MickyFine's 2012 Reads: Fifth Quarto

Antony and Cleopatra - Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Shiny new thread time. Lots of windows in this one to make sure the summer sunshine gets in. Feel free to pick a corner and just hang out. :)

In case you're new or just need a reminder, I'm working my way through the complete works of Shakespeare and chronicling my progress in my blog, Blitzing Through the Bard. I am also hoping to read 75 books that have nothing to do with the Shakespeare challenge, but we'll see.

So come on in and fill up the space with lots of chatter, book related and not. I'm always happy to have visitors.

Books of 2012

January
1. Sundays at Tiffany's - James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet
2. Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green and David Levithan
3. One for the Money - Janet Evanovich
4. Q-in-Law - Peter David (re-read)
5. Studying Students: The Undergraduate Research Project at the University of Rochester - Nancy Fried Foster and Susan Gibbons (ed.)
6. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
7. Talk to the Hand - Lynne Truss
8. Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare (re-read)
Shakespeare
The Tempest
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Merry Wives of Windsor
Twelfth Night
Measure for Measure
Favourite read(s):


February
9. Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare
10. Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens
11. Along for the Ride - Sarah Dessen
12. Running in the Family - Michael Ondaatje
13. The Sherlockian - Graham Moore
Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Love's Labour's Lost
Favourite read(s):


March
14. Keeping the Moon - Sarah Dessen
15. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett
16. War Horse - Michael Morpurgo
17. 0.4 - Mike Lancaster
18. Silence - Becca Fitzpatrick
19. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - John le Carre
20. Jane Austen's Letters - Jane Austen
21. Timeless - Gail Carriger
Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice
As You Like It
All's Well That Ends Well
The Taming of the Shrew
Favourite read(s):

April
22. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
23. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
24. A Death in the Family - James Agee
25. Divergent - Veronica Roth
26. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green (re-read)
Shakespeare
The Winter's Tale
The Comedy of Errors
King John
Richard II
Favourite read(s):


May
27. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes - Edith Hamilton
28. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith
29. The Iliad - Homer (trans. Stanley Lombardo)
30. Insatiable - Meg Cabot
31. Avalon High - Meg Cabot
32. Your Favorite Seuss - Dr. Seuss
Shakespeare
Henry IV Part 1
Henry IV Part 2
Henry V
Henry VI Part 1
Favourite read(s):


June
33. The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Mary E. Pearson
34. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books - Azar Nafisi
35. Abandon - Meg Cabot
36. Overbite - Meg Cabot
37. Cotillion - Georgette Heyer
38. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks - E. Lockhart
39. Frederica - Georgette Heyer
Shakespeare
Henry VI Part 2
Henry VI Part 3
Richard III
Henry VIII
Favourite read(s):

July
40. The Room and The Dumb Waiter - Harold Pinter
41. Girl at Sea - Maureen Johnson
42. Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) - Sarah Mlynowski
43. The Boyfriend List - E. Lockhart
44. The Boy Book - E. Lockhart
45. The Treasure Map of Boys - E. Lockhart
46. Real Live Boyfriends - E. Lockhart
47. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
48. How to Ditch Your Fairy - Justine Larbalestier
49. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
Shakespeare
Troilus and Cressida
Timon of Athens
Coriolanus
Julius Caesar
Favourite read(s):


August
50. Imzadi - Peter David (re-read)
51. Bitterblue - Kristin Cashore
52. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
53. City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare
54. The Cat's Table - Michael Ondaatje
55. The Twits - Roald Dahl
56. The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me - Roald Dahl
Shakespeare
Antony and Cleopatra
Cymbeline
Titus Andronicus
Favourite read(s):


September
57. The Fry Chronicles - Stephen Fry
58. Beauvallet - Georgette Heyer
59. Size 12 Is Not Fat - Meg Cabot (re-read)
60. Size 14 Is Not Fat Either - Meg Cabot (re-read)
61. Big Boned - Meg Cabot (re-read)
Shakespeare
Pericles, Prince of Tyre
King Lear
Favourite read(s):

October
62. Size 12 and Ready to Rock - Meg Cabot
63. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
64. The Girl in the Steel Corset - Kady Cross
Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet
Macbeth
Favourite read(s):

November
Favourite read(s):

December
Favourite read(s):

My rating system:

/ = Ran screaming in the other direction (aka did not finish)
* = Suffered through it for reasons I'm still not sure of
** = Had far more flaws than virtues
*** = A read I don't regret but could use some improvement
**** = A good, solid read that I might revisit
***** = Loved it beyond reason and will probably re-read in short order

Hiiiiii Micky! *Flaps hand excitedly*

Hello! Love the fancy new thread!

Sure is nice and clean here - and I love the painting!

Hi Micky. I followed the continuation thingee to your new thread and I'm stopping by to check things out.

>6 Ape: Hiiiii Stephen. Watch where you flap your hands though. There are a lot of ladies hanging out in here. ;)

>7 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle. Thanks!

>8 LauraBrook: Isn't it great, Laura. I looked at some other Antony and Cleopatra paintings but I like this one best. It helps that this is the only one that doesn't involve death.

>9 lkernagh: Nice to see you, Lori. Feel free to hang around as long as you like. :)

Hi Micky! Great list of books read this year. I'm waiting somewhat patiently for Divergent at the library after having read so many wonderful things about it.

Double post...sorry! The first one didn't appear for awhile so I assumed I didn't save my message. Maybe LT is withering in the heat like I am:)

Good-looking new thread, Micky!

Glad you've been enjoying Divergent/Insurgent and The Fault in Our Stars. Me, too.

>11 AMQS:-12 Hi Anne! Your patience will be rewarded. For both books and heat withstanding. ;)

>13 jnwelch: Hi Joe!

Ah, what a lovely painting to open a new thread. Hello!

>15 London_StJ: Hi Luxx! Thanks. Hope all the moving is going smoothly for you. :)

Oops. Too freakin' big. Hi, Micky! :)

Why are you humouring Stephen on my thread, Sara? :P

Yay! New thread. :)
Just got back from my trip so making my way around the threads...again.
I love Canmore as well. I sometimes can't believe we live so close to those mountains. It's nice when you want to have a really quick getaway from the city. The only thing I'm missing is the ocean. :)

#18: Because it's better than doing other stuff to him. I don't know. (shrugs)

18: Eeeek! See, Sara? I told you if you humored me on Micky's thread we'd be caught! Oh, how humiliating... *Apologizes to Micky*

>19 jolerie: Glad you had a great trip, Valerie. Calgary is definitely quite close to the mountains. Edmonton's a bit further out, so it's not as quick a getaway but I always enjoy it when I get the chance to head out there.

