bell7's (Mary) reading in 2013 - Page 1

Hello and welcome to friends new and old!

For those of you not familiar with my reading habits, I'm an eclectic reader of fiction and nonfiction, fantasy, mysteries (not too gory), classics and contemporary fiction. My "go to" comfort read is a young adult fantasy novel, but I'll try just about anything but horror and the really experimental literary fiction. I love to chat, especially about books, so please feel free to leave comments - even if you disagree! I'll at least try to follow your thread if you comment on mine, but I've found it hard to keep up with everyone, so I don't tend to comment often. Sorry. :(

I know I said this last year, but I really mean it - my reading goal for 2013 is to read at least as many of my own books as library books.

Here are my (completely subjective) star ratings that have nothing to do with the overall "quality" of the book, merely my personal reaction to it:

1 star - Forced myself to finish it
2 stars - Dislike
2.5 stars - A solid "meh"
3 stars - Sort of liked it; or didn't, but admired something about it despite not liking it
3.5 stars - An OK read (generally this is a rating of splitting hairs - it's either better than my last 3 star read or worse than my last 4 star read)
4 stars - I liked it, but would only reread under special circumstances (ie., a series book or for book club)
4.5 stars - Excellent, a satisfying read, a title I would consider rereading
5 stars - A book that I absolutely loved, would absolutely reread, and just all-around floored me

Finally, here are my tickers:

Hello, Mary!

I've got you starred, Mary! Looking forward to another wonderful year of reading!! I would like to concentrate on reading more from my own shelves as well, so I guess we'll see how we both do with that!

Welcome back!

Hi, Mary!

Hi ho, Mary! Yo!

Hi Marie, Mamie, Jim, Terri, and Richard!

I'm already behind on threads and the new year hasn't even begun... :)

Well, join the rest of us groundlings, me dearieo. No one can stay caught up around here, it's against the Laws of Nature.

BTW, have you noticed, on the "Groups" tab, that the 2013 group is already #2 in post count for the week? And that's with a mere 150 of us 75ers!

Imagine what 2013 will be like...*boggle*

>8 richardderus: it's against the Laws of Nature.

Ain't that the truth... midway through the year I had to star my own thread because I kept losing track of it.

Imagine what 2013 will be like...*boggle*

Based on my 2012 experience (the first year I have worked one full-time job, so I can't really compare it to past years working part-time and fiddling around on LT far more than I can now), I'd say I will constantly be at least a week or two behind on several people's threads. Oh well! I do what I can, and every now and then take a day of doing nothing to - if not catch up, strictly speaking - click on each thread I've starred in order to make sure I've read at least the last few and brought myself up-to-date for mere moments before people start posting again. :)

Hi Mary, I'll be back to follow you and your reading in 2013! I am struggling, too, to find a balance with life and LT -- I never have as much time as I would like and I'm always behind. Fortunately, it's a forgiving group:)

Glad to see you back with us again, Mary!

Happy New Year, Mary.

Happy New Year Mary!

>10 AMQS: Hi Anne, and happy new year! Looking forward to seeing your reading this year as well, even if I know at the outset I won't stay caught up. :)

>11 alcottacre: Hello Stasia! Hope you're enjoying your break before hitting the books again. Happy new year!

>12 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Happy New Year to you too!

>13 norabelle414: Happy New Year, Nora! Hope things are going well for you, and looking forward to seeing what you're reading this year. I may try to tackle War and Peace myself this year...

Hi Mary. Lovely new thread. :)

Happy New Year, Mary! May it be filled with good books and loads of laughter!

Hi, Mary! I've found and starred you. Nice end of the year summaries on the old thread, btw.

Happy 2013, Mary!

Mary, I'm glad you are back for another year of sharing your reading life with us. Happy New Year!

Hi, Mary! Just wandering by to drop a star on your thread. So glad to see you with us again! And don't worry about getting behind -- I know I'm never caught up with half the people here.

>15 MickyFine: Hi Micky, glad you stopped by!

>16 Crazymamie: Thank you, Mamie, and the same to you!

>17 ronincats: Thanks, Roni! I enjoy creating my summaries, and it's good to know that others enjoy them too. :)

>18 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! A happy new year to you, too.

>19 Donna828: Donna, thanks for stopping by! A happy new year & looking forward to seeing what you're reading this year.

>20 tymfos: Hi Terri! Thanks for the star - glad to see you! I'm already far behind, but I think I'm just going to have to accept it and "catch up" the best I can. :)

So many of you who followed last year's last thread know that I moved about a month ago. Here are the long-promised pictures of the library at the new house (I took pictures so you could get a sense of a 360 view of it, plus closer pictures of the left side - behind the white chairs - that are my books alone).

For those of you who may not know, I rent from family friends, and when they bought a house in a neighboring town, all they had to do to get me to move with them was show me pictures of this gorgeous library and say, "And you can put your books there..."



Here's the view from the far inside of the room. (see the door on the left? that's one of two)



A little dark, but this is looking out towards the front of the house, opposite where I keep my books.



Just a little to the left of the previous picture, this is the working fireplace and the seating.



And on the far left of the room when you come into the doors, this is where I keep my books.

From directly to the left of the door, moving to the center, and then opposite the door (to the left of the fireplace), here are slightly closer shots of my books - I'm not sure you can make out the titles, but you can get a better sense of the gorgeous bookshelves:







All borrowed, of course, since I'm just renting a room and using the library, but it's a gorgeous space and I very much enjoy spending time in there! :)

MARY!!! *terminal fantods* Omigosh omigolly that is such a fabOO place to have in your home! Rent schment, that place needs to be YOURS!

Thanks for sharing, now I'm six feet under the jealous line. ;-)

Really. Posting pics like that without enough resolution to read the titles. What were you thinking?!

:D

Again, I just have to say that's a fantastic looking library. What I wouldn't do to have a room like that to my disposal...

>24 richardderus: I have indeed thought to myself that, should the folks I rent from ever choose to downsize or build a house up the hill from here (it's 3.25 acres of land) and sell, I would be more than willing to buy...

>25 drneutron: Haha... I know, sorry! Of course, in my member gallery I identify the genres, so if you were to go through that and my "Your Library" collection, you could probably make an educated guess...

>26 PawsforThought: Hi Paws, I rather like it myself. :) Of course it's just "borrowed" space for now, but I enjoy just sitting there working on my laptop surrounded by books (much as I'm doing now, come to think of it).

What a wonderful room!! Thanks for sharing those pictures.

Apparently I haven't stopped in yet to give you a star! Well, here it is... love the bookshelf pictures, those shelves are gorgeous!

>28 ronincats: My pleasure, Roni! :)

>29 dk_phoenix: Hi Faith! Thanks for the star - I'm off to go star your thread too.

What great book cases.

Happy New Year Mary!

>31 Whisper1: Happy new year, Linda! It's pretty much my dream library, so it didn't take long for me to say, "Yes, sure, I'll move with you" after they showed me pictures (and the shelves were dusty and bookless, too!).

Lovely library room. Borrowed or not, I know you'll enjoy your time there.

Wow, talk about book porn, Mary!

>33 rosalita: Yes, I do. :)

>34 MickyFine: Haha thanks, Micky.

My first book of the year (finished on the 1st, actually, it's the review that's been long in coming):

1. How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster

Ever had an English class where you wondered, "How on earth does the professor come up with this interpretation stuff?" Though Thomas Foster himself is a college professor, he clearly remembers what it was like to be a high school or college undergrad reader. In short chapters, he engagingly and clearly explains the motifs, symbols, and patterns one can look for and expect when reading.

I truly wish that I had read this informative and entertaining book when I was in college. I was an English major, but I didn't buy a good fourth of what I wrote in my papers, feeling like I was reading too much between the lines. The main issue for me was "How could the author have possibly meant ---- or been reacting to ---- ? How do you know?" I never felt that my English professors answered this satisfactorily, but in one chapter, Foster does: since stories are, at their core, interconnected, an author may have read (and reacted to) one book that was informed by a previous one. Even if the author never intended the connection to the original story, his/her writing has indeed been affected by it because of that later book (I'm not explaining this very well, but trust me, Foster does).

I may never read quite like an English professor (I think it would take multiple readings of any text to do so). His attitude that it's OK to enjoy the story at its most literal level and not pick up on every nuance or have exactly his interpretation made me think that I could be a better reader than I have been, and has inspired me to read more texts that take a reader's effort to fully appreciate. 4.5 stars.

Starting off the new year well - that was a book off my own shelves (it's a keeper, too).

Hooray, book porn!

Happily, I already have that one on the wishlist!

Hi, Mary. Alas, I haven't kept up with your threads from last year, so I missed the whole moving thing. The bookshelves and accompanying room look lovely.

And, you hit me with a book bullet, to boot. I'm another English major (long time ago now), who was never really schooled in how to see the various levels of meaning in my reading - I just sort of did it with no structure in place. So I'm also eager to read Foster's book. Maybe it will renew my interpretive skills!

Oh, wow, those bookcases are amazing!

What an absolutely gorgeous library. If I had one of those anywhere near me, I'd simply move into that room and never leave. Wouldn't even need a bedroom!

Hi Mary, the library is just gorgeous. I concur with lunacat, that would be my little corner forever too.

I clicked over here from Richard's old (!) thread (don't tell him I was lurking) to see the library porn. Oh, and also happy New Year!

Katherine! For shame, just lurking! Go and post something right away, to make up for it.

