Porch_Reader (Amy) Reads in 2012 - Part 3

“Nothing you love is lost. Not really. Things, people – they always go away, sooner or later. You can’t hold them, any more than you can hold moonlight. But if they’ve touched you, if they’re inside you, then they’re still yours. The only things you ever really have are the ones you hold inside your heart.”

From Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville

_______

Welcome to my third 2012 thread! As I get back into the rhythm of the fall semester, I’m hoping to find some time to read too. I hope you’ll chime in and share your thoughts from time to time too!

So far this year. . . (Favorites are marked with *)

January:
Every Last One
Every Thing On It
We Wanted to Be Writers: Life, Love, and Literature at the Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Christmas Genie
*Wonderstruck
*Oryx and Crake
*Drive: The Surprising Truth about what Motivates Us
*Salvage the Bones
*Cannery Row
This is Where I Leave You
*The Upright Piano Player
The Lost Hero
Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally
No Talking
Roscoe Riley Rules #3: Don't Swap Your Dog for a Sweater

February:
*Running the Rift
*War Horse
Maine
Wool
Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter
*Here Lies Linc
An Unexpected Twist
*The Sisters Brothers
The Throne of Fire (The Kane Chronicles, Book Two)
The World according to Humphrey

March:
*The Sense of an Ending
*The Last Werewolf
*The Checklist Manifesto
Murder in the Marais
Lumby's Bounty
The Big Dance: The Story of the NCAA Basketball Tournament
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
*When She Woke

April:
*lots of candles, plenty of cake
I Think I Love You
*The Hummingbird's Daughter
The Catcher in the Rye
Pigeon English
*Behind the Dream: The Making of the Speech that That Transformed a Nation
*Gregor the Overlander
*The Hunger Games
*Behind the Beautiful Forevers
Population: 485
*Looking for Alaska

May:
*The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
Open City
*The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work
*The Kitchen House
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
*The Homecoming of Samuel Lake
Prep
*The Orphan Master's Son
*The Buddha in the Attic
*Q Road

June:
*Home
Skellig
*A Widow for One Year
*The Family Fang
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2011
Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life
After the Workshop
Catching Fire

July:
*The Fault in Our Stars
*Something Wicked This Way Comes
The Knife of Never Letting Go
*The Hotel New Hampshire
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
Mockingjay
The Island

August:
*The Chaperone
*The Stone Diaries
Stardust
*Sunset Park
The Dog Stars
*Truman
The Language of Flowers
*Okay for Now

Goals:

One of my goals for this year was to read more books by some of my favorite authors and by new-to-me authors. Here are my original lists, along with the books I have read for each.

John Irving - A Widow for One Year - June 11, 2012; The Hotel New Hampshire - July 19, 2012
Edwidge Danticat
John Green - Looking for Alaska - April 30, 2012; The Fault in Our Stars - July 7, 2012
Bonnie Campbell - Q Road - May 31, 2012
Ann Patchett - The Patron Saint of Liars - September 10, 2012
Barbara Kingsolver - Flight Behavior - November 18, 2012
Shel Silverstein – Every Thing On It – January 1, 2012
Richard Russo
Gary D. Schmidt - Okay for Now - August 29, 2012
Louise Penny - The Beautiful Mystery - September 4, 2012
Michael Chabon - Telegraph Avenue - October 6, 2012
Lois Lowry - The Willoughbys - December 25, 2012

I’d also like to read some authors whose books I've never read, including:

Margaret Atwood - Oryx and Crake - January 6, 2012
Mario Vargas Llosa - Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter - February 16, 2012
J.D. Salinger - The Catcher in the Rye - April 10, 2012
Zadie Smith
Julian Barnes - The Sense of an Ending - March 3, 2012
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Daphne Du Maurier - Rebecca - October 20, 2012
Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse Five - October 9, 2012
Robertson Davies
Gish Jen
Lan Samantha Chang
Jeffrey Eugenides
Deirdre Madden
Ernest J Gaines
Laurie Halse Anderson
Luis Alberto Urrea - The Hummingbird's Daughter - April 6, 2012
Kate Grenville - The Idea of Perfection - October 27, 2012
Nadine Gordimer
Helen Dunmore
Richard Mason - Natural Elements - November 4, 2012
Russell Banks
William Boyd
Doris Lessing
John Boyne - THe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - November 6, 2012
Carol Shields - The Stone Diaries - August 9, 2012
Paul Auster - Sunset Park - August 11, 2012
Patrick Somerville - The Cradle - September 15, 2012
Edward St. Aubyn

I’d love to add more names to this list. Feel free to suggest your own favorite authors.

Happy new thread!

Great new thread! I've got Okay for Now from where Linda (Whisper1) recommended it last year--I do need to get to it one of these days soon.

That is a lovely lovely quote up top. Very timely for me too. And I may just have to write it down.

If you are looking for a good Doris Lessing one to start with I recommend The Fifth Child. And for Helen Dunmore, will you be reading the Siege? It was a pretty good one! I will read the follow up to that one this year maybe.

Just dropping by to grab a seat here on the new thread! Hope your weekend was great.

Hi Amy, it looks like progress is being made on your authors' lists. I see some authors there I'd like to try myself. I can't believe I haven't read anything by Kurt Vonnegut!

So, is everyone back in school? What books will you have on your syllabus this year?

Just dropping by to check out the new thread, Amy. :)

Oh, good, this thread is nice and new, and nice and short! I'm returning your visit. I love the author lists/goals. I may have to try something like that in 2013. I seem to read lots of new-to-me authors, and neglect authors I already love. Which is a shame.

I love new thread visitors! Thanks for stopping by, Leah, Roni, Megan, Donna, Micky, and Anne!

#6 - Thanks, Leah! A new thread at the start of a new semester seems about right.

#7 - Roni - I have Linda to thank for Okay for Now too. It is right up there with The Fault in Our Stars as one of my favorite YA books of the year.

#8 - Megan - I didn't have a Doris Lessing book in mind. Thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to look for that one at my used book store. They often have some Lessing books on the shelf. The Siege is the one I was planning for Dunmore. I've seen lots of positive comments about that one.

#9 - Hi Jenn! It was a lovely weekend, with a nice bonus day! Hope yours was good too.

#10 - Donna - Yes, everyone is back in school. We just started Week #3. I'm teaching a Ph.D. seminar on Motivation and Attitudes. We just read a lot of articles, no books. My Executive MBA students will be reading some chapters of Handbook of Principles of Organizational Behavior, and I'll probably talk about a few recent management books. Plus, I'm betting that Harry Truman is going to sneak in as a leadership example several times this semester!

#11 - Hi Micky! Hope you'll stop back by when there are some books here. (I'm nearing the end of The Beautiful Mystery. It almost kept me up too late last night.)

#12 - Hi Anne! Thanks for stopping by. Glad to have a nice short thread for you to visit. The author lists have worked pretty well for me this year. I tend to neglect some of my favorite authors too. I'd like to be able to say that I've read everything they've written at some point, but I've got a ways to go.

Hi Amy! We just arrived in your neck of the woods. Plan to visit the Amana Colonies tomorrow and then really come close the next day when we visit the Hoover sites in West Branch. Anything else we should be sure to do?

I do hope you get a chance to read both The Siege and its follow up, The Betrayal. I thought they were both terrific, although I liked The Siege more.

#14 - Hi Reba! The Amana Colonies are probably the most interesting attraction in the area. They have a fabulous bakery and great food (mostly served family style) and cute shops. Kalona, which is a little south of the Amanas, has a large Amish community. Again, there are interesting shops and good food. The University of Iowa is in Iowa City. It is located in the downtown area, among shops and restaurants, so if you are passing through Iowa City, it is worth a drive-through. (I'm just noticing that most of our attractions are food related!) Iowa City also has a great independent book store, Prairie Lights, and several good used bookstores. The Haunted Bookshop is my favorite.

The Hoover sites are literally right down the street from me. Do you have any flexibility in your schedule? I'll be at work during the day on Thursday, but if you'd be in West Branch in the late afternoon, I'd love to meet up. I know travel plans are often tight, but if it might work out, just send me an email (amy-colbert@uiowa.edu). Either way, enjoy your visit to Iowa!

#15 - That's good to know, Stasia! I must try to get to The Siege soon. Unfortunately, I don't own a copy, so I'm going to try to get through a few more off-the-shelf before I buy it.

#16: If you would like to borrow my copies of the two books, I will gladly loan them to you. Just let me know.

I just ran across a list of the 10 best contemporary African books on The Guardian website. I haven't read any of them, so I'm going to list them here so that I don't lose track of them. The Memory of Love is already on my TBR list, but I haven't even heard of some of the others.

The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
Zoo City by Lauren Beukes - urban fantasy-noir thriller
Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela
The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu - comic story of a struggling hairdresser
Looking for Transwonderland by Noo Saro-Wiwa - memoir by the daughter of murdered environmentalist and political activist
Broken Glass by Alain Mabanckou - man in bar tells stories of those drinking beside him; demands a strong stomach
African Metropolitan Architecture by David Adjaye - photos and texts about buildings, and the spaces and lives around them
Beneath the Lion's Gaze by Maaza Mengiste - Set in years of red terror in Ethiopia
Heart of Darkness with illustrations by Catherine Anyango - illustrations lead to new interpretations
Mama Miti by Donna Jo Napoli - picture book tribute to the Kenyan Nobel laureate and environmentalist, the late Wangari Maathai

#17 - Stasia - You are so sweet! Let me check my used bookstore. If I can get inexpensive copies there, it will save you from shipping.

