MickyFine's 2013 Literary Adventures, Part the Second

I'm back once again for another year of reading and chatting away! Feel free to join in the conversation (book-related or not) and make yourself comfortable.

January
1. A History of Reading - Alberto Manguel
2. North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell
3. The Spies of Warsaw - Alan Furst
4. Ella Minnow Pea - Mark Dunn
5. Winnie-the-Pooh - A.A. Milne (re-read)
6. Okay for Now - Gary D. Schmidt
7. Lost in a Good Book - Jasper Fforde
Favourite read(s):


February
8. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making - Catherynne M. Valente
9. The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy - Mark Logue and Peter Conradi
10. The Well of Lost Plots - Jasper Fforde
11. The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There - Catherynne M. Valente
12. Tender Is the Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald
13. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
Favourite read(s):


March
14. The Heiress vs the Establishment: Mrs. Campbell's Campaign for Legal Justice - Constance Backhouse and Nancy L. Backhouse
15. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie
16. Doomsday Book - Connie Willis
17. Wrapped - Jennifer Bradbury
18. The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood
19. Great Expectations: The Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens - Robert Gottlieb
Favourite read(s):

April
Favourite read(s):

May
Favourite read(s):

June
Favourite read(s):

My rating system:

/ = Ran screaming in the other direction (aka did not finish)
* = Suffered through it for reasons I'm still not sure of
** = Had far more flaws than virtues
*** = A read I don't regret but could use some improvement
**** = A good, solid read that I might revisit
***** = Loved it beyond reason and will probably re-read in short order

Hope I'm not too early by jumping in here! That's a beautiful London photo, Micky! Are you getting ready?

Love the new thread topper, Micky! Loved the old one too, but this one is just great. South Bank is one of my favourite places in London.

Me too! Can't stop looking at it!

>4 LauraBrook: You're not early at all, Laura. I always block off all the posts I want before telling everyone to mosey over. I AM getting ready for my trip. Planning to acquire a suitcase this month (I have a carry-on sized one but I want something a little bigger for a two-week trip :P). Need to start organizing details around my list of sights.

>5 PawsforThought: Thanks, Paws. I like both of them too.

>6 PensiveCat: Thanks!

Stunning thread-topper, Micky! :)

Gorgeous photo! I hope you have a glorious trip.

Ah, love the picture! I might steal it for a desktop background...

>8 Ape: Thank you, Stephen. Now are you actually going to post on this thread or just lurk?

>9 humouress: Thanks, Nina! The trip is still 86 days away (85 in two hours :D) so I have to wait awhile yet. But I'm really looking forward to it.

>10 dk_phoenix: You go right ahead, Faith. It's a good choice for that.

Book 9



The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy - Mark Logue and Peter Conradi

In 1926, Lionel Logue, one of the founders in Britain of the fledgling field of speech therapy, met with the second son of the reigning monarch. This encounter would begin a breakthrough for the Duke of York who had stammered from a young age. Logue would end up helping the unexpected King find a voice that would guide a nation through the second world war.

This book is deftly written non-fiction. Although not a definitive biography of either Lionel Logue or George VI, it neatly covers the lives of both men and the unique relationship that existed between an expat Australian speech therapist and the King of England against the backdrop of the historical period. A fascinating read and definitely one of interest for anyone who enjoyed the film.

Rating: ****

10: I tried, but the picture is a bit too small, so you either have lots of blank space or stretched pixels. :(

11: Of course! :)

Hi Micky! I'm still getting caught up from your last thread. I liked your thoughts on The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making ! I still have that one on my wishlist

>13 Ape: Bummer, about it not working as a wallpaper. Also, don't think I didn't notice that you didn't answer the question. :P

>14 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! You should definitely give it a try, it's absolutely delightful.

You hit me again with The King's Speech. I didn't realize there was a book as well as a movie. Although in this case it seems the movie came first?

>16 cbl_tn: We're just trading those BBs, Carrie. Based on the introduction of the book, the film and the book were both in the works around the same time. The book has a copyright date of 2010 and the film was released for Christmas of that year so it's more likely the book came first but probably just by a smidge.

But I did answer the question, I said "Of course" ... I even added an exclamation mark to indicate enthusiasm. :)

All right, I'll let it slide, Stephen. But don't think you can get away with ambiguous answers all the time.

Acknowledged!

>12 MickyFine:: I wanted to see the film, but didn't get around to it. The book sounds interesting; do you recommend watching the film first, though?

I'm a bit slow and repeating what everyone else has said so far--beautiful picture! Oh, and when you go over yonder, make sure you visit some really seedy places and write "Sara Was Here" or "For a Good Time, Call __(put Stephen's # here)__" :) That'd totally make my day!

Someone recommended The King's Speech (the movie) to me as well, but I never got around to it. Too many scary movies to watch first. >:)

And oops on catching up on the germ conversation on the last thread. I'm still a germophobe, no matter what. I wear gloves as much as possible, since I have eczema and excess handwashing, Purell, etc actually causes me to break out. Fun! And while bookstores/libraries are pretty gross places, hospitals and grocery stores are probably way above them, germ-spreading-wise.

Just joining in with everyone's praise of your photo! I thought the movie for The King's Speech was great. I'll have to look out for the book.

Micky, that picture... I clicked on your thread, and you should have heard the "ooooooh!" that escaped from me. That's it. I have to paint it. *saves picture*

#12 - I adored The King's Speech, so I'll have to pick that book up! Their relationship is so fascinating, and I would love to know more about what happened in real life, versus what the movie showed us. Thank ye!

Micky, how was the Doctor Who improv? I hope you had a wonderful time.

>20 Ape: *nods crisply in Stephen's direction*

>21 humouress: Honestly, Nina, you could do it either way. The film definitely compresses the timeline a lot so it might be better to watch the film first and appreciate it for itself (which I think is fantastic) before then becoming familiar with the actual events/relationship. But I don't think you'll like the film any less if you read the book first.

>22 saraslibrary: I'm traveling solo, Sara, so I'm going to try and avoid the seedy places. But I can always put Stephen's # in a ladies' room in Heathrow. Lots of traffic. ;) You should watch King's Speech immediately! It's really great.

>23 Tanglewood: Thanks, Michelle! It's a very accessible non-fiction read. :)

>24 ErisofDiscord:/25 Glad you like the pic, Eris. And you're more than welcome for the book rec. :)

As for Doctor Who improv, it was a lot of fun. The guy playing The Doctor had a passing resemblance to DT (helped greatly by a blue suit, long coat, and gel in the hair) and I was very happy that they included Jack in it as well (although poor guy was killed off for laughs MANY times). I felt a bit bad for them though as the audience suggestion for a historical event was the Alamo about which the cast (and the audience for that matter) knew almost nothing about (afraid the Alamo isn't covered much up here in Canada in history class). But they did an excellent job muddling through and added Davy Crocket to the mix which was fun. They also wrapped up the plot with some references to Browncoats which was hysterical. My friend and I had a good time. :)

That sounds like fantastic fun! And Browncoat references? Oh, I wish I could've been there! I love Whovians.

