an ebook from my library. There were only a few ebooks available when I looked through the science fiction and fantasy category, and since I wanted to try the feature out right away, I chose this book of 4 novellas about Pern. Three of them were from other collections, evidently, and I think I may have read "The Girl Who Heard Dragons" before, although it must have been long enough ago that I did not remember any of the details! This book is for those familiar with and fond of Pern, all set in the time of the original Pern duology, as F'lar and Lessa make cameos.

Suzanne, I think you've put your finger on it--it's the novelty of the unpredictable! And Dali mugs may suit, Amber, although I fear that the slump won't have quite the level of droopy quality of his painted objects. Hey, Brenda!

Joe, the first book of the four is one of Hale's fairy tale retellings, but she creates such an interesting world to put it in that she goes back to it for original tales.

Today is a basketball day--4 games in the Big 12 tournament, with my No. 1 seed Jayhawks playing at noon PST. Plus the library notified me via email this morning that 4 of my 5 books on hold have arrived, so I'll have to jog over and pick them up as well. I'll get some good crocheting done during the games. And it's supposed to be 71 outside--a lovely day.

Well, two games down (and we won ours) and I walked over to the library during the break after the second, where I had SIX books on hold waiting for me.

Ready Player One
The Cruellest Month
Among Others
Glory in Death
Blood Maidens
God's Philosophers

and then I had succumbed to A Discovery of Witches over the weekend. Oy vey!

I see you are revisiting Anne McCaffrey. Very tempting! I lost your thread somehow for a bit, don't know if because of some snafu or just my own bumbling, but glad to have found you again!

Roni - I've just taken back a load of library books unread - just can't keep up and also read from my tbr pile.

49 avatiakh - That was always my problem with checking out library books, especially ILL; I could never get them read in time, I always needed more time or couldn't even get started before I had to return them. It's so frustrating.

I'm always hanging on to them forever, luckily since I volunteer there, I can always sneak in and renew.......

I've started setting my other books aside so I can finish the library books before they're due. So I've got this stack of started books that wait... And I still can't help checking out another book evreytime I go to the library. :)

Hi Roni! Can your slumped mugs enjoy a new life as something else? I'd love to see, though I'm sorry that happened. I am amazed at all your reading! Amazed and jealous :) Hope you have a great weekend.

Found you at last! Slumped mugs sound great (on the ear I mean, though I am looking forward to the pictures too!), but mug slump is even better. It sounds like a nasty condition non-wizarding folk could suffer from. : )

Waiting to see slumped mugs :)

Mug pictures won't be until tomorrow this time, but thanks for the interest, Anne, Kath, and Hannah. But here is the scarf I finished during the games yesterday.



And here are the flowers I pulled in out of the garden as well.



Lucy, the McCaffrey was a fun, light dip.

Thanks for the love on the library books, Kerry, Blue, Lucy, and Ren. I started Ready Player One last night, got hooked in immediately!

The roses look lovely! All of my mother's roses bloomed unusually late (till January!), but now they are pruned and hibernating. What are the roses names?

Beautiful roses. Is that an iris at the top left?

Denise

56: Oh joy! Fresh flowers. I've been debating as whether to cut some daffodils and bring them inside or just enjoy the view from the window. I'll probably end up doing both. And I'll be back tomorrow, Roni, to see the slumped mugs. Perhaps they can be used as small pots or cat dishes?

Or you can enter the slumped mugs into an art gallery and say that they represent the decline of civilization. Or something. I'm sure you'd make millions!

The two-toned roses are called Double Delight and they have a lovely scent, Eris. Those are sweet peas, Denise. See you tomorrow, Donna. I wish, Eris!! We'll manage something!

I am in deep mourning. KU lost in the semifinals. It won't mean anything if we win, win, win in the NCAA tourney, but it could affect our seeding. Alas and alack, woe is me!

This is another colorful and fun thread to visit. You just never know what you will see!

Roni - Beautiful scarf and flowers - thanks for posting them. And I am so sorry for your loss -- well, KU's loss. I confess that I care not a jot for basketball, but I hope the seeding goes your way!

That is a very nice scarf! I'm watching a basketball game at the moment. It's the Memphis-Marshall one. I do hope that Memphis continues to maintain the lead. I'm very sad that my Vols lost last night though.

Love the scarf, Roni, that's a pretty shade of blue. Wow, Roses and Sweet Peas in March! I love the Double Delight Rose, it's scent is wonderful. My daughter had only one rose bush in her garden and it's Double Delight.

Kath, probably not baby pictures. Yours are so cute!

Thanks, Dejah and Lori and Judy. I made one in the same yarn, just variegated heathery purple, two weeks ago, but it was for a birthday present and I forgot to take a picture of it before I gave it away. These are so unusual because the body of the scarf is individual chains instead of a solid surface.



Book #35 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (372 pp.)

This book was just a lot of FUN! So many people here have already read it (it was a LONG list at the library and took several months) and enjoyed it that I was sure I would as well, and I did. Pure escapist fiction, and I loved the setup, the characters, and the action. I'm not that familiar with a lot of the 80s trivia, as my teens were over long before that, but enough of it to appreciate the sheer quantity and detail that were involved. And if I could have one thing out of the world system, it would be the voluntary OASIS fitness lockout software on my computer system (not able to be disabled in the first two months), along with the dietary intake monitoring. Lastly, the book ended at exactly the right point. Knowing when to stop a story, not cutting off too early or going on too long, is as much an art as telling the story in the first place, and I like to appreciate when it is handled well.

Yes! This book was just a lot of FUN! Exactly! I'm glad you had a good time with it.

Off to pottery class--slumped mug picture when I get back in a couple of hours!

Sweet peas . . . Aaaaahhhhhhh!

Okay, here are the infamous slumped mugs, along with their mate who avoided their dire fate.



And here are the other pieces I brought home tonight.



And the beads.

And another shot of the inseparable due.

Roni - I love the blue bowl - can just see it stuffed full of nachos. The Ernest Cline looks a good read....a sort of North American Nick Hornby by the looks of it.

I'm with Paul . . . I like the blue bowl and the pale green/sand colored bowl. The cups remind me of conjoined twins . . .

This book was just a lot of FUN!

Oh yes. It was my favorite book of 2011. I grew up in the 80s so I knew all the trivia!

Hi Roni. The Shannon Hale and Ready Player One are on the wishlist - so many books...

Slumped mugs, bowls, beads and flowers all look lovely.

Just stopping by to say hello and admire your lovely crafts!

I can see those slumped mugs being given as a "gag" wedding gift - if there is such a thing. Sort of a metaphor as a couple who will never part. Somehow I was imagining more "crumpling" of the mugs. I do love the colors, however, and am glad you have the one who stands alone in perfection.

#77 Donna: Ha! I was just thinking the same thing about the mugs! Instead of linking arms to drink, the couple would have to try to drink out of those at the same time!

Roni: I love the siamese mugs, actually. Very cool accident, in my opinion. And the scarf is lovely!

I'm with Donna and Scaofea about the cups being a wedding gift - they perfectly symbolize the unity of marriage! And the beads are so lovely that they are making my bead adoring heart squeal. Your cups and bowls look so beautiful, too, and I'm glad they came out.

Sometimes I wish I had a kiln nearby and a means to get to it, because there is something indescribable about making your own mugs and bowls.

Great-looking ceramics, Roni! I like them all, including the slumpers.

