BLBera's (Beth's) 2013 reading - Part 5

Notes on the Art of Poetry
by Dylan Thomas

I could never have dreamt that there were such goings-on
in the world between the covers of books,
such sandstorms and ice blasts of words,
such staggering peace, such enormous laughter,
such and so many blinding bright lights,
splashing all over the pages
in a million bits and pieces
all of which were words, words, words,
and each of which were alive forever
in its own delight and glory and oddity and light.

Favorites of first half of 2013:
Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
Alias Grace
The Interestings
The Burgess Boys
Life After Life
Are You My Mother?
Maya's Notebook
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
White Dog Fell from the Sky

December
99.For Whom the Bell Tolls* REREAD
100. Archangel: Fiction
101. Iron Lake*
102. Miss Buncle's Book*
103. The Sound of Things Falling
104. The Bone Season
105. Almost True Confessions*
106. A Guide for the Perplexed

November
92. A Thousand Mornings: Poems*
93. State of Wonder* REREAD
94. A Visit from the Goon Squad* REREAD
95. The Signature of All Things
96. Storm Front
97. Through the Evil Days
98. Tunnel Vision*

*Off my shelves

January 2013
1. The Orchardist
2. The Language of Flowers*
3. A Duty to the Dead*
4. Marmee and Louisa
5. The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap
6. The Idea of Perfection*
7. Where'd You Go, Bernadette
8. Black Flower
9. Watergate
10. Homicide in Hardcover*
11. Crazy Brave

February
12. The Polysyllabic Spree
13. Kafka on the Shore*
14. Gregor the Overlander*
15. Blood Never Dies
16. Alias Grace*
17. White Dog Fell from the Sky
18. Life as We Knew It*

March
19. The Interestings*
20. The Dead and the Gone
21. Bad Blood
22. Fun Home
23.The Sound of Broken Glass
24. The Last Runaway
25. The Book of Killowen*
26. The Hare with Amber Eyes*
27. Falling to Earth*
28. The Thirteenth Rose*
29. Silenced: A Novel

April
30. The Burgess Boys
31. The People of Forever Are Not Afraid
32. The Hangman's Daughter*
33. Life after Life*
34. The Marlowe Papers
35. Last Friends*
36. Ignorance

May
37. A Dying Fall
38. Moon over Manifest
39. Trophy Hunt
40. Are You My Mother?*
41. Maya's Notebook
42. The Shadowy Horses*
43. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay*
44. Silken Prey*

June
45. Island of Bones*
46. Eleven Little Piggies
47. A Tale for the Time Being
48. Murder in the Philosophy Department
49. Beyond Confusion*
50. Treasure Island!!!*
51. TransAtlantic
52. A Conspiracy of Faith

July
53. Americanah
54. Y is for Yorick*
55. The Riddle of the Labyrinth
56. The Hanging
57. Sisterland
58. Instructions for a Heatwave
59. The Ocean at the End of the Lane
60. God on the Rocks*
61. 84 Charing Cross Road*
62. The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street*
63. Stranded
64. Beyond Katrina*
65. Spiderweb*

*off my shelves

August
66. Intruder in the Dust*
67. Submergence
68. Cruel as the Grave*
69. The Testament of Mary
70. The Camomile Lawn*
71. The Hangman
72. Wingshooters*
73. The Whisper of Legends
74. Killing Kate*

September
75. Light in August*
76. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling*
77. Safe from the Sea*
78. How the Light Gets In
79. Bones of the Lost
80. Flotsam*
81. Hearts of Sand
82. Claire of the Sea Light
83. Bad Blood

October
84. Housekeeping vs. the Dirt*
85. The Tree of Forgetfulness
86. The Lowland
87. The Submission*
88. The End of the Point
89. The Gifted
90. The Ghost Bride
91. The Bones of Paris*

*Off my shelves

I'm first? That almost never happens.
Happy New Thread, Beth! You have now read as many books at the beginning of November as I will hope for at the end of December - and bunches of good ones too. Congratulations!
(delight, glory, oddity and light - Absolutely!)

Hi Peggy - You are first. I know. I was just having a moment enjoying my year's reading.

Beth, lovely quote from the great poet drunkard.
Congratulations on your new thread and I trust that you have a lovely weekend.

Happy new thread, Beth!

Hi Paul - Thanks for visiting. Yes, Thomas had "issues," but he certainly had a way with words.

Hi Katie - Thanks for stopping by. I think this will be my final thread for the year.

I'm currently reading The Signature of All Things -- the naturalist side of it is reminding me of Andrea Barrett, who also has a new book out.

Hi Beth - New thread! I hope you're having a somewhat relaxing, yet Scout-filled, weekend, but I'm guessing you're also grading papers.

Hi Kerri - Just put Scout to sleep - Vanessa brings her over most Saturdays while she takes the dogs for a walk. Now I'm organizing my homework. Sigh. I am really anxious for my sabbatical.

Sounds like you are having a busy Saturday, Beth. I am going to pick up my grandkids in a short while. They are staying over tonight while their parents head over to Vancouver Island for Condo meetings. I have to enjoy my computer time now, as once they are here I won't be allowed near it!

Hi Judy: Weekends are always busy, but it's more of an unstructured busy, which is a nice change. Have fun with your grandkids.

92. A Thousand Mornings: Poems. I've put collections of poems next to my bed, so I can dip into them at night and work my way through them. This collection of Mary Oliver poems is beautiful. She observes and reflects so closely on nature.

From "I Happened to Be Standing"

While I was thinking this I happened to be standing
just outside my door, with my notebook open,
which is the way I begin every morning.
Then a wren in the privet began to sing.

He was positively drenched in enthusiasm,
I don't know why. And yet, why not.
I wouldn't persuade you from whatever you believe
or whatever you don't. That's your business.
But I thought, of the wren's singing, what could this be
if it isn't a prayer?
So I just listened, my pen in the air.

There's a story about Oliver that she was walking in the woods and found herself without anything to write with. She later went back and put pencils in the trees so it wouldn't happen again.

Lovely book.

Now back to The Signature of All Things.

Lovely little poem Beth. For some reason Oliver is often overlooked when the leading poets are discussed but she has a way of cutting to the chase that is very affecting.

Hi Paul - I can't think of any other living poet who writes about nature as well as Oliver.

Good morning Beth! I hope you had a lovely time with Scout yesterday. I've been browsing through your photo gallery and I can tell that books are going to be an important part of Scout's life! (It looks like naps will be, too. I think we're kindred spirits!)

#14 - Lovely poem! And I love the sticking-pencils-in-trees story. I too am trying to dip into poetry collections on occasion. Right now I have Emplumada by Lorna Dee Cervantes on my desk, which is mostly a re-read, but I love her stuff.