ETA Hi Mary! Good review of a really interesting sounding book.

Mary - I have library envy. If I lived in that house, I would never leave that room. Thanks for sharing.

Nice comments about the Foster book. I read one by him last year that I really liked, Twenty-Five Books that Shaped America. He does have a very engaging style.

>38 norabelle414: haha, happy to please, Nora!

>39 rosalita: I hope you enjoy it when you get to it, Julia.

>40 ffortsa: Hi Judy, no worries, I got behind on several threads by the end of the year as well - glad you stopped by! And I do hope you enjoy Foster's book; you might just find yourself rekindling that analytical mode of reading. :)

>41 bluesalamanders: Aren't they, Blue? I love that room.

>42 lunacat: Yeah, I was sitting in there yesterday morning and the man of the house (I rent from a husband & wife that have been long-time friends of the family, so there's the man of the house, the woman of the house, the other lady that rents, plus the Brazilian exchange student, though he's leaving in three weeks or so) asked me if I wouldn't want to sit in another, warmer room. I told him that I rather liked being surrounded by books. I think he thought I was crazy, but, well... At least I can trust fellow LTers to understand! :)

>43 fairywings: Welcome, Adrienne! Yep, I'm pretty much staking out the library as part of my house space. I don't get a good Internet signal in my room, so I've been bringing my laptop downstairs and sitting in the library almost every day now that it's pretty well unpacked and there are seats.

>44 qebo: Hi Katherine, and a happy new year to you too! I won't tell, but the cat may be out of the bag already... ;)

>45 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! Always nice to hear feedback on reviews. :)

>46 BLBera: Hello, Beth, and thanks. I hadn't even made the connection that Twenty-Five Books that Shaped America was by the same author... if it's not already on the ever-growing TBR list, I'll make sure to add it.

2. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Reverend John Ames nears the end of his life in Gilead, Iowa in 1956, and begins writing reflections for his young son to read after he dies. He touches on family, faith, and much more, meandering as old people will from one subject to the other. Throughout, we see a lovely picture of a man who is the son and grandson of preachers, lived through two world wars, and yet loves this messed up world.

I'm not sure I can adequately describe the sheer pleasure of reading this book. It's more of a character study than a plot-heavy book. The writing is poetic, lyrical, and thought-provoking whether to happen to share John Ames' faith or not. The narrative flow from subject to subject felt completely natural to an old man thinking of one thing after another, with the start and stop of many days of sitting down to write as long as he could manage each day, yet it was perfectly crafted, not one word wasted. I was sorry to leave Gilead behind. 5 stars.

Well. The first two books I read this year were really excellent. The rest of my 2013 reading is going to have a lot to live up to.

I'm currently reading Travels with Charley for book group and The Hobbit for a fun reread (saw the movie a couple of weeks ago, which was fantastic, and made me want to read it again - I've read The Lord of the Rings at least 6 times, but haven't returned to this one nearly as often, and not for several years).

Time with Bilbo is always a good time, Mary. ;)

Another fine review, Mary! I'd rather be swatted with cactus branches than read it, though.

Wonderful review of 'Gilead', Mary. You really captured all the things I loved about it.

>49 MickyFine: How true, Micky! We passed the trolls today. :)

>50 richardderus: Thanks, Richard, though yeah, your reading that would be something like the equivalent of me bungee jumping... you'd have to give me sedatives and a whole lot of $$$. Have you read Housekeeping? Same excellent writing, no religion (at least, not that I can remember).

>51 rosalita: Thanks, Julia - those are the hardest reviews to write, I think, trying to describe why I loved something. To analyze it and break it apart and say what I didn't like is so much easier for some reason. Have you read Home? I'm debating whether or not to read it soon or save it for later.

Great review of Gilead! It was one of my favorite books of the year when I read it a couple of years ago. I have Home in my TBR stash but haven't managed to work it in yet. I hope to get to it sometime this year. I also have How to Read Literature Like a Professor. I've dipped into it a couple of times but haven't yet taken the time to read it cover to cover. Thanks for the reminder!

I have not read Home yet, but I plan to. I did read Housekeeping which is completely different characters and setting-wise, but has that same quality of every word carefully chosen and perfect.

Hi Mary, beautiful library!! What a pleasure to curl up and read in front of those shelves. Thanks for sharing the photos! I enjoyed your reviews - I have How to Read Literature sitting on my shelves, and have for quite some time. I think there's another one, too -- How to Read Novels Like a Professor. I also loved your review of Gilead. I loved that book, and I'm glad you did, too.

I suspect that if I attempted a Marilynne Robinson book, I'd be hunched over anticipating a punch in the sensitive parts with some random Jesusy stuff. I'll pass.

Lovely reviews of books I've read and loved, Mary. Gilead is an almost perfect book in my view. I've liked both of the Foster books I've read. He makes learning more about the elements of literature painless. It's almost like a treasure hunt!

Ah, that library is gorgeous. Any extra rooms to rent? You lucked into a pretty cushy situation I'd say.

Ah, Mary, what a gorgeous library!

Your excellent review of Gilead was spot-on with my experience of the book. I read Home quite a bit later, and wished I'd read it sooner to try and see how what was happening in it meshed with what was in Gilead. I didn't love Home the way I loved Gilead, but it was good.

Hi Mary, lucky you having that beautiful library to shelve your books in. I came by to drop my star and stayed to drool over the pictures!

Happy New Year! I love your library.

Love the pictures of your gorgeous library and your wonderful review of Gilead. I loved Gilead when I read it and I am looking forward to reading Home.

Lovely review of Gilead, and Happy New Year. I have Home lined up to read sometime in January, I hope.

>53 cbl_tn: Thanks, Carrie! I have Home in my personal library, and right now I'm thinking that I'll pick it up after I finish Travels with Charley for book discussion next week.

>54 rosalita: I read Housekeeping too, last year or the year before? It was a little depressing for me, but beautifully written. I gave it to my brother, and he loved it.

>55 AMQS: Hi Anne, thanks for stopping by! I do enjoy curling up in the library with a good book or my laptop. I suspect I'll be doing it even more in a few weeks after our Brazilian exchange student leaves - I'm going to get lonely in my room by myself after work. :(

>56 richardderus: Well, like I said, I don't remember any in that one but I certainly won't try to force it on you. Too many other good books to read without that hunched-over feeling, yes? :)

>57 Donna828: Thank you, Donna! As a matter of fact, they're preparing a small apartment in the basement if you'd like to move to Massachusetts.... I did really love Gilead, I think it's going to be one of my top reads of the year (already!).

>58 tymfos: It's hard for any sequel to live up to an excellent first book, isn't it? At this point, I'm hoping to read Home in the next month or so, but I never quite know how my reading is going to turn out in comparison to my plans. :)

>59 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for stopping by, Judy! The couple I rent from moved for the view... I moved for the library! (Both are gorgeous, though... one of these days I'll take a picture of the view outside and post that too.

>60 billiejean: Happy new year to you, too, BJ! Good to "see" you here. :)

>61 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! I'm looking forward to reading Home too.

>62 AnneDC: Thanks, Anne - depending on how fast my reading goes this month, I may join you for the TIOLI points on Home.

I have How to Read Literature Like a Professor in a box. I intend to read it this year, but I haven't managed to get to it yet. I'd like to read the Novels one too.

'How to Read Literature Like a Professor in a Box' sounds like a book I'd like to read even more ;)

>64 thornton37814: Hi Lori - I'll definitely have to look into the Novels one. I hope you enjoy How to Read Literature... if you get to it this year.

>65 lunacat: haha, that does sound like a fun book, Luna!

3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Bilbo Baggins is a respectable hobbit who never gets mixed up in adventures, thank you very much. That is, until Gandalf the wizard shows up on his doorstep and gently shoves Mr. Baggins out of his comfortable hobbit hole and into the wide world.

On the off-change anyone reading this knows nothing about this story (which I know is unlikely, but just in case), I gave even less away than usual because I can remember the sheer delight I had reading this for the first time and knowing perhaps even less than Bilbo what to expect. With this reread, I count a definite three times I've read this book, possibly more, but I couldn't help myself when I watched the movie and realized how much I'd forgotten. While The Hobbit doesn't have the same epic scope of its sequel The Lord of the Rings, the story of adventure as Bilbo realizes how much guts and courage he really has still kept me entertained and anticipating my favorite parts (the unexpected party is one). This was one of the books I read as a young teen that cemented my love of fantasy, and as a now sentimental reread, it didn't disappoint.

4. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

*** Second in series warning - possible spoilers for Daughter of Smoke & Bone***

The battle between seraphs and chimaeras continues, the war taking on new heights as each side escalates the violence, drawing further and further away from Akiva and Karou's dream of peace. Indeed, now that Karou's memories are intact, even peace between the former lovers appears impossible. Can any hope be found in the midst of desperate war?

Laini Taylor crafts a fine story. I can only figure out some of her plot twists, and Akiva and Karou's struggles to deal with betrayal and do the right thing are compelling. Nearly every chapter left me hanging, needing to turn pages instead of put the book down. An entertaining read that will leave fantasy fans impatient for the next book. 4 stars.

I downloaded the foster book and.find.it amazingly readable and fun.

>69 ffortsa: Oh good, Judy, I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Oooh, the second Laini Taylor... dangit, I still have to read the first one. *facepalm*

Hi Mary -- love your review of The Hobbit. I read it for the first time only last year (aloud to my kids) and agree that the book instills a love of wonder and fantasy. Better late than never!

