raidergirl3: ROOT record

I hope to read 25 books that I already owned before 2013 begins. (I've almost got a dangling or misplaced modifier there.) I'm really not sure if I've picked the right amount of books to aim for. I guess it's okay to go over.

New data to track: books bought in 2013/those books read in 2013
27/13

msg 28 has the books listed

Books I really hope to read, take 2:

Blood Safari by Deon Meyer
Burning Bright by Tracey Chevalier
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Microserf by Douglas Coupland
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley
Citizen Vince by Jess Walter
Into the Wild by Jon Krakaur

There's many more, but this will be a starting list.

Books Read (*original list of books to be read)
1. More Baths Less Talking by Nick Hornby
2. Duma Key by Stephen King
3. Small Island by Andrea Levy*
4. Love's Shadow by Ada Leverson*
5. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
6. Dressing Up for the Carnival by Carol Shields
7. The Calculus Diaries by Jennifer Ouellette*
8. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
9. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
10. A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, by Marina Lewycka
11. The Black Ice by Michael Connelly
12. Molokai by Alan Brennart*
13. The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville
14. Skippy Dies by Paul Murray*
15. Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear*
16. The Birdman by Mo Hayder
17. Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker*
18. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
19. The Colour by Rose Tremain*
20. Winter Town by Stephen Emond
21. Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier
22. Death Angels by Ake Edwardson
23. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffennegger
24. Blood Safari by Deon Meyer
25. Into the Wild by Jon Krakaur
26. An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor

I have Miss Hargreaves and Love's Shadow too! Perhaps I'll try and read them in 2013 also.

I bought that whole set of 6 Bloomsbury when they first came out because I thought they were so pretty! I got 4 of them read, with two left to go. I have them on my 'pretty' bookcase, the one by my computer that has a few books there as decoration, along with other things. We will get them read next year!

I will be curious to see what you think of Skippy Dies, which I haven't read yet, and Small Island which I have read.

I loved Molokai, along with Brennert's other work, Honolulu. It inspired me to learn more about the history of Molokai. I have The Colony in my TBR pile now.

>lori thanks for stopping by. I plan to read Small Island in January, so I'll see pretty soon. It's an Orange book for Orange January.

>mareofthesea Everyone has loved Molokai! I dont' know why I haven't read it yet. That's why this challenge will be good for me.

I analysed my last year reading. I read 112 books (so far, maybe one more?)
- 60 library books (that's good)
- 5 audiobooks (also from library)
- 6 from publishers
- 5 for bookclub (also library)
- 18 books from before 2012
- 15 books that I bought in 2012
- 3 other books (borrowed from friends or free e-books)

I based my 25 goal on the 18 books I read that I already owned before last year. Reading 15 of the ones I bought this year is good! And the more old ones I get rid of, the easier it will be to read the ones I buy new.

I remember reading and enjoying Small Island. I have continued to read her other books. I am also pleased to see Rose Tremain's The Colour on your list. Not only am I a big fan of Rose Tremain but The Colour is set in New Zealand, my country. I hope you enjoy. I will star your thread and look forward to your reviews.

I hope to discover some Canadian authors as well.

Now I am really looking forward to those two books! I'll definitely be reading some Canadian authors, so I can help in that area, HelenBaker.

I'm ending the year, and probably starting it, with a book I meant to read all year - Duma Key. It will be my first ROOT as I bought it a few years ago.

I'd just ordered Skippy Dies, so I'll be interested in seeing what you think of it. I keep hearing a lot about I've Molokai, so 2013 might be the year I break down on that one. Good luck on your reading goals!

I finished my first book, More Baths Less Talking by Nick Hornby. It's the saddest ROOT, only because I just got it for Christmas so it's only been in the house for a few weeks. It is also good to read the books that newly arrive in the house so they don't become old ROOTS, so I am going to count it.

@ 11 -- Christmas books totally count! :)

I finally finished Duma Key! woo hoo!

It's so hard to pick up a large (769 pages) book when you are trying to complete books. All you can think is how many other books I could have read in that time.

However, I bought the book (many years ago) because I wanted to read it, and I always enjoy King, so am glad to have finally read it. Not his best, but it was well done with great characters - Wireman and Edgar had a wonderful friendship and it made me want to visit Florida and the keys off Florida.