I'd have loved to see that!

Love the new thread, the threat topper image was a great reminder of your approaching trip and very nice review of The King's Speech. I join the others in saying I found the movie to be well done - with Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helene Bonham Carter cast in it how can it be anything but a great movie? ;-)

>27 ErisofDiscord:/28 It was a lot of fun. :)

>29 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori. The film is really good. :)

You're going to London by yourself? That would be pretty awesome, but also terrifying! Personally I would love the freedom of being able to do what I want without lugging somone else around or worrying what they want to do. I'd still be terrified though, you're like a superhero or something... :P

#26: Don't tell anyone else you're traveling solo. o_0 All those weirdos who prey on foreigners.... Not trying to scare ya, but--RUUUUN! ;) At least London didn't make this list. Yet. And, yes, you should definitely tag Stephen's phone number somewhere, so when you get arrested for vanadalism, you can show us your police photo! That'd make a great gift for your LT friends, yes? ;) Ok, ok. Here's the poking stick. You can hurt me now.

I spent a week in London by myself, and had the best time! Like anyplace, you take precautions and have fun from there.

Don't let anyone scare you about going to London on your own. It's not dangerous (unless you're planning on wandering around the streets of, say, Croydon or something at night with your most expensive jewellery on display).

I've ALWAYS been on my own when I've been in London and never even been pickpicketed. Just pretend you live there and you'll be fine. And get a London A-Z. Everyone has one (they're great and not expensive).

Oh, I wouldn't be terrified of danger of any sort, I'd just be terrified of being in another country by myself. It's part of my social anxiety I guess. *Shudders*

>35 Ape: So you're scared of people, and scared of being by yourself?

I think that just about sums it up, yes. :)

>35 Ape: - I get that - especially when it comes to going out to dinner alone. Gak. I'm fine with Afternoon Tea, but when it got dark I got shy and usually took something in to my tiny hotel room (not that I'm complaining: I got to watch British telly!) For me, though, London is another country but it's so familiar now that it's less foreign to me than, say, Oklahoma. Also, I'm a New Yorker so I have the fast walking, "don't look lost" thing down. Well, usually: I tend to get lost in my own thoughts!

OMG, Mickey -- your thread topper is simply gorgeous!!! Wow!

I saw the movie of The King's Speech and thought it was an incredible story. I may have to read the book one day based on your review. :)

>31 Ape: Yup, I'm totally a superhero. Although I may have misplaced my powers...

>32 saraslibrary: Just a mild *thwack* for you.

>33 PensiveCat: That's definitely the plan. :)

>34 PawsforThought: Oh no worries on that front. I plan to act just like I would here at home when wandering around solo.

>37 Ape: Poor neurotic Stephen. *pats on head*

>38 PensiveCat: Dining alone could be a bit weird, but I'm pretty independent so I think I can handle it. At any rate, it should make getting a table pretty easy. :)

>39 TinaV95: Thanks, Tina. Hope you enjoy the book when you get around to it.

I kind of like dining alone sometimes. Especially if I have a good book with me :)

London is a great city for wandering alone in, but my favorite is Florence. Cities I have wandered alone in that were not so great for that: Baku, Beijing, and Jakarta.

41. Me too. Eating and reading - what more could you ask for?

I loooove eating out by myself, but only if there are no TVs in the restaurant. Which unfortunately narrows down my choices greatly :-(

#35: You just have to smile and nod, and they'll never know you're a foreigner. But keep a gun/mace/ice pick/whatever you like until they realize you're American. I've learned we're not too well liked in a lot of places. Just say you're Canadian. They're safe and easy to imitate.

#40: Thank you, ma'am, may I have another? :P

#42: A money-producing tree?

>41 katiekrug: It should also make for a good opportunity for people watching. :)

>44 saraslibrary: What do you mean Canadians are easy to imitate? :P And no more thwacks for you. You're seriously weird about them.

I like my thwacks! >:)

For once, I didn't mean that Canadian comment in a mean way. I've just been told from various people that if/when I travel abroad to never say I'm an American. People seem to hate Canadians less than Americans. Plus I'm white, so it's easier to lie and say I'm Canadian/Australian/European, just as long as I don't open my mouth (I can't fake an accent for anything).

I travel abroad a lot and have found the "hatred" of Americans to be vastly over-stated. I've only ever claimed to be Canadian once :-)

>46 saraslibrary: Note that impersonating Canadians means being polite to everyone and apologizing when other people bump into you.

>47 katiekrug: In my very limited travels, I've found good will for Canadians is pretty great. :)

Book 10



The Well of Lost Plots - Jasper Fforde

Thursday Next is temporarily residing in the Well of Lost Plots while continuing her apprenticeship as a Jurisfiction agent with Miss Havisham. However, her hopes that things would be tamer in the land of fiction than in the real world are soon dashed as she deals with grammasites, rogue characters, and Godot is missing. When someone starts killing off Jurisfiction agents, Thursday must figure out what they all have in common or risk becoming a victim herself.

Another delightful turn in the series, Fforde deftly creates a fantastic world that is an absolute delight. While at some points it did feel as though the plot were meandering a bit and Fforde was simply showing off his fantasy world, it's a great world to show off and I didn't really mind. Of course, the plot also builds to an impressive crescendo that rattles on to a satisfying conclusion.

Rating: ****

46. You know most of us Europeans can't tell a Canadian accent from an American ones, right? Unless it's a really strong accent, like from Texas or New York or something (and people here like New York so it's alright). People don't "hate Candians less", we genuinely like Canadians. Canadians are American (as in the continent, not the U.S.) Europeans. And we don't hate Americans either, we just tend to assume things about them/you.

48. Being British also means apologising for everything. Apologising if someone else bumps into you = compeltely normal.

I'm polite and apologize for everything, so I'd make a great Canadian!

I've heard that we should pretend to be Canadian too. There are a lot of negative connotations involved with living here. You're either fat and stupid, an arrogant douche, or a representation of all things evil. Sadly, most of it is probably true.

I tell people I'm Canadian when I'm abroad all the time. I didn't used to, but once I was in England and I was carrying a purse that said "My best friend is a person who will get me a book I have not read - Abraham Lincoln" when a woman stopped me and asked me if he really said that. I said yes, he did, and the woman looked surprised and replied "Huh. Who knew he was smart??"