I am beyond jealous of your library, Mary!

Home isn't a sequel to Gilead in the traditional sense. It actually takes place in the same time period as Gilead but looks at life from the perspective of a different household in the story. My memory fails me, but I think it's the household of Rev. Ames' friend, maybe he was the other clergyman in town? Anyway, it's told by the daughter's POV in that household. Very different from Gilead, but overlaps and shares themes of estrangement and forgiveness.

I loved Gilead when I read it.

I'm happy for you and all the book case/shelf space.

Perhaps a trip to NY and The Strand is necessary....

Popping in to say I absolutely LOVE your library! I did a very poor job of keeping up with you last year, and I suspect I will do the same this year, but I will try!

Of course, my good intentions and a dollar might get you a cup of coffee...

>71 dk_phoenix: Faith, at least at this point you could wait 'til all three come out, and it will be intentionally waiting for the completion of the series. ;)

>72 AMQS: Thanks Anne! I don't remember exactly how old I was when I read The Hobbit the first time... maybe 8th grade if I had to guess? I remember clearly that I read The Lord of the Rings the summer before 9th grade, because my mom had intended to use it for a literature class on fantasy that school year, and I just couldn't stop myself once I'd started. I even recall hounding the library book sale shelves in the lobby for a copy of The Return of the King (because how COULD the end of The Two Towers leave me hanging like that?!). (By the way, that fantasy literature course... the two books that I actually read during the school year were hidden in my mother's room and I was not allowed to crack the cover of them ahead of time. If my mom were smart, she would've let me read them in the summer too and then told me I had to read additional so that it counted towards school... haha)

>73 alcottacre: Nice to see you, Stasia! The one sad thing about the library is that I am almost out of space in my section and will either have to take over more space or start double shelving again after the library book sale in April. :) Unless I manage to read enough of my own books to clear out space...

>74 tymfos: Hm, it would be interesting reading about events from Glory's perspective, I think. I've got a couple other books I want to complete first (Travels with Charley and my two library books, Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks and The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. (I don't usually plan this specifically, but I'm trying to keep my library to personal books ratio about even this year. We'll see how long that lasts).

>75 Whisper1: Linda, I'm glad you loved it too! A trip to NY and The Strand sounds lovely, especially since I didn't make it to the bookstore with you the last time, since I just drove out for the day. Perhaps we should plan a meetup for later in the year (and now I have vacation time, yeah!).

>76 tloeffler: Thanks, Terri! I got behind on your thread last year too, so don't feel bad. I do try to at least read the threads even if I don't post regularly, but we're such a chatty group it's hard to do that much. And hey, I'll take a cup of coffee. ;)

Whew! All caught up on reviews. Now to read Travels with Charley before book group on Wednesday (I'm halfway there).

I enjoyed Travels with Charley when I read it many years ago. It was actually the first Steinbeck I ever read. I hope you like it, Mary.

Happy weekend!

>77 bell7:: Oh! RIGHT. That's... umm... that's what I'm doing, most definitely... had it planned all along... *looks around nervously*

>79 alcottacre: I'm enjoying it very much, Stasia. I've read some of his fiction and been rather depressed by it, but I love his writing style and his humor. My mom's in my book club, and she's already finished it. We've already had a couple of interesting conversations about it, so I think it will be a lively discussion on Wednesday. Actually, it's always a lively discussion. I've got a good group of thoughtful readers with diverse opinions, and all I have to do is have a handful of questions ready to keep the conversation going - it seldom flags.

>80 dk_phoenix: LOL Faith. :) Always glad to provide you with an excuse, haha... like we need a reason for not being caught up with all the books we want to read *sigh*.

#81: That is cool that your mother is in your book club and you can share your reads!

Happy Sunday, Mary :)

>82 alcottacre: I hope you had a good Sunday, Stasia! My dad started reading Travels with Charley after our conversation intrigued him (he reads newspapers and online, informative-type stuff, but he usually only completes a book or two a year). I do enjoy having my mom in my book club - she asked if it was OK before she joined (I lead the discussion at the library, and she didn't want to put any pressure on me), but I think it's fun to be able to talk with her about at least one book a month that we've both read. I'm going to try to get her to read The End of Your Life Book Club soon because it just seemed so absolutely appropriate as a book for us to talk about.

5. Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck

In opening his book, Steinbeck admits to always having a bit of wanderlust and wanting to travel. This particular trip was brought on by his realization that, for all his writing about America, he hadn't actually been outside his small corner of America for some time. So, he buys a truck specially made for his trip, equipped with everything he will need, takes his trusty poodle Charley, and hightails it out of New York on a cross-country trip.

This is a short book that contains much to think about. You might think that reading about a trip taken over fifty years ago would have little to say about our country and Americans today, but that would be a rather short-sighted view to take. Steinbeck recounts specifics of his journey and conversations with individuals, yes, but it is also a rumination on the human spirit - particularly the American spirit - and has many passages that are even more relevant today than they were then. Steinbeck's journey is as much a quest and a window into his own internal world as it is a discovery of the country. His observations are witty, often humorous, and always thought-provoking. I found myself lingering over a sentence or paragraph here and there, wanting to draw out my reading experience instead of just finishing the book quickly and ticking it off. Whether you enjoy travel narratives, books about authors, or just plain good, descriptive writing, I highly recommend this book. 5 stars.

A few more random thoughts:
Oddly enough, I don't enjoy reading Steinbeck's fiction because I find it so depressing. But I love his power of description, and I really loved this account. I kept thinking about How to Read Literature Like a Professor, and what he said about a journey = a quest = self-discovery. I think that absolutely applies here, and every time Steinbeck started to talk about "Americans" always wanting to be somewhere else, not content to stay put - putting down roots versus moving - I couldn't help but think about how that applied to him specifically. This is the sort of book I could see myself rereading and getting something new out of it every time. Though in one sense it is about a specific journey, many of his ruminations had a timeless quality about them. I know I say this a lot, but I'm really looking forward to the discussion on Wednesday. I think many of the folks there will have a really interesting perspective since they've lived through the time period he was writing in (and me, the book discussion facilitator, is the young'un who has not - for more than just this book!).

I've decided to try that meme that's been going around, answering with the titles of books read last year:

Describe yourself: A Passion for Books
Describe where you currently live: Winter's Passage
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? The Night Circus
Your favorite form of transportation? Across Many Mountains
Your best friend is? Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
What's the weather like? Under the Never Sky
You fear? The Burning Bridge
What's the best advice you have to give? Wonder
Thought for the day: More Baths, Less Talking
How I would like to die? Unbroken
My soul's present condition: The Beautiful Mystery

Nice answers to the meme!

Mary, I think you were the one who recommended How to Read Literature Like a Professor. I just finished it, and gave it 5 stars out of sheer delight and enthusiasm. So THAT's what I was doing in college all those years ago! So nice to remember it. I'll be insufferable in my f2f book clubs from now on.

>86 tymfos: Thanks, Terri!

>87 ffortsa: I'll be insufferable in my f2f book clubs from now on. This made me laugh out loud, Judy. I had to comment on Travels with Charley in my book discussion yesterday that this very much reminded me of a heroic journey motif (even though it's nonfiction).... I'm glad you enjoyed How to Read Literature... - it gave me such an "aha!" moment that I wished I'd read it when I was still an undergrad.

6. Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks

In his newest book Oliver Sacks, a practicing physician known for such books as The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Musicophilia, turns his attention to hallucinations. While in popular culture we tend to think of hallucinations as being psychoses and in the realm of insanity, he focuses primarily on the sort of neurological disorders that sane people have. In fact, hallucinations may not be as odd as we think - haven't we all felt like there was someone behind us, or heard our name even when no one was around?

Primarily organized around types of hallucinations - visual, aural, parkinsonian, phantom limbs, etc. - the book is a fascinating blend of history and case study. Perhaps I was most fascinated to discover the types of hallucinations that I've had, mostly as a child, when I was in that state between sleep and wakefulness and "saw" someone by my bed or in my room. There are other, less common, hallucinations explored, too, and I really enjoyed when he brought up the results of fMRI scans done during hallucinations. The connections between what one experiences and what goes on the brain intrigues me, and I'll definitely be looking to read some of Sacks' earlier works. 4 stars.

The four stars isn't because I didn't enjoy the book, merely because I can't really see myself rereading it from cover to cover.

I'm sure Steinbeck would have loved to have his trip described in such iconic terms!

>90 ffortsa: I'm convinced he did it on purpose! He even starts out (before he leaves home) talking about how he went out alone in a hurricane to rescue his boat... and then his journey of "in search of America" includes so many philosophical ruminations, and comes full circle with the return journey home... Steinbeck is such an amazing writer (even if I don't enjoy the depressing tone of his fiction, I have to give him credit - his powers of description are just fabulous, and I can never imagine his stories being different from the way they are even if I don't particularly like them) that I'd be much more surprised to find out he'd done it by mistake than that it was absolutely intentional.

Loving the library pictures! My home library is nothing so smashing :)
- Esquiress

>36 bell7: I am vowing to read How to Read Literature Like a Professor this year, considering I think I might have bought it on clearance when Border's was going out of business a few years ago.

Thanks for the reminder!

-Esquiress

I also found Travels with Charley to be one of the most fascinating and thought-provoking books I've ever read. I just read it last year, and cannot believe I've not read it before!

