Christina reads in 2013

My 2013 Category Challenge:

Welcome to my fifth annual category challenge on LT! I had to admit defeat with the 12 in 12, so I'm excited for a fresh start in 2013.

I haven't figured out my categories yet, but I have decided on a structure for my challenge. I want to have 13 categories, but reading 169 books is not in the cards for me. Therefore, I will stick with what is in the cards -- literally! There are 13 cards per suit in a deck of regular playing cards. The number of books in each of my categories will correspond to the numerical value of each card (A=1, J=10, Q=10, K=10). This plan results in a total of 85 books, which is quite doable and will leave me with some flexibility for impulse reads.

Happy reading to all, and I look forward to starting this challenge on January 1!

Categories:

A. Wallbanger = a book over 1,000 pages. I'm planning on Boswell's Life of Johnson, which has been sitting unread on my shelves since college. My unabridged Oxford World Classics edition has 1,402 pages, excluding introductory material and appendices. I'll probably read this throughout the year, a little bit at a time.

2. Deux Dumas = I read some Alexandre Dumas in my early teen years, but since I didn't know anything about the historical context, I don't think I really understood what was going on! I'd like to revisit The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers now that I'm an adult; hopefully I'll get more out of them this time.

3. Quest for Camelot = Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy. I've had it for a while and have heard it's good, so this is the perfect time to finally read it.

4. Don't Shoot the Piano Player = Westerns. I don't think I've ever read a Western before, and I'm looking forward to tackling a few of the most popular books in the genre.

5. True Story = nonfiction history and biography.

6. The Grand Tour = books set in places I've never been. It won't be hard to find books that fill this category, since I've barely been anywhere!

7. Shgakespeafe = books inspired by Shakespeare in some way. The category name is based on Jasper Fforde's Shakespeare clones in the Thursday Next series. Books in this category might have titles based on Shakespeare quotes or plots taken from one of his plays. Some connections may be more...direct than others.

8. Little Grey Cells = mysteries published before 1960. Who doesn't love a vintage Golden Age mystery? I'm also sadly underexposed to the noir genre.

9. Murder Ain't What It Used to Be = historical mysteries. I've got tons of these sitting unread on my shelves, so I don't anticipate any problems with this category.

10. A Kind of Magic = books with wizards, sorcery, magic, and/or supernatural occurrences. This category will cover most fantasy, as well as magical realism and gothic/ghost stories.

J. The Kids Are All Right = young adult books. I enjoy YA and tend to read it quickly, so this should be a fun category!

Q. Is This a Kissing Book? = romance and chick lit.

K. Ye Olde Historical Fiction = should be pretty self-explanatory. :)

A. Wallbanger

1.

Candidate:
James Boswell, Life of Johnson

2. Deux Dumas

1.
2.

Candidates:
Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo (group read -- March, April, May)
Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers

3. Quest for Camelot

1.
2.
3.

Candidates:
Mary Stewart, The Crystal Cave
Mary Stewart, The Hollow Hills
Mary Stewart, The Last Enchantment

4. Don't Shoot the Piano Player

1. Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove
2.
3.
4.

Candidates:
Charles Portis, True Grit
Patrick deWitt, The Sisters Brothers
Mary Doria Russell, Doc

5. True Story

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Candidates:
Juliet Nicholson, The Great Silence: Britain from the Shadow of the First World War to the Dawn of the Jazz Age
Daniel Pool, Dickens' Fur Coat and Charlotte's Unanswered Letters: The Rows and Romances of England's Great Victorian Novelists
Ben Macintyre, Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory
Jonathan Eig, Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig
John O'Sullivan, The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World
Barbara Tuchman, A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century

6. The Grand Tour

1. Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering
2. Tayeb Salih, The Wedding of Zein
3.
4.
5.
6.

Candidates:

Mari Strachan, The Earth Hums in B Flat
Jostein Gaarder, Maya
Stefan Brijs, The Angel Maker
Etgar Keret, Suddenly, a Knock on the Door
Dai Sijie, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
Luis Fernando Verissimo, The Club of Angels

7. Shgakespeafe

1. Anne Fortier, Juliet
2. Kathryn Miller Haines, The Winter of Her Discontent
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Candidates:
Christopher Moore, Fool
John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
Celia Rees, The Fool's Girl
Poul Anderson, A Midsummer Tempest
Michael Innes, Hamlet, Revenge!
Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes
Lisa Mantchev, Eyes Like Stars

8. Little Grey Cells

1. Patricia Moyes, Dead Men Don't Ski
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Candidates:
Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep
Rex Stout, Fer-de-Lance
Michael Innes, Death at the President's Lodging
Anthony Berkeley, The Poisoned Chocolates Case
Georges Simenon, The Crime of Inspector Maigret
Georgette Heyer, Death in the Stocks
Ellery Queen
Josephine Tey

9. Murder Ain't What It Used to Be

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Candidates:
Ellis Peters, An Excellent Mystery
J.J. Murphy, Murder Your Darlings
Frank Tallis, A Death in Vienna
Ann Granger, A Rare Interest in Corpses
Nicola Upson, An Expert in Murder
Anna Dean, A Woman of Consequence
Laurie R. King, The Beekeeper's Apprentice
Kate Ross, Whom the Gods Love
Stefanie Pintoff, In the Shadow of Gotham
Ariana Franklin, Mistress of the Art of Death
Kerry Greenwood, Cocaine Blues
Barbara Cleverly, The Last Kashmiri Rose
Charles Finch, A Death in the Small Hours

10. A Kind of Magic

1. Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus
2. Claudia J. Edwards, Taming the Forest King
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Candidates:
Sarah Addison Allen, The Girl Who Chased the Moon
Seanan McGuire, Chimes at Midnight
George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
David Liss, The Twelfth Enchantment
Elizabeth Willey, The Well-Favored Man
Juliet Marillier, Child of the Prophecy
Seanan McGuire, Discount Armageddon
Lois McMaster Bujold, The Curse of Chalion

J. The Kids Are All Right

1. Lauren Morrill, Meant to Be
2. Alicia Thompson, Psych Major Syndrome
3. Gail Carriger, Etiquette and Espionage
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Candidates:
Stephanie Perkins, Isla and the Happily Ever After
John Green, An Abundance of Katherines
Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock
Yvonne Prinz, The Vinyl Princess
Jennifer E. Smith, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
China Miéville, Un Lun Dun (group read -- December)
Huntley Fitzpatrick, My Life Next Door
Jennifer Echols, Dirty Little Secret
Juliet Mariller, Shadowfell
Sophie Flack, Bunheads
Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me
Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor and Park

Q. Is This a Kissing Book?

1. Gemma Burgess, The Dating Detox
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Candidates:
Jennifer Crusie, Faking It
Julie James, Love Irresistibly
Hester Browne, Swept off Her Feet
Caprice Crane, With a Little Luck
Julia Quinn, Just Like Heaven
Kristan Higgins

K. Ye Olde Historical Fiction

1. Phillip Rock, The Passing Bells
2. Hilary Reyl, Lessons in French
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Candidates:
Lauren Willig, The Ashford Affair
Lauren Willig, The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
Susanna Kearsley, The Rose Garden
Sharon Kay Penman, Time and Chance (group read -- April)
Sharon Kay Penman, Devil's Brood (group read -- August)
Sharon Kay Penman, Lionheart (group read -- October)
Georgette Heyer, The Spanish Bride
Kate Morton, The Forgotten Garden
Marieke van der Pol, Bride Flight
Ciji Ware, A Cottage by the Sea
Kate Lord Brown, The Beauty Chorus

I look forward to seeing what categories you end up with.

Cards are such a cool idea :)

A really cute idea is I do say so.

yep great idea!

Thanks, all! I don't know if my categories will be thematically related to cards yet. Maybe, if I'm creative enough! Right now I only have about five or six categories in mind, so I'm trying to figure out the rest before I start worrying about a theme.

Extremely clever idea!

Great idea, Christina, I'll look forward to seeing your categories.

OK, categories are up! See message #2 above for the list and explanations. You can also see some possible candidates for each category if you scroll through the thread. Pictures may come later, or they may not. :) Now that I've got a plan, I'm starting to get very excited about this challenge!

I'm excited for your Life of Johnson category--I'd like to reread my abridged Life of Johnson (ca. 350 pages) next year, since I read it last year for class and therefore very quickly. I've also got Stewart's Merlin Trilogy planned for 2013 or 2014. Well, at least the first book. Is it bad if I keep trying new series from my TBR pile in the hopes that I won't like them and can knock books off said pile faster than one at a time? Is it even worse that I've added eleventy-zillion new series to the "series begun but not finished" list and kicked only one off the TBR pile?

I'm also going to read books inspired by Shakespeare, it'll be interesting to see if we have any crossovers. I also must get found to reading True grit

Oh man, great categories! Major props to you for tackling that enormous Johnson!

Wait, I don't mean it like that.... :)

@ 24 -- casvelyn, I hope Johnson won't give me too much trouble! Glad to know the version you read was a relatively quick read. Also, I totally know what you mean about series. I'm in the middle of at least 20 that I just haven't gotten around to finishing yet!

@ 25 -- psutto, I hope to get some good Shakespearean recommendations from you! I'll be interested to compare our reactions if we end up reading any of the same books.

@ 26 -- LOL! Laura, that did not even occur to me...what a missed opportunity for a category name! ;)

Excellent idea! I'm trying to figure out a clever/fun way to pare down my totals too - there are some chunksters on Mt. TBR that I want to tackle - and everyone's being so gosh-darn creative with their categories. Wish I had thought of this one. :)

Yay, Westerns! I have a category for those as well :) I can unhesitatingly recommend True Grit and The Sisters Brothers if you haven't read them already.
(Also, great category name!)

And *applause* for Laura's post (#26).

Making the rounds and happy to see your thread already up and open for business! Dumas is one of my all time favorites so happy to see him making an appearance here!

Love your categories! You've listed several possibilities that I've already read or want to read soon. One of these days I want to tackle The Count of Monte Cristo.

Yay for more kissing books!
And for the Dumas. I just won an ER book about Dumas' daddy. Should be interesting.

Enormous Johnson....Wallbanger......what a naughty thread you have! ;)

@ 29 -- Eva, feel free to steal the cards theme if you wish. I'm really admiring the creative ways in which people are structuring their challenges!

@ 30 -- rabbitprincess, I have never read any Westerns, so I'm looking forward to exploring a new genre! As for the category name, my piano teacher had a sign in her studio that read, "Please don't shoot the piano player; she's doing the best she can."

@ 31 -- Thanks, cbl_tn! I have never read the unabridged The Count of Monte Cristo, and I'm hoping that I'll really enjoy it.

@ 32 -- Victoria, I had to keep the kissing books! It's an easy category for me to fill, and the category name makes me smile. :)

@ 33 -- HRO, it is rather naughty. I'm afraid I have the mentality of a 13-year-old boy sometimes.

Such a clever idea for categories! I'm glad to see that Kissing Books are still in there. And I *loved* The Count of Monte Cristo - the Robin Buss translation is fabulous (not that I have read an older version to compare it with, but it just read amazingly well, and not like a translation at all).