From then on I decided I should pretend to be Canadian lest some European person say something rude and force me to punch them in the face.

I'm Dutch and when abroad Dutch people are frequently mistaken for Germans. The language is similar, so it's an easy mistake to make, I guess. However, once they find out you're not German but Dutch, atitudes are much friendlier! That's still an aftermath of World War Two, even so many decades later. I can imagine that some Germans pretend to be Dutch because of this.

Not to belabor the point, or to further hijack Micky's thread, but I think it's just become a bit de rigueur to hate Americans or to think that everyone hates Americans. I would much rather conduct myself in such a way as to contradict the negative stereotypes that exist than to pretend to be something I'm not. The one time I said I was Canadian was in a small shop in Cairo where, displayed behind the counter, there were pictures of various US Presidents with targets super-imposed over their heads. It just seemed to me that the proprietor might be especially unfriendly toward an American, hence my fib when asked. Most of the time, when someone asks where I'm from, I say the city and/or state because it seems most people are more likely to have positive (or at least neutral) impressions of specific places than the entire country.

>49 MickyFine:: That's one of my favorite Thursday Next books! It must be great to be able to read it for the first time.

I never pretend to be Canadian when I'm away, but if I'm in a touristy area and there are particularly noisy Americans nearby I just keep quiet. The one thing I don't want to be associated with is loud and obnoxious people, of any country!

53. Us Swedes are always confused wither with one of our Nordic neighbours or with the Swiss (why is it so difficult to remember the difference?).
Lately, I've notised several people who can't tell the difference between Scandinavian languages (Swedish in particular but Norwegian and Danish too) and Dutch/Flemish.

Enjoying this convo on perceptions of different nationalities when travelling abroad. :)

>55 PensiveCat: It is fun, thanks! :)

I don't think I'd ever be able to hide my Southern accent enough to pass for Canadian. But, I'm with Katie that I will just try to overcome the stereotypes by being kind and considerate when abroad. Whenever that may be....... Now I want to travel! Boo :(

>58 TinaV95: Honeymoon? ;)

Happy Valentine's Day, Micky!

Happy Valentine's Day, all!

I hope you had a not-unpleasant day yesterday, Micky.

>62 Ape: It was very full of candy and cupcakes, so it was thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks, Stephen. :)

Hmmmm... we are taking a mini trip to NC after but will have to save up for a real honeymoon. So.... that's what I will look forward to Mickey. Thanks!! :)

NC seems pretty good to me. Although to be fair it's much further away from me than it is from you.

>48 MickyFine:: You mean Americans aren't polite normally?

>51 Ape:: Stephen, I'm not getting the impression (especially from Sara) that you're polite. ;0)

Sara (and Micky) like to pick on me, I'm sorry they gave you the wrong impression. :P

>66 humouress: They have that general reputation, Nina. Although I know many perfectly polite Americans. :)

>67 Ape: It's fun to pick on you. Also, it's not like you don't pick on us. :P

Book 11



The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There - Catherynne M. Valente

It's been a year since September's adventures in Fairyland and after much wishing and waiting she has finally returned. However, the Fairyland she comes back to is much different as she discovers that everyone is losing their shadows - and their magic - to Fairyland-Below. There September's shadow rules as the Hollow Queen, Halloween. Once again, September finds herself on a Quest to set Fairyland back to rights.

Fans of the first book will love this sequel. The narrative voice remains a delight, weaving the rich tapestry that makes up Fairyland and Fairyland-Below. September is still a charming heroine, who is starting to grow up, and starting to come into a new, fresh heart. A great fairy tale for all ages.

Rating: ****

>68 MickyFine:: So is it open season on Stephen, then?

>69 MickyFine:: I have to start that series; I've seen so many good things about it on LT.

>70 humouress: You'd have to ask Stephen. He might say it's Duck Season. Or Rabbit Season. ;)

Also, you most definitely should try the first book. I really loved it. :)

#48: Note that impersonating Canadians means being polite to everyone and apologizing when other people bump into you. -- I'm doomed. Me: "Excuse YOU!" (j/k) I guess I had better move to NY, city of the super unfriendly.

#50: Oh, I know. Thankfully, I live on the West coast, so my accent is pretty ordinary. Still, I'm playing it safe--when abroad, I'm Canadian.

#51: I'm a stupid, evil douche, so I'm pretty much all of what you said. Who says stereotypes are wrong! :P

#53: Absolutely (about Germans pretending to be Dutch, etc). We have quite a few Germans and Scandinavians who live where I do, and the old Nazi stereotypes towards Germans are still there. It's pretty sad, really.

#56: Oh, pshaw! Sweden, Switzerland, what's the difference (besides just a few measly miles)? ;) I'll have to admit, though, it's hard for me to tell the difference between some of the Northern languages. German I can pick up on (I studied it for a few years as a kid), but I'm not around foreigners very often. Plus, it comes down to how well someone enunciates.

#66-67: Hahaha! Stephen, you're so busted on the polite bit. No, really, he can be polite. But so can Satan.... :P

#68: Exactly! Stephen's the biggest bully. Ever! I've got the bruises to prove it. :P Er, wait. I may have put those there myself. (hides paddle)

#69: (adding to my wishlist)

#70-71: Oh, yay, it's time for a Stephen Hunt! (claps hands) Shall I get my dogs? (No laughing Stephen. They may be smaller than cats, but they have sharp teeth.) Or learn to make the Stephen mating sound so he'll come out of hiding? Or should I just get a giant rocket and aim it at Ohio? >:)

72. I completely understand if people have a hard time telling the Scandinavian languages apart (I sometimes have a hard time telling Norwegian and Danish apart) but if you've ever heard someone speak Finnish and then someone speak a Scandinavian language - you'll note the humongous difference.
(Tip for people who can't tell Scandinavian languages apart: Norwegians are the ones who sound like they're constantly asking a question or making a joke (they go up at the end of their sentences), Swedes are the ones who sound like they're singing, and Danes are the ones who seem to have forgotten most consonants (it sounds very "muddled" compared to Norwegian and Swedish). And Icelandic (if we're counting them), well, they pur -ir, -ur and -or at the end of every word.

> 72 - Stephen mating call LOL.... but he might cower in the corner when he hears it

Stephen mating call: "I have pizza and cookies, and I swear I'm fully clothed!"

> 75 - thanks for having me spit out my drink... what great fun! 'I swear I'm fully clothed!' just great... lol

75. Thank you for sharing the secret of the Stephen mating call. We will be using is and abusing it at all hours.

>72 saraslibrary: Yay for adding things to the wish list! :)

>75 Ape: Adds to list of "Things to no say to Stephen."