#19: OK, just keep me posted.

Book #79: The Beautiful Mystery - Louise Penny - Finished September 4, 2012

Category: mystery series, favorite authors
Pages: 373

Louise Penny is one of my favorite authors. Not one of my favorite mystery authors, but one of my favorite authors, period. I think that she could write a government manual, and I would enjoy it. I am drawn in by the thoughtfulness of her words, the pace of her writing, the wisdom that is channeled through her characters. The Beautiful Mystery is exactly that - a beautiful mystery.

In this book, we are not in the familiar setting of Three Pines with the residents of that small village that I've come to love. (But, honestly, Three Pines needs a break from all of the murder.) But Gamache and Beauvoir are back, and this time they are solving a murder at a monastery. The monks of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups live in the wilderness of Quebec, maintain a vow of silence, and sing Gregorian chants that are more beautiful than those sung in any other place. When a recording of the chants is released to the public, a rift grows between the monks and the result is murder. Penny includes some rich detail about Gregorian chants, which adds another layer to the book. Additionally, the tragedies that have befallen Gamache and Beauvoir in the past continue to haunt them. In fact, it is this continuing storyline that dominates the end of the book and that provides the link to the next in the series. Write fast, Ms. Penny!

I'm not familiar with Ms. Penny but I think I'm going to be looking for her tomorrow at the Haunted Bookstore.

Reba - She is the author of my favorite mystery series. Still Life is the first one. They are all wonderful, but especially in the last few, there has been a continuing storyline, so reading them in order is best. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed your day in the Amanas today.

I just put Still Life on my Kindle. We had a lovely time in Amanas today and are looking forward to tomorrow.

just had a lovely meet-up with Reba/chautauquan and her husband Emory. I'll have a picture to share when I get home! I loved hearing about Reba's travels and we managed to talk a bit about books too! When I left her, she was headed to my favorite used bookstore, The Haunted Bookshop.

Thanks for making time for a visit, Reba!

I saw a copy of The Beautiful Mystery when I was in the States last weekend and thought of all the people here on LT who love her books. I haven't read anything by her, but I did manage to snag a copy of Still Life for really cheap at Target so I guess I can start there. :)

#26 - Valerie - I hope you enjoy Still Life. I love that series! It might be the only series that I'm completely caught up with.

OK, here's my attempt at posting my picture of my meet-up with Reba! That's Reba on the left and me on the right. Her husband Emory was our gracious photographer.

Thank YOU for taking time out of your work day! We loved hearing about your interesting work and generally getting to know you a bit. See my thread for the treasures I found at The Haunted Bookstore.

Book #80: Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead - Brene Brown - Finished September 5, 2012

Category: early reviewer, work
Pages: 267

I loved Brene Brown’s previous book The Gifts of Imperfection. In it (and in her highly popular TED talks), she describes how her research on shame and vulnerability has helped her understand that embracing vulnerability can be the key to wholehearted living. To achieve this goal, you have to cultivate a sense of worthiness and let go of shame and fear.

In her latest book, Daring Greatly, Brown provides a nice balance of insights from her research and from her own life. The title comes from one of my favorite quotes from Theodore Roosevelt:

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again. . . who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. . .”

Many of her insights about how our culture sends messages that we are “never enough” and about the defenses we put up to avoid being vulnerable had me nodding my head in agreement. For each of her examples, I could think of one of my own. I especially enjoyed the chapters on how we can combat shame and encourage vulnerability at work, in schools, and in our own families. Her wholehearted parenting manifesto should be distributed to all new parents. It starts like this:

“Above all else, I want you to know that you are loved and loveable.

You will learn this from my words and actions – the lessons on love are in how I treat you and how I treat myself.
I want you to engage with the world from a place of worthiness.

You will learn that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy every time you see me practice self-compassion and embrace my own imperfections.

We will practice courage in our family by showing up, letting ourselves be seen, and honoring vulnerability. We will share our stories of struggle and strength. There will always be room in our home for both.”

There’s more, but hopefully that gives you a sense of Brown’s nonjudgmental advice on parenting.

I’m not sure that this book is the best introduction to Brown’s work. I recommend The Gifts of Imperfection for that. But for those of us who want more insight into how to apply Brown’s insights on vulnerability across multiple roles, Daring Greatly is a welcome follow-up.

I love seeing pictures of LT meet ups! Thanks for sharing, Amy!

In more meet-up news, I got to see Julia (rosalita) for a bit this week at the Friends of the Library annual meeting. We live in the same small town, so we run into each other from time to time, but it is still nice to have a chance for live connections with some of my LT friends.

Book #81: The Patron Saint of Liars - Ann Patchett - Finished September 10, 2012

Category: favorite authors
Pages: 400

I loved Bel Canto and liked State of Wonder quite a bit, so I thought I'd give Patchett's debut novel, The Patron Saint of Liars a try. The story is told from three perspectives. First, we meet Rose, who travels from California to a St. Elizabeth's home for unwed mothers in rural Kentucky. The presumption is that she will give her baby up for adoption and leave St. Elizabeth's when she delivers, but she meets Son, the handyman, and takes a path that is different from that taken by the other girls there. Son picks up the narrative and provides us with a different perspective on Rose and on life at St. Elizabeth's. We also learn some secrets from Son's past. And finally, Cecilia, Rose's daughter, lends her voice to the story when she's a teenager, providing yet another perspective on the tenuous ties that bind families of all sorts.

Patchett has definitely developed as a novelist throughout her career. I found this story to be a bit simpler than her more recent works. But the clean language and themes match the rural Kentucky setting. The challenges that Rose and Cecilia have connecting with one another loom even larger against a backdrop of girls who have made the choice to give their babies up for adoption. And the secrets unfold at a controlled pace that provide for a very satisfying read. Patchett has also created one of my favorite minor characters in Sister Evangeline, who understands Rose and Cecilia better than they understand themselves. In all, this was an enjoyable read.

Great review of Beautiful Mystery It's on my list. I hope to get to it soon.

Love the photo of you and Reba. It's so fun to meet each other in person.

Amazing list of authors at the top of the thread. What a great idea. I have not read most of those you listed either. I did try Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse Five - but decided that he really wasn't my type. LOL.

Book #82: Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed - Finished September 10, 2012

Category: non-fiction
Pages: 353

Cheryl Strayed (aka Sugar) wrote an advice column for The Rumpus, and in this volume, she has pulled together some of her best letters. Sugar is no Dear Abby. Her advice is bold, and ranges from humorous to starkly honest to comforting to profane. In responding to letters from readers, she also shares many of her own life experiences, making this not only a book of advice columns, but also a memoir of sorts. Many of the letters cover topics that I have not had to deal with in my life, and that I hope never to face. But I read Sugar's replies with interest simply because I love the way that she is able to take an either-or situation and see a third option. I aspire to be like Sugar, with her blend of empathy, humor, and wisdom.

But honestly, I read a similar description of this book in an early review, and it didn't convince me to read it. It wasn't until I read one or two of Sugar's actual replies that I was hooked. Take, for example, the shortest letter in the book:

Dear Sugar,
WTF, WTF, WTF?
I'm asking this question as it applies to everything every day.
Best,
WTF

Sugar replies by sharing some harrowing events from her own life that really do beg the question asked by the letter writer. But she ends with some encouraging words, concluding "Ask better questions, sweet pea. The f*** is your life. Answer it."

In reply to a heartbreaking letter from a mother whose daughter had brain surgery and who was questioning the existence of God, Sugar (who discloses that she is an atheist) offers some theological advice that hit home for me:

"What if you allowed your God to exist in the simple words of compassion others offer to you? . . . What if the worst thing happened and you rose anyway? . . . What if you listened harder to the story of the man on the cross who found a way to endure his suffering than to the one about the impossible magic of the Messiah? Would you see the miracle in that?"

And finally, at the risk of losing you in the midst of this lengthy review, I want to share two paragraphs from a letter asking what Sugar would tell her twentysomething self. These two paragraphs, side by side in the letter, reflect the range of emotions that Sugar's responses evoked in me:

"When you meet a man in the doorway of a Mexican restaurant who later kisses you while explaining that this kiss doesn't "mean anything" because, much as he likes you, he is not interested in having a relationship with you or anyone right now, just laugh and kiss him back. Your daughter will have his sense of humor. Your son will have his eyes.

The useless days will add up to something. The shitty waitressing jobs. The hours writing in your journal. The long meandering walks. The hours reading poetry and story collections and novels and dead people's diaries and wondering about sex and God and whether you should shave under your arms or not. These things are your becoming."

Good advice, indeed.

Hi Jenn! You are in for a treat with The Beautiful Mystery, but don't hurry to get to it. Then you'll just be stuck waiting for the next book, like me!

My list of authors just keeps growing, but I guess that is a good problem to have. I like to have this list when I get time to hit the used bookstore. I was going to try Slaughterhouse Five for banned books week. We'll see if I have any better luck with him than you did!

Wow, I had no idea that "Wild" Cheryl Strayed was also an advice columnist. Some pretty sage advice from Sugar. She also has some great pseudonyms.

Thank you for sharing the picture of you and Reba. It's so cool that you got to meet up on her cross-country journey. Now you'll have to have a picture taken of you and Julia together. This is a happenin' place, Amy!

