Dudes22 (Betty) Digs Some Roots from her TBR pile

I decided that it would be easier to track my ROOT reading here instead of on my 14 challenge thread. So I'm back! I've lowered my goal this year because I hope to use the library more to fill in some gaps in those series that are languishing in the pile waiting for the next book and maybe for some books from the 14 challenge CATS. I only planning on counting as ROOTS those books that were in my TBR pile before Dec 31, 2013




TBR Pile 1 Jan 2014 - 1160

Books Read:
2013 - 10
Pre-2013 - 58
Paper - 62
Nook - 6

Books SOY:
Paper - 1072
Nook - 88

Read:
Paper root - 62
Paper new - 3
Library - 16
Nook root - 6
Nook new - 1
Reread -
Purged/Pearl Ruled - 117

Jan-Mar:

JAN:
1. Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
2. Butcher's Hill by Laura Lippman

FEB:
3. The Eight by Katherine Neville
4. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
5. The Pyramid by Ismail Kadare
6. The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith
7. The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
8. In the Woods by Tana French

MAR:
9. The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton
10. In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
11. The Wild Girl: The Notebooks of Ned Giles, 1932 by Jim Fergus
12. The Shortest Distance Between Two Women by Kris Radish
13. Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg
14. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
15. In This Rain by S. J. Rozan
16. Dandelions in a Jelly Jar by Traci DePree
17. Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio
18. The Girl Who Remembered Snow by Charles Mathes
19. 7th Heaven by James Patterson

Apr-Jun:

APR:
20. Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
21. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
22. The Bat by Jo Nesbo
23. Bee Season by Myla Goldberg
24. The Morning Show Murders by Al Roker
25. Quilt as Desired by Arlene Sachitano
26. Alice's Tulips by Sandra Dallas

MAY:
27. Damascened Blade by Barbara Cleverly
28. Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
29. Traveling With Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd
30. Back Home Again by Melody Carlson
31. Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers
32. Forty Words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt

JUNE:
33. Breadfruit by Celestine Vaite
34. The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary and Sewing Circle by Lois Battle
35. The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Corson
36. Between Sisters by Kriston Hannah
37. The Midnight Show Murders by Al Roker
38. The Maze by Catherine Coulter
39. Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer
40. Rosemary Remembered by Susan Wittig Albert
41. The Perfect Scent by Chandler Burr

Jul-Sep:

JULY:
42. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Alluson Hoover Bartlett
43. Dying Light by Stuart MacBride
44. The Darling Dahlias and the Naked Ladies by Susan Wittig Albert

AUGUST:
45. An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor52.
46. Village School by Miss Read
47. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
48. Mr Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal
49. Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach
50. 8th Confession by James Patterson
51. Needles and Pearls by Gil Mcneil

SEPTEMBER

52. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
53. A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams
54. The Red Thread by Ann Hood
55. Heart of My Sister by Chitra Divakaruni
56. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Oct-Dec:

Oct:
57. The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
58. The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles
59. The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose by Susan Wittig Albert
60. The Road From Coorain by Jill Ker Conway
61. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
62. The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith

Nov:
63. The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by Thad Carhart
64. The Secret River by Kate Grenville
65. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber
66. Thanksgiving at the Inn by Tim Whitney

Dec:
67. The Headhunter's Daughter by Tamar Myers
68. An Unfinished Score by Elise Blackwell

I joined LT in 2008, but didn't start adding my TBR pile until 2009 when I realized I was buying too many books at library sales that I already had. Still I've decided to track my ROOTS by year added as well.

ROOTs Added In:

2009 - 7
2010 - 23
2011 - 15
2012 - 15
2013 - 10

(2 over for unfinished old)

Welcome Betty! great to see you here.

Hurray! Nice to see you here again :) Good luck!

Happy New Year Betty and good luck with your challenge.

Hi, Betty! I'm glad you're back. I hear you about filling in gaps in series via the library. That's one of the big obstacles for me in concentrating on my TBR shelf.

Well, I've finally finished my first ROOT of the year. I can't believe it's taken me this long. I have also read 2 library books so far, but I'm still behind my usually reading levels.

BOOK 1: Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman

Taking place near the end of WWII and while India was still under British rule, fifteen-year-old Vidya lives a good life with her family until a tragedy strikes and she and her family are forced to move in with her father's relatives where she is treated quite poorly. The women live on the first floor of the house while the men live upstairs. However, her grandfather allows her to "climb the stairs" to use his library where she keeps her dream of college alive.

Geared toward the YA audience, I still found a lot to like in this book.

Hurray, first ROOT! Nice work :) I hear you about things taking a long time. For some reason I've felt very slow lately, and I can't believe it's already almost the end of January!

Real nice job, Betty!!

Nice sounding book. Thanks for the review!

Well done, and maybe the one will go faster?