>34 christina_reads: - And apparently I also have the mentality of a 13 year old boy since that's where my mind went when reading your category names. ;)

Could we maybe make TCoMC a group read for next year? It sounds like there may be enough interest and I would be on board for it.

@ 35 -- Susan, thanks so much for recommending a translation! I was going to ask the group about that as 2013 gets closer, because I know a translation can really make or break a book.

@ 36 -- HRO, great minds think alike, I guess. :)

@ 37 -- mamzel, I would be happy to do The Count of Monte Cristo as a group read. I'll pose the question in the Group Reads thread and see who wants to join us! ETA: apparently you've beaten me to it! :)

Hi Christina, I am also thinking of using cards as my theme, but slightly different from yours. I love all your categories, and will look forward to seeing what books you choose to read.

I wasn't going to start my thread yet, but I think I will be doing so over the weekend. Now that I have it all planned out in my head, I can't wait to post it!

Hey, great to see you, DQ! I look forward to seeing your cards-related theme. :)

Fun categories. Add me to the people who absolutely loved The Count of Monte Cristo. I was hoping to reread it this year.

@ 41 -- Nice to see you here! Glad to hear you liked The Count of Monte Cristo. I think I'll enjoy it, but it does intimidate me a bit!

I'm looking forward to reading it on my Kindle so I don't get arthritis trying to hold it open.

Good call, mamzel. I don't have an e-reader, so I'll just have to hope I don't hurt my back every time I pick it up!

Your categories look fun. If you haven't read any Isabella Bird, you might consider her for your travel category. I read Lady's life in the Rocky Mountains a few years ago and thought it was fun.

Thanks for the rec, Bjace. I've never heard of Isabella Bird, but I will look her up.

Starred your thread! I like your challenge using the deck of cards - I had to read the instructions a few times but now I get it :)

I think your categories weren't all filled in when I first visited your new thread. Glad to see you've got some great categories lined up.

For your Shgakespeafe category you might consider Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. I haven't read it but I've seen the movie (which is exellent) and I recently read Waiting for Godot which is its main inspiration (apart from Hamlet, obviously).

Also, Huxley's Brave New World and Christie's Sad Cypress and By the Pricking of My Thumbs are named after Shakespeare quotes.

@ 47 -- Yeah, I had trouble formulating my "rules" as well...it's hard to explain without actually showing someone a deck of cards!

@ 48 -- True, I hadn't originally filled in my categories or list of candidates. I may continue to add to the list of possible reads as we get closer to 2013.

@ 49 -- Thanks for all the recommendations! Alas, I have already read all the books you mentioned, and I don't like to reread books for challenges, so I'll have to search for some new-to-me books. It's been a while since I read By the Pricking of My Thumbs, though, so maybe I can squeeze that one in there. :)

You have some really interesting categories. I've never read any westerns, but I love some of the more recent western movies: 3:10 to Yuma, True Grit, and The Proposition. I look forward to seeing what you think of them, especially.

@ 51 -- Thanks, Tanglewood! It's a new genre for me (aside from a few John Wayne movies), so I'm looking forward to exploring it.

-52 now I've finished it I'd also recommend warlock And I've not read it but from same publisher I have my eye on butcher's crossing

Love the card theme, Christina. And great categories and possibilities!

If you enjoy A Game of Thrones as much as I did, the Martin books will fill 5 slots in your "Magic" category... and, at approximately 1000 pages each, might throw a kink in your numbers!

@ 53 -- psutto, I think I saw your review of Warlock on your 12 in 12 thread...definitely piqued my interest!

@ 54 -- Thanks, Ivy! I'm really interested in the George R.R. Martin series, but their length is intimidating. Maybe I'll fit in one next year, but I doubt I'll be motivated enough to read all five. Unless I love them, that is! :)

In addition to this challenge, I've decided to join the ROOT challenge for 2013, which is the new name of the BOMBS (Books Off My Book Shelves) challenge. ROOT stands for Reading Our Own Tomes, and the challenge is to read a set number of books that you own in 2013. You get to pick the number, and I think there will be cumulative metrics for the entire group as the year progresses. I could definitely stand to dust off some of the books that have been on my shelves for a while, so I'm looking forward to diminishing my TBR pile. My thread is HERE if you'd like to visit!

A lot of name changes this year!

True, mamzel. I think people are really enthusiastic about all the new challenges and subchallenges. The amount of discussion has actually been a little overwhelming, in my view. :) But it's great that people are so excited!

I think I'll join the reading our own books challenge - thank you for the link! My hard copy TBR pile isn't too bad, but the Kindle Mountain is totally out of control.

@ 59 -- Well, at least they're not taking up space in your house! :) But it is crazy that I've purchased so many books thinking they looked great, and yet they're still sitting on my shelves unread!

Now that I've finally set up my own thread I'm wandering around the group to see what others have planned. Another good one located here and I'll be following your reading with interest again.

Thanks, Wolfy! Glad you finally joined us as well. :)

The group is growing with both brand new members and those who've been here before. Looks like a good reading year coming up for all of us.

You've got some of my favourite books listed (Mary Stewart's Merlin books), and many that I've thought about reading. Looking forward to following your reading this year.

re #58 I agree that there is a lot of talk. I'm excited and impatient so I have been very careful not to commit to any group reads and over-commit. So easy to do!

@ 65 -- Ah, yes, the overcommitting; I know it well. :) I've been very meticulous about keeping track of all my 2013 reading challenges, and I think I've officially reached my limit. Hopefully I haven't surpassed it already!

Those who have been keeping up with the mammoth "General Organizational Things" thread know that 2013 has been overrun by CATs! (If you haven't been following along, CATs stands for Categories And Themes, and it refers to this group's optional monthly challenges). As far as I can tell, there will be one based on awards, one based on the alphabet, and one where each month's theme will be picked by a different 2013 challenge member.

So which CATs appeal to you, if any? I definitely won't be doing Award CAT, but I might be willing to try Alpha CAT -- especially since it looks like I could use a lot of different methods to satisfy the challenge. For example, I could use the title, author's first name, author's last name, main character's name, etc. I'll also check in with Random CAT every month to see what the themes will be. I've volunteered to host December's Random CAT, so I'll definitely be participating in that month at least! :)

I'm really excited by how vocal and involved everyone seems to be with this group. It makes me want to throw caution to the wind and start my 2013 challenge now! But I really need to restrain myself and finish my 2012 reading first...

I love the commitment too; it's great to see how enthusiastic everyone is! (But it is making life very difficult for me as I'm having a really hard time not adding fifty-eleven new books to my challenge list...)

I'll probably try the AlphaCAT as well. I do a personal alphabet challenge every year, based on author last name and first word of book titles. I don't try to fill in every letter on purpose, just whatever I can do with my normal reading. I've never made it higher than 18/26 author surnames (2011 and 2012, although I may make 19 before the year is over) and 23/26 title first words (2011), but I might actually make an effort next year. Otherwise, I don't do well with theme reading, because as soon as I "have" to read a book, I don't want to.

I will probably bounce in and out of all of the various CATs over the year, not really committing to any of them fully. I am still working on - and hope to complete soon! - my second Alphabet Challenge over on that same named group. I enjoy the fun you can have with the alphabet. I am also a fan of reading book prize winners/shortlisted and hope the various awards under the Awards CAT will draw me further out of my usual 5 prizes.

@ 68 -- We share the same problem, Paws! I may avoid some of these CAT threads altogether, just to avoid the hail of book bullets!

@ 69 -- casvelyn, I like your more laid-back approach to the alphabet challenge. I am the kind of person who would feel guilty if I didn't fill the whole alphabet, so it might be better not to impose that extra stress on myself! On the other hand, I'm curious to see how much of the alphabet I can get through, so we'll see!

@ 70 -- Lori, sounds like a good plan! I admire those of you who keep up with the award lists and try to read all the winners. I tend not to like books that win awards, for some reason. Maybe I'm just prejudiced against them, reasoning that they must be dull and pretentious if they've won a literary award. But I certainly don't want to lock myself into reading a bunch of them!

What I find interesting is that assuming I finish all my planned December reading, I'm going to hit the same number of letters in 2012 as I hit in 2011, despite having read twice as many books in 2011.

>67 christina_reads: The awards, and maybe the random, depending what people come up with :P, are what appeal to me. I'll participate in the alpha only in the way @casvelyn describes in 69 - paying attention and checking around my planned reads to see what will fit in where, but not actively seeking out anything specifically for it.

I find most books that win awards are very deserving, and aside from that I'm interested in seeing what it is that these seasoned readers/judges consider award-worthy. It's the same reason I enjoy reading classics - I want to experience them for myself and see what it is that people have been viewing as something special.

->73 .Monkey.:, That's how I feel too. I love reading the classics partly because they're usually good (and even if I'm not personally a big fan I can usually understand why other people might think they're great) and partly because it gives you greater understanding of the world. There are tons of winks and references that you just don't get unless you've read a specific book that is being referenced. Once you do read it you get in on a joke you weren't even aware of before. I love that.

Yeah, exactly. And of course, I don't always agree with the classics being "worthy," but even then I'm glad that I've read them and seen what they're about, and have an informed opinion on them and everything.

@ 72 -- casvelyn, you must be getting more efficient!

@ 73 -- PM, I see what you mean about the award winners. I sometimes feel the same way about bestsellers; even if a book isn't something I would normally be interested in, all the hype makes me curious. Of course, sometimes I have the opposite reaction and refuse to read things that are too popular (which is why I haven't read The Hunger Games, despite the zillions of rave reviews out there!).

@ 74, 75 -- Paws and PM, I agree with you both about the classics. I have been making my way through many of them because I think they are generally worth it, and they make me a better-informed person. But to me, classics are books that have stood the test of time, and books don't necessarily fit in that category just because they're award winners. Don't get me wrong -- I think it's great that (1) literary awards exist and (2) people care about them! I just don't tend to follow them religiously.

heh see I'm nearly always the opposite re: bestsellers. People are massive "sheeples" and will flock to anything. Take Twilight or 50 Shades, for the most offending (to anyone with even the least discriminating taste in literature) examples. Most ridiculously over-popular things are terrible, so I tend to run the other direction. And yeah, that includes Hunger Games for me also.

Oh, I agree, there are definitely books that have won awards but don't even remotely deserve it. Like you said, winning an award doesn't mean the book will stand the test of time. Plenty of examples of that (not that I can think of one at the moment, but still.)

I also usually run in the other direction when it comes to the popular books of the moment. Today's bestsellers are usually at the bottom of my list (unless they've been genuinely recommended by a friend or I've read about the book and thought it really sounded good - that'll always win over popularity). Though I am planning on reading the Hunger Games (for the very reason i mentioned).

Yeah I plan on Hunger Games eventually, because pretty much everyone I know, including the big readers, who like lots of things similar to me and such, and have PhDs and Masters degrees and things, think it's just so fabulous. But I'm in the opposite of a hurry, I will get there years down the line, whenever it happens. heh.