Hi Carrie - Scout is changing every day, so every time I see her is an adventure. She has now discovered her feet, so that is amusing. Her mama is a teacher, so she understands the importance of books.

Hi Kerri - I've read a couple of poems by Cervantes so am not very familiar with her. I'll have to check her out. Right now, after finishing - are we ever finished with poetry? - the Oliver collection, I will turn to Natasha Trethewey's Native Guard - it won the Pulitzer and she is our poet laureate.

I'm about halfway through The Signature of All Things, which is very good.

Well, back to grading.

Glad to hear that you are enjoying The Signature of All Things, Beth.

I am looking forward to your review of Signature of All Things. It's on my radar.

I think you will like Native Guard. I read it earlier this year and was very impressed.

Hi Nancy. Thanks for stopping by. The Signature of All Things is a very good historical novel. I'm about halfway through it.

Hi Rhonda - I've started Native Guard. Did you read Beyond Katrina? That is excellent, as well.

Hi Beth, I really liked the poem you posted in #14. I especially liked the story of the pencils in the trees. I have one of Billy Collins' books checked out of the library and am enjoying leafing through it. I don't spend enough time with poetry.

I wasn't even going to consider reading The Signature of All Things (I hated Eat, Pray, Love) until I started seeing people whose opinion I trust just loving it. I guess I need to add it to the list...

Hi Joanne - I never read Eat, Pray, Love, but I loved Gilbert's novel Stern Men. It's been a while since I read it, but I think I liked it even more than The Signature of All Things, which is very good.

I still have 100+ pages left, so I'll comment more fully when I finish.

Hi Beth1

#19 I love it when babies discover their feet - so cute :-)

14: Beth, the first time I was serenaded by a wren was indeed a spiritual experience. That such beautiful music comes out of a small ordinary looking bird is astounding. Thanks for that poem and your thread topping poem. Words, words, words...that's what we're all about here, isn't it?

Babies are so much fun. Molly can still amuse herself for quite awhile by wiggling her fingers in the air!

#19 - are we ever finished with poetry? I think we are not ever finished. Ha! And I'm not a particularly "good" poetry reader, but I do try. And I like certain poets, although nothing too out there, mostly the usual suspects. I did recently purchase a Marge Piercy collection and am interested to see how that is.

Hi Donna - Oliver even had a poem about the upside of fall... It really is a beautiful collection. I know I will go back to it.

I spent yesterday with Scout and had a blast.

Hi Kerri - After teaching poetry, I sometimes think we try too hard with it, that we think there should be all kinds of symbols, etc. That's one thing I like about Billy Collins. His poems are pretty straightforward and can draw students in. I've read Piercy's fiction but not her poetry.

Well, The Signature of All Things is due today but I still have over 100 pages left, and I have school work to do tonight, so the book will be overdue. I should finish it Friday.

I just finished rereads of State of Wonder and A Visit from the Goon Squad. They both stand up well to rereads. I upped my rating of Good Squad because I liked it more the second time. I've been using it in a humanities class I'm teaching (college), and the students have had some lively discussions about it, which added to my enjoyment.

I also listened to an interview of Jennifer Egan about musical pauses, and she talks about her rationale for the PowerPoint chapter. Wonderful book. Now that I am done with these, I will have time to finish The Signature of All Things.

Hi Beth- Congrats on the new thread. It's great to see The Interestings on your best of the year list. I wish more LTers would have read that one.
I was disappointed in Are You My Mother?. Go figure!
Have a great weekend!

Hi Mark - Thanks for stopping by. I think Are You My Mother? - is best appreciated by a mother and/or daughter... Sons have very different relationships with mothers. I'm with you on THe Interestings -- it's still one of my favorite reads this year.

95. The Signature of All Things is very good. I didn't love it as much as some others here. It's the story of Alma Whittaker and her life through most of the the 19th century. Alma is a wonderful, complex character. I did feel the novel dragged in some places; I found myself paging through the book to see how much longer she was going to stay in certain places.

One of my favorite passages - Alma is explaining her lack of belief:
"You see, I have never felt the need to invent a world beyond this world, for this world has always seemed large and beautiful enough for me. I have wondered why it's not large and beautiful enough for others -- why they must dream up new and marvelous spheres, or long to live elsewhere, beyond this dominion... but that is not my business."

The novel is worthwhile for Alma.

Good morning, Beth!

#28 - I'll have to check out more Billy Collins. I haven't explored the Marge Piercy collection yet, but I'll get to it eventually.

#31 - I think I'll probably skip The Signature of All Things, but thank you for the helpful review.

Hi Beth,

Finally trying to catch up with others' threads and I see you have started a new one. So, here I am.

As Joanne and others have said, I thought Eat, Pray, Love was vastly overrated so I have not had any interest in reading anything else by Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm still not sure I'll read The Signature of All Things but appreciate your comments about it.

I also agree that Are You My Mother? is probably best appreciated by mothers and/or daughters, as well as anyone who shares some of Bechdel's navel-gazing tendencies (guilty). As much as I loved it, I don't think it will successfully capture a cross-cultural reader (i.e., one whose identity is different from hers on most or all dimensions).

Like the quote you included from The Signature of All Things. Like Ellen, I though Eat, Love, Pray was vastly overrated, but I may read this one.

Hi Kerri - I liked The Signature of All Things -- just not as much as some others on LT. Sometimes when there's a lot of hype, I end up disappointed. I did like the character of Alma.

Hi Ellen - Welcome! I never read Eat, Pray, Love, but I loved Stern Men. I agree -- I don't think everyone will get Bechdel. I'd certainly read more by her.

Hi Nancy - I'll be anxious to see what you think of The Signature of All Things if you read it.

I just finished Storm Front, a mystery set in Minnesota. It was OK. Enjoyable but forgettable. I enjoyed the humor (the cops don't take themselves too seriously), but the plot was overcomplicated. I probably won't read more of this series.

Next: For Whom the Bell Tolls - for my book club. It's a reread for me, but I think I was in high school when I read it.

Good morning, Beth. I'll be interested in how you like For Whom the Bell Tolls. I may just be misremembering my high school English class, but I believe I have never read anything by Hemingway.

Hi Ellen - I remember loving Hemingway, and even though he's such a GUY, I do like his writing. Most recently I've read the short stories, so I am anxious to reread the novel.

Also, I've been thinking about developing a lit class based on war stories, so this counts for work, too.

Beth, I think I would like Hemingway better in small doses. I have a copy of The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway that I purchased when I was still in my teens. I haven't read it yet! I would sign up for a lit class based on war stories. Will you be working on this idea during your sabbatical?

