KatieKrug Clears the Shelves - Part Four

Daffodils scream March to me, but I like this photo because the sun and water still look pretty cold, which also seems appropriate...

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CURRENTLY READING


A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell (year-long group read of the complete quartet)
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (audio)
Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood

Books Completed: 23
Books Read Off My Shelves/Kindle: 12

Reading "Intentions" for 2013
For 2013, I will be concentrating on reading off my shelves and Kindle, where, between the two, I currently have more than 2200 unread books. I will still acquire books, I’m sure, and I am making no promises about reading more than I buy. Rather, I just want to focus on clearing out some of the backlog.

I am not doing a formal category challenge this year, but I would like to read 13 books from each of these:

1. Books on my Kindle (4/13)
2. Europas, NYRBs, Viragos
3. Hardcovers off my shelves (1/13)
4. Books from the built-ins in our family room (nonfiction, classics, non-Western literature)
5. Books from series I have started; basically, trying to get a bit more caught up! (4/13)

Wish me luck...

BOOKS READ in APRIL
23. Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb

BOOKS READ in MARCH
15. Georgiana Darcy's Diary by Anna Elliott
16. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
17. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
18. The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James
19. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
20. The Acceptance World by Anthony Powell (A Dance to the Music of Time, 1st Movement)
21. Half-Assed: A Weight Loss Memoir by Jennette Fulda
22. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

BOOKS READ in FEBRUARY
8. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
9. Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb
10. Round Mountain by Castle Freeman, Jr.
11. America Again by Stephen Colbert
12. Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
13. A Buyer's Market by Anthony Powell (A Dance to the Music of Time, 1st Movement)
14. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

BOOKS READ in JANUARY
1. A Question of Upbringing by Anthony Powell (A Dance to the Music of Time, 1st Movement)
2. Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
3. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
4. Mourn Not Your Dead by Deborah Crombie
5. Scorecasting by Tobias Moskowitz and L. Jon Wertheim
6. Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
7. Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

I think I'm first to visit your new thread. I've never been first! LOL.

Welcome, Nancy! And you are first - well done!

Katie I love the tubular effect you managed with the daffodils. Congratulations on your latest thread. Must admit the thought of your immigration officers worries me a little about our still-in-planning trip to US as noted from your last thread.

Paul, my problem last night was just the long lines. The Customs and Border Patrol officers have never been anything but efficient and courteous with me (though obviously the experience may be different for non-US citizens but I haven't heard a lot of bad reports and we have international staff come over here fairly frequently). It was a perfect storm of several international flights arriving at the same time and I think they were a bit short-handed.

Hi Katie - What did you think of Packing for Mars? I have loved the Roach that I've read and I have this one sitting around.

Nice new thread. As I look at the deep snow out of my window, I appreciate the flowers. Think spring.

The board book I got is one of a series called "Baby Lit" I think. There are also versions of Jane Eyre, a counting book and Wuthering Heights, about the weather. I think they are great.

Hi Beth! I liked Packing for Mars a lot (which reminds me I owe a few "reviews")! Stiff is still my favorite but I'd put Mars in second and Bonk third. I'm looking forward to her new book coming out in April (?). I found the board books on Amazon and think I will end up buying several of them as part of her baby shower gift. I know so few people who would actually appreciate them...

Katie - Back home? I hope the trip went well and your cold is better. Packing for Mars is our citywide book this year and Roach is coming in May. I definitely want to see her; when I've heard her on NPR, she has been hilarious. I loved Bonk; the mice in polyester pants still makes me smile.

Happy new thread, Katie. I LOVE the thread topper!

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Completed 25 February 2013
3.5 stars

This is the story of Miranda and her family and what happens to them and to the world they live in when a meteor strikes the moon, pushing it closer to Earth and wreaking havoc on tides, weather, and other cycles of life. The story unfolds through Miranda's diary and I think it was this immediate, first-person narrative that made the book engaging. The story wasn't much different from other post-apocalyptic YA titles, the characters were well-developed but not interestingly original, but I kept turning the pages.

This is the first in a series - I believe #4 is scheduled to be out later this year. I did pick up the second book but only got through about 10 pages. I don't think I'll be continuing the series, but this first entry was a solid story that will, no doubt, appeal most to its intended YA audience.

Georgiana Darcy's Diary by Anna Elliott
Completed 1 March 2013
3.5 stars

I don't usually read sequels to Jane Austen's books, other than one semi-pornographic sequel to Pride and Prejudice that a friend foisted on me about 10 years ago... Austen's works stand on their own and I don't feel the need to continue with her characters' stories. I was even mad at the liberty taken in the recent film of P&P that showed Darcy and Elizabeth after their marriage; it was just dumb.

But this book which I picked up for free for my Kindle at some point was a pleasant surprise. Maybe because it's the story of a more secondary character (Darcy's sister), or maybe the author just did a really good job with it, but I found it pleasantly diverting. It was kind of fun to see and hear reference to old favorites - not just Darcy and Elizabeth, but LAdy Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Collins, Caroline Bingley, and, of course, Wickham. The story is kind of silly but it's sweet and no one really seems to act out of character, which I appreciated.

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach
Completed 2 March 2013
4 stars

Full of Roach's characteristic humor, this well-researched and fascinating account of why and how we send living things up into space had me hooked at the first sentence. I love that you can feel Roach's own fascination with her topics and her delight in discovering more about them. From the rules surrounding life in a space station to the research on how best to design a toilet for the astronauts to the history of chimps in space (anyone remember that old Muppets skit "Pigs in Space?"), this is a wickedly funny and exhaustively researched book about a topic many of us have often wondered about.

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Completed 6 March 2013
5 stars

"Seeing him broke the cocoon of my rib cage, and my heart unfurled to fly." (page 4-5)

I had originally rated this 4.5 stars because there were a few flaws in it, but going back and re-reading parts and knowing how much I loved this story, it just felt wrong not to give it a full 5. I connected with it on a level I had not expected and was so very moved by it. What is more deserving of five stars than a book like that?

Searing. Brutal. Stunning. Heartbreaking. Beautiful. Powerful. Painful. Hopeful. I could just string some adjectives together and be done with it, but this book deserves so much more. And I won't do it justice. I will say that putting aside the particular circumstances and specifics of the story - poverty, race, Katrina, dog fighting, neglect and all sorts of other horrors - this book is about family. How we hold it together, depend on it, make it up as we go, and create ones where none exist. All you really need to know is that 15 year old Esch is motherless and pregnant. Those two facts are the bookends of the story - everything else happens within that context. Motherhood can be both beautiful and brutal. Esch has warm memories of her own mother who died when she was eight; now she is pregnant and her only model of what a mother is comes from her brother's fighting pit bull who just birthed a litter of puppies. We want so badly for something good to happen for Esch but she is repeatedly beaten down by both the cruelty of her circumstances and the cruelty of the father of her baby. And then the hurricane comes...

