Chelle's bookshelf 2013 (March Edition)

Hello friends! Welcome to my March thread!

March came in like a lion today, dropping another 15-20 cm of snow here! I'm hoping that March goes out like a lamb!!



Some of my favorite books! (Thanks to Megan for showing me how to make this photo!!)


Currently Reading:

eBook This one will take a while, it's huge!


Novel


Audio


My Threads:
2013 Pyramid Challenge
Orange January/July
Booker Prize
1001 Books to Read Before I Die

Books Read in 2013

March
32) The 7th Month by Lisa Gardner (3*) (Audio)
33) Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons (3.75*)
34) American Vampire Volume 1 by Stephen King & Scott Snyder
35) Annabel by Lauren Oliver (short story - Delirium Trilogy)
36) Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (3.5*) (audio)
37) Requiem by Lauren Oliver (3.5*) (audio)
38) Cabal by Clive Barker (3*)
39) The End of your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe (5*)
40) Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (4*)
41) Raven by Lauren Oliver (short story - Delirium Trilogy)
42) Glitches by Marissa Meyer (short story - Lunar Chronicles)
43) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (4*) (audio)
44) The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (audio)
45) Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan (5*)
46) The Killing Circle by Andrew Pyper (3*)
47) The Awakening by L. J. Smith (3.5*) (audio)
48) The Struggle by L.J. Smith (3.5*)(audio)
49) The Fury by L.J. Smith (3*) (Audio)
50) Orxy and Crake by Margaret Atwood (4.5*)

January
1) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (4*)
2) Winter of the World by Ken Follet (3.5*)
3) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (3*)
4) Lure of the Labrador Wild by Dillon Wallace (4*)
5) Zoo Station by David Downing (3.5*)
6) Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden (5*)
7) A Certain Justice by PD James (4*)
8) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (4.5*)
9) The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (4.5*)
10) The Maze Runner by James Dashner (3.5*)
11) Iron House by John Hart (4*)
12) Half Blood Blues (4*)
13) Disgrace by JM Coetzee (4*)
14) Aunt Dimity Digs In by Nancy Atherton (3.5*)
15) Thirty Three Teeth by Colin Cotteril (4*)

February
16) The Dog Stars by Peter Heller (4*)
17) Galore by Michael Crummey (4*)
18) Cover her Face by PD James (3.5*)
19) Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel (3.5*)
20) The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (4*)
21) Old Filth by Jane Gardam (3.5*)
22) Born with a Tooth by Joseph Boyden (3*)
23) Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin (4*)
24) The Magician's Nephew by CS Lewis (4*)
25) Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay (5*)
26) At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie (3*)
27) Beloved by Toni Morrison (4*)
28) A Mind to Murder by PD James (3.5*)
29) The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (4*)
30) Another Year: An Essay by Ann Patchett
31) Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus (4*)

In an effort to read off my own bookshelves I am keeping track of which books I read from my own shelves this year:
1) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
2) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
3) Lure of the Labrador Wild by Dillon Wallace
4) Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
5) A Certain Justice by PD James
6) Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan
7) The Maze Runner by James Dashner
8) Iron House by John Hart
9) Disgrace by JM Coetzee
10) Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cotterill
11) The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
12) Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
13) The Magician's Nephew by CS Lewis
14) Beloved by Toni Morrison
15) Another Year: An Essay by Ann Patchett
16) Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus
17) The 7th Month by Lisa Gardner (Audio)
18) Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons
19) Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
20 Requiem by Lauren Oliver
21) Cabal by Clive Barker
22) Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

These are the books I own and need to read at some point:



Books purchased prior to February 2013
Wolves of the Crescent Moon by Yousef Al-Mohaimeed
Tempting Evil by Keri Arthur
Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
Emma by Jane Austen
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay
The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker
Flashback by Nevada Barr
The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
I am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carol
Echo Burning by Lee Child
Nothing to Lose by Lee Child
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Coffin Dancer by Jeffrey Deaver
The Cold Moon by Jeffrey Deaver
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
Silesian Station by David Downing
Stettin Station by David Downing
Pier 21. the Gateway That Changed Canada by Trudy Duivenvoorden Mitic
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
The Magician King by Lev Grossman
Ape House by Sarah Gruen
The Case of the Man who Died Laughing by Tarquin Hall
Iron House by John Hart
Horns by Joe hill
The Iliad by Homer
The Odyssey by Homer
Cider House Rules by John Irving
A Certain Justice by PD James
The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler
Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis
The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis
The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis
The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis
The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis
Pulse by John Lutz
Hunt the Wolf: A SEAL Team Six Novel by Don Mann
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Solar by Ian McEwan
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Shimmer by David Morrell
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
1984 by George Orwell
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M Pirsig
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
Blackwood Farms by Anne Rice
Lasher by Anne Rice
Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice
Merrick by Anne Rice
New Tales of the Vampires by Anne Rice
The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rive
Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice
Taltos by Anne Rice
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
The Vampire Armand by Anne Rice
Dead Watch by John Sanford
Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and other strange tales by Stevenson, Robert Louis
Lost Boy Lost Girl by Peter Straub
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink
Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

And as ebooks I own:
Little Women by Louissa May Alcott
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch
Disgrace by JM Coetzee
Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cotterill
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan
Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon
Lord John and the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon
When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro
Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
English Passengers by Matthew Kneale
Call of the Wild by Jack London
I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: Nine's Legacy by Pittacus Lore
I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: Six's Legacy by Pittacus Lore
Game of Thrones by George R Martin
Snowdrops by A.D. Miller
The New World by Patrick Ness
Sovereign by CJ Sansom
The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
Red Pony by John Steinbeck
Torilla Flat by John Steinbeck
The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toibin

Audio Books
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Series on the go...

Active Series

Adam Dalgliesh by PD James (2/14)finished A Mind to Murder, next up Unnatural Causes
Anita Blake Vampire Hunter by Laurell K. Hamilton (1/21): Finished Guilty Pleasures, next up The Laughing Corpse
Aunt Dimity by Nancy Atherton (4/18): Finished Aunt Dimity Digs In , next up Aunt Dimity's Christmas
Camp Half-Blood by Rick Riordan (5/10): Finished The Last Olympian, next up The Demigod Files
Christopher Snow by Dean Koontz (2/3): Finished Seize the Night, next up Ride the Storm
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (2/7): Finished the Magician's Nephew, next up The Horse and His Boy
Delirium Trilogy by Lauren Oliver (1/3):Finished Delirium, next up Pandemonium
Dr. Siri Paiboun by Colin Cotterill (2/9): Finished Thirty-Three Teeth, next up Disco for the Departed
Fallen Angels by J.R. Ward (1/3): Finished Covet, next up Crave
Flavia de Luce by Alan Bradley (2/4) : Finished The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, next up A Red Herring Without Mustard
Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom by John Updike (3/4): Finished Rabbit is Rich, Next up Rabbit at Rest
The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini (1/4): Finished Eragon, Next up Eldest
The Magicians by Lev Grossman (1/2): Finished The Magicians, next up The Magician King
Mallory Caine, Zombie at Law by K Bennett (1/3) Finished Pay me in Flesh, next up The Year of Eating Dangerously
Matthew Shardlake by CJ Sansom (3/5): Finished Dark Fire, Next up Sovereign
Nick Lupo by W.D. Gagliani (2/3): Finished Wolf’s Gambit, next up Wolf’s Bluff
The Night Trilogy by Elie Wiesel (1/3): Finished Night, next up Dawn
Nikki Heat by Richard Castle (1/4): Finished Heat Wave, next up Naked Heat
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (5/7): Finished The Fiery Cross, next up A Breath of Snow and Ashes
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink (1/3): Finished Prophecy of the Sisters, next up Guardian of the Gate
Riley Jenson Gaurdian Series by Keri Aurthor (2/9): Finished Kissing Sin, next up Tempting Evil
Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice (2/9): Finished The Vampire Lestat, next up The Queen of the Damned

Series waiting for next installment to be written

Alex Cross by James Patterson (18/18)
All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness (2/2)
Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward (10/10)
The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett (2/2):
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache by Louise Penny (8/8):
The Darkest Powers by Kelley Armstrong (5/5): New release April 2013 The Rising
Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth (2/2)
Dustlands by Moira Young (2/2):
Gideon Crew by Preston & Child (2/2)
Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly (18/18):
Kay Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell (20/20):
The Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore (3/3):
Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (1/1): New release Scarlet (Feb 2013)
Michael Bennet Books by James Patterson (5/5):
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (5/5):
The Passage by Justin Cronin (2/2):
Robert Langton by Dan Brown (3/4): New release Inferno (March 2013)
Temperance Brennan by Kathy Reichs (15/15):
Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson (11/11)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (2/2):

Series that I own a book and haven’t started yet:


Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
Anna Pigeon Mysteries by Nevada Barr (Own #11 flashback)
The Book of Art by Clive Barker Own The Great and Secret Show
Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness (Own #2 The Knife of Never Letting Go)
Lincoln Rhyme by Jeffery Deaver (Own #7 The Cold Moon)
Lives of the Mayfair Witches by Anne Rice (Own all 5)
Lord John by Diana Gabaldon (Own #1 & #2)
The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Own #1 The Maze Runner)
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi (Own #1 Ship Breaker)
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (Own #1 A Game of Thrones)
Vish Puri by Tarquin Hall (Own #2 Case of the Man Who died Laughing)

Books purchased in 2013
1) Aunt Dimity Digs In by Nancy Atherton
2) Silesian Station by David Downing
3) Stettin Station by David Downing
4) Aunt Dimity's Christmas by Nancy Atherton
5) Aunt Dimity Beats The Devil by Nancy Atherton
6) Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
7) The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler
8) Hide and Seek by Ian Rankin
9) At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie
10) Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard
11) Live wire by Harlan Coben
12) Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
13) Missing by Karin Alvtegen
14) Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
15) In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje
16) Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
17) The Devil's Code by John Sandford
18) The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
19) Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (audio) (audible membership)
20) Requiem by Lauren Oliver (audio) (audible membership)

Hooray! Im first AND I get a mention!
Happy new thread :)

Yay Megan is first!! :)

Hi Chelle, dropping a star. Love the lion and the lamb.

