ReneeMarie Returns for 2013

Although I've tracked my reading on paper, I haven't showed up at one of the category challenges since 2010 or something. I may go back and add my paper lists to the old challenges, just so I'll be able to have a link to my profile page for each of them.

I'm not terribly ambitious. I am only hoping to keep up with my book group reading and read at least one book in each of the other categories.

One of my main reasons for returning is that Laura complained about not knowing what I've been reading....

Here are my categories:

1) BG: Contemplate a Classic
2) BG: Historical Fiction
3) BG: Museum Studies
4) What Was: History
5) Who Was: Biography/Autobiography/Diaries/Letters
6) Self-ish: Health/Fitness/Improvement
7) Nerd-ish: Science & Technology
8) Lib-erated: Borrowed from a library
9) Genre-ated: Romance/Mystery/Science Fiction/Fantasy
10) Pen: Books on Writing
11) Ink: Books on Publishing
12) Obscure: Once read, now forgotten
13) Osmosis: Absorbed into my world courtesy of LT

A) Contemplate a Classic Book Group
1. The Stranger by Albert Camus (2 January, 123pp)
2. King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard (2 February, 236pp)
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B) Historical Fiction Book Group
1. Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura (6 January, 180pp)
2. The Long-Shining Waters by Danielle Sosin (3 February, 270pp)
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C) Museum Studies Book Group
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D) What Was
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E) Who Was
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F) Self-ish
1. 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam (23 January, 238pp)
2. Making Habits, Breaking Habits: Why We Do Things, Why We Don't, and How To Make Any Change Stick by Jeremy Dean (24 January, 228pp)
3. The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal (29 January, 238pp)
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G) Nerd-ish
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H) Lib-erated
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I) Genre-ated
1. The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett (6 January, 201pp)
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J) Pen
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K) Ink
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L) Obscure
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M) Osmosis
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I never had to read Camus for school. Part of my reason for joining the classics book group was to get to authors and titles I've missed.

I chose The Stranger for the CACBG, so I kinda had to finish it. Unfortunately, the night we were to discuss it my car developed issues and I couldn't get there. (On the negative side, my car still isn't working. On the positive side, the bus gives me lots of opportunities for reading....)

I get that there's absurdity in the world. I get that the reality of the world may make you feel like you can't make a difference in any large way. I don't get not wishing you could make some difference, or at least making an internal judgment about people who do bad things. And I sure don't get how the main character could commit the crime he does commit. Maybe I just don't get it.

I could be interested in reading some of the author's non-fiction. Not sure I'm other than apathetic about his fiction.

This year I've also finished the January HFBG title, despite being unable to get to the meeting. I originally wanted to read Shipwrecks because of a beautiful cover. Recently I also learned it was on a magazine's list of the "best novels you've never heard of."

The story is of a marginal, medieval(?) Japanese coastal village that only continues to survive thanks to the occasional shipwreck. In the absence of wrecks, the villagers sell themselves and their relatives into indentured servitude. The villagers pray for wrecks, and work to create them, too. With one ship they get more than they bargained for.

I found this a fascinating, educational look at a very foreign way of life. In some ways, it also reminded me of Brooks' Year of Wonders.

For years I've wanted the complete collection of the Thin Man movies on DVDs. In December, I indulged. Money's very tight, but the collection was 50% off.

I've watched the movies time and time again, but had never read the original book. I was curious to see how closely it compared to the movie.

Hammett's got a credit for the movie, and some of the dialogue is lifted straight from the novel. One of my favorite lines is: "I don't like crooks. And if I did like 'em, I wouldn't like crooks that are stool pigeons. And if I did like crooks that are stool pigeons, I still wouldn't like you." Tee hee.

In the book The Thin Man there's much more adultery than there is onscreen. In addition, there's "child" abuse as well as mention of incest and hopheads. In both (the book was published right around the time Prohibition ended) there's lots and lots of alcohol.

The book was enjoyable and a very fast read. But I do like the movies better. Still, I'd like to read more Hammett.

Right now I'm half-watching another of my DVDs: "Nancy Drew, Troubleshooter," also from the '30s, staring Bonita Granville. I love movies from the '30s. It's one of my absolute favorite film decades.

I may have to try reading another one or two original Nancy Drew novels, or try reading a Hardy Boys novel. (I also loved the somewhat cheesy '70s TV shows of both detecting families. Wish there were more of both the '30s movies and the '70s TV shows. In case you wonder: it was always Parker.)

@ 9 -- Shipwrecks sounds very interesting! Also, love your category names.

