Luvamystery65/Roberta's 2013 Challenge

Two of my favorite things, books and coffee.

I'm going to do the challenge pyramid style. I don't have an overall theme, but each category has some what of a theme.

Category I: Huge Book (doorstop)

1. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami currently listening

Category II: Pro and Con (silver tongues and weapons of mass distraction)


1. My Life by Bill Clinton currently listening long winded LOL



2. Decision Points by George W. Bush
http://www.librarything.com/groups/uspresidentschalleng

Category III: Español (my grandmother would be proud)


1. Como agua para chocolate por Laura Esquivel (read it in Engish)
2. El amor en los tiempos del cólera por Gabriel García Márquez
3.

Category IV: Spiritual (food for my soul)


1. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali commentary by Swami Venkatesananda
2. A Path With Heart by Jack Kornfield
3. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
4.

Category V: Medical (knowledge is power)


1. Rabid by Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy
2. The Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
3. Polio: An American Story by David M. Oshinsky
4. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach completed
5.

Category VI: Nominees for book prizes 2009-2013 (probably going to read whatever Darryl, kidzdoc, is/was excited about)


1. Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel
2. The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng
3. Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
4. El Narco by Ioan Grillo
5.
6.

Category VII: Themed and Group reads (yes if everyone is jumping off a bridge I will too)


1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas (reread) - March, April and May
2. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov - January it's March & I'm still slogging along with this one! I finally finished!
3. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - June
4.The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim - April
5. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott (reread) - September
6. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain - March
7. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers - August
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Group_Reads_of_2013

Category VIII: ROOT (Read Our Own Tomes)


1. Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi
2. The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
3. Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
4. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (August)
5.
6.
7.
8.

Category IX: Young Adult (because I need quick, fun or fast reads some days)


1. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
2. Graceling by Kristin Cashore completed
3. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer completed
4. Divergent by Veronica Roth
5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene
6. Genesis by Bernard Beckett completed and I LOVED it! (gifted by maggie1944) (recommended by jolerie)
7. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander completed
8. Un Lun Dun by China Miéville - (also a group read for December)
9. Son by Lois Lowry completed

Extras:
The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander completed
The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander completed
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore completed

Category X: Sandman by Neil Gaiman (checking this off my bucket list)


1. Preludes and Nocturnes completed
2. The Doll’s House completed
3. Dream Country completed
4. Season of Mists completed Favorite so far!
5. A Game of You
6. Fables and Reflections
7. Brief Lives
8. World’s End
9. The Kindly Ones
10. The Wake
http://www.librarything.com/groups/sandman

Category XI: Mysteries/Thriller/Crime (duh, I luvamystery)


1. The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carré
2. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie completed
3. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
4. In the Darkness: An Inspector Sejer Novel by Karin Fossum
5. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle completed
6. Dog On It by Spencer Quinn completed
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Category XII: 1001 books to read (so I can die in peace)


1. A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift (reread) completed
2. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
3. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster
4. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
5. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
6. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
7. Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
8. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carré completed
9. The Handmaid’s Tail by Margaret Atwood (also a group read December)
10. The Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
11.
12.

Category XIII: Bullet Books or Whatever I Want! (wiggle room)


1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (jolerie; msf59) completed
2. The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle (kidzdoc) completed
3. Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin plus Burmese Days by George Orwell (Crazymamie) Mamie recommends I read both
4. 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam completed
5. The Line by Olga Grushin (Ellen/EBT1002)
6. The Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon (jnwelch) completed BEST SO FAR!
7. Fire by Kristin Cashore completed
8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (drachenbraut23) audio version
9. Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver (katiekrug) audio version
10. Cricket Explained by Robert Eastaway completed (all johnsimpson and paulcranswick's fault)
11.
12.
13.

Oh, this looks interesting!
I admire you for daring to dive into 1Q84. I've been tempted by it since it came out but haven't yet mustered up the courage to read it.

I really hope yo like The Awakening. I read it a few years ago at university and absolutely loved it. I can't for the life of me remember what it was I loved but just looking at the spine on my bookshelf make me smile.
Fahrenheit 451 is another favourite. I like dystopian novels and that one might be the scariest I've read so far - burning books, can it get any worse?

A lot of the books you chosen are on my TBR list so I'm really looking forward to reading what you think about them. Hopefully, I'll get there myself some day soon.

I'll be lurking and laughing at your doorstop category. I tend to read a lot of them. Usually without realizing I'm about to do so, since i read mostly ebooks.

>16 PawsforThought: PawsfoThought I can't wait to read The Awakening it sounds so good. Some local was trying to get Farenheit 451 banned from one of the local school districts. I guess they didn't read or *get* the book.

>17 majkia: Jean, majkia, thanks and I will be laughing too. I occasionally borrow library books on my Kindle. I tried borrowing 1Q84 thinking I could read it in the fourteen allotted days. Ha! Ha! What a rude awakening for me. I had no idea how huge it was! Good thing I'm giving myself the whole year to read it. :)

Fourteen days? Are you not allowed to have a book longer than that? Unless it's a really popular book and lots of people want to read it, you can borrow books for a month at a time here. And then renew the loan over and over until you've had it for six months. Then you have to return it (but you can borrow it again immediately and start all over again).