Hi Chelle- Colorful new thread! I love it! I'm rooting for the lamb. I did not realize Oliver had wrote Liesl & Po too! That's high on my WL too! She sure is prolific! Did you read cinder?

Happy March to you, Chelle!
Nice new thread.
Sorry you got too much snow - but look at it this way... You probably won't be suffering a drought this summer :-)

Happy new thread, Chelle. Eeeeesh more snow?! Your shovelling muscles must be breaking through your clothes ala Incredible Hulk :0}

Our March came in like a lamb, 81° and nothing but sun. Which means we've got a winter storm coming in again next week!

Sorry that your March has come in like a lion, you must be ready to see the snow disappear. Here on the West Coast we are having grey, rainy weather but there is certainly a Spring feeling in the air.

Mild day around these parts too. Although as my officemate said today, "March came in like confirmation bias." :)

Hi Chelle,
I hope there are lamb-like days in your very near future!
Nice new thread you have, weather notwithstanding.

Happy new thread. Hope Nate managed to get home through the snow. Have a great weekend.

Nice new thread, Chelle! I am with you in hoping March goes out like a lamb. In fact, it could start going out like a lamb right about ... now!

Happy New Thread, Chelle!

WavesChelle, Hope all is well :)

Not too much point in me commenting on the weather here unchanging and devoid of seasons as it it.

Love the layout of the new thread Chelle.

Have a lovely weekend in New Scotland.

Love the new thread Chelle, thanks for your message my dear.

Hope you are having a nice weekend despite the latest snowfall.

Congrats on the new thread, Chelle. Alan Rickman is such a mensch.

March was a lamb on the first so I'm afraid we're in for it at the end of the month here. Sigh.

Morning friends!
I have some time to chat on LT this morning as Nate is a tad hungover from his birthday party last night. I imagine he will stay in bed for a few more hours!

I saw this on facebook this morning and thought of the recent group read for Tigana. Guy Gavriel Kay has a new book coming out in April and his publisher Penguin Canada has a signed copy, the first copy printed, and placed it on ebay. From the ebay listing it says "All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Indigo Books & Music, Inc.’s Love of Reading Fund (www.loveofreading.org). The fund directly supports high-needs elementary school literacy programs across Canada."
I think that's a great idea! The current bid is $255 though so it's a tad out of my price range!

ETA guess I forgot to add the link!!
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290871419813#ht_500wt_...

8 Hi Nancy! Thanks :)

9 Hi Mark. I did not realize that she wrote Liesel and Po until recently! I saw someone else on here read it just this last week and I think it went over well. I can't remember who though
I did read Cinder and I really enjoyed it. I think Scarlet might be the next book I read although I really should be working at the library books that I have out

10 Ha Cee, I seriously doubt that could be an issue here! I broke down and called my neighbour to plow my laneway this week. there was too much snow for me to shovel and because the temps are so warm here the snow is extra heavy!

11 Lynda I'm sure that if I bothered to shovel then I would bulk up. But I'm lazy lol.

12 Oh Roni I am very jealous! 81 and sunny would be perfection right about now!

13 Hi Judy! Yes I've had enough for the year! I am very excited to see the weather start to warm up and the snow start to melt!

14 Hi Micky! Glad to see you were having some mild temps! Hopefully you don't get to much from the winter storm that is supposed to be coming your way. I noticed the storm watch warnings this morning.
My brother-in-law recently moved to Red Deer and I think he is loving the snow and how pretty everything is out there. we are hoping to be able to visit him sometime soon!

15 Thanks Ellen! I am hoping so!

16 Thanks Calm! Thankfully the roads were fine and Nate's flights were all on time. And I am happy to report that his departure date for Iceland has been pushed back again to the 14th! So now he gets his two weeks home as originally planned :)

17 Ha Julia, any time now eh :)

18 Thanks Diana!

19 Hi Monica! Things are good here :) We had Nate's birthday dinner and drinks last night and we tried a new Thai restaurant and the food was delicious. We will definitely go back there

20 Hi Paul! I always wonder if I would enjoy living somewhere that had unchanging weather. I know I wouldn't miss the snow, but fall and spring are wonderful seasons. I know I would miss the colour change in fall

21/22 Thanks John! Hope you are having a good weekend too!

23 Thanks Joe! I agree, Rickman is wonderful. I think he will be joining me on all my threads this year!

24 Oh dear! Sorry Amber. Hope you get a whole month of lamb and no lion!

>26 ChelleBearss:: Not likely, sadly. I just checked the weather, and apparently we're due for 6-10 inches by Tuesday evening. Gah!

Staking out a wee corner for myself.. Love the opening piture..

We woke to snow, too. Not a lot.. an inch or so ? It is to be 40F by the end of the week.. yay!

>25 ChelleBearss: We only got a couple centimeters of snow overnight. The worst of the storm went south of us, luckily. But it's supposed to be chillier this week so that hint of spring we got last week is long gone. :( As for Red Deer, it's not a bad neck of the woods to hang out. Your BIL move for work or school?

Glad you and Nate had a good time last night.

>26 ChelleBearss: I always wonder if I would enjoy living somewhere that had unchanging weather.
I know I would miss the changing seasons, they let me know what's what. In a funny way. The seasons are so defined here, you can just about tell by the smell of the air which season you are in.
eta wayward italics

I like at least a little something to mark the seasons...don't really want to have to shovel snow or drive on ice but some rain and cooler weather is welcome.

I believe Katie recently read Liesl & Po. I was feeling a bit fuzzy this morning myself, after going out with the guys last night. Much better now.

Hi Chelle, checking out the new thread and everything looks great. We've been getting steady snow for the last week or so so no lamb in our foreseeable future anyway.

I lived in Florida for fifteen years. We had two seasons - rainy and snow bird. Now I live in MinnSNOWta and yeah, it's cold, but at least I get all four seasons!

Lovely lion & lamb photo!!!

As far as changing seasons. I have always lived in NW PA and have always had the change of seasons. However I really dislike winter time anymore. I kinda wish I didn't live where I had the season change like we do. However I do think I would miss it.

Other than that just stopping by to say Hello Chelle. Hugs to you.

I'm with you Monica on disliking winter these days. My dream would be to live here in Iowa in the spring, summer, fall, and early winter (just enough to see the seasons change) and then move somewhere warmer and sunnier for a few months until spring rolls around again. That's not happening anytime soon, though.

Yay for more Nate time! Those separations must be difficult. I'm glad you have your fur pals to snuggle with when he's off to Iceland, Chelle. I'm hoping for an early spring for you. I remember my days in Northern Michigan and longing for some green grass about this time of year.

Just popping in to say hello, and see if you are well.. It looks like things are fine, ostly...

I like changing seasons, too. I am more than ready for winter to change into spring, I can tell you that!

:)

Fly-by wave *waves hello*

33) Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Off my shelves!!,
3.75*

Dan Simmons is one creepy man! This book was very creepy, very interesting, and very long! Although I loved this books and all the creepiness that went with it, I found it was too long. The 800 pages probably could have been edited down to around 600 and it wouldn't have lost anything. This seems to be a trend with Simmons though as The Terror was super creepy and way too long as well.

Because I am leaving with Nate soon and I don't have time to do a review here is the blurb from the book.

THE PAST... Caught behind the lines of Hitler’s Final Solution, Saul Laski is one of the multitudes destined to die in the notorious Chelmno extermination camp. Until he rises to meet his fate and finds himself face to face with an evil far older, and far greater, than the Nazi’s themselves…

THE PRESENT... Compelled by the encounter to survive at all costs, so begins a journey that for Saul will span decades and cross continents, plunging into the darkest corners of 20th century history to reveal a secret society of beings who may often exist behind the world's most horrible and violent events. Killing from a distance, and by darkly manipulative proxy, they are people with the psychic ability to 'use' humans: read their minds, subjugate them to their wills, experience through their senses, feed off their emotions, force them to acts of unspeakable aggression. Each year, three of the most powerful of this hidden order meet to discuss their ongoing campaign of induced bloodshed and deliberate destruction. But this reunion, something will go terribly wrong. Saul’s quest is about to reach its elusive object, drawing hunter and hunted alike into a struggle that will plumb the depths of mankind’s attraction to violence, and determine the future of the world itself…

Oh man, the cover is creepy. I'd never make it to the jacket description. *shudder*

Hope you have a decent weekend, Chelle!

Hi Friends
I'm taking a small LT break tonight while Nate plays a video game. We are having a low key weekend so far. We have gotten up to date on Vampire Diaries and started watching The 4400 on netflix and it's pretty addicting!
He finally got his flight information for Iceland and it's confirmed that he leaves on the 14th. So I will probably not be online much this week but I'll try and get caught up again after he leaves.

Not much happening on the reading front. I started the audio of Pandemonium and I picked up a book from the library that I thought were short stories but turned out to be a graphic novel. I haven't bothered with graphic novels before but this one American Vampire has a story line by Stephen King so I'll give it a shot.
Hope you all have a great weekend!

27 Ugh Amber, hope that you didn't get that much snow! Spring will be here soon as I saw a groundhog crossing the road yesterday! That's got to be a good sign eh?!

28 HI Kath! Hope you got some warm weather. Ours has been steady below zero but at least no more snow has arrived!

29 Hi Micky! My BIL moved there to work. He opened a chiropractor clinic with his girlfriend. I think he is enjoying the area so far as he posts lots of amazing photos on FB.

30 Hi Megan. I think I could live in a place that had seasons but mild winters. That would be wonderful!

31 Reba I agree. Spring and fall are usually so beautiful so it would be sad to not have them, but winter can be rough so I could go with a little less Brrrrrrr!

32 Mark I believe you are correct. I'll have to creep Katie's thread and look at her review of Liesl & Po as I can't remember whether she loved it or not?

