Marie's (mbellerose) 75 Books Challenge: Part Two

Hello, my name is Marie and welcome to my second 2012 thread. I am an aspiring librarian and military spouse whose husband is currently deployed. I read all over the place, but I seem to lean towards literary fiction, interesting non-fiction, memoirs, young adult and a little bit of fantasy thrown in there. I hope you will grab a seat and leave some comments below!

Previous Threads:

50 Books Challenge in 2009
75 Books Challenge in 2010
75 Books Challenge in 2011

Books Read In 2012:

1. More than Petticoats: Remarkable South Carolina Women by Lee Davis Perry
2. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
3. The Uncommon Reader: A Novella by Alan Bennett
4. The Grand Complication: A Novel by Allen Kurzweil
5. What Is the What by Dave Eggers
6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
7. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
8. The Future of Us by Jay Asher
9. I Love a Man in Uniform: A Memoir of Love, War, and Other Battles by Lily Burana
10. Stay Awake by Dan Chaon
11. Next to Love: A Novel by Ellen Feldman
12. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
13. 11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King
14. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
15. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger
16. Shopgirl: A Novella by Steve Martin
17. The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin
18. Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor by Rosina Harrison
19. Sabriel by Garth Nix
20. Divergent by Veronica Roth
21. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
22. The Age of Miracles: A Novel by Karen Thompson Walker
23. Lirael by Garth Nix
24. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
25. Abhorsen by Garth Nix
26. She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel
27. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
28. Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James
29. Fifty Shades Darker by E L James
30. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
31. A Night Without Armor : Poems by Jewel
32. Henrietta Johnston of Charles Town, South Carolina; America's First Pastellist by Margaret Simons Middleton
33. Fifty Shades Freed by EL James
34. Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas
35. Veronica by Mary Gaitskill
36. Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil by Tom Mueller
37. The Favored Queen: A Novel of Henry VIII's Third Wife by Carolly Erickson
38. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
39. My Man Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
40. The First Elizabeth by Carolly Erickson
41. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
42. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
43. The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
44. Carry On, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
45. Very Good, Jeeves! by P.G. Wodehouse
46. Giving Up the Ghost: A Story About Friendship, 80s Rock, a Lost Scrap of Paper, and What It Means to Be Haunted by Eric Nuzum
47. Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
48. Right Ho Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
49. The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse
50. Jeeves in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse
51. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Ellen Forney (Illustrator)
52. The Mating Season by P.G. Wodehouse
53. The Underdog by Markus Zusak
54. Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit by P.G. Wodehouse
55. Jeeves in the Offing by P.G. Wodehouse
56. The Terrorist by Caroline B. Cooney
57. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
58. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
59. I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere by Anna Gavalda
60. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
61. Josephine: A Life of the Empress by Carolly Erickson
62. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
63. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
64. This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1) by Kenneth Oppel
65. Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #2) by Kenneth Oppel
66. How I Became an American by Karin Gundisch
67. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child by Francisco Jiménez
68. Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) by Kami Garcia
69. Breaking Through by Francisco Jiménez
70. Reaching Out by Francisco Jiménez
71. Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan
72. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
73. First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson, #1) by Darynda Jones
74. Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
75. Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson, #2) by Darynda Jones
76. Aunts Aren't Gentlemen by P.G. Wodehouse
77. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
78. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
79. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi
80. Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman
81. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
82. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
83. The Embedded Librarian: Innovative Strategies for Taking Knowledge Where It's Needed by David Shumaker
84. Free For All by Don Borchert

Nice March summary to cap your first thread, Marie, and nice new digs here!

Congratulations on all your books read, Marie! I can't wait to read what you say next in your book journey!

HI Marie :)

Just stopping by to say Hi!

Hi! Marking the new thread!

Lovely new thread, Marie!

Wheeeee, a shiny new thread! *waits for books*

*waves to everyone*

Thanks for hanging out with me in my new thread. :)

Today is my first day off in six days so I am looking forward to catching up on some reading.

I'm glad I read at least one book this week. My brain is kind of fried from work/school.



23. Lirael by Garth Nix

TIOLI Challenge #7: Spring Cleaning: Finish a book that you started between January 1, 2012 and March 28, 2012

SPOILERS! This is the second book in a series.

This book begins and ends so differently then I was expecting. In the first place, the main characters of Sabriel are all grown up with two children of their own. Half of the book focuses on their son, Prince Sameth, who is supposed to be the next Abhorsen. The problem is that Prince Sameth is something of a coward and spends most of the book trying to find a way out of his destiny. The other half of the book follows Lirael, a Clayr without the Sight. These two misfits get into lots of their own trouble, but the real magic happens when they, and their two familiars, run into one another on their way to save the world from a powerful danger.

Wow, this book had a huge twist at the end! Maybe I should have seen it coming, but I really thought it would end with Lirael and Prince Sameth hooking up and ruling the kingdom, but NO! We find out that Lirael is Prince Sameth's half-aunt! And thank goodness Sameth isn't the real Abhorsen because he obviously wasn't cut out for it. My heart did break for Lirael when she found out she would never have the Sight. Also awesome was the return of my beloved Moggett and the introduction of the Disreputable Dog. Bravo Garth Nix for writing wonderful animal characters. It's on to Abhorsen!

And to you!

So glad you enjoyed Lirael--I love that trilogy. And Happy Easter to you as well!

Happy Easter Marie!!!!

Happy Easter to you too, Marie!

Glad you enjoyed Lirael. I love Mogget and the Dog. :)

Hope you are having a great holiday weekend!

Just dropping by to say hello to my neglected thread. Work and school have consumed all of my time, which is both good and a little stressful. I've been working on about three books this past week, so I'm hoping to finish at least one of them soon. Wishing everyone a happy Sunday!

...yay, I finished a book! Too bad it fell flat.



24. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a first-person narrative in which the narrator is the opposite sex from the author

It's a cliche story of two teenagers falling quickly into love, until something happens and they break up. Min is the unique, "arty" teen who surrounds herself with equally quirky friends. In comes Ed, the basketball star whose dated every girl in school, and sweeps Min off her feet. But the love story never felt convincing and because of the way it is written, you know they break up. The ending, and reason why they do, did not feel revolutionary.

What I did like about this book were the accompanying illustrations, her friendship with her friend Al and the assortment of trinkets she picks up along the route of her relationship with Ed. I related to that aspect of the novel which is why I didn't completely feel frustrated with the book. Ho hum.

That's the feeling I've seen from other reviewers about this book. But, a big congrats on finishing it!

*waving* at Marie

25. Abhorsen by Garth Nix

The final book in the trilogy, Abhorsen was a fantastic end. I will be purchasing this series and reading it again in the future.

26. She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel

I'm a big fan of Kimmel and her her first memoir, Zippy. She Got Up Off the Couch was just as fun, but with more depth as Kimmel grew up. I'm really hoping she writes another memoir, but I think I will try out her fiction at some point.

Hi Marie!

Hope things will slow down soon:) Have a wonderful day!

April

23. Lirael by Garth Nix
24. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
25. Abhorsen by Garth Nix
26. She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel

Favorite: She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel
Runner-Up: Lirael by Garth Nix

Well, I only managed to read four books this month which makes me super sad, but life has been crazy. Starting work again has taken up a lot of my time, but it has been a great experience. I love working in a library and it has reaffirmed my decision to go to library school. I've also met some great people which has made being a newcomer to Charleston just a tad bit easier. School is winding down after this weekend so it's homework, homework, homework for me but I thought I'd stop by and say hello to LT! I've been reading everyone's threads but haven't had a chance to say anything, but rest assured I'm keeping up. :) Have a great weekend everyone!

Hi Marie, hope you're having a lovely weekend too. Sounds like life's pretty good at the moment if a little hectic!

Glad things are settling in for you and that the job is going so well.

23: Hi Bente, I'm glad you stopped by. I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. It's too bad both of us haven't been on LT as much this Spring, but maybe things will calm down now that we're heading into Summer.

25: Life is pretty good and hectic. One more paper to write and I'm done for the Spring so things will be less hectic, yay!

26: Thanks Roni!

27. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

TIOLI Challenge #5: Black & White: Read a book with the word Black or White as part of the Title or the author's name.

I wanted to throw a little ghost story into the mix this year and on that account I feel satisfied. This book has everything a scary tale lover would look for. There's the creepy house, the solitary guest, the dreadful history of its haunting and a mysterious woman dressed in black. Yet, because this book is so short, I felt gypped out of some of the suspense that goes along with a Gothic tale. Everything wrapped up neatly at the end, but too neatly for a story about ghosts. Still, I am looking forward to the DVD release of the movie so I can see it in action. Perhaps it will translate well on the big screen.

I'm waiting for that DVD release too. Too bad the book wasn't better.

I haven't read The Woman in Black or seen the film, but I got to see the play in London as part of a theater class I was taking. I got gypped out of the suspense, too, because I was sitting way on the left-hand side of the theater. That's the side the ghost kept appearing from, and as everyone else gasped, people in my area were like, "What ghost? Where's the ghost?"

Hope everything with end of term goes well, Marie!

Just stopping to say Hi!!! Happy to hear things are going well for you!! :-}

28. Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James

Well, after everyone and their dog came to the library to request this book, I thought, why not? Ha ha ha, I have never rolled my eyes so many times, or laughed so hard at the silliness of a storyline and yet... I enjoyed myself, which is what reading is all about. I mean, this book is terrible. The writing is awful and more than once I wanted to strangle the main character for being an idiot, but at the end of the book, I was entertained, which probably wasn't the point of the book, but it worked for me.

29. Fifty Shades Darker by E L James

See review for Fifty Shades of Grey.

Ah, so this is like one of those books that it's so bad, it's good? I've heard that these books are Twilight rip-offs, did you get that impression?

35: It's so bad, and it is never actually good. It's like a train wreck of a book series I can't look away from...:)

Rip-offs is the wrong word, because the author has been very candid that these books started off as Twilight fan-fiction. She wrote them without the intention of being published. So, yes, they have a lot of similarities between the characters, but it is on purpose.

Just dropping by to say hello to my poor, neglected thread. I have several books I'm reading right now:

Fifty Shades Freed by EL James - I really might not finish this. Whereas the first two were mildly entertaining, this one is mostly annoying. Ugh, why am I a completeist?

Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil by Tom Mueller - SO interesting. It makes me very wary of store brand olive oil and inclined to spend money on the good stuff.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth - The second in the series, I've had a little trouble getting into this one. They keep moving from faction to faction, seemingly aimlessly. I'm waiting for it to pick up and trying to keep in mind that it's the 2nd in a series and sometimes those end up being the bridge to 1 and 3.

My job at the library has been going very well and I'm on a break from school right now, so life is going along quite nicely. Hope you all have a wonderful week! :)

Oh man, I use a lot of olive oil so I need to get hold of Extra Virginity even though I have a feeling I won't like what I find. Thanks for bringing that book to my attention.

# 37 "Ugh, why am I a completeist?"

Tell me about it! I have made myself read horrendous stuff just to finish trilogies/series that I had started.

I loved the Abhorsen trilogy!

Hey, Marie, I know you've read Fifty Shades of Grey, so I thought you might be interested in this parody. I giggled a few times, and I haven't even read the book. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDeaFLJB4Ko

Hi Marie! I found the same thing with Insurgent, a little rough in the middle but I loved the ending

38: You're welcome, it's been very interesting and I think it will the perfect length of book too.

39: I know...I just wanted to be able to read them so I fully comprehended the craziness surrounding that book series.