Your pottery is lovely! Even the slumped mugs, love the colors!

I love all the creative things you share, Roni! Beautiful bowls, and the slumped mugs might also make a unique vase for fresh flowers -- they look pretty stable. :)

Joe and Morph, I haven't had so much fun in a long time as with Ready Player One and have to thank you for writing the reviews that made me prioritize it. Heather, you won't regret putting it on your wishlist.

Brenda, I think you have it precisely. Conjoined mugs! My husband asked if we couldn't perform surgery to separate them, as they are structurally separate in all ways but the glaze, but I think I convinced him that they are more interesting this way than separate with a big rough splotch where they had been joined. Sarah, the other people at the pottery had the idea of using it (them) as a centerpiece with flowers, but no one had the idea of a gag wedding gift like Donna and Amber and Eris. I don't think there would be anyway for two people to drink from them at the same time, but they could maybe take turns, at least while the mugs were still fairly full.

Eris, you should check your yellow pages or computer to see if there are any potteries in your area. I didn't know about this one for years and years! Glad you like the beads.

Paul, Marie, Joe, Hannah and Sarah, thank you for the kind words. These pieces are all fairly small, but I threw a couple of larger bowls that might be suitable for nachos yesterday. I'm so delighted that all of you came by!

Book #36 Glory in Death by J. D. Robb (293 pp.)

Since I read the first book for the mystery-themed month last year, I've been meaning to get back to the series and find out why so many people like it. I mean, I know what they all SAY--it's the relationship between Eve and Roarke. My library doesn't have the second book in the series (or some of the other early ones, although it has all the later ones!), and I had never gotten around to ordering it from one of the other branches until Mystery March came around.

Mysteries are not my true forte, but this one was adequate, had plausible red herrings, and Eve is an interesting character. Roarke is simply wish-fulfillment! Damn! I'll try the next in the series.

And that is two down of my 7 library books...

Just catching up, Roni, and loving the conjoined mugs and all of your other creative endeavors. I will now fade back into whatever woodwork is in this virtual world. (You got me with Hambly and James Asher, doggone it, but I'm fiercely ignoring *Player One*.)

You are indeed a creative soul. I am in awe!

I added Ready Player One to the wishlist last year, based on... I don't remember whose... review.
Hmm, in only the slumped mugs had been oriented differently.

Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing your creations.

I'm so glad you enjoyed Ready Player One. I gave it to my brother for Christmas, and he enjoyed it as well.

Hey Roni! I'll have to give Ready Player One - it sounds like a blast! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

I love the colors you use in your pottery. I confess I was thinking flower arrangements when I saw them, but wedding gift is good, too!

Thinking about your mugs today . . . I think they kissed rather than slumped!

Oh, but Peggy, you would enjoy Ready Player One so much!! Katherine and Dejah, you need to read it whenever you want something exciting and fun. Welcome, Linda and Anne! Thank you--I'm still learning my colors but it's fun experimenting.

I like that imagery, Brenda--kissing mugs.



Book #37 Blood Maidens by Barbara Hambly (244 pp.)

Don't be put off by the cover, which makes this look like so many other of the popular vampire novels. This is the third in a series about James Asher, a former British spy living at the turn of the last century, who becomes aware of the existence of vampires in Those Who Hunt the Night. These are not sparkly vampires, and if you ever wondered what an immortal vampire would see in a high school girl, these vampires would wonder with you. Rigorously and logically constructed, gritty and tense, and yet marvelous characters along with serious detective work--these books stand out from the rest.

No sparkly vampires? TAKE ME TO THAT LAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#91 Vampires who aren't interested in high school girls? What kind of Vampires would they be!

Slumped mugs, bowls, beads.. good stuff...

I would use the conjoined mugs for pencils and styluses or flowers ..
but I can't have flowers......they are really cute! :)

> 4: not sure if you got an answer yet on changing the header of your new thread, as I am too much behind, but I *think* I could change it by editing the first message on the day I created it

That review made me laugh. Thanks, Roni.

Much scarier vampires, Eris and Piyush! Glad to amuse, Nathan.

Kath, so nice to have you come by with all you are dealing with.

Anita, yes, I think I missed my window of opportunity. :-(

I've probably this said before but I'm interested to try one of Hambly's books.
Oh, and I think the conjoined mugs look 'interesting' - maybe you could plant a cactus in each one?

Kerry, Hambly can be hit or miss for me. My favorites are Those Who Hunt The Night, Dragonsbane, and The Ladies of Mandrigyn. They all have sequels but tell entire stories in themselves, and I have never read the sequels to Dragonsbane for fear of ruining my favorite dragon story ever.

I have a copy of Dragonsbane lying around here somewhere amongst a few hundred fantasy and scifi books I still haven't got to.

I think finding it and moving it up the tbr pile would well reward you, Kerry. It is not a typical dragon tale, and it has wonderful characters.

Dragonsbane is an oldie, right? I think I read it ages ago..
I used to read a lot of her books.

Hmmmm I'll have to check that out. I love a good dragon.

Yes, it's an oldie, mid-1980s. Morkeleb is one of the best, Lucy.


Book #38 The Cruelest Month by Lousie Penny (311 pp.)

This is book 3 of the Three Pines saga. A bit more of the background scandal of the Surete comes out, another murder happens in Three Pines, Clara is not as much in evidence as one would like but still makes significant growth--what can I say?

I have been looking at that Barbara Hambly series for some time, I think I would enjoy it. I started her Benjamin January series this year, so I know I like her writing style.

I'll mention here that I picked up Garth Nix's latest scifi novel, A confusion of Princes, from the library this morning and it looks good.

Lucky, Kerry--it's not available here until May!

Which one, Judy? I mentioned the first book in three different series--the dragon one?

Ouch! BB on Dragonsbane -- which doesn't appear to have been reprinted recently. Off to the used bookshops I must go! Again! (Thanks, Roni.) :)

Looks like there are lots of used copies really cheap at Amazon, and there's a Kindle version too. I think you'll love it, Sarah!

Love the sound of the Hambly series, have wishlisted Those Who Hunt the Night. Have you heard of Anno Dracula Roni? I read it recently and really enjoyed this tale of an alternative fictional universe in which Dracula defeated Van Helsing and rose to the position of Prince Consort to a newly widowed Queen Victoria. Gruseome good fun, with a Jack the Ripper inspired detective story and a wealth of literary and historical characters all rolled up in th mix.

I've heard of it but not read it, Hannah. Thanks.

Today and tomorrow are basketball days--the NCAA tournament, 32 games in two days, my Jayhawks are the very last game tomorrow.

I started The Genesis of Science, aka God's Philosophers, last night and am two chapters in. In the intro, Hannam points out that The Closing of the Western Mind is one of those books that perpetuates the myth of the "Dark Ages", and that is one of the books in my tbr pile, so I will read the two in tandem to balance each other out.

My sister has the flu and is supposed to fly from Kansas to Florida on Saturday to visit her grandbaby, and my brother is in the hospital with severe vertigo--he should be released today but still can't walk independently. Hopefully my mom will stay healthy--she's supposed to be going with my sister.

I took 4 of my 7 library books back to the library yesterday, having powered on through them. I still have the book above, Jo Walton's Among Others and A Discovery of Witches out, but that sounds much more manageable.