I have two library books (Week in Winter and Lola's Secret that have come in (requested before Christmas) and then it will be ROOT books for a while. I want to see that ticker move.

I finished Small Island by Andrea Levy. Great read.

I don't think the title was right however. I didn't get the sense from the title how it would be a England during the war book, which it was. Four great characters, with good plot twists. The themes with racism and immigration were very well done too, very infuriating.

Only 3 ROOTS done so far, but Duma Key was 770 pages, and Small Island was 530 pages, so I feel I've moved some heavy books off my shelf.

I'm reading Love's Shadow now. Very Oscar Wilde, comedy of manners, not what I was expecting, but, it is pretty short!

I also started picking at a short story collection by Carol Shields, Dressing Up for the Carnival. A few stories a week. I've got a few short story collections that I might try this way. Gently pruning the ROOTS, a little at a time.

>14 raidergirl3:: I was surprised by how big Small Island was! Maybe the title led me to believe the book itself would be small. Glad you liked it.

rabbitprincess - Small Island was one of those books that look very large and dense, and that was probably why it languished on my pile so long without being read. However, it read very fast; great historical fiction, and didn't feel that long at all. Immensely readable!

I have finished Love's Shadow. Oscar Wilde-ish comedy of manners by a friend of OW. Probably more scandalous in its day.

Today I finished The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. It was good, sad, and had an involved plot that had me a bit confused. That can be easy sometimes, so don't be scared off by me.
Many characters connected to a book, that seem unrelated, but comes together at the end. I had difficulties with the time line, and keeping generational characters clear.

This makes 4 ROOTS so far in February, and 8 overall!

5. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

6. Dressing Up for the Carnival by Carol Shields
- short stories. I'm trying to read all of Carol Shields fiction. One novel, one SS collection left.

7. The Calculus Diaries by Jennifer Ouellette
Not so much calculus, but a great collections of real-life events that math and science can be used to solve.

8. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Wonderful historical mystery (12th century England). I didn't realize it, but it is the start of a 4 book series.

You are doing great, raidergirl. Keep it up.

Hello Raidergirl, you and Staffordcastle seem to be really getting on with some serious uprooting of tomes. I am inspired to try harder and not let the team down!

thanks for the support connie and bowerbirds! It's going well now, staying away from the library, but I expect once I slow down, it'll be back to less ROOTS. I am feeling accomplished now though.

Three more for February:

9. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Very cute YA novel, like a story from Love Actually. I had bought this at the junior high school book fair while at parent-teacher interviews.

10. A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, by Marina Lewycka
Ended up being quite a cute little book. Adult daughters are upset their widow father is going to marry a young Ukrainian trying to live in England. Black humor. Bought because it was an Orange shortlisted novel.

11. The Black Ice by Michael Connelly
Harry Bosch #2. Bought at library sale for 50 cents.

My new self rule is that I am allowed to read 2 library books per month, and the rest should be ROOT books. I've already got my 2 books for March on order and they will be ready at library very soon - a Spellman Files book, and Astray, a short story collection by Emma Donaghue that I requested after reading a great review on Joy's blog.

This is where things fall apart in the ROOT challenge:

Women's Prize for Fiction (Orange Prize) shortlist has been announced, and I've requested more than my (self-) alloted 2 library books per month. I'm already reading my second library book of the month and the month is almost half over. Maybe they will be slow coming in and not arrive til April.

Plus, new released books. I just got Wild from a publisher to read this month, and am dying to read Kate Atkinson's new book, Life After Life, which is on the Orange shortlist. It's the kind I may actually purchase new, HC, and I seldom buy new books. At least it will be in April.

I've only read 1.5 ROOT books this month: Moloka'i is finished, and The Idea of Perfection is going slowly.

Well, you can afford to let newer books prevail! You're almost halfway and you still haven 9 months left to read them. You will be fine.