Hi Donna - My first LT entry on my NEW iMac. I may work on this class during my sabbatical, but I also have to take some online classes. I've never taught online (no interest), but I thought I would check out classes from a student's perspective. I really like Hemingway's short stories, especially the Nick Adams stories.

Hi Beth, I have read The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms and loved both. I have For Whom the Bell Tolls on my Kindle and I'm planning on reading it next year for my Category Challenge. I'll be interested in your opinion of the book.

Hi Judy - I've read all of Hemingway's novels. Although it's been a while, For Whom the Bell Tolls was my favorite. I'll see how it holds up.

I read The Old Man and the Sea in high school and was scarred for life. I haven't read anything by him since, but do have several on the shelves (mostly because they belong to Joe). I suppose it's possible that I'll try something else in the future, so I'll keep For Whom the Bell Tolls in mind.

I love the language in For Whom the Bell Tolls.

I haven't read Hemingway for ages, Beth. You're making me want to go there again ...

#43 - I might give it a try at some point...perhaps. :-)

I hope you're set to have a relaxing weekend!

Hi Kerri - I think we'll be cheering against each other this weekend. May the best team win!

Oh dear. Oh dear. I've read only *Bell Tolls*, and I didn't love the style at all. I don't want to go there again, but I probably should.
I do, on the other hand, want to read Mary Oliver. I had heard the pencils in trees story before (here), and I still love it.
>31 BLBera: Alma should read the Bible. It's pretty clear that here on earth is the setting for "heaven." (Try Isaiah and Revelation.)
Happy new iMac!
I'm off to see if I can find the Jennifer Egan interview online.

Hi Peggy - Hemingway is not everybody's cup of tea. Interesting that both he and Faulkner have styles that are so extreme -- and so different -- that people either love or hate them. At my book group yesterday, some mentioned issues with the style. I think speaking Spanish helps. When Robert Jordan is talking to the partisans in Spanish, Hemingway quite brilliantly - I think - changes the syntax to that of Spanish. But one of the group members said she read one comment that called For Whom the Bell Tolls the "war book of war books."

The Jennifer Egan interview was pretty easy to find. I think the one I talked about was a Canadian station.

Still reading For Whom the Bell Tolls. I don't like to read more than one thing at a time, but I have some library books that are due soon, so I may take a little break and pick up something else. Or I may return them to the library and pick them up another time. School is getting busy.

Yes, I am enjoying my new iMac. The first thing I did was to bookmark LT!

#46 - Enemies! This is true! You never know what's going to happen. I'm always nervous when they play AP. While the Seahawks were good against the run last week, the two weeks prior to that were not so good.

Go AP! Go AP!
Hi Kerri - Seriously, I think you have a much better team. But, as you say, one never knows.

Beth, I just checked out the Scout pictures on your profile page. She seems to love the written word! I love being able to see the progression of her growth. Will more time with her figure into your upcoming Sabbatical? You may not want to go back...

Oh, Beth, I just had to go have a look at your profile pics of Scout, too! She is darling … love the hair : ).

I love the pictures of Scout Beth. She is adorable.

I see that I liked The Signature of All Things much more than you did. I sometimes think you have to read a book at just the right time to really appreciate it and I think that's what happened to me.

Hi Donna - She does like to look at books. I will get to watch her one day a week while I am on sabbatical. I can't wait. I jump at the chance to babysit.

Hi Nancy - Yes, she has hair. She doesn't like it when people mess with it, though. This morning I was trying to put in pigtails, and she got mad. She's rolling over now.

Yep. Those pictures of Scout just make me smile : )

Hi Brenda - Yes, pictures of Scout always make me smile.

Cute pictures of Scout :-)

I was just coming over to say thank you for recommending Penelope Lively to me (probably a while ago) - I just finished How it all Began and really enjoyed it. Now making a list of which of her other books are available from the library - new author love!

Hello, Beth. I understand that we are football enemies today. I hope it's a good game (and I can't help but hope that the Seahawks win!).

You're adding to my interest in reading something by Hemingway. And I want to take your class on literature based on war stories. It seems that there is a lot of material out there for that, and so much of it would be (yes?) written from the male perspective. I would be interested in works you would include in the curriculum from a more female pov.

Still friends?

Hi Heather - I am so glad you discovered Penelope Lively through me. I love her -- and I am happy that there are still many of her books that I haven't read.

Hi Ellen - What I was hoping for from football was that we wouldn't be embarrassed. Amazing how our goals have fallen...

The challenge of the war stories class is finding things by women. I do have a couple of things that I want to read. And when I plan it, I will start to look more in earnest. For Whom the Bell Tolls is old, but it is wonderful. And I'm sure when I read it in high or college, I didn't fully appreciate it.

Hi Kerri - I'm a dog person, but yes, we are still friends. I would have liked it to be closer, but oh well. Enjoy Percy Harvin.

I will enjoy Percy Harvin, as long as he stays healthy. Like they say, he's definitely "explosive."

The challenge of the war stories class is finding things by women. I'm interested in hearing about what you find. Have you ever tried making an LT List? Sometimes it's interesting to see what other people add to it.

ETA: I found this list. I'm not sure if it's helpful: http://www.librarything.com/list/431/all/Women-in-War

Thanks Kerri - This is a long list - I saw a few possibilities. For a class, I probably wouldn't need more than three or four. Some of them I already had on my list.

I haven't been posting much because 1. school is keeping me busy and 2. I'm still reading For Whom the Bell Tolls. I am also reading Tunnel Vision on my Nook at the gym.

#62 - My old boss (she's down the hall) recommended Sara Paretsky the other day. I think she said you can start anywhere (but I could be wrong). I'm a start at the beginning of a series woman, myself. Have you read the whole series?

Hi Kerri - I started at the beginning and am up to Tunnel Vision, which is the sixth or so in the series. It's set in 1992, so I'm a little behind. I love Paretsky -- I would think living in Chicago, you would love her. She takes on a social issue in each of her books. I also liked Bleeding Kansas, a stand alone and a memoir, Writing in an Age of Silence. I have a hard time keeping up with series - but it is nice to know there are more out there -- kind of a go-to book when needed. I imagine they are available on audio, too.

#64 - Thanks, Beth! I'll see what they have at the library.

You'll have to let me know what you think when you get to them, Kerri.

I'm taking a break from For Whom the Bell Tolls because I got Through the Evil Days from the library and it has to go back this week. There's a long waiting list, so I'm going to try to finish it this weekend.

My daughter and I saw "Catching Fire" last night. It was good.

Beth - I am struggling manfully to catch up after my last weekend was bereft of internet.