16 games down, the big 12 teams swept their games, and I'm ready for bed.

different strokes for different folks... I feel like I have tumbled into basketball hell ...lol
No Big Bang Theory last night ..boo hoo~

Had to fix breakfast at the husband's request this morning (I don't usually), so made mixed-berry buttermilk pancakes while he went for Starbucks coffee and picked up the corned beef and the cabbage he wants for tomorrow at the store. But that means I missed the first halves of two games I've got an oar in: Texas (Big 12) and San Diego State (local). Of course, Texas has only just now gotten back into the game with 3 minutes left, and there's a whole quarter to go in the SDSU game, with SDSU 6 points behind. I'm conflicted about that one--if SDSU wins, they well probably be playing my alma mater, KU, next round, and I would definitely be rooting for my Jayhawks then.

I read chapters 3, 4, and 5 of God's Philosophers yesterday. Hannam is eminently readable. Much of the history I know, at least on the surface, although it was really interesting to read about Pope Sylvester II (Gerbert), the most educated man in Europe, who was completely ineffectual because he had no grasp of politics. Also, much more detail about the people behind the translations of Greek and Arabic documents that provided a great expansion of the understanding of math and science in Europe. And finally, the history of the evolution of the schools into universities with certain privileges, and how they got them.

My brother is home from the hospital, but still visiting specialists to try to figure out why he can't walk straight. My sister is taking Tamiflu and is still planning to fly to Florida tomorrow with my mom to visit her son, DIL, and grandson. We are digging in for the rainstorm due to sweep in overnight--it's cloudy and cool. Another day of basketball on the books, with a few more chapters of GP squeezed in.

Scary about yr. brother.

The Hannam was a decent read, all in all.

Roni have a lovely weekend and I hope your brother's motor senses are easily corrected.

ack! Vertigo is vile! Your poor brother! I hope he gets over this
episode soon. Someone I know had it for a couple of weeks..
Terrible...

Hope that and everything else sorts out and that your weekend is a good one.

Sorry about Missouri and the Big 12, Roni. A lot of upsets in this tournament so far. Happy St. Pat's Day!

#111 I've been meaning to read The Closing of the Western Mind since reading Hannam's book last year to read something from the opposite point of view but I have completely failed to get it out of the library. Hopefully your review will give me the push I need!

Sorry to hear about the various family illnesses - hope they all feel better soon.

Just checking in. Basketball is a mystery to me, even though I live in Dallas, so I won't comment, but on the slumped mugs I was thinking....ice cream. Hot fudge, the works. Perfect for a First Date or an Anniversary.

I just finished Ready Player One and definitely enjoyed it.

I've just been reading about vertigo/motion sickness issues in the Mary Roach Packing for Mars.... I have had a brief episode or two of vertigo and it is quite horrible. I can't even watch movies or tv with bumpy camera work any more without getting disoriented.

Hi Roni -- you make a great case for Those Who Hunt the Night -- adding to my wish list!

I appreciate all my visitors--Lucy, Paul, Kath, Joe, Heather, hairballsrus, Lucy again, and Anne!

Thank you so much for your good wishes for my family, Lucy, Paul, Kath, and Heather. My brother is home and hopefully will find an effective treatment. I haven't had vertigo per se, but am subject to motion sickness and, like you, Lucy, have difficulty with video that is bumpy, or especially those imax films where they have you swooping over mountain tops--that's also what prevents me from reading in cars.

Eight more games today, Joe, and we will have completed the 48 games in a 4 day period. NC State is leading Georgetown in the second half. My jayhawks play at 5:40 this afternoon PDT. If I tried to follow the womens' tournament as well, I would have serious overload.Oh well, 2 more weekends and I go cold turkey for 6 months.

Anne, so glad to have hit you with a book bullet--I hope you enjoy it.

Lucy and Heather, I really enjoyed reading the Hannam. I don't think I will get through The Closing of the Western Mind as quickly (it's not a library book but a copy I got through PBS last year, for one, and probably not as engagingly written for another), but I will pull it out to be my ongoing nonfiction read now.

*waving hello on my way out to the garden*

Book #39 God's Philosophers by James Hannam (355 pp.)

My copy is the US version seen in the cover above. This was highly readable and full of interesting anecdotes about the lives of the natural philosophers and theologians discussed--which is undoubtedly what made it so readable!

Having been brought up Catholic in the Bible Belt and experiencing the Protestant bias against the Church, I did not find Hannam overly apologetic for the role of the Church in this book. Indeed, since almost all the persons involved were members of the clergy, it would be almost impossible to ignore the Church, but even institutionally he was able to provide a context and specific policies that allowed for exploration of thought and the world. What it did do is show me how much of my assumptions about the role of the church and the development of science has been filtered through an English filter.

Some things that stood out for me:
In an age where most people didn't travel more than 20 miles from where they were born, the mobility of the clergy and their students through all of Europe is pretty amazing, as is the degree to which information was disseminated.

And the loss to the gene pool of all these amazing minds is pretty sad, although granted the Black Plague could have wiped them all out anyhow.

I'm looking forward to reading The Closing of the Western Mind next, which Hannam cites in his introduction as viewing the medieval era as a period of stagnation, for an alternative view.

125: Oh, I want to read The Closing of the Western Mind too, for the contrasting perspective. Don't know when I'll get to it, so meanwhile look forward to your comments.

Waving hello~

Hi Roni, I am also just waving as I pass through. Spent most of the day in the garden pulling weeds and I am exhausted! A hot bath is in my immediate future.

Congrats to a loyal Jayhawks fan! Wow, they had me biting my nails. What an exciting end to the game. I'm going to have trouble settling into sleep after that one. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!!!

just catching up....

Katherine and Heather, I'll keep the two of you in mind as I start The Closing of the Western Mind, which seems the antithesis of the Hannam book. It should be interesting.

Thanks for dropping by, Ardene and Judy and Kath. Sounds like you were productive, Judy, in your garden. I need to get out in another day or two when it dries up a bit and do some weeding myself!

Thanks, Donna. Yes, talk about a nail-biter--I hope they don't cut it as close THIS weekend! And Haley looks so cute in her KU shirt...

Book #40 Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead by Christiana Miller (330 pp.)

Picked up as a Kindle freebie, Richard strongly recommended it in his thread. And I can see why--he fell in love with Gus. There are a lot of fun things in this book, but there are also plot holes you could drive a semi through. The drawing of the characters was a strength, as was dialog, but the story holding it all together was weak and the pacing variable. You get to the end and start wondering, well, what did happen to her mom and why was that necessary, and would a witch-hunter really come all the way from Scotland once L. was out of the way there, and why is Aunt T so violent from the get-go and...well, you get the idea. Gus is the highlight of the whole book, imho, and that is why Richard loved it, but I found his Amazon review and he only gave the book a 3, so he saw the faults as well.

I just found out a friend of mine has had a case of vertigo -- starting in January -- and is just emerging from it now. She feels she lost at least six weeks of her life, living in a most minimal way, just coping. They are still trying to figure out what kind of vertigo, I guess there are myriad causes. But it's sobering to me to know of two instances of something I barely knew about before at the same time.

My brother found out what is causing his, Lucy--he has shingles on his auditory nerve! Painful and debilitating, but now it's treatable.