33 Sorry to hear that Bonnie. Hope the lamb shows up for you very soon!

34 Ha Morphy! I think I would prefer rainy and snowbird sometimes to the snow!

35 Thanks Tina!

36 Hi Monica! Hugs right back!

37 Hi Julia! Sounds like you would make a great snowbird!

38 Hi Donna! Being apart is hard sometimes but I figure that we survived the year+ that he was away for training so a 4-6 weeks should fly by. Right? At least I have the fur kids, LT, books, and work to keep me busy

39 Hi again Kath! I am also over ready for spring to, um, spring...

40 Hi Diana!

42 Hi Micky! Yep, the cover was super creepy. I am happy to have read it so now I can put the book on my shelf where I can't see the cover!
Hope you have a great weekend too!

Happy new thread Chelle! I hope Spring comes your way soon. I agree, Carrion Comfort has one creepy cover..... seems to go nicely with the creepy story. I hope you and Nate continue to have a great weekend!

33) American Vampire by Scott Snyder and Stephen King
Graphic Novel
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,


Very cool. I think I will grab volume 2 sometime in the near future.
Not as satisfying as a normal novel but it was a nice change and the art was awesome.

Hi Chelle! Like a lion indeed -- we are having a major weekend storm here with 10 inches and counting. Tomorrow, however, it will be near 50 degrees, which is very typical for springtime in the Rockies.

How do you like Pandemonium on audio? I read it this summer and enjoyed it a lot. And the way it ends, well, Requiem will be a must-read!

*oh* there are reviews on Requiem's page, so it must be out. I'll have to reserve it:)

45: Oh my, Chelle, I'm going to have nightmares tonight. Lol. I hope you don't read vampire books while you are home alone!

I agree Simmons is creepy.. I have liked what I've read of his... This is not one, so far..
It was 70F here yesterday, but we are in for more snow.. I'm not sure when.. I keep missing the weather report..

It looks like all is well with you :)

Hi there Chelle, glad to hear you and Nate are getting a little time in together before he had to go away again. Hope all goes well with his trip and work there.

Hi Chelle- I wasn't much of a big fan of American Vampire. Good premise but gory & violent, without enough story.

Hi Chelle, I have really enjoyed the previous Dan Simmons books that I have read, so I am definitely adding Carrion Comfort to my wishlist. Hope you are enjoying your time with Nate before he goes to Iceland. Will he be away for long?

>43 ChelleBearss: No graphic novels ever, Chelle? Not even Maus?

Yikes. Those images are, um, graphic. I think I might skip this GN.

I hope you are well.

Hi Friends!
Well Nate is on his way to Iceland! He is very excited to get there (but not for the two days of flights involved). We had a great two weeks of hanging out and relaxing and now it's just the furkids and I for the next month or so.

I'll be trying to get caught up over the next couple days. It's going to take a while since I'm two weeks behind! Eeek!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

46 Hi Anne! I am enjoying Pandemonium so far. I'm only a few hours into it but I plan to listen to more this week. I believe that Requiem came out in the last few weeks.

47 Sorry for giving you nightmares Donna! I was doing my scary reading while Nate was home. I don't plan on reading anything too scary while he is gone. The wind freaks me out enough when I am home alone

48 HI Kath. All is well here! I plan on reading some more Simmons at some point. He is just so long winded though!

49 Thanks Monica! Did you see the picture on Facebook of Tempe and her bathing suit bottoms? Hee Hee. That was how Nate and I spent our last day together, trying to rig up a doggie diaper system since Tempe went into heat! I got her the little girls bathing suit bottom together and it seems to be working, staying on and not restricting her movements. Plus she looks cute :)

50 Hi Mark! I don't know much about graphic novels, I assumed there wasn't much story to them and mostly photos? I guess this is wrong?

51 Hi Judy! If you like scary and freaky then you should add Carrion Comfort for sure!
Nate will be gone at least a month but as of yet does not have a return date. He was told it could be two months but mostly likely somewhere in the middle.

52 Nope Micky, not even Maus. I bought an Odd Thomas graphic novel by accident many years ago and didn't end up reading it. I guess you recommend Maus?

53 HI Ellen! Yes those images were a tad graphic ...
All is well here :) I'll be visiting you soon!

I'll be passing on that one Chelle. I generally like creepy but that looks beyond the pale. Maybe that would be better w/o pictures. If the story was good. Good luck for the next month w/o Nate.

Hope that Nate has a really enjoyable trip to Iceland - surely a very interesting place, and that you cope nicely in his absence during the next, book-filled weeks.

Ohh I hope Nate enjoys Iceland! My mom and my niece really enjoyed there week there last summer. As for the Joseph Boyden novel I mentioned on my thread, it's not being published until early September 2013 . Orenda is the name of the new book by Boyden.

Hello Chelle - always some interesting book choices on your thread!

>54 ChelleBearss: Maus was the first graphic novel I encountered in university, so it gets some love from me. I also recommend the Scott Pilgrim series which is funny and Canadian. :)

Iceland, huh. It always seems to me to be an imaginary place....

35) Annabel by Lauren Oliver
Short Story
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Books from my Kobo eReader



36) Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Series & Sequels


I am loving the Delirium trilogy! I have two more short stories and the final novel to read. I'll be starting Requiem on audio this afternoon.

Oh, dear. I didn't realize it was a trilogy! I have Delirium on my TBR shelves....

Hi Friends! Hope everyone is having a happy weekend! Plan on drinking any green beer? Tonight I am headed into town to celebrate a birthday and St Paddy's day. It will be a dry night for me since I have to drive home but I'm sure it will be a good time!

55 Hi Bonnie! I don't know much about GN but I thought the story was ok. It's not as in depth as a normal novel and I'm not sure how that one would compare to others. I am going to try a couple others and see how I like them

56 Thanks Paul! He arrived yesterday in the night and has woken up to find that it is quite beautiful. He said he will send me some photos tonight so hopefully I'll be able to share some.

57 Hi Deb! Yes I looked up the Boyden book when I saw it on your thread. I will be buying that one new when it comes out. I've enjoyed the others I've read of him and would like to own one new this time instead of buying them used.

58 Hi Prue! I guess I am a little random in the books that I choose. I don't stick to any one genre and kind of flit from one to the next :)

59 Thanks Micky! I'll look those two up. Gotta support those Canadians :)

60 Ha Kath, I agree! I would have never thought of taking a trip there until Nate told me that he was being sent there. Now I want to go!

62 Yep, it's a trilogy and there are 3 short stories for kindle that go with it. :) Welcome to yet another series! hehe

Hi Chelle, Yes I did see the picture of Tempe on facebook and her bathing suit she is adorable. I am glad it is working for both of you. She is such a cutie pie.. I just wanna snuggle with her.. She looks like a smaller version of my Angel. :) I hope you can get her fixed before she comes into heat again. Looks like you are keeping up on reading :) Hope all is well there while Nate is away.

Hi Chelle, just wanted to pop by and be sure you're not too lonely with Nate away. It looks like you have lots of good books and some fun plans to keep you busy. I will be back hoping to see some pictures of Iceland, I have heard that it is a beautiful country.

Hi Chelle!

#41 - Interesting! I have one of his more space-oriented sci-fi novels on my iPod. It's also terribly long, which is why I haven't read it yet. Ha!

Ohhh, Iceland! How exciting. I hope you and the dogs are hanging in there while Nate is gone.

Good morning friends! Hope everyone survived their St Patrick's Day events!

I learned the hard way this weekend that the saying "No good deed goes unpunished"!. While Nate is in Iceland his best friend is also there with him. His wife is here with their two little kids ( ages 3 & 1) and she caught a stomach bug and was incredibly sick on Friday. I popped by there after work to watch the kids and clean up the house while she napped. Her kids thankfully have not caught the bug, however by Saturday night I had caught it! I can't remember ever being this sick! Thankfully today I am feeling a little more human and a little less zombie-like. I took a sick day today and I'm trying to rest. Though after practically a whole day of sleep yesterday the dogs are ready to play today!

One piece of good news in an otherwise terrible day yesterday was the RCMP called late last night to say that we can keep Tempe!! And the officer confirmed that our neighbours have moved away and the house is vacant so I don't have to worry about them any longer!
After 6 months this drama is finally finished :)

Nate has sent home a couple photos so far and this is my favorite! He will be exploring after work later this week so I expect some great photos to come!


65 Hi Monica! Tempe will be fixed before next heat! Now that she is officially ours I don't need SPCA's permission to spay her. She will be done in the next two months

66 Hi Judy! I haven't had a chance to get too lonely yet as I was busy all last week until I got sick. Being alone while sick seriously sucks though! I get to talk to Nate everyday though as he has an ipad with him and we have iMessage so we can text and skype too.

67 Hi Kerri! Yes Simmons is way too long winded, all his novels seem to be door stoppers!
The dogs and I are in hibernation today as it got cold and windy this weekend. I am hoping spring comes soon!

Oh, dag! So sorry to hear that you caught the bug. But yay for the Tempe news!! And yes, that photo is lovely.

Chelle, so glad to hear that Tempe is officially yours now :) That warms my heart knowing she is with you guys a loving family. I am so sorry to hear you caught the bug though. I hope you feel better very soon.

Chelle, that's wonderful news about Tempe! I would love to see the picture of her in swimwear. So...has she had any potential boyfriends waiting for her to come out and "play"?

Hi Chelle, fantastic news about Tempe and a great photo from Nate. I hope you will be feeling better soon from this dreaded bug. I see that your reading is going well my dear.

Great news about Tempe. Hope Nate is enjoying himself.

Great news about Tempe! Congrats.. and good for you for taking good care of her for so long and in so many ways...

Well done!

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37) Requiem by Lauren Oliver
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Series & Sequels


Being sick meant I was too tired and headachy to be able to read, but I've been able to listen so I continued with the Delirium trilogy and finished the last book today! I have two short stories to read still but I've finished the three novels. I really enjoyed this series. It's very clearly in the YA genre but a very creative and enjoyable read.