I found For Whom the Bell Tolls a suprisingly turgid affair and I am not shocked that you are reading it in chunks. I really liked The Old Man and the Sea which had a deftness, a profundity and a sensitivity that is often lacking in some of his other work.

Have a lovely weekend.

Hi Paul - I love For Whom the Bell Tolls. I am savoring it and am really busy as the semester comes to an end. I hope your internet issues are fixed.

Have a nice weekend.

97. Through the Evil Days. The story opens with a house fire in Millers Kill, and the action doesn't really let up from the first page. Russ Van Alstyne and Clare Fergusson are called to a house fire in the middle of a January night. Russ turns the investigation over to his deputy and leaves for a weeklong honeymoon at an isolated cabin on a lake. When the investigators discover that a young girl was taken from the house -- and that she had a liver transplant so she needs her immunosuppressant drugs, the search takes on urgency.

I never like to say too much about mysteries in class I inadvertently spoil them. This book in the series is action packed, and several of the characters face crossroads. It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here.

Now, I can return this to the library and get back to For Whom the Bell Tolls and grading.

Have a great Sunday, everyone.

I never know what to say about mysteries either. I'm terrified of spoilers.

I hope you're having a lovely Sunday!

Hi Kerri - Hey - at least the Vikings didn't lose. I got a lot of papers graded and uploaded photos to my computer. I'm feeling very productive. Found a book of letters written to and from soldiers on book outlet.com.

I'm late to the party about Sara Paretsky. I read the V.I. Warshawski series start to finish back in the 1990s. I loved them. I eventually got frustrated with the whole woman-PI-goes-into-dangerous-situation-without-gun-and-without-letting-anyone-know-where-she's-going schtick, which was enthusiastically taken up by others such as Grafton, but VI is a great tough female PI. And yes, the Chicago connection would be great for one who lives there (I didn't, but I visited frequently enough at the time that I knew my way around pretty well).

Hi Beth! I hope you get a break from school for T-giving! I suppose you may have papers to grade, though....

I'm just going to skip your comments on Through the Evil Days Beth as I have less than a hundred pages to go and am really enjoying it. Then the wait begins for the next volume and I just wish she were as regular as Louise Penny but it's more like two years between books.

Hi Ellen - I'm in 1992 right now. I do get irritated with Vic occasionally for the same reasons you cited -- why do you have to put yourself in dangerous situations... But I do like that she uses her books to tackle issues. The one I'm reading now, Tunnel Vision is not one of my favorites -- it's about construction fraud (I think), and the contractors, companies, etc. are so complex and there are so many characters that I'm having a hard time keeping them straight.

I will have papers to grade over Thanksgiving, but I'll take Thursday off. With only four weeks until the end of the semester, I'm feeling pressure to get all those papers graded, so at the end I'm not drowning.

Hi Bonnie - I was wondering if you had gotten/started Through the Evil Days yet. I know there are some Millers Kill fans around here... I'll be interested to see what you think. It was a page turner, for sure.

Still reading For Whom the Bell Tolls -- slowly. Lots of school work at this time of year.

Hi Beth!

I hope you get all the papers graded and have a lovely Thanksgiving!

I see it's Bears/Vikings on Sunday - good luck!

Thanks Kerri. Happy Thanksgiving to you. Maybe the Vikes can win game number three on Sunday. :)

Have a lovely holiday, Beth.

Hi Judy. Thanks.

Yesterday, the library bookstore had a pre-holiday sale. I got two books for two dollars. The Hero's Walk and At Freddie's, one by Penelope Fitzgerald that I haven't read.

Happy Thanksgiving, Beth : ).

Today I am thankful my all my LT friends, Happy Thanksgiving Beth.

Happy Thanksgiving, Beth! I hope you had a wonderful time with your family.

Hope your day was wonderful Beth!

Hi Nancy, Paul, Mark and Bonnie - Thanks. It was a wonderful day.

98. Tunnel Vision is another in the V.I. Warshawski series. I really like this series, but this was not one of my favorites. There was a lot of business hanky panky and following the financial links and the many involved CEOs was hard at times. Still, I'll continue to work my way through the series.

I hope to have some time to finish For Whom the Bell Tolls - it is blowing me away. I know I didn't fully appreciate it when I last read it -- either in high school or college...

Hi Beth!

I look forward to your comments on At Freddie's. I've been meaning to read more Penelope Fitzgerald. So far, I've only read The Bookshop.

Hi Kerri - I'm not sure when I'll get to At Freddie's, but I've loved all the Fitzgerald I've read. I read Human Voices this year and loved it. She's written a bunch of little gems.

This game is CRAZY!

Hi Kerri - My daughter asked, "What is the opposite of titans?" as we watched. AP is awesome is the most positive take away... And we need a quarterback.

Well, I can't say that I watch every minute of every Vikings game, but I do see a lot on the Red Zone Channel and it seems like I see a lot of coaching blunders. I mean, there's a decent amount of talent on that team. I've seen teams do more with less. Do you get the sense that there are some issues with the coaching staff?

Anyway, congrats on the win!

ETA: Well, yeah, AND you need a quarterback.

I think the calls are predictable at times and they aren't always as aggressive as they could be, so yes, there are coaching issues.

And, to be fair, a couple of our receivers have some trouble holding on to the ball. Good luck tonight.

99. For Whom the Bell Tolls
One member of our book club said that she read a comment that called this novel "the war book of war books." For Whom the Bell Tolls takes place in a guerrilla group in the mountains of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Robert Jordan, an American from the International Brigade is sent to blow up a bridge. He goes to this band for help. There he meets Maria, a young girl who has been taken in by the group after her parents were killed by the fascists. Jordan and Maria fall in love.

This is a wonderful novel on many levels. First, there's the language. Hemingway brilliantly uses diction and syntax to indicate when Jordan is speaking Spanish. For example, he's talking to an old man from the band, who tells him: "I do not know how I would comport myself. I am an old man and I have wondered." Hemingway takes the Spanish and translates it into English basically word for word. Some members of my book club found the language difficult; perhaps it doesn't work as well if one doesn't speak Spanish. When Jordan talks to himself, Hemingway reverts to normal English syntax and diction. Brilliant.

This is a love story as well as a war story. After Jordan falls in love with Maria, the risks involved in his assignment seem overwhelming. There are too many passages about war and its complexities to copy. Jordan muses about the cliches that he hears to justify killing: "Did big words make it more defensible? Did they make killing any more palatable?" Jordan also admits to himself that he feels a sense of purpose in fighting for a cause he believes in although "there was no purity of feeling for those who survived the fighting and were good at it. Not after the first six months."

I'm so glad I reread this -- I know I didn't fully appreciate it when I read it in high school, even though it has always been my favorite Hemingway novel.