Roni in my job vertigo would probably be career threatening so thankfully I am free of all types of motion sickness (this allows me full rein to read in the car).
There was the interesting case of an Indonesian worker who had a failed suicide attempt on my Johor project a number of years ago whilst helping the Koreans. It was a mixed development with a ten storey podium, 32 storey hotel and 35 storey office. This poor fellow found out that the money he was sending home had been in vain as his wife had used it all with her lover in Surabaya. Devastated he ran to the top of the podium and threw himself off ten storeys amazingly landing in a skip of soft sand without achieving his aim. I followed the Korean manager to the hospital to talk to him as I am blessed with speaking the lingo. He was asked somewhat drolly I thought by the Korean why when we had a 35 storey office and a 32 storey hotel he tried to kill himself by jumping only 10 storeys......he answered that.....he was scared of heights!

Now that is really funny in a sick kind of way, Paul!

Roni one of my favourite (and real) anecdotes so I couldn't resist - thankfully your brother now knows his prognoscis and can be treated - my very best wishes to him please.

It's good to hear that your brother has a diagnosis - sometimes just being able to put a specific name to things can help control stress and fear enormously. I hope his treatment goes well and that he's back to normal soon.

Vertigo is scary stuff! I've had a few brief experiences with it where all I could do was lay on the floor and "hold on"! It's a terrible feeling when your world is spinning. I can't imagine going through weeks of that hell. So glad your brother got a treatable diagnosis, although Shingles is no picnic either.

I'll be rooting for KU this week end! I hope I don't have to post my somber Haley pic in her Jayhawks dress and hat!

Looking forward to this weekend's games, Roni. I had NC taking it all in the office pool (sorry, Donna and Jayhawks fans!) but with Marshall injured, they're in trouble.

Thanks for the support for my brother, Paul, Dejah and Donna--he is much relieved and feeling much better with the appropriate meds.

Joe, have you been following the women at all? KU has pulled 2 upsets and now is one of three teams in the nation with both men's and women's teams in the Sweet Sixteen!



Book #41 Among Others# by Jo Walton (302 pp.)

This Nebula nominee is highly recommended for introverts who love science fiction. It is the journal of a 15 year old Welsh girl who loves science fiction. Having run away from her mother and placed by Social Services with her father, she is sent to a boarding school where the highlight of her week is the library's science fiction book club. Talking about books is one of her greatest joys. And of course, she's grieving the loss of her twin and dealing with a crippled leg as a result of the accident. And then there is dealing responsibly with magic.

This is NOT cutesy or silly or immature. If you love books, read it. If you know about being the different one, read it. You'll appreciate it most if you have a good grounding in science fiction, but it's not essential.

ETA and this is the 6th of the 7 library books I had out two weeks ago. The only one left is The Discovery of Witches, which was in the first batch, and I just renewed it for the next 3 weeks. Of course, I've got 4 more on hold. I've moved up to #17 of 40 for Daughter of Smoke and Bone, so that will still be a while, and just ordered today the first Dr. Siri mystery (thanks, Richard and Joe and others) and two James Tiptree books.

Among Others sounds really good, Roni, and so, onto the list it goes!

I am also glad that your brother got diagnosed and that there is a treatment. Both the idea of virtigo and shingles is upsetting. I have heard about a shingles vaccination and I think I will ask my doctor about that next time I see him.

I'm so glad you liked Among Others. The book is absolutely magical.

141: I read this last year after it had been hanging out on my wishlist for months. Loved it, even though I've read few of the books she refers to. Appreciated most the ambiguity.

Thanks to you, Ellie and others, Roni, I have been following the women's b-ball. Kansas has done great. The titan, Tennessee, is next, right?

On the men's side, NC State is beatable and UNC lost that guard, it looks like, so there are definitely possibilities there.

I just requested Among Others from the library. Thanks!

I just ordered a new book from Amazon, after Kathering (qebo) mentioned that Elaine Pagels had a new book out on Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation in Rachel's (Hibernator) thread. I think I may be saving money this year by being in the Amazon Prime program because now I don't have to look around and find more books to get up to the $25 free shipping limit, AND I get it in 2 days free.

Faith, I had your name tagged for Among Others, and then when it showed up on the Nebula nominees list, I ordered it from the library. Katherine, yes, the ambiguity is an important part of the whole thing! Dejah and Judy, I think you'll enjoy it.

My brother had a bit of reaction to the Prednisone and didn't sleep well, so is following the neurologist's advice to stay home for the rest of the week. My mom and sister got to the Jacksonville airport at 5:30 this morning, only to find out that their plane had mechanical problems. They spent 6 hours at the airport and finally got on a Delta flight that goes through Atlanta but Mom was already exhausted from all the running around there. They made it to Atlanta okay, but won't be getting home until nearly 9 CDT--a long, long day, but they had a wonderful visit.

Joe, I've got the tv on--Syracuse just barely squeaked out over Wisconsin minutes ago. We play tomorrow evening, 7:17 PDT.

I was going to review the first chapter of The Closing of the Western Mind with links to Pagans and Christians and God's Philosophers, but am going to wait until tomorrow. We had a bit of a shock. Our dentist, a year younger than us, is dead. I got the email a bit ago from his office with just that information and info re: the memorial service. A great guy, I've been going to him for 20 years, Lex just had a cavity filled last week--this is a complete shock. And it closely follows the shock last month of the death of a colleague up at SDSU, who I've worked with in the school psych faculty for over 20 years and who also was just a year younger than us. She got pneumonia very suddenly and all of her organs completely shut down--she never recovered. So this will be the second memorial service in a month, totally unexpected. I'm still reeling. Mind is not working with enough precision for the review.

Oh Roni, I'm so sorry to hear of your losses. I hope you can spend your evening doing something that makes you happy.

So sorry, Roni, to hear of your loss. I remember when it was grandparents of friends, then parents of friends, and now I am at that stage in life where it's the friends I am bearing the loss of. I guess that's why it's so important to live each minute to the fullest.

You've had a rough month with your brother's illness and the deaths of two close friends. I'm sorry . . .

Adding my hugs and good wishes for you, Roni. DeltaQueen, that is so true. I am in the same place.

Your reading of The Closing of the Western Mind with references to Pagans and Christians and God's Philosophers sounds fascinating. I'm looking forward to it!

Just scampering to catch up Roni. Sorry to hear of your recent bereavements - it is such a shock when the death is sudden, and very sobering too when it's people younger than ourselves... I'm not surprised your mind is reeling.

I hope you find something good and restful to do that will maybe take your mind off this for a little.

Oh, no, I'm sorry to hear about the deaths.

On a lighter note, I ultimately concluded that I'm saving money after my Amazon Prime expired, because now I'm no longer buying so many books on a whim: if I have to wait until I'm buying other books as well, I often conclude that I don't really need the book after all. I'm using the library a lot more, too. Hard to say what's better in the end; I suspect I'll end up with Prime again eventually, but not for a while yet.

Hi Roni! Sorry to hear about your brothers illness but thankfully they have a treatment for him. Best wishes for a speedy recovery for him!

Among Others sounds really good...
Poor mom, what an exhausting trip she had..

Vertigo makes me shudder.. I hope he is well soonest.

Hugs and good thoughts to you, for all the tough stuff life has been throwing your way lately!

Sending good thoughts your way, Roni.

Roni - sorry to hear about your dentist - actually you are the only person I know who actually liked their dentist! (sorry for being somewhat irreverant) - a good friend passing is always a sad occasion and I hope you can have the weekend afford you some peace to come to terms with the deaths of those close to you.