69 Thanks Amber! It's nice to finally have the Tempe drama over with!

70 Thanks Monica! I am starting to feel more human and I managed to finally keep food down today. I am on the mend!

71 Hi Donna! As requested here is a photo of Tempe in her "diaper" :)
We won't be letting her "play" with any boys until she is spayed! The last thing I need in my life is a little of puppies! (Plus Nate would probably kill me if I brought anymore dogs into this house!)



72 Thanks John! I am hoping to do a lot of reading while Nate is away. Right now all I can managed to do is sleep and play games on my phone. Reading has been taking too much eye effort for my poor brain to handle.

73 Thanks Rhian! He is enjoying it so far and is planning on going to the Blue Lagoon later this week

74 Thanks for the support Kath! We love her to bits and now I can't remember what it felt like to have a quiet house ;)

Chelle- It looks like you really enjoyed this YA trilogy. I hope to start Delirium soon. Have you read Cinder yet? If not, I think you would really like this one too.

What great news about Tempe, Chelle! I'm sure it's a relief to know that it's all settled now and you don't have to worry about those horrible people coming back and taking her away from you.

Tempe and the diaper---that is so funny Chelle.

Hi Chelle, sweet pic of Tempe! Yikes, hope you slept OK, having just put down one creepy dude.

So glad that you get to keep Tempe!! Nice picture of what I am assuming is Iceland? I hope you sleep okay after putting down your creepy book!

You know, I think there is a bad stomach flu going around. My mom was just in Barrie ON visiting my brother and his family , and she said they all got very sick , one after the other - my niece and nephew, my sister - in law and then my mom. I think only my brother escaped the " fate." They wondered if it was the Norwalk virus. I guess whenever you have kids in elementary school...Good of you to help out your neighbour!

Great news on Tempe and I'm glad you are feeling better. Stomach viruses are the worst!

Hi Chelle, glad to read that you are managing to keep food down and let's hope that the nasty stomach virus is finally going. The pic of Tempe and the nappy is so cute. Just you relax and get well my dear and ignore the reading for a while (i might be able to catch you up a bit,lol). Lots of love and hugs from this side of the pond.

So sorry to hear you've been under the weather, Chelle. I hope you are feeling better. So glad to hear the news that Tempe is yours for keeps. Hmmm, are you thinking of changing her name to Perme (Permanent)? ;)

HI Chelle, very, very belated congrats to your new job with a wonderful old lady :) Well, my nan who was 95 was hard of hearing also her eye sight was not affected as much. When two or more senses are impaired it sometimes can be very difficult to find appropriate activities for such old people. However, I am sure that she will enjoy her outings at least my nan did :).

So, you look after your friends children whilst she is ill and you catch the bug? I am soo sorry to hear that, but at least the kiddies didn't catch it. Sounds very much like you caught Norovirus, which is a very common winter bug and a nasty one at that. Usually you are extremely unwell for up to 3 days. To speak of winter I can't believe that you still have soo much snow. We still have on off a little snow, but I do have to admit I finally reached the point where I want spring to come. Usually, I plant primroses by the end of February - but not this year, because of all the snow :(.

And of course congrats from me as well that you can keep Tempe now. LoL love that pic of Tempe in her diapers. Are they special dog diapers? If so, they do look very fancy *grin*

> Judy LOL nice idea!

I didn't realize that they only translated book 4 by Nele Neuhaus into English. My sister just completed the whole series and strongly recommended the books to me. She said that they are a must read, because they are so well written.

That's a cute little diaper!! :)

Hey Chelle, So glad to see that Nate arrived in Iceland safe and sound. Will you be able to visit him? I've heard there are some great geothermal spas over there.
It only makes sense that after all this time that you're officially allowed to keep Tempe. Who else would dress her in the most adorable diapers ever.
Ooooooooooo, wondering why Clive Barker is one creepy dude.

I agree that Clive is Creepy.... I have read one or two of his ...

Hi friends
I've had a bad couple of days so I haven't been online much. Sorry for my absence :(

Last night we had a bad storm and the roads froze pretty quick. I had to work until midnight and when I tried to come home I found that my mountain road was frozen over and snow covered. I made it halfway up the road and got stuck on the bend. I ended up backing down the road after calling the police for help (I thought I was going to get hit on the blind curve but luckily no cars came until after I unstuck myself).
I was incredibly frustrated and found myself sad that Nate was away and mad at myself for being sad.

I ended up leaving my car at a gas station in town the RCMP drove me home in their big truck. They originally wanted me to wake up the B&B owner in town and stay the night there but I was upset that the dogs would have been home too long without food and a washroom break so the officers decided to try and drive me home. Luckily they were able to get up the mountain in their truck and I was so grateful! The dogs appreciated it too! I ended up being out until close to 2am and I am exhausted today and still a little sick. Unfortunately it is still snowing but I don't have any reason to leave the house tonight as I've picked up my car and some medication already this afternoon.

I have been doing some reading throughout all my drama though! I finished The End of your Life Book Club today and I gobbled that up in two days. I was really surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. I started the audio version of The Graveyard Book yesterday and I really love Neil Gaiman's voice!

I owe two reviews now and lots of responses so I will be working on that tonight as well as trying to visit some threads. Being sick has worn me out though so I'm sorry if I haven't made it to your thread this week but I promise a visit in the near future! xo

77 Hi Mark! Yes I really enjoyed Cinder and I'm going to start the second book Scarlet tonight! I hope it's as good as the first

78 Thanks Julia! I was double the good news as not only do we get to keep Tempe, the officers confirmed that the neighbours have in fact finally moved out officially so we don't need to worry about seeing them around.

79 Thanks Bonnie! It seems to be working! I am hoping that she will be done with it this week as it is starting to get annoying for both her and I

81 Actually Nancy I had a terrible time sleeping that night but I don't think it had anything to do with the book. I think I had just slept too much over the last couple days and my body had enough already.

82 Hi Deb! Yes that is a photo of Iceland that Nate sent me. He missed the chance to go out exploring today but I think he is headed with a group of guys to go tomorrow.
I don't actually know how my friend caught the viris as both her kids are too young for school and she works from home so they don't go to daycare. Either way my friend is completely healthy now and I've since caught a cold after the stomach bug and can't seem to get my energy back. I am hoping that it will only be a few more days.

83 Thanks Morphy! I haven't been physically sick like that in a long, long time. I guess I've been lucky as I forgot how bad a flu or stomach flu could get.

84 Hi John! The stomach seems to have cleared up, although my appetite hasn't really returned (but since I can afford to lose a few, or ten, pounds that's ok!)

85 HAHA Judy, I think Perme would be a cute name! Although I think Tempe will now stand for Temperance instead of Temporary ;)

86 HI Bianca! Yes my little old lady is really looking forward to summer so we can sit outside. She has mentioned that a few times to me. Apparently she likes to sit in her yard and feed the blue jays and other birds. The snow had melted on her porch last week so we threw some peanuts but I'm sure sitting out and watching the birds come for them will be much nicer. So far that's the only thing she has mentioned that she likes to do, other than just sitting and chatting which we do lots of.

the "diaper" that Tempe is wearing is actually a little girls bathing suit bottom that I found at the bargain store. I just put a panty liner in it. Dog diapers are quite expensive so I am improvising ;)

I was disappointed to see that the rest of Nele Nauhaus' books have not been translated. I will read more of them once they are published in Canada as I did enjoy that one!

87 Thanks Tina!

88 HI Lynda! Nate is enjoying himself there, it's so beautiful and he has his best friend with him. Unfortunately I won't be able to go as he is on a secure military base and really I don't think we could afford the airfare as I believe a roundtrip ticket is in the range of a thousand dollars.
Nate will be going to the geothermal spa The Blue Lagoon and he will be taking pictures. He can see the steam from where he is

89 HI Kath! I think I've only read one Barker before and I remember it being super creepy. I should go back and reread it!

38) Cabal by Clive Barker
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,


Have you ever wondered whether the things that can only come out at night really exist?
Well in the town of Midian not only do they exist but they have made a home there. Those who belong with them know that Midian is a safe place for those that are made of humanity's nightmares.

When Boone is confided in by his therapist that he believes that Boone has committed a series of brutal murders, Boone unsuccessfully tries to take his own life. While in the hospital he hears of Midian and believes that as a murderer he would be welcome in a place of horrors. Sadly, he is wrong.

This was creepy. Very creepy.
Apparently there is a series of Barker books based on Midian and I will be seeking them out ... just not tonight ;)

39) The End of your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Non-fiction/biography
5*

When Mary Anne is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer her son Will, along with other family and friends, accompanies her to some of her chemo and doctor appointments. When she asks him one day "What are you reading?" this simple question starts them off discussing books and the books that they each think they other should read. This begins their two person book club and a way for mother and son to connect over a shared pleasure and a way to make saying goodbye a little easier.

This book made me cry, and cry and then cry some more. But it also made me think; about the way we treat people, how we interact with our families and friends and how we treat strangers.

I originally didn't think I would like this. I figured it was another one of those books that I would hear people love and then when I get around to reading it I would find it cheesy or highly overrated. I got it out of the library after another 75'er gave it a high rating, but then I let it sit for almost the whole allotted three weeks. It is due back in two days and I am so glad that I didn't end up sending it back unread!

An added bonus of reading this book was all the books referenced in it! I have added so many books to my to-be-read list now.

I must get to that one for my NF challenge.
The photo of Tempe is adorable. I wonder if she will ever forgive you.....

I've always heard that Iceland is green and Greenland is icy. Stated here for no particular reason. :-|
I hope Nate's trip is/was good.

Ellen is correct in saying that Iceland is green and Greenland is icy. All a part of my Icelandic background info - plus my brother that is a pilot can verify as he has been to both Iceland and Greenland - he really does get around! :)

That's it, Chelle, The End of your Life Book Club is going on get to soon list. I keep reading great things about it and your review has gotten to me!

I'm sorry to hear that you've been having some bad days, and I hope you're feeling better now!
It stinks that your car got stuck, but being rescued by the RCMP? *Sigh* Sounds so romantic to this silly non-Canadian!

I'm on the wait list at the library for The End of Your Life Book Club. I hope I get it soon!

