calm reading 75 and beyond

Welcome to any visitors. I appreciate any comments and recommendations. I must admit to being a great lurker on other people's threads but I do try to say something occasionally. Though I tend to just sit in the corner and read:)



I was very quiet last year but I hope to do better in 2014. I've decided not to try a category challenge this year but I am sure that TIOLI and all the recommendations I get from reading other people's threads will add more than enough books.

Let the reading continue. - Unable to update Ticker today (29 April) but have read 39 books




and back by popular (Lynda's!) demand




glitter-graphics.com

Books read in 2014 (39 books/ 16205 pages)

January (9 books/ 4341 Pages)

1) The Tower on the Rift by Ian Irvine (664 pages)
2) Dark is the Moon by Ian Irvine (674 pages)
3) The Way Between the Worlds by Ian Irvine (635 pages)
4) Ocean Sea by Alessandro Baricco (241 pages)
5) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (420 pages)
6) Sleep, Pale Sister by Joanne Harris (394 pages)
7) Song in the Silence : the Tale of Lanen Kaelar by Elizabeth Kerner (401 pages)
8) Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (477 pages)
9) The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington (435 pages)

February (11 books/ 4250 pages)

10) Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor (517 pages)
11) Hounded by Kevin Hearne (292 pages)
12) December Park by Ronald Malfi (645 pages)
13) Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan (500 pages)
14) The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break by Steven Sherrill (312 pages)
15) Bitterwood by James Maxey (491 pages)
16) Hexed by Kevin Hearne (296 pages)
17) Hammered by Kevin Hearne (312 pages)
18) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (248 pages)
19) Frederica by Georgette Heyer (296 pages)
20) The Secret of Enduring Love by Peter Sklivas (341 pages)

March (10 books/ 4103 pages)

21) Runelight by Joanne Harris (571 pages)
22) The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness (310 pages)
23) Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (338 pages)
24) When She Woke by Hillary Jordan (344 pages)
25) American Gods by Neil Gaiman (632 pages)
26) Harvest by Jim Crace (273 pages)
27) A Natural History of Dragons : a memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan (351 pages)
28) Black Opera by Mary Gentle (680 pages)
29) Angelopolis by Danielle Trussoni (302 pages)
30) The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris (302 pages)

April (9 books/ 3511 pages)

31) Tricked by Kevin Hearne (341 pages)
32) A Burnable Book by Bruce Holsinger (473 pages)
33) Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky (209 pages)
34) The Famished Road by Ben Okri (500 pages)
35) Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett (375 pages)
36) Trapped by Kevin Hearne (292 pages)
37) 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson (561 pages)
38) The Seduction of Water by Carol Goodman (357 pages)
39) Frog Music by Emma Donoghue (403 pages)

Currently reading

The Girl With Glass Feet by Ali Shaw (292 pages)

Books into the house in 2014

January

1) December Park by Ronald Malfi (LT - ER) - read
2) Hounded by Kevin Hearne (library) - read
3) Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor (library) - read
4) The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington (library) - read
5) Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (library) - read
6) Heading Inland by Nicola Barker (onto shelves of shame)
7) Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan (onto shelves of shame) - read

February

8) The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break by Steven Sherrill (library) - read
9) Boneland by Alan Garner (onto shelves of shame)
10) The Secret of Enduring Love by Peter Sklivas (LT - ER) - read
11) Hexed by Kevin Hearne (library) - read
12) Hammered by Kevin Hearne (library) - read
13) The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness (library) - read
14) Harvest by Jim Crace (library) - read
15) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (library) - read
16) Frederica by Georgette Heyer (shelves of shame) - read
17) The Sandcastle by Iris Murdoch (shelves of shame)
18) The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld (shelves of shame)
19) Kine by A R Lloyd (shelves of shame)
20) Runelight by Joanne Harris (library) - read
21) The Black Opera by Mary Gentle (library) - read
22) When she Woke by Hillary Jordan (shelves of shame) - read
23) Neuromancer by William Gibson (shelves of shame)
24) The Birds and other stories by Daphne du Maurier (shelves of shame)
25) The Circle by David Eggers (LT-ER)

March

26) Angelopolis by Danielle Trussoni (library) - read
27) A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (library) - read
28) Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (library) - read
29) The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris (library) - read
30) Hammer of God by Karen Miller (shelves of shame)
31) The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan (shelves of shame)
32) A Burnable Book by Bruce Holsinger (library) - read
33) Tricked by Kevin Hearne (library) - read
34) Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky (library) - read
35) Reamde by Neal Stephenson (shelves of shame)

April

36) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (shelves of shame)
37) Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (shelves of shame)
38) One Day by David Nicholls (shelves of shame)
39) The Prestige by Christopher Priest (shelves of shame)
40) Abarat Days of Magic Days of War by Clive Barker (shelves of shame)
41) Frog Music by Emma Donogue (library)
42) Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett (library) - read
43) Trapped by Kevin Hearne (library) - read
44) 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson (shelves of shame) - reading

Dear Calm. Lovely to see you back and hopefully ready to read up a metaphorical storm.

Have a wonderful 2014 and cast the blues of the old year off like a tired old coat. xx

Looking forward to following you again. Happy New Year.

Hi Calm!

A very happy new year to you, calm! May the new year consist of pain free days and nights and hours of good reading!
Goodbye Mr. Bookworm, gone but not forgotten.
Welcome back kitties.

Hello everyone thanks for stopping by

Paul - good to see you here

The same to you Kerry.

Thank you wilkiec,

OK Lynda I heartily approve of your New Year wishes so I'll bring Bookworm and Owl back:)

Here they are just for you and I'll add them to my opening post as well




glitter-graphics.com

Good day, Goody calm, I trust you are well? A very productive and thoroughly enjoyable 2014 to you.

Awe! Thank you, calm! It's nice to see the whole gang reunited :0)

Welcome back!

Good day to you Richard.

No worries Lynda, I couldn't find anything I liked more than the images I used in previous years anyway:) I like the continuity as well.