Sincere sympathy on the loss of two colleagues/friends in the last month. For the record, I like my dentist thanks to his kind chairside manner and liberal use of nitrous oxide!

Roni, I hope KU continues their winning streak tomorrow. That would help ease some of the sadness you're experiencing.

Prayers to you and for your friends who have died. I hope that this week will bring you time to recover.

Sigh. When I hear about things like this, it reminds me of what a gift life is, and that I can't take it for granted. Everything is so fragile sometimes...

The Walton was wishlisted in a nanosecond......!!!!

Sending comforting thoughts to you, two deaths so unexpected, must be hard on you.

Also sending positive thoughts your way, not the best of times for you.

Thank you, thank you, everyone who has come by. I've been laid up today--don't know whether it's mild food poisoning or a type-2 migraine, but my gut has been churning and I've definitely been under the weather. I'm still grieving--two active, apparently healthy 61-year-olds should not catastrophically drop out of this life in this manner in this day and age, IMHO, but I know these things happen. My mom and sister are safely home, my brother is improving--these are good things. And while I did not go to pottery class because of feeling wonky, I was able to read A Discovery of Witches, which I enjoyed. Also dealing with alchemists in the late Middle Ages, for which the chapter in Hannam was useful. I'll review it and get back to The Closing of the Western Mind when I feel better, and acknowledge you all. Bless you.

Oh Roni, I am so sorry. What a tough time you've had. I hope you feel better soon.

Wasn't A Discovery of Witches fun? I loved the house.

So sorry Roni. It shakes one up, for sure.

Morning Roni, Hoping you have a better day . . .

I'm sorry you're not feeling well on top of everything else. I hope you feel better soon.

I am feeling much better today, thank you, Dejah, Brenda, Lucy, Anne, Kerry, Anita, Eris, Donna, Paul, Marie, Heather, Kath, Hannah, Zoe, Genny, and Streamsong. Morphy, I did enjoy A Discovery of Witches, which I had better officially record below. Besides physically feeling better, I also had the diversion of watching the second half of the Elite Eight games, which I had difficulty concentrating on yesterday. But today was the day the two Big 12 teams played, and while Baylor lost dismally, my beloved Kansas Jayhawks played their best game since the regular season ended and trounced North Carolina. Woohoo! My brother was excited, too, and reports he is better but not totally steady yet. Thank you all for the good thoughts going toward his healing.

Book #42 A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (579 pp.)

This was a very acceptable urban fantasy--not wonderful and outstanding, but well above the norm--an interesting world-building framework, good research into alchemy and magic, decent characters. But I was slightly distressed at the end of 579 pages to find that the main action is just getting ready to begin. I suspect some serious editing could have been done; on the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey as it was.

I now have gone on to start The Kingdom of Gods, the third Nebula nominee that I plan to read and the only one I actually own. I'm about 40% of the way through it, and when I finish it, I'll get back to The Closing of the Western Mind.

ETA also have waiting for me at the library the second Sarah Tolerance book, the first Dr. Siri book, and two books by or about James Tiptree, Jr., so the mysteries will be the next up for me along with the nonfiction, to finish up Mystery March.

Roni, Wish you were here in Lawrence tonight. It's hours since the game ended and I am still hearing whoops and hollers from the street and the occasional bang of a firework!
Yeah Hawks! : )

What a good idea - to read the Nebula nominees.

Glad you are feeling better.

I hope you enjoy Revelations: Visions, Prophecy and Politics, I am certainly going to read it once I finish Gnostic Gospels. I'll be interested to know what you think about it.

I'm glad you are feeling better too. Hopefully it is a much better week for you filled with good books. :)

>170 ronincats:: I just knew that fabulous win for KU would put a smile on your face. I hope the momentum continues through next Saturday... and on to the finish!

I picked up A Discovery of Witches back when it came out, but wasn't in the mood for it. Based on your review, I should probably give it another try - but wait until the sequel is out!

I'm still waiting for Broken Kingdoms to reach me from some distant library branch. I hope you hear that you enjoy The Kingdom of the Gods!

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better Roni. I keep hearing about A discovery of witches - I'll have to look out for that one.

My library already has the translated A discovery of witches, but I think I will wait until more books of the series are here.

Brenda, it would be fun to be in Lawrence to welcome the team home. I have to temper my celebration with the remembrance that the day after we won in the championship in 2008, I fell and broke my wrist at work--and no, contrary to rumor, it was NOT while I was celebrating. Regardless, Donna, I am thinking good thoughts about next week.

Lucy, I don't know that I am going to read all the Nebula nominees--at least one doesn't appeal to me at all. But I'm glad I stretched out to read a couple that I didn't have.

Thank you for the good wishes, Marie. I appreciate that.

Genny and Anita and Judy, I would definitely wait until the sequel is out to read A Discovery of Witches. At over 500 pages, I am not going to want to reread the first book to remind me what is going on.

Judy and Rachel, I am feeling totally discombobulated with my reading right now. I read the first 13 Screwtape Letters today, to read along with Donna, and then could not resist starting Pagels' Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, & Politics (96 pages in). But I'm 309 pages into The Kingdom of Gods (the first two books), and still need to get back to The Closing of the Western Mind (Chapter 1 done).

Likely story about the wrist . . . ; }

A litte late but...best wishes for a difficult time Roni, and Among Others is on the wishlist (obviously!).

Book #43 The Kingdom of Gods by N. K. Jemisin (600 pp.)

This is the third book in Jemisin's highly original fantasy, nominated for the Nebula Award this year (as the first had been). This final book is from Sieh's point of view. If you liked the first two--you'll definitely like this last book in the series. Description in one word? COSMIC!

Did I congratulate you re Kansas advancing, Roni? If not, congrats. They looked good!

Thanks, Joe. That's the first time they've looked good in the last month--let's hope they keep it up!

Book #44 Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, & Politics in the Book of Revelations by Elaine Pagels (177 pp.)

This was actually not exactly what I expected, being less of a commentary on the specific contents of Revelations and its interpretation and more of a history of when the book was produced, generally how it was perceived, and the history and politics of how it was interpreted and reinterpreted through the second, third and fourth centuries C. E., culminating in how it ended up being included in the canon of the New Testament while many other apocalyptic writings of the same times were not. It was fun, though, to revisit many of the characters I encountered earlier this year in Pagans & Christians, albeit in much less detail. Very readable, as you see how quickly I got through it.

>183 ronincats:

COSMIC, huh? And you go from cosmic to Revelations. Is there a connection there?

LOL. Actually, Dejah, if you've read the books (and I can't remember if you have yet), cosmic is factually very accurate!

I just got home from the library with 5 books, all holds that came in over the weekend. I'm proud to say I finished all the previous 7, but 3 of these are mysteries and I don't know if I can get through all 3 by the end of the month.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Petty Treason by Madeleine Robins
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill

The other two wait until April, a biography of James Tiptree and a book of her short stories.

I've only read The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, but Broken Kingdoms came in for me at the library today. Hooray for libraries! I can understand how cosmic fits these books quite nicely.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie read very quickly for me. I've got The Coroner's Lunch sitting on the shelf, but I'm a little burned out on mysteries - I think I've read 15 this month. I have one I've started and really ought to finish: Dire Threads. We'll see how it goes. I'm looking forward to the April TIOLI Challenges so I can figure out where to fit in the books I didn't finish in March.