Your review of The End of Your Life Book Club is encouraging me to read it, Megan. Thanks.

Hi Chelle, glad you enjoyed The End of Your Life Book Club; interesting concept.

Hi Chelle, sorry to hear about your harrowing road experience, in the middle of the night no less! Thank goodness for the mounties ;)
And dont beat yourself up about feeling annoyed and sad about Nate being away, and then annoyed at yourself for feeling sad- it all sounds very normal to me. And it just means you miss him- and that you know you could have relied on him to rescue you in the frozen roads.

What the deal with the doggie diaper? Is it to stop them.....getting too friendly? Or to stop accidents of the toilet kind?

Hi Chelle!
Oh my! You have had a heck of a time while Nate has been off cavorting in Iceland. I give you huge credit for figuring out what to do on your own, doing it, and making it all a success! Cudos to YOU! Nice to know the RCMP were up to it, too!

Hope your tummy virus is a thing of the past and all is well now.
Thanks for posting Tempe in her topless bathing suit - LOL! That picture is too cute. You are very creative ;-)

I'm finally caving and am going to request The End of Your Life Book Club from my library. So many - incl you - have been impressed and I don't want to miss out.

I do hope Nate gets to explore Iceland. It is a remarkable place! You should not settle for pictures though. Make sure you both get there together someday.

Hugs for you and your furkids!

Aah improvising, always good! However, they do look pretty cool on Tempe :)

94 Ellen I think that Tempe actually loves it! Everytime I put it on her she dances around, it's really cute!
Nate's trip is going very well. He went to the Blue Lagoon hot springs today and said it was amazing! I am looking forward to seeing his pictures!

95 Deb I think you would enjoy it! It's got a few great quotes in it! I might end up buying a copy. I took the book back without copying down the list of books referenced in it. I hope I can find it online!
I really liked this quote
“One of the many things I love about bound books is their sheer physicality. Electronic books live out of sight and out of mind. But printed books have body, presence. Sure, sometimes they'll elude you by hiding in improbable places... But at other times they'll confront you, and you'll literally stumble over some tomes you hadn't thought about in weeks or years. I often seek electronic books, but they never come after me. They may make me feel, but I can't feel them. They are all soul with no flesh, no texture, and no weight. They can get in your head but can't whack you upside it.”

96 ha Amber, sorry to burst your bubble but the officer was a young female. Her husband actually works with mine, how embarrassing! Now if it had been the fire department rescuing me .... ;-p

97 I hope you enjoy it Morphy!

98 It's ok Joe, I will still allow you to visit my thread even though you called me Megan ;P

99 Thanks Nancy! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it

100 Megan I think part of my problem is I don't like the feeling of being helpless. One of the things about small town life is that nothing stays open overnight. If it had happened to me back home in Ontario I could have gone to Tim Hortons and had a tea and calmed down and waited for the roads to clear up (or called my Dad for help!). But here my options were a gas station, that's it.

The reason that Tempe has a diaper on is that she has gone into heat, so basically it's more like a doggie Maxi Pad lol. She will be getting fixed as soon as possible!

101 Hi Cee! I certainly didn't feel like a success at the time but thanks all the same :) I am hoping that I just had two months worth of excitement this week and that the rest of Nate's time away turns to be very boring for me!
Nate was telling me today that he thinks Iceland will be on the list of places that he takes me when we win the lottery. He thinks the hot springs alone is enough to make me go there! He bought a seasons pass so he can go as much as he wants while he is there, and it's a family pass that he is sharing with his friend. I was at work tonight but I am hoping that he will send me some photos tomorrow!

102 Thanks Bianca! I think the ruffle was the best part of the outfit ;)

Aha! Well, maybe not so romantic, for us, anyway, but very cool nonetheless! On the other hand, I can't think of firemen as sexy or romantic - my brother is a fire chief! *shudders*

Chelle- Great review of The End of Your Life Book Club. I was a big fan too and yes, it added to my bloated wishlist. It looks like you will convince a few more LTers to finally pick it up.
Have a good weekend.

It is my birthday on Sunday and I have been to the bookshop to ask them to put aside their only copy of The End of Your Life Book Club so that they don't sell it before J and Mr SandDune go shopping tomorrow.

>103 ChelleBearss: Wow, how did I do that one, Chelle? I was a bit scattered yesterday, but have no idea why I called you Megan. Probably I was just on her thread. You are free to call me anything you want, and whatever you want today at the cafe is on us. :-)

105 Ha Amber, I can see why firemen wouldn't do it for you then! My fire dept. is made up of volunteers so although I think that they are amazing for doing that volunteer, they generally wouldn't be able to sell quite as many calendars as, say, they New York city fire crews ;-P

106 Thanks Mark! I was a little surprised at the amount of books discussed in The End of your Life Book Club that I'd never read, and lots I'd never heard of! My poor wishlist just keeps growing!

107 Happy early Birthday Rhian! I hope Mr SandDune wraps the book up nice and pretty for you! Let me know what you think when you finish it!

108 Just teasing Joe! Megan is a pretty name so you can call me that anytime!
I'll make sure to pop by the cafe today and order something :)

Chelle.... Oh wow... I would have been so freaked out by the can't get home incident. TERRIBLE!
Glad you sorted it out and got home to the pups and safely. Don't do that again, okay?

Wow, what a lot has been going on with you! We had the norovirus earlier this year--no fun at all. And delighted Tempe is completely yours now. Hope everything settles down now for a while.

Oh Chelle, I feel for you being a bit embarrassed being saved by the RCMP! As for the Fire Department......... I was so embarrassed back when the kids were quite young. DH husband was at work and I noticed that the living room seemed to be filling up with smoke. I thought to myself - I am anxious person, I am probably imagining this. So I moved further away to the kitchen. Still, the smoke kept coming ( nothing huge - just this white pall in the air.) So finally I called the non - emergency number of the Fire Department ( like at 10 pm ) and explained the situation and said could you just send one firetruck and don't turn on the sirens because it's not an emergency. Well, of course at least two trucks arrived, sirens and light blaring away. I nearly died of embarrassment. Turns out we had a small chimney fire below the fireplace, which they put out. They dragged out a bunch of fans to air out the place, Then when dear husband got home - he said - there are marks from the firemen on the carpet - could you not have told them to take off their books. Seriously Chelle! That husband of mine! Of course now it gets me laughing! :)

40) Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: LT Recommended books
4*

Fairy tale meets science fiction. Scarlet follows where Cinder left off and introduces us to a new cast of characters to go with the ones we already love. Cinder is in prison after being captured after the ball and is facing being shipped back to Luna where the Queen plans to have her executed.

Scarlet's Grandmother is missing and the authorities are not investigating the disappearance. Scarlet knows that her grandmother wouldn't just leave her without saying a word and it's a very bad sign that her identity chip has been removed. While working in the city Scarlet comes across a street fighter named Wolf and, well, you know how the fairy tale goes ...

I love how Meyer takes the basic concept of the fairy tales and tells her version with many twists and turns.
I am looking forward to the next instalment! (Which should be based on either Rapunzel or Snow White)


42) Glitches by Marissa Meyer
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,


Short story based on the Lunar Chronicles

Popping by to say hello. Hugs to you and your fur kids :)

Hi Chelle -- hope you are feeling better! I have been sick for about 10 days now, but getting sllooooooowly better. It's lingered long enough to drive me crazy. Sorry for your winter stranding! It seems like our winters have been getting milder, but growing up in the mountains, we always had hat, gloves, boots, water, and sand in our cars, and would definitely rely on neighbors and police to help dig out or give a lift home. During our last big snow (before the current storm that has dumped about 12 inches so far) our neighbors got stranded and we had to nearly break in to their house to take care of the dog.

I found Requiem at the library on the "My Lucky Day" table (a new library program where copies of new releases and popular books and movies that are NOT in the regular library system, not requestable, renewable, etc are on display so patrons can get lucky when they visit the library). I am about 2/3 of the way through The Song of Achilles, which I love, and then I plan to get to Requiem. Glad to see you liked it.

I think you were pretty sensible Chelle I must say getting stuck and having the presence of mind to call for help. A lady alone on a quite deserted stretch of snow-bound road would normally panic. You didn't but I can certainly understand that Nate must have seemed so far away at the time.

Trust you and Tempe are feeling ok now and that the latter doesn't need panty liners any longer! Have a lovely weekend.

110 Ha Kath, I definitely don't plan on doing that again! The officers said that there is maybe one or two times a year that during a bad storm the mountain road is impassable, but then usually only for a few hours. It just happened that the exact time that I was coming home from work was the worst time of the storm and the roads were horrible. Had I gone home an hour earlier I probably would have made it fine ... this just goes to show that I should NOT work and just stay home and read ;-p

111 Hi Roni! I think this is the first time that I've ever had the norovirus and I hope it is the last! Terrible it is!

112 Oh Deb, that's too funny! Just like a husband to not worry about the fire but worry about the firemen's boots! I could see Nate saying something silly like that (hopefully he asked you if you were ok first! ;)

114 Hi Monica! The beasts are finally sleeping, I'll give them your hugs tomorrow :)

115 Hi Anne! This was my first winter on the mountain (the locals say mountain but to me it's more like a very big hill...) and I guess I am learning a few things. I do have blankets in my car and a bottle of water, but I don't have a bag of sand. I will add that to my list for next winter.
Glad to see you got your hands on a copy of Requiem! I love the idea of the lucky table! My old library did that but my new library is too small for that.

116 Hi Paul! It's nice of you to assume I didn't panic, but honestly I did have a little freak out in the car that night. I wish I knew our neighbours as I could have just gone to stay at my friends house and had a neighbour let the dogs out but none of our neighbours really talk and I would have felt bad waking anyone up at 2am.
The dogs are great now and Tempe has exited the diaper requiring stage (thankfully!). Now she is just super hyper crazy. I don't know if that's a heat thing or if she is just bored of me (Nate play fights with them, I do not)
Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

41) Raven by Lauren Oliver
Short Story - Delirium trilogy
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Books from my Kobo eReader

I can sympathize with your icy road experience Chelle. I had to call AAA to come and pull me out as I was completely stuck in the snow....right in front of my house! Embarrassing.