PM, I had to laugh at the "sheeples" comment! I must admit, I did read Twilight, but I wasn't a fan. I have no desire whatsoever to read Fifty Shades of Grey, and I tend to share your believe that "most ridiculously over-popular things are terrible." On the other hand, I was years late to the Harry Potter bandwagon, but I ended up really liking those books! So I guess sometimes it's worth the gamble.

Paws, I agree -- recommendations from friends and people whose judgment you trust are way more meaningful than the general popularity of a book. I'll be interested to see your thoughts on The Hunger Games! :)

I've read a bunch of Twilight from this one girl's Tumblr, I think it's called "reasoning with vampires," and she posts images of a paragraph or so of text from it, and dissects the atrocious writing and all the inconsistencies and just overall terribleness, it's a riot, and showed me all I needed to know about the series!! haha

PM, sounds fun! My favorite bit of Twilight mockery is a young fellow who summarizes each chapter on YouTube and comments on what he's reading. Click here to enjoy!

This is my favourite Twilight "breakdown". http://theoatmeal.com/story/twilight

I haven't read the books - I read three pages and that was enough for me to never want to lay hands on those things again - but I have seen the movies (a friend of mine made cause she thought I was being elitist and judgmental by calling it crap).

I do feel bad for knocking Twilight sometimes...there's a fine line between criticizing a book and criticizing everyone who likes the book. That said, I'm off to look at your website, Paws! :)

ETA: I'm not suggesting that anyone on my thread has been criticizing Twilight lovers, only Twilight itself.

Oh, I agree. I have nothing against people who read the books - feel free to read whatever you like (and goodness knows I've read a lot of books in my time that people would scoff me for).

Absolutely. I read many a shameworthy book in the privacy of my own home. :)

When I was "Twilight-age" (circa 14-15) I read 10 (TEN!) of Virginia Andrews god-awful books. They're all exactly the same and they all horrendously icky and full of incest. I figured this out relatively quickly but for some unknown reason still kept on reading. Eventually I'd had enough and stopped mid-book. That was the end of my puberty-reading-phase.

The Tumblr has things like this:

lol

I agree with a great deal of what is being sad here. I don't read bestsellers unless they are part of a series that I have been following. I refuse to read a book that is being hyped at the time that it is being hyped. For instance, I finally read The Help this year. Did it deserve all the hype? Not in my opinion. I thought it was okay, but not anything that deserved all the hoopla. Hunger Games, I was about 4 years behind, but that one I felt was a great book. By waiting to read the books until something else is being heralded, I feel that I can make an honest evaluation, without letting everyone else tell me how good it is.
Twilight finally read, didn't like it. Not even considering Fifty Shades for my reading list.

I think I'm the opposite of a sheeple as I haven't read a great many hyped books and am very suspicious of hype in general...

@ 87 -- Paws, everyone has their guilty pleasures! I read Sweet Valley Twins (not even Sweet Valley High!) for years and years until I finally cut myself off in my early teens.

@ 88 -- Off to check out that Tumblr, as it looks like fun! I'm always up for mockery of bad grammar.

@ 89 -- cyderry, I often do the same thing and read a book long after the hype has ended. Good to know you weren't super impressed with The Help; I've been wavering on whether to read it.

@ 90 -- psutto, that's probably a good thing!

I've read Sweet Valley Twins too, along with Nancy Drew and Mary & Lou, but don't feel bad about it one bit (until the VC books). They're not great literature by any means but they're not terrible stinking pieces of manure either. I actually learnt a lot from reading those books so I'm glad I did.

@ 92 -- I've found that you can learn a lot even from bad books. For example, I know the Sweet Valley Twins taught me a lot of new vocabulary words! (I can't remember what words now, worse luck. But it was definitely useful information!)

See I don't think any of those other "silly young" series are bad, they're just "immature," so to speak. Nothing wrong with young people reading simpler writing. But the writing itself of Twilight is like it was written by a 12 year old (which is probably even an insult to most 12 yr olds). Things like the example I posted above ("a bear hug too tight to breathe") are rampant in her writing, and it's just incredibly sad that such drivel gets published, and somehow manages to be a massive bestseller around the world!

I think most of them are, as you say, immature, but there are plenty that - in my humble opinion - are truly, truly, bad.

hahaha, I will just have to take your word for it. It's been more than 20 yrs since I read any of those sort of books, and I never actually got into most of those series (I read the Boxcar Children, I think that's the name? and Goosebumps, and some L.J. Smith, that's about it). But do you mean the stories, or the writing itself? Because I can tolerate people (meaning adults here, obviously children are much less discriminating, as they don't know better yet etc) reading "bad" stories if they want, but bad writing, rife with grammatical ...I don't even know what you would call it, she does so much damage to everything when she writes!, grammatical inconsistencies, mix-ups, ...abuse! that's the word, grammatical abuse! lol. So, bad writing with so much grammatical abuse and things that just don't make sense, that, I cannot stomach. :P

Bad stories was what I was referring to. As I've almost exclusively read YA in Swedish I haven't been as exposed to the grammar side of things and can't judge whether it's bad or not. The translators pick up most things and "fix" them so very little goes through.

"Bad" does have different shades of meaning! There's "bad" in the sense of truly awful (bad writing, bad plots, etc.), and then there's "bad" in the sense of brain candy. It's a lot of fun; it just has no nutritional value whatsoever. That's how I feel about Sweet Valley Twins and the like. They're really not bad, just insubstantial. But of course, sometimes fun and insubstantial is just what you need! :)

Yes, that's an important distinction to make. I have no problem with the brain candy type of bad - it's the book equivalent of crisps and chocolate.

And now I really want some popcorn or something...

Hmm, good idea. I might make some popcorn when I come back from the St. Lucy's celebration tonight.

Happy Jane Austen's birthday, everyone!



I think it should be a national holiday. Anyone up for a petition and/or letter-writing campaign?

Whoo! A reason to celebrate! Happy Jane Austen Day!

I think it should be a national holiday. Anyone up for a petition and/or letter-writing campaign?

LOL.... love it. Tell you what...., you figure out the powers that would need to approve a national holiday, because quite frankly, I am curious, and I will.... well,..... I will read a Jane Austen book. I will even let you pick the Jane Austen book you think I should read, Christina.

I'd happily read ALL of Jane Austen's books to celebrate - I have no problem with them. Just don't make me read Jane Eyre for Charlotte Brontë Day.

@ 104 -- Lori, really? Because I will totally try and find out who declares national holidays if you read Pride and Prejudice!

@ 105 -- Fair enough, Paws. The Brontës are OK, but give me Austen any day!

106. Oh, I like Emily - LOVE Emily - but Jane Eyre was one of the worst reading experiences of my life. Hated every page.

> 106 - Yes, really.... dangerous of me, I know! ;-) You are on!

#107 -Agreed!

Love Austen as well as Jane Eyre! Totally on board with a national holiday.

@ 108 -- Well, Lori, after extensive research (i.e. Wikipedia), I have discovered that Congress has the authority to declare federal holidays. Technically, there is no such thing as a national holiday, because the Constitution only allows Congress to declare holidays for federal entities (and thus it can't force everyone nationwide to observe them). But the U.S. Code has a list of the federal holidays that Congress has designated in Title V, section 6103.

As for the Brontës, I quite like both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights...although I frankly could have done without the entire section about Jane Eyre's childhood.

But without the section on Jane's childhood, you can't really understand how poor and lonely she is and how Mr. Rochester's love (and wealth, although Jane is anything but greedy) is so important and how devastating his past (trying not to give spoilers here) is, moreso than it would have been, I think, to a girl who had been loved and cherished and comfortable her entire life.

It's the part in Jane Eyre where she goes off with that religious guy and his sisters? That part goes on forever.

Thanks Christina! See, I learned something this evening by reading your post @ 111.

As promised, I will read Pride and Prejudice. Time I gave Austen a try. The ebook is downloaded to my ipod touch and ready to go, after I finish my 12 in 12. If this turns me into a Jane Austen addict, can I say it was all your fault? ;-)

@ 112 -- Point taken, casvelyn, but I have to say, I found the Lowood stuff hard going! I just get impatient to get to all the "good stuff" with Rochester. :)

@ 113 -- Haha, the drippy cousins. Although I have to say, I find St. John a very interesting character (I'm just glad he's not related to me!).

@ 114 -- Lori, I am really excited for you! I hope you enjoy Pride and Prejudice, although since we all have different tastes, I will try to prepare myself emotionally for the possibility that you won't. And if you become an Austen addict, by all means I'm taking the credit!

Haha love the Jane Austen holiday. Make sure it's monday-ized and I'm sure the general populace will get behind it! I loved Jane Eyre but I read Wide Sargasso Sea a few years earlier so I think that influenced me. I was "in the know" and knew something Jane didn't.

116. I haven't read Wise Sargasso Sea yet and didn't know it existed when I read Jane Eyre. When I found out about it and learnt what it was about, I liked it at once.

I found Mr. Rochester to be the dullest, most annoying "love interest" ever. How Jane (who, admittedly, wasn't the most intriguing character ever) could be attracted to him is beyond my imagination.

for Jane, insipid comes to mind.

That would be the word, yes.

It's funny how different tastes are. I loathed Wide Sargasso Sea - but was probably influenced by my love of Rochester and Jane. Love that books can inspire such opposite reactions!

I agree -- I'm really enjoying seeing such widely different thoughts on Jane Eyre! I'll admit, it's been several years since I read it, so maybe my opinion would change with a reread.

Loved Jane Eyre, found Wide Sargasso Sea a curiosity. If I were the operatic sort, would take extracts from both and create a libretti for Eduardo di Rochester.

@ 122 -- Bjace, if Mr. Rochester isn't an operatic character, I don't know who is. :)

SPOILERS!!!
Lowood - yup, boooooring... Obviously not right guy for Jane, but Rochester??? Perhaps I'm influenced by the essay in no SPOILER in this title The Mad Woman in the Attic, a book of feminist criticism that I believe is long out of print, but really Rochester? And she can't have him until he is broken? & yes, quite operatic. I can hear his tenor right now. & the chorus rising to flames on stage.

I read Wide Sargasso Sea in conjunction with a bunch of other post-slavery Caribbean writing so I loved it for that. As for connecting with Jane Eyre, I know it *does* but it didn't for me. I read it as a story with a character that shared a name and some brief history with the Rochester in Jane Eyre. They didn't feel like the same person.

glitter-graphics.com

The 2013 Category Challenge has officially begun -- huzzah! I spent a lot of today traveling, so I haven't done much reading yet. But I've begun my first book, The Night Circus, and I'm super excited that it's finally time to begin this challenge! :)

Good luck with your 2013 reading! I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say about The Night Circus. It's also in my future reading plans.

Hi, Christina! I'm glad I found your thread. I really like your set-up for this year--nice categories! I can't wait to see what kind of books you read and your thoughts on them.

I read The Night Circus last year. I had heard a lot of really great things about it and was so excited to read it. Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations. I hope you have a better experience with it!

@ 126 -- It seems to be a popular choice this month, mathgirl!