>19 PawsforThought: where are you from? I'd be in library heaven there! The fourteen days is when you borrow a Kindle selection from the library. The rules are governed by Amazon and Overdrive. The county library that I use will let you check out a book for twenty-one days and renew again for the same length of time if no one is waiting for the book. That makes it difficult with popular books. It's been good for me because it makes me read my borrowed books quicker than I normally would. It's bad for the books I own because they get regulated to the TBR pile.

Sweden. I have no idea about Kindles, don't own one.

Roberta, welcome to the challenge. I love your opening picture! Good categories and love some of the books you have listed so far. I tend to get all excited whenever someone new reads Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series and do I take it by your Sandman category that you will be joining us over on the Sandman group read as well?

Hi there! Looks like you have a very well-organized and varied reading year ahead! See you in March over at the Connecticut Yankee group read. :) I also hope you enjoy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

>22 lkernagh: Lori (Ikernagh) how nice to be welcomed! I can't wait to read Leviathan and the the other books in the series. Valerie (jolerie)really made them sound so interesting. Yes in answer to your question. I am officially in the Sandman group. This has been on my list to read but I wanted to share the experience with someone so the group is perfect timing for me.

>rabbitprincess your rabbit is so adorable! Thank you for stopping by. I wasn't going to join the Connecticut Yankee group but when I saw the book at the library book sale for fifty cents I couldn't resist. I am looking forward to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Have you read any of the other books in the Smiley series? If so, how do they rate? I'm thinking to add one to my Mystery/Thriller/Crime category if I like the first book.

That he is! :)

I've read all three of the "Karla Trilogy" (Tinker Tailor, The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People), and all of them were great. Probably my favourite of the three is Schoolboy, although I found I enjoyed Tinker Tailor even more after watching the miniseries with Alec Guinness. The movie is great too, but you probably want to read the book first.
I also read A Murder of Quality and Call for the Dead over 15 years ago but don't really remember much about them.

Thank you for the information. I will reserve a spot on my Mystery/Thriller/Crime category for The Honourable Schoolboy!

I also have a 1001 Books to Read category but, so far, the only book we have both picked is Cold Comfort Farm.

Thanks to it being on your list, I have just added "Rabid" to my list for candidates for my Disease, Death and ??? category. It is a disease that we don't have in Australia.

> Zozette I loved the movie Cold Comfort Farm. I can't wait to read the book. I went to visit your thread. You have so many good books listed. I am definitely adding Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers to my Medical category. Thanks for the inspiration.

Swift's "A Modest Proposal" is a great choice from the 1001 Books list! It's so darkly hilarious. It's not all that long, either, which allows more time for the other eleven books in that category.

Looking forward to following you in 2013. I intended to read 1Q84, picked it up from the library, realized there was no way I could finish it in three weeks, and returned it. I did buy it and hope to tackle it next year.

Hope you like Stiff. It was one of my favorite reads last year.

> 29 casvelyn thank you for dropping by! I read A Modest Proposal when I was a freshman in high school (eons ago!!!). I absolutely loved it and thought it was hilarious. I knew I was a book geek but that sealed it for me when half my classmates were in an uproar about how he could talk about eating children. It's been so long and when I saw it in the 1001 books I knew I had to reread it.

>30 LittleTaiko: Welcome LittleTaiko! Yes, I had the same experience with the library on my Kindle except two week only are allowed for ebooks. I'll look out on your thread when you are reading it. It's always interesting to hear what people have to say about Murakami and 1Q84 in particular.

>30 LittleTaiko: about Stiff, I really think I will enjoy it. It fascinates me what we can learn scientifically from the dead. I really think people are heros for donating their bodies to science.

Welcome!! Looks like you have a great set-up for the year. I have 1Q84 on the wishlist, so I'm looking forward to hearing what you think. I enjoyed the film of Como agua para chocolate, but never managed to get through the book - I was meaning to try some of the recipes, but I managed to give away my copy before I did (oops). You have a few of my favorites (like Cold Comfort Farm, Stiff, and Un Lun Dun) on your list, so I'll be following along next year!

I always worry when I read someone else's list for their categories that my TBR pile is going to grow, but I was safe, at least for the first three categories - 1Q84 is not something that even remotely interests me (you must be more intellectual than I), #2 I'm not up to Clinton and Bush yet on my President's Challenge, and #3 I can't read Spanish. Whew, safe, but I did see that we will be reading a few books the same (group reads), and you tempt me with others. Shame on you!

But I must have missed something, what is this thing SANDMAN?

>33 -Eva-: Eva thank you for the welcome. I loved the movie for como agua para chocolate and I read the English version some time ago. I picked this book for the Spanish version because I had read the book in English and my Spanish is rusty. I am looking forward to reading some of your favorites. I'm excited about the Sandman group read!

>34 cyderry: Chèli thank you for dropping in! I also worry about reading other's peoples threads and my TBR pile growing. That is exactly why I left a few holes in some of my categories and category 13 is EXACTLY for this dilemma. I peeked at your thread. It is wonderfully organized and ambitious. Envy is not nice so I will say that I admire you! I'm glad we are sharing some group reads. It will be fun to trade thoughts with other readers. A couple of other things.

What is the President's Challenge and where do I find it?

Sandman? It is on the group page/wiki. It's a series of graphic novels by Neil Gaiman based on ... well it's not so easy for me to describe but I have wanted to read them for some time. Here are some links. http://www.librarything.com/groups/sandman and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sandman_(Vertigo)#Collected_editions If this isn't your cup of tea I noticed some LTers were giving you suggestions on your thread. Go for it! There are graphic novels for everyone's taste.