>20 saraslibrary: Ok. Well, I guess that's fine then. As long as we get to double team him on your thread. :P

>21 Ape: Apology accepted? I'm not going to ask what your definition of humoured is though.

You might not be interested in what my definition of humoured is but I'm very interested in what your definnition of 'double team' is....

*Jaw drop*

LMAO! Yay! Micky and I get to double team Stephen on my thread. Ok, let's go, let's go NOW! Stephen, you might want to get some painkillers ready.

ETA: Psst, Micky. You might want to click this. Maybe double team means something else in Canada, but in the good ol' pervy U.S., it means a threesome. #6 I've never even heard of.

Painkillers, got it.

Nice definitions... Also, I'm convinced that it is physically impossible for a t-shirt model to be anything other than completely adorable. :P

Obviously. That's why they're called models. ;)

Most models are absolutely hideous though...

My definition of double team is the entirely innocuous first definition from the link Sara posted. :P

I was a hand model once...

Is your definition of 'hand model' entirely innocuous too? *Giggles*

Yes, you permanent citizen of the gutter. *eye roll*

So what exactly did you call it--your hand job? (totally innocent)

>31 saraslibrary: *glares over glasses* It was for work. They needed someone with nice hands to hold an ereader for promotional stuff. That was it. No. More. Dirty. Jokes.

Ok, ok. Obviously pages can't do that kind of modeling, because if you ever look at our hands...ick. We're constantly handling stuff, so our hands look hella gross. Nothing dirty in that, was there?

Other than the literal dirt. ;) Ugh, I know, handling books is so gross. One of my first library jobs was working at the depository for my university. My hands would literally get black with dust on some days.

Wow, I stumble over to Micky's thread and find supermodels doing double-time hand jobs and handling junk till their fingers turn black. Who knew?

Book 49


The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde

In an alternate 1985, Thursday Next is a LiteraTec for SpecOps. In a world where time travel is as common as road construction (and just as messy), having a pet dodo is not unusual, and spending an evening at an interactive performance of Richard III is a fun night out, Thursday's job is to keep the world of literature of safe. But when a device that thins the border between fiction and reality falls into dastardly hands Thursday's life gets even more complicated as she strives to keep major literary characters from meeting a very literal axe.

Fforde's novel is an absolute delight. Easily straddling the border between science fiction and fantasy, his novel truly a love letter to literature and language. Moving easily from punny names and apostrophe jokes to passages that reflect on what major literary works might be like if things were just a bit different, the novel is entertaining from start to finish. Definitely more fun for those familiar with the works mentioned but definitely accessible to anyone who's ever been lost in the pages of a book.

Rating: *****

Is that your first Fforde, Micky? You're in for a treat with the rest of the series. :)

>34 MickyFine: Library books get really grimy, don't they? >36 MickyFine: I read The Eyre Affair a long time ago and never read any of the other books. I think I'd like to start at the beginning again.

The Eyre Affair is one of my absolute favorite books. I love me some Fforde and can't wait for his next two books to be released late September!

I breezed through the interesting and yet slightly unusual hand discussion. Happy to see 5 star review for The Eyre Affair. As one who has managed to steer clear of all things Austen - not deliberately but just because other books always managed to grab my attention! - it almost made me want to pick up a copy of Jane Eyre.

I've still never read a Fford novel. I"m sure I will...eventually...maybe...

Glad you liked the book though! Hurray for 5-star reads. :)

>36 MickyFine: Hooray! Another convert!! How soon are you going to read the sequels??

Great review Micky! You definitely perked my interest so that is going on my WL. :)

ETA - Thumb from me!

>37 UnrulySun: It sure is, Kathy. I'm looking forward to rest of the series.

>38 AMQS: Having the details fresh would probably help, Anne. Hope it's an enjoyable re-read.

>39 curioussquared: Nice to know I have lots of Fforde to look forward to, Natalie.

>40 lkernagh: Hi Lori! Jane Eyre is actually by Charlotte Bronte, not Jane Austen. Just in case you actually decide to hunt down a copy. :)

>41 Ape: You should definitely pick one up, Stephen. Fforde has been sitting on my read eventually mental list for years and it was definitely an enjoyable read.

>42 norabelle414: Oh I never had any doubt I'd like the books, Nora, I just had never gotten around to them. I was planning to space out the sequels a bit in my reading. How important is it for me to be able to recall every detail from the previous books for the later ones?

>43 jolerie: Glad you found it of interest, Valerie, and hopefully you like it when you try it. Thanks for the thumb! :)

>44 MickyFine: It depends. Book 2 (Lost in a Good Book) goes off in a different direction so you don't have to remember much between 1 and 2. Book 2, Book 3 (The Well of Lost Plots), and Book 4 (Something Rotten) are very connected. Then Book 5 (Thursday Next: First Among Sequels) goes off in a new direction but is very connected to Book 6 (One of Our Thursdays is Missing).

I read them a few months apart when I read them for the first time, and I was not confused or distracted by trying to remember things. I did pick up little things I had missed when I later reread them close together, but nothing that would detract from the enjoyment of the inital reading.

Excellent. Very good to know. Thanks Nora!

July Summary





Number in brackets total for the year thus far. Note total pages read does not include Shakespeare plays.

Books read: 10 (49)
Fiction: 10 (42)
Non-fiction: 0 (7)
Library/Borrowed/Mine: 10/0/0 (40/0/9)
Re-reads: 0 (3)
Shakespeare plays read: 4 (28)
Pages read: 2984 (17 008)

Favourite book(s) this month: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde wins the prize this month for being such a delight for any avid reader. But honourable mention to the four Ruby Oliver books which were just pure fun and the first series in a while that I've read all the books in quick succession.

47: Ack! There are so many...PEOPLE!!! *Hides behind Valerie*

*Hides behind Amber*. There, I'm not the first in line. :)

You two. You really need to get over your issues. :P

> Well that pretty much shows how little I read those classics..... and that it is still easy to enjoy Fforde and not have a clue what books are being mentioned! ;-)

Wait, what? What are we in line for? Cookies? (Mmmm, cookies...)

I'm ambivalent about people on book covers. For me it is the sign of a bad book cover but not a bad book. But that girl on the cover of the e. lockhart books is super cute. I like her bangs

>51 lkernagh: True indeed, Lori. :)

>52 scaifea: Ooooo, I likes cookies too, Amber. Are they white chocolate macadamia nut cookies? Because I will shove all of you out of the way to get at them first. ;)

>53 norabelle414: She is very cute. My only complaint is that the main character of those books wears glasses and while the model is holding a pair on the first cover, she never wears them. Notice to the world: glasses are sexy dammit!

