Opposite Book Themes- As Told by Alcoholic Beverages
Talk 2014 Category Challenge
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1SweetbriarPoet
Well, I'm the token latecomer.
I love lists, I love challenges, and I never, ever finish them. I also hate coming into challenges halfway through and counting all the books I've already read for the year. I refuse to do it. So, you'll just see me still in this forum next June, lamenting the fact that I gave up on this challenge months back.
I hope that my theme is fun enough to keep at least keep me interested halfway through!
I am in love with things. I love food and books and television and travel and checking things off lists. Call it my stereotypical American passion for consumption. I love education. I just got my Masters degree in Archaeology, but still don't feel like I've learned enough. I think all of these characteristics make me addicted to Librarything and the amazing challenges I always enter into without thought or regard for the fact I've never finished any of them. Here are the other challenges I got myself into anyway!: 75 Book Challenge, the Alphabet Challenge, the Dewey Decimal Challenge , and the Adventure Time Challenge.
Anyway....
I have 13 categories, each of books of opposites, and represented by an alcoholic beverage!
If you don't agree with my drink choices, comment below and we can have a scholarly debate about why I am always right ;) Also, a book will never be applied to more than one category. Hell no.
π indicates I've completed the book.
1. Bloody Mary- Romance and Horror
The Bloody Mary is both a gory and a romantic drink. Besides the obvious red theme that can represent both romance and horror, the Bloody Mary can allude to the tempestuous aspects of love or the underlying romance in horror.
1. The Shining by Stephen King (horror) π
2. Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich (romance) π
3. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis (horror) π
4. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (romance) π
5. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (romance) π
6. Post Captain by Patrick O'Brian (romance) π
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
2. Old Fashioned- The Classics and the Contemporary
The Old Fashioned used to be the choice drink of successful aged (pronounced ag/ed) white men, jingling the change in their pockets: the perfect symbolism for most of the classics I think. However, recently, the hipster generation has brought back the Old Fashioned and made it hip. Their handlebar mustaches and their recently submitted manuscripts thank you for reading.
1. Moby Dick by Herman Mellville (classic) π
2. The Elephant Keeper's Children by Peter Hoeg (contemporary) π
3. One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak (contemporary) π
4. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne π
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
3. Amaretto Sour- Poetry and Tomes (over 1000 pages)
When I think of amaretto sours, I think of a dichotomy between intensely sweet with just a tiny bit of tartness. The verbosity of longer works and the carefully chosen words in poetry might be opposite in product, but similar in methodology.
1. Sonnets by Shakespeare (poetry)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
4. Mimosa- Prize Winners and the Overlooked
If there is one thing I learned in graduate school, it is that every person in the world loves brunch drinking. Whether you are a well-to-do Nobel Prize winner or a struggling college student with two jobs, a mimosa is the perfect drink. The champagne determines your station in life, but when you're getting drunk with pancakes, who's really paying attention?
1. Empire Falls by Richard Russo (prize winner)
2. Nation by Terry Pratchett (overlooked) π
3. The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie (prize winner) π
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
5. Rum and Coke- Science Fiction/Fantasy and the Hard Sciences
This might be the most debatable category on my list. First of all, I know some of you are cringing because I grouped science fiction and fantasy together so cavalierly, and I apologize. But I just picture physicists and biologists and chemists drinking rum and coke after a hard day's work. I also picture Orson Scott Card thinking, "I could really use a rum and coke right about now."
1. Memory of Light by Robert Jordan (scifi/fantasy) π
2. An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks (hard science) π
3. The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head by Gary Small (hard science) π
4. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (scifi/fantasy) π
5. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick (scifi/fantasy) π
6. The Magicians by Lev Grossman (scifi/fantasy) π
7. The War of the Worlds by HG Wells (scifi/fantasy) π
8. Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy Baumeister π
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
6. Red Wine- Fasting and Food
One of the best moments of my life was when I learned the health benefits of red wine (although I could have just drunkenly made them up). Red wine is the classic pairing with all types of food! The fasting and food category is about physical and psychological perfection versus gluttony and extravagance. "Fasting" books can be about philosophy, meditation, physical and mental health, etc. While the "food" category is self-explanatory.