Next I have to pick up a library book. I have a pile that will be due soon. I think I'll read Archangel, Andrea Barrett's new book.

>64 BLBera:, 71 I'm another Paretsky lover who tired of Vic's mule-headedness. I just read her latest (I think) as an ER ARC. She still does things she shouldn't but I almost think that she's beginning to get the fact that she's not immortal nor invincible. Anyway, I enjoyed it.
I have to confess that *Bell Tolls* is my only Hemingway. I'm just not wild about the writing.
Hope you made a significant dent in those papers, Beth. My heart goes out to you.

Hi Peggy - Thanks. I am busy with grading, but there is light as we approach the end of the semester. I signed up for two graduate classes for my sabbatical, and I am very excited about world lit; I've read 4 of the 9 books for the course and the others are all ones I would like to read. It will be interesting being a student -- and with an online class.

I know Hemingway isn't everybody's cup of tea. I do like his writing. I appreciate it more now that I am older.

I'll keep working my way through the Paretsky series. I'm only about 10 to 15 behind.

I just started Archangel, a small collection of stories by Andrea Barrett.

Wow I don't think I've seen such a ringing endorsement of Hemingway, Beth. You really make me want to read For Whom the Bell Tolls. I read The Old Man and the Sea and The Sun Also Rises as a college student and I liked them but then I never read anything else. I don't speak Spanish so I wonder if that is going to be an impediment.

Thanks for reminding me that I still have a Barrett collection on my shelf to read: Servants of the Map. I liked The Air We Breathe and absolutely loved The Voyage of the Narwhal and Ship Fever so I don't know what's holding me back.

Beth, wonderful review of For Whom the Bell Tolls. You make me want to read it, too. When I think of the war novel of war novels, I think of All Quiet on the Western Front.

#88 - And, to be fair, a couple of our receivers have some trouble holding on to the ball. Well, I suppose. But at least you don't have Percy Harvin anymore, who has proven to be a complete waste of money this year. I hope this isn't an ongoing thing.

#89 - Wonderful review! Almost makes me want to read Hemingway. I know I have this book on the shelves somewhere, and I find the Spanish Civil War to be a fascinating topic.

So will you share the titles of the World Lit books? Don't be so mysterious. :-)

Hi Bonnie - I think people either love or hate Hemingway. I don't think not speaking Spanish is an impediment if you recognize that language that sounds stilted is there for a reason. And once you get going, you will probably not notice it. If you read it, I'll be interested in your thoughts.

I like Barrett a lot; she writes so beautifully about science. This is a short collection. The story I've read so far was great.

Hi Nancy - All Quiet on the Western Front is another one I would like to reread.

Hi Kerri - Me - mysterious. I like it. Actually, I was just being lazy. There are nine novels:
The War at the End of the World
Love in the Time of Cholera
The Handmaid's Tale
The Last Report of Miracles at Little No Horse
The Lowland
Cracking India
Arrow of God
The Death of Artemio Cruz
Nine Guardians

I've read the Garcia Marquez, Lahiri and Atwood, but will be happy to reread them. The others sound promising -- Castellanos and Sidhwa are new-to-me authors, but the books sound promising.

#95 - I've only read The Handmaid's Tale from that bunch. It does look like a good list! Oddly enough, I've never read Gabriel García Marquez and know that I should do something about that.
Also, do you have the right touchstone for The War at the End of the World, or is it the Mario Vargas Llosa?

#95 - That's a great reading list, Beth. I really liked The War at the End of the World and The Lowland (although I know some were underwhelmed by the latter). I have "always wanted" to read Love in the Time of Cholera but not gotten to it.

I've not yet read anything by Andrea Barrett. She sounds interesting.

So, 2.5 weeks to go, yes? Next week is finals week for our students, so things should slow down as we close in on December 13. Then we have a 3-week break during which I hope to reduce my work hours just a bit.

Good luck on the home stretch!

HI Kerri - I fixed the touchstone -- I didn't notice it wasn't Vargas Llosa. I'd just been thinking maybe it was time to reread The Handmaid's Tale -- so, good timing.

Hi Ellen - Yes, we are in crunch time, now. I hope you are able to reduce your hours a bit over the break. My last day of class is Dec. 20. We don't have a formal finals week (long story). We have 17-week semesters, which is WAY too long.

I'm excited about the list of books. I liked The Lowland more than many here, too. I think, if I remember your review, our views were similar. Great minds...:)

I think you'd like Andrea Barrett. She writes mostly short stories although I've read one of her novels.

Great list, Beth. I've read four of them and had to look up the last four books. The Vargas Llosa was already on the WL. I am starting a "Maybe" list. For Whom the Bell Tolls is my sole entry so far. A little Hemingway goes a long way with me but you make a good case for this one.

I hope the next few weeks go quickly for you!

What a great reading list! I will be looking forward to finding out what you think of all these books.

Hi Donna - Thanks for stopping by. Which four have you read? I've only read three although I had the Vargas Llosa on my wish list. I hope I am still sane when Christmas gets here. Luckily, I really don't have shopping to do.

Hi Rhonda - I have been really terrible about visiting threads the past couple of weeks. I am trying to get as much grading as possible done before finals start.

Okay, I'm going to add something by Andrea Barrett to my next amazon order.

Have a great weekend, Beth!

Ellen - I think you will like her.

For what it's worth the NY Times and Washington Post list their top books of 2013. Many of the books have been well thought of here. How the Light Gets In was on of the top ten for the Post. I find their list to be more populist, while the Times tends to run to more literary titles. But it could just be me. Still, fun to look at lists of books.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/top-10-best-books-top-graphic-nove...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/books/review/100-notable-books-of-2013.html?ad...

Ooo! That is a great list! I've read the first three, and I like L. Erdrich a lot, but the others would be new to me. I'll be eager to see what you think as you progress through them.
Those are both interesting lists. I'm kicking myself for not getting The Son when it was a Kindle deal, but it didn't look special to me. Also, my mom just finished Claire of the Sea Light and said, "Maeve Binchey in Haiti." Is that true?
Anyhow, good luck on wrapping up the semester! And a sabbatical coming up - WONDERFUL!!!!

Hi Peggy - Yes, I'm getting excited about the class. It's always interesting to see the crossovers on the list. I read Claire of the Sea Light; it was a lovely book. It was interesting to see the Post's choice of How the Light Gets In as one of the top ten of the year. I actually agree with some of the choices this year.

Two more weeks. I really hope to turn in my grades before Christmas. Thank goodness I don't have shopping to do.

Well, I'm done for the evening, I guess. Back to Archangel.

Of interest to me are The Good Lord Bird and A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.

Two weeks, Beth. You can do it.