Hear, hear! *straightens spectacles*

glasses are sexy dammit!

Agreed! :D

Couldn't agree more, and this coming from one who also wears a pair herself. ;)

Glad I have y'all to support me on that one. Now excuse me while I clean my glasses. :)

I bet if we all pushed our glasses up on our noses at the same time, we could cause a black hole. Or something.

Hmm, I have images of Marty and Doc discussing paradoxes. :D

59: Yes, it would start when my head imploded, causing a densely packed mass of pure gravitational pull. We better set some rules so that only so many of you are wearing glasses at once, just to be safe...

But then the rest of us couldn't see :-(

Fine, but don't blame me when you get sucked into my face.

>63 Ape: I have this sneaking suspicion Stephen would like it if we all got sucked into his face. :P

Announcement: I'm leaving Sunday morning for a trip to Vegas so I likely won't be around my own thread much for the next few days. Try not to stir up too much trouble while I'm away. *pointed look at Stephen and Sara*

#63-64: Stephen. Suck. Face. Yep, sounds like something Stephen'd say/like.

Micky in Vegas?? Holy crap, the world has gone bezerk. Is it for the casinos? Or brothels? Or both?!

Whether it's the casinos or the brothels - have a great time, Mickey. Remember, what goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

Vegas? Really? *Sigh* I'll miss the Micky that was all sweet and innocent.

She wasn't that sweet and innocent. She just lead us to believe she was. :P

Oh, right. Now we have proof! Aha!

What happens in Vegas does NOT stay in Vegas; my boss got pregnant in Vegas! She was there with her husband for his birthday, but I'm sure that has nothing to do with it.

Have fun!

Oh dear. You aren't going there for anyone's birthday, are you Micky?

Hope you are having a great time in Vegas!!

Say hello to my home state, Nevada, for me!

>65 saraslibrary: Neither. It was a trip with my group of friends from grad school. :)

>66 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy, I had a great trip. :)

>67 Ape: Still the same me, I promise.

>68 saraslibrary: :P

>69 Ape: No such thing. :P

>70 norabelle414: Thanks, Nora, I did have a lot of fun. But not the same kind of fun your boss had. ;)

>71 Ape: It was kind of a birthday trip for one of my friends but her birthday is next month. I don't think that counts.

>72 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle, I did. :)

>73 RosyLibrarian: Retroactively done, Marie. :) It's a nice place to visit but I don't think I could live there. Much too hot. I'd miss my Canadian winters.

Book 50



Imzadi - Peter David (re-read)

Imzadi is an old favourite of mine and made for a perfect airplane re-read. An exploration of the origins of Will Riker and Deanna Troi's relationship, it has romance, mystery, and a dash of time travel. Recommended for fans of the series who ship Riker and Troi.

Rating: *****

Yay, Micky's back! I hope you had a good time in Vegas. :)

I am back and I had a really good trip. Thanks, Stephen. :)

74: I was raised in Northern Nevada which is a high desert. It actually snows a lot up there. I could never, ever, ever live in Las Vegas either, but it is a fun place to visit. Hope it was a great trip! :)

>78 RosyLibrarian: It's definitely fun to visit and I had a really good time. :)

Glad to have you back from Vegas, Micky. :) Did you get to watch any shows??

I have staked out my corner, Micky!

>80 jolerie: Thanks Valerie. It's nice to be back. I went and saw Cirque du Soleil's Mystere which was really fun. And the fountains at the Bellagio and the pirate show at my hotel (Treasure Island). :)

>81 alcottacre: Awesome, Stasia. I'll make sure Stephen doesn't sneak in there while you're not around. ;)

Glad to have you back so we can torment you some more. ;) j/k. Well, not really. But I'm happy to hear your trip went well.

Thanks, Sara. I think. :P

Book 51



Bitterblue - Kristin Cashore

Bitterblue's job as queen is not an easy one. Dealing with Leck's legacy of lies and pain, she must attempt to find a way to lead her people to a place of healing while also trying to find out answers to her own questions and the ultimate question of who she will be as queen. In the process of this quest, she will find out secrets she may never have wanted to discover and meet new and old friends who help her on her way.

I'd been looking forward to Bitterblue for a couple years and I have to admit it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It's a perfectly good novel, don't get me wrong and it's delight to revisit Cashore's fantasy world and encounter characters I loved from previous books (Katsa and Po!). But while Bitterblue is an adequate heroine, I was never as attached to her as I was to Katsa and Fire. Part of this may be due to her role as queen which means that her adventures are decidedly less intense than those in previous novels. But similarly, the romantic plot in this novel is anemic compared with the swoon factor included in previous books in the series. And while I was thrilled to get to see Katsa and Po again, it was very much from the outside looking in due to the limited third-person narrative. Definitely enjoyable for readers already immersed in the series but not everything I'd wanted. However, that being said, if Cashore were to write a novel in this universe I would definitely read it.

Rating: ****

A question for others who have read the novel: SPOILER ALERT Anyone else think Bitterblue should eventually marry Giddon? END SPOILERS

#85: I need to get hold of a copy of Bitterblue. I have the other two books already. Thanks for the reminder, Micky!

Micky, I have Graceling and Fire but have not read them yet. Need to get to them! Glad you had a good time in Vegas:)

>86 alcottacre: Any time, Stasia. :) Hope you like it when you finally get your hands on a copy.

>87 AMQS: Thanks, Anne! I am very fond of Graceling and Fire so I hope you like them as well. :)

Just a drive-by wave...

I am going to hold off reading your review of Bitterblue as I have yet to get my hands on a copy of that book. :)

Awww, that is super sweet that you are singing a song for your brother's wedding. What song will you be singing?

>89 PrueGallagher: Hi Prue!

>90 jolerie: Totally fair. I did the same thing before I read Bitterblue. :) I'm singing a Taylor Swift song that they picked.

It might be years before I actually get a chance to read the darn book..haha!

That is super sweet. I'm sure you have a beautiful voice. We actually danced to a Taylor Swift song (Love Story) for my friend's wedding last week except we had someone change all the lyrics so it was fitting for the couple. So much fun!

I know that feeling. The TBR list only ever grows...

And I'm super excited for the wedding. Plus, six weeks afterwards one of my really good friends is getting married and I get to be a bridesmaid for that one. So lots of wedding stuff going on.

Book 52


Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

Guy Montag's life is very simple. He works as a fireman, burning books to preserve society. He comes home to his wife, Mildred, every night. And he never really thinks much about his life. Until he meets Clarisse whose questions suddenly have Montag thinking, which is always a dangerous proposition.