1. Gargantua and Pantagruel by Rabalais (food) π
2.
3. The Prophet by Khalil Gibran (fasting) π
4. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (food) π
5. Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain (food) π
6. The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood π
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
7. Vodka and Red Bull- Audiobooks and Plays
The get up and go drink! Or really just the dancing drink. I consider audiobooks and plays opposites because in one instance someone is acting to you and in another you could be doing the acting. I thought an energy drink was a perfect representation of audiobooks, considering I listen to them while on the go. I also thought it did a good job representing plays, considering being an actor seems like much more energy than I will ever have in my life.
1. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (audiobook) π
2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (audiobook) π
3. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Coifer (audiobook) π
4. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller (audiobook) π
5. Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (audiobook) π
6. The Oedipus Cycle by Sophocles (play) π
7. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke (audiobook) π
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
8. Guinness- Practice (for example, Archaeology) versus Theory (for example, Anthropology)
This category is really just a personal one, although I think it can be applied to any field of interest. In the social sciences, there is sometimes a disconnect between practice and theory. It is important to learn how to reconcile these two in order to master your subject. I chose Guinness for this category because if you've ever known an archaeologist or anthropologist.....they drink these like they're water.
1. Behind the Short Story edited by Ryan Van Cleave and Todd James Pierce (practice)
2. The Argonauts of the Western Pacific by Bronislaw Malinowski (theory) π
3. World Prehistory and Archaeology by Michael Chazan (theory and practice)
4. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg (practice) π
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
9. The Martini-Crime and Philanthropy
Rich, hott people in crime movies drink martinis. Rich, hott people who run charities drink martinis. Explanation concluded.
1. Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark (crime) π
2. The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie (crime) π
3. Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch (crime) π
4. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith π
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
10. Mead- History and Historical Fiction
Heh, heh, heh. If you can, try and get your hands on some mead while you read these books. It really takes you back...if that's the time period you're reading about. On another note, have any of you ever had mead before? It really is delicious.
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (historical fiction) π
2. The Chattahoochee Chiefdoms by Blitz and Lorenz (history) π
3. Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep (historical fiction) π
4. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre by B. Traven (historical fiction) π
5. Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland (historical fiction)π
6. Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris (historical fiction)π
7. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (historical fiction)π
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
11. The White Russian- Biography and Folklore
The White Russian reminds me of dark corners in eastern Europe; a cold, misty day outside and a silent partner across the bar. Everything about a White Russian screams Folklore to me: the color, the taste, even the name. I think White Russians are very personal to people. They either love them or hate them, but I think most people have a story about a White Russian (hence, biography).
1. Scandinavian Folk and Fairy Tales (folklore)
2. Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen (biography)
3. Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson (biography) π
4. Yes Please by Amy Poehler (biography) π
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
12. The Mojito- The Traveler and the Homebody
Before I started traveling for a living, I never believed in homesickness. I thought the need for excitement and adventure trumped having a home base and someone to come back to. It took me awhile to realize the human need for both excitement and security. Anyway, the mojito is in a sense both exciting and safe: the flavors are familiar (mint, sugar, etc.) but it is also refreshing and airy. Traveling books and books about being home seem perfect for this drink.
1. The Mill on the Floss by George Elliot (homebody) π
2. Hotel World by Ali Smith (traveler and homebody) π
3. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (traveler and homebody) π
4. Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (traveler) π
5. A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin (traveler) π
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
13. The Margarita- Break All the Rules!
Margaritas are notoriously for party people, celebrations, and fun! This category is the freebie: just like the hangover after your margarita night.
1. The Phantom Tollbooth by Jules Fieffer π
2. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon π
3. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke π
4. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris π
5. The Paper Magician by Charlie Holberg π
6. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett π
7. Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall π
8. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clareπ
9. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clareπ
10. City of Bones by Cassandra Clareπ
11. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman π
12.