@ 127 -- Yay, I'm glad you found me as well! Sorry to hear you didn't like The Night Circus. I've only just begun, so it's too early for me to form an opinion yet. I liked the prologue, though! :)

Happy new year Christina! Look forward to following you again this year.

@ 128 -- It's not that I didn't like it--I did! It was very descriptive without being overbearing. And the circus! Like in The Hunchback of Notre Dame the circus exists as a separate, breathing character. It was very enchanting. Why I was disappointed is mainly because I felt some parts of the book were slow or the author dragged them out.

@ 129 -- Happy New Year to you as well!

@ 130 -- Sorry for oversimplifying your reaction to The Night Circus earlier -- I'm glad to know that there were parts of the book you did like! ;) Once I've read the book, I'd love to know how your opinion differs from (or coincides with) mine!

@ 131 -- It's okay. =) And I sincerely hope you enjoy The Night Circus.

Happy New Year, Christina! I loved The Night Circus when I read it so I am really looking forward to learning what you think of the book.

Oh, .... darn it, saw your post on my thread so the secret is out (not that it was much of secret!). Yes I have started P & P. I am only at chapter 5 right now but I do like how compact the chapters are. I am reading it on my iPod touch, so the short chapters are really convenient for reading in bed before going to sleep (with the built in back light) and will be a good book as my emergency 'reading in a line-up' book for the immediate time being. No grumbles/complaints so far. I am finding it more an interesting character examination at this stage, but it is still early days before I settle on any firm opinion regarding this one!

Lori, I will stop trying to pressure you into sharing my opinion of P&P, I promise! :) I'm glad you're enjoying it so far, but I do think it's wise to keep an open mind. You wouldn't want to rush to judgment too quickly, like a certain Elizabeth Bennet...

Just found your thread and have it starred. I love your categories. I also read Night Circus last year as part of the 12 in 12 challenge. It was my Ask-a-friend category, which means that it was "assigned" to me by someone whose opinion I trust. They were right - I was skeptical at first but ended up enjoying the book very much. How are you coming with it?

@ 135 -- Just started it. I like it so far, but I'm only on page 45! Hopefully I'll have some time to sit down with it today.

Hey - I'm on page 45 too!

I'll be lurking along, to see if you find any more books like The Thief....

@ 137 -- Race you! (Kidding, kidding.)

@ 138 -- Lurk away, majkia! I'll certainly let you know about any new awesome reads I discover! :)

Did you get to the part where the clock is made? I love that description.

@ 140 -- Yes! It's absolutely fascinating. I'm having a bit of trouble actually picturing it in my head (my brain doesn't visualize well), but I'm definitely getting the magical feel of it!

@ 140 & 141 -- I will admit that the clock is fantastic. I wish such a thing existed in real life!

@ 142 -- I want the whole circus to exist! I would totally go...although I do feel like there's something sinister about it as well. (I'm on p. 160 at this point!)

Hi Christina! Happy New Year! Wow, your thread is already very long - took me most of a Doctor Who episode to read. I like your categories.
You seem to be enjoying The Night Circus. Widget's Tent is my favorite part of the circus. You probably haven't reached that part yet. Looking forward to your thoughts on the book.

Thanks, Violet! I am liking The Night Circus quite a bit so far...I'm about 1/3 of the way through. Haven't gotten to Widget's Tent yet, but I'll keep an eye out!

Seems like everyone's either reading The Night Circus or already has read it. I've got it in the frame for sometime later in the year. Sounds like I've got something to look forward to.

@ 143 -- I got that impression too when I was reading it. The ending is quite good, and I think it'll surprise you.

@ 146 -- Hope you enjoy it if/when you get to it, Bjace!

@ 147 -- Ooh, a surprising ending -- looking forward to it!

You've jumped ahead of me - I'm around page 100. Darn if I just didnt' have to go to work ;) Went to our granddaughter's basketball game last night which took up valuable reading time even though I took the book with me to read during time-outs and half -time. Maybe tonight I'll catch up a little.

@ 149 -- Haha, stupid life getting in the way of reading! I hope to progress further today as well...would like to finish the book, but I doubt that will happen!

What I learned today is that Microsoft Excel is dangerous. I started compiling a simple list of books I'd like to read this year, and before I knew it, I was mapping out all my challenges and trying to decide which books to read during which months.... Obviously I was in an insane place, but I think I'm back now. :) Still, I did decide what I'll most likely read in January! After The Night Circus, I'm planning on:

- Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
- Dead Men Don't Ski by Patricia Moyes
- Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda
- The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World by John O'Sullivan
- A Death in the Small Hours by Charles Finch

Seven books in a month doesn't seem too difficult, even if a few of them are rather long. I'll also need to read about 120 pages of Boswell's Life of Johnson -- wouldn't want to forget about that until December! Ack, I can feel myself veering into crazy land again...better stop now!

I may read Lonesome Dove as well (for the Awards CAT) but I am not sure I'll be able to finish it in January. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts :)

151 - LOL. Seems like a happy place to me, in a crazy yet content kind of way :o)

@ 152 -- Cool! I'll be interested to see your thoughts on Lonesome Dove. Since I'm still on my first book of the year, I may not get to LD in January either!

@ 153 -- Haha yes, I enjoyed myself. But I do feel I should rein myself in sometimes! :)

Happy New Year, Christina. I am another one that loved The Night Circus when I read it last year. I think it was one of the most original books I have ever read.

Thanks for stopping by, DQ! "Original" is definitely a good word for The Night Circus...thoughts coming momentarily! :)

Book #1: Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus
Category: A Kind of Magic
CATs: Random (new-to-me author); Alpha (M)

The action of this novel centers around a beautiful, mysterious circus known as Le Cirque des Rêves. It is open only at night, and it contains unimaginable wonders -- not only acrobats, contortionists, and exotic animals, but also gardens made entirely of ice and carousels with animals so lifelike that they breathe. In this magical environment, Celia and Marco meet and fall in love. However, unbeknownst to them, they are also rivals: both of them are magicians whose tutors are engaged in a deadly game. As Celia and Marco outdo themselves with feats of magical prowess, they must also find a way to end the "game" without paying an unthinkable price.

I find myself a little conflicted about this book, since I absolutely loved certain aspects of it but found other parts underwhelming. By far the strongest part of the novel is its setting: the Night Circus is described in such specific, evocative, loving detail that I absolutely believed in its magic. I've rarely read a book with such lush, awe-inspiring descriptions. By comparison, the plot of the star-crossed dueling magicians, while a wonderful idea in theory, is a bit flimsy in execution. I didn't particularly connect with any of the characters. Even Celia and Marco are extremely flat, with no particular defining characteristics except for their mutual infatuation. The circus is the heart of the book, but the events and people surrounding it seem almost like afterthoughts. That said, I did enjoy reading the book overall and would definitely read more by Morgenstern. Also, I hope this book is made into a movie and that Baz Luhrmann directs it -- it would be gorgeous.

Whoa! You finished that fast. I skipped over what you wrote for the time being; I'll come back after I finish it and check it out. I'm only about half-way through and as soon as I catch up on a few more threads, I'm getting right back to it.

@ 158 -- Well, I got out of work a bit early today, so I was able to spend several hours knocking out the rest of the book. :) I look forward to comparing notes with you!

I couldn't help but imagine this book as a movie. Slow start but incredible visuals.

@ 160 -- Completely agree! So much of the book is a sensory experience -- the sights, the sounds, the tastes. It would be really stunning on screen (well, obviously not the tastes, but you know what I mean!).

I said this on your blog, but I'll put it here too, just in case.

“…I absolutely loved certain aspects of it but found other parts underwhelming.” This was my exact reaction to the book. If every detail had matched the circus’ magnificence, it could have been one of my favorite books. Instead, I feel the author focused too much on the magical aspects of the story and forgot about plot and character development.

Hmm after your review I am still on the fence about reading it, romance plots aren't my favourite but you do need characters to make them work. World building only gets u so far.

@ 162 -- Totally agree with you, Cassandra.

@ 163 -- I think the best thing is not to approach it as a romance at all, since that aspect of the story is really not very prominent. Rather, it's about immersion into a magical world. As you say, worldbuilding isn't really enough to carry an entire novel, at least in my opinion -- but those who enjoy fantastical settings will probably really love it!

Book #2: Lauren Morrill, Meant to Be
Category: The Kids Are All Right
CATs: Random (new-to-me author); Alpha (M)

Julia Lichtenstein is an excellent student, a voracious reader, and a conscientious follower of rules. She’s incredibly excited about her class trip to London, eager to soak up all the history and culture that it has to offer. Her only problem is the presence of class clown Jason Lippincott on the trip. He’s loud, obnoxious, and completely immature — and because his name comes right after Julia’s in the alphabet, she’s stuck being his partner for their school assignments on the trip. However, as Julia spends more time with Jason, she slowly begins to discover that there’s more to him than meets the eye. At times it even seems like there’s a spark between them, but can Julia really fall for someone who’s the complete opposite of the “meant to be” guy she’s always imagined?

This is a very cute YA romance that hooked me almost immediately. Since Julia is the first-person narrator, we get inside her head right away, and I really enjoyed her determined, slightly neurotic voice. As for Jason, he’s just adorable; I definitely have a soft spot for goofy guys! Even though he and Julia are really different, I can definitely see how they work as a couple. Also, their clashing personalities provide a very believable conflict in the book; even after the happily-ever-after, you just know that they’ll continue to fight with and frustrate each other sometimes. Overall, while this book isn’t particularly deep or substantial, I found it a very fun and charming read.

Getting caught up here, Christina, and happy to see two books finished already! I loved The Night Circus and agree it is a visual treat to the senses. I want a movie to be made so I can relive it!

As for P&P, no worries on influencing me. My other half insists I have a very strong, stubborn streak to withstand any influences.... which translates to mean he has quite the uphill battle to convince me when I have my doubts.... usually when it involves yet another IT acquisition. ;-)

Just popped in to check out your cats. You have some interesting candidates. I have only read 3 of those you have listed, Juliet, The Forgotten Garden and Lionheart. The first two I really liked and the last one I gave up on. I think I should have perhaps started with a different SKP book first.

I'll agree with the comments on The Night Circus - it was very visually pleasing, but it was indeed more like watching a beautiful film than reading a book. You just don't get close enough to the inner workings of the characters.

Great review of The Night Circus.

@ 166 -- Thanks, Lori! The Night Circus definitely screams movie material to me.

@ 167 -- Thanks for stopping by, Roro8. Glad to hear your positive thoughts on Juliet and The Forgotten Garden -- I'll probably read Juliet in February (seems suitably romantic for Valentine's Day and alll!). If you feel like giving SKP another try, I loved her Welsh trilogy, which starts with Here Be Dragons.

@ 168 -- Agreed, Eva. I didn't feel like I knew very much about Celia or Marco, so I wasn't particularly invested in the outcome of their story.

@ 169 -- Thanks, cammykitty!

I've finally finished The Night Circus and posted my thoughts although not as well as you did. I too found the descriptions the best part.

@ 171 -- Off to read your thoughts now!