Thanks for the link to your thread, Roberta! You are so organized - I have my categories created, but I need to think about possible candidates for each one. I will probably set up my thread later tonight or tomorrow - my daughter Abby and I created a pyramid together which I think will be a lot of fun to complete. I will probably join you for a few of your reads as I have them in my TBR also.

And I have recently read A Murder of Quality - the first in the Smiley series, and I liked it very much. I will definitely continue with that series.

>37 Crazymamie: Mamie it's going to be fun to share some reads with the LT folks I am getting to know. I can't wait to see the categories you and Abby came up with and the candidates too.

Okay, I think I'm going to try the first Sandman graphic novel - Preludes and Nocturnes, probably February.

The President's Challenge is a group that is working on reading the biographies of all the US Presidents. We started in 2009 and originally it was supposed to be a 4 year challenge, but we all found that it was going to take longer so it has been extended to at least 2016 and it can, of course, be extended further. I wanted to read in chronological order and I am only up through #20 James Garfield so I still have 23 presidents to go. Along with the biographies I have discovered other topics that I wanted to read about that occurred in the same time period - for instance the creation of the Erie Canal during James Monroe's presidency and the Civil War took me 2 years and 34 books along side Abraham Lincoln's bio. You are more than welcome to join the group at http://www.librarything.com/groups/uspresidentschalleng

Welcome to the challenge. I am going to try a Murakami next year as well, but I have chosen to start with the much smaller Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I'm a little nervous about reading him, but many people here on LT whose reading taste I admire love him. Have you read any others by him?

You've got lots of interesting categories and I'm looking forward to following your reading choices.

Judy (DeltaQueen50) thank you for the welcome! I may try Kafka on the Shore before this year is out. My library has it, but not the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I picked 1Q84 because it is still fresh in many peoples minds and I'd like to compare thoughts. I participated in your September series and sequels challenge. It was a fun way to dip my toes in the water. So now I'm diving in!

I see some familiar titles in your choices. Next year will be fun, I think.

I'm really looking forward to hearing what you think about Un Lun Dun. I've loved what I've read by China Miéville so far (especially The City & The City) - though I usually don't love them until I've finished or nearly finished them - but I haven't read that one.

PawsforThought-I will mark Un Lun Dun for January and let you know. I'll need to look into The City & The City. Thanks for the recommendation.

hmmm I still need to read un lun dun as thats the only one of his I've not read yet

Un Lun Dud was a bit of a conundrum for me. The protagonist was too young to consider the book for young adults and the word play was very sophisticated, maybe too advanced for most tweens. It had the feeling of a Rick Riordan adventure. They were in constant motion with new concepts regularly popping up. Great fun.

I'd like to give China Mieville a try, and Un Lun Dun looks interesting!

I haven't read China Mieville before but Un Lun Dun looks like a book I might enjoy so I added it to my (rather long) wish-list.

PawsforThought, psutto, chistina_reads & Zozette you are all making me want to read Un Lun Dun right now! Just kidding, I will wait for 2013. Would any of you be interested in reading it together? Not an official "group read" but within the same month or couple of months. We can compare thoughts/ideas. I posted I would read it in January but I am flexible with it. It's available at my library and I can easily get it without waiting too long. I am game if you are. :)

That would be fine by me. I don't think I can fit it in January but could if we did a January/February read.

I would have loved to read Un Lun Dun with you all, but I won't be able to join in (on account of both having tons to read already as well as not being able to get hold of the book). I'll gladly follow along and read your discussions though.

Yep count me in

Sure, I'd be up for a shared read of Un Lun Dun. But preferably not in February or March, as I'll be concentrating on The Count of Monte Cristo at that time!

Welcome to the challenge! Several books in your lists are also on my TBR list. I won't necessarily get to all of them next year, but I'll be interested in seeing what you think of them.

Hello Roberta?, returning your visit. Very much like your categories and promptly found a couple of books I can add to mine *smile*. I hope you will enjoy 1Q84 that was one of my favourite reads this year. Have you read already something else by Murakami?

Bianca thanks for popping in! Yes, I am Roberta. I haven't read Murakami yet, but I will read Kafka on the Shore before the year ends. I bought The Wind Up Bird Chronicle at a used book store because my library does not carry a copy. I'm not sure whether to read it before or after 1Q84. Any suggestions?

Hello Roberta, actually you may want to start with Kafka on the Shore which is a brilliant read and may give you a feel for his unique writing style. Murakami is an author which you are not allowed to pursue with logic - he isn't - he loves riddles within riddles and the use of metaphors and leaves a lot to the readers own interpretation. His stories are usually demand the use of once imagination and maybe, that's excactly what makes him quite addictive - at least for me. I have got the Wind Up Bird Chronicle on my TBR pile and plan to read it next year. :)

I've added myself to the Un Lun Dun group read in December but I will keep it in my YA category.

Changed the name of category eight to ROOT (read our own tomes) from BOMBS (books off my book shelves).

YEAH! We've been immortalized in a category!

>61 cyderry: Woohoo! Cheli! :)

I've put some books on my hold queue at the library to activate in about two weeks. The rest of my books that I own I will be organizing this weekend. I need to organize around the group reads!

Good will and cheer to all this season!

I started Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander from my Young Adult category nine. This weekend I will start Ready Player One by Ernest Cline from my Book Bullets category thirteen!

Loved Ready Player One! Hope you enjoy it as well. Happy Holidays!

Oh, I loved Ready Player One as well. Looking forward to your thoughts on it.