Love the library pictures, and have caught a couple of book bullets from your first few reads!

Hi! I'm new this year to the 75ers but I think we have a lot in common in terms of reading interests. I've loved your reviews so far and the gorgeous pictures of your library. I will be looking out for How to Read Literature Like a Professor now. I am always working on a classic and I frequently feel like I am missing stuff...sounds like this book would help with that.

Happy Reading!

Great review of Travels with Charley, Mary! I bought a copy last year in anticipation of the Steinbeckathon, but then never got to it.

>96 Cobscook: welcome to the group, Cobscook!

#36, oooh that goes right onto my wish list, thanks!

Finally catching up here - your library is GORGEOUS!!!

92-93 Hi, Esquiress, thanks for stopping by! While I think of it as "my" library, it's really just borrowed space... I rent a room in the house, and the folks I live with let me use the space - even most of the books are theirs - mine just take up one side of the room. I hope you enjoy How to Read Literature Like a Professor when you get to it. I've started being really intentional about reading my own books this year, and so far I'm pleased with the results.

>94 tloeffler: We had a lot of fun discussing it in book discussion, Terri. We talked a lot about our own desires to travel (or not), what was the same or different about travel today and American society... it was quite fun, and I was rather pleased to have someone tell me that was their favorite book read so far this year.

>95 foggidawn: Oh hurray on two counts, then! What did I hit you with? I feel like I've been reading a little differently than usual so far this year (quite a few books that have been on my TBR list forever, and a little more "literary" than usual), but I've really loved what I've read.

>96 Cobscook: Welcome, Heidi! I'm looking forward to following your reading this year. I read More Baths, Less Talking last year and really enjoyed it.

>97 AMQS: Thanks, Anne! I didn't join in on the group read knowing that I was reading it for my book discussion in January. Next up... a reread (for me and, I think, for many in the group) of Fahrenheit 451.

>98 AuntieClio: Glad to hear it - enjoy!

>99 LauraBrook: Thanks, Laura! The folks I rent from know the way to my heart... when they decided to move and asked me to come with them, they showed me pictures of the library first. :)

7. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

On Earth in 2060, Father Emilio Sandoz has returned from a failed mission a broken man; no one knows exactly what went wrong when he and a small group of friends went into space to make contact with aliens. The narrative goes back and forth in flashbacks to the past and the narrative present, as Emilio's Jesuit superiors try to get the full story.

Nothing is simple about this tale. It's about first contact, yes, but it's also about humanity and family and what happens to faith when we're absolutely broken. Even the secondary characters are fully rounded, complex human beings, and I was absolutely drawn in to their stories. This is a stunning, heartbreaking, beautiful book that I can't recommend highly enough. 5 stars.

I took Gustavo (our exchange student) on an all-day shopping trip yesterday and finished the book at the mall while I watched his bags for him. It was all I could do to keep from tearing up, despite the fact that a ton of people were milling around me oblivious...

Edited... because I'm not sure how "7" became "90" in my book count...

Mary, finally catching up with you this year. I loved Gilead too and I've wish listed How to read like a professor based on your great review.

The Sparrow is one I've had wish listed for ages so I'm glad to see you were also a fan. And I love the pictures of the library in your new house - can I rent from them too?

I skimmed your review for your star rating (5!!!) since that's one that I will be reading later this year. Glad to see that you loved it, I've only heard excellent things. Here's hoping your next read is just as good!

So glad you loved The Sparrow too!! It is on my top ten of all time list for sure. Such an amazing book!

> 101

I absolutely love The Sparrow. Reading it changed my life, no lie. I'm so glad you loved it too. It's a beautiful and tragic story.

It's #1 on my all-time favorite reads.

More enthusiastic praise for 'The Sparrow' — both the book and your review, Mary. I know I will re-read it at some point, because there is so much to absorb. The first time through I was reading for plot — what happened to Father Sandoz on that planet? Where is everyone else who went with him? — but there are so many other aspects that would bear deeper scrutiny, like the viewpoint on our relationship with God, and (near and dear to many of us wordniks' hearts, I suspect) the linguistic puzzle of the Runa language. I will occasionally adopt their convention of avoiding the first-person singular and find myself saying things like "Someone thinks it's time for our staff meeting" — which would be so much more fun if anyone else at work had read the book.

The Sparrow absolutely blew me away when I read it in November. I immediately went on to the sequel, Children of God. Do you have that one on your horizon? I am trying to acquire fewer books so these two were library books but I **need** to acquire both of them. I see rereads in my future.

>102 souloftherose: If you don't mind relocating to the states, Heather, they do in fact have a room and a small basement apartment for rent. :)

>103 LauraBrook: I hope you enjoy it when you get to it, Laura! I've had such a good month of reading that I'm a little afraid what the rest of the year has to live up to.

>104 Cobscook: - 106 The Sparrow has been on my list for years due to the high praise it's had among LTers. On the one hand, I'm sorry I didn't sooner, but on the other I'm a little sad that I'll never read it for the first time again... I can definitely see myself rereading it and enjoying it on an entirely different level now that I know the basic plot; definitely one of those books with a lot of layers to explore on a second or third or... reading.

>107 streamsong: I am not sure when I'll be able to get to Children of God merely because I have a couple of books I have lined up that I *have* to read for book discussions at work. I do want to read it, and A Thread of Grace as well.

Years after reading The Sparrow which I rec'd. as an ER copy, I still have the same reaction. It was harrowingly (a word?)scary for me.

I looked at your book cases again and they are incredible.

>109 Whisper1: Yes, harrowing is a good word for it. And thanks... I do love "my" library. :)

I too was so impressed with The Sparrow. I read it several years ago and think I might reread it before reading the sequel later this year. I hope you are staying warm, Mary. I envision you in that beautiful library with a roaring fire.

>111 Donna828: Hi Donna! Yes, staying comfy & warm here , ready to curl up with a book discussion book that I'm due to lead in a couple of weeks (in addition to the monthly one, I received a grant for the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, and part of my application stated that I would lead 5 book discussions over the course of the year). Yesterday got down to -5 in the early morning, but we should slowly be getting warmer over the next few days 'til we're up to 45 on Tuesday...

Well, since I haven't finished a book in awhile, here's a short update on what I'm reading:

Prince Among Slaves for a library book discussion - the extra one I mentioned in the above post - this is the second of 18 books (yes, I counted) that I'm reading for work this year. Fortunately, most of them were already on my TBR list. :) This one was not, but it's an interesting biography of a man who was captured as a slave and brought to the U.S., but was an educated, Muslim man and the son of a chief in Timbo. The beginning was difficult going, but I made real headway today.

Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer - my first Heyer book, chosen because it fits the 13-letter TIOLI challenge. I'm not sure exactly why, but I've found myself somewhat dissatisfied with it, and find the dialog with all the ... (oh gosh, slang isn't the right word, but I can't think of the word I want) um, odd phrasing, a little annoying.

In other news, our Brazilian exchange student is home now. I miss him, especially in the evenings after work when we'd often talk or watch a movie if he didn't have too much homework. But I can keep up with him on Facebook a little bit, and I'll be asking him for a few pictures that he didn't already print out for us to keep.

Also I lost my phone the same day we brought him to the airport (so it's somewhere in Connecticut), and went out and bought a new one this weekend. I hadn't been using the backup system so I lost some pictures I don't have anywhere else and have to rebuild my contacts list. :(

Sorry to sound like such a grump. I'm sure I'll be back to my usual self when I've had a few days to adjust to quieter evenings and I'm a little less stressed about work (I've got a couple of intense programming weeks coming up, including a film & discussion, two book discussions, and a genealogy program, which also means working more nights...).

Vernacular? :)

#101: I loved The Sparrow too, Mary. I am so glad to see that the book has found another fan!

I hope adjustment happens soon. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now, Mary.

>114 lyzard: Either that or "expressions," yeah.

>115 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. My schedule's pretty hectic right now between work and things I volunteered for, so that part of it is no one's fault but my own. :) The Sparrow was amazing, and may be part of the reason I'm not thrilled with the two books I'm reading right now...

Hi Mary, I often find it difficult to get into a new book right after a really good read. It certainly does sound like you have a lot on your plate right now, and I'm sure losing your phone doesn't help. Hope things smooth out for you soon.

I hope things settle down and you feel more yourself soon Mary.

>117 DeltaQueen50: and 118

I second these comments.

>117 DeltaQueen50: thru 119 Thanks Judy, Heather, and Esquiress. I missed my Brazilian friend today, but nothing but time will fix that of course. As far as scheduling goes, this week is the calm before the storm! I'm planning on taking a reading day on Saturday to shore myself up. :)

Mary, unfortunately you started with one of Heyer's weakest books, I fear. The plot is an insipid rehash of Black Sheep. However, the use of cant in the dialog is generally present and is, actually quite well researched to use idioms common to the actual period.

>121 ronincats: Hi Roni! Thanks, I thought it might have been one of her weaker stories and I'll definitely give her another try with one of the titles I've seen recommended here - I have Bath Tangle and Frederica on my TBR list. In another mood, I might enjoy the cant in the dialog (or at least not mind it when I'm enjoying the rest of the story). It's nice to know the expressions are right for the period, as I was wondering.