There are so many RL LT meet ups recently! So much fun being able to put a face to the username. :)

Hi Donna and Valerie! I always enjoy seeing pics of RL LT meet ups too. Iowa City is a UNESCO City of Literature and a pretty book-friendly place in general, so if any other LTers are looking for a good destination, come on up (or over or down). I'd love to meet more of you!

Book #83: White House Kids: The Perks, Pleasures, Problems, and Pratfalls of the Presidents' Children - Joe Rhatigan - Finished September 12, 2012

Category: Early Reviewer, juvenile, non-fiction
Pages: 96

I was excited to get this book as an Early Reviewer selection. I'm very interested in Presidential history, and although this book is geared for kids, I learned a lot about the kids who have lived in the White House. I'm also excited to share this book with my boys, who at ages 8 and 11, are the perfect audience for this book.

This book covers everything from Presidential pets to the games that Presidential kids played. Did you know that the White House has 32 bathrooms? Or that Lincoln's kids invited Cabinet members and White House staff to a circus in the attic, charging five cents admission? Or that Teddy Roosevelt's youngest son put a pony in the White House elevator? Life in the White House comes to life through the stories that are shared in this book. The interesting facts will keep kids reading. The format of the book - lots of short anecdotes grouped into similar categories - is a style that my kids enjoy. The stories are accompanied with lots of pictures. Even kids who aren't history buffs are likely to find themselves drawn in by White House Kids.

That was a very helpful review for me of Cheryl Strayed's advice column book, Amy. I really enjoyed Wild: From Lost to Found, and wasn't sure what to think about trying this one. I think I will now.

Your review of The Beautiful Mystery, which I recently read, hit the spot for me, too.

Amy, wouldn't it be lovely to have an LT meetup around the Iowa City Book Festival next summer?

I too enjoyed Bel Canto and it sounds like The Patron Saint of Liars would be worth a read. Think I"ll also be looking for Tiny Beautiful Things on Kindle when I finish here. Thanks so much for the great reviews!

Iowa City Book Festival? Next summer? Wonder how that would work with our trip to Chautauqua. When is it?

Got both of them :-)

Reba, this year's festival was in mid-July. I don't think they've released the exact dates for next year but I would expect it to be around the same time. I don't know how that fits into your trip, but it would be so great if you could make it back!

That might work...I'll keep an eye out for the dates!

Hi Amy

What a great thread you have here! I'm ever so glad that you liked Okay for Now and The Fault in Our Stars. If you haven't read Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boys, I highly recommend this as well. Anything that Gary Schmidt writes is wonderful.

Thanks for visiting my thread and for your kind outreach during my recovery from neck fusion surgery. I hope your semester started peacefully and your students are good ones!

It seems ever so strange to me not to be on campus.

Opps, I forgot to add that I love the photo of you and Reba. These meet ups are great!

>18 porch_reader: shamefully admitting to having read none of the books mentioned

#33: I read that one not long ago too. I thought it was pretty good especially for a debut novel. I am a huge fan of Bel Canto!

#41 - Thanks, Joe! I felt the same way about Tiny Beautiful Things when I read a review of it. But a friend of mine went to hear her speak and was raving about the book. She sent me a review with an excerpt from one of the letters, and I was hooked. It's not a book for everyone. She covers some difficult topics, but I loved her style.

#42-46 - Julia and Reba - I LOVE the idea of a meet-up at the Iowa City Book Festival. The dates for 2013 haven't been released, but in 2012 it was July 13-15. I saw Laura Moriarty there in 2012, and although I missed his talk, I also bought a book by Patrick Somerville (see below for review). There are usually a few big name authors and lots of up-and-comers. I'll keep an eye out for the 2013 schedule. More to come!!

#47-48 - Hi Linda! I have Lizzie Bright on my shelf just waiting to be read. Schmidt is definitely a gifted writer. My semester is off to a good start. I'm glad that you are able to take some time to recover right now. The students will be there when you get back.

#49 - Megan - I hadn't even heard of most of the books on the list. I can't wait to try some of them.

#50 - Hi Stasia! I'm finding that everything that Patchett writes is quite different. Bel Canto is definitely my favorite of hers, but I've enjoyed the others too.

Book #84: The Cradle - Patrick Somerville - Finished September 15, 2012

Category: new-to-me author
Pages: 200

In this book, everyone is searching for something. Marissa, who is eight months pregnant, is searching for a connection to the mother who abandoned her when she was a child, and so she asks her husband Matthew to go in search of an old cradle that her mother took when she left. This search takes Matthew across the Midwest as he pieces together the story of Marissa's family. Family is sacred to Matthew because he grew up in foster homes and still deeply feels the longing for a family of his own.

Interspersed with this story is the story of Renee, a one-time poet who is now a successful children's author. Renee is searching for a final poem to complete the volume that marks her return to this genre, but in reality, she is searching for answers in her poems - answers about why her son has enlisted and is about to be deployed to Iraq and about how she will deal with the possibility of more loss in her life.

The longing is what drives this story forward. The themes are huge, but the book is relatively slim, boiling the search for fulfillment down to its very essence. Because of this, it is easy to find oneself in this story. It caused me to reflect on the choices I've made, the connections that I cherish, and what it is that I am really searching for. It is a powerful debut novel.

Amy, I am de-lurking to say hello and to tell you that I loved your review of Tiny Beautiful Things. I'll look for that one. What a year of great reading you're having! Hope you have a good weekend.

Oh, The Cradle sounds very good! Onto the wishlist it goes.

I've posted my cut at a Halloween reading list, figured you might be interested. It's at http://www.librarything.com/topic/142342

#53 - Hi Anne! Thanks for de-lurking. I hope you enjoy Tiny Beautiful Things. I can't wait to read Cheryl Strayed's other book, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail now. I think I would like anything she wrote.

#54 - Julia - Patrick Somerville has a newer book, This Bright River, that sounds pretty good too. (Just in case you need something else for your wishlist.)

#55 - Thanks for the list, Jim. I've been meaning to read Rebecca forever. Maybe this is the nudge that I need.

Book #85: Liar & Spy - Rebecca Stead - Finished September 23, 2012

Category: YA
Pages: 180

Georges is a seventh-grader who is dealing with all of the challenges that come with that stage of life (making friends, dealing with bullies, connecting with parents) along with the added challenges of moving to a new apartment after his father lost his job as an architect and his mother started working double shifts as a nurse. The one good thing that comes with the move is Georges new friend, Safer, a home-schooled boy who spys on the other residents in the apartment. But as Georges gets pulled deeper and deeper into Safer's spying, he soon realizes that he may be in over his head and that dealing with both normal seventh-grade stressors and bigger dangers requires him to figure out who he can trust.

I think Rebecca Stead is an excellent writer. Both in this book and in her Newberry Medal winner When You Reach Me, she puts middle school kids in extreme situations and builds in lots of suspense. Her main characters react to both the extreme and the typical in ways that feel real and tell us a lot about who they are. Liar & Spy felt a bit less developed than When You Reach Me. I would have liked to have seen more depth in some of the supporting characters (Bob English Who Draws, Georges' old friend Jason), although Safer's little sister Candy jumps right off the page. Also, the resolution of some of the secrets felt a bit too easy. But overall, this book should hold the attention of (and perhaps become a favorite of) the 5th-8th graders in your life.

Book #86: The Beekeeper's Apprentice - Laurie R. King - Finished September 29, 2012

Category: mystery, series, book club
Pages: 347

This is the first in King's Mary Russell series. I know that many of you have read and enjoyed this series, so when someone in my real life book club suggested this for our October read, I was quite pleased. This first volume is set in the early 20th century, when a young Mary Russell meets a neighbor, Sherlock Holmes. They find that they have quite a lot in common in terms of habits of the mind, and they come to enjoy each other's company. In the end, Mary becomes an apprentice and then a partner to Holmes, and they soon find themselves up against a devious criminal, a case that requires the wits of both Mary and Holmes to solve.

I really like the relationship between Mary and Holmes. They have a lively rapport, and their relationships develops and grows throughout this first book in the series. The mystery itself is satisfying, with some interesting twists and turns. However, the real mystery doesn't begin until about halfway through the book, and because of this, the book is a little slow to start. In laying this groundwork, however, King has set the stage for a long and fruitful partnership between Mary and Holmes.

September Summary

Books Read = 8
Fiction = 5
Non-fiction = 3
Off-the-shelf = 6

Best Fiction of the Month: The Beautiful Mystery
Other Excellent Fiction: The Cradle, Liar & Spy
Best Nonfiction of the Month: Tiny Beautiful Things
Other Excellent Nonfiction: Daring Greatly

Book #87: The Book Thief - Markus Zusak - Finished October 3, 2012

Category: YA, audio
Pages: 576

A book set in Germany during World War II must be about the war, right? About the oppression of the Jews and the rise of the Nazis. About shortages and "Heil Hitlers." About brothers and fathers going off to fight and about the bombs coming to the neighborhoods. The Book Thief includes those things, to be sure, but that's not what the book is about.

It is about something much more intimate. It is about a girl named Liesel Meminger who steals books and learns to read them. It is about her foster parents, harsh Mama and tender Papa, both of whom surprise us as we get to know them better. It is about Liesel's first love, Rudy Steiner, and their coming-of-age in a broken world. It is about soccer games and bomb shelters on Himmel Street.