>23 raidergirl3:. I know what you mean there are so many tempting titles and lovely covers. I believe Kate Atkinson is coming to New Zealand in May to speak at the Aucland Writers and Readers festival. So I know that her book will be a definite purchase for me. I am currently reading a 500 page book, an Early Reviewer copy so that won't help me with this goal either.

connie - although I set 25 as my goal, I think I've adjusted it in my head to be many more. I don't want to say 50, because that seems crazy high, but 40 seems realistic, if I can avoid the library.

helenbaker - the chance to see Kate Atkinson? so jealous. I have a huge crush on Jackson Brodie. It was a book crush first, but then Jason Isaacs played him in the BBC mini-series, and he completely wiped away his role as Malfoy, and now it is him as Brodie that bears the crush.

I finally finished The Idea of Perfection. It started out really, really slow, but by about half way I was enjoying it. It was still very quiet, and I hate books without quotation marks, but it was charming.

I am glad you enjoyed The Idea of Perfection. I am sure I read it many years ago from the library as the cover is familiar and I have read several more of hers since, although not so keen on her latest Sarah Thornhill. I have just received the programme for theAuckland Writers and Readers Festival and see that Carlos Ruiz Zafon and Anita Desai will be there too. I also now realise that my attendance might be hampered by the fact that my husband will have had a knee replacement op 2 weeks prior. Hmm... this could require strategic planning and only one day attendance.

Helenbaker - oh, enjoy your festival! It sounds marvelous, and there is nothing at all remotely like that in my neck of the woods.

I think what I am most pleased about with this challenge, besides the number of ROOTS I've managed to read, is how many of them have been over 400 pages. Of course, that is part of why they hadn't been read - they looked sooo long.

Duma Key (769)
Skippy Dies (667)
Small Island (530)
Idea of Perfection (400)
Mistress of the Art of Death (461)

Next mini-challenge for myself : get some of those publisher books and books I've bought this year read. The goal is not to let this year get ahead of me and defeat all the great work I am doing.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed
The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
Children of the Jacaranada Tree by Sahar Delijani
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld
Bankrupting Physics by Unzicker and Jones (LT ER)

Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly
The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly
The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman(new)
The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin (new)
Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark
Trunk Music by Michael Connelly
Artists in Crime by Ngaio Marsh
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach (new)
UR by Stephen King (ebook)
Tender is the Night by FScott Fitzgerald
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R King
The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear
Belong to Me by Marisa de Los Santo
The Water Rat of Wanchai by Ian Hamiliton
The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank
Night Street by Kristel Thornell (book I won)
A Neighbourly War (book I won)
What We Talk About when We Talk About War by Richler (book I won)
Treasure Hunt - Andrea Camilleri
Strange Shores - Arnaldur Indridason

I'm doing this April of ROOT reading all wrong!

I've only read 3 books (+ 2 half books) and they are all library books. I have 2 more library books borrowed. Plus, I've bought 3 used books. No ROOTS read, or even thought about. I'll have to just write April off and get back on track in May.

You can do it! Go, go.

thanks Connie!

I am just about finished Pardonable Lies, the third Maisie Dobbs book, which I've had for eons. I think she is on book #10. I'm so behind. But at least I hadn't bought any more in the series, so as far as ROOTS are concerned, I'm up to date.
I'll see if I can squeeze in another ROOT before the end of the month.

After finishing Pardonable Lies, I was looking for a ROOT to read that wasn't England, particularly historical. I like that setting but lately, I've been there a lot. Speaking from Among the Bones(50s), Life After Life(both wars), NW(present), and then Pardonable Lies(30s) were 4 of last 5 books. Plus I've been watching Call the Midwife(50s) on PBS (excellent show btw).
I looked in my mystery pile and decided on Birdman by Mo Hayder. Yep - it's London. I must get myself a trip to London sometime as it is all I read about lately!

Ah, London! I hope you do get to go sometime! My family went last year and ever since then we have been fantasizing about living there :P

rabbitprincess - Oh, how lovely. It's funny, all those books in a row, and I'm not talking with an accent in my head. Usually I pick up some of the slang as I read, for a little while anyway.

Two ROOTS for April (Pardonable Lies, and The Birdman) make the month not a complete loss. I'm reading one of the books I got this year from a publisher (The Firebird) so while not a ROOT, a good book to get read.

Must go get some correcting (damn physics labs) done, so I can reward myself with some reading.

I corrected the (damn) physics lab. Yay me!