BTW - I love your picture of the Christmas Stockings at the top of the thread!

I never would have learned about Ready Player One if it hadn't been for a very enthusiastic young man who worked at a local book store. Great find!

Stopping in over here to wish you a Merry Christmas, Roberta, as you don't have a 2012 thread. Hope is was full of wonder and that your Mom is doing better. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you Mamie! Mom is still really sick. She is in ICU since Friday night with aspiration pneumonia and then she developed severe sepsis. She is very confused right now due to all the antibiotics she is getting. Poor Mom. She so wanted to be at home for Christmas. I will have to make a Christmas for her when she comes home.

Best wishes for your Mom's recovery! It is so unfair to become ill, this time worse than any other time.

If she's makes it my January 6th, that's what is called little Christmas - Epiphany.

>69 mamzel: Thank you mamzel. Christmas is her favorite holiday but she is not aware that she has missed it.

>70 cyderry: I love Epiphany! In Mexico that is when the gifts are given. I hope she is awake and able to celebrate.

I've got my fingers crossed (actually, I'm holding my thumbs, 'cause that's what we do up here) that your mother gets well soon and can celebrate a belated Christmas. I know what it's like to have family members ill on major holidays and it's not something I'd wish for anyone.

On a brighter note, you've got tons of interesting books listed (the polio-book seems great - I need to check that one out) that either weren't listed before or that I didn't notise.

I'm going to read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in February and put The Honourable Schoolboy down as a possibility but it's not available at any of the nearby libraries and I don't think I'll be able to take a trip to the next "library zone" any time soon.

Review 3.5 *
Title: The Book of Three
Author: Lloyd Alexander

Summary : A fairy tale with origins in Welsh mythology, about the imaginary kingdom of Prydain. In this fantasy Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, has many adventures on a harzardous mission to save Prydain from the forces of evil.

Review: I borrowed this book from the library, along with the audio book. I finished the Harry Potter series this past November and I wanted to read another tale of adventure and magic. The story is a little simplistic but it is entertaining. The Book of Three of the title is mentioned in the book but is not central to the plot. The main characters, or companions as the author calls them are engaging enough for me to continue the series. Taran, the Assistant Pig Keeper, is flawed but admits and learns from his mistakes. The plot was wrapped up too quickly for my liking but I would recommend this book. I think I would have appreciated the book more if I had read it prior to the Harry Potter series, but I hope the series itself stands up.

Note: The audio book is narrated by James Langton. He does a tremendous job with the characters. This version is great for a long car ride or trip.

>72 PawsforThought: Thank you for the holding of thumbs for my mother. I know it will help.

I can't wait to read the Smiley series.

You're most welcome.

I'm really excited about reading the Smiley books too - I wasn't that interested in John le Carré before but after watching the Tinker, Tailor... movie and the wonder that is Gary Oldman I knew I had to read them.

Your medical category has grabbed my attention. I have Stiff already (unread though) and Rabid looks very interesting. Looking forward to reading your thoughts in those and the other books you decide to read.

Sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she's starting to do better.

>76 sandragon: Sandragon do you go by Sandra on LT? Thanks for stopping by and thank you for the well wishes for my Mom.

Stiff looks like a great read. I have it scheduled for January. The library should have it on my hold shelf soon. I agree with you about Rabid it looks interesting indeed. I can't remember if I read about it on Darryl's (kidzdoc) thread or somewhere else.

Hope your mom is doing better and that you get to have your belated Xmas. I'm grateful every day I can call my mum and chat a few hours away and I'm well aware how fortunate I am in that - I too will be holding my thumbs for her (since I'm from the same neck of the wood as @PawsforThought). :)

Joining the others in sending get well wishes for your mom.

>78 -Eva-: Thank you Eva for more holding of thumbs. I must tell everyone here in Texas about that.

>79 lkernagh: Thank you Lori. We will take all the well wishes we can get.

80. Eva and I aren't as weird as we might sound with the holding of thumbs. I know for a fact that besides the rest of Scandinavia, it's done in the Lowlands and South Africa too.

/takes off professor's hat

In the Green Dragon group on LT, you'll see us holding our thumbs for people as well.

>81 PawsforThought: & 82 I love the "holding of thumbs". It sounds so nice to have well wishes for my Mom from around the world. It doesn't sound weird at all! I am sharing your tradition with everyone I know.

You can squeeze harder (i.e. wish harder) than when you cross your fingers so it feels like you're "doing" more too. :)

->81 PawsforThought:
I thought we were the only ones! I have a South African friend visiting for New Year's - I'll have to ask him if he knows it. He's lived in Israel for the last 25 years, but he goes back every year so he should still do it!

84. I thought so too until I had dinner with a former co-worker from South Africa and me told me they did the same thing there. I'm assuming it's something the boers brought with them.

That is very interesting - I do wonder why we do it at all. :)

Roberta - nipped over from my more accustomed residence to wish you every success with the challenge and I will pop in from time to time to cheer you along.

Paul! Thank you so much. You are always welcome on my threads.

77 - sorry, I missed answering this. I answer to both Sandra and sandragon. Sandragon is just Sandra plus my last name, almost. It was a typo I made once but I liked the result so kept it :o)

Happy New Year, Roberta. I do hope your Mom is doing better and that 2013 is off to a good start.

Thank you Judy. Happy New Year to you as well. Mom is two weeks in ICU today. Not sure when she will get out but we keep up our spirits and do our best to keep her fighting.