As a classic, this novel has been sitting on the TBR list for ages but I was finally motivated to pick it up by the Vlogbrother's book club (check out John and Hank's views, although be warned there are spoilers for the first section of the novel). The novel itself is fascinating and terrifying in its image of the future but it is the thoughts on humanity and ideas that are truly the most beautiful part of the work. The characters themselves never reach any significant depth, not even Montag, but Bradbury uses the characters as vehicles for his amazing prose which is thoroughly haunting.

Rating: *****

I'm glad you enjoyed Bradbury's work, Micky! That was one of the books I 'escaped' in high school so I was able to enjoy it in adulthood. :)

I find 451 truly horrifying, and I love it. I'm glad you enjoyed your own reading!

I WAS supposed to read it last month, but you know how it goes...
Hopefully, I'll be able to squeeze it in this year since I've heard such good things about it, your review included. :)

>95 Ape: Thanks Stephen. It's interesting to compare the standard books in high school on your side of the border. Up here, I know of no one who had to do Fahrenheit 451. Of course, even if I'd encountered it in high school, I probably still would have liked it. I was weird and liked most of the books I read in English during mandatory schooling.

>96 London_StJ: Thanks, Luxx. It's definitely a book I'll revisit.

>97 jolerie: I do indeed, Valerie. You should definitely give it a whirl, I'd be interested to see your thoughts.

>98 MickyFine: I was weird and liked most of the books I read in English during mandatory schooling.
Me too.

Except for Steinbeck. I am still avoiding Steinbeck after detesting it in junior high.

I don't know if I ever had to read Steinbeck. Maybe I just got lucky.

ETA: I believe we read some excerpts from Cannery Row, and watched the movie. Didn't have to read the whole thing though.

I had to read The Pearl and The Red Pony. They're both short. That was the only good thing about them. :P

Awww, I love Steinbeck! He's the only classic author I've read in depth, actually, everyone else I've only read 1 or 2 books by.

Yes, but as we've established previously, you and I are only allowed to like about a dozen of the same books ever, otherwise the world will collapse. ;)

Well I liked your last book, so you better not read anything I like in the near future! :P

I have a feeling my current read isn't really your thing. :P

Ah, good, the world is safe then. :)

Happy to your brother wedding day, Micky! :D

>107 Ape: For now... ;)

>108 jolerie: Thanks Valerie! The wedding was beautiful, they seem very happy, and they left very early this morning for a two week honeymoon in Hawaii.

Shakespeare #29

Antony and Cleopatra is not going down as one of my favourite plays. I studied it in high school and didn't dislike it, but this time around I found many of the characters highly irritating and a great number of them suffer from Too Stupid to Live syndrome. Cleopatra is characterized as a manipulative, ditzy, and emotionally isolated cow and Antony is the guy who's terrified of losing his power but can't leave the woman who is forever causing him to do just that. I just can't weep for two characters who end up killing themselves because they're idiots. Also, the political element is underdeveloped and unless you're pretty familiar with the various alliances and shifts in power that is happening in the background, it can be a bit difficult to follow.

Glad to hear the wedding was fun! And now you can get ready for the next wedding on your schedule. :)

I tend to steer clear of Shakespeare usually, and your last review definitely reaffirms my aversion, but it gave me a few chuckles!

>111 jolerie: Pretty much. I have a bridesmaid dress fitting this week. :) As for Shakespeare, I do come at it from a place of love, but there are always some exceptions.

Shakespeare #30

I had absolutely no familiarity with Cymbeline when I began reading it and was thrilled to discover in the midst of all the tragic endings of the ancient histories I'd read thus far, a play with a happy ending. The play itself is an interesting mix of fairy tale with the evil step-mother and step-brother, Greek drama with an actual appearance from Jupiter himself (a literal deus ex machina), and some Shakespearean standard elements with a cross-dressing woman, hidden princes, drugs that fake death, and a king who doesn't realize what he had until he's lost it. The play also has intriguing dash of British nationalism thrown into act III, which is particularly fascinating as the play ends with Britain bowing to the will of the Roman empire and Caesar (Augustus in this case). Not the most polished of the plays but a nice change in the midst of all the tragedies.

Cymbeline is one of the few I haven't read -- I'll have to remedy that one of these days.

Book 53



City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare

With Jace bonded to Sebastian, Clary must fight to get her Jace back while attempting to avert a battle between the Nephilim and the demons that could burn the entire world down.

The fifth novel in the series, this book is definitely an entry where everything has expanded. There are several more character perspectives included and far more relationships to explore and Clare deftly juggles all of them while also building an ultimate conflict that suddenly dashes through the last hundred pages. A satisfying entry in the series for readers with some loose plot ends that should lead to a very dramatic concluding novel.

Rating: ****

I have yet to start this series! The first 3 books are sitting on my shelves so I really have no excuse. I keep reading YA book from the library so the YA books that I do own are constantly getting the cold shoulder.

Poor cold-shouldered books. ;)

Lucky for me there is no such thing as social services for books otherwise I'd be typing this message behind horizontal bars...

I'm pretty sure all of us would be in trouble if there was social services for books. :) We should get our books to form a support group. "Hi my name is Crime and Punishment and I'm a neglected book..."

There is a room large enough to hold all the books that bear a grudge against me... :)

On a completely different tangent..have you been to all the Fair's Fair locations? Would you say the Inglewood location is by far the largest?

I haven't been to all of the locations. I've been to the one in Inglewood and the Mount Royal one. Of the two, Inglewood is bigger (I think, it's been many years since I went to the one in Mount Royal). Of course, you could always go exploring. Such a hardship to poke around a bookstore. ;)

I just can't weep for two characters who end up killing themselves because they're idiots.

LOL... I love that. I haven't read Antony and Cleopatra in several years, so I can't quite remember if that was my reaction to it, but I have felt that way about other plays...

Yeah, Romeo and Juliet comes to mind.

Exactly!

See, Romeo and Juliet I can have a sad because of the heightened emotions of teenagers and the intensity of their romance. Antony and Cleopatra are grown adults and their relationship is just toxic so I find it much more difficult to see their deaths as saddening.

Micky. Have you watched the Agatha Christie episode of Doctor Who yet? Season 4, episode 7. It's amazing!

Just finished series 4 about 10 minutes ago. Will not say anything until I know for sure you won't be spoiled when I talk about it. Because I have many words.

And yes, the Agatha Christie episode is just awesome. :D

>125 MickyFine: Fair enough. I was the level-headed teenager that would look at my friends cross-eyed when they talked about boys too much. Maybe I just don't love Romeo and Juliet because it reminds me of those days. Hmmm...