Thanks guys. I picked out one of my mysteries for the Mystery CAT on the 14 challenge so it's going much faster. It's not that I wasn't reading, I had a couple of library books I was working on which didn't count.

Book 2: Butcher's Hill by Laura Lippman

Third in a mystery series about Tess Monaghan who finally opens her own detective agency in Baltimore.

I've read most of that series, Betty. Are you enjoying them?

I'd have to say I'm on the fence, Terri. For someone who's decided to start her own agency, she seems somewhat inept on how to actually look for people. I still have a few more in my TBR (and a couple of her stand alone novels) so I'll be continuing the series for now. It's really the Baltimore setting that keeps me coming back.

January Summary:

I was not very successful in January in clearing those Roots. To reach my goal, I should have read 5 and I only managed 2. And since it was my Thingaversary month, I did splurge and buy a few, so my TBR went up instead of down. I'm hoping February will be better and a vacation at the end of the month should help me out.

Book 3: The Eight by Katherine Neville

Big multi-level adventure story about a chess set and the people who want it and the secret of it's power.

Betty, how did you like The Eight? I read it a few years back and liked the puzzles and some of the travel bits, but the format didn't really work out for me. Did you like it?

I did. I wrote much more on my 14 in14 challenge thread if you want to check it out. It wasn't the format as much as it was the level of detail and volume of characters that gave me a little trouble.

I loved The Eight, it's one of my favorite books ever.

Putting De acht higher on the TBR! Can we come up with a new word for a BB concerning ROOTs?

>24 .Monkey.: - I know you mentioned that earlier and I think if I had read it at a different time I would have enjoyed it more than I did. I usually really like big, involved stories. I have the sequel somewhere in my TBR - I'm not sure if I should tackle it later this year or let it sit a while longer.

>25 connie53: - Not sure what they'd be.

I enjoyed the sequel, but it wasn't as amazing.

Ok - so maybe it sits.

Book 4: Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

Another in the on-going adventure of the Stephanie Plum series. Still a quick fun read.

> 26 - Betty: and now I don't know what you mean ;-)).

BB are Book Bullets, right? When you read a review on LT and decide to go and buy that book. You get hit by a book like you get hit by a bullet.

So I wanted to come up with a word that means you get a good feeling about a review and you own the book already.

That's a good question Connie - there should be a word for that, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone talk about it here. I misunderstood what you were looking for.

I'm known for my good questions! hihihihhihi!

(Can't find a fitting smiley!!!)

So I wanted to come up with a word that means you get a good feeling about a review and you own the book already

A TBR nudge? (a trudge? LOL!) or book bump? (as in bumping up a notch on the TBR pile?) which would also be represented by bb.

I'm having trouble coming up with a really good idea.

A RRBB (ReReadBookBullet) ?

Owning it doesn't mean it's already read, though!

Yes, I did not think about that, PM. So the search goes on!

>25 connie53:, 33 I like Book Bump, because it's getting bumped up. Or how about TENDRIL, like the little feathery tendrils on a ROOT? Tome Enters New Destination, Ready In Library?

I like Book Bump, but that would be a BB again. And TENDRIL is briljantly found! but a bit to long?

I've been sitting here saying BB BB over and over again.

It's quite fun to do.

BeeBee BeeBee
Bee Bee Bee Bee

Sort of like those old radio tones that used to signal the news about to start (or that could just be in my foggy memory and nowhere else).

Wait! How about B4???

Because it's four Bs: Book Bullet Book Bump, and because they've been read Before!

BriljanT!

Lol Connie, your Dutch is showing ;) ("brilliant")

I see now, PM!! Totally overlooked that one.

I'm pleased that you like B4! Now I have to go finish all the books I started reading all at once, so I can relax and read a B4. :)

Book 5: The Pyramid by Ismail Kadare

Slim book (161 pgs) and fictionalized novel about the building of the pyramid at Giza.

Congratulations! Was it a good book? What did you think about the ratio of fact to fiction? I enjoy some 'based on facts' fiction, but not as much when the fact is 1 percent and the fiction 99. But that's just me.

I really enjoyed the book, Merryann, but I'm not familiar enough with the facts about the building at Giza to know what the ratio is. Since they were built thousands of years ago, how much "information" has survived and how much is loosely built on folklore - I couldn't say.

Book 6: The Kalahari Typing School for Men byAlexander McCall Smith

4th book in Smith's Ladies Dectective Agency book

Book 7: The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

Book 4 in the Elm Creek Quilters series, this is my favorite book so far.

As Sylvia is leaving a speaking engagement at a quilter's guild meeting, a woman approaches her and asks her to look at a quilt that she thinks may be a connection between them. This prompts Sylvia to search the attics when she returns to Elm Creek Manor and she finds three quilts and a memoir written by her great-grandfather's sister telling of her life between 1853 and 1859, although she didn't write it until 1895.