I also bought a book, hangs head. I was taking my daughter to buy a book for her trip to Boston with my mother. (SHe's taken all 3 of my kids on trips when they were 10 years old). She got the 3rd book in the Dork Diaries series. I couldn't believe they only available in hard cover. Anyway, I browsed a bit, and found Packing for Mars by Mary Roach for $6.99. I loved her book Stiff, saw her talk about Packing for Mars on The Daily Show, and ... most excitedly, I've been following Cmd Hadfield on Twitter while he's been up on the International Space Station. I can't imagine there has been an astronaut who has enjoyed, and engaged with people, as much as Hadfield. His joy is so evident. He's been posting pictures from space, which are stunning. Also videos, of things like how to wring out a cloth in space. So cool.

Delighted to have found where you are tracking your reading, Elizabeth. I've got your starred now!


Holy, physics lab and space stations: I'm way out of my league here, LOL. Appreciate your endorsement of Call the Midwife; it's on my list of shows I think I'd enjoy. Also noticed at the top of your thread that you're really hoping to get to Rose Tremain's The Colour this year. Me, too.

> nancy - thanks for stopping by. I made that list at the top of books I really want to get read and I am hoping to finish that off this month and make a new list for the summer. So The Colour is high on my list for this month.
Call the Midwife is fabulous! Just delightful, you must look into it.

I'm reading Firebird right now, an ARC I received in January that has just been released. I haven't had a good amount of time to get into it, but it has two stories - one back in time, so I'm sure it will pick up very soon.
Also listening to Dance of the Seagull, the latest by Andrea Camilleri. I just love Insp Montalbano, and am chuckling in my car as I listen.

Finished Firebird (a book from a publisher, 2013), and then Dance of the Seagull (an audiobook from the library). So while not ROOTS, still good to get an ARC read within a week of its publishing date, and I don't really count audiobooks as getting in the way of my ROOT reading.

Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker.
Then I finished Miss Hargreaves, a book I bought back in 2009 and is the last of the Bloomsbury 'pretty cover' books I bought. It was different, and maybe a little too long.
It's the story of 2 young men (early 20s) who foolishly make up an elderly lady, who suddenly then appears in their life in real life. Written in 1940 is describes a different England. The main character is an organist in the Cathedral, and some of the music and church life could easily have been cut out. The premise is funny, and seeing the boys react to her answering their letter and showing up was good. But that wears after a while. The middle part of the book, up to the point where they realize they have to 'get rid of her' somehow, dragged a bit. But then the ending was good again.

One more from my original list (The Colour), then I am making a new list of 8 more books to focus on.

Elizabeth, sounds like your May reading has been on track. Well done on your ROOTS reading. Hope you will enjoy The Colour. It's one I've checked out from the library and renewed, but still have not had a chance to get to. Presently, I'm into Life After Life: long queue at the library for that one, so it's one of those "READ ME IMMEDIATELY" deals. I'm enjoying; don't think it'll be a 5* read, but it's well done.

Nancy, Life After Life was a solid 4 star read for me. I liked it, but liked Light Between the Oceans more. Yet, I think Life After Life is the more literary book and deserves to win the Orange Prize.

My library book that I have to READ NOW is Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzpatrick, and I'm quite enjoying it. I read The Paris Wife last summer, and it is practically a companion book. I'm becoming quite fascinated with that era. Plus, with Gatsby coming out, it feels timely.

Elizabeth, curious how you are enjoying your latest Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzpatrick. Can't find a link for this one? It's great to become fascinated with an era and run with it! Is Gatsby out yet? I know it was just being promoted in Cannes.

I loved Zelda! It was told from her perspective, from how the author interpreted events. Sure, Zelda probably had bipolar disorder, but much like many women in the 1930s and 40s who were institutionalized, it was that they weren't towing the male line. Imagine wanting to create in her own right and name and not just as Scott's wife?
I'm going to see Gatsby on Friday night!

Second ROOT for May:

18. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Very cute, Alice in Wonderland-like silly book with great plays on words. Milo, a bored little boy, finds a Tollbooth in his room, and drives to a world all about words and numbers. It's not one I read (or even heard of) as a child.