But it is also about something much bigger. It is about the depths of evil and the best of the human spirit. It is a story narrated by death, who provides perspective as no one else could do, and who provides a classic last line: "I am haunted by humans." It is about the role of words and stories and books, because in the end, our stories are all we have. My guess is that it will resonate especially with book lovers.

I fell in love with this book, despite the distractions that come with listening to it on audio. I convinced my real-life book club to read it in a couple of months, and I expect that I'll get the paper version and read it again then. My feelings about books often change after I've sat with them for a while, but right now this is definitely one of my best reads of the year and might make its way onto an All-Time Best list. If you haven't read it, you should.

I'm enjoying a lazy Friday evening watching the Cardinals play the Braves in the play-in game to the wild card spot. I'm not sure about this new playoff system, but I'm glad the Cards are still alive.

I had a productive week at work. I submitted two papers to journals. The management journals that my University would like for me to publish in have acceptance rates of less than 10%, so the odds aren't good, but I still celebrate every submission. I had a nice relaxing browse at my favorite used bookstore, The Haunted Bookshop, over lunch yesterday. I took my list of new-to-me authors, and I found 3 books that fit that list, plus one I've had on my TBR for a while.

Natural Elements by Richard Mason
Any Human Heart by William Boyd
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
I Been in Sorrow's Kitchen and Licked Out All the Pots by Susan Straight

Not that I needed more books on my shelves, but, well, you understand!

My boys want to go to the high school football game tonight. It's homecoming, and football is big in my small town, so we'll probably go, but it's going to be cold. They are predicting a hard frost. I'd really rather just curl up with a good book.

Hi Amy!

The Book Thief is one of those books that have been sitting on my shelves unread for longer than it deserves based on all the great review of it on LT. Hopefully I can prevent myself from getting too many books between now and the end of the year so that I can finally get around to reading it next year!

Valerie - The Book Thief had been on my TBR list for a while too. I'd read great reviews, but wasn't sure what all the fuss was about. Now I know. It is a captivating read.

Not that I needed more books on my shelves, but, well, you understand! Oh yes, we all understand that Amy haha.

I Been in Sorrow's Kitchen and Licked Out All the Pots---I want that book based on the title alone!

You're really lucky to be in a town with good used bookstores and literary events. The one used bookstore near me is not a particularly good one. It seems to specialize in mass market romances and chick lit which seldom appeal to me although my last trip there I unearthed Truman and Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor. You've enticed me with your reviews of The Book Thief (which has been on my shelf forever and a day) and Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar which sounds really good.

I loved seeing the picture of the LT meet-up with Reba. Where's the picture of you and Julia? Next time maybe?

Thumbs up for your wonderful review of The Book Thief. It is an incredible book.

Great review of The Book Thief. I'd heard the name but knew nothing about it. Now I know I want to read it. A bit jealous about your trip to The Haunted Bookstore...although my patient dear husband did mention the other day that for a household that has run out of bookshelf space we sure acquired a lot of new books this summer...guess I shouldn't have stacked them all in one place.

The Book Thief is on my TBR pile too.

The Book Thief is one of those books that is so hard to write about. You did a great job, Amy, summing up what's so wonderful about it.

Hope you had a good time at the game. It was darn cold last night to sit around and watch a blowout!

I also thumbed your excellent review! I've been wanting to read The Book Thief for a while. Now I'm really intrigued!

#64 - Bonnie - I am lucky to live near Iowa City, although having a good used bookstore 2 blocks from my office and a good independent bookstore (Prairie Lights) 3 blocks away is dangerous for my bookshelves! And you're right - I'll have to get a picture of Julia and me next time. We are lucky enough to run across each other from time to time since we live in the same town.

#65 - Thanks, Linda! It is a wonderful book, isn't it. I think I'd like to read something else by Markus Zusak soon.

#66 - guess I shouldn't have stacked them all in one place - That made me laugh, Reba! Spreading out the new books is definitely the key.

#67 - I look forward to seeing what you think of it, Lori!

#68 - Thanks, Julia! I was hard to write about. And having listened to it on audio, I didn't have any quotes to share. I had a cold time at the football game, and thought we might be able to leave at halftime since it was 35-0, but my boys wanted to stick it out, so we saw all 56 points scored by the Bears. Luckily, they didn't stop the clock in the 2nd half since we were up by so much.

#69 - Tina - Thanks for the thumb! I'm glad my review was intriguing. When I described The Book Thief to my book club as a book set during WWII Germany narrated by death, they were skeptical, but it really is a very hopeful book.

Hi Amy - Great comments on The Book Thief; it certainly wasn't what I expected either; my book group had much the same reaction. I think you're right; it is hopeful.

Book #88: Telegraph Avenue - Michael Chabon - Finished October 6, 2012

Category: favorite authors
Pages: 468

This is my favorite Michael Chabon book (and I am a huge fan of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay). The story sprawls across several days in the summer of 2004. Archy Stallings and Nat Jaffe, owners of a used vinyl record store, face a challenge from a planned megastore. Their wives, Gwen Shanks and Aviva Roth-Jaffe, also face challenges in their practice as midwives. Chabon fills the spaces with a supporting cast, each one of which holds their own, even when playing against such compelling main characters.

Intriguing plot and strong characters - those two qualities are almost the price of admission for a bestseller, but Chabon wraps his one-two punch of plot and characters in writing that is beyond description. Consider these two sentences from the first page:

"Moonfaced, mountainous, moderately stoned, Archy Stallings manned the front counter of Brokeland Records, holding a random baby, wearing a tan corduroy suit over a pumpkin-bright turtleneck that reinforced his noted yet not disadvantageous resemblance to Gamera, the giant mutant flying tortoise of Japanese cinema. He had the kid tucked up under his left arm as, with his free right hand, he worked through the eighth of fifteen crates from the Benezra estate, the records in crate number 8 favoring, like Archy, the belly meat of jazz, salty and well marbled with funk."

Or this passage from the next page:

""Poor Bob Benezra," Archy said to the random baby. "I did not know him, but I feel sorry for him, leaving all threse beautiful records. That's how come I have to be an atheist, right there, Rolando, seeing all this fine vinyl the poor man had to leave behind." The baby not too young to start knowing the ledge, the cold truth, the life-and-death facts of it all. "What kind of heaven is that, you can't have your records?" The baby, understanding perhaps that it was purely rhetorical, made no attempt to answer this question."

This might be one of my favorites:

"The cakes and cookies at Neldam's were not first-rate, buy they had an old-fashioned sincerity, a humble brand of fabulousness, that touched Archy in this time when everything good in life was either synthesized in transgenic cyborg vats or shade-grown in small batches by a Buddhist collective of flind ex-Carmelite Wiccans" (p. 109).

There is a description of fried chicken that made me crave fried chicken for days after reading it. And a description of giving birth that brought the births of my own kids flooding back.

I would expect this book to get lots of mentions on end-of-the-year best of 2012 lists.

#71 - Beth - I'm glad to hear that you found the book hopeful too. I think that it would generate good discussion for book clubs.

Amy - Chabon is one of my favorites, and I can't wait to read his new one. Great review.

#74 - I think you'll love it, Beth! Hope you get to read Telegraph Avenue soon.

Book #89: Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World - Jane McGonigal - Finished October 8, 2012

Category: work, Kindle
Pages: 416

McGonigal's thesis is that reality is not motivating, but games are. After all, many people spend hours each week overcoming obstacles and achieving epic wins. In the first part of the book, McGonigal analyzes why games are so motivating. When we get to tackle challenging obstacles, do satisfying work, connect with others, participate on an epic scale, and get fast feedback, we are drawn to participate. And when these elements are missing from reality, we often escape to games.

McGonigal believes that there is a better way. She believes that we can design reality to be more like games and get people to engage in solving epic problems that face the real world. In fact, she has helped design some of these games - games in which people figure out how to conserve resources in an oil shortage or pinpoint the location of publicly accessible defibrilators or fulfill the wishes of a nearby stranger. Life in real games, these games get people the opportunity to overcome obstacles and "level-up" by achieving epic wins. But instead of escaping into an imaginary world, people are instead immersed in reality.

While there are complications inherent in these solutions, they are intriguing nonetheless. If you want a taste of McGonigal's ideas before reading the book, you can check out her Ted Talks (www.ted.com).

Another fan of The Book Thief here, Amy. I was a bit on the 'meh' side with The Yiddish Policemen's Union when I read it five years ago. It's time I gave Chabon another try. I liked his writing. I'm just not a fan of alternate history. His new one sounds good, though. Thanks for your great review. I'm looking forward to the fried chicken description. I may have to visit the Colonel after reading it!

I don't think I've ever read Michael Chabon, Amy. How can that be? Your rave review has convinced me I should give him a try. Do you recommend any book in particular?

I liked Kavialer and Clay but it doesn't make my favorites list. Since you like this one even better I may just have to give it a try. Thanks for the great review.

Nice review of Telegraph Avenue, Amy! Like you, I liked The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, and way back when The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. Gentlemen of the Road, not so much. But this sounds like he gets back to the kind of story and writing of his that I like.

My favorite Chabon has always been Wonder Boys but I really love Kavalier and Clay, too.

Popping in to say hello. Happy Fall!