(fortunately, I don't have pizza, and the kids are likely to finish the cookies before we get to them)

Oh, no worries ladies! I don't actually mate with clothed ladies with pizza and cookies in toe. That would lead to some very awkward situations at the supermarket. I just meant it's probably your best bed to get me out of hiding. It worked for Rachel, and she only filled 2 out of the 3 requirements! (That's to say, she didn't have cookies...)

80. Our best bed, Stephen? Tsk, tsk, The thought of pizza and clothed ladies is really making you wound up, isn't it?

That was supposed to be 'bet.' *Sigh* This happens to me far too frequently. :P

One word for you: Freud.

You're right. I was really hoping Micky wouldn't find out that I've been eating cookies in her bed during the day, but like always I've spilled the seed...errr, I mean beans...

Hi Micky! Very happy to see you enjoyed Valente's The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland. I really should get around to starting that series. It has been on my radar screen long enough. ;-)

>84 Ape: *checks bedroom* Sorry to be the one to break it to you, Stephen, but whatever bed you were eating cookies in, it wasn't mine.

>85 lkernagh: Hi Lori! You should definitely try Valente, they're a lot of fun.

Glad to see your still reading Ffrode. When in may are you over here?

86. Stephen's probably been in so many beds he can't keep track! ;)

Actually I, ummmm, haven't...ever... *Ahem*

Besides, I would never eat cookies in Micky's bed when she's home. *Shakes head* Amateurs. :P

89. Amateurs? Pfft. Only a real pro would eat cookies in someone else's bed when they're at home.

I started The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland but didn't get into it. I might give it a try again as everyone raves about it :)

90: ... *Checks bedroom, just to be sure*

>44 saraslibrary:: Ahhh ... you've all been reading Anna and the French Kiss, haven't you?

>87 BBGirl55: I arrive May 5 and I'm there for two weeks. :)

>88 PawsforThought: *guffaw* Ahem. Sorry, Stephen.

>89 Ape: Just proves my point. I was home all day yesterday.

>91 Tanglewood: It may not be for everyone. It's strongly reminiscent of books like Peter Pan and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and if you don't enjoy the narrative style of those, the Girl Who... books aren't likely to appeal.

>93 humouress: *swoons* Sorry, you mentioned a certain book with a certain St. Clair and now I'm just useless for a bit. ;)

You arive on my birthday.

>95 BBGirl55: Weird. My half-birthday is the day after. ;)

Wired but do you want to know something even better.

Weird. Your half birthday is my actual birthday :)

>97 BBGirl55: Of course I do. :)

>98 ChelleBearss: That is weird, Chelle. Of course, that means my birthday is your half-birthday. :) Even weirder is that one of my officemates (with whom I went to library school) and I have the same birthday. She's just a couple years older.

I have 2 weeks off around my birthday the second week being the first week you are in London.

What day whould be my half birthday.

100. Six months before/after your real birthday would be your half-birthday. SO, if your birthday is, say, on July 4, your half-birthday would be on January 4.

101.ok thanks 5 November

94. Peter Pan and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, you say? Two of my all-time favourites. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making just skyrocketed up the TBR list.

Half-birthdays? I always learn something new when I visit your thread, Micky.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Catherynne M. Valente novel. I recently had to abandon her (very, very adult) Palimpsest, as it didn't quite work as an audiobook and I wasn't in the mood for mechanical insects. I may go back to it in print at a later date.

>100 BBGirl55: Huh. That is a coinkydink. ;)

>103 PawsforThought: I do say. Glad to hear that's nudged you closer, Paws. :)

>104 DorsVenabili: I love birthdays. Also, I am of the school of thought that just because I'm not little doesn't mean I can't enjoy saying that I am 26 1/4. :P Thus my enjoyment of half-birthdays. I may have to try Valente's adult fiction, Kerri, to see how the style differs.

105. It's not as if I actaully have time to read it anytime soon, though. I don't have time to read the books I've planned.

>106 PawsforThought: Pshaw. I advocate for reading books on a whim sometimes and ignoring the planned books. You dictate the books, not the other way round.

107. I can't do that. If I didn't plan I would get anything done. Hence, if I didn't plan my reading, I wouldn't get any reading done.

De-lurking to chime in about birthdays: I agree that just because we're not kids doesn't mean we can love birthdays and half-birthdays!
My mom's and my MIL's birthdays are the same.
My brother's and my FIL's birthdays are the same.
And best of all, for this classicist mom - Charlie's half birthday is the Ides of March!

My parents share the same birthday. (So does my husband's dad, but I tend to ignore that) ;0)
My parents, husband and sister are all Pisces.

So is your half birthday the same day 6 months earlier / later than your birthday, or (hang on : *365 / 2 = ... *) 182.5 days later?

I always go same date six months after your birthday. :)

>111 MickyFine: That's how I've always calculated it too. But this conversation has got me thinking: what about the people whose birthdays are on the 31st? Or the 29th/30th of August??

112. I'd say go with whatever feels best.

>112 norabelle414: Oh man, I can't think about that. It makes my brain hurt.

#109 - My actual birthday is on the Ides of March. (Did I really just one-up someone's child on the internet? It's been a long day.) That being said, it is true. : )

>115 DorsVenabili: Meh, there are worse things to do, Kerri. ;) Ides of March is pretty cool. I always teased one of my friends in high school as his birthday is the Ides of October.

I love birthday trivia. I think it's great fun to see if there's anything special that happened on your birthday (other than you being born, obv.) - especially if that something is connected somehow to an interest of yours or something like that.

Wikipedia has pages for all the dates, so you can type it in and see a lot of importance stuff that happened on that date. For example, March 15 is here. Just type your birthday in that same format and you can find all kinds of interesting stuff.

ETA: My birthday is Malaria Awareness Day. :D

Kerri: Ha! As I think Charlie doesn't give a rat's patootie that his half birthday is on the Ides, I don't think you've one-upped him.

#119 - Phew! Good. : )

I don't have any really interesting holidays on my birthday. :(

121. Your birthday os November 6?

If so, your birthday is a national flag day in both Sweden and Finland (King Gustav Adolf/Gustavus Adolphus died that day at the battle of Lützen - he is one of our better known kings and even has his own cake!).

Also, the October Revolution started in Russia; Juana la Loca (Joanna the Mad, Queen of Castile and Aragon) was born that day, so were Thandie Newton, Michael Cunningham, Emma Stone and Sally Field; and Tchaikovsky and Catherine the Great both died.

>122 PawsforThought: Ok, so my birthday is a little interesting. :)

I have the same birthday as this:

so that's nice.