13.
14.
14. Group Challenges
I wanted to keep it traditional and have the fourteen categories, so I thought I would try to do all the group challenges. I love the tour guides! With these group challenges, I am going to start with the July category and then go back when it turns to January again. I guess I will be doing two challenges simultaneously next year.
GeoCAT: (July: Polar Regions) : The Vikings by Neil Oliver π
(August: Western Europe) : Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire π
(September: East Asia, China, Japan, etc.) : The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
(October: South America) : The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf
(November: Australia and Oceania) : The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton π
RandomCAT: (July: Books about Books) : The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett π
(August: Back to School) : Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
(September: The Toronto International Film Festival Book Club) : 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup π
(October: Book Bullet) : Outlander by Diana Gabaldon π
(November: Disaster!) : The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
MysteryCAT: (July: Noir and Hard-Boiled) : Nobody Move by Denis Johnson π
(August: British Mystery) : The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie π
(September: Book-Themed Mysteries) : The Book of Occult by Simon W. Clarke
(October: World Mysteries) : The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
(November: Historical Mysteries) : The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Unofficial AlphaCAT: (July: C and W) : The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron π
The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck π
(August : F and T) : Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries by Kenneth Fedar
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
(September : J and O) : Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
(October : N and K) : Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelaznyπ
Killing Mister Watson by Peter Mathiessen
(November : G and S) : The Gunslinger by Stephen King π
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
(December: B, X,Y,Z):
(January: D and V): Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon π
Unofficial GastroCAT: (July: Fruits or Tea): For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose π
(August: Veggies or Water) : Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
(September: School Lunch Items or Milk) : Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman π
(October: Fall Foods) : The Pigeon Pie Mystery by Julia Stuart
(November: Turkey/Thanksgiving) :
I hope you guys all come visit often! I love to chat on Librarything. It makes me happy that so many people love words and books.
I leave you with a picture of my babies:
Fritz and Wybie
I love lists, I love challenges, and I never, ever finish them. I also hate coming into challenges halfway through and counting all the books I've already read for the year. I refuse to do it. So, you'll just see me still in this forum next June, lamenting the fact that I gave up on this challenge months back.
I hope that my theme is fun enough to keep at least keep me interested halfway through!
I am in love with things. I love food and books and television and travel and checking things off lists. Call it my stereotypical American passion for consumption. I love education. I just got my Masters degree in Archaeology, but still don't feel like I've learned enough. I think all of these characteristics make me addicted to Librarything and the amazing challenges I always enter into without thought or regard for the fact I've never finished any of them. Here are the other challenges I got myself into anyway!: 75 Book Challenge, the Alphabet Challenge, the Dewey Decimal Challenge , and the Adventure Time Challenge.
Anyway....
I have 13 categories, each of books of opposites, and represented by an alcoholic beverage!
If you don't agree with my drink choices, comment below and we can have a scholarly debate about why I am always right ;) Also, a book will never be applied to more than one category. Hell no.
π indicates I've completed the book.
1. Bloody Mary- Romance and Horror
The Bloody Mary is both a gory and a romantic drink. Besides the obvious red theme that can represent both romance and horror, the Bloody Mary can allude to the tempestuous aspects of love or the underlying romance in horror.
1. The Shining by Stephen King (horror) π
2. Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich (romance) π
3. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis (horror) π
4. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (romance) π
5. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (romance) π
6. Post Captain by Patrick O'Brian (romance) π
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
2. Old Fashioned- The Classics and the Contemporary
The Old Fashioned used to be the choice drink of successful aged (pronounced ag/ed) white men, jingling the change in their pockets: the perfect symbolism for most of the classics I think. However, recently, the hipster generation has brought back the Old Fashioned and made it hip. Their handlebar mustaches and their recently submitted manuscripts thank you for reading.
1. Moby Dick by Herman Mellville (classic) π
2. The Elephant Keeper's Children by Peter Hoeg (contemporary) π
3. One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak (contemporary) π
4. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne π
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
3. Amaretto Sour- Poetry and Tomes (over 1000 pages)
When I think of amaretto sours, I think of a dichotomy between intensely sweet with just a tiny bit of tartness. The verbosity of longer works and the carefully chosen words in poetry might be opposite in product, but similar in methodology.