Elm Creek Manor is in Pennsylvania and the memoir tells of how Sylvia's ancestors became involved in the Underground Railroad and how quilts were used as signals to tell runaway slaves that the house was sympathetic and would provide them with a place to stay on their way to Canada.

Part of the premise of all the books so far has been that Sylvia has always wished she knew more about her ancestors and the memoir gives her some answers that she has been looking for.

That's a neat sounding book, The Runaway Quilt!

Yeah for you, Betty!!

Congratulations on getting back on track again. Will you be able to reach your monthly goal?

I usually leave it at a yearly goal. But we're leaving on vacation next week and I usually end up a little ahead for the year after that. Plus I've just retired so I should have lots more time to read and catch up. It's too early in the year for me to worry about it.

Congrats on your retirement and have a great vacation!

Have a very nice vacation, Betty. Get home safe! Happy Reading.

Congratulations on your retirement. I hope your travel next week is great!

Book 8: In the Woods by Tana French

I had heard good things about this book before, and when rabbitprincess gave it 5 stars and others chimed in about how good it was, I decided to make this the book for the plane on the way to vacation. It was a wonderful recommendation.

This could have been a much shorter, cut-and-dried kind of mystery book, but the descriptions she gives gave it a much lusher feeling for me.

I'm still behind where I should be for the end of Feb, but hopefully this vacation week will get me back on track.

Yay! I am very glad you liked it.
And yeah, I was a bit taken aback by its size at first. I'd heard about it before but never actually seen a copy until I received it for Christmas, so that was a surprise. But it was indeed a very absorbing book.

Glad you liked it, Betty!

@ Rabbitprincess - It isn't that big/large, I think. That's the size of books I'm used to.

I guess when I heard about it, I imagined it being about half as big as it is. Or maybe I was more surprised because it was a big fat paperback, as opposed to hardcover. It was a very enjoyable big book though ;)

Knowing this was the beginning of the series, I was a little surprised at the turn that things took (trying not to give away a spoiler). I think I was expecting one of those @300 page police procedurals and I actually liked the longer length and introspection which gave it more depth.

Book 9: The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton

A pleasant enough (although somewhat superficial) fictional story about the mobile library program in Kenya. Librarian Fiona Sweeney decides to leave her life in New York to take a temporary consultant's job as a mobile librarian in Kenya. On a two-week rotation, she travels by camel to various villages to bring books to the people who live there. The story is told in alternating views of the people of one of the villages she visits - about the books, their lives, and the effect Fiona and the bookmobile have on them.

Book 10: In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

During the 31 year reign of the Dominican Republic dictator Trujillo, the 4 Mirabal sisters were part of the underground which was trying to end his dictatorship. Three of the sisters were killed in an "accident" on their way back from seeing their husbands in prison on Nov 25, 1960 and this day is still observed as the International Day Against Violence Towards Women in many Latin American countries.

In the postscript to this book, the author explains that she did not have access to the information nor the inclination to write a biographical book. So she created her own fictional book about the lives of the sisters as they were growing up and how they each became involved in the underground.

This was one of the first group of my TBR books that I put into LT when I realized that I was acquiring books I already had waiting to read and should track them too. So it's been on my TBR since 2009 and I'm wishing I hadn't waited so long to read it. I wonder what other gems I have on there. So many books, so little time. As they say.

I have the same expierence with my old books, Betty. That's why I am so happy with the ROOT group.

Book 11: The Wild Girl: The Notebooks of Ned Giles, 1932 by Jim Fergus

An interesting book about an expedition into Mexico in 1932 to save a young boy who was kidnapped by Apache Indians a few years earlier, told from the diaries of a photographer who went on the expedition.

Book 12: The Shortest Distance Between Two Women by Kris Radish

Kris Radish writes books dealing with women's issues. This book is about the relationship between four sisters and their mother. Although I enjoy her books, she frequently uses a sentence structure that I find a bit annoying. She uses a repetitive sentence structure when she wants to emphasis a point or to list things instead of just using commas to the point that I want to day, "Enough already! I get it!" But when I can overlook that, I enjoy the books.

Book 13: Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

Although I usually enjoy books by Elizabeth Berg, this one just didn't hit the right note for me. It's the story of a woman trying to get past the death of her husband a year ago. Helen is/was a writer but mostly helpless having let her husband handle everything (and I do mean everything - well almost). And a year later she is still making almost no progress. Then she finds out that her husband had withdrawn almost all their retirment savings and she doesn't know why. Maybe others would find more to like than I did in this novel.

I love most books by Elizabeth Berg, Betty. This is one I have not read yet because I can't find a translation. No more searching now. I have enough ROOTs on my shelves for the rest of my live.

You are making very good progress!

Thanks Connie - I hope to be back to where I should be by the end of the month.

Book 14: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

The second book in the series, this time the four children are trying to save Mr. Benedict and Number Two after they have been captured by Mr. Benedict's evil twin brother Mr. Curtain. Another enjoyable YA read in this series.