Our most hopeful thoughts are with you.

Just checking in to see if there is an update on your mom. Hope you are doing well, all things considered.

>92 mamzel: Mamzel thank you for the hopeful thoughts.

>93 lkernagh: Lori, thank you. She is still in ICU and now they are talking about a long term care facility. Her lungs are still in pretty bad shape so it will be a very long recovery. I am doing well all things considered. Last year I began counting my blessings every day. This has certainly helped sustain me. Thank you for checking in on me.

The LTer's dilemma: Read a book or threads?

Update for those that have been wishing us well. My Mom is doing much better. She finally left ICU last night after 21 days. She will go to a long term acute care on Monday. I hope to have her home in about three weeks. Holding thumbs and fingers crossed! She really is a miracle.

Good to know she's doing better. Count me in for some thumb-holding. :)

@luvamystery65, great news. Hope the recovery continues to plan.

That is good news. All the best to your mom.

Eva - Thank you! I now hold my thumbs thanks to you and Paws.

AHS-Wolfy/Dave - Thank you for the well wishes.

Hailelib - Thank you! I went to look at your profile page and I am wondering are you two people? LOL excuse my ignorance.

Lloyd Alexander was my favorite author as a kid. Yes, his books seem rather simple now, but in 4th grade!!!

Looks like we have a lot of books in common.

Katie - we do have some books in common. That is one of my favorite things about LT.

The first book started out simple and the title threw me off because the Book of Three does not play a prominent role. Then the story wrapped up so fast with not much light shed upon the Horned King and Arawn. I have found the second and third books much better. The characters are growing with their adventures and the relationships are true companions. I would wholeheartedly recommend this series. I'm glad you have wonderful memories.

>100 luvamystery65:

Yes, we are two people as far as the library goes. But Tricia is the active one! Especially on Talk.

>103 hailelib: great and Hello to you both! Do you both go by hailelib during chat? Nice to meet you both.

I don't think Jim has ever done anything but catalog books and ask me if there's been anything interesting on LT. He does however read some of the books that I bring home because of the recommendations here.

It is nice to meet you Tricia! Cataloging the books is the most tedious part to me. How nice that Jim does that. His reward is those awesome book recommendations!

Great news about your Mom, Roberta. #95 is certainly my dilemma these days!

Judy - So good to see you around here! Thank you about Mom! Re: 95 indeed! The threads are almost books themselves lately.

Great to hear about your mom. Holding my thumbs that she continues to get better.

Glad your mom is improving. Hopefully a few weeks of rest and rehab will work wonders for her!

Tina - Thank you. I hope she gets better sooner rather than later. I'm not too sure about the rehab place but I'm giving it a chance. I left a caregiver with her because I don't want her to wake up alone at night. This lady is so sweet and has been with us through three hospitalizations.

Sandra - I just love this holding thumbs! It is working wonders for us.

Very happy to learn that your mom is improving!

Lori - thank you so much.

Mom is doing great in the LTAC. It helps that I usually have a caregiver with her. They are quick to answer the call bell but very slow to come and do anything. All providers are in agreement she will be home in about 10 days. This makes me really happy because she will be able to celebrate her birthday at home.

As for books, I have finished The Devil in Silver which I really liked and I finished Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in audiobook. It was excellent! I started Stiff and Bianca I think you will enjoy it. I'm listening to The Mysterious Affair at Styles and David Suchet is incredible.

I want to participate in the group read of Lolita. The library only has an audio copy that I requested in late December. It was out but checked back in weeks ago. Now it has been in transit for three weeks! I checked PBS, my local Half-Priced books and Kindle's lending library. Nada! Boo hiss! I broke down and bought the Kindle version. I really didn't want to own this book but now I do. The things I do to keep up with the groups. LOL!

Roberta, SO happy to hear that your Mom continues to improve - and just look at that SMILE! Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers and hoping that she does indeed get to come home in ten days.

Yey - that's a happy-looking mom!!

Mamie - Thank you for your wonderful thoughts and prayers. I do hope she is strong enough to come home soon too.

Eva - That is one thing about my mom, she is focusing on the positive and looking forward, instead of being upset over how sick she is. I love that quality.

We could all use a little more of that attitude. Still firmly holding my thumbs for her! :)

Wonderful news about your Mom!

It's amazing what the right narrator can do for a story. Several years ago I listened to Penelope Dellaporta read The Mysterious Affair at Styles and I didn't like the story at all. I was considering giving up on Poirot. About a year ago I came across the same story read by David Suchet and decided to give it another try. This time it was wonderful! I can still hear him talking to Hastings. 'Tut, tut, tut!' Definitely hope to listen to more read by Suchet.

Sandra - Thank you! Yes the right narrator makes the difference. The library has the copy narrated by Penelope Dellaporta that you are talking about. I much prefer the David Suchet version.

David Suchet is Poirot. I know I've seen other actors portray him on film but I can't remember any of them - he's taken over my idea of movie-Poirot completely (and made quite an impact on book-Poirot, too). Now I can't see anyone else portraying him.

Hello, Roberta!

I thought I'd find your thread instead of chatting with you on Mamie and Abby's. May I add my best wishes for your mother? It's wonderful that she'll be able to come home soon.

Dejah_Thoris - Hello right back! I have your threads starred now.