It's funny how much mood affects my reading (and vice versa, for that matter). If I'm in a rotten mood to begin with, I'm much pickier and dissatisfied. And if I'm dissatisfied with one aspect of a book, I'm much more likely to harp on other things that, in a good mood (whether in general or for what I'm reading) would bother me a little or not at all if I was enjoying myself in the first place.

Part of the problem is that I have to read the book I'm reading for the upcoming book discussion, and I'm often finding it boring or discovering that there's just not a lot of information known about the subject of the biography, so there's a lot of conjecture. I picked Lady of Quality as a light read to balance it out, and I'm finding it so-so but since I own the book, I'm feeling a little more pressure to finish it before deciding to pass it on. Actually, my copy is two books in one - can anyone tell me if Charity Girl is a stronger title?

Ah well, I have 70 pages left in one book and 30 in the other (me? counting down the pages? Nah...). So I can quit complaining, bellyache through the reviews, and move on to better things. I have Home and Fahrenheit 451 (a reread, and for my regular library book discussion) lined up next.

I enjoyed Charity Girl. I also liked Frederica and The Black Moth quite a bit. I agree the dialogue can be off-putting but I find once I get into the story, the language doesn't seem to bother me much. I don't think I have read Lady of Quality so I can't comment on that one.

>123 Cobscook: I think the dialogue bothered me more because I was rather ambivalent about the story and the characters. I don't think it would've been as much of an issue if I weren't already crabby.

So I think for now I'll keep the book until I've read Charity Girl but I'm thinking I'll wait awhile before trying it to give myself time to be fair. :)

8. Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer

***Spoilers abound***

Annis, a confirmed spinster at 29 for all intents and purposes, moves out of her brother's house and into her own place in Bath, along with an older cousin who acts as her chaperone when she isn't boring everyone to tears with her constant and insipid chatter. On the way, she meets up with a girl, Lucilla, who is running away from home. Taking Lucilla under her wing, Annis is blindsided by the responsibility of watching over a girl not yet "out" but especially by coming into contact with Lucilla's uncle and guardian, Mr. Oliver Carleton, who has quite the reputation for being rude and a ladies' man.

I've discovered in trying to summarize my thoughts about this book that it's much easier to write a review for a book that I loved or hated. It's much harder to explain why I'm lukewarm. I could not get into this story, whether it was because I had just finished a book I loved, I expected a lot based on praise I'd heard for the author, I was in a crabby mood outside of my reading, or because I didn't find the story or the characters all that compelling. I never really bought it that Annis and Oliver (I anticipate I'm giving nothing away as we know from the beginning that this is a romance) were "meant for each other" and I thought it was rather daft of Annis to like him in the first place, not because he speaks his mind bluntly, but because he basically had been having flings for years, and in my experience a person (male or female) doesn't just change at the drop of the hat because he or she intrigued by a "lady (person) of quality." I was rather distracted by the dialogue as well, which is filled with cant that I'm sure would have annoyed me less had I been enjoying the story more. Overall, I found it disappointing. 2.5 stars.

There are a few things we have in common Mary - an ability to lose handphones seems to be prominent amongst them. I have lost so many that whilst SWMBO and my eldest have the latest gadget laden contraptions mine was rescued from the chipmunks on their way out of the ark.

But handphones are useful tools of communication and I'll try to keep up better over here in future.

I do think that you have to be in the right mood for Heyer. The cant is one of her trademarks and pretty much everywhere. I also find I like some storylines more than others.

Lady of Quality is actually one of my favorites (along with its plot-twin Black Sheep), while I tend to find her medieval works and the ones with spunky, wayward young girls rather annoying. I can second Frederica as being good, and The Grand Sophy is another that people seem to like. Luckily, Heyer wrote enough that there's a book for everyone, really.

Avoiding your review as I have plans to read most Heyer's bibliography... at some point. I've read a few Heyer's, really liked Frederica and was fond of Cotillion but be warned that the latter is full of period slang.

>126 PaulCranswick: Paul, usually it's my purse and other things. This was the first for my phone. Even Gustavo (the Brazilian exchange student who was here for four months) got used to picking up things that I had left behind, say, the leftovers from restaurant meal? :) I can commiserate with having a hard time keeping up - it's nice to see you here!

>127 inge87: Hi Jennifer, thanks for stopping by! I needed to be in the right mood to read anything, I think. The cant was just an unfortunate detail for me to nitpick about when I was generally dissatisfied. I'll definitely try Heyer again.

>128 MickyFine: I think I'd be OK with the period slang, Micky. It was just one of those things where I was generally dissatisfied, so any little thing bugged me much more than it would've otherwise. And I honestly think I would've been dissatisfied with nearly any book I was reading at the time. I'm nearly done the other, and can start fresh with something completely different and hopefully be a little less picky. :)

Sounds like a good plan, Mary.

>130 MickyFine: It does sound good, doesn't it? Here's seeing if it works! :)

January in review -

1. How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster - mine
2. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien - mine and a reread
4. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
5. Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck - mine
6. Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks
7. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
8. Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer - mine

Books read: 8
Audiobooks listened to: 0
Graphic Novels/Manga read: 0
Adult/Teen/Children's: 6/2/0
Fiction/Nonfiction: 5/3
Library/Mine/Borrowed: 4/4/0

Standouts: How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Gilead, Travels with Charley, and The Sparrow
Most disappointing: Lady of Quality

Thoughts: Eight to nine books a month has become about average for me now that I'm working full time. It will be interesting to see if that holds up throughout the year. I had some really fabulous books to start out my reading, followed by just one disappointing one (and at least part of that was my mood and not the book's fault). Last year's reading was dominated by books in the 2000s, with the past two years showing the largest number of reads; so far this month shows a pretty good variety, if I do say so myself, with seven years and 5 decades represented (see below).

Book publication dates read in 2013:

2012 - 2
2004 - 1
2003 - 1

1996 - 1
1972 - 1
1962 - 1
1937 - 1

I'm afraid to read How to Read Literature Like a Professor. I'm worried it would mess up my enjoyment of fluff reading.

>133 Morphidae: I know what you mean, Morphy, and that was a concern for me too. But he's very down-to-earth for a professor, and he doesn't seem to mind too much if you disagree with him or decide to ignore the features he talks about. I think a lot of what he talks about would be more relevant when you're reading a book for the second, third, nth time than for the first. Personally, I like to just enjoy a story on its most literal level (and Foster himself says this is perfectly fine to do) the first time around, and if it's meaty enough I can go back and worry about the more English-y stuff later.

9. Prince Among Slaves by Terry Alford

***spoilers***

Abd al-Rahman Ibrahima was the son of the almaami of Timbo in Africa. He was an educated Muslim man, and when he was in a raiding party he was captured by an opposing tribe and sold to slavers. From there, he was taken to Natchez, Mississippi, and began a long attempt to be reunited with his people.

My public library recently was awarded the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, twenty-five books and three DVDs related to diverse topics. This book is one of the "American Stories" books, focusing on Islam and Muslims related to American history, and is the topic of an upcoming book discussion. I knew little about Muslim slaves in the United States, so I thought the topic of the book had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, I had a hard time making my way through the book. It's very uneven, which seems to stem from what records were available: less is known about Ibrahima's time in Africa and even some of his experiences in Natchez than is known about his later touring of the northern states in an attempt to free his children. Greater detail is given for those events that have more evidence, which I sometimes found tedious. I really didn't need to know exactly how much money Ibrahima received from every town or city he visited, for example. Sometimes Alford went into great detail about something I thought only tangentially related to Ibrahima's story, and I thought he could have used a tighter narrative, making a 182 page story even shorter perhaps, but more focused. On top of this, I found the writing very dry. On balance, I did learn a lot and would be interested in learning more about not only Muslim slaves in general (which was barely touched upon in the biography itself, but in the afterword) but also Thomas Gallaudet, who was a friend and sponsor of Ibrahima's and instrumental in deaf education in the United States. 3 stars.

Well, I watched Downton Abbey and now I'm watching the end of the Superbowl - turned out to be a good, close game instead of a blowout, so that's good. (My Giants are not in it, so it doesn't really matter to me who wins)

As for my reading, I'm enjoying Home by Marilynne Robinson and have started a collection of poetry, A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver. I haven't always agreed with the poet, but I like her writing style. It's straightforward enough that I don't feel completely lost, and it's smart at the same time.

We did the same, Mary, downton and the game. I watched in honor of my brother and his family, all SF fans, so they are not happy, but as you said, with no favorite myself it was nice to have a close game.

Downton is turning into too much of a disaster of the week for my taste, but the acting is lovely, and I'm curious about Bates, Thomas, and the rest of the group, so I'll keep on. If only I could get another three or four hours in the day to read!

Charity Girl is not a favorite of mine, either, I fear. I'd really recommend your next Heyer to be Frederica--nearly everyone enjoys it!

>137 ffortsa: Yeah, I haven't loved this season either, Judy, but I'm still curious enough to see what happens next... As for the Superbowl, it was kind of fun to watch it with no stake in it. I could just enjoy the fact that it was close without getting a headache. (On the other hand, the sheer elation I felt actually in the stadium with my team winning last year doesn't compare to anything else... hahaha)

>138 ronincats: Thanks for the recommendation, Roni, I may very well follow your suggestion. I guess I thought I was in the mood for light reading and found out I wasn't after all.

#137, 139 -- I feel kind of the same about Downton. It's strange that this season is more depressing than the last, which had WWI and the Spanish Influenza going for it.