HA! My birthday is International No Diet Day! Awesome

My b-day's a little dull, too, Micky. Thanks for the Wikipedia link thingy, Stephen!

125. You planned your birth well, I see. :)

Yay for birthdays!

Book 12


Tender Is the Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald

In the late 1920s, Rosemary Hoyt, a young Hollywood starlet, encounters the glamorous Dick and Nicole Diver on a beach in the French Riviera and falls in love with the pair, particularly Dick. However, all is not as it seems in the Divers' marriage with Dick playing the role of both husband and doctor to Nicole whose mental illness is a constantly recurring third party in their disintegrating relationship.

First and foremost a character study, Tender Is the Night slowly reveals the inner-workings of Dick Diver over the course of several years, investigating how an intelligent and ambitious man ended up in a relationship in which he feels he is slowly losing his independence. However, surrounding the melancholy tale of Dick, Fitzgerald beautifully describes several parts of Europe and the life of the idle rich American expats who lived there during the late 1920s. A read that is great not only to experience the skills of an author near the height of his brilliance but to empathetically observe Dick on his decline.

Rating: ****

Dick Diver? *snerk* Not going there. Anywho, I haven't read that one by Fitzgerald (I've only read The Great Gatsby as mandatory reading back in high school), but I'm glad to see it's halfway good. :)

This is only my second Fitzgerald (after Gatsby, of course), but I really enjoyed it. :D

Hi Micky! *waves*

Hiya - just found your thread and starred :) You seem to read a lot of similar stuff to me so I like to try and get hit by book bullets when I can! I just got hold of the second Fairyland Valente yesterday so hope to read that soon - glad to see it's still fun.

>132 lkernagh: Hi Lori! *waves back*

>133 BekkaJo: Hi Bekka. Welcome to the thread. :) I'll try to be as obliging as possible with the BBs.

I still haven't even read Gatsby! I keep meaning to though...

You gotta, what with characters named Dick Diver! There might actually be a scandalous piece or two. Hmm, or not.

Tender is the Night supposedly has a lot of autobiographical references. His wife, Zelda Fitzgerald, actually wrote a book on this theme before he did: Save Me the Waltz, which ticked him off immensely. I've never read either, but that's what I've heard.

My favorite book of Fitzgerald's is This Side of Paradise, which was uneven but full of beauty in spite of itself.

>135 Ape: You didn't have to do it in high school??? I live in Canada and I read it for school. And also loved it, btw. Although I'm not sure how you'll feel about it as it has one of your pet hates as a plot point. True also of Tender Is the Night.

>137 inge87: Yeah, the back cover on my edition noted the autobiographical elements. It would be interesting to read Zelda's book as she was the one actually dealing with mental illness.

Why am I not surprised she skipped my message? And for that...click me if you dare. ;) It's totally Fitzgerald related, I swear.

I managed to make it through high school and college (as an English major) without reading Gatsby... read it last year, though.

I somehow convinced my high school teacher that I'd already read Gatsby (I was pretty familiar with the plot) and got assigned This Side of Paradise along with another student instead. I've still never read the entire book and probably never will. The plot's not really my kind of thing.

138: Nope, we didn't read it in high school. I guess there are a LOT of classic novels, and it's not like anyone could have read them all in 4 years at that age. *Shrug*

>118 Ape:: Thanks, Stephen. I feel better now I know I share my birthday with Matt Damon and Bruno Mars. It's so rare to find nice events on my birthday (apart from things like the Great Chicago Fire and other fun stuff).

143. Bruno Mars is considered a good thing?

>144 PawsforThought:: You should see what else I have to celebrate with. But the kids and I do like his music. Not good?

145. Not my idea of good.

>139 saraslibrary: I didn't skip your message, I just assumed it was for Stephen. But how on earth is that pic Gatsby related???

>140 bell7: I did an English degree too and studied almost no American lit. Of course, that's what happens when you take a lot of Brit lit courses. :)

>141 inge87: No book is for everyone. :)

>142 Ape: Fair enough. Although my experience with high school English is that if a classic novel is on the shorter side it's more likely to crop up. Also, up here high school is only three years.

>143 humouress: Those are some pretty cool peeps to share your birthday with, Nina.

I should start making a list of books I read in high school, there is no way I could remember them all at once but maybe over time I could recall most of them. The Great Gatsby wasn't one of them though. =/

I read a lot of plays for English in high school. But I think I could probably list most of the books/plays I read. The short stories and poetry would be far more spotty though. Lots of Keats and Frost, that much I can tell you.

Hi Mickey ~~ just trying to catch up! Hope your week is going well! :)

Hi Tina! Week has been going pretty well, thanks. :)

Book 13


The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Amir and Hassan are close friends living on Amir's father's estate in Afghanistan. But at the age of 12 in 1975, Amir makes a choice that will forever alter his relationship with Hassan and have ramifications in Amir's own life for decades.

Beautiful and heartbreaking, this novel brilliantly captures the relationship between Amir and Hassan which is full of complexities. It also reflects the shifting realities of Afghanistan from a poor, generally overlooked nation, to one at war with the USSR, to a nation which is discussed commonly in the supermarket in the United States. Never an easy read with plot turns and descriptions that may be horrific or extremely upsetting for some readers, it ultimately reflects the single Afghan phrase that emerges repeatedly in the novel: life goes on.

Rating: ****

February Summary




Totals in brackets are for year to date.

Books read: 6 (13)

Fiction: 5 (11)
Non-fiction: 1 (2)

Library: 5 (10)
Mine: 1 (3)

Re-reads: 0 (1)

Female authors: 2 (3)
Male authors: 5 (11)

Pages: 1,920 (4,201)

Average rating: 4.17

Favourite book(s): Without doubt The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente was witty, charming, and reminded me of several books I loved as a child.

#147: Um, I lied? I'm surprised you clicked it. You know me and my weird links.

#152: I don't know if I'll ever get around to reading The Kite Runner, but the movie looks promising. Glad you liked it.

Good book month! I love the Thursday Next Fforde's - making me think I should go back for a re-read :) I also have the Kite Runner which keeps trying to nudge it's way up Mount TBR.

>154 saraslibrary: I do know you like weird links. It's weird. :P Having read the book, I don't know if I could handle watching the film. I'm going to see a play based on the novel in a couple weeks (the reason I read the book in the first place) and I'm not sure how that experience is going to be for me.

>155 BekkaJo: Thanks, Bekka! I think Kite Runner is definitely a book you need to be in the mood for but it is definitely worthwhile whenever you get to it. :)

Hey, your male/female ratio looks like what mine usually is. I'm not keeping track this year though, in attempt to be less conscious of the gender of the author's I'm reading. So far I'm pretty happy to be blissfully unaware. :)

Somehow I've managed to not get around to reading the The Kite Runner. I guess he has a new book coming out soon too.