Please read this book.

"When she died, Mama told me that she had gone away, and then I wondered where she went. Because everyone else was crying, I clung like a monkey to Mama, my legs and arms wrapped around her softness, and I cried, love running through me like a hard, blinding summer rain. And then Mama died, and there was no one left for me to hold on to." (page 59)

I will read the book. I love emotional reviews. Well done Katie.

Thanks, Roberta. I hope you like the book as much as I did.

Katie I've got Salvage the Bones in my 'read next' pile. Great review.

Some great reviews, Katie! I got 'Packing for Mars' from my SantaThing Santa but I haven't gotten to it yet. It sits there on the coffee table silently begging for attention. Soon, little book! Soon.

Thanks, Rhian. I think you'll like it.

Julia, it will be a great choice when you need something funny!

Katie, I've just added Salvage the Bones to my library wishlist. You got lots of reading done!

Curbing my London envy (53 more days, 53 more days). And look at you churning out the reviews so shortly after you got home. :)

Oh wow, Katie, what terrific reading you've been doing lately! I bought Stiff for my husband, and have some others of hers waiting in the wings, so to speak. Glad to know you like Mary Roach's books! And what an extraordinary, heartfelt review of Salvage the Bones. I will put it on my list.

I loved Packing for Mars. Your comments made me remember the book fondly.

Life as We Knew It is now on the tbr list.

Susan, it is very dark but so worth reading. I hope you like it.

Why, Micky, that's less than two months! Awesome sauce. You are going to have such a great time :-)

Nice to see you, Anne! Mary Roach is great. I've liked all her stuff that I've read. I hope Salvage the Bones works for you. Just going back and reading bits I had highlighted made me tear up.

Thank you, Linda!

Hi Katie! Earlier, I read through your delightful Amsterdam and London adventures. Thank you for sharing - too bad work was involved.

I would like to point out that I am beyond thrilled that you obtained Tell Me a Riddle by Tillie Olsen, as "I Stand Here Ironing" is probably my favorite short story ever.

Salvage the Bones is already on my wishlist, but your enthusiasm just bumped it up. Thank you!

Tell Me A Riddle is now on the tbr pile. LT tells me there is a high probability I will like it!

#28 - Oh good! I've actually only read that story (in an anthology), but I've also read her novel Yonnondio and liked it quite a bit.

Yonnondio is on the tbr list as well. Thanks for letting me know about this one.

Welcome back Katie! Glad to see you liked Salvage the Bones so much.

Hi Katie- You sure caught up on the reviews and there some gems in there too! I love Packing for Mars. It still remains my favorite Roach. And 5 stars for Salvage the Bones. Yah! I thought it was an excellent read too. I hope you can steer a few more LTers into picking it up.
How is the Lahiri coming?

What a fabulous review of Salvage the Bones, Katie! I went to thumb-up on the book page, but you didn't post it. Will you do so?

Welcome home Katie. Sounds like you had some great times on your trip. Wonderful review of Savage the Bones.

Welcome home, Katie. I very much enjoyed the photos and (briefly skimmed) narrative of your travels. It sounds, overall, like a wonderful trip!
I love that you rated Salvage the Bones five stars. I agree that it's an excellent novel, well deserving of the praise and attention it has received.

I hope reintegration goes relatively smoothly for you.

Kerri, Ooh, glad to hear that endorsement for Tillie Olsen. I have not read anything by her yet. And do bump up Salvage the Bones - an amazing read.

Linda, we'll have to compare notes on Olsen when we both get around to her!

Thanks, Laura! It's nice to be home :)

Hi Mark, I am enjoying the Lahiri but taking my time with it. The stories are exquisite, though. I expect to finish it this weekend at the latest...

Nancy, I always forget about posting my "reviews" but I will put this one up there (just for you!)...

Thank you, Dan. The trip was good. You might think about giving Salvage the Bones a try some time - there were a lot of biblical (and classical) allusions that went over my head, but there is definitely a lot of depth there.

Ellen, reintegration begins today with my first day back in the office. one word: UGH :)

I loved your travel pics from last thread! Looks like you had a great trip!

Hi Katie. I love your opening photo of the daffodils and you did a great job on the reviews. I have a copy of Packing for Mars I need to get to and I think your review finally convinced me to try Salvage the Bones. I was initially hesitant because of the dog fighting but so many LTers lately really seem to love this book that I can't resist any longer. Hope your first day back at work isn't too bad. At least it's a short week.

Katie - Great reviews. I hope your first day back was not an ugh!

#16 - Great review of Salvage the Bones! I read it about a year ago, and I was blown away by it. The quote you shared reminds me how much I loved the writing.

Thanks, Tina!

Pat, the dog fighting is not gratuitous but is central to the story. There is something beautiful and fierce about Esch's brother's relationship with his dog and yet he involves her in this terrible "sport". It is brutal but necessary to the story and to understanding the nature of this family's existence.

Beth, it was not an ugh. More of an "eh" :-)

Amy, I just can't say enough about this book. I haven't been so moved by a book in quite a while.

I started Death Comes to Pemberley this morning on audio. And I am half way done with the crap romance I am reading. I don't care what judgments you make, sometimes I need a cheesy historical romance to read! Once I'm through with this one, I plan to finish Interpreter of Maladies and start on the next novel in the Dance to the Music of Time cycle.

Crap romance or cozy mysteries, young adult, graphic novels, whatever....floats your boat my dear. We all have our comfort zone in the realm of books. Sometimes mine is the Sookieverse. Go ahead judge me.

Great review of Salvage the Bones Katie - a book that would probably not be published here in Australia. I love that I get to hear about books like that through LT!

Did someone say cheesy historical romance? Hi!! Please tell me it has pirates in it. Just one pirate...

I won't judge you, Roberta. At first, I thought you were talking about Snooki from Jersey Shore and I was slightly appalled ;-)

Hey Prue! It's nice to see you! Interesting that it wouldn't be published in Australia. It won some awards here - would that make it more likely?