Now I'm frantically trying to read Flight Behaviour before its June 2nd due date at the library. Lcckily it's very good, and I'm enjoying it.

You've certainly got my attention with Zelda Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth! Sure, Zelda probably had bipolar disorder, but much like many women in the 1930s and 40s who were institutionalized, it was that they weren't towing the male line. I don't have any trouble at all believing that! Congrats to another ROOT for May, and glad you are enjoying Flight Behaviour.

Enjoy Gatsby on Friday night!! Do post and let us know what you thought.

The Great Gatsby was good. I don't think it's my favorite story, but Leo was good, very charming. I didn't think Toby Maguire was very good at all; not a fan of his. The visuals were as expected from Baz Laurman - stunning. Having the music by Jay-Z, and being hip-hop/rap was actually very good. It captured the rebellious nature of the 1920s. The parties at Jay Gatsby's were amazing.

The girls I went with all agreed we didn't want to see it in 3-D, and we still thought it was cool to see. ( I can't see 3-D with my one eyed vision, another girl was sick after seeing one before) I have Gatsby on an audio book to listen to this week and I hope it won't be too much Gatsby! It's been a number of years since I read Gatsby and most of it came back while watching the movie.

Elizabeth, so glad you enjoyed Gatsby. Was thinking of you and hoping it was a good time. Didn't know the music was Jay-Z, but I like what you have to say about its complement to the rebelliousness of the 20s. I'll bet the parties were amazing!

Children of the Jacaranda Tree by Sahar Delijani
I got this as an ARC; its release is June 18.

I watched Jon Stewart's last show before his hiatus from The Daily Show. He showed a clip of Jason Jones in Iran in 2009, during the revolution and protests before the 'democratic' elections. One of the reporters they talked to was subsequently arrested. Stewart and the show had become friends, and after his eventual release, and book writing, Stewart decided to make a movie based on the events. That's what his hiatus is for, and it is also the subject of this book, sort of.

The revolution and protests of 2009 mirror the revolution and crack down that happened in the 1980s. Starting in Evin Prison in 1983, a child is born to a prisoner. Several stories are followed in the 1980s, from connected young people who have been imprisoned, and their young children who are looked after by other family members. Some of the prisoners survive, some don't. Some left Iran, some stayed. Twenty odd years later, the children are grown, and living their own revolution, and also the effects of having parents who were in prison for the same revolution.

It was a beautiful book, and reminds you that an 'axis of evil' represents a government and its leaders, not the people. Iran had been a well educated, vibrant country with women who had vital roles in society. Then, bam. A totalitarian government, fundamentalist religiously based changed all that. The people are still fighting, still rebeling as best as they can. The fact that a new generation who grew up under Khomeni still turned out in numbers to protest showed that the brainwashing of a generation did not take.

I'm well into The Colour, the last of the 8 books I listed at the start of this challenge. I didn't think it would take me almost 6 months to get through the pile. I'm going to make a new list of 8 priority reads once I'm done The Colour.

Enjoying The Colour, New Zealand historical fiction.

Elizabeth, excellent review of Children of the Jacaranda Tree. My world politics are terrible, and honestly, I only ever remember Iran as i>a totalitarian government, fundamentalist religious based. This one sounds very interesting.

Hope you like The Colour; it's on my list for this year, too. And well done on making a new list of 8 priority reads after this one. My reading is completely unorganized.

After Children of the Jacaranda Tree, I've read:

19. The Colour by Rose Tremain
Historical fiction of an unhappy couple who leave England for New Zealand and the freedom they envision there. Gold fever captures them; husband is an idiot; I cheered for the wife; readable story that lagged a bit at the end.

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Library book I read for my book club. We had a good discussion about poor, silly Lily Bart. I didnt' love, nor hate it. It took me too long to read because of the 1905 writing style. That lifestyle reminded me of high school cliques, and the pressure to fit in, and live a life according to unwritten 'rules', very social, more time than brains and money.

20. Winter Town by Stephen Emond
A young adult book that deftly blends graphic novel with the written. A little to emo, and teenage angsty for me.

(only ROOTS are numbered)

next up is either the ROOT Burning Bright, or the library book that is due in 10 days, Americanah.