Wow, Christina. You weren't lying. It seems like everybody is reading The Night Circus right now! Maybe I read it at the wrong time. ;)

Christina, I'm new to your thread so I'm a little late in commenting on your categories. I found it funny that you titled your YA selections "The kids are all right" while I titled mine "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"! I guess we see the teenage years differently. Lol. I love the idea of candidates and hope I can borrow that idea from you. Meant to Be sounds like a fun read. Hope you are enjoying your next read.

@ 173 -- Cassandra, it does seem to be very popular on LT at the moment! I'm kind of surprised to find myself in the middle of a trend, honestly. :)

@ 174 -- Thanks for stopping by! I named my YA category after the song...wasn't trying to say anything in particular about the quality of my teenage years. :) But your "best of times/worst of times" idea would certainly apply!

So I'm still reading Lonesome Dove, and I'm questioning my timing a little bit. It seemed like a really good idea to read a chunkster in January, while I'm still motivated and excited about the challenge. Plus, this book is a CAT trick for me, since it's a new-to-me author whose last name starts with an M, and the book won the Spur Award in 1985. But you guys, it's really long! And I feel like I'm out of the loop since I'm not posting any new reviews. Oh well, at least I can live vicariously through those of you who are speeding through your books!

it may be really long but it seemed to fly by when I read it!

@ 177 -- The thing is, once I actually pick it up, it does fly by! The problem is that its length makes me reluctant to pick it up again, even though I know it's a good book and that I'll like it. Does it make sense? Not really, but apparently it's how my mind works.

January is the best month to read something enormous! I'm reading Infinite Jest, but I have another book or two on the side. I'm looking forward to finding out what you think of Lonesome Dove since it's one I'd like to read. I think, though, that i'll get it for my kindle -- I do best with big books when I don't notice how much (or little) I've read!

@ 179 -- Wow, Infinite Jest certainly qualifies as enormous! I'll look forward to reading your thoughts. So far I like Lonesome Dove a lot, but it's not unputdownable. And once I put it down, I'm easily distracted! I think your plan to read it via Kindle is a good idea.

I am having an awful time keeping on threads.... glad you enjoyed The Night Circus. Maybe one of these days I'll get around to it.

I'd say it's worth reading, Victoria! And worry not; I'm very behind on threads as well. I'm assuming things will quiet down a bit once the initial excitement is over.

I haven't been very active on LT lately, so I just wanted to check in! I started a new job this past Monday and have been busy learning the ropes and such. As a result, I'm not reading much these days and am still in the middle of Lonesome Dove. My goal is to finish it by the end of this weekend -- and I've got Monday off, so I just might succeed! :) I'm terribly behind on threads right now, but I hope to catch up with everyone soon!

Congratulations on the new job, Christina! An exciting way to start off the new year.

Congrats!

congrats

'grats on the new job.

Christina, congratulations on the new job! I am also reading Lonesome Dove and really enjoying it, but it's such a chunkster that I can only read it at home and not while commuting. I'm going to make a big effort to finish it this weekend as Shannon Stacey's new kissing book is released on Monday and I definitely want some time to read that!

Thanks for the congratulations, everyone! I'm definitely very happy/grateful/relieved that this opportunity came along when it did.

Susan, I agree -- it's a tough book to read while commuting. Here's hoping we both finish this weekend! I for one am very eager to move on to other things.

I hope you are settling in to your new job. I also started a new job a couple of weeks ago after 17 years in my last one. Sometimes a change can be really good. It certainly freshened my perspective on a few things. Are you enjoying your job so far?

How fantastic - congratulations, Christina!

Congratulations on the new job! I hope things are going well for you. What line of work are you in? Are you enjoying it?

Congrats on the job!

Congrats!!!!

Thanks again to the second wave of commenters! LT is such a great, life-affirming place. :)

@ 190 -- Wow, Roro, good for you! I hope you enjoy the new job; it must be a big adjustment after having worked so long in your previous position. So far the job is OK...I'm just training right now, so it's not super thrilling. But I anticipate that it will be very interesting!

@ 192 -- Cassandra, I'm a lawyer, and my new job is with the Social Security Administration. For the past year I haven't been practicing law at all, so this position is definitely a good career move for me!

@ 195 -- I once considered being a lawyer. There were even some people who thought I would be good at it. Unfortunately, I don't think it's the right career for me. I don't have the kind of personality that would make a good lawyer.

I'm glad you've taken this career step, and I hope your job makes you happy.

Here's hoping that the new job will provide you with the kinds of challenges you like!

Congrats on the new job and the opportunity to practice law again :)

@ 196 -- Fair enough, Cassandra! It's certainly not a profession for everyone, although there are many different types of law and different career paths one could take. For example, I'm not the kind of lawyer who stands up and yells at people in court; I definitely wouldn't be good at that!

And thanks, hailelib and Tanglewood!

Congrats on the new job, Christina. It's always exciting starting something new.

I've just started The Night Circus and I'm glad to hear most people have enjoyed it. I was a little worried that it would be too 'dreamlike' for me, but it hasn't been; I'm enjoying it so far.

Checking in Christina and joining the others in congratulating you on the new job!

@ 200 -- Glad you're liking The Night Circus!

@ 201 -- Thanks, Lori. :)

Book #3: Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove
Category: Don't Shoot the Piano Player
CATs: Random (new-to-me author), Alpha (M), Award (Spur)

This epic Western tells the story of a group of cowboys who decide to drive a cattle herd from the small town of Lonesome Dove, Texas, to the wilds of Montana. Leading the outfit are former Texas Rangers Woodrow Call and Gus McCrae, whose prowess in fighting Indians has made them legendary throughout the Wild West. They take a small group of cowboys with them on the journey, including several men who served with them when they were the only law in Texas. One woman also accompanies them, a prostitute named Lorena who has fallen in love with one of the cowboys. The book follows this group on its journey north, describing the various perils the cowboys meet along the way, including bad weather, hostile Indians, and a growing despair as they confront more and more suffering.

This is the first Western I’ve ever read, although I’ve seen and enjoyed several John Wayne movies. But I definitely think this was the right novel to start with, as it seems to encapsulate the entire scope of what a Western should be. I was especially impressed with the descriptions of the country, its weather and its wildlife. I honestly did feel transported to another place and time. The character development is also very well done; every person encountered in the book seems clearly delineated, with his (or her) own goals, fears, and desires. In a book this long, so much specificity is quite a feat! I especially enjoyed the depictions of women in the novel; I was amazed to think of what a hard life they must have had in such unsettled, lawless country. My one complaint about the book is that it’s extremely long, which made it hard for me to find the motivation to read it. It’s also quite heartbreaking in places…I don’t want to spoil anything, but a lot of people die throughout the course of the novel. But overall, I was very impressed with this book and would definitely recommend it!

Am I the last one standing in this group who haven't gotten to Lonesome Dove yet? :) Mt copy is back in Sweden, so the plan is to get it read on my holidays in May - looking forward to it!

Nope, I haven't read it yet either! I'm not much of a Western person, and I keep forgetting to ask my Mom to lend me her copy. I know it will be good, it's just a matter of finding the time and space to shoe-horn it in!

Great review, Christina, and CONGRATULATIONS on finishing such a chunkster!

Great review on Lonesome Dove. I don't usually read westerns, but it seems like everyone who touches that book loves it. I'm starting to get curious.

Ooh, definitely have to get that one out from the library soon! :)

I loved Lonesome Dove and I think it's one of the best American novels written in the last 50 years. Quite frankly, I don't know why it didn't make the Modern Library 100.

Nice review of Lonesome Dove, Christina. I also found it hard in places, but enjoyed it as well.

Hmm. I'll have to keep Lonesome Dove in mind for when I'm next in the mood for a Western. I recognize the title, but I hadn't realized it was such a well-known book -- presumably because it was turned into a movie TV miniseries....

And, on more investigation -- Laura wasn't kidding! That book is huge! Let me add to the congratulations on finishing it...

@ 204 -- Eva, I'm thinking you're definitely not alone. :) Hope you enjoy it when you get to it!

@ 205 -- Laura, thank you! I actually borrowed my copy from my mom as well. :)

@ 206 -- Thanks, cammykitty. I enjoyed the book even as someone who doesn't read Westerns. It's not going onto my list of all-time favorites or anything, but I do think it's worth reading.

@ 207 -- Hope you enjoy it if/when you read it, rabbitprincess!

@ 208 -- Bjace, I do think it probably deserves to be in the Modern Library 100! I'm often very surprised by which books make the "best of" lists and which ones don't.

@ 209 -- SouthernKiwi, it was definitely hard to stay focused on the book. Reading long books is hard, because I always want my ticker to MOVE! But when I devoted some time to it, I definitely found it rewarding.

@ 210 -- pammab, I hope to watch the miniseries as well sometime soon! And thanks for the congratulations...it was definitely a struggle at times to get through the book!

I haven't read Lonesome Dove either. It's good to know so many people liked it though. I really enjoy a long book every now and then. I'll have to keep that in mind when I do categories in 2014.

Christina, well done on Lonesome Dove! I'm a couple of hundred pages from the end so hope to finish it this week. It is truly an epic read!

Christina, I'm glad you liked Lonesome Dove, it is one of my all time favorites. I'm another one who borrowed the book from her mother. I'm glad that it opened my mind to reading more in the western genre.

Congratulations on the job also!

Nice review, I loved Lonesome Dove and I didn't cry once*... ahem.. I think the topic and style justify such a chunkster but I admit once I started reading it I couldn't stop so it kind of flew by. A book for a rainy, free weekend I think.

* may not be true

yep great review of a great book

@ 212 -- Roro8, I deliberately structured my challenge in such a way that I'd be free to read some longer books. But I still get impatient because I want that ticker to be moving faster!

@ 213 -- Go, Susan, go! :)

@ 214 -- Thanks, Lisa. I am curious to read the other Westerns on my list now. It'll be interesting to see how more contemporary authors, in particular, have experimented with the genre.

@ 215 -- Haha, oh, I cried a bunch of times! And I agree -- when I had a lot of time just to sit and read, the book went very quickly!

@ 216 -- Thank you!

Speaking of books that make you cry, The Book Thief had me quietly crying (trying not to let my husband notice). When I finished my husband commented that he didn't understand why I would choose to read a book that made me cry. If a book can make me cry, or laugh out loud, I reckon that is 5 star quality.

Sounds like I have avoided Lonesome Dove for as long as I can. the Reviews by Anders (GingerbreadMan), Nancy (Lit_chick) and now yourself, Christina, I think I will have to finally cave and add that one to my reading list.

..... based on the reviews, I don't think it is going to be that hard of a slog for me to read....;-)

Congratulations on the job, Christina! Once again I'm late to the party..... sigh.

@ 218 -- Oh, I sobbed during The Book Thief! I do tend to be a weeper, though, so I can't automatically give a book a 5-star rating just for that. But it's always great when a book really resonates with you emotionally!

@ 219 -- Lori, I hope we haven't overhyped it and that it isn't a slog. :)

@ 220 -- Thanks, Victoria! Glad you stopped by. I'm horribly behind on threads myself.