1. Sonnets by Shakespeare (poetry)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
4. Mimosa- Prize Winners and the Overlooked
If there is one thing I learned in graduate school, it is that every person in the world loves brunch drinking. Whether you are a well-to-do Nobel Prize winner or a struggling college student with two jobs, a mimosa is the perfect drink. The champagne determines your station in life, but when you're getting drunk with pancakes, who's really paying attention?
1. Empire Falls by Richard Russo (prize winner)
2. Nation by Terry Pratchett (overlooked) π
3. The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie (prize winner) π
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
5. Rum and Coke- Science Fiction/Fantasy and the Hard Sciences
This might be the most debatable category on my list. First of all, I know some of you are cringing because I grouped science fiction and fantasy together so cavalierly, and I apologize. But I just picture physicists and biologists and chemists drinking rum and coke after a hard day's work. I also picture Orson Scott Card thinking, "I could really use a rum and coke right about now."
1. Memory of Light by Robert Jordan (scifi/fantasy) π
2. An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks (hard science) π
3. The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head by Gary Small (hard science) π
4. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (scifi/fantasy) π
5. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick (scifi/fantasy) π
6. The Magicians by Lev Grossman (scifi/fantasy) π
7. The War of the Worlds by HG Wells (scifi/fantasy) π
8. Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy Baumeister π
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
6. Red Wine- Fasting and Food
One of the best moments of my life was when I learned the health benefits of red wine (although I could have just drunkenly made them up). Red wine is the classic pairing with all types of food! The fasting and food category is about physical and psychological perfection versus gluttony and extravagance. "Fasting" books can be about philosophy, meditation, physical and mental health, etc. While the "food" category is self-explanatory.
1. Gargantua and Pantagruel by Rabalais (food) π
2.
3. The Prophet by Khalil Gibran (fasting) π
4. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (food) π
5. Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain (food) π
6. The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood π
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
7. Vodka and Red Bull- Audiobooks and Plays
The get up and go drink! Or really just the dancing drink. I consider audiobooks and plays opposites because in one instance someone is acting to you and in another you could be doing the acting. I thought an energy drink was a perfect representation of audiobooks, considering I listen to them while on the go. I also thought it did a good job representing plays, considering being an actor seems like much more energy than I will ever have in my life.
1. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (audiobook) π
2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (audiobook) π
3. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Coifer (audiobook) π
4. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller (audiobook) π
5. Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (audiobook) π
6. The Oedipus Cycle by Sophocles (play) π
7. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke (audiobook) π
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
8. Guinness- Practice (for example, Archaeology) versus Theory (for example, Anthropology)
This category is really just a personal one, although I think it can be applied to any field of interest. In the social sciences, there is sometimes a disconnect between practice and theory. It is important to learn how to reconcile these two in order to master your subject. I chose Guinness for this category because if you've ever known an archaeologist or anthropologist.....they drink these like they're water.
1. Behind the Short Story edited by Ryan Van Cleave and Todd James Pierce (practice)
2. The Argonauts of the Western Pacific by Bronislaw Malinowski (theory) π
3. World Prehistory and Archaeology by Michael Chazan (theory and practice)
4. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg (practice) π
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
9. The Martini-Crime and Philanthropy
Rich, hott people in crime movies drink martinis. Rich, hott people who run charities drink martinis. Explanation concluded.
1. Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark (crime) π
2. The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie (crime) π
3. Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch (crime) π
4. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith π
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
10. Mead- History and Historical Fiction
Heh, heh, heh. If you can, try and get your hands on some mead while you read these books. It really takes you back...if that's the time period you're reading about. On another note, have any of you ever had mead before? It really is delicious.