Elizabeth, you are getting a lot more reading done than I am. Good for you! I think both The Colour and The House of Mirth are books I will enjoy.

Are you taking the summer off? I am, as usual. Very selfish about my summers.

I find June hard to read a lot, as the winding up of school is very busy. The House of Mirth didn't help, smirk. I started Burning Bright

I always take my summers off and I dont' think it is selfish! I figure if I added up all the 'overtime' I do throughout the year, I've earned my summers. Plus, it also made going back to work after each of my kids was born easier, because I knew I'd have my summers off with them. We all get pretty lazy, except for all the sports the kids do - soccer, softball, basketball, ringette camps. I read a lot at sports events.

That said, the curriculum has changed in a math course I teach, so I will have to do some work on that.

21. Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier
Such a reliable writer - I've enjoyed all the books I've read of hers. She takes a person or moment in history and just develops this whole vivid world around them. This one is William Blake, the poet, in 1792-3 London. A family moves from Dorsetshire to London, and the children/teenagers adjust to life in big city London. Also in their new neighbourhood is Philip Astley, the circus owner, and Blake. The French Revolution is just beginning and questions of loyalty to the king arise. Blake is a minor character, but seems a fascinating guy; the author notes at the end imply that Astley is just as fascinating.

3 ROOTS for June is not too bad. I feel a library month coming on, and I really must read a few of the books I've bought at the used book sales recently. Aw, but there should be lots of time for reading in the summer.

I agree with you Elizabeth about Tracy Chevalier. I recently read her Remarkable Creatures set in Lyme Regis and found it fascinating, informative and enjoyable. I will look out for Burning Bright.

HelenBaker - I've only got Chevalier's latest two to read, Remarkable Creatures and The Last Runaway. I've found all her books fascinating, informative, and enjoyable. My favorite was The Lady and the Unicorn.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngoki Adichie

More character driven than her last book (Half a Yellow Sun), Americanah started strong, but faded a bit at the end of the 477 pages. The book follows Ifemelu and Obinze, from their teenage love affair, to their separate lives in the US and UK, to their return to Nigeria years later. I liked everything, especially the race and immigration experience in the US, and the blog entries written by Ifemelu, up to when they both returned to Nigeria. I guess I prefered the race aspect of the story to the love story, which isn't how I usually roll.
Not a ROOT, but a library book, written in 2013, and a possible prize nominee as the season rolls on.

Glad you enjoyed Americanah, Elizabeth. This is one I have requested from the library. So far, I haven't heard of anyone disliking it. And yes, prize season rolls on ... wonder if it will appear on the Booker LL?

Elizabeth, I look forward to reading Americanah soon. I bought it recently but am waiting until I have cleared a few more books off my shelves first.
I remember enjoying The Lady and the Unicorn, also The Girl with the Pearl Earring. The movie of the latter was well done too.

thanks for stopping by Nancy and HelenBaker!

a little spell of library, not ROOT, books:

Agent Gates (a parody) - Camaren Subhiyah and Kyle Hilton
Hilarious, well done graphic novel of Downton Abbey with spies trying to stop the first world war. Pick it up if you are a fan of Downton Abbey and missing it.

Murder in Montparnasse - Kerry Greenwood
Good edition of Phyrne Fisher, the 1920s rich Australian who makes her own rules, and investigates. I read this one especially for its Paris connection. Phryne spent some time in Paris after ambulance driving in the war, and recent events take her back to remembering those days.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter - Tom Franklin
This is a book I remember reading rave reviews of a few years ago, and it lived up to reccomendations. Mississippi now, and in flashbacks to the 1970s, as two characters, one black and one white, become somewhat friends. Larry Ott, possibly the saddest character I've read in a while, was accused after a girl he dated went missing. Since she was never found, he lives under that suspicion. Silas Jones, the black friend, has grown into the town Constable.
The book is about race, and friendship, and loneliness.

Don't you find the Phyrne Fisher books to be a hoot? I love them to just pick up and read a snippet now and then. And I am so looking forward to reading Americanah. I hope I can get around to it this year.
You're looking good raider. Keep up the good reads.