You couldn't keep me away Jim:)

Very glad to see you here, calm! May 2014 be a better year for all of us!

Happy New Year to you, calm! I look forward to following your reading adventures in 2014.

aha! here you are !! Happy New Year :)

Very happy to see you here, calm!

Hi Calm. Dropping a star.

Laura - Thank you. I hope your year is happy and healthy and filled with good reading

Julia - I hope that this year at least I manage to make some comments on the books I read!

Kath - yes I decided to wait until 2014 to make a 2014 thread, pleased you found me.

Lori - I'm happy to be here as well:)

Mamie - why thank you for visiting. So very nice to see you here:)

Still, slowly, going through the new threads. More lurking than posting as always and it is probably going to take days to find everyone I normally follow and there are some new people to check out as well. This could turn into a full time job ... but I better save some time for reading and other things as well:)

Apologies if I don't post on your threads but it still hurts to type for very long and I'm more of a reader than a writer anyway:)

Calm - Batten down the hatches. I do hope the storms that look to be hitting the West of the UK and your area particularly are not affecting you too severely.

Stay dry, warm and curl up with a good book or three this weekend. xx

Calm, just checking to see that you have not been too badly affected by the storm. I see on the news that Aberystwyth promenade has been quite badly damaged.

Paul and Rhian - thanks for thinking of me.

It is not too bad here - I'm up in the hills outside Aberystwyth. So there has been high wind and rain but no damage and no flooding for me. And the electricity only flickered off briefly - which actually really surprised me, most years that is the dodgy thing in bad weather. Not sure what would happen if I tried to go out or to town though.

But the coast seems to have been battered. I saw the damage on the news and I am very sad about what has happened. I hope that they manage to repair things sympathetically.

In other news I managed to finish my first book of the year. Back later to talk about it:)

Hi calm, just stopping by to check in, don't need to respond, just have a good weekend!

I sort of waited too.. I posted NYE.. just to get it over with.

I'm looking forward to hearing about the book :)

Thanks Lynda - hope you have a good weekend as well:)

Kath - the group seems really busy at the moment ... some people are already on their second or third threads. Crazy. So I'm pleased I waited but I'm sure I still haven't found everybody I followed last year yet and then there are all the ones that slipped my notice last year and new members as well.

The Tower on the Rift by Ian Irvine Book 2 of The View from the Mirror series

I read the first book last month and rapidly moved onto the second as there was a cliffhanger ending and the same happened with this one so I have already started book 3. I like Irvine's world building and he has lots of interesting and varied characters, both female and male. Maybe there wasn't quite enough of Karan and Llian who seemed more central in the first book but it was good to learn more about other viewpoint characters, though some are still a mystery. I am interested in learning where book three takes us and fortunately I have the fourth waiting on the shelves.

Great to learn that you are inland from the stormy seas and that you are enjoying The View from the Mirror series, calm. Cliffhanger endings are fantastic when you have the next book lined up ready for reading but they frustrate me to no end when I don't have the next book beside me or *shudders* the author hasn't finished writing the next book. That last scenario is why I am always leery of starting a new series until a number of the books have already been published. I did that with The Girl Who books in the Millennium series and good thing too.... I devoured them. It really does make sense to join a series late. ;-)

Hi Lori - yes I am pleased that I have all four books in this series. This is more like one story that has been split into separate volumes as events follow on directly after the end of the previous book. I'm also wary of starting series until they are complete now, I've got a few under way that I haven't read in years - G.R.R. Martin being the obvious one.

Unfortunately I broke my favourite glasses yesterday and need to make an appointment with the optician so I'm going to have to visit the storm damaged town which I am not looking forward to. Fortunately I do have another pair but they are not as comfortable so thread browsing and reading are going to suffer for a while:(

Aberystwyth was on the news here today with the promenade being damaged and the sea looking like it wants to take the town unto its bosom. Have a nice day Calm but don't go paddling in the atlantic by any means.

Not going anywhere at the moment Paul - heavy rain and wind still. Fortunately it is supposed to quiet down a bit sometime this week as I need to venture out to get some things.

Keep warm and try Calm. xx

Have a wonderful weekend, Calm!

Calm just dropping by to have a little shudder at windswept West Wales and hope that it will not dissuade you from enjoying your weekend.

What winds! I hope you still have power, calm.

Thank you Diana - I hope your weekend is going well.

Paul - it is quiet today, a slight respite before the next weather front is due. Hope that the weather in KL is more pleasant and that you are having a great weekend.

Surprisingly Richard the power has stayed on here during the recent storms. Most winters it goes off at the least breath of wind but they did some work a while back - cutting trees away from the overhead lines and replacing some poles - since then it has mostly stayed on and any power cuts have been very brief.

Finished book three of the series I am reading earlier today and have already started the fourth and last. This is really one very long story split into volumes, fortunately I am still enjoying it but will probably need a change of pace when I finish it.

So glad to hear that you've had power throughout all the crazy weather - we've lucked out in that way, too, and it was a concern for awhile with the ridiculously low temperatures here.
Hope you have a great weekend!

Hi calm, just catching up a bit this evening and hoping by now you were able to have your glasses replaced. Gosh, you've had some nasty weather your way. Hope it's all past you now and you can dry out.

Catching up at last, calm, and glad to hear you are surviving the weather intact and without power loss. I hope you've managed to get your glasses repaired.

I haven't come across the Irvine series before. Glad to hear you are enjoying it and have all the books lined up. I wonder what you will go onto next once you've finished it?

Thanks Amber - yes lucky to keep power in this weather.

Lynda - still haven't even made an appointment. The weather is so terrible I don't want to take the trip to town. It is still raining very heavily and more to come as well.

Hi Genny - Hope things are going well for you. Weather is awful, I'm really looking forward to things drying out sometime later this year:) I don't think I will be able to get the glasses repaired so I'm still wearing the spare glasses.

The only thing with the Irvine's is that they are real chunksters - over 600 pages in each book! and he has written more in the same world which I would like to track down sometime.