I love Romeo and Juliet, but I hate the way that other people love it. A romance like theirs is a tragedy, not a goal. Also, it's a great example of how lack of communication ruins relationships. Kind of the same way I feel about Twilight. I like it, I just don't like how other people think it's awesome.

>129 norabelle414: Precisely, Nora. I would never aspire to their romance but I enjoy the utter tragedy of it.

On a side note, am stalled in my progress on Doctor Who as I didn't realize there's a box set of specials that comes between series 4 and 5 and now I have to wait 2-4 weeks for it to be delivered. So I'm now going back and rewatching, and watching with commentary, and being a general geek until the box arrives.

Shakespeare #31

I have been avoiding Titus Andronicus for years, having been familiar with the basic plot elements, I didn’t feel compelled to spend time immersed in such a dark work. And there’s no denying the plot is bleak with the utter hell Lavinia is put through and the slow descent of Titus Andronicus and all of the obligatory deaths that a tragedy requires. But the play is also riveting in its tragedy like a train wreck in slow motion. The beautiful dialogue also goes a long way to making this play worth encountering despite the dark subject matter. While the characters mostly exist for things to happen to, Titus and his brother, Marcus are truly dynamic men whom it is sad to watch suffer as their family is slowly picked off. Also of note is Aaron the Moor who is a pure villain. While he’s not as nuanced as that delightful creation, Iago, he is an interesting character to study as he takes such glee in the vile acts perpetrated on the Andronici that leaves the reader so horrified.

Book 54


The Cat's Table - Michael Ondaatje

Sailing from Ceylon to England to join his mother, a young boy recounts his experiences on the Oronsay during the 21 day journey. From the relationships formed with the other individuals who are seated at the Cat's table, the least important of everyone on the ship, a complex tale of diverse individuals, their relationships, and the secrets that are carried in that strange and short-lived community are explored.

A fascinating collection of characters and truly delectable prose make this novel a delight. For those familiar with Ondaatje's works, this novel is a beautiful addition to his body of work. With a plot that fluxes in and out of the time aboard the ship, following first one character and then another, resolving both large and small mysteries. Yet the novel is always tracking towards the ultimate conclusion that briefly shines a metaphor on the human experience which is utterly worth encountering.

Rating: *****

Ooooh, that one is already teetering on my TBR mountain. It totally wouldn't have been a book that I would have given a passing glance pre-LT days, but boy have my reading choices broadened since joining this group. :)

Ohhhh, glad you liked the Ondaatje. I haven't read it, but I do really like the cover. :D

August has been a fun month for - and a busy month for you! - but sadly I am struggling to get caught up with various threads. Ondaatje's on my To Read list so very happy to see you rate The Cat's Table s highly.

>129 norabelle414: and 130 I like-but-don't-love Romeo & Juliet, and Nora pegged my feelings on it. I just can't absolutely love a book/story/play that has characters I want to slap (or at least give a good talking to).

>133 jolerie: I look forward to your thoughts when you eventually read it, Valerie. :)

>134 Ape: I've yet to encounter an Ondaatje I don't like. And I'm not surprised you like the cover. There's no people on it. ;)

>135 lkernagh: Lovely to see you, Lori. :) Ondaatje is really enjoyable. The English Patient is probably the best of his novels to try out as a first read, but I've liked all of his novels.

>136 bell7: Fair enough, Mary.

Book 55


The Twits - Roald Dahl

The tale of the horrible couple, Mr and Mrs Twit, and the nasty tricks they are forever playing on each other.

Fun with a heavy twist of dark humour, the various pranks that the Twits get up to are fun to read about although the most charming characters don't arrive until nearly halfway through.

Rating: ***

Duplicate post. So just do a little dance! :)

Book 56


The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me - Roald Dahl

Billy tells the tale of his meeting three very unique creatures and their adventures together.

Absolutely charming, I loved every page. From the sweet rhymes to the whimsical plot, this book was a delight from start to finish.

Rating: *****

>137 MickyFine: Sorry, didn't mean to beat a dead horse there. Just didn't want you to think I hated it. ;)

The Roald Dahl books look like fun. I only ever read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, its sequel, and Matilda. I really should try another one sometime...

The Twits was one of my absolute favorites in elementary school. The nastyness of the worm spaghetti got me every time :)

Love, love, Roald Dahl. He makes being a kid so much fun! :)

Roald Dahl was so great. The Witches is my favorite "funny" Roald Dahl. Danny the Champion of the World and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar are my favorite "serious" Roald Dahls. The Twits always creeped me out for some reason. Especially Mr. Twit. Something about his beard . . . . *shudder*

De-lurking to over Danny the Champion of the World. Love that book....

Agreed - Danny the Champion of the World is the best Dahl, although they're all fantastic.

>141 bell7: No worries, Mary. And I'm pretty sure that horse is still kickin'. ;)

Nice to see all the Roald Dahl love. I have to admit, I think this is the first time I've read anything by him, although I'm familiar with the plots of several of his books. Never too late, right?

August Summary




Number in brackets total for the year thus far. Note total pages read does not include Shakespeare plays.

Books read: 7 (56)
Fiction: 7 (49)
Non-fiction: 0 (7)
Library/Borrowed/Mine: 1/0/6 (41/0/15)
Re-reads: 1 (4)
Shakespeare plays read: 3 (31)
Pages read: 2049 (19 057)

Favourite book(s) this month: Imzadi is an old favourite of mine, but if I limit myself to new to me books my favourite this month was The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje.

Exactly--never to late. :) I grew up on him (The Witches is/was my favorite, though not very p.c.), but there are still several of his I haven't read.

Dropping by to say 'Hello'.

>149 saraslibrary: I know I can always count on you to endorse my reading of children's books, Sara. :)

>150 humouress: Hello back. Lovely to see you!

#148: I am also an Imzadi fan. I will have to pull my copy out and give it a re-read. It has been a long time since I read it.

>152 alcottacre: Hiya, Stasia! Hope you enjoy that re-read when you manage to squeeze it in to your nutsy schedule. :)

Hi Micky. Looks like you had a great August! :)

>154 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! It was very good. I'm sure your August was insane but ultimately lovely. ;)

I only just read Dahl's children's books in the past couple of years and loved them all. So, no, never too late!

Glad I'm not alone in encountering Dahl as an adult, Amber. :)

I also read Dahl for the first time as an adult. Love him! Interesting to read the Romeo and Juliet comments. I'll be reading it later this spring as a read-along with my daughter who will read it for eighth grade english. We'll follow it up with West Side Story:)

I'm sure that'll be fun, Anne. I have to admit that while I'm very fond of Romeo and Juliet, I've never been able to make it through West Side Story. I'll probably show how much of a child of the nineties I am when I say the Leonardo Dicaprio version is my favourite adaptation. ;)

*Waves* I never have anything to contribute to these discussions, so....ummm...I'll just...continue to sit here and play with my keyboard.