Book 15: In This Rain by S.J. Rozan

What starts off with a couple of construction "accidents" and a death, soon becomes a twists-and-turns suspense novel about politics, corruption, greed, and ambition. Politicians, gangs, do-gooders, police, city investigators - all mixed up together. Although the beginning moved a little slowly, the novel picked up and rushed to the finish.

One of S.J. Rozan's stand-alone novels, I think I'll try the first in her Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series later this year.

Book 16: Dandelions in a Jelly Jar by Traci DePree

In this second book in the Lake Emily series, Trudy moves from St Paul to Lake Emily to take a position as an art teacher and live near her sister Mae. Similar to the Mitford or Limby series. I like how the author takes a couple of pages to introduce a new character by telling a story of something that happened in their past that shows something in their character.

>68 dudes22: And are you on schedule with 3 more books read, Betty?

>72 connie53: - yes Connie I am. I needed to be at 15 at the end of March to meet my goal for this year. I lowered my goal for my TBR pile this year because I expect to use the library a bit more to catch up some of the series I'm reading. (Instead of adding them to the TBR pile.) Even so I like to be a bit ahead before Nov gets here as the end of the year gets really busy with the holidays and all.

Congratulations on being on/ahead of schedule!

Root 17: Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

Two separate stories - one of a reporter in Seattle who is put on a story of a blackberry winter storm which is when there is a snowstorm late in the winter (think May) while the blackberries are in bloom. The last such storm was in the depression and that's the other story. The chapters move back and forth until they finally merge at the end.

>73 dudes22: Good for you, Betty!

Root 18: The Girl Who Remembered Snow by Charles Mathes

When Emma enlists the help of a stranger so she can drop her grandfather' ashes into San Francisco Bay from the ferry, she has no way to know that a couple of days later he will turn up dead - killed by the same gun that killed her grandfather. And when the police seem inclined to treat them both as random killings, Emma decides to try and find out what happened. I think I was expecting something a little different than what I got in this book because of the cover which reminded me of a Tim Burton drawing - maybe a little mysticism, maybe more of a YA vibe - something different than what I got. Good enough story with a couple of twists at the end. I have a couple more in the TBR pile that I'll have to decide whether to read or not.

ROOT 19: 7th Heaven by James Patterson

Women's Mystery Club series 7th book. This time there are a series of murders of couples and then the houses are set on fire. Fairly typical James Patterson.

Congrats on all your ROOTs! You are well on your way!

Great progress on your ROOTs, Betty!

>79 avanders: - >80 tymfos: - thanks. Mar was a good month; vacation helped. Went to my first library sale today and came away with 10 books for me and a couple for the hubs. Oh well!

Glad you enjoyed the library book sale! 10 isn't so bad.... ;)

Finished my first 2 books for Apr and finally getting to post.

Book 20: Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
Interesting retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story. This time taking place in the forests of Poland during the second WW.

Book 21: Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
Another thought-provoking book from Ms Picoult, the central theme of this one gay rights.

Nice sounding books, both of them.

Book 22: The Bat by Jo Nesbo

First book in the Harry Hole series.

Book 23: Bee Season by Myla Goldberg

When Eliza, who has been put in the slow class at school, wins her class spelling bee and then the school spelling bee, people begin to notice her. But Eliza's win also prompts changes within her family, which begins to unravel to epic proportions. I liked the first part of the book alright, but lost interest after that.

Book 24: The Morning Show Murders by Al Roker

Murder mystery by the Today show weatherman. Centered around a chef on a morning TV show who is suspected of murder, this was a fun read.

You are doing great, Betty!

Book 25: Quilt As Desired by Arlene Sachitano

Start of a new cozy series for me. Harriet thinks she's moving to Foggy Point, Washinton to help her aunt out while she's on a cruise by filing in at the long-arm quilting studio she owns. Then she finds out that her aunt has turned over the business and her house to Harriet. And then she finds her aunt's best friend dead. I enjoyed this and will be continuing the series.

Book 26: Alice's Tulips by Sandra Dallas

This book is written as a series of letters from Alice to her sister Liz during the Civil War. She is living in Iowa with her mother-in-law while her husband is fighting for the Union Army. Lots of details about quilting are included, especially about quilting before all the conveniences we have now.

Are these both in the same series, or are the the theme of quilts in each coincidental? I have to go see if you're a quilter now...

Yes, you are! How cool that you found books that incorporate quilting. :)

OOoh that quilting mystery looks fun! I like themed mysteries :)

The Arlene Sachitano is the first one in a series. The Sandra Dallas one is a stand-alone novel, although each of her novels that I've read so far does have something in it that has to do with quilting.

>91 Merryann: - if you want to check out my 14 in 14 challenge thread, you can see that quilting is my theme for this year and check out the quilt blocks I'm making each month to go along with my challenge.