Hi Ellen - I have the ebook of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena from the library right now. I'm about a third of the way through it, and I really like it. I loved James McBride's memoir The Color of Water, but I read a novel of his that I didn't like as much, so I've been hesitating over The Good Lord Bird.

Yes, I always get frantic at the end, and the grades are always delivered on time.

I love the End-of-Year lists! The NPR one is really neat and sort of interactive (http://apps.npr.org/best-books-2013/). Although, I'm disappointed that Hild isn't on there, as they gave it a glowing review.

Have a lovely Sunday!

Thanks for the link, Kerri. This is fun. What's not to love about year-end lists. I love the format of the NPR one. They have the biggest variety, too.

Glad you're enjoying A Constellation, Beth. I read that one this year, too. Good book!

Hi Nancy - Unfortunately, it had to go back to the library before I finished. I should be able to pick it up again in a couple of weeks. Unless I have to buy it before then.

100. Archangel: Fiction is a collection of stories about the magic of science and encountering things for the first time. Based on true events, Barrett imagines characters exposed to new ideas or technology. The stories are loosely connected; characters reappear. The times range from 1873, when, in "The Island," a young woman discovers Darwin's theories to 1939, the the field of modern genetics was starting. My favorite story was "The Ether of Space." In it, Phoebe Wells Cornelius is trying to make a living for her and her young son after the death of her husband. She writes about science, simplifying it for the masses.

One day she realizes she's forgotten to look at the world she writes about: "There were the stars, circling above. There were the stars. Brilliant, blazing, bright against blackness as beautiful as when she'd first stared at them so many years ago...Once she'd gotten serious about the work to which the stars had drawn her, she hardly ever looked at them." Her son Sam pinpoints what is important about science in a school essay he writes: "Whether Einstein's theory has been proven, or Lodge's theory of survival of the personality after death, or neither or both...What I do know is that the questions we ask about the world and the experiments we design to answer them are connected to our feelings."

Over and over, Barrett shows how feelings affect the scientists. Great book.

I have to read my book club book Miss Buncle's Book and I have The Sound of Things Falling from the library, so that's what I'll be reading next.

Hi Beth- Lots of juicy book talk over here. Let me pull up a chair: I read A Constellation early in the year it still remains one of my top reads. The Sound of Things Falling was very good too.
Good to hear the Hemingway love. He doesn't get a lot around these parts. I read this one many years ago and need to do a reread, along with A Farewell to Arms.
I am also a big fan of Andrea Barrett. I am due to read something else by her and Archangel: Fiction sounds terrific.

Hi Mark - I haven't been very good at visiting threads lately. Thanks for stopping by. I'll have to stop and see what you are reading. It sounds like we have some crossover this year.

100!!!! Well done!

I have *Constellation* waiting and also want *GLBird*......Christmas $ coming up, I hope!
Thanks for the NPR list. That was a lot of fun!

Oh, look at you with 100 books read!

Archangel: Fiction sounds good, but my short story TBR pile is big enough to take me through at least 6 lifetimes, so I'll probably skip it.

Looking forward to your comments on The Sound of Things Falling. I hope to get to it early next year.

Congrats on 100, Beth!!

Hi Beth, congratulations on reaching 100, you must be looking forward to your Christmas break and having some free time for yourself, not to mention time holiday time with your granddaughter.

Wow! Visitors. Welcome.
Hi Ellen - I see that you, too, are close to 100. And 100 was a good one, too.

Peggy - We can thank Kerri for the NPR list. I love it. I hope it becomes a tradition for them.

Kerri - I know what you mean about short stories. I can't even look at my short story collection. And I won an ER copy of Haiti Noir 2, so I will be reading at least one more collection in the near future. Maybe I'll send that one to you when I'm done. :)

Thanks Katie.

Hi Judy - Yes, I am looking forward to the break and next semester I get to take care of Scout every Tuesday.

Well, I probably should do some grading... Thanks for stopping by everyone.

I'm going to start The Sound of Things Falling later.

#119 - Well, I have been meaning to read some Danticat... :-)

I hope the grading is coming along nicely!

Congratulations on reading 100 Beth. Have you read any of Barrett's other books? I absolutely loved The Voyage of the Narwhal and Ship Fever.

Great reading list for your World Lit class. Sounds like it will be an interesting one.

I love all of the Best Of lists that come out at the end of the year. I like to see what I missed and remember the ones I loved. NPR's was interesting - I like their non-list format.

Congrats on 100 books!

Hi Kerri - I'll get the grading done. I'm at the plodding stage right now. I don't know if any of the stories in Haiti Noir 2 are written by Danticat; she edits it. I'll take a look.

Thanks Bonnie. I wasn't sure I would make it. I've read Servants of the Map and the one about the sanitarium, and one or two others, I think. I love the way she writes about science. I don't think I've read The Voyage of the Narwal.

Hi Joanne - I am hopeful for my World Lit class. At least the reading is good.

I love the year end lists. I've been meaning to go through to see what I missed to put on my 2014 list.

Well, off to school.

101. Iron Lake is the first in the Cork O'Connor series. Set in northern Minnesota, near a small Ojibwe reservation, the setting is key in this series. Cork is a likable, realistic character. Good series. I started listening to an audiobook and the reader was so terrible, I ended by reading it.

Beth - I love those lists by the NY Times and others (there is another good one on Julia's thread). Just reminds me that you can never buy enough good books!

Have a lovely weekend.

Hi Paul - I hope your weekend is wonderful, as well. Yes, we book lovers love those lists. They give us an excuse -- as if we need one!

102. Miss Buncle's Book is my book club selection for this month. I started it yesterday during a grading break and ended up reading it almost in one sitting. What a charming and witty book. I laughed out loud in places.

Barbara Buncle decides to write a book because she needs money and doesn't want to keep hens or take in lodgers (you have to read the book). To her surprise, not only is it published, but it becomes a best seller. There's only one problem with this. Her book is based on the small town she lives in. Soon, some of the villagers recognize themselves and Barbara has to listen to people reviling the author, "John Smith," and making it a mission to discover the real identity of the author -- whom they plan to horse whip.

Although originally published in 1936, this book says a lot about fame and writing. I will definitely pick up the sequels. I'll be interested to see what my book club thinks of it. We chose a light-hearted book for December purposefully.

Now, back to grading and the much less funny, The Sound of Things Falling.

Hi Beth!

#124 - As you know, I couldn't finish that one. Did you really find Cork likable? I wanted to tell him to go sit in the corner and stop being so pitiful. Ha!

Miss Buncle's Book sounds charming. I may investigate. How do you select your books for book club?