Ha ha, no pirates, Susan. It's an Eloisa James, who, along with Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas, writes some of my favorite historical romances - smart and witty :)

I'm not sure I've read anything by Eloisa James, but I've just looked up her website and I will have to remedy that! I love Julia Quinn. I got hold of a highly-recommended Lisa Kleypas from the library but the book looked like it had been dug out of a plague pit, so I gave it back unread. Have you ever tried Janet Mullany? The Rules of Gentility is the first of a loosely-connected series and the books are among the funniest I've ever read.

I just looked up The Rules of Gentility on Amazon and it looks good. And not too expensive for the Kindle. Will check my library before pulling the trigger, but thanks for the rec!

Snookie would be dead by chapter 2 in the Sookieverse! Bwahaha!

*checks to see if the Dali Lama is listening behind her shoulder*

Nope, Bwahaha!!!

Love the daffodils picture at the start of your new thread Katie, and the great reviews you have posted. You tweaked my interest with Georgiana Darcy's Diary. I felt much wasn't disclosed regarding Georgina in Austen's work, making it the perfect background to 'tinker' with the story from another author's perspective.

Oh yeah, I'm in total agreement with you on both Packing for Mars aNd Salvage the Bones. I enjoyed them immensely Katie. Nice reviews too.

Hi Lori - I agree; I think it's best if an author really wants to do an Austen follow-up to focus on one of the more secondary characters rather than trying to do a straight sequel. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed that one.

Thank you, Bonnie!

Katie - I'm with you about the Austen "sequels" -- some are fun, but a different focus helps. And I have to be in the mood. Have a great weekend. I imagine you must be tired.

The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James
Completed 15 March 2013
3.5 stars

I get rather defensive over some of my reading choices and almost considered not posting this cover. But whatever. We all get our brain candy in different ways. And if I'm going to read a historical romance, I'm glad I at least am drawn to the ones with witty and smart characters. Eloisa James is actually a professor of Shakespeare at Fordham University and she uses her vast knowledge of English literature to include both obvious and more subtle allusions of the literary variety. This book is one of a series based on various fairy tales - this one being "The Princess and the Pea". I enjoyed the banter of our hero and heroine - she of the imperfect body and he of the borderline Asperger's Syndrome. Don't ask; it works. At least for me.

Hi Beth! I'm a bit tired but a short nap this afternoon should get me back on track!

Glad that the romance books work for you! My go-to guilty pleasure is books with werewolves or vampires, not exactly literary fiction :)

Love that you also indulge in brain candy, Katie. Well done!

We all need our brain-candy, Katie. If I can bravely post my quite ugly zombie covers, then you should be proud of your pretty romantic covers!

Thanks Chelle, Nancy and Judy! Brain candy has its place....

Hi Katie - I hope your weekend is going well. What are you reading now? My brain candy is mysteries. Werewolves and vampires don't do it for me. I think I'm too cynical for romance :)

Hey Beth! Currently, I'm trying to finish up Interpreter of Maladies for my book group and I'm just starting The Acceptance World, the next entry in A Dance to the Music of Time cycle.

Hi Katie! Good for you and your brain candy. I think most of us have a need for it - I like the mysteries and some pretty sub-par science fiction. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Interpreter of Maladies. I should have read that before The Namesake, as I didn't much enjoy The Namesake, and now I find myself avoiding her.

Kerri, I have about 60 pages or so to go in Interpreter of Maladies but I am really liking the stories. They are perfect, self-contained little snapshots of Indian life. No, not the whole picture, but enough to get a sense. I hope you'll think about giving it a try!

75ers is a guilt-free zone! Read all the brain candy you want!

I'm with Nora. All reading is good reading whether it's a fluffy romance or Plutarch. :)

Thanks, Nora and Micky!

I enjoyed Interpreter of Maladies, but I've never gotten to Namesake yet, even though I own it. Agreed - the 75's is a guilt free zone! Free to read whatever you want!

Thank you, Deb. I was saying it mostly tongue in cheek but I appreciate everyone's support of my right to read what I want!

I love unexpectedly free days. I was called for jury duty today so I took myself down to the municipal courts building in Dallas where I sat for two hours in the central jury room before the bailiff said no jurors were needed. So home I went. I could have gone into work but I'd done a good job of preparing yesterday to be out today so I decided to enjoy my "found" time :-)

Hooray for "found" time! And for reading what you like!

I love my brain candy too! Mine happens to be vamps, werewolves, Janet Evanovich and the like. No judging here, but I also feel hesitant to post some of my candy picks!

>69 katiekrug:: ooh, excellent! Lucky you.

UGH! What had turned into a nice day quickly went south. Went to the gym, did my strength training, and then stopped at the park to do some cardio. Had the presence of mind to put my house keys in the glove compartment and lock it but not my wallet. Came back to find my front passenger side window smashed in and my purse with iPhone and wallet gone. I am a moron for leaving it in the car, but I truly thought it was well out of sight. Why, oh why, did I not lock up my wallet?!?!? I'm a total idiot. Anyway, have spent an hour calling the bank and credit card companies to get replacement cards. Have to also get a new drivers license. Blerg. This is why I shouldn't bother working out - no good can come of it! ;-)

Oh Katie! I'm so sorry that happened to you. What a mess. And it is NOT your fault - it is the fault of whoever thought that they had the right to break into your personal property and take what did not belong to them. Hugs to you.

I'm so sorry that your wallet was stolen! I'm sure it is a very frustrating experience...makes one mad at rotten people who steal!!!!

And I agree with Mamie...It is NOT your fault.

Oh, bummer, Katie! How absolutely frustrating! This is why I shouldn't bother working out - no good can come of it! Precisely, LOL!

Boo!!! I agree. Working out is evil and brings nothing but tragedy. :(
Kidding... Trying to make you smile.

Arghhhhhhhhh, how impossible. Getting a new driver's license, especially...

Am not sure I have the intestinal fortitude to tackle Salvage the Bones just yet, however. Will defer it until after moving-related trauma is over.

Those dirty stinking bat rasterds! Ugh, the new phone, cards and drivers license...that is the worst part. Sending you good, positive, energy Katie. If that doesn't work, then drink a glass of vino. It's heart healthy.

>73 katiekrug: Oh No!!!! I'm so sorry, Katie! Ugh ugh and a third ugh. It just makes me so angry!

I agree with Roberta's recommendation for a heart-healthy glass of vino. Or two.
Oh hell, finish the bottle.

I know there is nothing we can say to make it better, but you have our empathy and support!

Did I say grrrrr? I meant to say grrrrr.