Oh Bonnie I was almost there this year! I got stuck at the end of our laneway and Nate and a neighbour pushed me out lol. Doesn't winter just suck!

#121 Nate play fights with them - that reminds me of Daisy - J usually gives her lots of boisterous play but if he is sick or not around for some reason then she is desperate for Mr SandDune to play fight with her, as she knows I will not. She reminds me of J when he was little, if Mr SandDune was away what J most wanted when he got back was a 'fight'.

43) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (4*)
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: World Literature (British)

"He looks like nobody but himself," said Mrs Owens, firmly. "He looks like nobody."
"Then Nobody it is," said Silas. "Nobody Owens."

The Graveyard Book follows the life of Bod, Nobody Owens, as he grows up in a graveyard after his family is murdered and the ghosts and creatures of the graveyard take him in as one of their own. Bod is a target of the assassins who killed his family, but as long as he stays in the graveyard they can not find him. Unfortunately Bod can not stay in the graveyard for his entire life and must face the challenges presented to him to be able to move on and grow as a living being.

I really enjoy Gaiman's works and this was no exception. I listened to the audio version of this and it was read by Gaiman and his british accent made it that much more enjoyable!

44) The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Authors that are new to me

I listened to this as an audiobook today while cleaning and I really enjoyed the story. I will be getting a copy of the print book so that I can see the pictures as I've heard they are a huge part of the enjoyment of the story.

Okay, where do I start? Hugo Cabret is NOT meant to be listened to. It is meant to be READ. The wonderful use of illustrations, along with the text are a joy to behold. Rant over. Try to find the book. It should go straight to 5 stars. And speaking of 5 stars, or close to it, I was crazy about the Graveyard Book and it remains my favorite Gaiman. I am glad you enjoyed it.

Oh Mark, I knew you would say that! I always meant to get the print version but when I was looking at mp3 books on my library site I saw that one and it was short so I figured it would be good to listen to while cleaning. I will get the print version asap :)

I really enjoyed Neil Gaiman. He is another author that I never heard of before LT. So many reasons to love LT!

121 Rhian the dogs are really missing Nate. I am just so boring. Always sitting around and reading instead of roughing up the dogs ;)

Loki loves to play with Ron and misses him terribly when he's not around. I am a distant second choice playmate. I guess I don't throw the ball good enough. (I know it frustrated my kids, but should the dog be that picky?) He humors me for a short while but calls off the play session after a couple minutes. Hey. I try.
Like you... "I am just so boring." LOL!

I think I win out with Daisy when she wants someone to cuddle up to (which happens quite a lot). I'm a lot more tolerant of her ambitions to be a lap dog, despite being about twice normal lap dog size!

Wow, it's weird that they even put out an audio version of Hugo - how does that even work? Yes, definitely find yourself a print version!
And count me in as a Graveyard Book (and Gaiman) fan, too!

>122 ChelleBearss: Neil Gaiman has an amazing voice and listening to him read his own stuff is awesome. And speaking of amazing voices and Neil Gaiman, did you listen to the Neverwhere radio play?

As for Hugo Cabret, I'm with Mark. That book is SO highly visual that you definitely need to pick a physical copy. And don't be put off by its heft.

My goodness, you're reading lots of ones I've liked a lot, Chelle. Yay for Scarlet! I'll look for her Lunar Chronicles short stories, per your suggestion.

The Graveyard Book is a fave of mine, and great both in print and on audio. Have to agree with Mark on Hugo Cabret - you'll want to see the remarkable print version.

45) Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: LT Recommended books
5*

I absolutely loved this book. Just loved it!

Clay is out of work and rapidly lowering his standards for job searches when he stumbles across a 24 hour book store. When he enters the store to enquire about the help wanted sign he is greeted by a tottering elderly man who says " What do you seek in these shelves?" After a brief conversation Clay finds himself the night clerk in a 24 hour bookstore.

But these days independent book stores are barely hanging on, let alone having enough customers to stay open 24 hours ... clearly there must be something more going on ... and there is so much more going on!

“...this is exactly the kind of store that makes you want to buy a book about a teenage wizard. This is the kind of store that makes you want to be a teenage wizard.”

This was light and funny and creative and made me laugh so much. And the last line was the best ending line I've read in a while.

Ok friends, have no fear ... I now have the print edition of Hugo Cabret on hold at the library! :)

126 Isn't it funny Cee! I'm the one that feeds them, cuddles them and picks up their poo but Nate is the fun one that they miss. Isn't life funny! At least I get cuddles so life isn't half bad!

127 Me too Rhian! Nate doesn't cuddle and it drives him nuts when Tempe tries to sit on him. Jax has never been a cuddle dog, he just likes his head patted and then goes and lays by himself. Tempe needs to be ON us all the time. It's ok since she is the smaller of the two!

128 Hi Amber! I thought it was weird since everyone said the book was so very visual but I figured it was only a few hours long so it would go well with spring cleaning.

129 Hi Micky! I have Neverwhere on my wishlist next but I don't know anything about the radio play. I listened to American Gods as a full cast version and really enjoyed it!

130 HI Joe! Yes I am on a good roll! I've been getting a bunch of holds from the library all at once and a few of my fave authors have new books out and I'm a sucker for buying them right away!

>132 ChelleBearss: Oh Chelle! The radio play is amazing (although I'd get to it sooner rather than later as the last episode stops being available to listen to in a few days). James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Anthony Head (better known as Giles from Buffy) are just some of the cast members. You can listen to it here.

Chelle, 24 Hour Bookstore sounds delightful!

So many good books here! I'm listening to Cinder currently & enjoying it a LOT! :)

Hope you are 100% recovered now.

Mr. Penumbra is patiently sitting on my bookshelf waiting...

Hi Chelle -

#131 - I love seeing 5-star reviews! I've not read it yet, but I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

I'm all caught up here, Chelle, and what fun I had doing it! What adventures you have had - creating your own version of doggie diapers, holding down the fort alone, being stranded in the early morning hours, and of course all that lovely reading you have gotten accomplished. I have added several books to my WL and bumped up some that I already own on my TBR because of your reviews here, so thanks for that! Hoping that the rest of the time that Nate is gone is smooth sailing for you.

Have you read Ready Player One? I recently read Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store and it felt like it was trying so hard to be Ready Player One for the book set that it turned me off a little. Not so much that I didn't enjoy it, just not as much as you did.

LOL @ Mark. I was going to say the same thing. Although I haven't read Hugo Cabret but I have looked through it. The thought of listening to it baffled me well beyond the I don't like audiobooks point to the WTH point... :P

I too, really like Mr Penumbra a lot! I think it's not for everyone.. but for folks that are both readers and internet fans, it is fabulous! I watched a lady take it out one day when I was working at BF library. She was a little, elderly historical society lady who never took out that sort of book.. I sort of warned her off.. but she took it and hated it :P

Sorry the dogs are missing Nate.. I'm sure you are too :)
It won't be long now will it? None of my dogs have beenbig playing dogs. Duncan has a running back and forth thing he likes to do ( rarely now ) between two of us. Poor Jess was so broken when she came to us she was just happy to have a home. Dirk was just too lazy... lol. He was the laziest lab I ever met.. also the smartest and most loving,Even after all these years, I still miss him.

I have 'Mr. Penumbra' and his bookstore waiting patiently for me, too. It was a SantaThing gift this year.

Hi Chelle -- I'm glad you'll be reading Hugo Cabret -- I can't even imagine it on audio, and I am a huge audio fan!

Question: what are the Delirium stories like/about? I will probably finish Requiem tonight, and just noticed my copy has Alex at the back. Are they worth a read? Do they go beyond the story?

Hi friends! I've been working like crazy this week but thankfully still finding time to read. I'm halfway through the audio of The Awakening, the first in the Vampire Diaries series. It's very very light and a little girlish but it was nice to listen to while cleaning. I think I prefer the TV series but I will continue to listen to the books as well. I'm about to finish The Killing Circle by Andrew Pyper. It's been interesting and I'm looking forward to the ending. It's a little creepy

Nate has sent home some Iceland pictures if anyone wants to see any here

133 Thanks Micky! I don't think I'll be able to get to it in time. Do you know if it can be downloaded and added to ipod? I don't really have time to sit at the computer and listen unfortunately. I might buy the audible edition that is read by Neil Gaiman. I wouldn't mind listening to him talk again :)

134 It was Nancy!

135 Hi Tina. Glad you are enjoying Cinder! Scarlet is great as well!

136 Thanks Kerri! I've managed to have four 5 star reads so far this year so I'm off to a good start!

137 Thanks Mamie! This week is going much better than last! My boss at the home care job called and thinks she can get me full time hours by May so I should only have another month of working both jobs! It will be nice to have a day job and not have to work evening shifts any longer!

138 Hi Morphy. Yes I loved Ready Player One and you are right, this one did feel similar. But I didn't find it that similar to make me really think about it too much. I enjoyed both books very much. I didn't get some of the references in Ready Player One because I was a little younger in the 80's where as Penumbra's was closer to my generation.

139 Hi Kath! I think the audio added a little more narrative than the book allowed for. It needed to describe the pictures maybe? Either way it was a good story but I have the real deal on hold at the library :)
The dogs are good today as we got more snow last night so I have been throwing snowballs for them. Once the snow melts they will be bored of me again

140 Oh good Julia! Bump that up your TBR list! :)

141 Hi Anne. Yes I found the short stories to be rewarding. They aren't very long and they fill in a little information about the characters. The Raven story gives you information that the books leave out as Raven doesn't get to tell her story in the book. I am waiting for the Hana story to come from the library still.
I don't get to read the Alex story as it only came in the first edition of the novel and I bought the audiobooks. Maybe it will be released online someday?

I didn't get a lot of the 80s references in Ready Player One either, Chelle, and loved it, too. My vintage* game loving son had to explain a lot of them to me, and thoroughly enjoyed my ignorance.