Next up ... I'm not sure I have some books on hold at the library if I manage to get into town or my latest ER book but that is a chunkster as well. Also plenty on the TBR shelves to choose from, have to wait and see what appeals.

Calm. Things are, well, calm over her in less windy (I hope) West Wales. I trust that your reading is going well and that you are about to enjoy a lovely weekend. xx

Thanks for stopping by Paul, less windy indeed. Reading is going slowly but I did finish the Irvine series and I'm now reading Ocean Sea by Alessandro Baricco, a very strange little book.

Still haven't managed to get into town but will have to next week, though I am dreading it a bit. I don't want to see the damage so will avoid the prom, but I do have to collect some library books that are on hold and get some groceries.

Hi calm, glad to hear it is more calm there these days :) and hoping all is well :) in every way.

I was wondering where your thread was! Found it through the introductions thread. Funny that we're almost a month into 2014 and I'm still searching for various threads! Guess that tells you something about how active the group is. Hope you're able to have a peaceful end to the weekend!

Waving to calm. No chance you'll see it though cause it feels like -13 c outside (I converted, pats self on back) and I'm in my nice warm house.

Hope you're having a good evening.

Great to see you Faith. I really don't know if I have found everyone yet, but the posting madness is calming down a bit so I can take some time to take a look.

Waves back to Lynda. Hope you are having a good weekend and keep warm.

Just a quick post to say hello... and wish you well :)

Thanks Kath.

I am off to a slow start and still finding favorite people--starred you again! I look forward to lots of good comments here on your thread. Stay warm and dry.

Found you calm! Glad to hear you made it through the storms safely. Hope you will be able to make it into town soon.

Thanks for finding me Kim. Still staying warm and dry - by not going out!

Hi Heather - I must go to town very soon ... probably tomorrow but I have been saying that for weeks!

Hi calm, stopping by with Hellos for you. I see you are reading a Baricco I haven't read yet. Looking forward to finding out if Ocean Sea continues to be a strange story - that word perfectly describes my impression of his book City!

Hi Lori - yes it was a strange story all the way to the end. Very weird but I did like it:)

and in other news I finally made it into town. Confession time!

From the library
Hounded by Kevin Hearne (lots of buzz about this series at the moment and just in time for Fantasy February)
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor (sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone which I just read and enjoyed, another Fantasy February read as well)
The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington (a medieval fantasy, I read The Folly of the World last year and a conversation with someone who left recommendations on my SantaThing page led me to want to read this sooner rather than later)
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (my hold on this finally came in, really looking forward to it)

Onto the shelves of shame

Heading Inland by Nicola Barker (Paul Cranswick sent me Wide Open last year and I want to read more of her work)
Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan (hadn't heard of this before but I liked the sound of it and looking at the work page a number of other 75ers and other reviewers I like have read and liked this)

I predict that you will be requesting HEXED very soon, once you buzz through HOUNDED :)

If you and Richard (among others) are right I'm sure I will Kath. I will have to request that one as it is in a branch I don't visit and for some reason the library system has Hounded, Hexed, Hammered and Trapped (1, 2, 3 and 5 of the series) so if I really like it I'm going to have to ask them to get Tricked (4) and the later books.

It sounds like a fiendish Long Island Texican plot to get everyone Hexed, Hounded, Hammered and then Trapped. Are we sure RD didn't write these bloody things he keeps, quite convincingly, getting everone to buy. Haven't folded myself yet but I doubtless will.

Have a great weekend, dear Calm.

Hi Paul - I'm not spending my own money on them:) They do sound like my kind of books though so I am happy that the Long Island Texican Satanic Bookwarbler (among others) has been singing their praises.

Weekend back to cold, wet and windy so pleased to be inside lurking checking out LT threads.

Dear Calm - hoping for a fabulous February for you my dear. One filled with pleny of books and much, much more posting. Hope that wet and windy West Wales is being kind to you. xx

Finally managed to update the reading list in post 2

Total January (9 books/ 4341 Pages)
1) The Tower on the Rift by Ian Irvine (664 pages)
2) Dark is the Moon by Ian Irvine (674 pages)
3) The Way Between the Worlds by Ian Irvine (635 pages)
4) Ocean Sea by Alessandro Baricco (241 pages)
5) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (420 pages)
6) Sleep, Pale Sister by Joanne Harris (394 pages)
7) Song in the Silence : the Tale of Lanen Kaelar by Elizabeth Kerner (401 pages)
8) Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (477 pages)
9) The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington (435 pages)

Now I need to work out which one I didn't add to the TIOLI challenges as I only recorded 8 books read there.

Hi Paul - still wet and windy. I'm so looking forward to spring and a chance for some better weather.

Just a drive by hug from me.. and from Dunkers too... his hugs are more like leans.. but you know..

Hi calm, Of Bees and Mist looked familiar to me. So I checked and rec'd it as an ARC a couple of years ago. I gave it 3 stars which is a pretty good rating for this type of book. Look forward to your thoughts. Hope your having a good Tuesday!

I read and reviewed an ARC of Of Bees and Mist too, and gave it 3.5 stars! I don't remember much about the book but get a positive feeling at seeing the cover & thinking about my experience reading it, so that's a good sign. Looking forward to your thoughts on it too!

Thanks Kath - give Dunkers a scritch from me. Hope he is doing well. Love those doggy leans:)

Hi Lynda - good to hear that about Of Bees and Mist, it has been added to the shelves of shame and who knows how soon it will filter to the top:)

Hi Faith - more positive feed back on Of Bees and Mist. It is getting nudged further up the to read pile:)

Actually I just finished Hounded, I'm another one who is hooked by Atticus and Oberon. Now I need to pick a new book to read so I need to go through the TBR shelves and pick the next book. I will have to look at what will fit TIOLI though and I need to find my copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray for the OLOB group read.

Morphy posted this recently and I've seen it around but haven't tried to fill it in before.