Katie, what a horrible thing to happen. But it's not your fault - it's the fault of the creep who did it. I hope you get your new cards soon.

Ugh what a hassle! Hope you are able to sort out replacements quickly.

Katie - What a hassle -- it's especially bad because you were in a zone, enjoying your day. I'm with Roberta and Ellen. Have a drink -- or two. Good luck with replacing everything.

Thanks for your support, everybody!!

(And yes, I did guzzle some wine last night:) )

It appears I may have lucked out in the type of criminal involved - there were no fraudulent transactions on any of my debit or credit cards before I cancelled all of them and the only mischief wrought so far was a pornographic text sent from my phone to at least one person in my address book. I'm thinking this had to be a couple of teenaged boys...

Anyway, all cards cancelled and re-issued, fraud alert placed on my credit report/profile, phones disabled, window repaired, and temporary license is in hand. It could have been a lot worse - I usually stop at the park on my way home after work and the gym and my laptop and iPad are usually in the car. And my Kindle! Thank God they didn't get my Kindle!!!

Katie - You are efficient! It does sound like teenaged boys. Arrgh.

Well, thank goodness for that. What a pain, but at least you powered through and got it all done. I say more wine tonight to celebrate your efficiency in dealing with crime. And I am so happy to hear that your Kindle was unscathed by the incident. Poor baby, but good work.

Oh, Katie! Good grief! So glad you straightened it out. I often say that teenage boys should be sent to a space colony until they're 21. (Is that wrong to say?) Of course this would exclude any loved one of any LTer that falls in this category.

Sounds like a tolerable ending... Sorry you had to go through that, though.

Yep, sounds like teenaged boys and thank goodness more damage was not done with your credit card, etc.
Hang in there.

Arrgh, indeed, Beth!

Mamie, I did go out for drinks after work last night :-)

Kerri, I say similar things about children in general. But then I hear great stories about kids like Mamie's and it restores my faith in the future of humanity ;-)

Thanks, Jim!

Thank you, Ellen!

Received my ER copy of TransAtlantic by Colum McCann today! That brings my total of ER books needing to be read and reviewed to 4 or 5, I think. Yikes.

(Weird touchstone - it first brings up Pride and PRejudice for some reason, and when I click on "others", I get a random listing of books with unrelated titles in which the correct book is buried towards the bottom...)

that is really weird. When I click on it, it goes to P&P.

#90 - Excellent point about Mamie's impressive children! It's good to look at the bright side when thinking about the Earth's fate. I was focusing more on the teenage boys in my neighborhood who ride down the street on BMX bikes, throwing firecrackers at each other. Ha!

Also, now I don't feel as bad about my ER books. I think I have 3, but it could be 4. I'm not even sure anymore.

Katie- Sorry to hear about the break-in. It's always a hassle replacing credit cards & driver's licenses, but at least the damage was minimal and you still have your Kindle, in your hot little hands. And no I did not send the pornographic text.
Congrats on TransAtlantic. I can't wait to get to that one myself.

So sorry to hear of the break-in, Katie. I was vandalized a few years ago and also learned the hard way to lock things in my trunk or glove compartment. A Visa bill of over $500 was rung up before I was able to cancel the card. It so important not to let your guard down.

But you are right, there are far more great kids out there and it's unfortunate that it the bad ones that we mostly hear about.

Sorry to hear about the hassle of the break-in, Katie. Hope you have a truly excellent weekend. :)

Nora, I think it's fixed now. I get weird stuff going on with brand new books...

Kerri, those neighborhood boys sound delightful :-P Yeah, I really need to stop requesting ER books for a while.... I think I have one requested for March - I may go remove it since I wasn't super excited about it to begin with. The problem is, I always get one every month and it's hard for me to pass up free books....

Mark, thanks for the sympathy. It could have been a lot worse so I'm trying to count my blessings. But what a hassle!

Judy, I will say having my car broken into was MUCH less traumatic than coming home from work to find our house burglarized. That was about three years ago - right before Christmas and just after we were married. The TV and stuff was easy to replace but I never got my grandmother's jewelry back, nor my mother's engagement ring. PRobably most wrenching was the loss of the only copy I had of the eulogy I wrote and read at my mother's funeral. I kept it in my jewelry box and the thieves took the whole box. That broke my heart. Sigh. Still does...

Thank you, Micky. This weekend seems to be full of food. I've got brunch tomorrow with two friends from my days in Washington, DC and then the hubs birthday dinner at a really nice Italian restaurant, followed by drinks with friends, and Sunday we are celebrating another family birthday at yet another nice Italian restaurant. All of which means I should really go to the gym today but I am so not feeling it...

Katie - Enjoy your weekend. Happy birthday to Mr. Katie.

Katie, that story about your jewelry box being stolen makes me want to cry. I'm so sorry that happened to you.

Thanks, Beth!

Thank you, Mamie. It still makes me want to cry sometimes, too. The hubs took it really hard, maybe harder than me. He never met my mom but once it was clear we were getting "serious" as a couple, I had him read what I wrote about her because I had poured my heart into it. He was devastated that it was lost.

What a great guy you have there, Katie.

Katie, so sorry to hear of your car experience.

Hi Katie. What a pain that car break in sounds like but I agree about it being so much less painful than the house break-in and what they took. Our house in NY was broken into once (probably by teenage boys is what the police said) and I had a sentimental item in my jewelry box they took too. But the worst was they kicked my dog so hard she had a huge wound that took a long time to heal. I always felt so bad about that.

On a more positive note, it sounds like you have a great weekend to look forward to. Happy Birthday to your husband.

I sure do, Mamie! I love him lots :)

Thanks, Rhian. C'est la vie and all that...

Oh, Pat, that's terrible about your dog (the whole thing is terrible but the poor dog!). We got our dog, Louis, after the break-in. He's a lovable Lab but has a very intimidating bark...

Oh my gosh, Katie. That's a heartbreaking story about the house burglary. I'm so sorry.

On a lighter note, have a lovely time at the birthday celebration!

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Completed 22 March 2013
4 stars

A wonderful collection of stories highlighting the experience of Indian and Indian-Americans, both in India and in the US. What I enjoyed most in Lahiri's deceptively simple and straight-forward storytelling was her ability to tease out universal themes from very specific circumstances. The idea of journeys and learning to navigate in new worlds is relatable to anyone who has done nothing more than grow up. But the cultural insight here was also fascinating, and with few words, Lahiri can evoke a wonderful sense of place and sensory experience.