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (historical fiction) π
2. The Chattahoochee Chiefdoms by Blitz and Lorenz (history) π
3. Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep (historical fiction) π
4. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre by B. Traven (historical fiction) π
5. Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland (historical fiction)π
6. Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris (historical fiction)π
7. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (historical fiction)π
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
11. The White Russian- Biography and Folklore
The White Russian reminds me of dark corners in eastern Europe; a cold, misty day outside and a silent partner across the bar. Everything about a White Russian screams Folklore to me: the color, the taste, even the name. I think White Russians are very personal to people. They either love them or hate them, but I think most people have a story about a White Russian (hence, biography).
1. Scandinavian Folk and Fairy Tales (folklore)
2. Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen (biography)
3. Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson (biography) π
4. Yes Please by Amy Poehler (biography) π
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
12. The Mojito- The Traveler and the Homebody
Before I started traveling for a living, I never believed in homesickness. I thought the need for excitement and adventure trumped having a home base and someone to come back to. It took me awhile to realize the human need for both excitement and security. Anyway, the mojito is in a sense both exciting and safe: the flavors are familiar (mint, sugar, etc.) but it is also refreshing and airy. Traveling books and books about being home seem perfect for this drink.
1. The Mill on the Floss by George Elliot (homebody) π
2. Hotel World by Ali Smith (traveler and homebody) π
3. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (traveler and homebody) π
4. Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (traveler) π
5. A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin (traveler) π
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
13. The Margarita- Break All the Rules!
Margaritas are notoriously for party people, celebrations, and fun! This category is the freebie: just like the hangover after your margarita night.
1. The Phantom Tollbooth by Jules Fieffer π
2. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon π
3. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke π
4. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris π
5. The Paper Magician by Charlie Holberg π
6. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett π
7. Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall π
8. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clareπ
9. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clareπ
10. City of Bones by Cassandra Clareπ
11. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman π
12.
13.
14.
14. Group Challenges
I wanted to keep it traditional and have the fourteen categories, so I thought I would try to do all the group challenges. I love the tour guides! With these group challenges, I am going to start with the July category and then go back when it turns to January again. I guess I will be doing two challenges simultaneously next year.
GeoCAT: (July: Polar Regions) : The Vikings by Neil Oliver π
(August: Western Europe) : Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire π
(September: East Asia, China, Japan, etc.) : The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
(October: South America) : The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf
(November: Australia and Oceania) : The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton π
RandomCAT: (July: Books about Books) : The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett π
(August: Back to School) : Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
(September: The Toronto International Film Festival Book Club) : 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup π
(October: Book Bullet) : Outlander by Diana Gabaldon π
(November: Disaster!) : The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
MysteryCAT: (July: Noir and Hard-Boiled) : Nobody Move by Denis Johnson π
(August: British Mystery) : The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie π
(September: Book-Themed Mysteries) : The Book of Occult by Simon W. Clarke
(October: World Mysteries) : The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
(November: Historical Mysteries) : The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Unofficial AlphaCAT: (July: C and W) : The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron π
The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck π
(August : F and T) : Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries by Kenneth Fedar
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
(September : J and O) : Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
(October : N and K) : Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelaznyπ
Killing Mister Watson by Peter Mathiessen
(November : G and S) : The Gunslinger by Stephen King π
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
(December: B, X,Y,Z):
(January: D and V): Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon π
Unofficial GastroCAT: (July: Fruits or Tea): For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose π
(August: Veggies or Water) : Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
(September: School Lunch Items or Milk) : Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman π
(October: Fall Foods) : The Pigeon Pie Mystery by Julia Stuart
(November: Turkey/Thanksgiving) :
I hope you guys all come visit often! I love to chat on Librarything. It makes me happy that so many people love words and books.
I leave you with a picture of my babies:
Fritz and Wybie
2rabbitprincess
Welcome! Great choices for your theme, and I love the kitties!! Looking forward to seeing how those categories fill up. :)
3MissWatson
Welcome! Love the categories. And the kitties.
4RidgewayGirl
Welcome to the Challenges. Gorgeous kitties. For some reason, I'd quite like to watch The Big Lebowski and have a white russian.