Describe yourself: The Little Stranger
Describe how you feel: Bodily Harm
Describe where you currently live: Other Lands
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Land of Spices
Your favorite form of transportation: Walk in a Lost Landscape
Your best friend is: The Angel in the House
You and your friends are: The Invisible Ones
What’s the weather like: Hard Winter
You fear: The Folly of the World
What is the best advice you have to give: Whisper
Thought for the day: Things fall Apart
How I would like to die: All Passion Spent
My soul’s present condition: Emotionally Weird

I LOVED Of Bees and Mist! I really did. I bet you do, too :)

Thanks Kath - I hope I do. I must have missed the buzz when it was an ER but I liked the sound of the blurb when I spotted it on the shelf so I'm going to see if there is a way to fit it in this month. Though I just started my 645 page ER book so I'm not sure exactly when.

Hi calm, like you, I decided I needed to spend more time interacting with the group than I did last year. Even so, I haven't managed to star and visit all the threads I'd like to yet, but slowly slowly, I'll get there! I really love your answers to the meme you did today. I might read Laini Taylor's second book too for FF this month, though I have too many great options!

Oh goody good good! More Atticus love! Yay! And a big happy Hump-Day smooch for you, calm, newest fan of the Iron Druid.

I just picked up book #3 in the Iron Druid Chronicles. I didn't mean to... I really didn't.

Well, I will keep an eye out for when you do read Bees :) I'm interested in your thoughts.

Hi calm, hope your Sunday's going well.

Ilana - quite obviously I am failing already. I do read lurk more than I post so I guess I am kind of invisible to the group:) I've looked at that meme several times but wasn't sure if I could find book titles that would work - pleased you like my answers. The Laini Taylor was good, I'm really looking forward to the third book. Looking at my local library website it looks like it should be an April release date here.

Richard - yes Atticus and Oberon are fun. I've got the second book reserved at the library but it has to come from another branch - I hope to get it before the end of the month.

Kath - I'll probably pick up book #3 at the same time as book #2, if it is still on the shelf. Not demanding reading but I liked the characters and want to see what happens next.

I finished my ER yesterday so I started Bees last night, it is good so far.

I did go to town on Thursday so picked up a couple of books one from the library The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break and one second hand Boneland by Alan Garner, only problem with that is that it is probably 30 years since I read Weirdstone of Brisingamen and Moons of Gomrath and I no longer have copies so will have to see if I can get them from the library or pick them up second hand somewhere before reading it.

Hi Lynda you slipped in there did it really take me so long to write this post:)

I'm watching the Olympics - mainly the figure skating and lurking on LT. So not a bad Sunday so far. Hope you are surviving the cold and Dorian Gray.

Hi calm, stopping by to get caught up with you. like you, I am finding it easy to watch the sporting events and surf LT threads.... a lot easier than trying to read a book and watch.

I guess I am kind of invisible to the group

Well I can see you just fine, Calm. xx

Hi calm!
Bees is one of the many on my list still. So far so good is a good sign. :)

Hi Lori - definitely easier - the Games are on the BBC here so no adverts to pick up a book.

Hi Paul - I read so many threads and son't post on them so how do people know that I am reading about their lives and books.

Hi Kara - it is so good to see you back in the 75ers, hope work eases up some and you can e a regular visitor. Bees is still good but it isn't quite what I thought it would be though I didn't have many expectations going in.

Just thought I would check in to say that I received an ER book this morning The Secret of Enduring Love by Peter Sklivas.

I also finished Of Bees and Mist - I did like it, but I'm not sure how to categorise it ... it is not strictly fantasy or magical realism; interesting characters and some strange happenings in an almost real world. It wasn't a "happy" read and I wondered if the bees and mist symbolise problems in marriages rather than being "real".

The weather is getting rather extreme here - the winds are really high and the rain was so heavy that the drains are having trouble taking the water away:( Everything is so waterlogged. Still have power but there have been a couple of flickers, so I might lose it any time.

#76 Just checking in to see how you'd weathered the storms, calm. I hope you are safe and warm at home and haven't suffered a loss of power. The updates on the weather in Wales last night were quite scary.

I saw this on Facebook today and I admit that it made me laugh out loud:



Hope you're safe, dry, and warm!

Heather surprisingly the power stayed on here. I think this is my first winter without at least one power cut. Haven't noticed any damage near by but I haven't really looked except directly around the house. Seems like a good idea to stay very close to home. Yes the damage has been horrendous near the rivers and coast and I expect that there will be trees down somewhere near by. It is absolutely crazy what has been happening I really hope that things calm down soon.

Richard - that about covers it, though there is a small lull at the moment.

Yes I am safe, dry and warm but I'm really looking forward to the day I can actually go out and say the same:)

Glad to see that you've come through the storm unscathed Calm.

I don't want to pile on the agony but there was the report of a water shortage in the state of Selangor here last week because of no rain in 23 days. Unheard of apparently. You got it all over there are Richard nicely points out.

Have a warm, dry and calm weekend, Calm. xx

I was just chatting with a UK friend on FB about all the weather..
I hope things dry out in the UK soon....

categorize?

I don't, usually. I loved that one, and I'm glad you liked it too :)

Happy weekend greetings, calm! Yeah, I was going to mention Of Bees and Mist in the same breath but changed my mind cause it is and it isn't. If there's a genre called Dreamlike State then I'd put in there :0}

I just finished Dorian Gray! Wow! Excellent in every way. I sort of remember the movie but I must have been very young because I don't recall the debauchery or perhaps it all went over my head. I read this for One Book, One Lt but I haven't cared for the conversation over there - but I'm glad to have read the book.

Thinking of you in this nasty weather I'm seeing on tv.

hello all you lovely people. Thanks for keeping my thread warm while I took a short break.

Rhian - thank you I'm pleased as well but then there aren't any big trees too close, unlike one of my neighbours who lost some tiles and guttering when one came down. Apparently a number of trees that came down on the roads locally actually hit moving cars - but I didn't hear if any one was actually hurt.

Paul - yes the weather definitely seems unbalanced. I hope that the rain moves to where it is actually needed soon.