Possible February Reads
Genesis by Bernard Beckett
Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
Cricket Explained by Robert Eastaway
El amor en los tiempos del cólera by Gabriel Garcia Márquez
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Will finish up Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman

Ok, I have to admit that the title Cricket Explained on your list cracked me up! I do not understand Cricket, although I love the Cricket section of Dorothy L. Sayer's Murder Must Advertise and was very disapointed that it wasn't included in the BBC production.

May I ask why Cricket?

Dejah_Thoris - I do not understand cricket either. I teased Paul Cranswick and John Simpson from the 75ers about speaking a foreign language because they are always talking cricket. Then they teased back that they would tutor me. Ha! on them because I said okay. I figure it would be a nice brain exercise. The spring season starts in April so I figured I will read this book in February and John can begin my tutoring in March. Paws is going to join in too. John's only condition is that I must root for their beloved Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Since Texas is not famous for a cricket club I think I'm safe in doing so.

Laughing about the cricket! I know nothing! I have two of your possible February reads in my stacks - Leviathan and Love in the Time of Cholera. I will definitely be reading the latter one in February.

127. I'm really quite looking forward to our being tutored in the ways of cricket.

I think that's a great reason to learn about cricket - and you'll have a new team to root for!

I love how sometimes I misread a word and I laugh at myself when I realize what is actually written. In 129 I read "I'm really quite looking forward to our being tortured in the ways of cricket."

Mamzel - you may be prescient!

I forgot to add Graceling to my list of February reads. Perfect for Fantasy February.

I also smiled when I saw the cricket book, because I'm very curious about the game myself. I'm looking forward to seeing whether you think the book is helpful or not!

Good luck with the cricket! I once lived with a view over a cricket field and even with the help of a rule-book, I couldn't figure it out. :)

Christina & Eva I have the cricket book targeted for mid month. I'll create a cricket thread in March in the "not book related topics" group. I forget the name of it for now. I'll post a link when I do so you can follow the tutoring Paws and I will get from our Yorkshire friends.

I developed an appreciation of cricket about 9 years ago when I spent most of my free time on the couch suffering with terrible morning sickness. I watched whole 5 day test matches! That is how sick I was. Now I like the twenty20 and one day games. I am off to click on Cricket Explained now, just to have a look, it isn't going to appear on my TBR list. I hope you enjoy it though.

Great news about your mom!! Hope she continues to improve!

Has anyone read Where'd You Go Bernadette? It was on my queue at the library and it came in today. I read the first 70 pages but I am finding all the adults so unlikable. The fifteen year old girl is likable but I may Pearl Rule this book.

If you've read this book please let me know if it gets better.

I am putting it aside for Leviathan and Love in the Time of Cholera came in today too!

Tina - thank you very much. All the well wishes are so wonderful. I've told Mom about them all. She finished her last antibiotic last night and we are transferring from the long term care to a skilled nursing facility because she is still too weak to stand or walk. We have been at this facility last fall and the physical therapy and occupational therapy are excellent.

Hope your mom keeps feeling better & better!

I had The Devil in Silver as an ER book last year. I bolted it down. Great characterization & odd descriptions. It's a little off-center, yes?

Katie (cammykitty) - I absolutely loved The Devil in Silver. Darryl, kizdoc, had it as an ER book too. His review got me hooked. I begged the library to get it. Just kidding, it was a regular, online suggest a title. I think the begging came through because they did purchase it. It was very off center but I think the author's experience with mental illness in his family and the way the mentally ill get treated in this country very much influenced the story. There was few places in the second half where he got a bit preachy, but I understood why. I just didn't want his personal voice to interfere with the story at that point. Pepper was really growing as a person and the preaching was a bit distracting. I bought the prequel Lucretia and the Kroons. It's a Kindle single. I haven't read it yet. Darryl said it's not as good as the Devil book, but it takes place when Loochie is about 12. I'll post when I've read it.

Thanks for the well wishes.

I hope the transfer goes well and that you're mom is happy in the new facility. Take care of yourself!

For all of the wonderful people here on LT keeping up with Mom. She transferred to the skilled nursing facility on Tuesday night. She had her evaluation by physical, occupational and speech therapy. They gave her hope. This is wonderful because today is her 72nd birthday and she wants hope. I will post photos of her birthday party this weekend.

On the book front The Nao of Brown is great. I am really enjoying it. I like Leviathan but it hasn't swept me away yet. I put it aside for a week so I can finish the two library books. Love In the Time of Cholera is proving difficult to read in Spanish. I do love the challenge. I'm understanding most of it so far. It is thrilling to read the words and struggle with them. What I find is that most of my guesses are correct when I stop to look them up. It gives me confidence to plow through without looking up every little thing and just let the story unfold. Sometimes I catch myself reading out loud a little. I haven't done that since I was five! The vocabulary is beautiful and my pronunciation is horrid. The ladies at work tease me and tell me in Spanish that I speak Spanish like a "gringa." It's so true!

Happy Birthday to your Mom, Roberta! I'm thrilled to hear that she got to transfer to the skilled nursing facility and that her evaluators gave her hope - we all need that. Wishing her a day full of fabulous.

Seconding what Mamie said! Hope your mom has a great birthday :)

Excellent to hear about the transfer - and happy birthday to mom, of course!!

Thank you Mamie, rabbitprincess and Eva. Mom's birthday was wonderful. I'll post a photo on Sunday.

Happy belated birthday wishes to your Mom, Roberta! Very happy to learn that she has been transferred to a skilled nursing facility.... that is promising news!