5mamzel
I don't think anyone will give you grief about clumping fantasy and scifi together. One rule about this challenge is that there are no rules and we can set up our challenges any way we feel like. I love your drink choices and the categories with them. I do want to try mead one of these days.
6SweetbriarPoet
Yay! I'm glad everyone likes it....and yes RidgewayGirl, that is definitely a must! Mamzel...you should try mead; I recommend doing it at a Renaissance festival or somewhere people make it at home. It's good to be in the spirit when you drink it :)
7DeltaQueen50
Welcome and let me just say, Fritz and Wybie are gorgeous! Are they related? You won't go wrong here with interesting drinks, interesting books and lots of chat! :)
8SweetbriarPoet
:) Thanks Delta! Yes they were from the same litter. I got them from a rescue agency about three years ago, right when my dog turned one. Fritz was wanted by literally everyone so when I went to the adoption agency the foster mom said, "Well, he has a best friend in the litter- the only other orange kitty. But you might not be interested. They act just like orange cats: very mischievous!" They were the perfect addition to my family.
10SweetbriarPoet
Eva, thanks! I'll give you ALL the mimosas and I'll drink the Bloody Marys (my favorite drink of all time).
Btw, my review of the Mary Higgins Clark novel is....don't ever read anything by her. It was seriously horrible.
Btw, my review of the Mary Higgins Clark novel is....don't ever read anything by her. It was seriously horrible.
11Yells
I had two orange cats from the same litter too! And they got in a LOT of trouble together. Sadly, we lost one a few years ago but his brother is 16 and still going strong. :)
Welcome!
Welcome!
12SweetbriarPoet
Awwwww...orange cats are seriously the best! They have the biggest personalities. To be honest, I was never really a cat person until I got my own and I was like Oh. This is what all the fuss is about. Cats are hilarious and complete trouble makers.
13lkernagh
Welcome! I loved Empire Falls! I see you have been reading some big tomes, page count wise. ;-)
14SweetbriarPoet
Ikernagh...I kind of forgot people count their pages, don't they? Hmm maybe I should start doing that lol Thank you for the welcome! I have heard great things about Empire Falls and can't wait to get to it. Right now I'm in the middle of The Shining. To be honest, I've never read horror before just because I never thought it could scare me as much as Dracula and The Historian did. But.....boy was I wrong. I hope you guys keep coming back to visit!
15lkernagh
LOL. I started counting pages this year because of those big books! I haven't come up with a formula yet where over a 600 page book counts as two books read but at least at the end of the year (when I don't rad 75 books for my 75 books challenge) I won't feel so bad. ;-)
16SweetbriarPoet
lol that is a very good point. I have a feeling I might have to start picking out shorter books on purpose as I'm cutting it close (or not very close) towards the end of the year. :)
17LittleTaiko
Love your theme! I do enjoy a good martini; drinking one while reading a mystery would be perfect.
18SweetbriarPoet
>17 LittleTaiko: Thank you! I thought this might help me branch out in my reading. I haven't ever really read mystery, horror, romance, etc. I used to just stick to the classics (no idea why). I'm excited for this challenge!
19VivienneR
Looks like there will be some good titles on your thread. You've got a great theme, it even looks delicious. And I am in love with your babies.
20SweetbriarPoet
>19 VivienneR: Thank you!!! Feel free to steal them (both the categories and the cats) ;) They are little mischief makers.
21SweetbriarPoet
*Updated to add the other challenges I'm doing!
22SweetbriarPoet
*Updated again to include (C) to indicate which books I've finished reading.