Some favorite stories for me include:

"Sexy" - a woman newly moved to Boston from the Midwest undertakes an affair with a married Indian man.

"Mrs. Sen's" - a homesick Indian woman cares for a young boy after school and struggles to reconcile her reality with the fantasy her family in India believes she is living.

"This Blessed House" - a new husband finds himself out of place in his own home and his own life and in the shadow of his exuberant wife.

"The Third and Final Continent" - an Indian man in Boston learns to navigate change and to make a place for himself in a new world.

From that last story:
"I know that my achievement is quite ordinary. I am not the only man to seek his fortune far from home, and certainly I am not the first. Still, there are times I am bewildered by each mile I have traveled, each meal I have eaten, each person I have known, each room in which I have slept. As ordinary as it all appears, there are times when it is beyond my imagination." (page 198)

Wonderful review of Interpreter of Maladies, Katie. I love the quote from the last story.

I loved Interpreter of Maladies! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I read it ages ago but Mrs Sen's was a favorite of mine as well.

Nice review, Katie! I really liked that book, too. My favorite story was the last one, but I also really loved "Mrs. Sen's".

Katie your husband sounds like a wonderful guy. No wonder you became Katie from Texas! ;)

Sorry to hear about the theft from your car! How frustrating for you! I agree that no good can come from working out ;p

Katie - Sorry to read about your car-burglary and of your earlier much more traumatic house break-in. When these things happen the first is a sense of unreality until the truth sinks in. The losses felt most keenly are those of sentimental value. Don't blame yourself for not dotting all the i's with your car; you don't steal things yourself so you don't necessarily expect others to do so.

Have a great weekend nevertheless with your Hubby's birthday taking pride of place. Best wishes to him too. x

Thank you, Nancy. Have you read IoM? I think you would really like it.

Laura, I often have a hard time remembering specific stories in a collection when I read it over a long period of time, but all of them really stuck in my mind.

Mamie, I think the last story might also be my favorite. It was "splendid!" ;-)

Oh, Roberta, he is the best! Definitely my soul mate.

Chelle, I don't think it's a coincidence I haven't worked out since ;-) But I really must get back to it...

Thank you, Paul. I hope you have a great weekend, too.

OH so sorry to hear about your car break in! So not your fault! I had that happen once - left my small purse underneath the drivers seat while I went jogging on the beach. At least I had my car keys with me. Long time ago, but I remember the huge hassle of calling and replacing all of my cards. Big hugs!

Katie, I hope you don't feel pressured when I say that I will look forward to your review of TransAtlantic. I really enjoyed Let the Great World Spin and would hope for a repeat performance by Colum McCann.

I had gone for two runs in the week before coming to Montana and with all the beautiful snow and the opportunity for snowshoeing, I feel like I'm "back into" regular exercise. I am determined to keep it up when I return home tomorrow, even when work gets stressful and time-demanding.

Thanks, Deb! It could have been a lot worse but I appreciate all the support!

Ellen, I try to read my ER books in order but the McCann might jump to the front of the line because it sounds so intriguing. As for working out, I have little problem doing it during the work week. It's the weekends I have a hard time motivating...

Hi Katie! Your break-ins, especially your house break-in just break my heart. Even though your car break-in was less painful, still it is such a hassle, and makes you so angry! I will learn from you and never, ever work out ;)

I loved Interpreter of Maladies, though it's been years since I read it. I think it was one of the books that kickstarted my reading renaissance after school, living abroad (in the pre-internet days), work, and motherhood left me out of habit. Hard to imagine, I know, but it's true. It took a few good books and the wonderful Bas Bleu catalog that mysteriously started arriving in my mailbox like a fairy's gift to bring the joy and the habit of reading back. Like others on your thread, I liked but did not love The Namesake.

Hi Anne! Thanks for the sympathy. I'm glad you have learned the most important lesson here: working out is bad ;-)

I can see how IoM could re-engage you as a reader. It isn't showy or complex but so beautifully written with so e universal themes, it can remind one of the reason to read in the first place.

Hi Katie. So sorry to hear your purse got stolen but this made me laugh:
Thank God they didn't get my Kindle!!!
So true :-)

But your story about the jewellery box and your Mum's eulogy sounds so much worse. I'm so sorry you lost that.

And an excellent review of Intepreter of Maladies. I have added it to my library list.

I got an ER copy of TransAtlantic too, Katie! I've read about 50 pages, and so far it is quite good, but I'm having a little trouble getting into the rhythm of the prose. Maybe the problem is that I'm somewhat distracted by NCAA basketball and by snow on the last weekend of spring break! I am interested to see how he is going to bring the distinct stories together.

More sympathies for your car break-in. What a crummy end to a nice day last week. You know, it just stinks.

On the other hand, very nice post on Interpreter of Maladies, and I was entertained by your comments and apparent guilt (or embarrassment?) on The Duke is Mine. The book sounds better than the cover indicates.

Hi Heather! Thanks for your supportive comments. And I hope you like Interpreter of Maladies as much as I did!

Amy, wow! You are fast on those ER books. I'm terrible at getting around to them... It will be fun to compare notes on the book.

Thanks, Dan. It does just stink. And I am shocked you actually read the romance review. What a devoted thread follower you are! I appreciate it :)

Hi Katie - I hope your weekend was fun and celebratory. I imagine you're going to start reading all those ER books :) I have three waiting for my review. Embarassing.

Hi Beth - My weekend was pretty celebratory :) We had a good time.

And your 3 ER books to be read is no where near as embarrassing as my 5!

I love your thread, Katie. You always have something that makes me feel good. I was feeling like a terrible slacker with three unread ER books ;) Glad you had a great weekend after your robbery.

Have a very happy Easter, Katie. I hope the Easter bunny brings you something special.

Hi Katie- Good review of Interpreter of Maladies! Now, you'll have to start tracking down Unaccustomed Earth, which is even better.

>127 msf59: Glad to hear that Unaccustomed Earth is better, Mark. I think I have it in my pile somewhere, and give how much I loved Interpreter of Maladies, that will be a treat indeed if I can ever unearth it.

Great review of Interpreter of maladies. I must push it up higher on my WL.

& yes, thank heavens they had the sense to leave your kindle alone! Messing with someone's e-reader is a felony, and the hounds will find them!

Glad to be of service, Beth!

Thank you, Judy! I hope you have a wonderful time with your mom.

Mark, I think I might have Unaccustomed Earth... will have to check.