40: Me too! So good!

41: The YouTube video wasn't working when I clicked it. Is it the SNL skit because I LAUGHED SO HARD at that skit. Kristen Wiig kills me.

42: You are right, the ending made it worth it. Now we wait for the next book...sigh... :)

30. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I've been wondering what to write as a review for this book because it came highly anticipated after its first book, Divergent. I keep reminding myself that as a second book in a presumably three part series, it may not be the best of the bunch, but will serve as a bridge between books one and two. So, with that in mind, I did enjoy it, but wish the author wouldn't have jumped around so much. It made things kind of confusing as they jumped from faction to faction without any clear purpose in mind. Still, I am looking forward to the third book.

It was actually the "Funny Or Die" skit, with Selena Gomez, called "Fifty Shades of Blue." I don't listen to Selena Gomez, nor do I generally find "Funny Or Die" amusing, but that skit was pretty good. :)

45: Oh, I know what you're talking about! I haven't had a chance to watch it, but I think I have it bookmarked. I love parodies!

31. A Night Without Armor : Poems by Jewel



32. Henrietta Johnston of Charles Town, South Carolina; America's First Pastellist by Margaret Simons Middleton

I found this one tucked away in a remote corner of the library I work in. It was published in 1966 and was really interesting to read through. I wish we knew more about this artist's life.

# 45 ErisofDiscord, Oh the Funny Or Die skit with Selena Gomez was so funny! I loved it!

33. Fifty Shades Freed by EL James

Thank God that is over. This book had almost no plot besides listening to the main character go on and on about her amazing man, Christian. The end picked up a little, but not enough to rescue it from a one star rating. At the very least, I guess I know what the fuss is about.

Oh, Marie, I know this is extremely off-topic, but whenever I come to your thread, I keep singing this song; have you heard it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzIEa1VJ4aQ

50: YES, love it! :)

Though my thread has been somewhat neglected this Spring/Summer since I started a full time job alongside graduate school, I wanted to stop by and say, today is my Thingaversary! Cheers to a happy five years on LT! :) :) :)

Happy Thingaversary!! Have you planned what 5 books you are going to treat yourself to yet?

53: I feel very conflicted about buying myself five books when I'm failing miserably at weeding out the books I already do own. (My goal of reading 25 books that I own is not going so well this year...) I did however buy one book this week when I ordered a hoodie from Powell's Book Store in Portland, Oregon. I received Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas in the mail today. Sadly, I may need to stop there until I can motivate myself to read more of what I own. Anyways, Thanks Roni!

Happy Thingaversary! And your book showed up right on time.

Happy Thingaversary!

Happy Thingaversary Marie!! :-}

Happy Thingaversary! Happy Reading!

Happy belated thingaversary, Marie! I'm so excited to see you in a few days!

59: Nora, I should have talked to you earlier about this, but I will be unable to make the DC trip. :( My step-sister's father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and so she moved up her wedding for the 16th in Nevada. I can't get enough time off work to make two trips one weekend after the next. I'm so sorry, I am really bummed I am not able to make it. Next year I will be there come hell or high water!

May

27. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
28. Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James
29. Fifty Shades Darker by E L James
30. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
31. A Night Without Armor : Poems by Jewel
32. Henrietta Johnston of Charles Town, South Carolina; America's First Pastellist by Margaret Simons Middleton
33. Fifty Shades Freed by EL James

Favorite: Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Runner-Up: The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

My resolution this month is to get back on track with LT, which means reading books I actually want to read, writing constructive reviews about them and keeping up with all of you awesome people. I'm only taking one class this Summer so I am hoping that life won't be so chaotic. I'm really sad to be missing the planned DC trip, but my sister is getting married in two weeks so I am looking forward to flying home to see the family. Here's hoping for a great June!

#49 I am soooo glad to see your comments on that book! I keep seeing friends on facebook post about it but it looked cheesy to me so I waited! Now I know I can skip it!

Happy Belated Thingaversary!

62: It is soo cheesy. It's absolutely ridiculous, which is why the first two were semi-amusing, but the last one never needed to be written. Let's cross our fingers that she never writes a fourth one. :)

34. Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas (My Library)

I feel very mixed about this book. As an aspiring librarian half way through library school, I was a little irked that that author went out of his way to complain that library school was pointless. He seemed to to think that being a librarian wasn't really a professional career and struggled with the fact that he had chosen this path for himself. It seemed to me that what he really wanted to do was be a writer and working in a library was just a convenient way to make a living. It also provided the material for this book. And yet sometimes he "got it" while helping a patron or talking to a co-worker, which made him stay and which made me keep reading. I really did want to like him, but as someone who works in a library, I knew I did not want him as a co-worker.

Still, I did enjoy the countless stories about the patrons who come through the doors of the library. He didn't sugar coat that sometimes you get the craziest of all crazies asking you questions or the rude teenagers who want nothing more than to watch porn on the computer. A lot of what he wrote about was the negative unfortunately, but he did mention a few stories about the perfect patrons we love to help. So all in all, a mixed review, which is unfortunate because I actually bought a copy of this. I guess the best I can say about it is that it taught me what kind of librarian I would not like to be in the future. (And made me appreciate that I work in a relatively sane and safe library!)

>64 RosyLibrarian: I tried reading Quiet Please, but quit it because 1. I didn't like his attitude and 2. I felt like I was bringing the worst of work home (generally I love my job, but some days...). On the other hand, I love the Unshelved collections by Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes. :)

65: I totally agree about the attitude. How did this guy of all librarians get published? I also loved Unshelved. :)

Me three! I'm not a librarian but I love Unshelved.

35. Veronica by Mary Gaitskill (My Library)

TIOLI Challenge #14: Read a One Word Titled Book by a Female Author

Veronica is the story of Allison, a model during the 80's who befriends a woman dying of AIDS named Veronica. The story alternates between Allison in the present day and Allison when she was young, wild, but maybe not as free as she thought she was.