*waves back* You should make more of an effort. ;) I always manage to find something to say on your thread. Also, playing with your keyboard better not be a euphemism.

I don't think it was. I would have said "space bar" or something if that was what I was going for. :P

I've read a few Dahl books, but (thanks for the reminder) I think I'll try and read a few more soon.

ohmygoodness the West Side Story movie is so good. I'm always astounded that the author was able to find a situation in which the whole feuding families/forbidden romance/faked death thing is plausible. It's a beautiful thing.

Great month of reading, Micky! :)

>162 Ape: Of course you would have. *gives Stephen's keyboard a wide berth*

>163 humouress: Glad to nudge you towards reading more. :)

>164 norabelle414: I've tried several times but for some reason West Side Story doesn't work for me. And I love old Hollywood musicals too so it's especially weird.

>165 jolerie: Thanks Valerie!

Shall I google Stephen's keyboard and see what nastiness I find? Oops, too late. >:)

Link fail. No nastiness, just lots of tiny images. :P

Book 57



The Fry Chronicles - Stephen Fry

Chronicling roughly a decade, Stephen Fry recounts his experiences during the decade in which we went to Cambridge and began a career writing for and acting on radio, stage, and television. Filled with profound introspection and flashes of comedic genius, Fry's autobiography is beautifully written prose that obviously comes from an individual in love with the language. Interwoven with his own life's narrative, are anecdotes involving some of his closest friends in those years including Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Rowan Atkinson, and Douglas Adams that are thoroughly charming. A brilliant read even if you're not a fan of one of Britain's national treasures, The Fry Chronicles is a cerebral delight.

Rating: *****

Stephen Fry is wonderful. Though I haven't read his autobiography, I adore his readings of Harry Potter on audiobook. His acting and personification of characters is incredible. I'll definitely pick up his autobiography, so thanks for the review.

Thanks for bringing Stephen Fry's book to my attention, Mickey. This is one I will definitely be on the lookout for.

I've read and re-read Harry Potter so many times. Would it be worth it to listen to Fry's version anyway?

Morphy: Yes! Wait, let me say that again: Y.E.S.!! Fry's version is The Business.

So, I'm only a month behind, but back to your question on Bitterblue....

SPOILERS

I definitely think she should marry Giddon. I vaguely even recall reading that the reason Bitterblue ended up being 18 in this story, rather than 16 as originally intended, was because there turned out to be an unexpected romantic vibe with a much older character (I think Giddon would be in his late 20s here?). I wish Cashore had gone with that more, letting her characters develop naturally even when it didn't fit with her original plan.

Well, my library only has the Dale version. So I'm having to figure out another way to listen to them.

>170 lunacat:/171 You are more than welcome! I should note that this is technically the second volume of Stephen Fry's autobiography, although you needn't have read the first to read this one (I haven't). The first volume is Moab is My Washpot if you do want to track it down first.

>174 _Zoe_: So glad I'm not alone on that one, Zoe. I definitely have the same wish as you in terms of Cashore's writing. :)

I love Moab is my Washpot.

#175

Definitely need to find a way to listen to it. It's........perfect. I can't imagine another reader and I will make sure I avoid one at all costs. I can listen to him all day :)

Hi Micky!

Hmm...I'll want to listen to the Harry Potter books by Stephen Fry at some point...but first, got to read all these unread books on my shelves....

>177 Cynara: Good to hear as I'll probably be tracking it down at some point. :)

>178 lunacat: He really is a brilliant narrator. I don't do audiobooks but I imagine his voice would be perfect for them. He's great as the voice of the guide in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

>179 jolerie: Hi Valerie! Hope you had a lovely weekend!

Been saying this for at least 3 years now, but I do need to seriously read Mr. Fry. I have I think 4 ...checks LT catalog... make that 5 books of his, and not a single one has been cracked open yet. I just adore him from movies and TV shows and appearances. He's just so great!

My mom is reading The Fry Chronicles and really enjoying it. I'm hoping it will come my way soon! I enjoyed your review.

>181 LauraBrook: Well you better get cracking, Laura. ;) He's just as adorable on paper as he is on screen.

>182 AMQS: Thanks, Anne. I hope the book comes your way soon and that you like it. :)

Hi Micky! I was afraid this thread would go straight to the gutter without my supervision, but I'm glad you have kept your thread relatively innocent while I was away. I knew I could count on you to be responsible. :P

>184 Ape: I do my best but thank goodness you're here now to keep everything in order. :P

#168: Man, 2 out of 2 images failing. :( I have so lost my perv touch. And, of course, I'm at work, so it's block--"Tasteless & Offensive." (sigh) Librarians seriously have no sense of humor.

>186 saraslibrary: Correction, American librarians have no sense of humour. We don't have internet filters up here in Canadian public libraries. :P

I totally agree with you there! I know where I'm getting my library card. :)

Book 58


Beauvallet - Georgette Heyer

When the ship that Dona Dominica is travelling on is boarded by the dreaded buccaneer, Mad Nick Beauvallet, she is positive that she could hate no one more than this insolent enemy of Spain. But the charming gentleman works his way into her good graces and promises that he will come and find her in Spain. But with tensions at a height between Queen Elizabeth's England and Spain, Beauvallet's tremendous good luck may not be enough to bring him back together with Dominica.

Not as polished as some of the other Heyer novels I've read, this one was still enjoyable. The historical accuracy is still admirable and the Elizabethan period is conjured admirably. Dominica isn't particularly well-developed as a character and is considerably outshone by the charismatic personality that is Beauvallet. The narrative tone also wanders a bit. But any flaws are made up for by a plot that dashes along quickly with a heavy dose of pirates thrown into the mix.

Rating: ***

>188 saraslibrary: Cross the border and I'll help. :P

Beauvallet is a Georgette Heyer that I haven't read yet, but if there's pirates then I will looking for it soon. I can't resist pirates!

I really need to try a Heyer book. Any suggestions for a good place to start?

#192

My favourite is The Reluctant Widow which is a very typical Heyer regency, but I'd be interested to see others opinions. She writes nice strong female characters and a decent amount of humour.

>191 DeltaQueen50: Pirates are pretty irresistable, Judy. Hope you enjoy it when you get to it.

>192 jolerie: This is only my third Heyer but I'd say Cotillion or Frederica are good ones to start with.

Alternatively, These Old Shades is a favourite of mine, and it's followed by Devil's Cub - also wonderful.