>157 Ape: I decided I wanted to keep track this year, just because I was curious. I'm not letting it influence which books I pick but I wanted to see what the stats would look like. I'm honestly surprised at how many more male authors I've read this year. It'll be interesting to see what the numbers look like at the end of the year.

>158 RosyLibrarian: I was in the same boat, Marie. And while I admire Hosseini's writing style, I don't know if I'd pick up another of his books. *shrug*

See? I was the same way. I chose the books I wanted, but it kept being overwhelmingly male. However, after a couple years of keeping the stat and seeing men men men men men, plus Nora jokingly calling me a sexist and pointing out my overwhelmingly male numbers, I started to become conscious of it last year. :(

Well, I haven't gone through my summer binges on YA and romance novels, so the stats might change later in the year. :P

I don't keep stats but I'm painfully aware that I mostly read male writers (and listen to male bands/artists, etc.) I feel bad about that but I try to remind myself that I read authors I like (mostly) and it's not my fault if they happen to be men - that's just my taste.
And anyway, being aware of it is a pretty big step.

I also just started keeping stats of M/F this year out of curiosity. So far I seem to be leaning far toward F. Hmm... I think it's more because of my genre reading - a lot more females write urban fantasy it seems.

Good review of the Kite Runner! You had a great February selection!
Do you have a plan for March or do you wing it like I do?

My personal library is 2/3 male (and 3/4 dead), but my reading probably skews the other direction, because I get a lot of books in more female-dominated genres (mysteries, for example) from work or the local library. The fact that some fields/genres are more male-dominated than others is not something I can do a great deal about, but I do agree it's important to be aware of it.

Well, I just checked and the overall gender breakdown for my entire library on LT (including books I own as well as ones borrowed from the library) is sitting near 55% male and 45% female, which I think is pretty respectable given how many classics I read. I think it'll be interesting though to see what the stat for the year overall looks like given that I tend to read some female-dominated genres.

>164 ChelleBearss: It's a bit of a mix for me, Chelle. I have one definitely planned read for this month as I'm going to a play at the end of March based on The Penelopiad, so I want to read that in advance. Otherwise, I'll pick stuff at random off The List or if something really strikes my fancy that I run across elsewhere, I'll just pick it up.

Everyone seems to be posting on their male / female author percentages. Just to jump on the bandwagon, mine is similar to yours, Micky, but more female than male. (something like 56%:43%) Thankfully, there are more live authors than dead ones, and no zombies (so far).

Thankfully, there are more live authors than dead ones

Just give it time. :P

It's the zombies that worry me.

>167 humouress: It is interesting to compare, Nina. :)

>168 Ape: Pessimist. :P

Going to look up percentages now so I can share :)

I'm 66% female to 33% male.

Didn't check my living / dead percentages because I know I lean very heavily to new and recent publishing.

Oh, dead vs. living authors? Pretty sure it's something like 90% dead, 10% living for me.

76 percent male, 23 percent female. Yeah, I have no idea how that happened, it I seem to keep reading more and more male authors too.

My authors are a live 84 percent of the time. :P

>174 Ape:: So you do have zombies.

I'm not sure where this fascination of mine is coming from, by the way; I steer well clear of things titled 'Night of the Living Dead' and such like.

Well, if I look at my library as a whole, it's near 50/50 male to female. But if I look at my current reading - say the first two months of 2013 - I'm running 80% female.

So maybe recent female writers are better than males; and Stephen is just an anomaly?

ETA - hang on, that didn't come out quite right. Sorry, Stephen!

>177 humouress: No, I think it's more a case that women have only recently begun to make up a larger percentage of published authors. This data visualization focuses on academic publications (be warned, Stephen, the site likely isn't hamster friendly) but you can see how generally female authors are a minority group.

I agree with Micky, if you are a classicist men should make up the majority of your reading simply because they were published more. Thankfully things are better now in that regard, and I think people's stats where modern authors are concerned will probably be more related to your reading taste. If you like your historical fiction to involve war and grotesque battle scenes, for example, you are probably more likely to pick up male authors in the historical fiction section. If you like your historical fiction involving scandalous relationships between the duke of something-or-other and his maid, you're probably more likely to pick up female authors in the historical fiction section.

Just catching up, nothing to comment on much. And hey, my birthday is International Museum Day! Exciting!!! ;)

Hope you're reading some good books, Micky! And, I love your profile pic - very pretty!

>179 Ape: Oh man, Stephen agreed with me. Are you sick, my friend? ;)

>180 LauraBrook: Hi Laura! Yay for de-lurking! Thanks for the compliment. I am reading a good book at the moment and should have it up in the next day or two.

Stopping by to visit Micky and just have to join in on the stats fun!

Male v Female: Percent male: 47.13% : Percent female: 52.87%
My Dead or Alive? stats intrigue me more: Dead: 86 / Alive: 439 / Unknown: 160 / Not a Person: 5

Apparently I have some stats cleaning to do.... if anything to fix the 'unknowns'. Apparently, if you have an author that is listed as anonymous, the LT machine categorizes them as "Not a Person".

Book 14



The Heiress vs the Establishment: Mrs. Campbell's Campaign for Legal Justice - Constance Backhouse and Nancy L. Backhouse

In 1922, Elizabeth Bethune Campbell came across what she thought was an unsigned copy of her mother's will. This would be the beginning of a legal battle that grew to such a point that in 1930 she became the first woman to appear before the Privy Council in London arguing her own case. And winning.

An intriguing case in legal history, this book reprints Mrs. Campbell's self-published work about her case, Where Angels Fear to Tread, with a prologue and epilogue by the Backhouse sisters (one a lawyer and the other a doctorate in law history). The prologue and epilogue provide excellent context for Mrs. Campbell's story and also discuss some of the major questions that rise out of the case. Mrs. Campbell's work itself is an engaging read as she chronicles her case from court to court in Ontario until taking her appeal to the Privy Council where she was ultimately victorious. Heavily annotated with in-depth end notes (be warned, there will be a lot of flipping to the back with this book) that add significant insights to the text, I found this to be a fascinating piece of Canadian history.

Rating: ****

183. Oh, BB hit! Sounds like a really great book. I will definitely put that on the TBR list.

>184 PawsforThought: Glad to hear it. Hope you enjoy, Paws. :)

Hi Micky!

I think I'm usually in the 50/50 area for male vs. female. However, so far this year, I'm at 80% female. I've been so lazy about my stats for the past few months. I have to get it together again.