Oh yes, I love Phryne Fisher! Such a dame. Americanah was good, but the ending wasn't strong enough - it just sort of fizzled out. But lots of good in it. I'm not reading many ROOTS this summer. Between library books I've requested, school library boks I took home for the summer, books I've bought this year, and some ARCs, my own books are again on the back burner.

next up: Code Name Verity, Sisterland, or Messenger of Truth.

Interesting remarks on Americanah, Elizabeth. That one's on my list, as well as everyone else's list it seems. I expect it to appear on the Booker LL next week.

Hope your summer is fabulous!

more non ROOTS, arggh!

Paris to Die For by Maxine Kenneth (library)
Fun, light adventure starring Jacqueline Bouvier in 1951, before she meets Jack, getting sent to Paris by the CIA as an operative. She does everything perfectly, it's a little far-fetched, with a silly romance, but it was a great summer read.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (school library)
Still France, but now during the war. This is a YA book, I got from my school library for the summer. Two British girls get stuck in occupied France, and try to complete their mission. There was a lot of suspence, and it was really well done. The first half is the prisoner girl writing down her story as an informer for the Germans; the second half clears up a lot of what is going on.

Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld (review copy from RH)
Twin sisters with ESP - one embraces her gift, even predicting an earthquake for St Louis while the other sister is married with kids, trying not to make any mistakes, and being super judge-y about everyone around her. But those who live in glass houses... I mostly liked it, but got tired of the judgey sister. Just live your life.

Miss Julia Meets Her Match by Ann B Ross (audiobook)
I listened to this on audiobook this month. It's the 5th book in the southern series, and sometimes it works better for me than others. It's a gentle, cozy book about a widowed southern lady who jumps into things and worries what people will say. These books start really slow, but everything is a set up for the big finale, with several strands or issues all coming together at the end. ps it always ends up all right!

next up : Dexter in the Dark, Night Street, and a big pile of books (some are ROOTS!) to take on our vacation as we drive to Sherbrooke, Quebec for the Canada Summer Games. My 15 year old son is on the PEI basketball team. I'm so excited for him, and for our trip.

Have a great vacation! Will be cheering for PEI from here :)

Woot! Great summer of reading for you, Elizabeth : ). Code Name Verity has caught my eye; it is certainly well liked here among LTers with a * rating of 4.5.

You are doing really well raider! You're almost there. Great job!

I haven't read a ROOT all summer, so the only success I can summon for this challenge is that I was in a book store yesterday and didn't buy any books. Yay me!

Yay you!

#66 LOL, yes, Yay you!

I finally finished a ROOT - first since the end of June. I guess it was a good idea to only pick 25 ROOTS to read.

22. Death Angels by Ake Edwardson
Scandi-crime, first in a series, but not the first translated apparently. I quite liked it, although it felt like there were nuances perhaps lost in translation. A police procedural, with a loner Chief Investigator. There are gruesome murders happening in Sweden, and in London that are very similar. Erik Winter has to travel to London to meet his counterpart in solving the crime. I liked that it didn't 'set up' the first in a series, it jumped right in with characters with previous relationships that I assume will be developed in later books. And by some strange miracle, my library has all the books in the series! It usually misses one or two somewhere along the way.

It's been a slow reading fall, not just for ROOT books. I think I only finished 3 books in October; one was an audiobook, one a library book (Nemesis by Jo Nesbo, Harry Hole!), and one ROOT.

I was very confident in June that I'd underestimated how many ROOTS I would read - 25 is now looking just barely doable. One more to go. Surely I can manage that much.

23. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffennegger
Good creepy ghost story, but I was a bit disappointed with the ending. Twin girls, of twins, move to London and live in the apartment flat of their dead aunt, who is haunting the place. The event that brings on the finale was too unrealistic for me.

24.Blood Safari by Deon Meyer
Can't go wrong with Meyer, who writes fantastic mysteries set in South Africa. This is an older book of his, the first with Lemmer, but as there are not new books out, I'm looking into the back library.

Both were good reads for the creepy Halloween season.

I finish the 2013 ROOT Challenge with one over, 26/25. Thanks for all the fun and support in 2013, and see you all next year! (or, almost tomorrow!)

Where did 2013 go?! Nice work on your challenge! See you in the new group :)

Congrats Raidergirl! See you tomorrow ;-)