Book 59



Size 12 Is Not Fat - Meg Cabot (re-read)

Former teen pop sensation, Heather Wells, just wants to make it through her three-month probationary period as assistant director of Fischer Hall, one of the residence for New York College. And also have her extremely good-looking housemate/older brother of her ex-fiance, Cooper Cartwright, notice her in that way. But when a student's body is found at the bottom of the elevator shaft as the result of an apparent elevator surfing accident, Heather is unconvinced. Girls don't elevator surf. But Heather's quest to find out who's killing girls in Fischer Hall may mean she'll never see the end of her of probation or find out exactly what Cooper thinks of her.

I always enjoy reading a Heather Wells mystery. As the first in the series, we meet her delightfully dysfunctional family, her truly scrumptious housemate, Cooper, and of course Heather herself with her delightful neuroses and internal monologues. Mix this eccentric cast of characters with a good mystery and the book is a recipe for some entertaining reading.

Rating: *****

#190: Yay! I'm officially a border jumper. :D Actually, I think I need to get a Visa first. The last time I went to Canada was pre-9/11, so there weren't all those restrictions. Hmph. The worst I would do is touch a mountie inappropriately.

#196: Must dig out my Meg Cabot books. Argh, what is wrong with me? I've been meaning to do that forever. Glad you liked Size 12 is Not Fat. :)

>197 saraslibrary: The only thing you really need to cross the border these days is a passport. And at least when I went to the States they had to know where you were planning on staying. I'm not sure if that goes both ways... Anyway, pretty easy peasy, I promise. :)

And you should dig out your Meg Cabot books. They're probably giving you dirty looks right now.

#196: I know I already have that one in the BlackHole. I need to see if my local library has it. I cannot remember. . .

ETA: No, the library still does not have it. Rats.

>199 alcottacre: Serious bummer, Stasia. The entire series is a lot of fun.

I agree it is a serious bummer (not that I am anywhere close to a size 12). It sounds like a fun series and I need some fun right now!!!

Hey Mickey! Stopping by for a long over due visit to your thread. I love Stephen Fry as an actor but I haven't been able to sink comfortably into his books. On the other hand, Heyer and Cabot are great comfort reads for me so happy to see those reviews! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods with the switch from summer to fall now upon us. I am noticing a nice chill in the morning air out here on the coast, but sadly still lacking rain.... we really need it as things as getting tinder dry in places.

Hi Lori! Lovely to see you as ever. It's definitely fall around these parts. All the leaves suddenly turned yellow in the past week but it's still been quite warm. We hit 24C today. :) Hopefully it stays warm until after the weekend, as I'm in a wedding on Sunday and I don't want to be freezing.

So, Micky, I requested an ER book last month that didn't have a cover displayed, and won it. Wonderful, right? You can imagine how shocked I was when it arrived and featured a giant picture of a person's face. *Grumble grumble*

>204 Ape: Serves you right for being so judgmental.

lol @ both 204 & 205. What was the book, Stephen?

Immersive Gameplay. I look forward to reading it, but I'm disappointed that it won't be as good as I thought it was going to be before I saw the cover. :P

Oh cover judginess. You are so neurotic, my friend. I'm with Nora. Serves you right. :P

You are right, I do deserve it. That's what I get for requesting books without cover images uploaded. ;)

It could have been worse. Stephen. The cover could have featured one of the popular video game babes:

>209 Ape: Such a cover snob, Stephen.

>210 DeltaQueen50: Oh Judy, that's not a real person, so he'd probably tolerate it.

Book 60


Size 14 Is Not Fat Either - Meg Cabot (re-read)

Heather Wells is settling in nicely at her job as assistant director of Fischer Hall at New York College but there's a lot of life drama suddenly stacking up. Her ex-fiance won't stop calling her even though he's about to get married, her ex-con dad is suddenly back in her life, and Cooper, her gorgeous landlord, still has no clue she's desperately in love with him. And things only get more complicated when the head of a cheerleader is found and Heather just can't seem to keep herself from investigating.

In the second book in the series, Heather and her group of her friends remain thoroughly charming and funny and the mystery is a delight even when you know whodunnit. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout.

Rating: *****

>212 MickyFine: I misread that as "when the head cheerleader is found" and I was very confused. All clear now, though ;-)

210: Eeeeek!

211: Her scantily-claddedness makes up for her not-realitivty.

Besides, I would prefer Nariko. On my book cover, that is to say...

I prefer computer generated people over real people covers as well. :)

Stephen, Nariko is HOT! :

Those Cabot books sound like a riot. Should see if my library has them. Thanks Micky!

>213 norabelle414: Well it's actually the head of the head cheerleader, so you weren't far off. ;)

>214 Ape: I thought the scantily cladness and non-real combo would be a winner for you, Stephen. Only thing to make it better would be a book.

>215 jolerie: It's a great series, Valerie, that I'm positive you'd enjoy.

I'm midway through my wedding immersion weekend as a bridesmaid and so far still surviving although I'm wiped at the end of the day. Probably won't be checking in on these parts again until Monday. So try to stay out of trouble. *looks pointedly at troublemakers *

Micky: Oh no, it's the scantily cladness that would make me incapable of bringing it up to a checkout desk. *Blushes*

>217 Ape:: Pfft.

I went a-wandering to a branch library just the other week, and was eyeing the Meg Cabot series. If my library card (and both my kids') hadn't been full to overflowing, I'd probably have picked one up.

*waving* at Micky

Book 61


Big Boned - Meg Cabot

Spring has arrived at New York College and Heather's life is good. Her dad is about to move out, she's dating her gorgeous remedial math professor, and no major catastrophes are lurking. Until her new temporary boss is found shot through the head at his desk. Once again, Heather finds herself pulled into investigating despite warnings from her attractive housemate, Cooper. But in the midst of solving the mystery, will Heather finally figure out what she wants in her life?

Enjoyable fun as ever. Heather's internal monologue while jogging always cracks me up every time I read this one and the mystery is pretty decent. Lots of relationships get tied up neatly and it's always fun to visit with all of Heather's pals at and around New York College.

Rating: *****

so glad to see someone else is reading Fforde.

Haha, I'm going to have to look this series up, because her titles are too funny!
Are you still recovering from the wedding festivities??

Drive by visit to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving weekend Micky!

HI Micky! Glad to see you enjoyed the Fry book. I've added that to my wishlist! I adore him

>217 Ape: Likely story, Stephen.

>218 humouress: Maybe next time. :)

>219 alcottacre: Waves back at Stasia.

>221 BBGirl55: Yes, I should definitely pick up another one of those this year.