I love this type of writing in a book. It is half poetry, half prose and it often times just feels beautiful as I read it. Veronica is very much written in this modern style and for that I appreciated it. The story on the other hand felt linear and there was not a lot of character growth, which perhaps was on purpose. I think I expected more from the relationships in this book because it is titled Veronica, but its strength lies more in Allison's inner thoughts.



36. Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil by Tom Mueller

TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book with a wacky, whimsical, goofy title that makes you wonder what it's about

Thought you knew everything about olive oil? Guess again! This smart books covers everything from how olive oil is made, produced and sold as well as its cultural and medicinal properties. If that sounds boring to you, it might interest you to know that the olive oil you buy in the grocery store probably isn't 100% extra virgin and the world of olive oil is plagued with fraud. This book has made me aware of what good olive oil is and why I should be using it more in my diet.

37. The Favored Queen: A Novel of Henry VIII's Third Wife by Carolly Erickson

The Favored Queen is my first Carolly Erickson book, but it won't be my last. I don't say this because I found the book to be exceptionally historically correct, but I did find is very entertaining. It follows the life of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife who gave birth to a son and died shortly thereafter. This fictionally book reimagines the Jane Seymour I had in my head and makes her a little bit more dangerous which was fun.

Now I am reading her non-fictional book about Elizabeth I called The First Elizabeth. So far, so good!

Lots of interesting reading here. Veronica sounds like one I'd either love or hate!

70: I loved certain things about, but I think the storyline ended up not going as far as I would have liked it. I can't remember now why I picked it up, but that seems to happen a lot.... :) Thanks for stopping by!

Lurked by earlier but didn't say anything. Came back just to let you know I'd been by, after you came by my thread! Lots of reading--hope everything else is going well.

72: Thanks Roni, everything is going pretty well. Just busy, busy, busy!

38. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

TIOLI Challenge: Read a book visiting a state or country you've never been to before in a book's setting (Japan)

Unbroken is the amazing story of olymic runner turned WWII bombardier, Louis Zamperini. Before the war he was a mischevious kid who channeled his energy into becoming one of America's greatest runners. During the war he saw combat in the Pacific Ocean where his plane crashed and he with two other men were stranded at sea for over 40 days. This part alone in the book is worth reading as the lengths they went to for survival had me on the edge of my seat. They were picked up by the Japanese and spent several years as POWs where they lived in horrifying conditions.

This story follows Louis from childhood to old age and had me both laughing out loud and blinking back tears. It's an unforgettable story that shows all aspects of human courage and the brutality of war. Highly, highly recommended.

So glad to see you enjoyed Unbroken, Marie! I think it's going to be one of my favorites for the year.

75: I think it will be one of my favorite for the year too, Mary. Have you read her other book about Seabiscuit? I loved her writing, but I'm not a big horse book fan so I wasn't sure...

I'll de-lurk to say that I'm not big into horse-racing but Seabiscuit is a great read!

77: Thanks for de-lurking Katie! I will go hunt for that one at the library...

39. My Man Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

This is my first Wodehouse book and completely delightful. I've always known I would like Wodehouse so I can't fathom why I waited so long to read about the amazing Jeeves and his silly master Bertie Wooster. Also included in this collection of short stories is the character Reggie Pepper whom I also liked very much, but could not compare to Jeeves. I loved the language of this book which made me wish I lived in England again. I think I will be reading all things Jeeves in the months to come!

Welcome to the Wodehouse fan club! He is one of my favorites.

Wodehouse is also on my list of authors to try eventually. But I just got into Georgette Heyer in the past couple weeks so that's going to take a while.

Oh I love the Jeeves series by P. G. Wodehouse. I prefer the stories to the novels.

I used to watch the re-runs of the TV series Jeeves and Wooster starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie as a kid. That's how I got hooked to the Jeeves stories.

80: Thank you, thank you! Nice to finally have a membership. :)

81: I also need to try Georgette Heyer...

82: I am going to have to get a hold of the TV series. Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie can do no wrong in my eyes.

Just stopping to say hi!! Hope you are having a great summer!!!

Thanks Tammy, it's a busy summer but this coming weekend I plan to head down to the beach. Thanks for stopping to say hello! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

>76 RosyLibrarian: Yes, I read Seabiscuit a few months ago largely because of my enjoyment of Unbroken. The former is also excellent, though overall I prefer the latter. :)

Hi Marie - Oh yes, Wodehouse - it's like a nice summer breeze. Glad you liked him. I'm in need of Wodehouse at the moment I can feel.

Sounds like a very interesting war-story. I loved the movie Seabiscuit so it could be interesting to read a story by her.

June

34. Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas
35. Veronica by Mary Gaitskill
36. Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil by Tom Mueller
37. The Favored Queen: A Novel of Henry VIII's Third Wife by Carolly Erickson
38. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
39. My Man Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

Favorite: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Runner-Up: My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

I feel like I am constantly having to dust off my thread when I come back to it... sorry LibraryThing, but life is so hectic. If only I can survive graduate school...

Glad to see you liked your first Wodehouse! I'm a devoted fan :) And I'm the same way with my thread... I always feel like it's been ages since I've even seen it.

>88 RosyLibrarian: No worries, Marie. Whenever you have the time, we'll be waiting for ya. :)

I'm definitely the same way with my thread as well! I'm kinda letting it rot... but that leaves me more time to comment on everyone else's threads, so hooray!

40. The First Elizabeth by Carolly Erickson

As you can probably tell, this book is the non-fiction biography of Elizabeth I, Queen of England. After trying Erickson's fictional novel, I thought I would try out her older biographies and was not disappointed. It wasn't an easy read, nor a speedy one, but written methodically and with attention to detail. After a break, I would like to return to her other biographies of all the historical figures I find so fascinating.