Aargh, page one of The Coroner's Lunch and there's an elemental physics error. The heaviest of the three would NOT fall faster! I trust this is a single minor detail.

Goodness, I'm awful at physics, but I know that heavy objects do not fall faster than lighter ones. Wow.

I echo Dejah, though - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie was a very quick read, thanks to the engaging characters and a funky protagonist. Can't wait to see what you think about it.

I really loved The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and concur with the others that it's a quick read. The other books in the series aren't quite as good but they aren't really bad, Sweetness is just the highlight (so far, there are more due out soonish).

I'm saving Sweetness to fit in the middle between the Dr. Siri and the Sarah Tolerance, because I know it will go quickly.

I'm so glad the Jemisin trilogy ends well! That gives me motivation to actually start it. :)

>190 ronincats: I haven't read The Coroner's Lunch yet, but wow that's a VERY fundamental physics error. I'm pretty sure that subject is taught in high schools right? But maybe the heaviest object also had a very large surface area and the air resistance slowed it? ;)

Edit: Oh wait! I take that back. That would make it slowest! ha! well, there's no hope then. Unless maybe a large gust of wind blew on the large object...hmmmm

A Discovery of Witches tempts me now and then. I have heard mixed reviews
and so have been able to resist so far...but it does keep calling out to me!

Eris and Rachel, fortunately that basic error on page one was a singular fluke. The rest of the book is very good and Dr. Siri is a wonderful character!! (Glad you caught yourself, Rachel. l-))

I've started The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie now, Leah and Dejah. I can see where Flavia's voice has bothered some--she's a pretentious little brat, isn't she?--but am quite able to accept it as being her distinct character and am enjoying it so far.

Faith, yes, I"d say the trilogy is well worth it.

Kath, at least resist until the sequel comes out to handle the unfinished business.

Book #45 The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill (257 pp.)

Mark and Joe first caused me to put this on my wishlist, but numerous other 75ers have read it since with, I believe, unanimous positive reviews. Far be it from me to go against the tide, and in this case, it would be a positive crime. Except for the physics error on page one, this mystery explores a fascinating setting, culture and character. I enjoyed it all the way.

Glad to hear it, Roni! I didn't even remember there was a physics-related piece of it, much less an error. I must have whistled right by it. I'm on the fourth one now, and so far they've all been good. The fourth one is really cracking me up.

#197 by @ronincats> "I can see where Flavia's voice has bothered some--she's a pretentious little brat, isn't she?"

Oh yes, but it's so much fun! Thank GOD she's not my child... well, now that I've said it I will probably end up with one just like her. I do like her spirit and recognize that a lot of her personality is wrapped up in the tragedies of her life- not least, those awful sisters of hers- and being left to her own devices WAY too much, but sometimes you just want shake the meddling snark right out of her.

Book #46 The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (370 pp.)

So many have reviewed this! Well, it's a good thing it is set in the time it is, because Flavia contaminated so many crime scenes that with today's technology, she would have gotten her neck wrung by the Inspector instead of his becoming a somewhat reluctant collaborator. And I saw in the acknowledgements Bradley's tribute to Louise Penney for her support and a call out to her Three Pines series--neat! I did enjoy the story, and it did go quite fast as you all have said. Leah, she's just like Calvin in Calvin and Hobbs--so much fun to read about but they'd definitely drive you crazy in person.

Joe, on the first page of the first book, three objects are falling. One is falling faster because it is heavier, according to the author. Uh-uh! But a very minor detail in a great book.

Good point, Flavia would be a perfect nightmare to be in charge of! I'm waiting for the third one to come out in audio, as I love the narrator.

Hmmm... I am not good at science. I'm tempted to take a feather and my copy of Infinite Jest to the top of the open stairway in the foyer to do my own test! But I think I'll actually read more of IJ rather than use it for a science experiment. I do know that you are reading your books at lightning speed, Roni. Do you have your pom poms ready for tomorrow's game?

201 Ah, got it, Roni. I'll have to go back and look at that. I thought they fall at the same rate in a vacuum, but air resistance means the heavier one falls faster?

The feather would definitely fall more slowly due to air resistance, Donna--not because of gravity. If you have two objects of the same shape and matter, one of which weighs an ounce and one of which weighs 10 pounds--they will fall at the same rate. Joe, the heavier one is bigger--so wouldn't it have more air resistance than the smaller ones? (See Rachel's reasoning in message 195)

Donna, while I am not a pom-pom sort of person, the regalia is waiting to be donned tomorrow afternoon--socks, shoes, t-shirt, necklace, earrings, and the KU gnome sitting on the coffee table.

Lucy, audio books are just so SLOW, and I get distracted...

One more mystery to go for Mystery March now, the second Sarah Tolerance mystery.

>205 ronincats:: If you have two objects of the same shape and matter...

Actually, if there's an atmosphere and they fall long enough to reach terminal velocity, heavier objects do fall faster even if of the same shape. The point at which the speed-dependent drag of the air balances the weight-dependent downward acceleration is higher for the heavier object.

Not a factor in something falling off a desk but could be if we're talking about falling out of a jetliner...you don't mention the scenario the book uses.

ETA: I agree that audio books seem slow when just listening normally. Even exercising I want them to pick up the pace. However, when I'm driving, I enjoy them immensely. Maybe it's because so much of my attention is elsewhere.

EETA: I've had Sweetness sitting around forever. I can't seem to get into the mood. When everyone first starting reading it, it sounded great. Then, as I read more reviews, something changed but I haven't the slightest idea what. Every time I think about starting it, some other book catches my eye.

Lots of mention of recently popular books here ! You have been busy :)

Oh my goodness, Roni, I'm trying to catch up and to ask whether you're reading/have read Hide Me Among the Graves yet. I've just started it. LOVE! (Actually, I'll look on the book page to see whether you've reviewed it yet.)
I'm sorry about your brother's shingles. I didn't know that they could be internal like that. Yow. And your dentist. Ours is an old friend and neighbor, so we love him.
Ooops. Walk Time. Be back later!

Peggy, no, I'm finishing off mysteries this week, but the Powers will be my next book--will probably get started tomorrow.

Welcome, Kath!

Tad, it's all these Middle Ages science books I've been reading that had me even notice the passage. This would be falling from a low-flying helicopter, "*led the charge. He was the heaviest of the three. By the time * reached the surface...he was already ahead by two seconds."

Book #47 Petty Treason by Madeleine Robins (316 pp.)

I really like this mystery series. Sarah Tolerance is a complex and interesting character, and I have a fondness for the Regency period anyway. Recommended!

Book #48 Entangled by Barbara Ellen Brink (340 pp.)

This was a free Kindle book, the first in the Fredrickson Winery mystery series. It's a perfectly adequate cozy mystery, with some interesting characters. Since this is a first novel, there is every reason to believe the quality will improve.

Roni, They did it . . . How about that?! The streets are flooded and fireworks are going off.

Unbelievable! I almost went to bed at halftime. (Not really...and I was pulling your leg about the feather/book experiment, too)...

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

They certainly keep you on the edge of your seat, don't they? But the end result is what counts. Whew!!!!!

And you got me with the feather, Donna! My bad!

March summary:

21 books read
9 mysteries for Mystery March
3 science fiction
7 fantasy
2 non-fiction

7112 pages read

3 books off the shelf
13 library books
3 Kindle books
2 physical book purchased this year

6 male authors
15 female authors

4 physical books acquired: 1 ER, 1 BookMooch, 1 PaperBackSwap, 1 Amazon.