Hi Kerri - PM me your address, and I'll send Miss Buncle's Book your way. My book club started 12 years ago at work. We meet during lunch on the third Friday of the month. We thought that meeting at work would take the pressure off people feeling that they had to clean and cook. We chose Fridays because there tend to be fewer meetings on Fridays. So far, it's worked fairly well. There are 3 or 4 of us who have been with the group nearly the whole time. We meet at my house in January, our only evening meeting, to choose our books for the year. Generally, people bring books or reviews and pitch books they'd like to read. We discuss and come to a consensus. It's worked pretty well, so far.

The last couple of years people asked that we choose something fairly "light" for December.

Hmm. I do like Cork, but I think there are other things that, in combination, make him bearable. I love the setting and the Native American presence in the stories. And I cut him some slack -- his wife did kick him out of the house. :)

Beth, thanks for sharing the history of your book group with us. I like the idea of meeting away from home. I think it makes it easier to focus on the book. Can't wait to see what your group chooses for next year.

Tuesday is my day with Molly. We'll be thinking about you and Scout next semester. Have you finalized your plans for online. Lasses, etc? Is Faulkner your emphasis or did I dream that?

Hi Beth. Well, you made your 100 and then blew right past it. Nice.

I think your work book club sounds like fun. Meeting at lunch once a month, that could work. I really like my book club but I have to drive a pretty good distance to meet with them. On the other hand, we meet in the quite nice food court (not Panda Express, but local food vendors) adjacent to an excellent bookstore, so there is that.

I hope your last week goes well! I came in to the office early this morning and it's been very quiet. And I've spent too much time on LT..... :-)

#128 - You're kinder than I, regarding the Cork character. Ha!

Thank you for sharing the book club process. It's been around for quite some time - that's impressive! I've never been a part of one, but maybe some day. My friend who works in a book store runs one and has asked mye to join. Right now, I'm in an "I'm going to read exactly what I want!" mode, but when I'm more open to planning, I might give it a try.

Hi Donna - A couple of nights ago when I was tired of grading, I got out some books I want to suggest to my book club for next year. We'll see.

I signed up for a couple of online classes. One is an online World Lit class, which I am excited about. I think I posted the books above. I found an iTunes class on Faulkner, Hemingway and Fitzgerald. I'm going to listen to that. I'm look for a MOOC on lit, but so far, there's not much out there.

Tuesdays will be my Scout day next semester. I can't wait. She is more fun every day.

Hi Ellen - My book group has lasted for awhile, so something is working. I am SO ready for the end.

Hi Kerri - I am still enjoying my RL book club, so we'll keep up with it. I have read things I might not have picked up otherwise, so that is a good thing.

You should give Cork another try. Maybe someone will send you a book -- I think part of it may have been the narrator....

Four more days.

Almost there.

You're there! Right? Now you're on winter break?

*waving* at Beth

Hi Beth! Congrats on being done! Do have a lot of holiday preparation now? Anyway, I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Beth - Enjoy your holidays, starting with a wonderful weekend.

Hi Ellen, Stasia, Kerri and Paul - Classes are done - just final grades to calculate. I hope to be done by Christmas Eve. I have to mix in some holiday prep here, too.

My reading is certainly slow right now. I'm looking at a couple of books I will reward myself with when I've turned my grades in.

My book club met yesterday with universal acclaim on Miss Buncle's Book -- coming your way Kerri.

Happy end of semester Beth! Thursday was our last day of finals. With only two weeks between semesters and vacation time to fit in, we've already started assembling the spring semester reserves.

Miss Buncle's Book was one of my mother's favorites. I'm saving the sequel for a special occasion. Reading a book I know she loved makes me feel like I'm still sharing a part of my life with her.

I found an iTunes class on Faulkner, Hemingway and Fitzgerald. I'm going to listen to that. Interesting! I wasn't even aware that I could find classes on iTunes, Beth. Are these podcasts? or …

Hi Carrie - I plan on saving the sequel for the right moment, too. Some members of the book club had already read it, and they found it as charming and clever as the first one. I understand what you mean about sharing loved ones' books -- it makes a special connection.

Hi Nancy - There's an iTunes U; that's where I found the class. Most of the sessions are free -- I won't listen to the ones I have to pay for... They come in different formats.

Well, I ran some Christmas errands for my dad and took a little break. Back to grading. I have posted for one class and have three left to go.

103. The Sound of Things Falling is the story of Bogotano Antonio Yammara and his generation. He grew up in the Pablo Escobar era -- with murders, bombings and general lawlessness. When Antonio is shot as he walks down the street with a friend, he falls apart and begins to fixate on the life of the man he was walking with, Ricardo Laverde.

I ended by liking this book a lot, but it started slowly for me. I especially liked the story of Laverde's wife, Elaine Fritts, a Peace Corps volunteer. The accounts of her life were spot on -- Vasquez must have talked to volunteers to get such an accurate picture -- with the exception of the drug dealing, of course! When she was in training: "...Elaine and her classmates listened to lectures from Peace Corps veterans ... and from them they learned that the important phrases weren't the ones to do with sugar-water or milk, but rather No: No I'm not from the Alliance for Progress, No, I'm not in the CIA, and, especially No, I'm very sorry, I don't have any dollars."

The atmosphere of fear and uncertainty is well evoked. Recommended, especially if you are interested in Colombia and the drug culture.

Grades posted for two classes. Two to go. I see light...

I'm starting another library book The Bone Season. It was really well reviewed on NPR -- they mentioned the Harry Potter series in the review. This is first in a series.

Hi Beth! Good luck with finishing up your grades. Grading is definitely not my favorite part of the job! Miss Buncle's Book is now on my TBR list - sounds fun!

Hi Amy - Three classes down, one to go. I'm with you. I wish there were an easier way... Miss Buncle's Book is fun -- very clever, too. I think some of these women writers from the 1930s do not get the credit they deserve.

Hi Beth - I hope the remaining grading goes smoothly!

#143 - Nice review. I'm looking forward to this one and will probably read it earlier this year. Were you in the Peace Corps, by the way?

Oh, and I mailed your books on Saturday.

Hi Kerri - I'm working my way through my last class right now. I was in the Peace Corps, in the Dominican Republic. The parts about the Peace Corps in this book were so realistic I had flashbacks. Not, let me add again, about the drug dealing... :)

Thanks. I'm headed to the post office in a little while.

Hi Beth!

Hmmm, I now have both Miss Buncle's Book and The Sound of Things Falling on my list. P was in the Peace Corps, in Ecuador, so I wonder if she might like the latter, as well.

Good luck getting those grades wrapped up by tomorrow! And with some holiday prep. :-)

Hi Ellen - I just posted the last grades ! Hooray. I enjoyed Miss Buncle's Book and THe Sound of Things Falling -- two very different books.