On to the next! Thanks for putting up with my extended absences everyone. :)

Glad you enjoyed the Elizabeth I biography, Marie. I've always found that period of history fascinating (even took a history course on the Tudors and wrote a paper on Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, and Walsingham). Hope your next read is just as enjoyable.

41. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

I am not usually a science-y person, but I really enjoyed this book and found the ethical dilemma at the heart of the story to be fascinating. Part medical history, part family history, part personal journey for the author and part commentary on the ethics behind medical research, this book is packed fulled of food for thought. It follows the author as she tells the story of Henrietta Lacks and her cells that were given/taken in the name of research. These cells became known as HeLa cells and they lead to many advancements in medicine. Yet, the family she left behind never received a dime and couldn't even afford health insurance while scientists and biological corporations made a profit.

There are three main characters in this book. Henrietta, Henrietta's daughter Deborah, and the author who became very close with the family as she tried to tell their story. I've seen reviews in which some people wanted less of the author, but I enjoyed her perspective as she worked her way into the family's good graces and even went on to sent up a scholarship for the descendents of Henrietta Lacks. An interesting, well researched book and recommended even for those who don't usually read books related to science.

I really liked The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks it was a very interesting personal view of the subject. :)

89: I just started The Inimitable Jeeves and am well on my way to also being a devoted Wodehouse fan. :)

90/93: Thanks for always taking the time to stop by Micky. I'm all caught up on your thread too, but I never seem to get enough time to leave comments. Your class sounds awesome! I wish I had had the opportunity to take more history classes in college, but mine were all geared towards art history. The Tudors are so interesting.... I want to try and read up on Mary of Scots because I know little of her. Can you recommend something?

91: Hi Eris, hope all is well! I read your thread so its not rotting. :)

95: I liked the aspect of it too. I guess the author is coming out with a new book fairly soon about animals. I'm waiting to hear more before I run out and put my name on hold for it. Thanks for stopping by!

>96 RosyLibrarian: Hmm, the focus of the paper was more on Walsingham and his influence on Elizabeth's decision to execute Mary. I'd have to dig out the original paper and take a look at the references to see if I had anything specific to Mary (I'm sure I did). The textbook for that class was actually highly readable so if you want something that more broadly covers the Tudors, this one is pretty good.

42. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

I picked this up on a whim knowing nothing other than I liked the title of the book and the cover was pretty. Lucky me, it turned out to be a great read! If I had to describe it, I would say it is YA Jane Austen meets sci-fi dystopian.

The concept was a little hard to figure out in the first few chapters, but essentially there are three social groups at play. There are the Reduced, those with limited learning capabilities. There are the Post-Reduced, those that are fully functioning adults, but are controlled by the last the group: Luddites. These folks run the world and are against the technology that they think brought about the Reduced's state of being.

The two main characters of the book are of course star crossed lovers. Elliott North is the Luddite girl who falls in love with a Post-Reduced boy named Kai. He leaves the estate after the death of his father and asks Elliott to come with her, but she stays to make sure that the people of her estate don't starve to death under her own harsh father's rule. Years later Kai returns as captain of a traveling Fleet and they must deal with the feelings they once had for one another.

Wonderful characters and a fun plot, I highly recommend this for an enjoyable read.

>98 RosyLibrarian: Hmm, you've intrigued me with that one, Marie.

Oooh I'm going to pick up that olive oil book! I've heard this about olive oil and was actually discussing it with my brother the other day... does it tell you which brands are actually REAL olive oil, or how to avoid buying from mafia-run companies? Either way, sounds like a fascinating read.

99: It was muy excellente!

100: Hi Faith, good to see you posting again! I've been meaning to say hello on your thread, but as you can see I also have been quasi-MIA. :) It was a fascinating read and it does list a variety of resources about buying better olive oil. It means spending more money, but the difference is worth it. We've really upped our olive oil usage in our house.

43. The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

I say, this was a splendid book and the stories of Jeeves and Bertie Wooster continue to be funny, witty and charming. On to the next one, pip pip!

# 102 I really liked The Inimitable Jeeves when I read it last year. My favourites are from the book are Introducing Claude and Eustace, Sir Roderick Comes to Lunch, The Great Sermon Handicap and The Purity of the Turf.

Glad to see Wodehouse is stilling working for you. :)

Fortunately there are a lifetime of laughs in Wodehouse. We can say on to the next one for a long time.....Haven't read The Inimitable Jeeves but he sure is!

I think my next Wodehouse will be one of the "Psmith's" - have only read Wooster and Bertie-stories so far.

44. Carry On, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse



45. Very Good, Jeeves! by P.G. Wodehouse

*blows the dust off of the thread again*

Oh my goodness, it's August! Here was the rest of July...

July

40. The First Elizabeth by Carolly Erickson
41. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
42. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
43. The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
44. Carry On, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
45. Very Good, Jeeves! by P.G. Wodehouse

Favorite: Very Good, Jeeves! by P.G. Wodehouse
Runner-Up: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

46. Giving Up the Ghost: A Story About Friendship, 80s Rock, a Lost Scrap of Paper, and What It Means to Be Haunted by Eric Nuzum (My Library)

Eric Nuzum was something of a mess growing up. He was isolated, into drugs and convinced that a ghost haunted his house and dreams. He eventually ended up in a mental institute before finding his way back on track. The only thing keeping him together at times was a relationship with a girl named Laura who ultimately died in a tragic accident. So, what is there to like about this book? Honestly, for most of it I wondered what the hell I was reading. Some of the time it felt like a coming of age novel and then suddenly I would be reading a chapter that read more like a non-fiction travel story.