Lovely review of one of my all time favorite books. Lonesome Dove is one of a handful of truly great westerns, and if you get lonesome for Gus and Call, you can always read on - McMurtry went back and filled in their early years with his books Streets of Laredo, Dead Man's Walk and Comanche Moon.

DQ, thanks for the info! Someday I may want to return to Gus and Call, so it's good to know their earlier adventures are still available!

Christina, just to be clear, chronologically Streets of Laredo comes after Lonesome Dove, the other two are prequels, delving into their early days. All are good.

@ 224 -- Good to know! I do like to know what I'm getting with a series, especially when the books are published "out of order."

Book #4: Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering (trans. Alison Anderson)
Category: The Grand Tour
CATs: none

The original French title of this novel is Ensemble, C’est Tout, which is a much more fitting name for a book about a group of lost souls who eventually find happiness with each other. Camille is literally a starving artist, wasting away to skin and bones while working a completely unfulfilling job as an office cleaner in Paris. One day she falls ill and is rescued by Philibert, a sweet-natured but socially awkward aristocrat who is living in his family’s decaying ancestral home. Philibert also has a roommate named Franck, a talented chef whose filthy language is only matched by his even filthier lifestyle. Initially, the three of them living in one house seems like a recipe for disaster; but as they learn more about one another, they slowly build an unconventional family.

I think this is a perfect cold-weather book; it just begs to be read while snuggled up in a blanket and sipping something warm. At its core, it’s a fairly simple and predictable love story, with the hero and heroine hating each other at first, then slowly changing their minds. But Gavalda’s dreamy, transparent prose helps it to rise above a stereotypical chick-lit or romance novel. There’s something very thoughtful and smart about the book as a whole; I especially loved the descriptions of Camille’s art. The only thing that bugged me about the book is that sometimes the dialogue was hard to follow — there aren’t a lot of tags to indicate who’s saying what. There’s also a lot of jumping around between different characters’ perspectives, which can be distracting. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of love stories or French literature.

Yay! I just got a copy of Hunting and Gathering. I'm glad to know it's good, since I absolutely cannot remember why I put it on my wishlist in the first place.

My favorite part of Hunting and Gathering was the characters themselves - they're so vulnerable and flawed that you just have to care about them.

I've never read Hunting and Gathering but I've seen the film (and loved it) and I've read another of Gavalda's book - but can't remember the title of it.

@ 227 -- I enjoyed it a lot, RG! I have a lot of books like that on my wishlist too. :)

@ 228 -- I agree, Eva! I especially couldn't help loving Franck.

@ 229 -- Glad to know the film is good, Paws! I've been trying to track down a copy, but it's hard to find! The only other book by Gavalda that I've read is a collection of short stories, I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere, which I also liked a lot. She's also got a novel called French Leave that's on my TBR shelf.

Book #5: Patricia Moyes, Dead Men Don't Ski
Category: Little Grey Cells
CATs: Random (new-to-me author), Alpha (M)

Inspector Henry Tibbett and his wife Emmy are looking forward to a relaxing ski holiday in the Alpine town of Santa Chiara, Italy. However, Henry has also been asked to keep his eyes peeled for information relating to an international smuggling ring that might be headquartered in the area. Though reluctant to spoil his holiday with work, Henry can’t help but notice that several of his fellow vacationers have secrets to hide. Then one of the other guests at his hotel, Fritz Hauser, is found murdered on the ski lift. As Henry helps the local police to investigate, he soon learns that Hauser was involved in the smuggling ring — and that several of the hotel guests had good reasons for wanting him dead.

I think this book could best be described as a “traveling” English country house mystery. All the key elements are there — unlikable murder victim, plenty of suspects, an unusual crime scene which demands very precise alibis from everyone — but it happens to take place in a ski villa rather than an English country house. Since I love the genre, I found a lot to enjoy in this book. I especially enjoyed the subtle deviations from the standard mystery formula: for example, two of the characters are a hearty English colonel and his domineering wife, yet there’s more to both of them that meets the eye. Also, the “foreigners” in classic mystery novels always seem to be there as mere background, but here they were truly fleshed-out characters with actual relevance to the plot. I believe this is the first book in a series featuring Tibbett, and I’d gladly read more. Definitely recommended for classic mystery fans!

230. If you fail to find a DVD or Netflix/whatever copy of it - I guarantee you there are, ahem, "unofficial" copies (with subtitles) available online.

@ 232 -- I'm sure there are...I'm just a bit wary of casting a wider net, so to speak. I just got a new computer, and I really don't want to ruin it with evil viruses or anything! But I shall continue to search for legal, nonsketchy ways to watch it. :)

233. If you're worried about viruses, watch it streamed instead of actually downloading the whole thing.

@ 234 -- Paws, I caved and rented it on iTunes. :) I figure $2.99 isn't too unreasonable...

235. That's a bargain in my world. I'm used to movies costing between $3.50 and $7 (unless it's a special deal with multiple titles).

@ 236 -- Yeah, I know it's a tiny amount of money to complain about. :) I just finished watching the movie...a little too rushed, in my opinion, but I really enjoyed it!

>231 christina_reads: I've been wanting to try that series for a while. I'm glad to see you liked the first one so well. I really must see if I can get hold of that one. I picked up a later one in the series at a book sale two or three years ago but I haven't read it yet.

237. It's got Guillaume Canet in it, what more can you ask for? ;)

@ 238 -- Unfortunately, Moyes' books seem to be a bit hard to find! I think my library may have a couple of them. I acquired Dead Men Don't Ski through Paperback Swap.

@ 239 -- Um, yes. *swoon* :)

Book #6: Gemma Burgess, The Dating Detox
Category: Is This a Kissing Book?
CATs: Random (new-to-me author)

Sass (real name Sarah) is a 20-something copywriter in a London advertising agency who has just been dumped for the sixth time in a row. What's wrong with her? Why can't she make a relationship last? And why is she always the one getting dumped, even when she doesn't like the guy all that much either? After several drinks and talks with her best friends, Bloomie and Kate, Sass decides she's had enough of heartbreak and rejection: she's going on a dating sabbatical. For three months, she won't flirt, date, or sleep with any men. Almost immediately, Sass begins to notice improvements in her life. She's more confident at work, she's more productive in her free time, and she's not distracted by men all the time. But when she meets Jake, a handsome and charming man who shares her offbeat sense of humor, she must decide whether to risk everything she's achieved through her dating sabbatical and take a chance on a new relationship.

What a fun book! Yes, it's chick lit and thus inherently predictable, but Sass' original voice makes it a lot more interesting than the usual fare in this genre. Sass narrates the book in present tense, which is usually something I hate, but in this case it really emphasizes Sass' upbeat, live-in-the-moment character. However, this is a book in which you really have to like the heroine, so if detailed descriptions of outfits (yes, she loves clothes) and the bar scene in London put you off, then you may not enjoy the book as much as I did. I also really liked the fact that the other characters in this book are fleshed-out individuals with their own problems and concerns. Bloomie and Kate, for example, both grow and change throughout the course of the novel as they navigate problems at work and in their relationships. Many chick-lit books can feel like a one-woman show, but that was definitely not the case here! Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys British chick lit, and I look forward to reading more by Burgess.

You do know how long my wish list is, don't you? But a decent chick-lit novel is nothing to pass on.

Some interesting reading lately, Christina! As I never have a problem with an ever growing list of chicklit - you just never know when that kind of comfort read will come in handy! - The Dating Detox hits the list.

@ 242 -- I completely agree, RG!

@ 243 -- Lori, there's a lot to be said for fluffy comfort reads. Hope you enjoy the book!

@231- Dead Men Don't Ski sounds wonderful. Added it to The pile. Enjoying your reviews.

@ 245 -- Thanks; hope you enjoy it!

January recap:

Can't believe January is over already! I read 6 books this month...would have liked to read 7, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it. :) Here's what I read:

Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus -- A Kind of Magic (1/10)
Lauren Morrill, Meant to Be -- The Kids Are All Right (1/10)
Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove -- Don't Shoot the Piano Player (1/4)
Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering -- The Grand Tour (1/6)
Patricia Moyes, Dead Men Don't Ski -- Little Grey Cells (1/8)
Gemma Burgess, The Dating Detox -- Is This a Kissing Book? (1/10)

And I'm in the middle of The Passing Bells by Phillip Rock, which will be my first read for February!

Um, both Lonesome Dove and Hunting and Gathering are not exactly slender. You read quite a few pages this month.

Great work!

@ 248 -- Good way to look at it, RG! :) I'm definitely cutting myself some slack because of Lonesome Dove.

@ 249 -- Thanks!

Finally checking in! I don't know how I missed your thread, but I'm glad I found it at last. I'm reading The Night Circus right now for book club. I'm about 2/3 done. It's not what I expected.

Yay, glad you found me! I'll be interested to see your thoughts on The Night Circus when you're done.

Still catching up in threads! Great review of lonesome dove, I must get around to read the other books about Call snd McGrae sometime.

Thanks for stopping by, GM!

I would definitively cut yourself some slack for having completed Lonesome Dove..... which turns your 7 books read into a "WOW" number!

I only managed 5 in January so I think you 6, almost 7 is great!

@ 255 -- Thanks, Lori! Maybe I should count page numbers...but I think that would backfire on me in the long run. :)

@ 256 -- Five is great too! It all depends on what your goals are and what your reading pace is.

Book #7: Phillip Rock, The Passing Bells
Category: Ye Olde Historical Fiction
CATs: none

In the summer of 1914, the aristocratic Grevilles of Abingdon Pryory are relatively carefree, except for the usual problems of their class: son and heir Charles is in love with an unsuitable woman, daughter Alexandra is about to begin her first London Season, and brash American cousin Martin Rilke is visiting from Chicago. So when a duke in faraway Austria is assassinated by a Serbian revolutionary, neither the Grevilles nor their friends believe that the event will have any effect on them. Yet as the conflict escalates into a full-scale war, the Grevilles' lives are changed forever as Charles joins the army and Alexandra volunteers as a nurse. This novel follows several characters, from Lord Greville down to housemaid Ivy Thaxton, as they experience the shock and horror of World War I.

"Downton Abbey" fan that I am, I couldn't resist this historical novel about WWI. I was very impressed by the way historical information was embedded into the narrative; while there are a few infodumps, they're largely unobtrusive. For example, the American cousin is a newspaper man trying to do a story about the war, but his fellow journalists have to explain the background of the European conflict to him. I also liked that the book follows a variety of characters with different perspectives on the war. The young people are enthusiastic and overflowing with patriotism at first, but most of them are quickly disillusioned. Senior military officers berate the stupidity that lost so many lives needlessly at the Somme. The women experience the pain of losing their loved ones, but they also find new and useful work that gives their lives a new direction. All that said, I never became fully gripped by the story; because the novel is so focused on the war, it somewhat neglects character development and relationships. Overall, this is a solid historical fiction novel, and I'd recommend it to fans of the period, but I didn't love it.

Too bad! I've been getting into WWII stories recently; it might have been nice to branch out into WWI as well. I don't think I'll start with The Passing Bells to be the one to hook me, though.