Welcome!! Looking forward to seeing what you're reading. I've yet to read any Hammett, but it's on the list. :)

Welcome aboard! The Thin Man movies are quite fun. :) Happy reading!

Whenever they come on TV I always watch Nick, Nora, and Asta! And can you believe how much they drank?

Welcome back to the challenge..... and if Laura was the one to nudge you back - yes, I am being subtle here! - all the better! Have fun, enjoy, and happy reading!

Mwahahaha!!!! Renee, I'm so glad to see you! And, since I don't want to ask to read your "Books I've Read" list at book group every month, I'm so happy that I can stalk you here and see what you've been up to. :) Shipwrecked sounds especially interesting, and it's one that I might have around the house somewhere. Hmmm, it's ringing a bell deep in my brain. Will have to go hunting for it once I pry myself away from the laptop.

Turner had a Thin Man movie marathon one day in December, and while I've seen 3 of them before (multiple times) the rest are all new to me. My plan is to stretch them out, one per month, but if I have a binge one afternoon that will be just fine too. When you mentioned "child" abuse in your review, the first thing I thought of was Nicky's baby birthday party. I'm guessing that that's not what you meant. :)

Welcome back, Renee - I missed you here!!!!!

eta: The book I was thinking of was A Brave Vessel, so not the same thing, but I remembered the cover.

Welcome back, I am also a big fan of the "Thin Man" movies and movies from the 1930's in general. My brother collects them and always has a new batch for us to watch whenever I visit my hometown.

Thanks for the welcome back messages, as well as the kind words about my category names.

Finished 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam. I read the LT reviews of the book, and they're pretty much spot on. The author's an urban professional (self-employed, work-at-home) who has looked at the lives of other mostly urban professionals. Much of what she suggests depends on your being a professional in an office that allows a fair amount of flexibility and autonomy. Or being self-employed.

There's not a great deal that's applicable to an under-employed individual without a family to care for or be supported by. She talks a lot about choice. The fact that in my inertia I watch a fair amount of DVDs ("Blondie" earlier today) and TV ("Kojak" right now), that's definitely my choice. I know it's a time suck and companion, but sometimes it's all I have the energy for.

She also talks of choice in how you spend your money. Talks about how much people spend on cable and phones in a year. How you can use money to outsource tasks and services to people so you can concentrate on your "core competencies" or your primary responsibilities.

I don't have that kind of choice. I have dial-up. I don't have cable. I don't go to movies or restaurants. My cell phone is pay-as-you-go and primarily for emergencies. I have one department store card, and I have it almost paid off, after which I'm not using it. My big vice is my biblioholism, and I've become much more frugal when it comes to purchasing books. I'm working on cutting my weekly grocery bill. It's already down to half of what it was when I had a full-time job.

Still, the reminder that people waste a lot of their time is valid and worth a couple of pages.

My "Self-ish" category is in this year's challenge because things have got to change. Survival mode isn't working very well.

Primarily for you, Laura, here's my list of the books I read in 2011 that I enjoyed the most (12 of 67). When I have more time, I'll say a few words about them. Later still, I'll include the 2012 list.

In the meantime, if any of the titles intrigue anyone and you want to know more, just let me know.

My Favorite Reads of 2011:

* What Angels Fear by C. S. Harris

* The House of Appleton by Gerard R. Wolfe

* American Notes for General Circulation by Charles Dickens

* Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey & Eric Hagerman

* Twenty Days with Julian and Little Bunny by Papa by Nathaniel Hawthorne

* The Frozen-Water Trade: A True Story by Gavin Weightman

* The Reshaping of Everyday Life, 1790-1840 by Jack Larkin

* Buy ology: Truth and Lies about Why We Buy by Martin Lindstrom

* Letters from America by Alexis de Tocqueville (and Gustave de Beaumont)

* The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green

* The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands by Mary Seacole

* The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

Thanks for the list, Renee! The Reshaping of Everyday Life, 1790-1840 sounds interesting to me, maybe I can snag a copy at the library in the near future.

Something that I've been thinking a lot about in the last 6 months or so, is how different my life is now, compared to my life when I was a child. Obvious adult stuff like working and supporting myself, etc, aside, I feel a constant pressure to be doing things at all times (multi-tasking is preferred), I'm so afraid to make a mistake, and there is also a never-ending feeling of being rushed. Doesn't matter what I'm doing, or where, I always feel like I should be doing it faster/better. I have such a hard time focusing on things also, and on keeping anything in my head for more than a minute. I'm only 34 and I feel like I'm 94! Not good, and it worries me as to what I'll be like when I'm more middle-aged, let alone with I'm a retiree!