Hi, Donna, Julia, Reba, Joe, Leah, and Jenn! It's nice to see everyone's views of Chabon. I have read several of his books, and have found them all to be very different. Joe, I didn't like Gentleman of the Road much at all. But I liked The Yiddish Policeman's Union a little better than Donna. I gave it 4.5 stars, although I read it in 2010 and don't remember a whole lot about it. I read Kavalier and Clay twice (because my book club picked it and I wasn't sure I remembered it well enough from the first reading). I liked it better the 2nd time than the first. It is a pretty densely written book, and I think I enjoyed the prose more when I wasn't just reading for plot. I also read a YA book of his, Summerland, which was pretty good.

Julia, if I had to recommend one, I'd say go for the new one, Telegraph Avenue. I returned it to our library on Monday, so maybe it's still there!

Book #90: Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut - Finished October 9, 2012

Category: new-to-me author, classic, banned books, Kindle
Pages: 288

In honor of Banned Books Week, I read Slaughterhouse Five. I've also been wanting to read something by Kurt Vonnegut (another new-to-me author), and I had this book on my Kindle, so all the stars aligned.

This book was not at all what I expected. Prior to reading it, I knew only that Slaughterhouse Five was about World War II. What I didn't know is that the main character in the book, Billy Pilgrim, travels through time. In the present day, Billy is a widower and an eyedoctor, but we spend most of our time with Billy in World War II, where he is a prisoner of war who witnesses the bombing of Dresden. We also travel with Billy to the planet Tralfamadore, where the Tralfamadorians provide a distant and wise perspectives on the mixed-up views of Earthlings. Despite the nonlinear and unusual nature of the story, Vonnegut pulled me in. His observations about war come from personal experience and are vivid and haunting. And the nonlinear view of time that comes from the Tralfamadorians enables Vonnegut to move us in and out of the war scenes, making them all the more powerful.

Thanks, Amy! I'll have to rush over there tomorrow night and see if it's still there. :-)

Nice review of Slaughter-House Five, Amy. I love that book.

I have Kavalier and Clay in my tbr pile--it's been there about 3 years, I think, and keep meaning to get to it.

Amy, you have actually made me want to read Slaughterhouse Five. I can't believe I haven't read anything by Vonnegut. I bought a lovely anthology of his works after he died a few years ago, but that's as far as it went. S-5 is the first entry and a good place to begin. Maybe he should be one of my authors for 2013 reads.

Hi Julia, Joe, Roni, and Donna. Thanks for stopping by. I've been neglecting my own thread lately, so it is nice of you to keep it going. My boys' basketball season started before soccer season was over, so I've been keeping busy. And when I'm not watching them, I've been cheering on my Cardinals (sorry to the Giants fans out there).

Book #91: Back When We Were Grownups - Anne Tyler - Finished October 18, 2012

Category: audio
Pages: 273

I listened to Back When We Were Grownups on audio over the past couple of weeks. I really enjoyed this story about Rebecca Davitch, the matriarch of a large, unruly family who owns an inn where parties are thrown. Her organizational skills and upbeat attitude have served her well in the business, but she sometimes she feels like she's turned into a stranger. Even her family doesn't seem to know the real Bec. As she welcomes new grandchildren, plans Poppy's 100th birthday party, and starts to date again, she reflects on who she is and who she has become.

I liked this book because I could identify with Bec. Her questions about who she really is are questions that I wrestle with too. A number of the supporting characters - especially Poppy - are loveable and genuine, and they round out this story nicely. Tyler excels at providing an intimate look at family life.

Book #92: How Fiction Works - James Wood - Finished October 19, 2012

Category: non-fiction, books about books
Pages: 265

I did not take any English classes in college - not a single one. I tested out of the two required composition classes and filled my schedule with math and accounting. (What was I thinking!) So I try to fill the gap by reading books that help me better understand good literature. Wood's book, How Fiction Works, definitely falls in that category. It reveals how authors use narration and detail, create characters, and write dialogue in ways that captivate and draw us in. Wood provides examples from a range of greats - James and Chekhov, Hardy and Tolstoy, Cather and Woolf, and so many more, and it was these examples that I enjoyed the most. Wood's analysis of these authors made me more aware of how they create their intended effects. Perhaps because I've been reading this book in short chunks, there were times when I found Wood's analysis a bit hard to follow. But overall, an interesting book.

Hi Amy -- hope you're having a good, if busy,fall. I took a few English classes in undergrad years but don't feel I understand literaturewell so this book is going high up on my TBR list. Thanks.

Hi Amy - I think the Wood book works best in small chunks. I thought he did a good job. The Tyler book sounds good; I'm a fan of hers and it's been a while since I've picked up one by her. It sounds like this is a good one.

#92 - Hi Reba! I hope you enjoy the Wood book, when you get to it. I've got another book along these lines on my TBR shelf - How to Read Literature Like a Professor - that I'm hoping to get to soon.

#93 - Beth - I agree that Wood did a good job. I would have liked to have taken time to read some of the books or short stories that he used as examples as I was going along. That book was hard on my TBR list.

Book #93: Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier - Finished October 20, 2012

Category: Halloween reads, new-to-me author, classic
Pages: 410

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." So begins our narrator's tale of her marriage to widower Maxim de Winter and her return to his home Manderley, where she is faced with reminders of his first wife Rebecca around every corner. A somewhat sinister atmosphere permeates every chapter of this book, as we learn more about Rebecca and her untimely death. Part mystery, part romance, this book deserves as place as a classic.

My copy of the book also included an epilogue from an earlier draft. In the published version, the epilogue became the first two chapters of the book, letting the reader know from the beginning that Max and his new wife eventually leave Manderley. This was a brilliant change, in my opinion, because it heightens the suspense throughout the book.

When I was in my late-teens or early-twenties I read all of duMaurier's books. I absolutely loved her ... still do I imagine although I haven't reread any in years.

I love Rebecca! It still rates as one of the creepiest books I have ever read. If you like her, try Jamaica Inn next. :)

Hi Amy, I'm a big fan of Rebecca. I need to read some of du Maurier's other books. Since Apennines recommended it, I'll start with Jamaica Inn. I also need to read the James Wood book. I've read bits and pieces of it.

I'm pretty sure you will love the Foster book. I read How to Read Novels Like A Professor and own the Literature one, thanks to a friend's generosity. I'm not far into it yet. The next chapter up is "When In Doubt, It's From Shakespeare." So true.

Hi Reba, Jenn, and Donna - I definitely want to read more of du Maurier's book. Jamaica Inn sounds like a good place to go next!

Book #94: The Idea of Perfection - Kate Grenville - Finished October 27, 2012

Category: new-to-me author
Pages: 401

I think I have Bonnie (brenzi) to thank for recommending that I add Kate Grenville to my new-to-me authors list. If The Idea of Perfection is any indication, I'll be looking for more of Grenville's work. I really enjoyed this one.

The Idea of Perfection tells the story of Harley Savage and Douglas Cheeseman. They have both come to the small Australian town of Karakarook on business. Harley is helping to set up the town's heritage museum, and Douglas is helping to demolish and rebuild the old Bent Bridge, a safety hazard that is also a piece of the town's heritage. Harley and Douglas are both rather socially awkward, and when their paths cross, their interactions are uncomfortable. But Harley and Douglas are both endearing, and the small town setting jolts them out of their typical big-city behaviors. Grenville observes life in a small town and the interactions between Harley and Douglas with a practiced eye. Her descriptions are spot on and at times almost lyrical.

Hi Amy - The Idea of Perfection sounds great; I hope to get to it soon. I've heard a lot of good things about Grenville here.

Amy, I have this one on my shelf as well as one other book by Grenville. Your review definitely makes me want to bump her up on my TBR list!

Hi Beth and Valerie - Hope you enjoy Grenville when you get to her. I'd like to read more of her books (although my TBR pile is feeling a little tall right now)!

Speaking of tall TBR piles, today was the Friends of the Coralville Library book sale. A lady I met in line told me it used to be a lot bigger, but I thought it was pretty good. I got 17 books for $26. It makes me happy just looking at them stacked here.

Here's what I came away with:

At Last by Edward St. Aubyn
The Submission by Amy Waldman
The World Below by Sue Miller
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
Great House by Nicole Krauss
Coastliners by Joanne Harris
Dirt Music by Tim Winton
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergis
Waiting by Ha Jin
The Three Weissmanns of Westport by Cathleen Schine
A House for Mr. Biswas by V. S. Naipaul
Fine Just the Way It Is by Annie Proulx
Gold Boy, Emerald Girl by Yiyun Li
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

Oh, and since it is a new month, I got a few of the November Kindle Sale books:

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
The Secret River by Kate Grenville
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen
First Darling of the Morning by Thrity Umrigar

Now I just have to decide what to read first!

Book #95: Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins

Category: audio, series, juvenile
Pages: 368

This is the third book in the Gregor the Overlander series, and the story continues to pick up steam. In this installment, when Gregor and Boots have to go to the underland to find a cure for a plague that is infecting all warmbloods, Gregor's mother goes with them. Although she doesn't play a big role in the book, I liked the conflict that occurs when she tries to mother Gregor, who is seen in the underland as a warrior. Their interactions felt spot on to me. The book also introduces new characters and provides a little more of the history of the underland. The ending has a nice twist as well. The only problem is that the ending doesn't really wrap things up nicely. Lots of loose ends are left for the next book in the series. Luckily, I had the fourth book on my iPod and could start listening to it right away.