>92 avanders: - I do too - sometimes too much. I have so many series going now it's hard to keep up.

lol well ... that's ok ;) Having to keep up with books is a good kind of overwhelmed ;)

Book 27: The Damascened Blade by Barbara Cleverly

Third book in a mystery series which takes place in India in the early 1920s.

Book 28: Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

Cute little story about a PI and his dog solving mysteries from the dog's point of view.

Almost halfway there, Betty!

Book 29: Traveling With Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor

Since most of you who follow my thread here, also are in the 14 group, I decided to post my comments over there.

What is the 14 group?

Oh - it's the 2014 Category Challenge Group. Sorry I wasn't very specific was I? I know a lot a people who do the Root Challenge are also over there so I don't always post in both places if I'm in a hurry.

Thanks for explaining. I'm not a member of that group and I don't plan on joining a new group, so I hope you will swing by for an update on your ROOTs occasionally.

likewise :)

Book 30: Back Home Again by Melody Carlson

Three sisters work together to turn the old family home into a bed-and-breakfast after their father dies.

Well, here I am at the halfway point in my Root challenge. I had lowered my total for this year because I expected to try and read more library books this year, but, so far, I'm still taking books from my TBR pile. And this one has been on there since I first started loading books into a "to read" category. That means it's been there for almost 5 years!

Yeah, congrats on meeting your halfway goal!

Book 31: Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers

I had to give this up as it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Congrats on passing the halfway point!

Thanks Terri. And here's another one.

Book 32: Forty Words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt

Good first book in a police procedural series set in Canada. Somewhat gruesome for those of you who don't like that sort of thing.

>107 dudes22: Oh, my lord, I read one of his books and found it very disturbing. I read it because I shared an office with a relative of his; she laughed at my reaction to the book and said that some are more disturbing that others.

yep, intrigued... :) is it a series?

Yes it is - I checked and there are 6 books in the series so far.

a gruesome police series.. definitely sounds interesting!

Book 33: Breadfruit by Celestine Vaite

Taking a place in Tahiti, this story of Materena Mahi reminded me of the Ladies Detective Agency books. When Pito, the father of her children and with whom she has lived for 12 years, proposes while he's drunk, Materena begins to think about getting married. Fun, light read.

Book 34: The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary and Sewing Circle by Lois Battle

When a lingerie factory is shut down in a small town in Alabama, all the women are out of a job. They are placed in the Displaced Homemaker's program at a local small community college. The woman who is running the program is an Atlanta Society wife who has been through a divorce and needs a job. This was a good read for a day on the porch with a nice tea.

Book 35: The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Corson

A very interesting look at lobster fishing off the coast of Maine. Subtitled "How Fishermen and Scientists Are Unraveling the Mysteries of Our Favorite Crustacean", it's actually a very readable book and not just scientific facts and figures about different studies that were done to determine not only the life cycle of lobsters, but also the various oceanic variables that determine how plentiful lobsters are and will be in the future.

This one has been in my TBR since I first started keeping track of my unread books here on LT - 2009.

I had realized recently that I needed to rethink my TBR pile. There were many books that got there as "nice to read" as opposed to " want to read". So I've started to go through and reevaluate what's on there. So far I've purged 70 books for the library sale and I still have a few shelves left.

The lobster book sounds interesting. And wow, 70 books purged! That's quite impressive.

>115 rabbitprincess: - I haven't finished yet either. I realized that i wouldn't live long enough to read all the books in my TBR pile plus all the books in my interested list plus anything thing that may or may not be written yet that I would find interest in, and so I decided to take a hard look at my TBR pile and eliminate some that were of lesser interest.

Woot! Congrats on your purge! I reconsider every time I buy too many books at the library book sale ;)

>117 avanders: - That's funny because the library sale I like the best is this week, so I may end up right back where I started unless I can control myself - like that's gonna happen!

lol, well we can always hope.. ;)

Actually - they moved the sale to April so I missed it. Maybe a good thing?

Book 36: Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah

This is the story of 2 sisters who have been estranged for many years and are now trying to reconnect.

Maybe it was divine intervention ;)

>122 avanders: LOL!

>114 dudes22: I recently purged a lot of books from my library that I'd read, but not so many that I hadn't read. I know I have things on the shelf I'll never get to, that I should part with.

Book 37: The Midnight Show Murders by Al Roker

The second book in the Billy Blessing series about a New York chef ( this time in LA to co-host a talk show) when a murder takes place and it seems like he was supposed to be the person murdered.

Book 38: The Maze by Catherine Coulter

The second book in Catherine Coulter's FBI series. I read one of these a couple of years ago and liked it enough that I wanted to go back and start the series from the beginning. I had a couple of ideas as I was reading of how the story was going to be resolved which turned out to be WRONG! There was one thing that I didn't think was concluded satisfactorily, but maybe that's because it will appear in a future book.