I was all ready to give this book a low rating, but then I became engrossed in the author's relationship with Laura. It was the only thing that felt real about this entire book. The author could never quite get a grasp on his friendship with Laura and after her death he had a hard time grappling with what their connection meant. In all the years since her passing he has held on to a poem she gave him that she said he would understand one day. Eric ends the book still not understanding what she meant in giving it to him, only that her friendship - more so than the ghost of his adolescence - haunts him to this day.

That seems like a highly unusual book. I'll probably pass on it because it sounds depressing, but also sounds a bit experimental.

I had to put For Darkness Shows the Stars onto my wishlist--sounds like a fantasy Persuasion!

109: Experimental is a good word for it. I guess the guy who wrote it is some big wig for NPR now, but that part of the story didn't really tie into it very well. He mentions working for a public radio station in college for about a second... It was truly a bizarre book.

110: Yes, she thanks Jane Austen in her acknowledgements. It's very much influenced by Persuasion! I hope you'll enjoy it.

47. Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

I'm still on my Jeeves kick with no sign of abatement in the future. I think they make great summer reading because they go so fast and with so much humor. My husband and I are also watching the Jeeves and Wooster TV series with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. SO good! What a great series. I can't believe it took me so long to become a fan.

Ooh...I've only read (actually, listened to) one of the books, but I'm definitely looking into the TV series....

*waving* at Marie

Indeed. Wodehouse is perfect summer reading. I liked Thank You, Jeeves - have to look for the tv-series....

#115 - They're on YouTube!

Fry will forever be the face of Jeeves for me. That ever so slight facial movement that betrayed his disapproval to Bertie's plans was perfect.

Hi Marie! Catching up on posts from SPRING! Yikes.

I am a HUGE Wodehouse fan. If you are interested in reading any of his stand-alone novels, I recommend The Small Bachelor and A Damsel in Distress.

I have the Fry and Laurie Jeeves series on dvd. Maybe it's time to dust those off and watch them again.

I cracked up at your review of Fifty Shades of Grey. I am going to give those a pass. Not a Twilight fan AT ALL, so knowing that they arose from fan fic clinches it for me.

Sandy K

114: *waves back* Hi Stasia, hope school is going well for you. I'm on a week break right now and relishing every moment of it.

115: You'll love it. It's a well done adaptation of the books.

116: Very nice! Thanks for the heads up.

117: Fry is the PERFECT Jeeves! He does this awesome mouth twitch thing combined with the slight rolling of the eyes. Perfection.

118: Hi Sandy, I am always behind too. At one point I even thought about giving up on keeping a thread, but I love LT so I am just trying to make the time. It is well worth it. Thanks for the heads up on Wodehouse's other novels. I have not ventured out of the Jeeves arena, but it will happen one day.

Yes... reading Fifty Shades of Grey was a weird period in my life that I'd rather not look back on. LOL

48. Right Ho Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

This book killed me with laughter! He kept referring to one of the characters as "that Bassett creature" or "the Bassett". And of course he got engaged to her at some point. I think Wooster gets engaged at least once in every book. Five stars as per usual!

#119: My break started Tuesday and like you, I am relishing it! I start back again September 12. What about you?

My break is pretty short. I head back to school on the 20th. :(

# 106 So glad you liked Very Good, Jeeves! I loved it! My favourite stories were Jeeves and the Impending Doom, Jeeves and the Song of Songs, The Love That Purifies, Jeeves and the Old School Chum, Indian Summer of an Uncle and The Ordeal of Young Tuppy.

Too bad mine was a library copy. Must get my own copy of it soon!

I didn't get much out of the Jeeves book I read but I've been watching the series with Laurie and Fry and quite enjoying them.

49. The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse

50. Jeeves in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse

Both were lovely, humerous books. I'm still riding the Jeeves train until the very end!

Just checking in to see how things are going.

Marie, I started reading some Wodehouse last year and thought it was pretty hilarious. I can't remember how I got off the "Jeeves train" but you've convinced me I need to climb back on!

I have to get on board the "Jeeves train" - at least for a station or two soon. Right Ho, Jeeves with the memorable Gussie Fink-Nottle is one of the best I've read.

51. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Ellen Forney (Illustrator)

Very stark and wonderfully written story.



52. The Mating Season by P.G. Wodehouse

Funny, as per usual!

August

46. Giving Up the Ghost: A Story About Friendship, 80s Rock, a Lost Scrap of Paper, and What It Means to Be Haunted by Eric Nuzum
47. Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
48. Right Ho Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
49. The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse
50. Jeeves in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse
51. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Ellen Forney (Illustrator)
52. The Mating Season by P.G. Wodehouse

Favorite: Any of the excellent Jeeves and Wooster books.
Runner-Up: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

I just got back from a five day cruise to the Bahamas to celebrate my first wedding anniversary. We went with another couple and had a blast. Now it's back to school and work. Also, we're moving next week...oh and my husband is deploying next month. Stress...

53. The Underdog by Markus Zusak

I finished this one on the cruise intending to read all three books in this series, but I am going to cut my loses and stop at this one. It was Zusak's first novel and the writing shows... it's a story that never really goes anywhere and its characters weren't engaging it enough to carry it on their own. Oh well, I still love his other books.

Wow, you do have a lot going on! And yet you're able to cruise through Wodehouse at a good clip, so well done. I just read Jeeves in the Morning a few months ago myself.

132: Never a dull moment in this home. They are tearing down all the houses on the air force base I live on, so we get to move into a brand new house. I'm excited, but moving is always stressful. Thankfully we get the keys next weekend so that my husband is still here to help.

Well! I was going to ask if you were planning on coming to DC for the National Book Festival since you couldn't make it to the meet-up in June, but I think I know the answer now! I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly for you, Marie.

What fun--a cruise! Hope you got rested up for work and moving.

Wishing you well for the big move!