7 books out the door: 1 PaperBackSwap, 6 BookMooch

First Quarter 2012

Books Read:48
Pages Read: 15675

New Books: 42
Re-reads: 6

Library Books: 22
Books Off the Shelf: 5
Kindle Books: 9

Science Fiction: 9
Fantasy: 20
Children's: 2
Non-fiction: 5
General Fiction: 1
Romantic: 2
Mystery: 9

Male Authors: 12
Female Authors: 36

Books Acquired: 18
Cost: $81.51 (7 books)

Science Fiction: 6
Fantasy: 8
Non-fiction: 3
Mystery: 1

Books read out of those acquired: 8

Sources:
PaperBackSwap: 8
BookMooch: 1
Library Sale: 1
Amazon: 7 (3 Kindle, 4 paper) (free Kindle books not counted)
Early Reviewers: 1

Books Out the Door:30
PaperBackSwap: 12
BookMooch: 18

Oh dear.. all of those statistics ....
scary! lol

>209 ronincats:: LOL. Then I'm in agreement: Physics Fail!

209: it's all these Middle Ages science books I've been reading that had me even notice the passage.
LOL!

Book #49 The Screwtape Letters and Screwtape Proposes a Toast by C. S. Lewis (172 pp.)

I reread this book to join Donna in her reading for her C. S. Lewis class. It was very interesting to come back to this 35 or 40 years after first reading it. The letters may be 50 years old, but they are just as applicable to the nature of evil as when they were first written.

Hi, Roni ~ You're so right about The Screwtape Letters. I listened to it awhile back, read by John Kleese, who was an amazing reader! Here's a U-Tube excerpt of the beginning of the audiobook: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBxpcGfznos I think it's time for a relisten.

So true about The Screwtape Letters - it's helped me to recognize the type of weapons devils like to use on us. Interesting stuff.

Oh, and wait - there's a class all about C.S. Lewis? *squeals* That sounds like my kind of class!

nice stats there roni! Reminds me I was going to do a 'books in/books out' round-up for March....

Roni - I'm impressed by your first quarter stats - as much because you so meticulously compiled them as by the excellent books. I fear I am not yet sufficiently motivated to inspect my reading so carefully. I'm not sure I'd like what I find!

Morning Roni, Sorry about the Hawks loss last night. Lawrence is a pretty somber town today . . .

As always, impressive stats!

Mary and Eris, the letters are as applicable today as they were back then. Can you imagine waiting for each one to come out in the weekly newspaper? And John Kleese would have to be an amazing reader for them!

Lucy and Dejah, I am only inspired by those 75ers who go into even MORE detail. This is now the third years I've kept a spreadsheet with the relevant data (and that handy dandy automatic summation feature) for books read, the second year for books acquired, and the first year for books out the door. Makes it much easier to pull together those summaries!

Thanks, Brenda. At least they pulled it together and played them even the second half. If only they had done it earlier.

Inspired by Darryl (kidzdoc) and his championing of National Poetry Month, I have at long last catalogued all of my books of poetry (it wasn't THAT hard as there are only 18 of them). These include John Keats, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, William Blake, Carl Sandburg, Sara Teasdale, two books by e.e. cummings, 2 books and a biography of Dylan Thomas, the collected works of Shakespeare, and the collected works of Rudyard Kipling. Also two 60's era collections of Contemporary American Poetry and The Mentor Book of Major American Poets. And finally, two newer collections: Poet's Choice: Poems for Everyday Life and This Same Sky: A collection of poems from around the world.

I will commit to reading a poem daily from these last two books, as well as the daily poem emailed me by Knopf Poetry, and will post any favorites I find, for the month of April.

That's right! National Poetry Month is in April! Goodness, I've totally forgotten. I'll have to do some reading in honor of it. Thanks for reminding me, Roni.

>Nice recap of The Screwtape Letters, Roni. I guess the daily battle we fight each day between good and evil will be relevant until the end of time! I posted a few class notes and my thoughts on Screwtape on my thread. Our next book is The Great Divorce. It will be good to get in familiar territory and reread my favorite C. S. Lewis book.

>226 ronincats:: I'm looking forward to more poetry. I'm really enjoying the tutored read of Shakespeare's sonnets between Julia (Rosalita) and Cynara.

That BB game was a letdown. I talked to my son today, not so much about the game as about the tornado activity in the Dallas area. They had a wild day but they are fine.

>225 ronincats: I've kept a list of books I've read since I was in the 6th grade. It was written in a journal that I still have stuffed in a closet. I didn't know to write down the author until I was in the 8th grade though. :) I've tried to keep track of books I own, but my shelves are so fluid because I have family members that sneak books into random bookshelf slots that and I'll only discover them months later.

#228 - I will definitely be coming to check out your thread! The Great Divorce is one of my favorite C. S. Lewis books, and it was a book that deepened my Christian faith, so I can't wait to see what you've written.

>229 The_Hibernator: I am suitably impressed!!!!!!!!

Roni, a little late saying that my wife had the same reaction to A Discovery of Witches. I listened to a good deal of the book while driving on business - got lucky with the XM and enjoyed what I heard, but my wife says she won't go to the next book after the first being so poorly edited.

Thanks for the reminder of National Poetry month - I've started working through a poetry collection back in February, so this will be a good motivator to finish it!

Delighted to have introduced Eris and Donna to each other!

Donna, I'm so glad your son and his family are safe. That was a nasty storm cell moving through that area. And yes, the game was disappointing. If we had played the first half like we did the second half, we'd have made a game of it.

Rachel, like Lucy I am impressed. I tried and tried to keep a reading journal, even if just listing the books, and never succeeded until my first year on LT.

Mac, I still liked the book and will go on to the next one, so in that way my reaction is different from your wife's.

Dejah, I'm reading some poetry from those two anthologies I mentioned each night.

I'm moving slowly through the new Tim Powers book, more through lack of time and needing to digest it--typical powerful writing--than any lack in the book itself. Also started a collection of James Tiptree, Jr. short stories.

Finally, had a 15% coupon and went to B&N today, picked up the third book in the Mrs. Quent books, The Master of Heathcrest Hall and Second-Degree Green Belt Kakuro. That brings my total up to 20 books for the year, 10 of which I paid money for.

Ooooo! A 15% coupon for Barnesy! I know those far too well. :) I'm glad you found some books you liked!

>>229 The_Hibernator: I'm up to 6 years of reading records. I also wish I could have been doing it a lot longer. Ah well.

I had thought of recording my reading for years, but only actually started in 2003. Even for those few years, it is incredibly satisfying to go back and relive my own reading history. I remember I was finally motivated to start writing books down when my kids were very small and I was staying at home with them. Your days are filled, filled, filled, but often not with the kinds of things that make you feel accomplished (Way to load that dishwasher!!!), and keeping track of my reading really helped.

210 > Interesting. I'm only familiar with Robins through her short story "Nimue's Tale." Have you read it? I believe it's available online, although I own it in the excellent short story anthology Invitation to Camelot.

Glad you enjoyed Screwtape again!

Thanks, Eris. Me too, Morphy. Anne, I enjoy my reading records as well--unfortunately I started much later in my life than you

Nathan, no, I haven't read that story, but I'll try to find it.



Book #50 Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers (511 pp.)