>222 jolerie: I'm very fond of the series, Valerie. I'm all recovered from the wedding, but then I came down with a minor cold and the only I wanted to do on my breaks at work was watch YouTube. And then it was Thanksgiving (happy belated, by the way). So now I'm back.

>223 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! Same to you!

>224 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle. It's definitely worth reading, particularly if you're a Fry fan.

September Summary




Number in brackets total for the year thus far. Note total pages read does not include Shakespeare plays.

Books read: 5 (61)
Fiction: 4 (53)
Non-fiction: 1 (8)
Library/Borrowed/Mine: 1/0/4 (42/0/19)
Re-reads: 3 (7)
Shakespeare plays read: 2 (33)
Pages read: 1745 (20 802)

Favourite book(s) this month: The Heather Wells mysteries are long time favourites of mine, but restricting myself to new reads, the title has to go to Stephen Fry's delectable The Fry Chronicles.

Oh, I hope you are feeling better from your cold now?

I picked up a copy of Beauvallet at the discount bin earlier this week and thought of you. :)

Glad to have you back!

It's still lingering but it was never super bad. Just enough so that I'm aware it's there. Hope you enjoy Beauvallet when you eventually indulge. :)

Book 62


Size 12 and Ready to Rock - Meg Cabot

Heather is all set to enjoy the quietness that comes during summer term and her new relationship with Cooper Cartwright. Of course, that quiet doesn't last when Heather finds out that Fischer Hall will be hosting Tania Trace Rock Star Camp, playing host to 50 teenage girls and bringing Heather into frequent contact with her ex, Jordan Cartwright and his expectant wife, Tania. Adding to the headache is when one of Tania's producers is murdered, pulling Heather into investigating yet another death in Death Dorm.

The newest installment in the Heather Wells mystery series doesn't disappoint loyal readers of the series. Heather and Cooper are adorable, Heather's crew of nutty friends and family are entertaining as ever, and the mystery keeps everything interesting. Delicious comfort reading at its best.

Rating: *****

Hmm; I might look at Meg Cabot's series - if I ever get to the end of my overdue library books!

>230 humouress: Do it. *pulls out pompoms to cheer you along*

You know Stephen's looking up your skirt, right?

*checks under desk at work*

No, he isn't. :P

Book 63


The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway

Jake Barnes is an expat in Paris, working for a newspaper, and circulating with his small circle of friends. On his annual trip to the fiesta in Pamplona there is the spectacle of the bulls but also the spectacle as his own small social circle starts to implode.

Hemingway's novel is perhaps a bit lost on me. The narrative is rather straight forward, the language itself rather simplistic and yet extremely evocative. None of the characters are particularly sympathetic. And while the novel is considered one of the great works of fiction of "the lost generation" I'm not sure that I picked up on all of the themes and concepts Heminway is exploring. Definitely a novel that I would love to take apart in a classroom setting to really start digging into the text.

Rating: ***1/2

Definitely sounds like a great book to study in school. I don't think I've read a single Hemingway book! :/
Thanks for the review, Micky.

#233: He has his ways (*ahem* cameras).

#234: Ew, is that the bullfighting book? Passing. :)

>235 jolerie: It's my first Hemingway, Valerie, so don't feel bad.

>236 saraslibrary: It is the bullfighting book, Sara. So go right ahead and give it a pass. Also, checked for cameras under my desk. Nothing there. :P

#237: Well, I was gonna post something gross about cameras under your desk, but I'm nice, so I won't. Just a puppy yoga pic. :) Seriously, it's not gross.

Yup! It's been snowing on and off all day long and more is expected next week. I guess the whole Indian summer thing is out the window. :)

I just read The Paris Wife for my RL book club and it is a fictional telling of Hemingway and his first wife and their years in Paris. It was during this time he wrote The Sun Also Rises, so I thought, I would read it. I haven't finished yet -not sure if I will - as it seems the book is based on his life and the people in it at that time. Everything, the bull fighting, the relationships, all of it right from his actual experiences. He made himself Jack and the only person that did not make it into the book was his wife! I felt I was rereading the book club book. And you weren't imagining it, the people were not nice - not in real life or the book. I didn't like these people/Hemingway in The Paris Wife and really didn't like them/him again in The Sun Also Rises. It will take a lot for me to try another of his books. I don't get all the praise.

>238 saraslibrary: Aww, he's so cute. And I'm impressed at your restraint that you weren't gross. *waits for inevitable jokes about restraints*

>239 jolerie: It feels decidedly cold here today although we did not get the white stuff you guys were inundated with. :P

>240 sydamy: Thanks for the context, Susan!

Book 64



The Girl in the Steel Corset - Kady Cross

In 1897, Finley Jayne has just lost her third position in as many months when she literally crashes into Griffin King, the Duke of Greythorne. Always feeling as though she is fighting with two parts of herself, she finds a place in Griffin's small group who work to ensure London's safety. But Griffin's band may be up against more than they can handle as they struggle to unravel the plot of the Machinist which threatens the safety of the entire British empire.

First a shout-out to Valerie who reviewed this book earlier this month and brought this delightful series to my attention. A thoroughly enjoyable mix of teen romance, steampunk, and superhero-esque abilities, the novel is entertaining throughout. The entire cast of characters are wonderful creations that I was thrilled to meet, and the plot had just enough twists to keep the pages passing quickly. Absolutely enjoyable from start to finish.

Rating: ****

Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! I for one want to find out what happens with Finley and the whole gang. :)

>242 MickyFine: I don't typically like steampunk. But it looks interesting. Think I might enjoy it?

Morphy, the steampunk aspect of it isn't too heavy in this one, IMO.

#241: Actually, I wasn't even thinking about restraints, but if you insist.... click me if you dare! (I can't believe how inconsistent our internet blocks are. Sheesh.)

#242: I see that cover at work all the time (love the outfit!), but I doubt I'd have time to read it.

>243 jolerie: So far the sequel is just as enjoyable, Valerie.

>244 Morphidae: I agree with Valerie, Morphy, it's definitely steampunk lite. I vote for giving it a try.

>246 saraslibrary: I dared. And umm... yeah, no words. As for the book, it's a pretty quick read so when you do have time I think you should pick it up.

Yeah, I was trying to keep a straight face when googling that during my lunch break. I have to admit, though--those knots take a lot of time to make. That's all I'll say about that.

(picks up The Girl in the Steel Corset and puts it back on shelf) Happy? ;)

Okay, I'll stick it over into my LT Recommeded collection.

>248 saraslibrary: I'm just going to imagine you spent your youth in Girl Scouts and that's why you know so much about knots. That's all I'll say about that. *groans at literalism*

>249 Morphidae: I hope you like it, Morphy!

New thread is up!