Last season we saw a lot of romance to balance the war and the flu. This season, not mich to be happy about yet. A lot of cliffhangers that resolved in rather fairytale fashion like Matt's inheritance were curiously unsatisfying. And now Sybil is lost, and everyone seems lacking in optimism.

#141 -- That's true; last season we had romance, this season we have squickiness.

>140 foggidawn:-2 I think that very well might be why I haven't liked it as well... so far it's been drama and sadness, and not a lot of hope/romance to balance it out. Also, I liked the characters pretty well in the second season, but I'm finding myself losing patience with their behavior more in this one. Ah well... it will be interesting to see how the last few episodes go.

10. Home by Marilynne Robinson

Jack Boughton is coming home. He's always been the odd one out in a large family, yet his father, Reverend Boughton, and the rest of the family couldn't help but love him and worry about him. Now, after twenty years' absence, he returns to Gilead and his father and his youngest sister, Glory, who has also returned home and is now caring for their aging father.

Many of the events of this story are also told in the companion book, Gilead. This is primarily from Glory's perspective, however, and the portrait of Jack is rather different if no less poignant. Your heart breaks for the boy - and man - who feels that he is past all redemption, who expects that behind every loving word is a rebuke. The brother-sister dynamics between Jack and Glory as they dance around and try not to insult each other is spot on. I couldn't help but compare and contrast this story with the parable of the prodigal son, though exactly who is the prodigal in Home could keep a conversation going for a long time. 4.5 stars.

Not quite as perfect a story as Gilead, but one that very nearly made me cry. Jack reminded me of a couple of people I know and I couldn't help but love him myself.

And that'll just show you what a couple of days of doing nothing with a rotten cold will get you... two books read, and my 600th review written!

Wow, 600 reviews! Well done, indeed, Mary. I have 'Home' on the shelves but haven't yet cracked it. I loved 'Gilead', though.

>146 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! I do hope you enjoy Home when you get to it. I'd kind of hoped to read it in January, but ran out of time. So I fit it in between February book discussion books instead.

I've just started the Newbery Medal winner, The One and Only Ivan, and I expect I'll be starting a reread of Fahrenheit 451 soon for an upcoming book discussion.

11. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Ivan is a gorilla living in a mall just off I-95, along with Stella the elephant and Bob the homeless dog. He tells his story of where he lives now, as the one and only Ivan a silverback with no other gorillas to protect, with Mack, the owner; George, the man who cleans the cages; and Julia, George's artist daughter who has a special connection with Ivan, who is also an artist.

This book, based on a true story, was the Newbery Medal winning title this year. I enjoyed it alright, but it's not a standout title for me. Not much happens until well into the story, and I have a hard time seeing kids have the patience for it. I sometimes thought of Charlotte's Web while reading, the way it focused on intelligent animals and had a somewhat sad tone, but I think overall that comparison hurt my opinion of Ivan even more. I kept on thinking there might be a little more to the story, a little more meat to it, but while it was cute I was ultimately left wanting. 3.5 stars.

Absolutely doesn't hold a candle to Wonder, and now I really don't understand how that didn't even make the Newbery Honor list this year...

Too bad the Newbery Medal recipient doesn't hold up.

>149 thornton37814: Looking at the work page, Lori, I'd say others liked it better than I did. I thought it was rather blatant that I was supposed to take away a Lesson About Animal Rights, and not a lot happens. But then, I often like the Honor books better than the actual award winner, so maybe that will hold true this year as well.

*dusts of thread*

Well, no new books read to report. We have survived the snowstorm with our electricity intact. Just about everywhere is closed today or not opening until noon, so I'm hunkering down for today and thinking I'll read or knit with an audiobook soon so I can feel like I've done something.

Yesterday I didn't read much, as I can't seem to get into Dodger by Terry Pratchett. I did start Etiquette & Espionage last night before bed, and I'm thinking that may go a bit faster. I'll have to start my reread of Fahrenheit 451 soon for the library book discussion, but I've been putting it off because I think it will be a fast read and I don't want to be done too soon (the discussion is Feb. 20).

Glad you're okay! Stay warm and enjoy your snow day.

Thanks, Nora! Staying warm and so far knitting and watching everyone's Facebook reactions, haha...

Here's a picture of the view from my window this morning:


Two feet of snow by 8 A.M. this morning.

I've seen that much snow only once in my life. It's beautiful - as long as you don't have to get out in it and your power doesn't go out!

What a beautiful view! Glad you've got your power, and your plan for the day sounds just about perfect. Hope you can get tucked into a great book!

Beautiful view, Mary!

>154 cbl_tn: Fortunately, Carrie, both are true today!

>155 LauraBrook: Thanks, Laura! I've have been knitting a baby blanket, and I helped cut some fabric for "strip" quilts that we're making for the kids from my church who graduate high school this year, so I've kept busy. I think I'm about ready to curl up with a book & a cup of tea, though!

>156 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! I was thinking I really should take a picture for every season - it's a gorgeous view every day, and I bet it's going to be really striking in the fall...

>153 bell7: Very beautiful view, Mary. Reminds me a bit of Stars Hollow (hoping you get that reference). Hope you're enjoying all that snow. :)

>158 MickyFine: Nah, but I looked it up like a good reference librarian! I never have watched Gilmore Girls... but looking through Google Images, I'd say yeah, it has a similar old-time New Englandy feel to it.

I haven't gone out in the snow at all, but I am enjoying a lazy day of doing nothing at home. The snow just gives me a good excuse. ;)

What a pretty view!

I note you read Gilead. That was a five star read for me.

>159 bell7: Oh I'm sad you've never tried Gilmore Girls. Very enjoyable IMHO. Snow is a great excuse and one I use pretty often up here. ;)

Hi Mary, sending hugs and smooches as I swoop through

Hi Mary, I hope you are staying warm and cozy inside. I do love your view however I can see why you wouldn't want to be outside on day like you are having.

>160 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda! Yes, I read and loved Gilead, one of my favorite books of the year so far and one of the reasons that I'm having so much trouble getting into others, I think (The Sparrow is another...)

>161 MickyFine: Who knows, I might eventually. Right now when I borrow seasons of DVDs from the library, I'm catching up on The Big Bang Theory and keeping up-to-date with House. I don't watch a lot of TV other than sports and, well, DVDs - so I either watch none at all or an entire season in a week!

>162 richardderus: hugs and smooches back, Richard. Glad to see that you didn't lose electricity either. Hope everything's getting dug out in a timely manner!

>163 DeltaQueen50: Judy you sneaked in while I posted! I am enjoying my time warm and cozy inside.

I started listening to an audiobook of Fahrenheit 451 which was working better than any of the other books I'm reading at the moment. I may have to chalk it up to a general mood of dissatisfaction and clear out some of my current reads/library books for others. We'll see... I'm giving a couple of them another day or two before I decide for certain.

Very lovely view as long as you can just look at it and still have heat!

>166 thornton37814: Yes, and I'm very thankful I do have heat, Lori! We were so prepared for electricity to go out that I was a little surprised when it didn't... other folks out east were not so fortunate, but most towns around here seem OK.

Glad you were able to keep your power and able to enjoy your 2 feet of snow without having to get out in it. That certainly is a lovely picture.

>164 bell7: Fair enough. Well, I highly recommend giving it a try on DVD when you're looking for something new to watch. :)

>169 MickyFine: I'll put it on my list. I will probably start on Doctor Who first though. (I feel like, having never watched it, I should turn in my nerd card...). :)

>168 ronincats: Responding out of order... Thanks, Roni. It was nice to get out of the house on Sunday. There were so many side streets that didn't get plowed out on Saturday that, even though everything was fine here, we didn't really go anywhere, and I was starting to get a little stir-crazy. It was fun to have a couple of relaxing days, but I'm looking forward to going back to work today!

I'm glad you survived the big blizzard, Mary. How lovely to look out on that beautiful view and be able to stay inside where it is warm and cozy. Now you have to put up with the mess of snow melting, filthy cars, etc. I loved your comments on Home. I had a lot of sympathy for Jack, too.

>172 Donna828: Hello, Donna, we are getting sleeted and then rained on today, which probably isn't helping the cleanup in some places. Thankfully, it should clear up by the time I go to work (which also means I will not have to cancel my program this evening...). It was a pleasant weekend of staying in, but I'm glad to be out and about again.

Happy news that you survived the nasty snow fall. Good to see your review of The One and Only Ivan. I found this lackluster when compared to Three Times Lucky. I often wonder at the process of choosing a Newbery.

There were many good books this year. I'm surprised that One for the Murphy's wasn't a recipient. I also loved Almost Home by Joan Bauer

>174 Whisper1: I can't speak to the Newbery, but I did read for an award with two other judges last year. We each had our favorites, and our ranked lists of twelve "best" books were in very different orders. The eventual winner was one we were all happy with and were behind 100%, but I don't think it made the very top of any of our lists. Because of that experience, I daresay that the personality of the committee, rather than individual judges, impacts the award a lot.

On the other hand, I also don't mind being completely outspoken about my own favorites. I loved Wonder, and am really surprised it didn't get an honor, at least. I haven't read any of the others you mention, but they're all on my list - one of my co-workers read Almost Home recently and loved it, too. Code Name Verity was also excellent, and I was really happy to see it get a Printz Honor. (Actually, looking over my list of books read last year, I discovered that I read very few children's and YA books published in 2012, except for fantasy, which doesn't tend to win the awards. I didn't do it consciously, but I bet a large part of that had to do with my job change and the switch in focus there - I'm purchasing adult fiction and not working in the children's room anymore, and it affects both the patrons I work with and the books that I see.)