Kath - Some drying out would be appreciated even if I wasn't hit like a lot of the country.
Yes I like Bees and Mist - will have to see if he has written any thng else.

Lynda - whatever it was it was good:) Congratulations on finishing DG I haven't got around to digging out my copy for a re-read yet - too many unread books around:)

Kara - thank you but fortunately I'm in an area that isn't too badly affected. The coast was battered and some trees came down in the high winds but I stayed hunkered down at home.

But I did have to go out yesterday - dentist appointment (just a check up)
Of course going into town meant some book browsing - mostly from the library. I've touchstoned them in my acquisitions post at the top of the thread so will just list them here.

Hexed by Kevin Hearne
Hammered by Kevin Hearne
The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness
Harvest by Jim Crace
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

but also some onto the shelves .
Frederica by Georgette Heyer - recent/ongoing? group read and it is years since I read any Heyer
The Sandcastle by Iris Murdoch - another group read book and I have never read any Murdoch
The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld - sequel to The Interpretation of Murder
Kine by A R Lloyd - a book I read as a child and as the adult section of my favourite source of second hand books was closed off while an electrician was working and a trip into town isn't complete without buying at least one book there:)

Calm, I am so glad you dropped by my thread! I can't believe I didn't get you starred at the beginning of the year. I KNEW there was someone missing in my British friends who would be in all that weather, but the threads have been such chaos this year--well, no excuses! I just had a mental obfuscation and I'm sorry, but I'm really happy to be here now because I love following your thread.

Now, books. I've read the first two Hearne books and have Hammered here on my shelf waiting for me to clear the library books out of the way to get to it. I did the Frederica reread already. The last thing I need is to get into another series--is the Irvine quartet really worth my time and effort? You know I love good fantasy, but there is so much average fantasy out there--what do you think?

Thanks for finding me Roni :) The threads have been pretty crazy this year.

I'm enjoying the Iron Druid books - just need the library to get number 4 and I am really looking forward to it. I've already started Frederica, I haven't read Heyer since I was a teenager and I doubt very much if I'll comment on the group read thread but it is fun and already reminds me of how much I enjoyed her books when I was younger.

The Irvine series was really good. Lots of female characters. Strong in some ways and flawed in others so no Mary Sues. Actually I would say that all the characters are flawed in some way but they are more interesting for that. I would say that each of the first three had cliffhanger endings and the story picks up immediately in the next book so it is more like one story in four volumes than a regular series. I wasn't 100% happy with the ending but, apparently, the next series set in the same world is set a couple of centuries in the future and I will be reading them if I can get my hands on them.

Stopping by to get caught up with things in your world, calm, and I see another fan of the Iron Druid books! I will get around to starting that series sometime this year - not sure when but all this druid love is convincing me it is the right thing to do. ;-)

Okay, I'm going to put the Irvine books on my wishlist then. But my library only has two books by him, singletons, so it may be a while.

Also forgot to say I enjoyed your meme.

I give up. Our system will not shelve the three Iron Druid books I have offered to them. They will not buy more. So, either I guy them or stop at #3. As much as I hate to do it, it looks like #3 will be the last for me :-/

Lori they do seem to be the thing of the moment. They definitely suited my mood this month:)

Roni - I'm definitely looking out for more Irvine books, hope you like his work as well. Thanks for enjoying the meme.

Kath - that's annoying. I do hope that you find a way to continue reading about Atticus and Oberon.
Now I wonder if my library will buy the missing books of the series. They are normally quite good about things like that though there are talks about council cutbacks and there is going to be a huge amount needed to pay for all the recent storm damage.

Speaking of libraries I went out again today!
Runelight by Joanne Harris and Black Opera by Mary Gentle

A charity shop was also holding a 3 for 2 offer on books and who could refuse that:) So in like new condition, with bookmarks, I got When she Woke by Hillary Jordan; Neuromancer by William Gibson and The Birds and other stories by Daphne du Maurier

Very nice haul from the charity shop! The Birds was by du Maurier?! I never knew that!

Thanks Richard - it was a nice haul. I knew that she wrote the original short story but it is a very long time since I read any of her work and I can't remember if The Birds was one of them.

Kath - can you get them via inter library loan?

Good idea Dr Jim:) Didn't you recently learn how to do that Kath?

Another book came into the house. Last year LT was doing The Circle for OB-OLT and offered a number of copies for UK readers. I had given up hope of ever getting it so was surprised to get a book shaped package in the post but it has finally arrived!

Hi calm! just catching up :) When She Woke has been on my wishlist for awhile so I will be curious to see what you think of it when you get around to it.

Hi Kara - that might even be in March. It has the title written in red so will fit one of the TIOLI challenges:) I do have library and ER books to finish first so we'll see how things go. I do vaguely remember liking The Scarlet Letter when I was a teen so When She Woke has been on my radar for a while, I was pleased to find a copy.

>94 drneutron: The dreaded ILL? Probably.. but I am just going to catch up on some other things for now.

>95 calm: Well, I went on my own time to a different library to learn, but the site we use to achieve the ILL was down. Really. Down. She knew .. as it had been down the day before as well, and she uses it on a daily basis, but she didn't bother to call me. I was none too pleased. I have to go back, but I need to get my life back in order first...

Sending good weekend wishes your way calm ...

Oh I forgot that part Kath, well I hope that next time all goes smoothly.

>95 calm: How nice to receive a book you weren't expecting.
Trust that the weather is slowly becoming more amenable in West Wales and that you have a lovely book filled weekend. xx

Well Paul. I had given up hope of receiving it but ERs can arrive after months:)

Weather! Cold and windy, so I suppose a good day to stay in and maybe do some reading:)

I am still missing January's ER book :-(
Oh well, it;s true that some books take forever. I have had one or two that never did arrive...
Sending happy mojo to you

January is not so bad but I hope it does turn up for you. I've had some not turn up as well but I guess that is part of the ER gamble:)

Thanks for the happy mojo Kath.

Hi calm!
checking in :)

Tip toeing in to say HOWDY! Hope you're filling these dying days of winter with good books!