Lots of upheaval going on in your life, Marie. Here's hoping things go as smoothly as possible for you. :)

I've really enjoyed LT for the past few years, but for some reason I can't seem to find the time to update my thread this year. There are many reasons. My husband deployed this week, we moved to a new house, working full time and going to grad school...in any case, it just doesn't seem feasible to keep this up for the rest of the year. So, while I will be poking around the threads, I probably won't be updating mine for the rest of the year. I'm hopeful that next year will be less crazy and I can focus more on this amazing group.

I hope that those who happen to pass by will have a great rest of the year reading and I will hopefully see you all in 2013.

Marie

Oh, Marie (that Louis Prima song still enters my head when I come to your thread!), I understand. I hope next year will be a calm year for you, and that your husband will be all right. I'll be praying for you both.

See you in 2013! ((hugs))

We will miss you, but we do understand! Hope to see you next year.

Oh you will be missed! Hope to see you in 2013! :-)

I'll be looking for your thread next year. Take care!

Hope you enjoy your reading the rest of the year and we'll all be thinking of you!!!

Sorry to see you won't be around much. Best wishes for your husband on his deployment. Hope he comes home to you quickly!

Marie, it was lovely to see you on my thread for Thanksgiving. I hope you had a good one.

I know I have been hiatus, but I just reached 75 books today and wanted to come back and record them here on LT.

54. Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit by P.G. Wodehouse

55. Jeeves in the Offing by P.G. Wodehouse

56. The Terrorist by Caroline B. Cooney

57. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

58. The Magicians by Lev Grossman

59. I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere by Anna Gavalda

60. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

61. Josephine: A Life of the Empress by Carolly Erickson

62. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

63. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

64. This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1) by Kenneth Oppel

65. Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #2) by Kenneth Oppel

66. How I Became an American by Karin Gundisch

67. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child by Francisco Jiménez

68. Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) by Kami Garcia

69. Breaking Through by Francisco Jiménez

70. Reaching Out by Francisco Jiménez

71. Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan

72. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

73. First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson, #1) by Darynda Jones

74. Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

75. Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson, #2) by Darynda Jones

Yay, 75 books! The most challenging of all of these was Anna Karenina. I've also discovered some fun series in Beautiful Creatures, This Dark Endeavor and First Grave on the Right. Some historical fiction thrown in (Josephine: A Life of the Empress), some excellent fantasy (The Name of the Wind) and of course J.K. Rowling's newest book - The Casual Vacancy. I think it was a pretty well rounded year.

Hooray! Congrats!

Congrats on hitting the 75 mark!!! I'm almost there.

Marie, I'm glad to see you back for a bit, and I hope your and your family are doing all right. Wow, you really got done some significant books! Congratulations on hitting 75.

Woo hoo! Congratulations on reaching the 75 book mark! Hope all is going well.

Congrats!

Congrats! Nice to see you back for a bit :)

Huzzah for reaching for 75, Marie! I hear you on Anna Karenina. I enjoyed the narrative sections but the passages full of political and agricultural theory were a serious drag.

Thanks everyone, I still love LT and I just finished my semester so I hope to check in a little more until the next and FINAL semester begins in January. Almost done, almost done... Thanks for being patient with me!

Family is doing good. My husband is deployed, but he is keeping safe and busy over there. I just signed him up for Operation Paperback so he should be getting some great books just in time for the holidays. I am heading back to Nevada for Christmas and I am excited to get away for just a little bit.

153: Micky, exactly! The social interactions were intriguing, but once he started in on Russian wheat prices he completely lost me.

Woot for the final countdown!!! That's super exciting.

>154 RosyLibrarian: You should totally read Android Karenina. It's Anna Karenina, minus Russian wheat prices, plus robots.

Did you see the Anna Karenina movie? What did you think?

Ha ha ha, thanks for the recommendation Nora. Adding robots to anything is a recipe for success. Subtracting Russian wheat prices from any book is also good.

I have not gone to see Anna Karenina yet, but I have a three day weekend coming up so I am about to take myself on a date. Have you seen it? Totes worth it?

76. Aunts Aren't Gentlemen by P.G. Wodehouse

This is the last book featuring Jeeves and Wooster and I have to say, it saddened me greatly to read the last line. I would give my right arm for P.G. Wodehouse to rise from the grave and write more of these books.



77. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This book is completely about white girl problems. Oh no, poor Anna is forced to move to Paris during her senior year and then she just happens to catch the eye of the hottest guy in school...but oh no, he has a girlfriend! I rolled my eyes reading the back cover, but tried it anyways because I just met the author at a book festival...and you know what? I LOVED THIS BOOK. It is so rom com and silly, but the author just gets how maddening it is to fall in love for that first time. This book made me squeal! That is a very tough thing to do. I am on to her next book, Lola and the Boy Next Door.

I was a little concerned when I started reading your review of Anna and the French Kiss, Marie, because I have a lot of love for it. But I'm happy to see you liked it. Care to join me in swooning over St. Clair?

>157 RosyLibrarian: I did see it a few weeks ago and it was great! They downplayed Levin and Kitty a lot which is sad because they are my favorite favorite favorite. And they played up the "romantic" interpretation of Anna and Vronsky which I don't agree with at all. But the sets! Oh my god! And the costumes! And the dancing! *swoon*

My goodness. I think that's the fifth plug for Anna and the French Kiss I've seen this week. Good grief, people, I get the hint! I'll go grab it from my shelf and read it now! *stomps off to bookshelves in a huff*

159: I am always down to swoon over St Clair. Since I'm on her next book I get even more Anna/St Clair time which is reason enough to pick it up.

161: DO IT! And then when you love it you can join our St Clair Swoon Club. :)

160: I wondered how they would cut down his giant book. I really liked the Levin/Kitty storyline too. Tell me they at least have the cute writing in chalk engagement scene.