*"Vintage" means, from his dad's youth, or just really, really old.

Hi Chelle, I wanted to come by and wish you an early Happy Easter as I am heading over to my Mom's and won't have much computer access for the next 10 days. I hope the Easter Bunny is able to hop up your mountain (big hill) and bring you lot of chocolate!

46) The Killing Circle by Andrew Pyper (3*)
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Canadian Authors

I was really into this book for the first half and then it took all my willpower to finish the book. It starts with a bang and an interesting premise but then it looses steam. Mediocre thriller at best.


47) The Awakening by L. J. Smith (3.5*) (audio)
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Authors that are new to me

Wonderful fluff. Series that the Vampire Diaries TV show is based on. I enjoyed the novel but it's VERY high in teenage girl drama.

Hi Chelle, being rescued by the Mounties will be a story you can tell your grandchildren...someday. I loved the picture of Tempe in her sexy little diaper. That pose is so provocative! She should be on a doggy calendar.

I am not a fan of graphic novels or picture books but I did enjoy Hugo. Reminds me that I wanted to rent the movie then forgot about it. Maybe the next time the grands come for a visit.

I don't blame you a bit for missing Nate. You are a newlywed! Heck, I even missed my husband of nearly 45 years when he went to China. And he was only gone for a week. So...Iceland is green and Greenland is icy. Seriously? I love trivia like that.

Here is an interesting article about what Nate is doing in Iceland

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/26/we-stand-on-guard-for-iceland-canada-tak...

Heading to bed. Responses tomorrow :) Sleep well friends

That is an interesting article, Chelle. Thanks for posting. How long is Nate in Iceland again?

Aha! So THAT'S what Nate is doing in Iceland.
Thanks for sharing the pictures too. Brings back memories. I wouldn't mind living there, but they all work so darn hard. Even the old people. I'll stick to Maine ;-)

Hello Chelle, what an interesting article.
And thank you for sharing all the pictures.

I just wanted to wish you a lovely and relaxing Easter Weekend!

48) The Struggle by L. J. Smith (3.5*) (audio)
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Series & Sequels

Ahhh vampire fluff. Easy listening while cleaning. Guilty pleasure :)

143 Hi Joe! I think Ready Player One had so many references but such an amazing story that even if you got only half the references you could still really enjoy the book.
I got a message from the author of Ghosts of Nagasaki after you posted about it on your thread. I think he is going to send me a free copy for a review. :)

144 Happy Easter Judy! I don't think the easter bunny will be making a visit here but I'm sure I'll still manage to find some chocolate to snack on ;)

146 Hi Donna! I do miss Nate but thankfully with technology so advanced we have been able to talk or text every day (and since it's over the computer it's free :) He hasn't been told when he is coming home yet but we are both hoping that it will around the end of April and no later! He is in big trouble if he misses my birthday in May lol

148 Thanks Nancy! He thinks he will be home by the end of April. I am hoping that it doesn't last longer than that!

149 Ha Cee, from what I understand they have a higher life expectancy though. So maybe working hard isn't so bad when you live longer? (don't quote me though, I'm not sure if that is fact or myth ;)

150 Thanks Bianca! Hope the Easter bunny is kind to you!

I am looking for a classic novel to read as part of my category challenge and I'm not sure which one to try.
I've tried Dickens before and found him too long winded. I've also read some Austen and while enjoyed her I don't think I want to read anymore for a bit.

So my question for my LT peeps. What is your favorite classic novel?

Hi Chelle, up to now my favourite classic novel has to be Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope, i have about another 20 to 25 on the shelves as i collect the classics in the pocket book format from the early 20th century to the 1930's where the pages a wafer thin, enjoy your choice.

wow- you have read so many books since I last visited! Nice work. Anything to do with your husband being away? ;)

My fave classic novel? Well, I dont generally go for oldies, and of the ones I have read I would be choosing the best of a bad bunch. So Ill have to refrain from answering sorry! (But Ill see what the others say!)

How about an E.M. Forster? I love A Room with a View. This reminds me that Mark is supposed to read a Forster in April for his new-to-him authors challenge... Must remind him!

Woot! Glad you are enjoying The Vampire Diaries. One of my sisters watches that series, and raves about it! Nothing wrong with a guilty pleasure; I need them!

In terms of classics, I'll recommend a few very different from Dickens and Austen, but also excellent (in my opinion, of course): Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is superb, as are Steinbeck's East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath

Hoppy Easter!

Have you read Wuthering Heights? Pretty Awesome.

And, of course, Kate Bush wrote a song about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pMMIe4hb4&feature=artistob&playnext=1&...

ETA: Other favorites are Jude the Obscure, Crime and Punishment, and is Brideshead Revisited old enough? If so, it's fantastic.

Hmm, no Austen and no Dickens makes it a bit tougher for me. I'm fond of Jane Eyre. I read North and South earlier this year and really liked it (although be prepared for some Industrial Revolution era politics). And it's been a few years but Middlemarch was also really enjoyable.

Awesome pics from Iceland, Chelle. Nice of you and Nate to share them with us. My son as been impressed with RCMP since he had his picture taken with some at a police memorial parade in Ottawa a few years back, so I showed him the pictures too.

I've got too many classic favorites to pick out just one, but I'll throw The Hunchback of Notre Dame out to you.......and April is a good time to visit Paris...........even if it's in pulp form.

154 Hi John. I've not read any Trollope before so I'll have to check that one out. Thanks for the suggestion

155 HA Megan, you pinned that one on the nose! With Nate away there is no TV, no distractions other than the dogs! I've also been doing some spring cleaning and I listen to audiobooks during that BORING chore so I up my numbers a tad that way. Plus I've been indulging in a bit of fluff this month too which makes for quick reads.

156 Hi Katie. I think I have avoided A Room With A View so far as I've seen it labeled as romance and I'm not a huge romance fan. Would you recommend it for me anyway? how heavy is the romance?

157 Hi Nancy! I was bad yesterday and Nate is going to be mad, so I won't tell him. We have been watching Vampire Diaries together and then he left while there were still episodes of this season. At work last night my patient was sleeping in the TV room so I watched the latest episode of VD (huh, bad short form) without Nate! Gasp, I'm a horrible wife (hehe). I'll re-watch it with him when he gets home anyway
You have great tastes in books as all the ones you mentioned are ones that I have already read and loved! :) Hoppy Easter to you too!

158 Hi Kerri. Actually no, I haven't read Wuthering Heights and I'm pretty sure I have a copy! I'll have to see if I can find it. I tried listening to Crime and Punishment but I think that is one that needs to be physically read and not listened to.
That video, um, wow. I'm at a loss for words lol

159 Hi Micky! I have both North and South and Middlemarch on my TBR list but I need to get my hands on some cheap copies. Maybe I'll see if my library has them instead

160 Hi Lynda. Does your son want to be a police officer? RCMP is a great force and does such a large portion of Canada.
April does sound like a good month to visit Paris! I originally was going to try reading Les Misérables until I realized it was over a thousand pages long! Oy. I think I might have a copy of the hunchback or if not that is one I should buy a copy of!

Hi Chelle- Thanks for sharing the Iceland article. Very interesting. I hope Nate is staying warm way up there. My classic picks would be Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights, off the top of my head.
I will also be reading Howard's End next month too, for my first-time Author challenge. You could join me on that.

Chelle, if you've still got your e-reader, all classics which are copyright expired (100 years, I think) are available free of charge. Check out Gutenberg.org, KoboBooks, Amazon Kindle, or iBooks. (or just use Google: the classics are widely available). If I can't find epub which is what I use for iPad, I download another available format such as mobi and use Calibre eBook Management (free softeware download) to convert. All of this is perfectly legal! I remember someone on another thread had a problem with loaning ebooks or something, and I definitely do not want to go there.

Chelle, A Room with a View is a love story but it's really more about a young woman's coming of age and blossoming outside the strict environment of Edwardian England. The film is excellent too. I will be reading Howards End by the same author in solidarity with Mark this month.

My favorite classics are To Kill a Mockingbird and The Count of Monte Cristo but the Count is a real chunkster.

Also, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Little Women, Alas, Babylon, and Flowers for Algernon.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Little Women,Wuthering Heights ... I like those too.

I'm not really caught up..Hope that you not need any rescues any time soon....

#161 - That video, um, wow. I'm at a loss for words lol

I was hoping that would be the thing to really sell it to you. No? Ha!

>161 ChelleBearss: Ah yes, Chelle, the shortening of Vampire Diaries can be problematic. On Twitter they tend to go with TVD. :) As for the classic novels, your library should definitely have both of them and if not, they should be super easy to ILL.

Hi Chelle, here are some of my favourite classics, I second Morphy with To Kill a Mockingbird and The Count of Monte Cristo, but I also like Naked Lunch, Lolita, Trainspotting, The Plague, Metamorphosis and The Penal Colony (although for the last one you have to have a strong stomach), Lord of the Flies, well there are some you may already read :)

Thanks for the great article about what Nate is doing in Iceland, Chelle. Really interesting!Happy Easter and I hope you are doing well with Nate away. Shhh - I recall Dave, my husband having to travel back and forth from Vancouver to Calgary for a4 days on, 3 days off shift for about ? 5- 6 months and we were relative newlyweds , and every time I had to say good bye to him at the airport I'd shed a few tears. I'd even pack him a special surprise for each day he was away. Man, I was a wimp. LOL! I really admire you, Chelle!

162 Hi Mark! Nate is staying pretty warm as the weather there is comparable to Nova Scotia and it's been in the plus temps :) I have found a copy of Wuthering Heights and Howard's End so I will join you next month!

163 Hi Nancy! Thanks so much, I had forgotten about Project Gutenberg! I got an audiobook from there once. Today I found Crime and Punishment, Howard's End, Les Misérables, Middlemarch, North and South, and Wuthering Heights for my ereader! Now all I have to do is read them ;)

164 Hi Katie! Thanks but I think I'm going to skip that one for now. I'll join you and Mark in Howard's End though!

165 Hi Morphy! To Kill a MockingBird is one of my favorites too! I need to get to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn sometime soon as I keep saying I want to read it!