Oh my I haven't been to my own thread for ages! Hi Kara and Lynda.

Lynda - some good reading so far this month and I'm now reading American Gods, which I really liked the first time I read it. and the weather has turned spring like here - clear blue skies and warm outside.

I have been out a couple of times this month and picked up some more books.

From the library
Angelopolis by Danielle Trussoni (sequel to Angelology}
A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (already read this one and it ended up being a good read though I wasn't too sure at the start)
The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris (her latest book, I'm really looking forward to this one)

Onto the shelves

Hammer of God by Karen Miller (the third in a trilogy and I already have the first two)
The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan (prequel to a series I have read)

I better add these to my LT library and get reading:)

Hi Calm. I'm also enjoying the start of spring :-) Glad to hear you enjoyed Burial Rites as that's one I've been hoping to get from the library soon.

Nice list of books.. I look forward to your thoughts.. especially on the Trussoni book...

Glad to hear that you have been out and about..

Oooh, good haul! I have a few of those on the wishlist myself! Is there one you're thinking of reading first?

Thinking about your travails with the elements this year so far, I thought to let you know that in the locality here water rationing has occurred for the first time in living memory. No rain for seven weeks is a record apparently. I am glad they started the rationing because it rained today.

Have a lovely Sunday. xx

>107 souloftherose: Heather I hope you get Burial Rites from the library soon, I really liked the picture of Iceland the author created. Spring keeps teasing us it is not really here yet.

>108 mckait: Kath - I expect I'll get to Angelology sooner rather than later as it is a library book. Not so sure about the getting out and about bit - one of those was a dentist visit, no problems but it is still not the best reason to go out.

>109 dk_phoenix: Faith - I'm not sure which one I will be reading first I still have some earlier library books to read. Probably I'll just try the first paragraphs and see which one appeals the most at the time:)

>110 PaulCranswick: Paul - the world's weather seems very mixed up it looks like we are getting your rain. I hope that your water shortage is soon over.

>11 drneutron: True, but it is still out. Out can be a victory

Hi Kath - yes out is a small victory and somehow I've agreed to go to the swimming pool with a friend tomorrow ... eeks!! What have I done ... Fortunately I managed to find a costume that still fits but I don't know if I remember how to swim. I might just end up floating in the shallow end.

I'll be interested in seeing what you think of the Marie Brennan book.

>114 ronincats: Hi roni - it definitely looks interesting and I haven't read any of her work before. Have you read it?

Hi Calm, Because PaulC told me we share the most books in the 75-ers I had to go and star you!

Thanks Connie - I do lurk on your threads but I don't post much anywhere.

No need or pressure, Lurking is alrigth!

Sending hugs!

I do a lot of it Connie - a lot less painful to just scroll and read:)

Thanks Rdear. Hugs are always appreciated.

So... how was swimming?

Hi calm, hope all's well. I really liked Burial Rites too.

Dear Calm - I notice that Connie has eloquently introduced herself after I noticed that you have the largest share of her library. I am not at all surprised to see that you share most books with me in the group.

Have a lovely weekend in springlike West Wales. xx

Hi Kath - Fortunately the pool was pretty quiet but swimming was a little bit painful. I did manage to do a bit of floating to try and relieve some of the aches and pains I think I will be going again next Monday as my friend/neighbour says she wants to make it a regular thing and if two of us go it is more likely that she will actually go:)

Hi Ilana - Burial Rites was good, such a hard life and so sad.

Hi Paul - I've been lurking on Connie's thread for a while but it is always nice to have new visitors, thanks for prompting her visit:)
It wouldn't be hard to match a lot of books with you as you have such a large and diverse library.
Unfortunately spring seems to have disappeared it is wet and windy again, with potential frost over the weekend. I'm sure I will still have a lovely weekend whatever the weather.

*Happy weekend wave*

Checking in to see how things are with you calm. I love swimming but never seem to find the time these days to engage in the sport/exercise. I loved the swimming pools my last trip to the UK but was a little surprised at how cold a temperature pool water is kept at..... can you tell it has been a while since I was last swimming? ;-) My childhood summers were spend swimming in a outdoor pool so of course, the temperature outside had some impact on the temperature of the water in the pool and the warmer the day, the more inviting the pool was.

Calm, no, I haven't read it. I've read Doppelganger by Brennan and have the sequel to that, but those are pretty traditional fantasies and A Natural History of Dragons sounds a lot more interesting.

Hi calm! I would think that the weightlessness feeling you get while swimming may be beneficial to you. Glad you're going back. Do they also have a hot tub? That might feel good too.
Have a fantastic week!

Thanks for the wave Diana.

Lori - I used to do some swimming outside - lakes, river and sea but I haven't for many years. The pool doesn't feel cold to me and the building itself is uncomfortably hot as far as I can tell. I don't get much exercise any more but I do like being in water.

Roni - I did read it and it was quite enjoyable. This one is more about the MC's childhood and the first scientific expedition she goes on as a young woman. It is an interesting world and I am looking forward to the sequel.

Lynda - unfortunately I woke up coughing and sneezing this morning so had to cancel the swim this week. No hot tub there and I've never been in one but it does sound like it would be beneficial. I hope you have a great week.

>129 calm: I used to do some swimming outside - lakes, river and sea but I haven't for many years

I absolutely love swimming outside! One of my favourite summer activities.

I've been lurking but not posting, feeling a bit antisocial recently and didn't want to post anything too negative. But I am still around, still reading ... very slowly

March (10 books/ 4103 pages)

Runelight by Joanne Harris
The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Harvest by Jim Crace
A Natural History of Dragons : a memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan
The Black Opera by Mary Gentle
Angelopolis by Danielle Trussoni
The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris

and bringing more books into the house.