Oh yes, Garcia Marquez certainly doesn't use simple Spanish. I'm impressed that you dared tackle it. I love Love in the Time of Cholera but settle for reading it in translation.

On The Devil in Silver, I didn't know anything biographical about the author but while reading it, I could tell he had a personal connection and a real reason for writing it. I have a friend who has spent time in and out of mental health institutions so I got it, totally - although his institution did cross the line into satire.

Mom had a lovely birthday party this past Thursday. She turned 72. My aunt and uncle were there. Several of my cousins came with their children and grandchildren. Mom had a beautiful cake and she received flowers, balloons and of course the best present...books! She will probably be at the skilled nursing for another two to four weeks. We shall see. She is quite touched by all your well wishes and birthday wishes. I am too. LT is wonderful place.

Lovely - that's a fabulous tiara!!!!!!

Lori - thank you for Mom's Bday wishes.

Eva - it is fabulous!

She looks so happy!! :)

I read The Devil in Silver as an ER book last year too, and realllly enjoyed it!

She does look like she is having a great time! Hope she's out of there and back home soon.

How are things with your mom lately?

Hi Roberta! I hope you and your mom are both doing well. Great birthday photo!

I'm currently listening to My Life by Bill Clinton in the car and 1Q84 by Murakami on my Kindle. These are both huge chunksters! I only have part one of the Clinton book from the library and I'm halfway through that. My thoughts so far are that while he is telling his life story he is also telling a great deal of history. Sometimes I enjoy it but at other times I wish for the abridged version in hopes that it would focus more on his life and less on the times. I'll listen to part two later in the year.

The Murakami is good but I'm not completely sold on the narrators. It was on sale for less than $4 so I can live with that.

I finished Fire but I'm going to read Genesis before I tackle Bitterblue.

I'm also reading Season of Mists volume four of Sandman. Wow!

Work is crazy and Mom is getting stronger but is still not quite strong enough to come home.

I listened to the abridged version of My Life and it was great. Maybe you should look for it so you don't fall asleep at the wheel?? LOL

I just finished Fire yesterday on my long commute. I have to get the book from the library though, because there are some huge scratches on the disk and I missed all of chapter 28 and most of 27...

Did you like Fire as much as Graceling?

Can't wait to see more pictures of a happy rehab-ing Mom! :)

Tina yes I liked Fire but I preferred Graceling and I can't wait to get to Bitterblue. I like that she calls the book a companion.

**Fire SPOILER**
I wondered in Graceling if King Leck had the guts to take his own eye out. Now we know.

I really don't like abridged books but this is one instance in where I would make an exception. Clinton is an exceptional storyteller, but I want to know about his life not about history. I do think that history did help shape him so I may just continue. I've come so far just not far enough! LOL! I am impressed at how young he knew he wanted to be in politics and how he strove to make things happen.

ETA: My library doesn't have a copy of the abridged My Life so I will carry on with the unabridged part one. Then I will take a break and listen to part two next time I have a road trip.

Ok I am starting this book today. I think the cricket gods are in alignment because one of the nephrologist I know just posted about a local cricket team of doctors. Who knew? Not me! I will still root for YCCC though. :)

March planned reading

Let's say I will use March as a catch up, clean up, spring cleaning month.

Need to finish up
Lolita a January group read that is dragging along
Bitterblue to finish the series and it is due back to the library soon able to renew.
Son to finish the series and it is due back to the library soon.
Como agua para chocolate the Spanish language book I should have started with. Garcia Márquez will have to wait until this book is under my belt.

The Count of Monte Cristo for 3 month long group read I love this book!!!
Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court for a group read.

For Mystery March
On What Grounds

ETA: I see what you mean Paws about the copy and paste no longer keeping your touchstones. Grrr!!!

162. So I'm not alone! It is really annoying, isn't it?

->161 luvamystery65:
Keeping my fingers Xed for that one - if it works for you, I'll be adding it to my wishlist as well. Good luck!! :)

Eva - I will let you know. It's all a mystery to me. :)

Mom is still in skilled nursing but she is not letting a little thing like her breathing treatment get in the way of Fantasy February. Here she is devouring Bitterblue. Holding thumbs and fingers crossed she comes home in the next few weeks AND that I can get reliable caregivers scheduled on the days I work.

My niece Krysta in our hometown, Washington's Birthday Celebration parade. She is part of the Princess Pocahontas Council pageant. I know I'm the aunt but she is sweet, smart, beautiful girl. She is in the top of her class and is graduating high school this May. She plans to study pharmacy.

great pics of Mom and niece!

Cheli - thank you. How are the grandkids?

Ohhh - it's time for cricket! I can't wait to find out what you think of the book and the sport.

It's great that you're mom is doing well - and that you share books!

Your niece is darling - pharmacy is a good career.

Oh, Roberta,
My grandkids are growing up so fast!
Jackson turned 4 this past week, little Miller is now a month old.
Molly Kate is 2½, Stella 1½, Isabella is 2.

Little Olivia is due to arrive at the beginning of April, and another little one is expected the beginning of September. Nonna can't keep up with all her little ones! I can't imagine my little ones getting to be as big as your niece - she looks so proud in that photo!

Lovely pics! Great to see your mom doesn't let a silly thing like breathing therapy get in the way of reading! :)

Seconding Eva's comment!

Cheli - that is fantastic you have five plus. They are such a joy and your eldest in the most fun years. 4-6 they say the most amazing things! I love children that age. They are so frank with their thoughts and pure with their emotions. The imaginations they have!!! Plus the rest are still at the age where you can hold them and carry them. Can't wait to see pics of the two new additions when they arrive. I know you are enjoying your blessings.