October Summary

Books Read = 9
Fiction = 7
Non-fiction = 2
Off-the-shelf = 4

Best Fiction of the Month: The Book Thief, Telegraph Avenue
Other Excellent Fiction: Rebecca, Slaughterhouse Five, The Idea of Perfection
Best Nonfiction of the Month: Reality is Broken
Other Excellent Nonfiction: How Fiction Works

Hi Amy

I read I Am The Messenger after reading The Book Thief and it couldn't compare to the beauty of The Book Thief.

Amy, you did fantastic at the library sale! And I'm so glad you liked Rebecca. That was one of my favorite books last year.

Now that's what i call a sale Amy! What a fantastic haul! I especially liked Behind the Beautiful Forevers I'm glad you enjoyed The Idea of Perfection which I have as one of my desert isle books. I think you'll also like The Secret River although it's an entirely different kind of book. I LOVED Rebecca and I also read and thoroughly enjoyed The Scapegoat. I have My Cousin Rachel and The House on the Strand waiting on my shelves and it looks like I should also look for Jamaica Inn.

Congratulations!! Looks like you did really well at both sales. Can't wait to see what you decide to read first.

Congratulations on the great haul. Amy. You had a great reading month, too.

#108 - Hi Linda! I'm so glad to hear that you are safe from the storm damage. I loved The Book Thief so much. I'm sure it will be hard for anything else to live up to it. But I do plan to read I Am Messenger sometime. Maybe I'll give it some time so that I don't compare it so closely to The Book Thief.

#109 - Hi Pat! I can't believe that it took me this long to read Rebecca. It lived up to all of the good things I'd heard about it.

#110 - Hi Bonnie! Behind the Beautiful Forevers was one of my book sale books that I've already read, but I checked it out from the library and am glad to have my own copy. My book club is reading it this month, so I'll be able to glance back over it. And I think my mom will like it as well. I am glad that I "discovered" Kate Grenville and Daphne du Maurier too. It is always nice to find an author that has several books to look forward to.

#111 - Hi Reba - I still haven't decided! I am finishing Natural Elements now, and just have 100 pages or so, so I'll have to make a choice soon.

#112 - Thanks, Beth! I read The Book Thief and Telegraph Avenue, my two favorites in October, back-to-back. I love it when I get on a roll like that.

Great haul! I miss our library book sales. Being able to waltz into a room any old time and look at the "sale" books just doesn't have the same feel.

#114 - We have the permanent "sale" at one of my libraries too, Jenn, and I don't enjoy it half as much as the weekend sale. There's something about browsing through lots of bargains at once that is very satisfying.

Book #96: Natural Elements - Richard Mason - Finished November 4, 2012

Category: new-to-me author, off-the-shelf
Pages: 398

This is a rich story, with layers of characters and secrets, time periods and struggles, places and relationships, all tied together beautifully. At the center of this story are Joan and her daughter Eloise. As Joan grows older and becomes unable to live alone, Eloise struggles with the decision to move her to an assisted living facility. Despite her busy career as a hedge fund manager, Eloise decides to take Joan on a final trip to her childhood home in South Africa before the move. While there, Joan begins to learn more about her family's struggles during the Boer War. Through flashbacks, Mason weaves historical events into the story, even as a present day business crisis calls Eloise back to London. The story moves on like this, as Eloise and Joan struggle with the present and remember the past, until the tensions that build throughout the book come to a head. While the plot carries the story forward, it is Mason's ability to communicate Joan's inner life as her dementia worsens that made this book stand out to me. I'm thrilled to have found another talented new-to-me author.

Now, Amy, we do a have a yearly book sale too! In fact, that will be coming up in just a few weeks. I think we are setting the date at Monday's Friends of the Library meeting.

I can't wait, Julia! Keep me posted on the date. For a small library, we have a great sale! I was actually talking about my "other" library - Iowa City. They have that permanent store with used books, but I hardly ever go in it. Come to think of it, I don't buy books off the WB Friends sale shelf either. I like the festive atmosphere of a book sale!

Oh, the big-town library! Yes, I prefer the book sale atmosphere, too. I'll let you know when we set the date for ours

Book #97: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne - Finished November 6, 2012

Category: new-to-me author, YA
Pages: 215

When the "Fury" sends Bruno's dad to be a Commandant at "Out-With," Bruno is not happy about leaving Berlin. Bruno loves his house with five stories, his friends, and his life there. To a nine-year-old, life at "Out-With" is just confusing. Why can't he play with the kids on the other side of the fence? Why do they get to wear striped pyjamas all day long? Why do they look so sad? By using the innocent logic of a child, Boyne provides a fresh perspective on the horrors of the Jewish concentration camps. Though it is targeted for a middle grade to young adult audience, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a small powerful book that should be read more widely.

Book #98: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan - Finished November 12, 2012

Category: recent fiction
Pages: 288

What an enchanting book! It's got bookstores and secret societies, visits to Google and ancient puzzles, romance and friendship, and some interesting and distinct characters who I wanted to spend more time with. The story begins normally enough. Clay Jannon has lost his job as a web designer during the economic downturn and is looking for some sort of gainful employment. Job searching on the Internet is too distracting, so he takes off walking through San Francisco and stumbles upon a help wanted sign in the front window of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store. He gets a job working the night shift and soon finds out that things aren't quite what they seem. Odd characters come and go at all hours checking out books that are shelved in a special section. At this point, the book takes a turn toward fantasy, as ancient books and modern-day technology are leveraged to solve the mystery of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store.

It's hard for me to articulate exactly why I liked this book so much. It had many of the elements that make up a great read for me - interesting characters, dry humor, a mysterious plot. But I think it stood out because it is just so clever. The intersection between books and technology are explored in a way that emphasizes the promise of both. This is a big tent book, with room for young professionals and old mystics to come together with their unique talents and appreciate the distinctive wisdom that each person brings. It was captivating!

Book #99: Gregor and the Marks of Secret - Suzanne Collins - Finished November 13, 2012

Category: YA, series, audio
Pages: 343

This is the 4th book in the Gregor the Overlander series. I've been listening to these on audio, and Book #3 was so exciting that I had to go right on to Book #4. This is another good entry in the series, with adventure and danger around every corner. Gregor is growing into his role as the Warrior, and Luxa is getting used to being the Queen. As the pressure mounts and war becomes increasingly likely, their friendship becomes somewhat strained. But in the end, they are united against a common enemy. While this book was good, much of it was dedicated to laying the groundwork for the final book in the series, #5. I've really come to like these characters, and can't wait to see how the series wraps up.

>121 porch_reader: The Sloan book sounds intriguing! Thumbed your review and have added it to my wish list!! ;)

Hi Amy - I have Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore from the library and hope to get to it soon -- especially after your storng recommendation. It sounds like just what I need right now.

I still have 48 holds ahead of me for Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore at the library, but it's good to have another positive recommendation for it!

You put Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore on my wishlist. :)

Same here!

Amy, I' e been waiting and waiting for my number to come up for the Mr. Penumbra book. I usually don't like books that are too "clever" because they seem so overdone, but I have every intention of liking this book!

And have fun at the upcoming book sale. Sounds like a good opportunity for a meetup!

I was looking at Mr Penumbra in the bookstore on Wednesday. It was a staff pick and the card had some glowing praise. And then, at the bottom of the card, it read "If my comments haven't convinced you to read this book yet, the cover also glows in the dark." I was trying to buy gifts instead of things for myself so I didn't get it then, but I think it's just a matter of time.

Hi Everyone! I'm happy to spread the word about Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. It was a fun read - just what I needed in the middle of a busy month. I hope you all enjoy it when you get a chance to read it. I didn't realize that the cover glows in the dark though. (Thanks, Leah!) Now I like it even more.

Book #100: Flight Behavior - Barbara Kingsolver - Finished November 19, 2012

Category: favorite authors
Pages: 436

Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favorite authors, and I loved her new book Flight Behavior. The main character, Dellarobia Turnbow, is one of the most multi-dimensional characters I have met in a while. She is a stay-at-home mom who loves her two children, but also feels overwhelmed by them. She was a teenage bride who has a rocky, but very real relationship with her husband Cub. She is the outsider on a farm run by her in-laws, Bear and Hester, and she dreams of doing something more. When she discovers that monarch butterflies have migrated to the Turnbow farm, she is curious and open to understanding how environmental changes may be responsible for this phenomenon, something that others in her small Appalachian town are unwilling to believe. As the story unfolds, Dellarobia comes to understand herself better even as she struggles to understand the plight of the butterflies.

Just like Dellarobia, many of the supporting characters in the book were genuine and interesting too. The scientist who comes to study the butterflies, Dellarobia's best friend Dovey, Dellarobia's son Preston, and even her toddler daughter Cordelia came to life on the page and rarely struck a false note. The problems that sprang from engagemental changes were similar enough to those that we've already seen occurring in the world to be believable, while also being frightening because they are the next step down a slippery slope. As always, Kingsolver wraps the story in beautiful language, creating pictures on the page that will stay in my mind long after I shelve this volume in the Kingsolver section of my favorite books.

I'm expecting my copy from Book Passage soon and CAN'T WAIT!! I love Barbara Kingsolver. Thanks for the great review to whet my appetite even more.

So glad you loved the new Kingsolver book, Amy. I've heard several interviews with her about the book on NPR and thought it sounded great. Now, I'm definitely putting it on my Christmas WL!