>162 RosyLibrarian: They do it with those kid's blocks with the letters on them. It's equally cute. It works better for the movie, as most of the dialogue in that scene is inside their heads.

78. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

This book didn't blow me away like her first one, but it still warranted four stars and was very enjoyable. I'm ready for her third book to be out now.

It's true, Marie. Cricket isn't St. Clair. But he's pretty darn adorable. And I'm very fond of Lola's costumes. *patiently waits for next book*

Congrats on the 75 and still going....you remind me that I need some Wodehouse for the Holidays.

As you I've had trouble keeping up with my thread the last few months. Well, next year.....

Merry Christmas

79. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi

Does manga count? I am going to say yes.

If you were a girl growing up in the 90s then I would guess you know who Sailor Moon is. I was the BIGGEST FAN and it turns out I still am because my husband bought me the Sailor Moon manga box set that was just released and I am loving them. I am not an anime/manga consumer for the most part but when it comes to Sailor Moon, I am. I just love the story line, the message, the art work...everything.



80. Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman

This is a rather sweet collection of essays centering around the love of books. What is not to like? Sometimes I felt a little lost when Fadiman spoke at length about some of the classics I have not yet read, but for the most part I totally got it.

81. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

This is the haunting story of a girl, Mia, whose family is killed in a horrific car accident that leaves Mia in grave condition. It is written from the perspective of Mia as she lingers outside her body trying to decide if she too will succumb to her injuries and join her family. Will she stay? The story alternates between Mia in the present and Mia talking about her life, her family and her boyfriend Adam. It's a beautiful story, one I took to heart having lost family members of my own way before their time. Several times I had to hold back tears because the author wrote so truthfully, so beautifully. I am currently on the sequel Where She Went told from Adam's perspective and it too is turning out to be a great read. Highly recommended books.

I am heading to Nevada tomorrow for the holidays since my husband is deployed and I haven't been "home" in awhile. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday with your loved ones. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you as well, Marie! Hope you have a good time in Nevada!

Merry Christmas and safe traveling. I hope you enjoy your time with your family.

Merry Christmas Marie!! Hope you have a great holiday season!

Glitterfy.com - Christmas Glitter Graphics

I want to wish you a glorious celebration of that time of year when we all try to unite around a desire for Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All. Merry Christmas, Marie!

Merry Christmas Marie!

82. Where She Went by Gayle Forman

This is the sequel to the book If I Stay, told from Adam's perspective. So, spoilers!

This book takes place three years after Mia's car crash that kills her entire family. After rehabilitation, Mia moves to New York to pursue her cello career leaving Adam behind without a word. Adam vents his anger into an album he records with a band, launching them into fame and fortune. Their lives cross paths in New York City for one night as they try to figure out what happened and what they will do about the future.

A great follow up book written with such a range of emotions. It was also interesting to get into Adam's head and view Mia the way that Mia viewed Adam in the first book. I read it in a day and look forward to more from this author.

I really liked Where She Went, too! Hope you had a good Christmas, Marie!

Thanks for all the holiday wishes!

When most people think of Nevada, they think desert, but here is what I woke up to this morning:

I'm so jealous, Marie! It's just freezing rain here today.

Ugh, freezing rain is the worst! Much rather have snow, myself.

It looks pretty similar to here in Alberta, Marie. Although we've been in the deep freeze the past few days with the highs hovering around -20 to -25C. Luckily I don't have to leave the house until tomorrow. :P

What lovely snow! Just don't build any snowmen...

Sorry, I'm still getting over the Doctor Who Christmas Special. :) I hope you had a merry Christmas, Marie.

Well, I read Anna and the French Kiss after a billion people seemed to read it at once in this group... ohhhh what a fantastic book!!!!!

That said, I read Where She Went earlier this year and quite liked it as well.

Here's to more good reads in the final days of 2012!!!

Brrr! I sympathize with everyone's cold weather climates. I am totally not used to it. Charleston was in the 60s when I left.

182: Yes! I'm glad you liked it. It totally sucked me in and made me a fan of the author. What I wouldn't give to live in Paris for a year...

I'm hoping for more good reads too, but I can't seem to pick up a book this week. Brain fried from school. Must watch cheesy Christmas Lifetime movies...

83. The Embedded Librarian: Innovative Strategies for Taking Knowledge Where It's Needed by David Shumaker

Review written for LT Early Reviewers.

It is generally accepted that libraries are changing and this book argues that librarians themselves must also change with their environments. We must become embedded in the communities we serve to best serve them. I'm one semester away from my MLS and this is an idea that is beaten into our heads daily so I didn't find anything in this book too revolutionary.

Still, I found the book to be well organized, researched and written. There is plenty of food for thought so long as you aren't expecting anything radical. Of most interest to me were the chapters that stepped away from traditional settings (public, academic) and looked at what librarians can do for corporations and government agencies.

84. Free For All by Don Borchert

I feel two ways about this book. On one hand I really enjoyed reading about some of the crazy library patrons Bochert mentions in this book. His observations about people and the things they do to try and beat the library system had me nodding in agreement. But...the voice was off. Sometimes Bochert would interject personal stories (like going to Hawaii) into the narrative and at other times he was no where to be found. He labels himself as a librarian, but seems to think that library school is a joke. And, was it just me or did he come off semi racist? I just couldn't get a handle on him.

Well, with 84 books under my hat I am closing this thread and wishing everyone a very Happy New Years!

Here were my top 5 books of 2012, in no particular order...

What Is the What by Dave Eggers
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
And every Jeeves and Wooster book that P. G. Wodehouse wrote, because I read most of them this year.

My 2013 thread is here! I hope to be around much more in the coming year.

Nice selection of books, Marie, for your top 5.

I'm refusing to move to the new group until it's actually 2013 but I'll hunt down your thread on Tuesday, I promise. :)

Here's to a great new year ahead, Marie!

Happy new year, Marie!