Anne, that's the hard part, isn't it. Finding time for everything you want to read!

I hope you enjoy it, Katie! It certainly SHOULD be a felony :)

Wonderful review of Interpreter of Maladies Katie. I also liked Unaccustomed Earth even more. I'm so sorry you had the hassle of being robbed. All that replacing takes its toll on a person.

I'm about thirty pages into Transatlantic and I think and I think this is going to be a typical McCann read with many threads to follow and connections to make. In other words wonderfully complex and beautifully written.

I'm way behind here but trying to catch up, Katie. So sorry to hear about your car robbery and previous house burglary. I can imagine how upsetting that would be.

A friend and I are planning a drive in a few weeks to Rodger's Book Barn, as you recommended. I guess I should give them a call first to be sure they're still open, but I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully it will be a nice spring day. I'll let you know - or you could meet us there!

Bonnie, I'm glad to hear both Unaccustomed Earth and TransAtlantic are worthy. I look forward to them both! TransAtlantic will be my first McCann, though I own and have been meaning to read Let the Great World Spin forever...

Oh, I am envious, Linda! Do give them a call to make sure they are still open. I'd hate for you to go all that way... I wish I could meet you but it's a bit far from Dallas :( have a wonderful time and do report back!

Okay, so I think this might be fun... I am trying to read a bit more randomly off my shelves but I do get overwhelmed when I look at all the unread books (current tally according to my LT "To Read" collection is 2315). So, I am going to try using Random.org to help me a bit. When I am in need of a random title, I will have the site generate a random number between 1 and 2315. I will then go to my "To Read" collection and find the book that corresponds to that number. My collections are currently sorted alphabetically by author, but I will allow myself to change the sort parameters if the book that comes up for the random number does not appeal, or is one of a series in which it is not the next to be read, or for any other reason I so choose :)

I will report here on what random picks I make and how the process is going. But my first book for April and the next to be started once I complete my current read, will likely be Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood for the Atwood in April group. So stay tuned!

Oh, what a fab idea, Katie, using Random.org to help you choose next off-the-shelf reads! Haven't read Atwood's Lady Oracle, so will stay tuned for sure. Happy Easter!

Happy Easter back at ya, Nancy!

Happy Easter, Katie! That's a great idea for your unread books. I like the get-out clause too :-)

Thanks, Susan! Happy Easter to you, too!

Happy Easter, Katie! And yes, please pick up Let the Great World Spin. Preferably sooner, than later. It's an amazing read.

Happy Easter Katie!
I think that randomly picking a book will be so fun! And if you pick out one you don't want to read you can just randomly pick another ;-p
Um, do you really have 2315 unread books in your home?

I'll be keeping an eye out for what you think about Lady Oracle. That's one Atwood that I haven't read yet

Mark, duly noted!

Chelle, yep, I have that many in the house. They are all shelved reasonably neatly though so it is not like a hoarder situation or anything ;-)

Happy Easter Katie! I like your random pick idea but I suspect I would do a lot of reordering off my TBR collection to get to a book I wanted to read... :-)

Happy Easter to you, too, Heather! And I do fully expect to do a lot of re-ordering but it at least gives me some method to follow rather than just staring dumbly at the shelves and shelves of books ;-)

The Acceptance World by Anthony Powell
Completed 25 March 2013
4 stars

"Intricacies of social life make English habits unyielding to simplification, while understatement and irony - in which all classes of this island converse - upset the normal emphasis of reported speech." (page 32)

Finally! After two novels and over 400 pages, we finally have a little momentum... Our narrator, Nick Jenkins, and his circle of friends and acquaintances are living it up (some more productively than other) in early 1930s London. Despite a wide array of circumstances and experiences, it seems they are all beginning to realize that life is infinitely more complicated and messy than they expected. The boy irresistible to girls doesn't always grow up into a man with a happy marriage, the cerebral and unemotional adult can't always avoid messy affairs, and the adolescent outsider with the wrong wardrobe doesn't always remain the perennial wallflower. After a characteristically slow start, this novel picked up a lot of speed; the second half was actually a "page-turner" for me and I am looking forward to the next novel in the cycle much more than I have previously.

Hooray for momentum!! And Happy Easter to you - may it be full of fabulous!

Half-Assed by Jennette Fulda
Completed 28 March 2013
3.5 stars

"Being dissatisfied with your body was more of a requirement to be female than possessing a vagina." (page 194)

This book was worth reading for the quote above if for nothing else! I don't really have much to say about it; it was interesting and reasonably well-written but not groundbreaking. I think most people know that if you eat less and exercise more, you will likely lose weight. The problem is translating knowledge into action and no one can give you the secret for that.

Thanks, Mamie! Easter so far has consisted of breakfast at our favorite dive and a trip to the nearly empty grocery store :)

Happy Easter, Katie.

That sounds a lot like our Easter - a lovely, lazy day. The kids are in the pool, and all is well!

Yesterday, the hubs and I took my 8-year old cousin to see the touring production of Mary Poppins. It was a lot of fun - it was Livvy's first "theater" experience, we got to take her out of the 'burbs and into the "city", and she was just so excited about everything! The show itself was fine, though I think three hours is a lot to ask of a child-heavy audience. And a lot of the music was repeated so I didn't feel like it needed to be so long. But Livvy was thrilled, especially with the cheeseburger and fries for lunch and the ice cream after the show and getting to spend all day with Kiki and Mr. Kiki :) It was a really nice day.

Thank you, Beth - you too!

Mamie - hooray for the pool! Your kids must be thrilled.

Happy Easter Katie. My aunt used to take us to plays. What a treat for your niece.

What a wonderful aunt, and a wonderfully memorable day spent together. She will always remember that. I think cultural experiences like that are so important for kids, but sometimes the obstacles in the way -- cost, distance, time, logistics -- are prohibitive. We've probably spent way too much money lately on tickets, but we've never regretted it for a second.

Roberta, my aunt did the same thing. Like me and the hubs, she and my uncle did not have children and so spoiled their nieces and nephews a bit. For my 16th birthday, she took me to see Les Miserables on Broadway. It was awesome :)

Anne, she is such a good kid - smart and funny and sassy (in a good way). We try to do things with her and with her little brother separately because I remember how special it was to have some undivided attention at that age (kind of like what you were saying about time with your younger daughter while Callia was away!). She tapped me on the arm halfway through the show and whispered, "You said before that after this we could maybe get ice cream." And I said, "Right." And she just looked at me, and I said, "Are you just reminding me?" And she said, "Yes." It totally cracked me up.