Eva and rabbitprincess yes mom would fit in well around here!

I love your niece's costume. She looks amazing.

174. I agree - kids are amazing around the age of five. Still young enough to have completely wild imaginations and believeing in fairy tales and whatnot, still wanting to sit on your lap if you read to them... But old enough to be reasoned with and have conversations with.

Ro - thank you I agree Krysta looks amazing. Her costume is beautiful and very heavy she tells me.

Paws - well said. Spring is inching closer my friend.

I get totally confused watching cricket. Love to watch it, just don't understand it. ;-)

Great pictures of your mom and niece - Love the Pocahontas costume your niece is wearing!

Lori confused = cricket to me. It does look so fun. Plus they stop for snacks and tea.

I updated my March reading list on post 162. Of course I'll tweak it at least four more times. LOL

How's your mom? How are you??

The audio version of The Honourable Schoolboy was a BBC production and not the unabridged version I wanted. I returned it and got Part 2 of My Life by Bill Clinton. Now that it is the first months of his presidency it seems to be going by quicker. It is still very long winded though but Michael Beck does an excellent job of reading it.

Tina - Here is the long winded answer to your question! LOL Blame it on Bill Clinton. He he he!

Mom has bronchitis plus a UTI. She was extremely confused and agitated last Saturday and her nurse would not listen to me because her temperature was 98.3, but Mom's temp usually runs around 96 or 97 max. I texted Mom's PCP who does not have privileges at the SNF. He called the nurse practitioner on call and gave a better picture of Mom's history. They ordered cultures and found the UTI and began treating both the UTI and bronchitis with bactrim. Mom is doing much better. I spent the last two nights with her to see how she is doing at night and what to expect when she is coming home. Wow! They come in so much at night. I was shocked. I think it has to do with all the breathing treatments Mom needs right now. So she is not getting too much sleep and I think it is contributing to some of her confusion.

On a positive note, she took a new swallow exam today and she can drink nectar thickened instead of honey. She now can have ice in her drink too. She is thrilled. Her physical therapy will be complete by this Friday and next Friday she will have her last occupational therapy. She should come home any day soon after that!

I went to my caregiver's class and it was really nice. The group was very positive and helpful. We got a little bit of homework assignment. I chose walking and reading as something I WANT to do for myself. The walking is a chore, the reading is pure pleasure. I did enjoy my walk yesterday and as soon as I get of LT I will go for my walk today. :)

How are you liking Bitterblue? I am about two-thirds of the way through and I am really enjoying it.

Now on to you Tina, how are the wedding plans coming along? I'll head over to your thread shortly and see what you have been up to. Thank you for stopping in and checking on me.

Hey Roberta -

You have all my admiration for the great care you're taking of your mother. Good for you for insisting there was something wrong!

I enjoy walking, too, but rarely make the time for it. I'll follow your example and see if I can't get out today!

Dejah - I walked three times last week and will walk three times again this week. Mom is on track to come home at the end of this week!

I just finished On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle. It was a nice cozy mystery. I'll look for more in this series as in between books.

That's wonderful about your Mom! I know this has been a long time in coming. And congratulations on the walking.

I'm so glad to hear of your mom's improvement! Kudos to you for being such a great advocate for your mom!! Bigger kudos for going to a care giving class & doing something for yourself! You have to take care of you so you can be there for your mom.

I loved Bitterblue. I am officially a Kristin Cashore fan now!! :)

If you would like a little chuckle and a flashback to the 80s. http://www.librarything.com/topic/146759#3975769

OMG it has been three LONG months but my Mom finally came home today. She is on oxygen and she needs a lot of physical therapy, but still, she is home. She has also loss some hearing due to antibiotics but we are hollering like trailer trash! LOL!

Great to hear about your mom - hollering like loonies is quite a cheap price to pay! :)

Eva - Ha! well to be perfectly honest, we were already quite loony. The hollering just announces it publicly. ;)

wonderful news!

Great news about your mother!

Glad that your mom's home! Must be a relief for her to be back in familiar territory :)

Very happy to learn your mom is now home, Roberta!

Roberta------- I'm soooooooo happy to hear that your mom is finally home!!!! YAYAYAY!

Take some time to enjoy each other. Remember to take time for you. Promise?

(Hugs to you & mom!)

Great that your Mom's at home.

That's wonderful, Roberta! I'm so happy for your Mom.

Thank you Jean, Carrie, rabbitprincess, Lori, Tina, Tricia, and Dejah for the well wishes!

I finished Dog On It. Such a fun read. Now I'm listening to the BBC4 production of Neverwhere. Episode 1 is still available for the next few days here http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/

>199 luvamystery65:: I just finished listening to that production! Loved it to bits. Now I want to reread the book (but it is on loan to a friend at the moment).

I hope you and your mom are both doing well, Roberta!

Happy Easter everyone!

Update on my mom. She had a high resolution CT scan of the lungs this morning. The pulmonologist says she has minimal scarring and we are on our way to weaning her steroids! Woohoo!

I just finished Liesl and Po. It was really good and I'm taking a page from Katie's book and listening to the audiobook narrated by Jim Dale.

I'll start a new thread for the second quarter of the year. I'm going to reserve my spots and fill in later.

Great news Roberta! I have this thread starred so I should be able to find and follow your shiny new thread.