This one has been in my TBR since I first started keeping track of my TBR in 2009, so YEAH! But who knows how long it was really there?

Woo Hoo on your OLD Root! :)

Book 39: Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer

One of her mysteries, this one is a "locked door" who-dun-it.

Book 40: Rosemary Remembered by Susan Wittig Albert

Another book in the China Bayles series. I figured out this one on about page 33 which meant I found it annoying that the characters didn't see what I did in the clues.

Book 41: The Perfect Scent by Chandler Burr

Chandler Burr is the T: The New York Times Style Magazine scent critic and between 2004 and 2006 he reported two stories, one for The New Yorker and one for the New York Times. One was a look at the creation of a perfume for the the legendary store Hermes, and the other the creation of a perfume by Coty for Sarah Jessica Parker. I am by no means a perfume obsessive person but I found the information in this book very interesting. How the perfumers create the formulae for the fragrances, synthetic vs. natural elements, packaging, selling, adding new elements to the line are all very fascinating. He also compares various perfumes, the ideas they are intended to convey and how successful or not they are/were.

The chapters alternate between the creation of both perfumes - one in Paris and one in New York and the people involved in each process. Some of it gets a little technical, but mostly very readable. One thing I would have liked would have been to have some of the scents available to smell as he was explaining the scents. Like how they added more of this to make it smell more that, etc. He talks about scents for both men and women and how they have evolved over the decades. The most successful perfume commercially, still on the top international lists after ninety-five years (at the time the book was written) is (drumroll) ...Chanel No. 5.

Wow, Betty, you are almost there! Super.

Thanks - I'll probably be slowing down a bit. I got 2 books from the library yesterday and my girlfriend just gave me a bunch of books to read.

I figured out this one on about page 33 which meant I found it annoying that the characters didn't see what I did in the clues

LOL! Been there, felt that way!

Since I'm usually wrong when I think I know who dun it, this was a fluke.

Good thing I'm ahead on my Roots. I don't think I'll be making much of a dent this month. Too many library books and holds showing up. Have to see if I can squeeze in at least a couple.

Book 42: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett

Filled with information about book dealers and book thieves and books, this book is a look at the world of rare books and their acquisition by both legal and illegal means. The author spent a lot of time with John Gilkey, book thief, and with Ken Sanders, rare book dealer and "bibliodick" who was obsessed with catching him. Lots of interesting information mixed in with the story.

Well finally a Root done for this month.

>135 dudes22: tee hee, not possible (to love books too much) ;)

Well I guess if you steal them it might indicate a problem!

Hmm I suppose that's true ;) tho, isn't that the premise of the Book Thief? (Haven't read yet; will)

Well - yes - but different. You should read it. Quick read and good.

It's on my shelves.... but keeps being recommended, so hopefully I'll get to it sooner, rather than later!

Book 43: Dying Light by Stuart MacBride

Finally, another Root finished for this month. Second in the series about a police sergeant in the Aberdeen Police Dept who has more than his share of problems. Parts were pretty gruesome - just be warned.

>141 dudes22: Ooh, yes, that one was indeed gut-wrenching. The bit with the fingers! Ugh! I *still* get queasy thinking about that.

Yes - not for the faint of heart. I don't think I could read a steady diet of those kinds of books, but once in a while is ok.

ETA: I need to spend some time figuring out that spoiler thingy. I've seen the directions on how to do it but am afraid to try and give something away by mistake.

Book 44: The Darling Dahlias and the Naked Ladies by Susan Wittig Albert

Second book in the Darling Dahlia series about a garden club in the 1930s and the mysteries they solve.

Book 45: An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor

The second book in a series about a young doctor who is apprenticing to become a general practitioner in a small Irish village. If you're a fan of the Jan Karon Mitford series then you would enjoy this one too.

Book 46: Village School by Miss Read

First book of a new series for me. Been in the TBR pile for a few years so good to have it done.

Just waving: Hi, Betty!!

Wavin' right back - glad to see your smiling countenance again.

Book 47: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I decided to pull this off the TBR pile because of the movie coming out. I'm not a good judge of what makes a good YA book, but I enjoyed the story. And I checked ( because of how it ended) and there's a sequel to it.

Went to one of my favorite book sales today and came home with 18 books- and I held back. Mostly fill-ins for series that I'm reading. Since I purged a bunch of books last month, I need to figure out how I stand in comparison to the beginning of the year.

18 new books. How nice!

There could have been more - I showed remarkable restraint - I left one book bag in the car to make me think if I really wanted to return and buy more than 1 bag.

18 new books! Fun!
And that's a good plan... leave the extra bag in the car... hmmm.. ;)

18 new books! I'm jealous!

Book 48: Mr Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal

I've been wanting to start this series for a while, but other books kept pushing their way to the front. So glad I finally got to it and I'm looking forward to continuing this series set in wartime England.