At the end of March I went to the library and picked up:-
A Burnable Book by Bruce Holsinger (reading at the moment, good so far)
Tricked by Kevin Hearne (more Aticus and Oberon - already finished, great stuff)
Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky (classic SF)
and one from the pound shop Reamde by Neal Stephenson (a lovely hardback edition but a bit of a wrist-breaker. I've liked his other work and now I can take my time about reading this)

Then yesterday I went to the doctor, and visited a second hand bookshop

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (read When She Woke last month and I have't read this since I was a teenager so thought it was about time)
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (I have never read this!)

and a charity shop which was doing a 3 for the price of 2 offer
The Prestige by Christopher Priest (vaguely on my radar so pleased to find it)
Abarat Days of Magic Days of War by Clive Barker (I have read this but was on the look out for my own copy - this is the illustrated hardback)
One Day by David Nicholls (not really sure if this is my type of book but needed a third book)

That is not too slow a reading progress dear Calm. 4000+ pages is respectable by most standards.

Hope you can chase the blues away and give us the pleasure of your company a little more often. xx

Stopping by with hopes - and best wishes - that April is a lovely month for you, calm!

Looks like March was a good reading month, calm! I'll definitely put the Brennan book on my wishlist. That's a Mary Gentle book I haven't heard of--what did you think? And I'm enjoying the Iron Druid books as well.

Paul - it feels slow for me, but you are right most people don't read as much. I just hate that I can't read like I used to. I would love to chase the blues away as well but ... oh well ... we'll see:)

Thanks Lori.

Hi Roni - the Brennan was fun, I'm looking forward to the next one.
I hadn't heard of The Black Opera before I saw it on the library shelf. I really like her work and this one was very good. It is set in an alternate Italy, shortly after the battle of Waterloo. Music can perform miracles, the dead don't always stay dead and a librettist is asked to write an opera by the King. There is a great cast of characters, interesting story and a well developed alternate world.
The Iron Druid series is great, I loved Tricked but I have a soft spot for the trickster gods and the relationship between Atticus and Oberon lightens what could be a very dark and gory story.

Hi Calm - I'm delurking to say that I've managed to collect those hardback Abarat books as well, the illustrations are really something. I've only read the first book. I'm terribly behind on reading scifi and fantasy, just making my way slowly through Jo Walton's What makes this book so great and I've barely heard of any of the books she's talking about.
Hope your mood improves as the season warms up a little.

>135 calm: I have never been able to replicate my reading speed from my student days when I was regularly above 200 books a year. SWMBO, the kids, and my businesses conspire with LT to keep my numbers down a wee bit.

Have a lovely weekend.

Kerry - they are well worth getting in Hardback, Clive Barker is so talented - in a warped and twisted way:) I really need to get the third someday. There is so much good fantasy and SF out there and the Walton sounds interesting.

Paul - well you do have work and family to cut down on potential reading time. I'm just frustrated that I can't find out what is causing my fingers to swell, really makes it uncomfortable to read and type:( Hope you and yours have a great weekend.

calm... I know what you mean. If I posted what I was really feeling, I would probably be on the kick'er out of LT list. I am trying to drag myself out of the mire.. hard.

Nice list of books... I have read some Clive Barker, but not that one. I have liked the ones I read, though.

The Gospel of Loki? I have to look at that one.

Take care of you and I hope you get hit with a bout of cheerful, soon. For that matter, I hope that I do, too.

hugs

Kath - if you knew the number of potential posts I have deleted:) That mire is difficult to dig yourself out of hope you get there.

I like the Abarat books I hope you do if you try them, I think there are three so far.

I think you would like The Gospel of Loki, Joanne Harris seems to know her Norse mythology and I liked Loki's voice in this one.

I hope you get your cheerful soon as well.

Hugs back

Ha, I'm another that writes posts and then deletes them. Yes, the Arbarat world is weird and the art really enforces that impression. I've also read his The Thief of Always which is a YA or children's book if I remember rightly. I have his Weaveworld on Mt tbr, one of those fantasy epics that looks too big to crack open.
What makes this book so great is interesting reading, just that she makes me realise how little classic scifi I've actually read.

I've added The Gospel of Loki to my 'to read' list as well.

Kerry - Weaveworld was my first Barker and I love it, I hope you do get around to reading it someday. I definitely prefer his fantasy to his horror though it is still dark and horrific in places. I can't remember if I have read The Thief of Always.

I read a lot of scifi as a teen - Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein, etc. but my local library doesn't have What makes this book so great but it is a very recent book so maybe they will get it sometime.

I hope you like The Gospel of Loki.

Hi Calm, I hope you find some place inside your self to get out of this mire!

And I loved Weefwereld

Popping in to say Hi! I, too, bemoan the decrease in reading time and speed. Oh well. At least we will never run out of books to read!

Just stopping by to say hi, calm. I really hope things pick up for you soon.

Hi calm, it was nice to see you in my thread :)

Home all is well in your neighborhood?

Hi calm, just realized I hadn't dropped by in quite a while. Hope the blues have lifted. For what it's worth you haven't been alone keeping company to the black dog. He seems to have many friends lately, albeit reluctant ones.

Looking back at your March reads, I really loved Burial Rites by Hannah Kent and may reread that one eventually. Not so for American Gods. I got the anniversary extended edition and found it much too long and the kind of fantasy that I just couldn't get into. I put The Gospel of Loki on my Audible wishlist when it came out, and now added you as a recommender. I really liked my first Harris book, Gentlemen and Players, and just purchased my second this week with Chocolat. She certainly seems to have quite a range. Always exciting, that.

Happy Easter!

>143 connie53: Connie - Weaveworld is a very good book ... IMO at least:) I wonder how it read in translation, your English is so good that I am always a little bit surprised to see the titles in Dutch.

>144 Berly: Kim, so good to see you around the threads. Always plenty to read indeed:)

>145 souloftherose: Heather - I hope so too.

>146 mckait: Kath - Not too bad around here, still going swimming but I moved awkwardly and triggered a long bout of pain:( but feeling slightly better today so thought I would catch up on my neglected thread. Hope things are getting better for you.

>147 Smiler69: Ilana - that black dog does get around and he is never a welcome visitor.