23SweetbriarPoet
AugustCAT Books Updated:
GeoCAT: (Western Europe) The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas
RandomCAT: (Back to School) Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
MysteryCAT: (British Mystery) The Mysterious Affair at Style by Agatha Christie
AlphaCAT: (F and T) Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries by Kenneth Feder
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
GastroCAT: (Veggies or Water) Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
GeoCAT: (Western Europe) The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas
RandomCAT: (Back to School) Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
MysteryCAT: (British Mystery) The Mysterious Affair at Style by Agatha Christie
AlphaCAT: (F and T) Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries by Kenneth Feder
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
GastroCAT: (Veggies or Water) Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
24SweetbriarPoet
Books finished in July:
1. The Shining by Stephen King
2. An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks
3. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
4. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
5. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
6. Where are the Children by Mary Higgins Clark
7. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
8. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover
9. Nobody Move by Denis Johnson
10. The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron
11. For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose
1. The Shining by Stephen King
2. An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks
3. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
4. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
5. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
6. Where are the Children by Mary Higgins Clark
7. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
8. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover
9. Nobody Move by Denis Johnson
10. The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron
11. For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose
26SweetbriarPoet
Thank you Mamzel! I tried really hard...I am hoping to keep up the pace, although I am afraid I am already behind for this month.
Good luck in your own reading endeavors :)
Good luck in your own reading endeavors :)
28SweetbriarPoet
Thank you mstrust :) I liked them myself, I have to admit!
29mysterymax
Getting here late, but the categories are great! Hope you cross the finish line this time.
30SweetbriarPoet
Thank you mysterymax :)
31SweetbriarPoet
...Falling behind....
32SweetbriarPoet
Just found out how to use emojis! π now means that my books have been read
33MissWatson
Cool icon. Where did you find out how to use them?
34.Monkey.
>33 MissWatson: Looks like it's a character from a specific font. It only shows the non-displaying box for me (i.e. my computer does not have the font in question).
ETA
Apparently it's the font "Universalia"
ETA
Apparently it's the font "Universalia"
35MissWatson
>34 .Monkey.: Thank you for that info! It's Segoe UI Symbol. One of those fonts I never even looked at, but it has an amazing number of potentially useful icons.
36.Monkey.
>35 MissWatson: Just don't forget if you're using it online not everyone will be able to see it.
37SweetbriarPoet
It's strange you can't see it because I can even see it on my mobile devices.
38SweetbriarPoet
Gratuitous kitty pictures
40SweetbriarPoet
>39 mamzel: They do! And trust me, these are some mischief-makers all the way.
41.Monkey.
>37 SweetbriarPoet: I run Linux, specialty fonts like that are definitely not supported by default. ;)
42SweetbriarPoet
Ohh that makes sense!
43.Monkey.
:) I was curious though so I did a search and managed to find a ttf that I could just apt-get, so I can in fact see it now. But still, just something to keep in mind. :)
44lkernagh
>38 SweetbriarPoet: - Orange tabbies! Hey guys/girls!
I am such a sucker for anything cute and cuddly. ;-)
I am such a sucker for anything cute and cuddly. ;-)
45SweetbriarPoet
>39 mamzel: They are brothers- so crazy and awesome. I never liked cats until I got my own. It's insane that they are from the same litter with such different personalities.
46Yells
I have (had I guess... one died a few years ago but the other is still going strong at 17) two orange cats from the same litter and then couldn't be more different. They started out looking exactly the same but then one grew into a skinny, short haired neurotic cat while the other is a long haired, fat, super affectionate cat. My vet warned me when we first got them that they would never get along because male orange cats are aggressive and dominant. He couldn't have been more wrong! They were besties right from the start.
47.Monkey.
>46 Yells: That vet is a complete idiot. Hair color does not mean a damn thing with temperament! Not to mention that every orange I've ever known/heard about have all been the sweetest things ever!!
48SweetbriarPoet
>46 Yells: It's funny, the foster mother of my two little kittens told me the same thing! She was like, orange cats can be incredibly dominant, so you shouldn't get two brothers. But they are best friends, and could never be apart. Of course they wrestle, but it's always friendly and brotherly. ;) I'm sorry to hear about the loss of one of your cats- that is never easy. But to think one is 17! That is pretty amazing.
49SweetbriarPoet
*Super duper updated
50SweetbriarPoet
Even though it's the new year, I started this challenge in July, and I'm going to just keep up until I fill in all the blanks..even if it takes me until next year lol
51rabbitprincess
Good luck! :)