>144 katiekrug:: it's so interesting to see how many people are finally clicking with Powell, on the third book. I read the books in the Chicago Press editions which have 3 novellas in a single volume, and I read them all in succession, so I was oblivious to the momentum thing. I'm glad it's working better for you now!

Laura, I have the same U. of Chicago editions - all four volumes, in fact. But the spacing of reading the individual novels at one per month is actually working for me. I'm not sure I would have kept on after the first one if I still had 400 pages in front of me to get through... I don't know, though. Maybe going right through actually does make more sense... Well, I'm committed now so on I go!

And I should note that I fully realize that "review" of the most recent Powell did the novel no justice whatsoever. I've just been in no mood to collect my thoughts and make sense of them but I needed to get something down so I could move on...

I'm so taken with everyone's remarks on Powell's Dance to the Music of Time. Must read!

Just be patient with it, Nancy!

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
Completed 31 March 2013
2 stars

This was just terrible. How terrible? Let me count the ways (POTENTIAL SPOILERS):

1. Why write a follow-up to Pride and Prejudice if you seemingly make little effort to capture the essential essence of the primary characters?

2. Why write a follow-up to Pride and Prejudice that turns Elizabeth into a simpering, boring, obedient little wifey-poo and Darcy into a complete uptight prig (granted, he always kind of was but he was also charming and there is none of that here)?

3. Why write a follow-up to Pride and Prejudice that is a murder mystery and make it SO INCREDIBLY DUMB AND BORING that the reader can barely bring herself to care?

4. Why write a follow-up to Pride and Prejudice that is a murder mystery and include plot holes so big you could drive a chaise-and-four through them? Why didn't anyone bother asking Lydia what Wickham and Denny were arguing about?!?!?!

5. Why write anything if you are basically just going to phone it in and tell your story completely through terribly awkward exposition and long speeches?

6. .... I can't go on. I don't know why I bothered to finish this except that maybe because it was on audio. Had it been a "real" book, I am fairly confident I would have just skipped to the last few pages to see whodunnit. Oh, except that would have told me nothing because we learn whodunnit well before the end of the book, after which time, Ms. James just goes on and on about nothing at all and won't let her crappy story die. I wanted to stab myself in the ears by the end of it.

So, yeah, not recommended.

I ended up abandoning that one last year, Katie. I feel your pain. Your review, however, was highly entertaining!

That is a marvelous rant-review, Katie! I've not read the book but you've certainly convinced me not to put it on my wishlist.

Thank you, Mamie. I should have abandoned it. I am still kicking myself for not...

Julia, keep it as far from your WL as possible! ;-)

Well. I'll skip that one!

Happy Belated Easter, Katie!

I'll definitely give that one a miss! Do post your review Katie - it deserves a thumb!

>164 SandDune:: seconding the request to post the rant-review! I loved it. Thanks for sparing all of us the trouble of reading the book.

#159 I was very disappointed with that one too, although I don't think I was quite as disappointed as you were! My main complaint was the infodumps she had to get various characters to say to explain the back story and how the legal system of the time worked.

If you had abandoned it, we would not have gotten that delightful rant of a review! I'm glad you finished it!! I would also give a thumb if you posted it!

LOVE that Easter bunny, Ellen! Thanks!

Thanks, Rhian. I've posted it now.

Laura - DONE! It was so awful, it still makes me cringe slightly.

Heather - I know exactly what you mean about the info dumps. It just seemed so lazy to me.

Thanks, Mamie. I've given into the pressure and posted it ;-)

>168 katiekrug: *thumbed*

Katie, that was a wonderful review of The Acceptance World. I'm more eager to read the next one, too. I thought that first two books were way too slow. And I like slow books!

I had already decided not to read P. D. James's latest book. Your review was a hoot! Thumb!

Added my thumb, too!

Another thumb from me!

Hi Katie - I liked the James book a little more than you did, but your review was great.

Thumb for that review of a book I never had an inclination to read. Your review, however, was terrific.

Sorry that you hated the book so much but thank you for an entertaining review!

I wanted to stab myself in the ears by the end of it. That is the sign of a terrible book for sure! ;)

Katie, I loved your review of the P D James :-) I read it at the beginning of last year when a friend gave it to me, but I couldn't really get into it. Your review has crystallised many of the things I didn't like, although my reaction was less thought-out! Sometimes when I'm reading a book that I'm struggling with, I imagine how I would feel if a giant bird swooped down and took it away (unlikely, in my living room, but you never know) and if the answer is "relieved" then I let myself stop. Easier on the ears too :-)

The story about the ice-cream is so sweet! It sounds like your cousin had a lovely time, and I'm sure she will always remember it.

You've earned another thumb from me, Katie. I was never going to pick that one up (all Austen sequels give me a "nails on a chalkboard" reaction) but your review is quite entertaining.

Thank you, Nora!

Donna, I was thinking I might have to give up on the Powell if it didn't start moving a bit. I'm glad it did! And I'm glad you liked my reviews :)

Thanks, Mamie!

Laura, it's raining thumbs! (What a visual....)

Beth, I'm glad you liked it more than I did. No one should dislike a book as much as I did that one ;-)

Thank you, Bonnie!

My pleasure, Chelle :-)

Susan, I will have to try that bird strategy. I really struggle about whether or not to abandon books. I do it more now than I ever have but probably not enough, given the number out there I could be reading.

Thanks, Micky. I do tend to avoid Austen sequels, too, though I've now read two this year....

#159 - Oh no! Luckily it's not part of the P.D. James series that I'm supposed to read. Great review though (Writing negative reviews is so terribly fun. Isn't it?).

Kerri, writing negative reviews is also so much easier!

#180 - Very true!

I made a "What We Are 'Reading'" thread for audiobooks! You can find it HERE!

I've also added it to the wiki.

Thanks, Nora! I'll check it out.

#23


Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb
Completed 5 April 2013
3 stars

Robb continues this series with good, solid story-telling. I knocked off half a star or so because I wasn't into the witchcraft/occult theme, but I still enjoyed the book. I am pleasantly surprised that the stories and characters are still fresh and fun, even five books in. We'll see how I feel twenty or thirty books in!