Mary

Recently, I read recommendations posted on Goodreads and was quite surprised at how many of them matched what I like to read.

Code Name Verity is one I hadn't heard of, and it is now on the TBR list.

I haven't read Wonder but I have a Barnes and Noble gift card burning a hole in my pocket, so this one might be the first book purchased in 2013.

I hope you are safe and dry and can navigate throughout your area.

Here is my review of The One and Only Ivan

>176 Whisper1: Ooh, can't wait to see what you think of both! I hope you enjoy them. I've thumbed your review of The One and Only Ivan, which was a cute story after all - I certainly didn't hate it, was just surprised it won as I don't see it as one that will really stay with me like some of the others I've read. We had a bit of iciness this morning which has since turned to rain, but as I'm just leaving for work now I shouldn't have any troubles. Thanks for thinking of me. :)

#175 -- That is very true. I have not served on the Newbery committee (it's a career goal for me) but I have friends who have done so. Former committee members can't talk about how things play out for specific books, but I have heard people who have served on the committee talk about the process of building consensus, and I'm sure that there were committee members this year who loved other books that may not have even gotten honors, much less the actual award, but I know that by the time they come to a decision, they have read and reread and discussed the major contenders so much that they know the books inside out. But a committee made up of 15 different people might have chosen a completely different slate of books.

#176 -- I loved Code Name Verity, and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

>178 foggidawn: It was a very interesting process, I thought. That's a very cool career goal; I hope you're able to serve on the Newbery committee! And Code Name Verity was fantastic, wasn't it? It made my "best books published in 2012" list.

12. Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Sophronia has been causing mayhem at home and her mother, at her wit's end, sends her to finishing school. But even before she arrives - when they're attacked by flyawaymen who want a prototype, to be exact - Sophronia discovers that Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality is much more than just your average finishing school. Besides teaching young ladies to curtsy and behave decorously, a werewolf and a vampire are teachers, and lessons include such things as fighting (with knife, umbrella, or parasol) and the finer arts of poisoning.

If you're familiar with Gail Carriger's Soulless series, then you have an idea of what to expect in narrative voice and humor. The only clue that this is intended for young audiences is the age of the protagonists and the absence of sex (well, there's one indirect reference to it). There were parts when the action flagged, but most of the time it was a fun romp as Sophronia and friends wreak havoc and try to save the day by finding the prototype that a fellow schoolmate has hidden. 4 stars because it was fun fluff exactly when I needed it.

13. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

Poetry collections are, I think, even harder to review than short story collections. The following is more a string of reflections than a formal review.

One of my overall reading goals is to read more poetry - that is, not just to read one collection in April for National Poetry Month. I can't remember exactly what prompted me to put this collection on my TBR list, but I did and when I was feeling scattered and unable to focus on the novels I was reading, I picked this up from the library to try something different.

Mary Oliver writes free verse poetry that has a lot of flow but not a lot of rhyme. Many of the poems are reflections of nature, sometimes almost a worshipful mood. I like nature, but not quite to that extent, so I found myself reading against the grain at times. But I enjoyed her vivid imagery and straightforward approach. Sure, I had to look up a word or a phrase here and there to make sure I understood, but I didn't feel like the poet was trying to be obscure or hard to understand the way some poetry can be. One of my favorite poems was "The Mockingbird," the one in the collection that I could read over and over. Here's just a piece of it: "for he is the thief of other sounds-- / whistles and truck brakes and dry hinges / plus all the songs / of other birds in his neighborhood; // mimicking and elaborating, / he sings with humor and bravado, / so I have to wait a long time / for the softer voice of his own life // to come through." 3.5 stars.

I keep seeing great reviews for Etiquette and Espionage and your review has helped push me that much closer to adding it to my future reading list.

Two more terrific reviews! *smooch*

Nice reviews, puddin' pop!

>170 bell7: I only got around to Doctor Who last summer. Don't worry about the nerd card. :)

Etiquette and Espionage sounds interesting. I may have to add it to the TBR pile.

>182 lkernagh: Oh good, Lori, I hope you do - it was a fun read.

>183 richardderus: Why thanks, Richard! *smooch* back

>184 Esquiress: Thanks, Esquiress!

>185 MickyFine: LOL Micky. Thanks ;)

>186 inge87: Hurray, another potential reader! Have you read Soulless, Jennifer? I thought that series was hilarious.

Love the review of Etiquette and Espionage, have added it to my wishlist.

>188 fairywings: Thanks, Adrienne, I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!

>187 bell7:, No, I haven't, but it certainly sounds like something I'd enjoy. The public library's got the series, so I may try it sooner rather than later.

>190 inge87: Well, I hope you enjoy that book (or those books) when you do get to them!

14. Dodger by Terry Pratchett

Dodger was poor but managed to get by in Victorian London, until the night that he stopped two men from beating up a woman - and perhaps worse. Charlie Dickens and his friend Henry Mayhew see the altercation and intervene on the woman's behalf. Charlie employs Dodger to find out exactly who is out to get the girl, whom they call "Simplicity," and Dodger finds his comfortable (and comparatively safe) life turned upside down.

At first glance this may seem a departure from Pratchett's other books, but it has all of his sly wit and philosophical bent coated in humor. I kept expecting certain aspects of Dickens' works, only to be confounded by that same "fog" of people's expectations clouding the truth. Dodger is a fun character, a scalawag that you can't help but root for as he navigates both London's sewers and politics to protect a young woman. 4 stars.

The more I wrote about it, the more I found to praise. Unfortunately, when I was reading, I was only sometimes really interested in the story. I think it's a case of the winter blues. After I finish up a few fiction books I have out from the library, I'm going to try reading some nonfiction. I think I'll be less critical of the book (and myself, feeling less than engaged) when I'm learning something interesting.

15. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Here's what I wrote for a review when I first read the book in 2009:
Guy Montag is a firefighter - one of those men who burn the libraries and homes of individuals who dare to keep forbidden books. A chance encounter with a thoughtful girl causes him to start noticing small things in life that he never paid attention to before, and Montag begins to ask questions about his life and his work. Bradbury writes convincingly of a future dystopia in which various groups banned anything that offended them, an action that eventually escalated into full-scale banning and burning of books. At that point, however, a mind-numbed, unthinking public reacted apathetically, resulting in the world Guy Montag knows. Bradbury suggests that what's really at stake is people's intellect: "Take it where you can find it, in old phonograph records, old motion pictures, and in old friends; look for it in nature and look for it in yourself. Books were only one type of receptacle where we stored a lot of things we were afraid we might forget. There is nothing magical in them at all. The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us" (82-83). In this world, people no longer sit and talk, exercise their intellect, disagree (politely or otherwise), or think for themselves.

I was impressed with how many of Bradbury's ideas about the future remain relevant in a science fiction novel written over fifty years ago. I was challenged by a lot of his ideas and sometimes slowed myself down while reading, but his writing style often compelled me to keep going. With long but flowing sentences and thought patterns interspersed with a lot of dialog, the book reads fast and is surprisingly short. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a thought-provoking read.

What I have to say today:
Actually, I have very little to add to this. We'll be discussing this at the library book club on Wednesday, which should be a lively discussion!

>192 bell7:: I like your Pratchett review :)

>194 Esquiress: Thanks, Esquiress!

16. The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector

Our narrator, Rodrigo S.M., is writing a story about a young woman named Macabea, a typist from northeastern Brazil who has migrated to Rio; she is poor and ugly and has nothing going for her.

This novella has a postmodern flavor, with the narrator-writer being very much a part of the story, and he very conscious of his creation even when its inevitability is running away with him and he's sick of his characters. I tend to find this type of story admirable but not enjoyable (I prefer a more traditional, linear narrative that I can sink into and "believe" for a short while instead of being constantly reminded of the fact that it's a story). Words and language were so important in the short narrative that I couldn't help but wonder how much of the nuance I was missing for reading it in English. Recommended if you enjoy experimental writing. 3 stars.

17. Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction by Jonathan A.C. Brown

In this "Very Short Introduction," author Jonathan A.C. Brown presents in three chapters Muhammad's life as understood by most Muslims, a commentary on historical representations of Muhammad, and the Prophet's influence on Islamic civilization since his death.

My library recently received the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf grant, twenty-five titles of both fiction and nonfiction. I am leading five related book discussions, and wanted to make myself more familiar with the basics of Islam, so I chose this book to give me an introduction. Unfortunately, while I'm a bit more familiar with the religious understanding of Muhammad, I'm ultimately more confused. The second chapter was less a historical explanation than it was a rebuttal of various interpretations. I was really hoping for at least an outline of what history is known, but for the most part Brown will mention an historical view and then proceed to explain why it's not an argument against Muhammad - all well and good, but very hard to follow when I don't know what the known history is to start with. The first chapter was useful information, but I think I'll have to follow up with the bibliography to really get the information I was looking for. 3 stars.

Could've sworn I posted this, but apparently I navigated away from the page without doing so (fortunately I'd copied the review...).

Well, it's not nonfiction, but it is in my comfort zone of YA fantasy - I'm currently reading Froi of the Exiles, the latest book in the Lumatere trilogy by Melina Marchetta. I'm just over halfway and really enjoying it so far - even better than Finnikin of the Rock, IMO.