Third thumb is from me. You're a hot reviewer, Amy. I've heard mixed reactions about FB. But it's Ms. Kingsolver so I suspect that I'll love it too. I may have to leave some extra cookies for Santa cuz the library has a waiting list of over 170 people. I'm not that patient these days!

Flight Behavior was already on my wish list, but your review confirmed it. Thanks for a great review.

Amy - I just picked up Flight Behavior from the library and hope to get to it the end of this week. I skimmed your review and was glad to see it was positive. I love Kingsolver but was not a Lacuna fan.

I went to the mail right after reading your review and THERE IT WAS!!

Liked and thumbed that review of Mr. Penumbra's, Amy. I'm another one waiting for it to come in at the library. The Barbara Kingsolver book sounds good, too.

Thanks for the thumbs and positive comments! This was a hard review to write. It's hard for me not to just gush about Kingsolver's books. She is one of my favorites.

I'm excited to hear what all of you think of Flight Behavior. I can understand the mixed reactions. There is a strong environmental message underlying the story, and I'm sure that I enjoyed the book more because my views are pretty similar to Kingsolver's. Preaching to the choir is always easier than converting the skeptical!

Beth - I did think that Flight Behavior was more similar to some of Kingsolver's early books. I liked The Lacuna, but it seemed a departure from her previous writing.

Amy, I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Big plans or a quiet day at home?

We are heading back to Missouri to celebrate with our families. I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving too, Reba! Are you cooking today?

Happy Thanksgiving, Amy!

No, it'sjust the two of us today so we're going out :-) Have a safe trip and wonderful family visit.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Amy!

Happy Thanksgiving, Amy!

Happy Thanksgiving to you, Roni, Reba, Jenn, Pat, and Joe! I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday. You'd think with a few days off work, I would have finished a book or two, but I didn't get much reading done. Perhaps I should start tracking the cookies and pies that I ate instead! :)

Cookies and pies ... don't think I'd want to admit to things like that..admitting my book weakness moments is bad enough.

Fell a bit behind, Amy, but I'll try and keep up from here. :)

Hi Micky! I've fallen a bit behind myself. I'm afraid that my reading is going to suffer over the next couple of weeks as I wrap up grading finals. But then I should have a few weeks to catch up!

Book #101: Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn - Finished November 29, 2012

Category: recent fiction, best of lists
Pages: 419

This is already popping up on several year end "Best of 2012" lists, so I was thrilled to find a copy at the library book sale a few weeks ago. When Nick Dunne's wife Amy disappears from their home in Missouri, suspicion immediately falls to Nick. Entries from Amy's diary are interspersed with the description of the investigation, allowing us to gradually fill in the back story and draw our own conclusions. It can't give too much away, but suffice it to say that surprises are around every corner, and things definitely are not as they appear. Flynn did such a good job of writing this psychological thriller that I felt anxious and somewhat disturbed while reading it. At first, I avoided the book, finding it hard to pick it up every night, but I had to find out what happened to Nick and soon found myself unable to put it down.

It was a busy month, and I only finished 6 books, but there were some good ones!

November Summary

Books Read = 6
Fiction = 6
Non-fiction = 0
Off-the-shelf = 5

Best Fiction of the Month: Flight Behavior, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Best YA of the Month: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

>150 porch_reader: Best wishes with the grading. Here's hoping they're all awesome reads. :)

Hi Amy! Hope the grading goes well so that you can have some lovely reading time!

Well, I've finished grading some very interesting papers about management problems in business organizations. Now I've got 10 research proposals and 66 final exams. That will take most of next week, but the end is in sight!

Such fun! Looks like you've got your reading all set out for you for the next week.

Book #102: Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk - Ben Fountain - Finished December 5, 2012

Category: new fiction
Pages: 320

This book has gotten some attention in year-end "Best of" lists, and after reading it, I think that attention is well-deserved. It takes place on a single day, Thanksgiving 2004, at Texas Stadium. The men of Bravo are home from the Iraq War on a Victory Tour after their heroic performance in a fire fight. This group of young men spends the day trying to negotiate a movie deal, performing in a halftime show with Destiny's Child, and meeting a few Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. But underneath these antics, we learn about the events that made Bravo heroes, and the mixed feelings that they have about their victory tour. In writing about the range of reactions to these soldiers, Fountain captures the distance between many Americans and the Iraq War. Encapsulated in a day is a commentary on a much bigger event. This was a worthwhile read.

Book #103: The Google Story - David A. Vise - Finished December 6, 2012

Category: work, non-fiction, audio
Pages: 336

Google has become a household word - not just the name of a company, but a verb. Anytime my kids have a question that I can't answer, they google it. This book tells the story of how Google came to be the company that it is today. From a graduate student office at Stanford, Sergey Brin and Larry Page developed a new way of searching the Internet that provided results based on a complex algorithm. Although they took an unconventional approach to business, their company exploded. In this book, we are on the front lines, watching as Google grows. From the origin of Google Doodles to the birth of Gmail to the initial public offering, we see the tension between an innovation and growth. It's an interesting story that will make you more aware of all that goes into your Google search.

#156 - Roni - I have to admit that I'd rather be reading a good book than MBA exams, but since I love the other parts of my job, I can't complain too much!

Amy, I also liked Flight Behavior very much, though I did deduct half a star for the heavy-handed environmental message. I'm a tough audience when it comes to global warming! I still remember the scare about moving into another ice age back in the 1970's! But I still love every novel that Barbara Kingsolver has written. Maybe I'll get to her nonfiction books next year.

Hi Amy, glad to hear you liked Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. I've also been seeing it on Best of 2012 lists but had no idea what it was about. Your review makes it sound interesting. Good luck with the yearend grading.

#160 - Donna - I really like Kingsolver's nonfiction, especially Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It's about time to thinking about 2013 reading, isn't it?

#161 - Hi Pat! I knew very little about Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk when I started reading it. I got it on sale for Kindle in Nov, and I got sucked in by the first few pages.

I am still grading. (Note to self - Three essay questions is plenty on a final exam. Four is definitely too many.) But the end is in sight. In the meantime, I have finished one book.

Book #104: The Christmas Carol Murders - Christopher Lord - Finished December 13, 2012

Category: mystery, Kindle
Pages: 276

This was a nice light read for finals weeks. In Dickens Junction, Oregon, the legacy of Charles Dickens looms large. With Christmas approaching, Dickensian events are in full swing, until the typical holiday celebrations are slowed by murder. A man who has come to town to try to buy property for Marley Enterprises is found dead is found dead in the middle of the Christmas Carol tableaux. When Simon Alastair, owner of the local bookstore Pip's Pages, tries to solve the murder, he finds a puzzling connection with author Ayn Rand, whose philosophy centered on selfishness couldn't be different than that of Dickens. More murders follow before the pieces finally fall in place.

I was fascinated by Dickens Junction, by the role that literature played in the mystery, and by many of the supporting characters. The plot, which slowed occasionally, was always moved forward (usually by another murder). I would have liked a few more clues to make the resolution to the case seem less abrupt (although it is possible that I missed a few things in my finals week fog), but overall this was a nice cozy mystery.

And I believe that it is still on sale for $2.99 for Kindle.

Book #105: Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story - Wally Lamb - Finished December 15, 2012

Category: Kindle, fiction
Pages: 288

This Kindle $2.99 deal was another enjoyable light read. Lamb tells the story of Felix Funicello, a fifth grader at a parochial school in the mid-1960s. Between his mother's trip to the Pillsbury Bake-off, his frequent run-ins with the nuns at school, the new Russian girl who joins his class, and the upcoming Christmas Pageant complete with live tableau, Felix's escapades kept me in stitches. This book reminds me a little of Richard Peck's A Long Way from Chicago.

Those sound like fun reads -- I should do something like that -- would make a nice break

Amy, have you ever read the books by John R. Powers? The most famous is Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? but there's also The Last Catholic in America and The Unoriginal Sinner and the Ice Cream God. Your description of the Wally Lamb made me think of them.

Lots of great reading, Amy. My wife just finished Gone Girl, and found it unputdownable, too. I'd had the same experience, as did our twenty-something kids. Like a literary roller coaster ride - and a scary one, at that.

OK...you got me ... just put Gone Girl and Wishin & Hopin on my Kindle :-)

#166 - Julia - I haven't read anything by John R. Powers, but those sound terrific. On to the wishlist they go!

#167 - Thanks, Joe! Gone Girl was definitely a roller coaster ride for me too. It's no wonder the book has gotten so much attention on Best of 2012 lists.

#168 - Glad to help fill up your Kindle, Reba! I see on your thread that you've already read Wishin and Hopin. It was a good pre-Christmas read, wasn't it!

I always look forward to the Tournament of Books in March. This contest pits books from the previous year against one another in head-to-head competitions with celebrity judges picking the winners. The field usually includes a few familiar books and some that I've never heard of. This year, they decided to announce the nominees early so that people could read them before the tournament if they want. The article, with more information about the books can be found at:

Announcing the 2013 Tournament of Books

The article includes a long list of books that were considered, but here are the finalists. (* = books I have read)

The 2013 Tournament of Books Finalists
HHhH by Laurent Binet
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
*Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
*The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Arcadia by Lauren Groff
How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti
May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes
*The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson
Ivyland by Miles Klee
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Dear Life by Alice Munro
Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
Building Stories by Chris Ware
Winner of the Pre-Tournament Playoff Round

Pre-Tournament Playoff Round
Fobbit by David Abrams
*Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

I'm working on my year-end Best of 2012 list. On a first review of the 105 books that I've read this year, I ended up with 52 books for the "Best of" list. I'm trying to get down to 20 (10 fiction, 5 non-fiction, 5 juvenile/YA). I suppose this is a good problem to have!