@ 259 -- I actually had a WWII category last year! I only managed to read about 4 books, but it's a time period that really fascinates me. Any recommendations? I know comparatively little about WWI, but I'm starting to become more interested...mostly due to "Downton Abbey," I'll admit!

I actually have a copy of The Passing Bells though I've never read it. Apparently it's the first in a trilogy. Thanks for reminding me of it.

@ 261 -- Yes, it's first in a trilogy. It can be read as a stand-alone, though -- no cliffhangers or anything!

Book #8: Alicia Thompson, Psych Major Syndrome
Category: The Kids Are All Right
CATs: none

Leigh has just started her freshman year at a small liberal-arts college in California that is renowned for both its unconventional academic structure (no grades!) and its intellectual rigor. A smart and driven psychology major, Leigh enjoys her classes but is dismayed by how competitive her fellow students are — and how eagerly they discuss senior thesis topics and grad school options. In addition to being intimidated by her classmates, Leigh is also worried about her love life. She and her high school boyfriend Andrew have been together for over a year, but their relationship seems to be fizzling. Then there’s Andrew’s roommate Nathan, who is openly hostile to Leigh for no apparent reason. In order to survive her college experience, Leigh must take her hard-won insights into psychology and apply them to her own life.

I decided to read this book primarily because of Janice’s review, but also because I really enjoy books set in college. I don’t understand why more books are not set in universities, as most people grow and change a lot during those four (or more) years. So I liked the college-y aspects of this book, such as Leigh’s close relationship with her roommate Ami. I also enjoyed the little tidbits about psychology that are sprinkled throughout the book, such as the definitions of psych-related terms at the beginning of each chapter. Otherwise, though, the book is quite predictable; the romance was cute but not particularly original or exciting. Overall it’s a fun, quick read that requires very little brain power, but it did keep me turning the pages.

Book #9: Tayeb Salih, The Wedding of Zein and Other Sudanese Stories (trans. Denys Johnson-Davies)
Category: The Grand Tour
CATs: none

This very short book contains two short stories, “The Doum Tree of Wad Hamid” and “A Handful of Dates,” as well as the novella “The Wedding of Zein.” All three works portray everyday life in a Sudanese village, but from varying perspectives. “The Doum Tree…” is about a sacred tree that is threatened when outsiders want to cut it down to make room for a new agricultural system. “A Handful of Dates” portrays a young boy’s disillusionment as he realizes that his grandfather isn’t as heroic as the boy once thought. And in “The Wedding of Zein,” the village laughingstock is about to be married to a beautiful and much-desired woman; the varied reactions of the townspeople to the news reveal subtle tensions within the village.

Before giving my thoughts on this book, I must admit that I know next to nothing about Sudan. I wasn’t even aware that its population spoke Arabic until I saw “translated from the Arabic” somewhere on my copy of the book! So I was very interested in reading these stories and broadening my horizons a little bit. Interestingly, my first impression after reading this book was that it could have been set in any number of places: the country’s major conflicts of the last several years, including the secession of South Sudan, are not mentioned at all. Yet I did get a sense of the country’s Islamic culture and traditions, as well as its incorporation of progressive ideas in the realms of medicine and education. I found my glimpse into this foreign (to me) culture extremely fascinating. But I really liked the book’s focus on universal themes like love, family relationships, and the intricacies of village life. All in all, I found this book very easy to read and would definitely consider reading more by Tayeb Salih.

In the past, I haven't been posting planned reads for each month in advance; my process has been to read whatever I wanted and place it in the appropriate category after the fact. But now the disorganization is driving me a little bit crazy, and I feel the need to make a list to keep my thoughts in order. So here's what I'm planning to read in February:

- Anne Fortier, Juliet
- Jonathan Eig, Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig
- Gail Carriger, Etiquette and Espionage
- Hilary Reyl, Lessons in French

These are all books I've recently checked out of the library (except for the last one, which is an ER win), so I need to read them relatively soon! If anything else comes in from the library, I will be in a tight spot since February is so short. :)

I have Lessons in French as my ER book, as well. I look forward to comparing notes with you!

Cool, RG! It will be interesting to see if and how our opinions differ.

I'm eager to see if you like Carriger's new book. I've enjoyed her Parasol Protectorate series and hope this one will be good to introduce to my library.

@ 268 -- mamzel, I have high hopes! I enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate series a lot, but I ultimately decided they weren't "keepers" for me. So my plan is to read this new series from my local library...but I may end up buying them if I really like them! :)

>265 christina_reads: I have read Juliet. I really liked it. I hope you do too.

I've heard lots of good things about it, Roro, so I hope so too!

Oooohhh..... Juliet looks like a good one...... very curious to see what you think of it, Christina!

Lori, I've just started it, but so far it seems very readable. Can't say much more than that yet. :)

Christina, the Psych Major Syndrome is being added to the wishlist. I'm anxious to see your response to Luckiest Man. It, too, sounds like something I'd enjoy.

@ 274 -- I'm looking forward to Luckiest Man. Baseball is a topic I don't read much about, but I do like the sport and am really interested in reading about Gehrig's life! Spring training starts soon, I believe, so it seems like the appropriate time of year. :)

I too am looking forward to seeing what you think of Etiquette & Espionage - I need to get on with my Parasol-series first, though!! :)

@260
Oh, with regard to WWII, Christina, I expect you've read more than me! I've read Connie Willis's Blackout/All Clear, which I know you've done as well. I quite enjoyed The Night Watch by Sarah Waters -- and that is everything I've read for fiction. I also recently finished "Wish Me Luck", which is a 1980s British TV series about women working for the French Resistance. I found unbelievably good, but it seems to get bad reviews -- if you don't like authors doing nasty things to characters, you should stay far away. Me, I liked the realism. :)

@ 276 -- Eva, I hope you enjoy the Parasol Protectorate books! They're fun reads, in my opinion. I'm sure that when I finally read and review Etiquette & Espionage, I'll have something to say about the comparison between the two series.

@ 277 -- pammab, I haven't read The Night Watch, so I'll have to look into that one! And there are a bunch more WWII books on my shelves that I just haven't gotten to yet. ETA -- and thanks for the tip on "Wish Me Luck"! I'll have to see if I can track it down. I don't mind a certain amount of nastiness to characters, as long as it serves a purpose in the story or character development.

Book #10: Claudia J. Edwards, Taming the Forest King
Category: A Kind of Magic
CATs: none

This fantasy/romance hybrid is narrated by Tevra, a colonel in the king's light cavalry who is leading a small contingent of soldiers into the northern provinces to investigate some rumors of wrongdoing. A woman in a man's world, Tevra has fought her whole life to gain respect in her chosen profession, and she rigidly obeys the military's strict code of honor in order to protect the good reputation she's earned. But when she reaches the northern Forest, she will be tested in ways she never thought possible. A corrupt ruler has impoversihed the entire region, and supernatural threats menace the area as well. But the greatest danger may be from Tevra's own heart, as she finds herself strongly attracted to Dard, a young man hailed by the local lords as the Forest King. Can Tevra start a romantic relationship that will lead to gossip and scandal while still maintaining her honor?

This book is a little bit dated and cheesy (originally published in 1986), but I have to admit that I really enjoyed it overall! The title is a bit of a misnomer; although the Forest King has a significant role in the book, I think it's quite inaccurate to say that anyone attempts to "tame" him. But the book is much more romance-y than I expected. I was anticipating a fantasy novel with some romantic elements, but it's actually more of a romance novel with a few fantasy trappings. The central focus of the book is Tevra's love life, and there are two suitors in the picture. Of course, Tevra doesn't realize that either man is in love with her -- which is a trope that normally bugs me a lot, but here it didn't bother me because I was simply enjoying the book so much! Aside from the aforementioned love-related blindness, I really liked Tevra; she's a unique character in that she's almost entirely driven by a strict devotion to duty. She's also badass without being obnoxious about it, a rare feat among fantasy heroines these days. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, romantic read.

Wow -- your description of Taming the Forest King makes it sound a lot like Tamora Pierce's YA series Lioness Quartet, which I loved (in particular The Woman Who Rides Like a Man) -- must have been something in that 1986 water!

I also really enjoyed Tamora Pierce's books in high school - I might have to check out Claudia Edwards. I received Soulless (plus two other light vampire-ish books) for Santa Thing last year when I'd specificaly said no vampires/werewolves/zombies etc and I was a bit disappointed to receive them, so I'm very happy to see some positive comments about the Parasol Protectorate! I'll give that one a go a bit sooner than I maybe might have :-)

@281 Soulless is kind of fun. It isn't typical vampirey/werewolfy. I agree with Christina - fun reads, but not ones that need to stay on my shelves.

LOL - I'm trying to think if there's something particularly 80s about that Taming the Forest King plot. The title is making me think Taming of the Shrew. Was the King shrewish? It does sound like a perfect romance, published about 15 years too early. Something like that now would start the next hot new craze after paranormal romance.

@ 280 -- I read the Lioness Quartet a few years ago for the first time, and I liked but didn't love it. But I think that if I'd read them when I was 12 or so, I would have adored them!

@ 281 -- Worry not! I'm not a big fan of paranormal beasties either, but the Parasol Protectorate books are more about romance and mysteries and dirigibles.

@ 282 -- The plot doesn't resemble The Taming of the Shrew -- although that could have been quite interesting too! When I called it dated, I think I was really talking more about the writing style than anything else. Anytime Tevra talks about romantic relationships, she uses really modern psychological jargon, and that took me out of the story a little bit. In a pseudo-medieval society, characters really shouldn't be using phrases like "sexual tension"!

In a pseudo-medieval society, characters really shouldn't be using phrases like "sexual tension"! Um, yeah, got to agree with you there. That bans Taming the Forest King from my WL.

@ 284 -- Aww, but it's a fun read apart from that, I swear!

I'm sure it is. :) But ya know, sexual tension is meant to be felt, not talked about.

I'm reading battle of the sexes in science fiction by Justine Larbalestier right now and am thinking way too hard on things like that. I'll need to wash that book down with something a bit more "innocent." Did you know, Isaac Asimov was a misogynistic know-it-all teenager that kept fanning the fires by saying sf is no place for romance or "swooning damsels" in the letter-to-the-editor columns. That's how he launched his career.

Yup, I'm ready for one of those sf&f romances where a little Isaac-type gets his heart stolen so fast he doesn't know what happened to him.

I did not know that about Asimov, but I suspected it. :) I hear a lot about misogyny in classic (and sometimes contemporary) science fiction. I'm willing to forgive a lot if the book is good, but I totally agree about being ready for one of those sf&f romances where a little Isaac-type gets his heart stolen so fast he doesn't know what happened to him!

Fine, as long as the woman concerned falls in love with someone else. just saying.

LOL@288 - yup, that would be a good alternate to the grrl has two choices and one is a bad boy plot.