Book 49: Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach

Not what I was expecting. I gave up approximately 100 pages in.

eww... what was wrong w/ it?

I was expecting a story about the tulip frenzy in Amsterdam in the late 1600s, similar to The Coffee Trader by David Liss. Instead it turned out (what I read) to be about a love affair between the wife of a man who made a lot of money from the tulip speculation and a painter her husband hired to paint their portrait. I only read 60 pages and skimmed the next 40 before I abandoned it, so maybe it got better, but it wasn't what I was expecting.

I have Tulip Fever in my TBR pile (just bought it last night!)...it might go to the bottom!

>159 Tess_W: - oh! Sorry! But if you're into romances maybe you'll like it. It was really well written; the descriptions really enhanced the atmosphere of the book, Just wasn't what I was expecting.

Romances are ok, but not as center stage!

>158 dudes22: what a disappointment!

The Hundred Foot Journey.....well....it seemed shallow to me. There are some great sensory descriptions, the smell of Pakistani food, violence against Hindus, etc., but it seemed as if the second half of the book was almost unbelievable. I have not yet seen the movie, don't know if I will, however I love Helen Mirren!

Thanks Tess - I can't say the movie was very deep either, but I too love Helen Mirren and so had to see it. There was some lovely scenery and good looking food. There are a bunch of holds on it at the library so maybe I'll wait til next year before I try it.

Book 50: 8th Confession by James Patterson

Another one in the "Women's Murder Club" series. I can already see these books getting thinner in plot as we get further into the series like most of his series books. I've given up on the Alex Cross series because of this and I wonder how long it will be before I give up on this one too. I still have a few more on my TBR pile, so for now I'll keep going.

Book 51: Needles and Pearls by Gil McNeil

This second book in a series takes place about 1 year after the last one. Jo and her boys are settling in in Broadgate. Her shop is doing well and her Gran and best friend are getting married. Then Jo discovers that she is pregnant from a fling she had at Christmas. What to do? How to handle it? I suppose you could call this chick lit, but I still enjoyed it for a quick, light read.

>166 dudes22: That sounds good, Betty. Something I might enjoy!

Book 52: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

I started this book last month but have been dragging it out, savoring the story. The author's story of the time he lived on Corfu as a child and the animals he found, saw, acquired, etc. Quite a wonderful story.

Book 53: A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams

First book in the "Books By the Bay" mystery series. I wasn't liking the heroine at the beginning of the book, but she gradually got better. Like any first book, a lot of time introducing secondary characters. A couple of interesting ones, so I'll be continuing with this series, hopefully sometime next year.

Only 7 books to go, but I probably won't finish this month since we're off on vacation next week and I downloaded a few books from the library which won't count.

Have a great time on vacation. Where you going?

Just off to Florida for a week. Looking for a place to rent for a few weeks next winter that will let us bring our dog. And the Disney Food & Wine Festival starts next week, so a few days there. AAH - food!

I used to own a home in Florida, right on Holmes Beach between Sarasota/Bradenton, it was a lovely area. Have a good time!

Thanks

Book 54: The Red Thread by Ann Hood

Local author whose writing I enjoy. This is a story of the process of adoption of children from China. Told from both sides - the people who want to adopt and the women who give up their children and why. There were a couple of "threads" to the story that I didn't think got resolved, but I still enjoyed the novel.

Book 55: Heart of My Sister by Chitra Divakaruni

This book has been in my TBR pile since at least 2009 when I started adding my TBR books to LT. Not sure why it's languished so long as this was an enjoyable read. The story of two cousins in India, who are brought up together as sisters and the different ways their lives take. There was an interesting twist at the end that I didn't see coming.

I like Divakaruni... I say that having read only 1 of her books, but still.... ;)

Sounds like a good read, will add it to my list.

>176 avanders: - Ava - this is the first I have read, but I liked it enough to think I will probably try more.

>177 Tess_W: - Tess - Hope you enjoy.

The one I've been told to read and haven't yet is mistress of spices... Must add.. :)

Book 56: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Story of Bill walking the Appalachian Trail.

This leaves me 4 more Roots to make my goal. Hopefully next month will see me finishing.

Yay, cheering you on for October!

Thanks a lot!

How was vacation?

It was good. Rained or was misty/drizzly almost every day, but that's Fla in Sept so I'm not complaining. We went to look for a place to rent in Jan (that will let us bring our dog) and saw a couple of possibilities and spent a few days at Disney.

We usually go to Florida in November or December to see my husband's father, now 87 years old. It is always raining and rather cool for Florida (40-50) the last few years we went.

What did you think of A Walk in the woods? It's on my shelves.. :)

And yay!! So close to goal!

Your vacation sounds lovely!

>186 avanders: - Ava - I enjoyed it a lot. I had wondered how dry it might be, but it wasn't. I was even chuckling a few times. And there's lots of interesting information in it too.