166 Good choices Kath! No rescues needed lately as the snow is mostly gone YAY!

167 HA Kerri, sorry but that didn't do it! I will read it despite that video though ;)

168 Thanks Micky, I found an epub copy of both on ProjectGutenberg.org!

169 wow, thanks for all those Bianca! There are some chunkers in that list for sure :) I think I would like to read The Plague sometime soon(ish)

HI Chelle, if you are going to plan to read The Plague you may want to consider Blindness as well. I have got a feeling also that they deal with similiar issues about humanity.

170 Hi Deb! We cross posted there!
I snuck a little note into Nate's wallet before he left the house and the bugger found it about 10 minutes before he was going to leave! I was hoping he wouldn't find it until he got to the airport or, even better, Iceland! I didn't cry when I dropped him off because we were surrounded by other people but I was a little emotional! He might be coming home early though so that's good news!

172 Thanks Bianca! Apparently I already have Blindness on my wishlist. I wonder how it got there? I really should start keeping track of who suggests books! ;)

Ok new additions to my library
Free from projectgutenberg.org:

Crime and Punishment,
Howard's End,
Les Misérables,
Middlemarch,
North and South,
and Wuthering Heights

Kobo coupon for 30% off:
Disco for the Departed by Colin Cotterill

Hi Chelle,

Tons of news to catch up on here - first, congratulations on getting to keep Tempe!! I'm really happy for you guys. Your rescue from the police will make for a great story one day - hope the last few days have been less eventful and you're all better now after your good deed. How lovely of you to help out your friend though - being sick when kids are little and your husband's away is miserable.

I am a latecomer to the classics but loved the 2 Trollopes I've read (The Warden and Barchester Towers), and North and South. Cranford was good too (Elizabeth Gaskell) but not as good as N&S.

No WAY can I catch up. But I'm happy that Tempe is yours, and I remember Tricks in the diaper and how eager we were to get her fixed before the next round of doggy attractiveness.
What a great collection of classics you have so far! AND a C. Cotterill too! A bunch of us are loving Trollope, so you might want to think about him too.......Oh. I see that Cushla has already said so.

Oh, Chelle, you downloaded some fabulous classics! I haven't read Middlemarch yet, but I will. I LOVED North and South -- and BBC does a fabulous production of this, too, which I got from my library and watched after I'd read the book.

Hey, Chelle, glad things are going well there. Sounds like you have a clean house and happy dogs and no snow problems. Have a good Easter.

Great ideas here for classics!
You have reminded me that I need to read the EM Forster ones I have attractively waiting....Howards End, A Room with a View and Passage to India.

I might be one of the few who disliked North and South- I found it veeeery slooow and boooring . ;)

Hi Chelle -- I don't think A Room With a View is too heavy on the romance. I loved Candide when I read it last year. Love A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, too.

Seconding (or thirding or fourthing) the votes for To Kill a Mockingbird. It's marvelous.

I must get a copy of Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore. It keeps getting rave reviews around here!

Chelle, it sounds like you have plenty of classics there to keep you going! I recommend Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell as another possibility.

That was such an interesting article about the Canadian military in Iceland. I hope it all goes well for Nate and he gets home in good time for your birthday :-)

I got about 2 pages into Middlemarch before giving up. Couldn't stand the language. Crime and Punishment made it a bit further - a third through before I near threw it against a wall. I hated it so much! The main character is just awful and the language is mind-killing.

But... different strokes for different folks!

Busy thread, Books seem to be leaping into the arms of a lot of LTers these days..
I'm glad to hear the snow is gone. None here.. it will be 50 and rainy. Better than snow says I :)

Oh, Wuthering Heights - *shudder*.
I sincerely hope that you like it much, *much* more than I did!
*another shudder*

Interesting mix of classics - hope you like at least some of them:)

Maybe as an offset for all of those chunksters you could try Picture of Dorian Grey

Hope that you and the furkids are having a great Easter and that Nate does get home early for you.

175 Hi Cushla! I have North and South now for my ereader so if I enjoy that I'll find a copy of Cranford. I still need to get my hands on some Trollope still

176 Hi Peggy! Tempe is finally out of the diaper stage and in a month we can get her fixed! I'll be making that appointment for as soon as Nate is home! I didn't really enjoy the whole in heat experience. I feel bad for anyone who doesn't get their female dogs fixed! I couldn't imagine going through this a few times a year

177 Hi Nancy! That's something to look forward to if I like the book! I'll have to check and see if my library has the BBC production

178 Hi Roni! I had a clean house ... then the snow melted and now I have doggy mud prints! Spring is an impossible time at my house for clean floors. The rest of the house is looking good though! :)

179 Hi Megan! Isn't it terrible when we have these great classics sitting around at our homes to be read? I have a ton of Jane Austen, Bronte (Charlotte and Emily both), Dickens and more just sitting around waiting to be read. I bought most of them MANY years ago and never got around to reading them.

180 HI Anne! I've been meaning to get around to reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for a long time! I keep hearing such great reviews about it!

181 HI Ellen. I fifth and six To Kill A Mockingbird! I've read it quite a few times and it remains one of my favorite books. I saw a production of it a few years back and really enjoyed it
Yes you should grab Mr Penumbra's 24 hour book store! It was excellent!

182 Hi Susan! I think Nate will end up being home the third week of April. Someone told him that yesterday but I won't believe it until he has his plane ticket booked ;)

183 Wow Morphy, I don't think I've ever been mad enough at a book to throw it ... yet. I'll have to read that one for sure just to see if it makes me feel that way too! Lol

184 Hi Kath! Hope your snow (and mine) stays away for good! It's 10 degrees and sunny here. Very beautiful day! I actually got outside and cleaned of my porch. Once it gets a tad warmer I'll be able to sit outside with the dogs now!

185 Hi Amber! What was it about Wuthering Heights that made you shudder?

186 Hi Calm! I hope I enjoy at least one! lol Hopefully more!
Thanks for the suggestion on The Picture of Dorian Gray! I'll give that one a shot too

49) The Fury by L. J. Smith (3*) (audio)
Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Series & Sequels

Still enjoying my guilty pleasure books!
One thing that could have made these books more enjoyable would be if the narrator didn't use a fake italian accent for Damon and Stefan, it sounds a little silly to me. Still enjoyable though.

50) Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (4.5*)

Read for:
75 Books Challenge for 2013,
2013 Category Challenge: Canadian Authors
Orange Prize Shortlist
Booker Prize Shortlist
Atwood April


Orxy and Crake reads like a mixture of science fiction and post-apocalyptic fiction and Atwood herself calls it speculative fiction. Call it whatever you want, I'm calling it awesome! Atwood has an amazing mind and this book is full of her creativity and wit.

Snowman, also know as Jimmy in his past life, is struggling to survive in a world that has been destroyed by plague. The only company that he has are the Children of Crake, human-like creations that have been created by Snowman's old friend Crake to live harmoniously with each other without hatred or lust. They bring Snowman food and he teaches them about the world that they have been thrust into.

Snowman narrates through flashbacks to his childhood and the time prior to the plague and the present, where he is running out of food and has limited protection from the hybrid predators, like wolvogs, rakunks and pigoons, that were released from captivity during the plague.

As you can imagine from this terribly written review this is a very difficult book to summarize without giving away too much information about the plot. If you like science fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction or speculative fiction then I recommend this book to you!

Hi Chelle, wow 50 books already by the end of March, i am impressed. I should complete book 20 for the year shortly so i have a bit of catching up to do.

I also loved Oryx and Crake, Chelle : ).

I mistakenly read the sequel, 'Year of the Flood' before reading 'Oryx and Crake' because somehow I had gotten the idea that even though it was published later it was set chronologically earlier. I loved it, but I keep forgetting to go back and reading this one.

Hi John! Yep 50 books, but in my defence I have had a lot of free time lately :)
20 books is awesome! Keep up the good reading!

Me too Nancy! Did you read Year of the Flood too?

Hi Julia! The two books are actually set to occur at the same time, so I'm not sure if it matters if they are read out of order. You should read YOTF this year because the next one comes out in September

March Breakdown
32) The 7th Month by Lisa Gardner (3*) (Audio)
33) Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons (3.75*)
34) American Vampire Volume 1 by Stephen King & Scott Snyder
35) Annabel by Lauren Oliver (short story - Delirium Trilogy)
36) Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (3.5*) (audio)
37) Requiem by Lauren Oliver (3.5*) (audio)
38) Cabal by Clive Barker (3*)
39) The End of your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe (5*)
40) Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (4*)
41) Raven by Lauren Oliver (short story - Delirium Trilogy)
42) Glitches by Marissa Meyer (short story - Lunar Chronicles)
43) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (4*) (audio)
44) The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (audio)
45) Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan (5*)
46) The Killing Circle by Andrew Pyper (3*)
47) The Awakening by L. J. Smith (3.5*) (audio)
48) The Struggle by L.J. Smith (3.5*)(audio)
49) The Fury by L.J. Smith (3*) (Audio)
50) Orxy and Crake by Margaret Atwood (4.5*)

Well, Snowman shows up at the end of YOTF and it would have been more meaningful if I'd know his backstory, but other than that I agree they don't overlap much. I do need to read 'Oryx and Crake' soon if the third book is coming out this fall!

That's a-lott-a reading, Chelle! Good for you!

Hi Chelle, thanks for sharing the pics with us from Nate, always interesting to see different places. You have really read a lot of books this month my gosh. Way to go. I read the Vampire Diaries series of books before the show ever came out. I like both the books and the show on TV. Hope all is well with you Hugs to you and the furkids.

Well Julia good thing that it is Atwood April! Now you can find the time to get to YOTF, right right? ;-p

HA yes Katie, it was a ton eh! Guess you could say I've had some free time on my hands!

Thanks Monica! I had never heard of Vampire Diaries before the TV show started and even then we only started watching it this year. I have a huge crush on Damon (it's ok cause Nate has a crush on Prentice from Criminal Minds lol)

Please join me in April