Last night after work and before meeting some girlfriends for drinks and dinner, I ducked into a Half Price Books I rarely visit. Such a treat :)

I was very restrained:

Sunlight on a Broken Column by Attia Hosain (mint condition green VMC)
A Note in Music by Rosamond Lehmann (also VMC but one of the newer, non-green ones)
The Birds & Other Stories by Daphne Du Maurier (ditto)
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (because I enjoyed Interpreter of Maladies so much)

And I was weak and have a shipment from BookCloseouts.com on the way. I shall report when it arrives....

Nice haul, Katie. Did your book group meet yet to discuss Interpreter of Maladies? I have to confess that I also just ordered form bookcloseouts.

Hi Beth! Hooray for BookCloseouts :)

I guess I did totally forget to mention that my book group had its first official meeting a couple of weeks ago. We all pretty much liked the book and had a good talk about identity and assimilation and specific stories in the collection that we thought worked better than others. It was about 45 minutes of discussion, followed by three hours of wine drinking. I was not feeling well the next day :)

Our next book is non-fiction - In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson for mid-May.

I would like to be in that book group!

Katie - Wine and books -- what a great combination. It sounds like you are off to a good start.

Mamie, you would love this book club :)

Beth, I hope we can maintain it.... but so far so good!

Yep, a book group that includes wine. My kind of book group.
I have In the Garden of Beasts on the shelf somewhere...... and a bottle of wine.... well, that's easy to come by. :-)

Ellen, we'll Skype you in ;-)

Hi Katie - I was 192 messages behind...so sorry to hear of the break-in.

I agree with Mark that Unaccustomed Earth is even better than Interpreter of Maladies. But then I also loved The Namesake and I see several people didn't.

I have the same reservations Pat had about the dog fighting in Salvage the Bones, but you and everyone seems to love it so I may have to give it a go.

Hope all is well!

eta - Love the daffodils!

Hi Joanne! Great to see you. I will definitely look forward to Unaccustomed Earth given your and Mark's raves about it. And do give Salvage the Bones a try. I really think it's an important book, and I don't say that lightly or very often.

It's Sunday and for this agnostic-non-practicing-but-nominally-Catholic, it's confession time ;-)

My order from BookCloseouts.com arrived yesterday:
Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman
Animal's People by Indra Sinha
English: A Novel by Wang Gang
On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry
Girl Reading by Katie Ward
Tony and Susan by Austin Wright
For Love by Sue Miller
At Risk by Alice Hoffman
Incantation by Alice Hoffman
Partitions by Amit Majmudar (I read this in and loved it; I had borrowed it from the library and resolved to purchase a copy for my own collection)

And I don't think I've noted Kindle purchases in a while. I just added a bunch of recent ones to my LT catalogue so here goes:
The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux
The Hamilton Case by Michelle de Kretser
Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
They Eat Puppies, Don't They? by Christopher Buckley
Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl
Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (which is surprisingly cheap for a just released book!)

Katie I'm trying to catch up. Thanks for the laugh on the James book review.

Wine and books!

If there's anyplace on the Internet that will offer you absolution for your book-buying transgressions, it's LT! You got some good ones. I really liked 'At Risk'. I've heard of a few of the others but not read them. Richard, that troublemaker, has convinced me to check out the Spencer Quinn series so I'll be picking that up at the library tomorrow. Just what I need, another series!

Woot! Lots of new books, Katie : ). I'm also surprised you got a cheap price on Life After Life. Good shopping!

Hey Roberta! Good to see you. Is there any better combination than wine and books? If there is, I haven't found it yet!

Julia, I appreciate having a safe space to bare my soul ;-) I love all the Alice Hoffman books I've read and still have a lot more to go, which is such a nice feeling. And the Spencer Quinn books just look like pure fun, but yeah, I don't really need another series to follow either!

Hiya Nancy! I was shocked when I saw that Life After Life was available for under $8 (US) on Amazon. And since it's on the longer side (500+ pages), I'm just as glad to have it as an e-book than a physical one.

#195 - Nice book haul! I was just asking someone else for a non-YA Alice Hoffman recommendation. I've read one of her YA novels, but would like to try one of her adult novels.

Anyway, just so you know, AnneDC told me that we are not required to publicly admit to our ebook purchases, although I do enjoy hearing about them. That's a great deal on Life After Life! My hardcover version arrived the other day.

>200 DorsVenabili: "AnneDC told me that we are not required to publicly admit to our ebook purchases..." LOL! I LOVE that, Kerri!

Nice hauls, Katie! I have not read any Alice Hoffman - she is on my list of authors to get to this year. Hope your Monday is off to a great start.

LOL, I love Anne's line about ebook purchases, too! A keeper!

Ah, but I love seeing what other people have bought, e or otherwise! Maybe it could be a non-confessional category - "for information only"?!

Katie, I had to check that website - what a lot of books! And such great prices. I had to stop looking as I was turning green with envy :-)

Hi Kerri - I read The Foretelling which was (I think) Hoffman's first YA. Incantation is set in Spain during the Inquisition. I was surprised by how much I liked the former, so I am really looking forward to this one. So, wait! If no one is admitting to their e-book purchases, then I am missing out on haul-envy. I LOVE seeing what people pick up. I just can't approve of Anne's rule....

Mamie - Oh, I think you'd really like Alice Hoffman. She is a go-to author for me when I need a guaranteed good read.

Nancy, No! No! No! This is AWFUL. I feel like people are now keeping secrets from me ;-)

Me, too, Susan! Non-confessional sounds good... BookCloseouts.com is one of my very favorite places. I limit my visits there to once per quarter or so...

Hi Katie - Nice haul. I liked The Story Sisters by Hoffman and Practical Magic. I agree, generally she's a good go-to author. I haven't read either of your new acquisitions.

I just went overboard on some ebook acquisitions. There was a sale... It's so easy to click. Life After Life was one of the ones I bought. I rarely spend more than $5 on an ebook, but this was cheap for a new one.

Seriously nice book haul, Katie!

Anyway, just so you know, AnneDC told me that we are not required to publicly admit to our ebook purchases

Well of course she did. And why should we. That's the great thing about eBooks...they can be so secret...no packages waiting on the doorstep for "someone" to say, "OMG you bought more books??" Not that I would know anything about that;-)

Hi Beth, I think I have both Practical Magic and The Story Sisters here so I will try to make one of those my next Hoffman. I know what you mean about the ease of buying e-books.... too, too easy!

Thanks, Tina! Good to see you :-)

Bonnie, I do sometimes wonder if my husband would be as tolerant as he is if he knew how many e-books I was also buying... I like to think yes because he's a wonderful guy, but.....?

I usually let my threads go until around 250 messages or so, but I feel like starting a new one. So....