Sounds like I'll have to follow through w it ;)

Book 57: The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick

YA novel about middle school angst centered around a mother-daughter book club which is reading Little Women.

Almost there, Betty!

Yes Connie I am. I'm in the middle of 2 Roots now and then I might read an ER book, but maybe I'll make it by the end of the month.

Yay, Betty! Go! Go! Go!

So close!

Book 58: The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles

Story of two sisters separated at age 17 and the different paths their lives took in Brazil in 1920-1930s.

Book 59: The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose by Susan Wittig Albert

I really enjoy this mystery series set in the 1930s in Alabama about a gardening club that likes to solve mysteries.

TAH - TAH -DUH!!!! LAST BOOK!

Book 60: The Road From Coorain by Jill Ker Conway

A partial memoir of the author's life in Australia on her parents' sheep farm and life in Sydney until she left at age 26 for America. She later became the first woman president of Smith College.

And with that book I've finished my Root challenge for this year. I still expect to be reading more Roots and will be adding to the group total. I've read pretty evenly across the years since I started adding unread books to LT, but still have some lingering on the TBR since I joined. Oh well - there's always next year. I've accepted the fact that I'll never be caught up.

WOOOOO!! Congratulations!!!

Hooray, well done! :)

Woo hoo!!

huzzah!

Thanks everyone. Still reading Roots:

Book 61: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

Short little novel about one of the characters from book 3 of the Twilght series.

Curious about that one.... what did you think?

>202 avanders: - OOPs! I wrote an answer for you but I must not have hit "post".

I thought it was OK. Brew as introduced in book 3 Eclipse and was one of the newborns who attacked the Cullens but surrendered only to be destroyed by the Voluturi (sp?). This book starts 3 months after she becomes a vampire and tells her story until she's destroyed. It was OK. Probably written to make more money from the "Twilight" phenomenon.

Book 62: The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith

I was looking for a "feel good" read, so I thought I would read another in the Ladies Dectective Agency series. I didn't like this one as much as the others when I finished it. I thought it was a little thin story-wise. But I still like the overall tone of the book.

>203 dudes22:... yeah, that sounds about how I expected... ;P

Book 63: The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by Thad Carhart

Interesting book about pianos written by an American who is/was living in Paris and becomes friends with the man who runs a piano repair/sale shop near his apartment.

#63 is on my TBR pile!

I think if I were a pianist, I may have gotten more out of it than I did. The one thing it made me wish was that I could hear the different pianos they talked about. Reading how the sound of one was different than the sound of another was not as good as hearing it would have been.

I'm actually reading a book right now about a piano.....The Piano Tuner. I love most novels dealing with pianos or music in general. My mother was a piano teacher and "forced" to take lessons for years. I'm really glad she did! I also joined the band in school as well as the choir. Still in a band and a choir, although I'm very rusty on the piano, only play carols at Christmas. I always say when I retired I'm going back to taking lessons, but with arthritis, highly doubtful.

I also read a couple of years ago A Romance on Three Legs: Glenn Gould's Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Piano by Katie Hafner. I can't seem to get the touchstone to work, but anyway - that was also a good book about pianos, if you haven't read it.

Book 64: The Secret River by Kate Grenville

This book is about a convict who comes to New South Wales with his wife and how he makes a life for himself and his family there.

Book 65: 1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber

This last book in the Cedar Cove series reviews all the stories that took place in previous books making it quite a busy book with not much of an actual story. Well - a little one to bring all the other characters into the story.

>212 dudes22: mmmm Christmas reading.... :)

Book 66: Thanksgiving at the Inn by Tim Whitney

Found this in my TBR and thought it was a good time of year to read it.

Yay! And how'd you like it?

Oh - after I posted here, I was looking at other reviews and found outs it was written for the 9-12 year old audience, so that explains a lot. It was a good, quick read if somewhat simplistic.

Lol. Always funny when that happens ;)

Book 67: The Headhunter's Daughter by Tamar Myers

This is the second book about a missionary in Africa. This time a white girl who was kidnapped when she was a baby and raised in an African tribe is found and brought back to the town after 13 years. As with the last book i was slightly dissatisfied when I finished the book. Not sure why. Just seemed like it wasn't much of a story.

Ive been reading library books that came in this month so only now have I finished my first Root for this month. I have at least one more I'm hoping to finish before the year ends.

Book 68: An Unfinished Score by Elise Blackwell

Susan, a viola player, learned that her lover Alex, a famous conductor, has been killed in a plane crash from the news while she is preparing dinner for her family. She is blackmailed into completing a symphony which he had started to write by his widow. I missed a lot of the musical references which might have increased my enjoyment of the book.

This is probably my last Root of the year. I have an ER book which I feel I should start. So I'll wish you all a happy holiday and a happy new year too.

Happy holidays to you as well and all the best in 2015! :)

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Betty.