One of the things that's been interesting/saddening me in the place of women in early sf debate is this. Women hadn't had the right to vote in the US until fall of 1920. Asimov was writing his absurd letters in the 1920s, and one of his complaints was that the women weren't characterized as being sensible, although he didn't take the leap to say that women were being stereotyped or misrepresented. - The lateness of our acceptance as full citizens under the law (voting being the right of citizens) doesn't excuse the misogyny/segregation of the time, but it does show how wide spread and deep the beliefs went. Makes me mad! & makes me think we've got a long way left to go.

Well, I haven't been doing much reading or LT updating lately...at this rate I won't make my goal of 85 books this year! I'm reading Juliet by Anne Fortier, which is fine but not great so far (I'm about 1/3 through). I hope to be able to finish it within the next couple days!

In the meantime, I'm hoping you will all be able to help me with another reading challenge I'm doing! It's called Around the World in 12 Books, and the goal is to read one book per month, each set in a different country or political entity. The assignment for March is Wales, and I have no idea what book to choose! So I'd love to hear any and all suggestions for Welsh fiction, preferably "literary" rather than "genre" (the host's requirement, not mine!). Thanks in advance!

Have you read The Earth Hums in B Flat yet? I loved it, and I think it would meet the requirements for your Wales challenge.

August by Gerard Woodward is set primarily on a vacation campsite in Wales. I really liked it when I read it last year.

I second Carrie's suggestion of The Earth Hums in B Flat. Other possibilities that I have read and can recommend are Sixpence House by Paul Collins - Its a modern day memoir set in Hay-on-Wye, Wales. The Brothers of Gwynedd is a quartet of books by Edith Parageter set in 13th century Wales - book one is Sunrise in the West.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I've requested The Earth Hums in B Flat from the library; it's been on my radar for a while, but you've all given me the extra push I needed to read it! I've made a note of your other suggestions too...the Edith Pargeter books look especially appealing!

That sounds like a fun challenge, Christina. So a new country is assigned every month and the challenge lasts a year?

Yup! The host posts a list of all the countries at the beginning of the challenge so that we have time to plan what books we'll read. Click the link @ 290 if you're interested!

Christina, this is a very interesting challenge. It's not something I could do this year. I am doing this challenge and ROOT so I my reading is already planned. Having something like this on LibraryThing for next year would be great. Wonder if anyone has the time to start a new group.

@ 297 -- craso, it's been a fun challenge so far, but I can certainly understand the desire not to overcommit! When 2014 gets a little closer, it might be fun to float this idea to the group at large and see if there's any interest. Personally, I don't want to discuss it too soon because I'm still figuring out my 2013 reading!

Book #11: Anne Fortier, Juliet
Category: Shgakespeafe
CATs: none

Julie Jacobs and her twin sister, Janice, have lived with their Aunt Rose ever since their parents died tragically when they were babies. When Aunt Rose dies, her will stipulates that Janice will inherit her entire fortune, including the house. Julie is shocked and angered by this slight, until she discovers that Aunt Rose has left her some old documents that belonged to her mother -- documents that hint at a treasure hidden somewhere in Siena, Italy. Julie immediately goes to Siena in hopes of discovering this hypothetical treasure, but she soon finds that her inheritance -- and indeed her whole identity -- is bound up in the story of Romeo and Juliet. Far from being the fictional creation of William Shakespeare, their story is based on true events that occurred in Siena in the 1300s. As Julie digs deeper into the medieval legend of Romeo and Juliet, she eventually discovers some priceless artifacts connected to the lovers and finds her own destiny in the process.

Though Romeo and Juliet is by no means my favorite Shakespeare play (that would be Much Ado About Nothing, in case you were wondering!), I was excited to read this book for its combination of literary detection and romance. Unfortunately, I ended up not liking it very much! My main problem is that the heroine, Julie, is too whiny. She constantly complains about Janice's poor treatment of her growing up, and she's always bemoaning her "unattractive" appearance, even though she immediately catches the eye of a handsome Italian. I also hated her narrative style, which is completely stilted and unrealistic. The dialogue is almost uniformly terrible. As for the actual story, parts of it were interesting, especially in the historical chapters. But as events unfolded, I grew more and more irritated at the supernatural elements of the plot, which I was not expecting at all. Basically there's this Ancient Curse (tm) that hangs over Julie and her paramour, who are sort of reincarnations of the original Romeo and Juliet, and they need to break it in order to live happily ever after. The farther I got through the book, the more I went from "not great, but still readable" to "I can't wait for this mess to end!" Overall, not recommended.

The farther I got through the book, the more I went from "not great, but still readable" to "I can't wait for this mess to end!"

I think we've all been there! I'm impressed you finished the book.

RG, I was determined! Maybe I'm being a bit harsh in my relief...it wasn't the worst book. I was just expecting/hoping for better.

glad you blocked that one...

@ 302 -- Haha, happy to do my part to deflect book bullets whenever possible!

Yes - I started off thinking I'd be taking a BB also, but I think not.

Oh no! An Ancient Curse (tm)! The initial premise sounds good but... who can stand a whiny Juliet!!! Yes, thanks for catching that book bullet right out of the sky. It's all done doing damage to our TBRs.

@ 304 -- I know there are many people who enjoyed it more than I did, but my personal advice would definitely be to skip it!

@ 305 -- Haha, I'm just so over ancient curses! Especially in books where I'm not even expecting them. I mean, they're OK in a YA fantasy novel or something, but I thought this book was straight-up fiction. Sadly, I was mistaken.

Book #12: Gail Carriger, Etiquette & Espionage
Category: The Kids Are All Right
CATs: none

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia Temminnick is the despair of her mother due to her disheveled appearance and unladylike fascination with mechanical objects. In desperation, her mother decides to send her to finishing school — a prospect that fills Sophronia with dismay. But she soon discovers that Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing School is much more than meets the eye. For one thing, it’s located on a giant dirigible; for another, lessons include weaponry and poisoning as well as dancing and the proper way to drink tea. Sophronia is delighted with her unexpected education, which proves to be useful when the school is attacked by foes who are looking for a valuable prototype. Along with her newfound friends both above- and belowdecks, Sophronia decides to learn more about the prototype and its significance, but her investigation may endanger her family as well as herself.

I very much enjoyed Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series, so I was eager to read this new book that is set in the same universe, but a few decades earlier. I’m happy to say that I liked it even more than the Parasol Protectorate books! The concept of a finishing school that teaches young ladies how to be dangerous secret agents is absolutely fascinating, and I was absorbed by the world of the novel. I really enjoyed the combination of Victoriana, steampunk, and humor that Carriger does so well; I especially loved the occasional bits of pure silliness, such as the existence of “flywaymen” (highwaymen that travel by hot air balloon) and a villainous society of Picklemen whose leader is known as the Great Chutney. There are also some wonderful secondary characters and a few potential love interests for Sophronia, so I definitely look forward to reading more books in this series!

Hmm, my daughter might like that one. Her middle name is Sophronia.

This is excellent news!! Etiquette & Espionage goes on the wishlist now!

That is indeed excellent news! Etiquette & Espionage sounds right up my alley. Thanks, Christina!

@ 308 -- That's so cool, RG! I'm betting she doesn't find many books that feature a character who shares her middle name.

@ 309, 310 -- Hope you guys like it! I certainly had a lot of fun with it.

Going to take a BB on this one and add it to my Recommended LT collection so I don't forget.

@ 312 -- Yay! It's so rare that I am on the shooting end (?) rather than the receiving end of a book bullet!

I still haven't started the Parasol Protectorate series yet, though I do have the first two books sitting on the tbr shelves. BB avoided for now at least.

Sorry to see that Juliet was a bomb but your rebound book Etiquette & Espionage - if i can call it that - sounds like a winner!

@ 314 -- Wolfy, hope you enjoy the Parasol Protectorate books! Fair warning: book #2, Changeless, ends on a big fat cliffhanger. I was very happy to have book #3 at the ready right away!

@ 315 -- Lori, I love the term "rebound book"! What an intriguing thought...

I haven't started the Parasol Protectorate yet either, but I'm looking forward to it even more now. I also love the idea of a finishing school that trains up young ladies to be secret agents.

@ 317 -- It's such a great concept, isn't it? Definitely makes me wish I could attend. :)

Book #13: Kathryn Miller Haines, The Winter of Her Discontent
Category: Shgakespeafe
CATs: Random (wintry words)

Rosie Winter and her best pal Jayne are struggling actresses trying to make it in New York City in the middle of World War II. But between the recent murder of Paulette, a fellow actress who lived in their boardinghouse, and their mobster friend Al’s confession that he did the deed, Rosie and Jayne aren’t exactly focused on chasing their dreams of fame. Rosie is convinced that Al’s innocent, so she gets herself cast in the show that Paulette was starring in before she died. She soon learns that the show seems plagued by bad luck: dancers slip and injure themselves, actresses are hit by cars, and even Rosie’s nemesis Ruby suddenly falls ill. As Rosie investigates Paulette’s murder and tries to find out what’s behind all the “accidents,” she eventually discovers a lot more than she bargained for — all while trying to survive rationing, blackouts, and not knowing whether her ex-boyfriend Jack is dead or alive.

I really liked the first book in this series, The War Against Miss Winter, so I immediately set out to acquire the rest of them! This is book 2, and it largely met my expectations, though I don’t think it’s quite as good as book 1. I enjoy Rosie’s blunt voice, which is littered with 1940s slang, and I think that both she and her best friend Jayne are very interesting characters. The mystery aspect of this book is definitely secondary to the character development and the WWII setting, but I thought it was rather clever. I also liked the showbiz setting of much of the novel, but obviously that won’t be appealing to everyone. At this point, I’m curious to see what’s next for Rosie, especially in her romantic relationships. She’s still carrying a torch for Jack and trying to find out where he is, but it’s a little hard for me to be invested since Jack hasn’t been “on page” yet. I’m also intrigued to follow her career, since it seems she’s bound for the South Pacific with the USO in book 3. I’m looking forward to continuing with Rosie’s adventures!

Christina, I am in total agreement with you on your review of the Rosie Winter book. I read it this month also and feel the same way about continuing the series.

@ 320 -- I'm really liking the series so far! I'll probably wait a while to read book 3, though...I like to leave some time between books in a series.

February recap:

I read 7 books this month, which is about what I'd hoped, but I still feel a little behind. Hopefully I will have a really good month in March! Here's what I read in February:

Phillip Rock, The Passing Bells -- Ye Olde Historical Fiction (1/10)
Alicia Thompson, Psych Major Syndrome -- The Kids Are All Right (2/10)
Tayeb Salih, The Wedding of Zein and Other Sudanese Stories -- The Grand Tour (2/6)
Claudia J. Edwards, Taming the Forest King -- A Kind of Magic (2/10)
Anne Fortier, Juliet -- Shgakespeafe (1/7)
Gail Carriger, Etiquette & Espionage -- The Kids Are All Right (3/10)
Kathryn Miller Haines, The Winter of Her Discontent -- Shgakespeafe (2/7)

My first read for March will be Lessons in French by Hilary Reyl, which was my January ER win. Then I have a ton of library books to read, not to mention the group read for The Count of Monte Cristo. Should be an action-packed month!

With the start of a new month, I'm moving to a new thread!



Follow the nifty thread continuation link, or just check it out HERE!