Hi Kerri!. Stats are fun but don't feel pressure to do them if you don't want to. :)

Book 15



The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie

Gossip is the major sport in the small village of King's Abbot with very little in the way of exciting topics. But when Roger Ackroyd is found murdered in the his study, speculation goes wild. The main suspect is Ackroyd's stepson, Ralph, but when Ralph's fiance approaches Hercule Poirot who has been living in quiet retirement in the village, M. Poirot agrees to discover the whole truth.

An absolute delight from start to finish. Christie's prose is sharp and witty, clearly evoking the period of the late 1920s in a small village with one large manor house. The characters are all well-rounded creatures whom it is easy to picture and Hercule Poirot sparkles as the understated Belgian detective with his peculiar approach to English and his emphasis on the power of "the little grey cells." But the big star of this novel is the mystery itself which is absolutely brilliant. I defy you to determine whodunnit.

Rating: *****

#188 Good isn't it! Only Christie I've read to date (1,001 reasons as usual) but I keep meaning to read some more.

>188 MickyFine: Classic Christie! The TV adaptation is good, too.

>189 BekkaJo: It's only my second Christie. I read And Then There Were None in junior high and I've been meaning to get back to her ever since. The gap definitely won't be as big next time. :)

>190 cbl_tn: I'll probably check it out at some point. I've been watching Marple on Netflix and loving those. And I have a friend who keeps sending me links to BBC radio plays based on Christie's stuff which are also really good. Sometimes I think I live in the wrong country. ;)

191. Only sometimes? I think that most days (about myself, obviously, not about you).

>192 PawsforThought: Canada has its upsides and I'd probably get a bit homesick if I moved across the pond. Long-time prairie girl. :)

I hear there are hotties in Canada

193. The upside of living in Europe is that it's fairly easy (and quick) to pop back home if you feel homesick...

194. Really? I had NO IDEA. I think I need photographic evidence of this...

Hey Mickey... Just popping in for a quick catch up. I also wish I lived in Europe some days. I like to dream about it... :)

197. Oh, Nora, you're nothing if not accomodating... :)

Right, that's it I'm moving to Canada!

>194 norabelle414: Don't I know it. ;)

>195 PawsforThought: Very true. My flight to London in May is direct and it still is going to take 8 and a half hours.

>196 TinaV95: It's a lovely daydream, Tina. :)

>197 norabelle414: Thanks, Nora! I appreciate the eye candy. :D (P.S. Sorry, Stephen).

>199 BekkaJo: Come on over. :)

199 > I think I'm joining you there!

I'm starting to think it might be about time I go over and visit my Canadian relatives...

How ... fortunate ... the flag fell just where it did ...

>202 PawsforThought: Just wait another month or two. Much more pleasant weather.

>203 humouress: Isn't it?

203. I think you mean "unfortunate". ;)

Book 16



Doomsday Book - Connie Willis

In 2054, historians at Oxford regularly travel back in time for research but no one has yet gone back to the Middle Ages. Until Kivrin. Kivrin has managed to get the university to approve a trip back to 1320 despite the best efforts of her mentor, James Dunworthy, to dissuade her. But after her departure, something goes wrong on the Oxford end. And the Middle Ages are nothing like Kivrin expected...

A wonderful science fiction novel, Willis creates two diverse and believable worlds full of well-rounded characters. The plot is well-paced starting off relatively slowly but building to a faster pace for the climax. Both halves of the narrative are equally engaging and the switches between Oxford and Kivrin in the past are divided so that I never once wished for it to switch sooner than it did. Fun if you enjoy science fiction, time travel, or just want a decent novel set in the Middle Ages.

Rating: ****

206 > Hmmm, that sounds like a book I might like.

>197 norabelle414:: He must have an awfully big flagpole to accommodate such a large flag...

(Oh my. I apologize. Just couldn't resist.)

>207 Samantha_kathy:...Me too!

> 206, 207, 209 : It does sound good.

206. I've got that as a possible read for next month! :)

>207 Samantha_kathy:, 209, 210, 211 I think you should all give it a try. Snapping good read.

>208 scaifea: Lol. Thanks, Amber. :)

Learned today that I wasn't the successful candidate for the permanent version of the job I'm currently doing. As a result, not feeling super awesome today.

Oh man. That sucks, and I know because I've been there. So sorry.

212. Oh, no. I'm so sorry to hear that! Like Amber, I've been there and know it's not a very nice place - totally get you feeling crappy (though obviously it's THEIR loss and they're the ones that should feel bad).

Anything we can do to make you feel better?

Ugh, that sucks. I'm sorry, Micky.

Hey, how many days until London?!?!

212- Yeah not cool. And I second 215.

Oh, no; sorry to hear that.

I shall put Doomsday Book on my wish-list (see - you still have super powers!)

And have some of this; in fact, have as much as you want :

Great eye candy at #197. I keep waffling on Willis' Doomsday Book. I might need to break down and check the book out.

> 212 - Awe, geez, that really sucks. Hang in there, Micky, there must be a better job just around the corner.

I'm sorry about your job, Micky! Here, I made this to make you feel better:


(ok, I didn't really. But if I could figure out how to send it to you via the internet, I would)

212 -- They suck. Period.

They don't know a good thing when they have it!!

Agreed with all the above. Hope you're ok.

Connie Willis is a favorite author of mine. Not the most 'sciencey' of SF writers, but often heartfelt and funny and original.

197 Oh. My. Who in the world is that and does he live in Nova Scotia? ;-p

Hi Micky! This talk on stats is interesting. It took me a while to figure out where to find the info but it seems that I read 57% male and 43% female, and 90% alive. Most of my reading is American authors too, which I'm trying to change and read more Canadian authors.

Sorry to hear about your job woes Micky! Does that change things with the job you are currently doing?

>223 ChelleBearss: That's Shawn Ashmore. The bad news is that he lives in British Columbia. The good news is there are two of them:

>213 scaifea: Thanks, Amber.

>214 PawsforThought: Thanks, Paws. I'm actually much better after the weekend.

>215 katiekrug: 47 more days to London!

>216 PensiveCat: Thanks. :)

>217 humouress: That looks extremely tasty. Thanks Nina. And glad to hear I've swayed you with Doomsday Book. :)

>218 lkernagh: Give it a try, Lori. Worst that'll happen is you'll Pearl rule it. And thanks for the encouragement.

>219 norabelle414: Thanks, Nora. Looks super tasty.

>220 TinaV95: The issue is that they don't actually suck. They hired my very awesome friend and officemate who is going to do amazing things in the job. It's a crappy situation.

>221 BekkaJo: I'm doing pretty well, Bekka. Thanks.