This book was received as part of the Early Reviewer's program.

Tim Powers has written another powerful book. Returning to the era of the romantic poets and The Stress of Her Regard, Powers again inserts his story in the interstices of the recorded history and writings of Christina and Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Algernon Swinburne. His story of the vampiric Nephilim and their interactions with mortals makes use of the poems and letters of the key historical figures and explains their most fruitful writing periods and their barren periods as well.

I love Powers, and always look forward to his writing, but I will be curious to hear how others perceive this book. I was always so aware of what he was doing, and marveling at the depth of research he must have done, that it was hard to submerge myself into the story as I did with The Stress of Her Regard.

I have been avoiding the vampire books ever since Twilight came out..
Or maybe that isn't fair to say.. I read Ann Rice's book a zillion years ago..
and one ore recently that rd suggested .. but they do not typically call out to me.
I guess I am more a ghost book kinda gal :)

How did you rate book #50?

Hi Roni, very behind again I'm afraid.

#125 Nice review of God's Philosophers. I'll look forward to your thoughts on the Hannam book as I've been meaning to read it for a while. In fact, I could get it out of the library and read it at the same time - do you know when you're likely to read it?

#134 Good news that your brother's vertigo is treatable.

#141 "This Nebula nominee is highly recommended for introverts who love science fiction." That's me! I've had it on my wishlist for a while (I think Faith gave it a rave review last year) but I've been waiting for the paperback release; now it's out in paperback I just need to somehow squeeze it into my book budget!

#147 Elaine Pagels' new book sounds interesting. I'm lurking in The Gnostic Gospels group read thread at the moment.

So sorry to hear about the your sudden bereavements Roni. It can be a real shock to lose someone suddenly.

Glossing over all the baseball(?) conversations but I did enjoy the physics discussion - it's been a long time since I studied terminal velocities.

#239 Sounds like another good Powers read. I'm hoping to finally read The Drawing of the Dark this month. Can't believe I haven't read anything by Powers since we read The Anubis Gates in 2010.

Roni - am intrigued as I realised I didn't own nor have I read anything by Tim Powers - where is the best place to start?

Hey, Kath, good to see you here. I'd rate the Powers a 4--a weak Powers is better than a strong performance by many others.

Good to see you, too, Heather! I think you'll enjoy The Drawing of the Dark.

Paul, it's not a series for the most part. I wouldn't start with Dinner at Deviant's Palace as it is atypical. Stories set in the current world that I would recommend would be Last Call or Declare. Victorian? The Anubis Gates. The Romantic poets? The Stress of Her Regard. Take your pick. And welcome back home. I enjoyed reading your posts from New Zealand.

I'm moving slowly on a number of fronts. Ready to read Chapter 2 of The Gnostic Gospels, Chapter 5 of the Tiptree biography, Chapter 2 of The Closing of the Western Mind, Chapter 14 of John Carter of Mars, and "The Women Men Don't See" from Her Smoke Rose Up Forever.

I stopped by Mysterious Galaxy yesterday when I was up in that area, and came away with two books. Hey, I have to support my local independent bookstore, right? I got the new Seanan McGuire book, Discount Armageddon, which is not in her Toby Daye series, and Touched by an Alien by Gini Kock, whom I've not read before.

I recently got Discount Armageddon from the library due to a blog recommendation. Will be happy to read what an LTer thinks of it.

"Hey, I have to support my local independent bookstore, right?" Of course! You know, I've only recently realised that Seanan McGuire wrote the Feed trilogy as Mira Grant.

#242 Paul, I started with The Anubis Gates and loved it - there's a discussion of the book as a group read in the 2010 75ers group here.

243: I'm moving slowly on a number of fronts. Ready to read Chapter 2 of The Gnostic Gospels, Chapter 5 of the Tiptree biography, Chapter 2 of The Closing of the Western Mind, Chapter 14 of John Carter of Mars, and "The Women Men Don't See" from Her Smoke Rose Up Forever.

My brain would be a mishmash of utter confusion if I tried to do this. I am a serial monogamist in reading. I have the Tiptree biography, hope to read it later this month...

I guess I am the Donna Juanita of reading then....!!!!! I seem to have to have quite a few going at once, although usually there is one at the center of it all, to whom I'm being quite unfaithful --- currently that would be Infinite Jest.......

Good morning - busy thread today, Roni!

I think The Anubis Gates, which I read last year, is the only Tim Powers book I've read. I liked it very much and I've been meaning to pick up another of his books - you've motivated me, but maybe not this month.

As for your new acquisitions, Roni, my librarian suggested Discount Armageddon. I started it, but really wasn't in the right mood for it (the mice are hysterical). Knowing that it was a new book I set it free to be snaffled by the next eager patron. I'm looking forward to hearing what you and Morphy think, so I'll know if I should get it back again.

I've read most of Koch's Alien books and they're fun, if a little over the top. I believe that I've previously described them as 'high octane chick lit' in a SF setting - all the aliens are gorgeous, wear Armani and would rather date humans than other aliens. At any rate, I'm looking forward to your comments!

Roni / Dejah - thanks The Anubis Gates duly goes to my humungous hitlist.

Morph, I have really liked Seanan McGuire's Toby Daye urban fantasy series, and I am pretty picky about those. So I am more than willing to give her a try on this book. Dejah, I'll let you know what I think as soon as I get through a few of these others. Thanks for the input on Koch--her latest book in the series was on the new acquisitions shelf and looked interesting, and then I saw that it was a series, so got the first one. This could be hit or miss (see above--I'm very picky about my urban fantasy, which is what this looks like in a SF setting).

Heather, I'm glad you are enjoying The Anubis Gates--it is rightfully a classic and seen by some as one of the precursors to steampunk, more by setting than content. Paul, it's a wild ride and so well done--you'll enjoy it.

Katherine, actually, this is the most stretched out I may have ever been and I think my brain may be a mishmash. It helps that 3 of them are non-fiction and one is a book of short stories, while JOhn Carter is on the Kindle, is a reread (although it has been YEARS!), and is for those spare moments on the go. I left out the poetry reading too, from the two books I mentioned above and the daily Knopf Poetry email, but like the nonfiction and short stories, that's only a chapter or story or poem at a time, not integrated stories, so manageable. I'm trying to resist diving into one of my new acquisitions.

Donna Juanita, I bow to you! You are my inspiration.

Got my gardening updated yesterday, because of the rain expected today. Heavy showers around 6, but not right now. I need to get green beans--either seeds or transplants--tomorrow to go into the ground where the peas were, some cucumber vines, and tomato plants, before another rain on Friday. My sweet peas are blooming--how I love them!

Thanks to you and Drnue I downloaded, The Master of Heathcrest Hall I would totally miss these books when they come out if not for LT

Friday rain here. The dog is not happy because he has to wait for his walk. It's catch-up day at home for me so I'll need a fresh air break sometime.

I love sweet peas too, Roni. The iris is starting to bloom here. Not my favorite flower but they are hardy and require very little attention. My yard work has fallen by the wayside with cooler temps here.

Hi, Roni! I was quite taken by Gnostic Gospels when I read it way back when. Looking forward to hearing your reaction. A neighbor read her new one, Revelations: Visions, Prophecy and Politics, and thought it was good, too.

For some reason I wasn't grabbed by The Anubis Gates the way others have been. My sister loved it.

Add me to the sweet pea freak list.