Amy, thanks for posting the link to the article about the 2013 Tournament of Books. I will have to check that out.

Looking forward to hearing what your Best of 2012 is, especially considering how many you have to choose from.

I hope you enjoy the Powers books, Amy. I'm sure it helps if you were raised Catholic, but even non-Catholics should find them amusing, I think.

Julia - I was raised Episcopalian, but my husband was raised Catholic, so I can usually relate to books like that!

Hi there! The tournament of books is intriguing. Thanks for the link. :) Hope you have a very Merry Christmas with your family.

Oh, well, Episcopalian. "A rose by any other name" and all that. :-)

Glitterfy.com - Christmas Glitter Graphics

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

Merry Christmas, Amy! I hope your winter break is a happy and peaceful one. Spring semester will start before we know it!

Merry Christmas, Amy!

Just dropping by with some Christmas cheer from me and the Moomins (another great LT find). Hope you're having a great Christmas celebration with your family!

Thanks for all of the Christmas wishes! I hope that all of you are having a wonderful holiday as well. I found several books under the tree this year, including:

Building Stories
Everyday Heroes: 50 Americans Changing the World One Nonprofit at a Time
My Ideal Bookshelf
Son
Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril
Forks over Knives: The Cookbook
The City of Ember (from my son, who read this in English this fall)
The People of Sparks (the sequel to The City of Ember)

Book #106: The Burgess Boys - Elizabeth Strout - Finished December 21, 2012

Category: early reviewer
Pages: 320

How do we come to be the people we are? What shapes us? Jim and Bob Burgess are, in part, boys from Shirley Falls, Maine, the town where they grew up. They retain their connection with Shirley Falls through their sister Susan, who never left her hometown and who is now witness to changes in the small town, including the arrival of a large number of Somali refugees. But the Burgess Boys were also shaped by early tragic events, including the death of their father, and recent career successes (for Jim) and struggles (for Bob). Although they are both New York City lawyers, their lives couldn't be more different. But as they come together to aid their nephew, who finds himself in legal trouble back in Shirley Falls, the Burgess boys show us that we are not only shaped by our backgrounds and events in our lives, but also by our reactions to them. In Jim and Bob Burgess, Strout has created two complex, flawed, and strikingly real characters whose reactions to a series of unexpected events both reveal and shape who they are. This book is also peopled with a number of supporting characters who add to the rich texture of this beautifully rendered story. I was thrilled to get an early reviewer copy of The Burgess Boys, which will be published in March 26, 2013. Mark your calendars.

Great review of The Burgess Boys, Amy. I'm thrilled to hear it's so good because one of my favorite books of all time was Olive Kitteridge. But I am crushed to hear it won't come out until the end of March. I'm going to go pre-order it from Amazon so I have it right away when it comes out.

Book #107: What's So Amazing about Grace? - Philip Yancey - Finished December 22, 2012

Category: religious
Pages: 292

C. S. Lewis said that grace is Christianity's unique contribution among other world religions, but grace is a concept that many Christians struggle with. In this book, Yancey begins with a simple definition of grace, saving "Grace means there is nothing that we can do to make God love us more. . . And grace means there is nothing that we can do to make God love us less." But he then explores the challenges that many people have in accepting God's grace. Although I often disagree with Yancey's stance on political issues (which are discussed in some of the book's later chapters), I appreciated his thorough consideration of the concept of grace.

#184 - Pat - Olive Kitteridge was one of my favorites too, and as I began The Burgess Boys, I kept asking myself if I liked it as well as Olive. But in the end, I decided that the books are just very different from one another, and I love them both. I also read Abide with Me a few years ago, and liked it too. I'm adding Amy and Isabelle to my TBR list for 2013!

I'm glad to hear The Burgess Boys stands up well to Olive Kitteridge. I have a copy of Amy and Isabelle which I haven't read yet. I think I'm partly afraid to in case it's not as good as Olive.

Book #108: The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau - Finished December 25, 2012

Category: juvenile, series
Pages: 288

Ember is a city without natural light. Electricity comes from a generator powered by the river, but lately power outages that plunge the city into total darkness have become more and more common. Lina and Doon, who are twelve years old, have just completed school and begun their work assignments - Lina as a messenger and Doon in the Pipeworks. Between the two of them, they piece together information that suggests that Ember's supplies may be running low and that the city may be in trouble. As the urgency increases, so does the pace of this book, which ends with a cliffhanger that made me want to dive right into Book 2 in the series.

My 6th grade son gave me this book for Christmas because he read it in English class this fall and really enjoyed it. He also got me the movie on DVD, which I'm looking forward to now that I've finished the book.

Book #109: The Willoughbys - Lois Lowry - Finished December 25, 2012

Category: juvenile
Pages: 176

I got this book as a Kindle daily deal and read it while we were traveling for the holidays. It is a cute story about four children, Timothy, Barnaby A, Barnaby B, and Jane. Their parents are not very attentive, and the children hatch a plan to get rid of them by sending them on a dangerous vacation. But little do they know that their parents have a scheme of their own. Things start looking up, however, when the sensible Nanny shows up. The story continues at a rollicking pace, completely with a candy maker, an abandoned baby, a missing child, and plenty of antics. This book reminded me a bit of A Series of Unfortunate Events. A charming read!

That's a lot of good year-end reading Amy. I was interested that you read What's so Amazing About Grace. A cousin with whom I share a reading interest recommended that to me a couple of years ago. It's been on my Kindle since but hasn't been read. May get to it this spring.

Amy, I loved your review of The Burgess Boys. I just started it yesterday with the intent to have it be my first book completed in the new year. It's going to be difficult to make it last that long!

I have enjoyed being a part of your reading life this year and look forward to following along with your next year of reading. Happy New Year to you and your family!

Hi Amy - The Burgess Boys sounds great. Thanks for the review. The Lowry book sounds familiar; I think I might have read it to my kids.

I hope you're having a great holiday. I look forward to following your reading in 2013.

#190 - Hi Reba! What's So Amazing About Grace sat on my shelf for a few years before I picked it up, but it is quite well written and was a pretty fast read once I got into it.

#191 - Hi Donna! I'm looking forward to your review of The Burgess Boys. I think I read it just at the right time. I had time to really sink into it. Strout is an amazing writer. I've loved each of your visits to my thread this year, and I'm looking forward to more book talk in 2013. Happy New Year!

#192 - Hi Beth! The Lowry book would be a great read-aloud. She has such a range. I got her new book Son for Christmas and I'm looking forward to reading it in 2013! Happy New Year!

OK, I think that I won't finish another book until 2013. (I started Anna Karenina, and that one is going to take me a while.) So here is my December reading summary.

December Summary

Books Read = 8
Fiction = 6
Non-fiction = 2
Off-the-shelf = 7

Best Fiction of the Month: The Burgess Boys
Other Great Reads: Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, City of Ember

Year-End Summary

Books Read = 109
Pages = 34,701
Fiction = 80
Non-fiction = 23
Poetry/Anthology = 2
Read-Aloud = 4
Off-the-shelf = 59

Favorites of 2012
(in the order read)

Fiction:
Salvage the Bones
Running the Rift
The Hummingbird’s Daughter
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake
The Chaperone
Telegraph Avenue
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
Flight Behavior
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
The Burgess Boys

Nonfiction:
Behind the Dream: The Making of the Speech that That Transformed a Nation
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
Truman
Tiny Beautiful Things

Juvenile/YA:
The Lost Hero
Here Lies Linc
Gregor the Overlander
Looking for Alaska
The Fault in Our Stars
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Okay for Now
The Book Thief
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
The City of Ember

Amy, I think you will love Tell the Wolves I'm Home.

Burgess Boys sounds good, but I am one of the few who didn't like Olive Kitteridge so I'm a little nervous, was it a straight novel or also connected short stories?

Burgess Boys is a straight novel, and I thought it was much different than Olive Kitteridge. In fact, I was afraid that I wouldn't like it because it wasn't like Olve (which I loved), but it won me over in its own way.

I like your list of favorites, Amy. Glad to see the Kingsolver on there. I just purchased Running the Rift for my iPad yesterday. Thanks for the recommendation.

I think I had way too many 4.5 books this year. Makes it difficult to choose my Top Ten. I'll sleep on it. Catch ya in the new year!

Donna - I had trouble with my top ten this year too. Reading so many good books makes it hard to narrow them down. Not such a bad problem to have!

With 2013 just around the corner, I hope that you will all visit me on my new thread:

Porch_Reader (Amy) Reads in 2013

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Amy!

Happy New Year, Amy! I'm off to star your 2013 thread ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I just had to stop by and tell you that I thought Son was excellent. I finished it early this morning. I am glad that I read all the books again. There were so many details I had forgotten. Can't wait to hear what you think!

glitter-graphics.com

Wishing you another year of great reads, Amy. I started Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore this morning and so far it's keeping me entertained. Glad to see from your review that it's going to continue being a fun read.

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

Heading over to star your new thread :)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of you! Here's hoping 2013 brings us just the books we need!