>222 scvlad: I'm definitely looking forward to trying her other time travel novels set in the same universe, Steve.

>223 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! First off I'm disappointed you don't recognize Shawn. He's had my love since I was 16 and he appeared in the first X-men movie. *swoon* As for the job situation, it doesn't really change what I'm currently doing (my contract ends April 30). It just means I need to find another job soon.

>224 norabelle414: Mmm, I think that pic may be tastier than the one you posted in 219. ;)

------

My work just posted a job today that basically has my name on it in neon lights and will be really awesome. My only grumble factor: it's another temporary contract. :S

Book 17


Wrapped - Jennifer Bradbury

Agnes Wilkins is just a girl preparing to make her debut in London in 1815. But when she attends a mummy unwrapping party at the home of her neighbour, Lord Showalter, (the most eligible bachelor in town who is disconcertingly interested in Agnes) she finds an object in the mummy that sets a series of events in motion that will leave Agnes acting in ways entirely inappropriate for a proper young lady. Particularly when she meets a young, aspiring Egyptologist named Caedmon during her adventures...

A fun and slightly fluffy YA historical novel, Wrapped definitely has its appeals. Agnes is a charming central character although she has some decidedly teen moments that had me rolling my eyes. The central mystery is also pretty enjoyable although the resolution left me feeling less than surprised and disappointed that the characters didn't catch on earlier. The historical element could go either way for readers. If you expect strict adherence to 19th century social mores, this book isn't for you. However, if you're willing to overlook some of the more liberal elements, the historical period is conjured quite well. My biggest complaint is that, while I adore Jane Austen, Agnes' habit of translating lines from her novels into other languages when nervous is a bit too much for me. Perfectly enjoyable but not amazing.

Rating: ***

Oh dam blue must put book on tbr. *glears at Micky*

are you looking foward to comeing to London?

Even though it's temporary, I'm glad something came up for you, Micky! :)

For a 19th century fad I'd never heard of, these mummy unwrappings have turned up in interesting books twice this month (the other being, of course, in Changeless). Off to the TBR-pile it goes.

>227 BBGirl55: You're welcome, Briony. *evil grin* I am absolutely psyched to go to London. I've been counting down to my trip since December and the numbers are getting deliciously smaller. I'm getting really close to being within the one-month zone. :D

>228 saraslibrary: Thanks, Sara. I'm happy too as I have some really good friends at work and I do actually like my work most of the time.

>229 inge87: Guess it's just a sexy fad for historical fiction, Jennifer. ;)

When you come over I will have to take you to some of my fave places

#230: That's always good to hear--that you like your work and coworkers (for the most part ;).

>232 saraslibrary: Yup, I think so too. :)

Book 18


The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood

Everyone knows Odysseus' version of things, but what about his ever-faithful wife, Penelope? What does the good wife have to say for herself?

A quick but brilliant read. Atwood creates a rich voice for Penelope as she recounts her life in a way that reframes her existence outside of that of her husband. Interspersed with Penelope's narrative are interjections from a chorus made up of the twelve maids who Odysseus had killed for colluding with the suitors. These often more poetic turns provide a different perspective again on the tale Penelope weaves. An intriguing exploration of a woman who in the original source text only matters in relation to her husband, Atwood creates a complex woman who remains an enigma even in her own tale.

Rating: ****

I'm seeing a play adaptation of this novel next month and having now read it, I'm quite excited. The novel definitely lends itself well to adaptation.

Great review of the Atwood. Thumbs up for you!

Thanks, Tina. :)

Oh, Mickey, are you seeing the Megan Follows version? The actor who plays Odysseus is so good!

>237 Cynara: No, it's being done by a local theatre company here in Edmonton. :)

It's a great play.

I'm really looking forward to it. :)

Book 19



Great Expectations: The Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens - Robert Gottlieb

A biography of Dickens' ten children is no easy task and Gottlieb creates a highly readable book. Dividing the book into the childrens' lives while Dickens was alive and after his death is an intriguing structure although providing their lifespans in both halves of the book rather than just the first would have made things a little clearer for me. The children themselves are interesting cast of characters with disparate lives in the army in India, Australian sheep stations, and as painters (among others). However, Gottlieb makes broad sweeping statements about the nature of each of the children without providing substantial enough evidence to keep some of them from rubbing me the wrong way. Additionally, the lack of any citations in text irritate me as well. An interesting introduction but not a thorough academic source for individuals interested in the Dickens children.

Rating: ***

Wait, Dickens had ten kids? How did I not know this!!

Hi Micky!

#234 - Great review! This was not on my radar, but might be a good candidate for my Atwood April book.

Also, I'm so sorry to hear about the job issue. Good luck on the search.

>242 BekkaJo: Ten kids in 15 years, Bekka. His poor wife.

>234 MickyFine: Hi Kerri! The Penelopiad would be a good contender as it's not super long and it's still a really enjoyable read. And thanks for the best wishes for the job situation. :)

Ten kids in those days was fairly normal. At least half of my ancestors (in the 1800-1900 time period) had 10+ kids over a period of 15-20 years.

>242 BekkaJo:, 244, And then Dickens complained that Catherine (his wife) was fat and tired and replaced her with an attractive 18-year-old actress. And possibly also had an affair with her own sister, who lived with them for most of their marriage and stayed on with Dickens after their separation. It's really rather sordid, and she definitely deserves some sympathy.

Good review of The Penelopiad! Hope you enjoy the play!

Boo for temporary contracts! I was temp at the OPP for 7 years and I hated the insecurity. Hope you get something permanent very soon!

224 Ohhh the xmen guy! He looks familiar now but sorry Micky, I still wouldn't have known his name. He would just be "that cute Xmen guy, no not hugh Jackman the other guy!"

>245 PawsforThought: Oh I'm aware of the side effects of little birth control. ;)

>246 inge87: Yup, the book definitely covered that. :)

>247 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle. Still another week until the play (seeing it just after the Easter weekend) but I will definitely let everyone know how it was. As for contracts, thanks for the sympathy. They're not my favourite thing, that's for sure. Depending on the day I would refer to Shawn Ashmore by his name or as "the ice guy from X-men". :D

More BBs!

My parents are each one of seven children. My husband's mother, however, is one of eleven, only one of whom (number 5, I think) was a boy. Poor Mrs D.

By the way, is Shawn's brother also an actor?

>249 humouress: You're welcome, Nina. Hope you enjoy them, whichever ones hit ya!

Whew, you must have carloads of cousins. I only have 3.

And yes, Shawn's brother, Aaron, is also an actor.

NEW THREAD! Follow me on over for my chat. And the ever more closely approaching trip to London! :D