Right now I'm reading The Bone Season, a young adult fantasy, which usually isn't my cup of tea, but it's keeping me turning the pages.

Now I can enjoy the holidays.

Beth- Good review of The Sound of Things Falling. I liked the book quite a bit too and would like to read some of his other work. I have the Bone Season saved on audio but haven't heard much LT buzz on it. I'll be watching for your thoughts.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!

Hooray for finishing work for the semester! Enjoy the holidays and Scout's first Christmas!

I am glad to hear you are enjoyed The Bone Season. I read that one recently and also liked it.

Happy Christmas, Beth!

Hi Mark - I remember that you did like The Sound of Things Falling. Vásquez is a good writer. I'll look for more of his work. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well, Mark.

Hi Katie - I will enjoy Scout and Christmas.

Hi Stasia - Merry Christmas to you. I've heard mixed opinions about The Bone Season, but although I don't read much fantasy, it seems well done to me.

Tomorrow I'll catch up on threads.

Hi Beth! I am trying to get caught up. Hooray for Miss Buncle's Book and for winter break! Is it next semester that you're taking your sabbatical?

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family, Beth! I'm headed over to your profile page to see photos of Scout!

eta: OMG, she's so adorable!! I love the photo of her reading with mom -- precious!

Beth, just popping by to wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year!

Beth, I want to add my own greetings for the festive season too. I have enjoyed my weekly visits to your thread this year and the warmth and good cheer always found here.

Hi Anne - Merry Christmas to you, too. Yes, I am now on sabbatical. I'll be taking some online classes.

Merry Christmas to you, Rhian.

Season's Greetings to you, Paul. I'm always happy to see you stop by. Best wishes for 2014.

Now, I'll visit some threads before wrapping and cooking.

Season's Greetings to everyone, whatever holiday you celebrate. Peace on Earth.

#147 - Oh, how wonderful! I thought about it at one point, but never got very far.

Anyway, Happy Holidays to you and your family! I hope you have a lovely time with Scout on her first Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Enjoy your first of many Christmases to come with Scout! And a happy sabbatical, too!

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Beth.

Hi Beth, congrats on getting those grades posted! Now you can enjoy the holidays!

I know this first Christmas with Scout will be special. They just keep getting better and better.
Merry Christmas, Beth.

Merry Christmas, Beth!

Merry Christmas Beth especially with your sweet little Scout to add to the joy.

Thanks Kerri, Carrie, Nancy, Ellen, Katie, Donna, and Bonnie. Scout didn't quite know what to make of packages and paper, but she did like the ribbons and bells. And she was quite taken with a couple of her toys.

104. The Bone Season is the first in a projected series of seven novels. I've heard this compared to Harry Potter. I've also seen it described as a young adult novel, but I think this is an adult novel. Fantasy isn't usually my cup of tea, but this one kept me turning the pages. The protagonist, Paige Mahoney, is a fighter, and I was pulling for her throughout. The world Shannon has created is intricate and detailed. Yet, most of the time I could follow along.

It's 2059 and England has been under Scion rule for 200 years. Any sixth sense is illegal, and voyants, as people with any kind of special ability are called, are imprisoned or executed. Paige is a dream walker -- she can get into people's minds. She is captured and taken to a secret prison city, Oxford. There she finds that an alien race, the Rephaim is pulling the strings of the Scion government.

I'd be interested in finding out what fantasy aficionados think about this. Interesting book.

Next: Almost True Confessions

105. Almost True Confessions is a light-hearted, fun read with a protagonist for all us nerds. Rannie Bookman was a copy editor until the omission of a key "l" in a special commemorative edition of the first Nancy Drew mystery, The Secrect of the Old Clock>. Now she picks up freelance work when she can get it and comments to herself on people's grammar. A confession, to confirm my place in the nerd universe, I found a mistake in her corrections...

Besides being a dedicated copy editor, she is also a snoop. So when she discovers a murdered author when she goes to pick up a manuscript, she can't resist trying to figure out who did it.
Fun read.

Next: One I've been looking forward to: A Guide for the Perplexed. Dara Horn's The World to Come is one of my all-time favorite books.

Almost True Confessions sounds fun, Beth. There are many of us here on LT claiming spots in the nerd universe, I think, LOL!

Nancy - It was a fun, light read. I was exhausted, and it was just what I needed.

Here's a blog with ALL of the book lists in the universe...

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2013/11/online_best_of_13.html

^ ALL of them?? I must go see that!!

Ellen - If you've checked it out, you understand why I said ALL...:)

Reading A Guide for the Perplexed -- very good.

Thanks for the review of The Bone Season. I am going to see if my daughter likes it.

And Happy New Year! It's bound to be a great one with that sweet granddaughter around.

Hi Beth!

#166 - Hmmm. That does sound like a funny set-up.

#170 - Must check that out!

I hope you're having a lovely Sunday!

Hi Rhonda - Happy New Year to you.

Hi Kerri - You will love all of the lists. Who knew there were so many? I hope your Sunday is going well. Go Seahawks.

106. A Guide for the Perplexed
"I only mean that people find what they wish to find, and remember what they wish to remember, regardless of the evidence presented to them."

While I didn't like this book as much as The World to Come, it's still pretty great. A Guide for the Perplexed is about memory, sisters, forgiveness, free will..., among other things.

Josie Ashkenazi is a wunderkind; she has invented software that records and files everything. When Josie shows her daughter Tali how it works, her daughter asks Josie if she has these files from when she was little. Josie tells her no, that she hadn't invented it yet. Tali tells her that Josie is lucky, that she gets to remember things the way she wants, instead of what really happened. And that's the real issue, isn't it? Do we want to know what really happened, and as the quote at the top of this review says, even if we have the evidence in front of us, we can still twist it.

Josie is kidnapped when she goes to Egypt to help set up her software in the Alexandria library. She has a lot of time to remember things in her captivity. When her captives send a fake picture of her death to Josie's husband, she knows that people aren't even looking for her anymore. And she doesn't know that her sister Judith is taking her place at home.

Each person's experience is colored by memories and memories don't always mesh with reality or the memories of others. I've just touched the surface with these comments -- we also have stories of the man who discovered the Cairo genizah and Maimonides. All the stories are related. Great book, lots to think about and talk about.

This is probably the last book I'll finish this year. Next, I'm going to tackle my first Pynchon -- Bleeding Edge.

Hi Beth, I'm just trying to catch up and wanted to wish you a Happy New Year!

Hi Beth! Happy New Year!

Thanks Joanne and Ellen: Happy New Year to you, too!

Hi Beth! Happy New Year! We need you in 2014!

Hi Kerri - I was just pausing, thinking about my top 2013 reads. Happy New Year to you.