After equally reading library and my own books in January, I did a horrible job of reading my own books this month. So one of my goals for March will be focusing on my own bookshelves, and to that end I only have one book checked out from the library that I'm planning on reading from cover to cover (the other is a cookbook, and doesn't count).

Next up, I'm planning on reading one of my ER books that I've had forever - either Mr. Churchill's Secretary or The Girl in the Glass by Susan Meissner. (Nothing like dogsitting to give me a limited selection, eh? I'm just hoping I don't manage to finish or abandon all the books I brought before the week is out...)

18. Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta

(Note: Sequel to Finnikin of the Rock, this review has ***spoilers*** for the first book in the trilogy)

Queen Isaboe and her consort, Finnikin, are establishing themselves in Lumatere, while the former exiles and those left behind pick up the pieces of their lives. The kingdom of Charyn, who invaded them, is still a great threat though it is under a great curse: ever since the birth of the Princess Quintana, no one has been able to have a child. Quintana herself has prophesied that the "last shall birth the first," which resulted in all last borns being marked and watched; however, no one knows if this is a true prophesy or the ravings of a madwoman. Froi, one of the exiles returned with Finnikin and Isaboe, is commissioned to assassinate the king of Charyn, still a threat to Lumatere.

"Finnikin" was Melina Marchetta's first fantasy book, and - though I liked the story - it showed. Froi of the Exiles still has a lot of tropes and some predictable plot directions, but I liked Froi's complex character and found this to be a much smoother read overall. Of course, that could be partially my bad memory talking too, as I found the beginning an exercise in reacquainting myself with the characters and their situations because I'd forgotten so much about the first book. I enjoyed the continued world-building, the pacing of the story, the characters of Froi and Quintana and the Lumaterans - such as Lucian - that we revisit and see in a new light. Fans of Graceling will find much to enjoy in this trilogy. 4.5 stars.

19. The Butterfly Mosque by G. Willow Wilson

Willow becomes intrigued with Islam while a college student. She takes Arabic, moves to Egypt to work as a teacher, and quietly converts. Then, she meets a young man named Omar and falls in love.

This memoir of an American convert to Islam is as complex as Willow's (or, when you think about it, perhaps anyone's) identity. She thinks deeply about a lot of things, reflecting on the variety of Muslim beliefs, what makes a terrorist, and the attitude of the West towards Islam, all while telling her very personal story. The first half of the book, when she talks about her courtship with Omar, was the smoothest part of the read for me. While I'm a Christian, I could relate to the way she talked about her faith and her assurance in it. The rest of the book is less fluid, a string of occurrences I had trouble placing in time, and started to feel more like a lecture than a memoir. I resented a bit her tendency to say "even the most liberal," as if someone of my political persuasion couldn't possibly see a Muslim as anything but a terrorist, while the liberals at least tried to understand, even if they didn't always get it right. Of course, it's a complex issue, and I certainly can't argue with her personal experience. I found it eye-opening and compelling reading, overall. 4 stars.

Phew! I was starting to worry that all of my reading in the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf was going to be dry, slow going. I liked this one much better than the others so far.

153: That’s your own personal window? Wow, fantastic! Belatedly catching up... No book bullets here, but I keep passing by Gail Carriger and thinking maybe...

>201 qebo: Hi Katherine! Yep, that's my very own window. The big grey building with what looks like a steeple is the town library - I've stopped in once before after work, but what I'm really looking forward to is walking down the hill to visit in the nice weather. (I can't really be a patron in the library where I work - too many townspeople know I'm a librarian!)

20. Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal

Maggie Hope is a Brit who grew up in America, but she is now living in London in 1940. When a secretary dies, she is offered the job at 10 Downing Street for none other than Winston Churchill.

Where to start? I like historical fiction. I like mysteries. This book didn't quite work well as either while it tried to do both. I was not impressed with the writing. The author apparently loves adjectives and never uses one when three will do. Her narrative is full of "information dumps" - whole paragraphs of explication of historical facts that were either not necessary or could have been more cleanly folded into the narrative as a whole (there was more than once that after several paragraphs of this told as a character was thinking, I'd lost track of what was actually happening and had to page back to pick up the narrative thread). The third-person omniscient narrator allows readers to know much more than Maggie or the other characters, so there is no need to figure out a whodunit as in a traditional mystery. The story depends quite a lot on coincidences to keep moving forward. On the other hand, I generally found the pacing smooth and the plot kept my interest - I did want to know what happens in the end, even if I don't particularly care to read the sequel. 3 stars.

I gave it three stars as an OK read that kept me interested for the most part. But I daresay it's the type of book I'll like less the more I think about it and analyze it. Kinda "meh" overall.

I have updated my tickers to reflect my own books read, library books read, and total books read. I knew I'd really "let myself go" this month and was reading more library books - I'm now six books behind in reading my own books, so I'll have to reverse the ratio in March to bring the numbers back to equal. :)

Also, after a couple of months of either not winning anything or purposely not trying because I was so far behind, I won The Extreme Internet Searcher's Handbook (4th edition) in Early Reviewers. I still have three books to review, one of which I've had since 2011 (and haven't picked up because it turned out to be a workbook - my own fault for not reading the description thoroughly!). So I'm making it my goal in March to get caught up on ER books. I'm really excited about the new one - I'd read the 3rd edition for a course I took in grad school (we called it Advanced Reference for short, but it was really on Internet and database searching), and I'd found it really useful at the reference desk almost right away.

But before I buckle down on my ER books, I'm reading The Book That Changed My Life: Interviews with National Book Award Winners and Finalists. The interviews are at least partially about the winning (or finalist) books, and I haven't read anything by most of the authors interviewed - I'm sure if I had, I would find this much more interesting, but so far it's only so-so for me. I like The Paris Review Interviews much better because it was more about the writing process of each author and didn't require me to have read anything by them to get something out of it (though it certainly didn't hurt).

TIOLI Plans for March:

Challenge #3 The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
Challenge #8 "All" or "Nothing" in the title - Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Challenge #10 Irish setting or author - The Graves Are Walking by John Kelly
Challenge #12 New-to-you author from kidzdoc's Black History Month tribute - Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
Challenge #16 Easter colored cover - Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer
Challenge #18 World Book Night list book - Looking for Alaska by John Green
Challenge #22 Historical fiction by new-to-you author - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Also, I'm reading The Secrets of Mary Bowser, which I haven't quite figured out where to fit in March - I may wait for the setting (Virginia) to come up in the rolling "where I come from" challenge (#7).

21. The Book That Changed My Life edited by Diane Osen

This collection of interviews with fifteen National Book Award winners and finalists highlights the award-winning books and investigates the books that influence these writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The interviews are with James Carroll, Don DeLillo, E.L. Doctorow, Charles Johnson, Diane Johnson, Philip Levine, Davis Levering Lewis, Barry Lopez, David McCullough, Alice McDermott, Cynthia Ozick, Grace Paley, Linda Pastan, Katherine Paterson, and Robert Stone, and are organized alphabetically by last name. All of them are followed by a list of the author's books through 2002 (when this book was published), and all but one include a list of works that influenced the author, some of which are usually mentioned in the interview.

I appreciated the variety of authors and their approach to writing represented in this collection. I started making a list of all the books mentioned at the end so I could see which titles are mentioned repeatedly, and I added a few of the authors to my ever-growing TBR list. My enjoyment of these interviews was slightly hampered by the fact that I've only read books by three of the authors highlighted (Katherine Paterson, David McCullough and E.L. Doctorow) and had only read the award-winning book for one (The Great Gilly Hopkins). Some of the questions deal with the winning or finalist book, and little care is taken to prevent spoilers, making this a difficult way to discover a new-to-you author. Diane Osen has clearly done her homework by reading the entire oeuvre of the interviewed author as well as the books that influenced them; this comes through in the interviews positively in that she's able to ask very interesting, probing questions, but on the flip side it's more challenging for the reader who doesn't have that same background to follow along with the answers. A mixed bag, but I'm glad I read it. 3.5 stars.

February in review -

9. Prince Among Slaves by Terry Alford
10. Home by Marilynne Robinson - Mine
11. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
12. Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
13. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver
14. Dodger by Terry Pratchett
15. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - Mine
16. The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector
17. Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction by Jonathan A.C. Brown
18. Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
19. The Butterfly Mosque by G. Willow Wilson
20. Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal - Mine and LTER
21. The Book That Changed My Life edited by Diane Osen - Mine

Books read: 13
Audiobooks listened to: 0
Graphic Novels/Manga read: 0
Adult/Teen/Children's: 9/3/1
Fiction/Nonfiction/Poetry: 9/3/1
Library/Mine/Borrowed: 9/4/0

Standouts: Home by Marilynne Robinson, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (a re-read), and Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta

Thoughts: It looks like a lot more reading than last month, but I had a few very short books in there and I finished 4-5 just over the week I was dogsitting. My reading has shifted back into its normal pattern of publication dates - 2011, 2012, and 2013 are the only three showing multiple books so far. Perhaps I'll show more of a spread next month, as I'm hoping to reverse the ratio of my own books to library books read.

Book publication dates read in 2013:

2013 - 2
2012 - 5
2011 - 2
2010 - 1
2008 - 1
2004 - 1
2003 - 1
2002 - 1

1996 - 1
1977 - 1
1972 - 1
1962 - 1
1953 - 1
1937 - 1