Joanne Harris is a versatile author I think my favourite so far is Holy Fools, historical fiction set in a French convent. She is also well worth following on Twitter (if you use it) she is very funny.

Really sorry you didn't like American Gods but I can see that it wouldn't be to everyone's taste. Burial Rites was really very good, such a harsh life but described so well.

>148 wilkiec: Diana - those bunnies are getting around today. I hope you have a great Easter.

Stopping by with Happy Easter wishes, calm!

>149 calm: Reading Weefwereld was a few years ago ( I think maybe 15), but I have good feelings about that book still.

I'm used to reading translated books. I really don't see any flaws at all. But I have Dutch friends who are reading books exclusively in English. They seem to think the translations are not that good. I just think it's what you are used to.

Happy Easter, calm!

Ohhh, those are just adorable, Lynda!!

A wonderful earth-renewing day to you, calm, and many more happy reads ahead.

Glad to know you were another fan of Holy Fools. It has been on my wishlist for some time now, but as you are the second recommender, I'll move it up the list of future acquisitions.

I'm on several social media sites, including twitter, though indirectly, as my blog posts end up there, but I've never taken to spending any time on it and haven't really figured out what it's all about.

Hi Calm! Just wanted to swing by and say Hi as I make my rounds to catch up. Hope you are doing well and and reading lots of great books! :)

Hi calm :) Hope life is good !

Calm, just a little catch up with my favourite West Walian. I hope your weekend is being extra kind to you. xx

Howdy calm! no need to respond, just wantcha to know I'm thinking about you. Hope you're having a good day!

Hi Calm! Everything alright?

Just dropping in to say hi.

Sorry if people were worried. I really didn't realise it had been so long since I last de-lurked here but I just didn't feel up to posting.

Thank you >150 lkernagh: Lori, >152 Carmenere: Lynda and >154 richardderus: Richard for your lovely Easter messages.

>151 connie53: Connie - I suppose it is what you are used to and I do read books that have been translated from other languages into English

>155 Smiler69: Ilana - I like Historical fiction and for some reason I like those set in small communities (villages, monasteries, convents, etc.) so it was a good one for me I hope you do like it when you get around to reading it.

I don't follow many people on Twitter, a few Lters and some authors so I'm not overwhelmed by Tweets. But I don't Blog and I don't do Facebook. LT is my main social site:)

>156 jolerie: Valerie it is so good to see you back on LT and the new addition to your family is adorable, I must de-lurk on your thread sometime:)

>157 mckait: Kath - no comment:) But I did spend some time with family over Easter and went to a brilliant performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah the following weekend.

>158 PaulCranswick: Paul weekend was fine, weather was reasonable

>159 Carmenere: Lynda I'm still around, lurking some.

>160 connie53: Connie, just not feeling very sociable it's a difficult time for me and I'm normally a lot quieter at the beginning of May for a very personal reason.

>161 ronincats: Thanks Roni

End of replies
*************

Other things

I did have a library visit at the end of April and picked up some more books The Rosie Project which has been getting some buzz recently; The Human Division part of John Scalzi's Old Man War series; Gift of Stones by Jim Crace, I read and liked his Harvest recently and Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston, a new to me author but I liked the sound of this. Also some onto the shelves of shame Scheherazade by Anthony O'Neill a book set about twenty years after the Arabian Nights and The Age of Miracles one of the One Book One Librarything selections and the one I hoped would win the vote, as I don't fancy re-reading The Penelopiad. It probably wouldn't have come to my attention as the cover doesn't look like something I would have investigated further and it was only 50p in a charity shop.

I still haven't catalogued any of them as I got them the same day as a very addictive new game. I backed this at Kickstarter and am a Beta tester. I think I've been playing for 30 minutes or so and suddenly a couple of hours have disappeared:) But I need the distraction and this is a very good one.

Also watching the snooker, last few frames tonight. Fascinating match though.

I am still reading at bedtime and hope to start a new thread soon. Not tomorrow as I need to go out in the morning, weather permitting to town if not just to get some essential groceries from the village, and my mother will be Skyping at some point.

Calm, you make me chuckle. I think you are the only one I know that confesses to lurking on her own thread..haha!

Glad to hear you are ok. :)

Lurking ... yes ... Too often ... I had read a lot of those messages already and not said anything. My carpal tunnel had flared up so typing was painful but that is no real excuse for leaving it so long:)

So as I understand it, I'm not the only one who lurks on my own thread either? :-)

I thought Harvest was really good too, it was my first book by Jim Crace and I want to read others.

eta: fixed touchstone.

> Carpal tunnel is so painful, I know. I hope it gets better soon.

Hi calm. It's nice to hear from you but I'm sorry to hear your carpal tunnel has flared up again.

It's also good to know I'm not the only person who sometimes lurks on their own thread! :-)

Is the new game the beta of Sunless Sea by any chance? We backed that too although not to the amount needed for beta access.

>166 connie53: Thanks Connie. Sorry to hear that you know about Carpal Tunnel ... it is painful but as long as I don't do too much I can normally cope.

>167 souloftherose: Heather it's not pleasant but as long as I don't move the wrist and fingers too much I can cope so scrolling and reading threads is possible but actually typing is more difficult, thus a lot of lurking ... even on my own thread:)

That's the game. Still pretty buggy and not many places to go yet but the atmosphere, music and text (what there is of it) is amazing. I'm sure the finished game will be wonderful and I'm so pleased that I backed it enough to get the Beta.

Still haven't got around to cataloguing or listing my current/recently finished reads. Or set up a new thread. I need to do some other things first (laundry and other small household tasks) then I will see how I feel but hopefully later today. No promises though:)

xoxo

>168 calm: Looking forward to seeing what you have been reading and/or jumping in on your new thread. I do hope that the issues with your wrist and fingers abates such that you can enjoy the process of communication a little less painfully. xx

Smooch to you as well Richard.

Paul - so do I but you will be pleased to know that the new thread is now up and reading/books acquired is updated. I was up to date to the end of April on this one so that shouldn't affect your stat keeping:)