Berly's Bounty #5

1. A Book With More Than 500 Pages--The Goldfinch by Donna Tart
2. A Forgotten Classic--Cotillion by Georgette Heyer
3. A Book that Became a Movie--The Green Mile by Stephen King
4. A Book Published This Year--Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
5. A Book With a Number in the Title--Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

6. A Book Written by Someone Under Thirty
7. A Book With Non-Human Characters--Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
8. A Funny Book--Basket Case by Carl Hiassen
9. A Book by a Female Author--Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
10. A Book With a Mystery--Paper Towns by John Green

11. A Book With a One Word Title--Orfeo by Richard Powers
12. A Book of Short Stories--Dirty Love by Andre Dubus
13. A Book set on a Different Continent--More Than This by Patrick Ness
14. A Book of Non-Fiction--Marbles by Ellen Forney

15. The First Book by a Favorite Author--Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
16. A Book you Heard About Online--The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker
17. A Best-Selling Book--Life After Life by Kate Atkins
18. A Book Based on a True Story--When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
19. A Book at the Bottom of Your To-Read Pile--French Women Don't Get Fat by Mieille Guillano

20. A Book Your Friend Loves--The Hanover Square Affair by Ashley Gardner
21. A Book That Scares You--Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
22. A Book That is more than 10 Years Old--The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
23. The Second Book in a Series-- Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
24. A Book With a Blue Cover--Dust by Patricia Cornwell

December (1736 pages)
68. Alice in Zombieland (404 pages) by Gena Showalter
67. One Tough Mother (194 pages) by Gert Boyle of Columbia Sportswear Fame
66. All my Puny Sorrows (317 pages) by Miriam Toews
65. The Color of Water: A Black man's Tribute to His White Mother (301 pages) by James McBride
64. DarkNet (232 pages) by John R. Little
63. Paper Doll (288 pages) by Robert B. Parker

November (1981 pages)
62. The Color of Water (295 pages) by James McBride 4.0
61. Double Deuce (272 pages) by Robert B. Parker
60. Ticker (273 pages) by Lisa Mantchev 3.5
59. The Gauguin Connection (432 pages) by Estelle Ryan 4.0
58. Picture Perfect (391 pages) by Jodi Piccoult 3.5
57. Magic for Beginners (318 pages) by Kelly Link 4.0

October (2280 pages)
56. The Moonlight Palace (176 pages) by Liz Rosenberg 4.0
55. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki (400 pp) by Haruki Murakami 4.0
54. Five Days at Memorial (576 pages) by Sheri Fink 3.0
53. What We See When We Read (419 pages) by Peter Mendelsund 4.0
52. Picture Perfect (391 pages) by Jodi Piccoult 3.5
51. The Language of Flowers (308 pages) by Vanessa Diffenbaugh 4.0

September (1376 pages)
50. The Book of Life (576 pages) by Deborah Harkness 4.5
49. Stormy Weather (400 pages) by Carl Hiaasen 4.0
48. The Ocean at the End of the Lane (178 pages) by Neil Gaiman 5.0
47. Playmates (222 pages) by Robert B. Parker 3.0

August (1307 pages)
46. The Gravity of Birds (294 pages) by Tracy Guzeman 5.0
45. Cat's Cradle (191 pages) by Kurt Vonnegut 4.0
44. Mortal Stakes (288 pages) by Robert B. Parker 3.5
43. The Artful Goddaughter (127 pages) by Melodie Campbell 3.0
42. The Virgin Suicides (249 pages) by Jeffrey Eugenides 3.5
41. Heaven is for Real (158 pages) by Todd Burpo 3.0

July (1612 pages)
40. Interpreter of Maladies (198 pages) by Juhumpa Lahiri 4.5
39. Crimson Joy (211) by Robert B. Parker 3.0
38. The Martian (384) by Andy Weir 4.5
37.A Second Chance (292 pages) by Jodi Taylor 4.0
36. The Hanover Square Affair (319 pages) by Ashley Gardner 3.5
35. God Save the Child (208 Pages) by Robert B. Parker 3.5

June (2772 pages)
35. God Save the Child (208 Pages) by Robert B. Parker 3.5
34. Sleep Doctor (528 pages) by Stephen King 4.0
33. Cotillion (366 pages) by Georgette Heyer 3.0
32. The Explanation for Everything (335 pages) by Lauren Grodstein 3.5
31. The Godwulf Manuscript (208 pages) by Robert B. Parker 3.5
30. The Goldfinch (775 pages) by Donna Tart 3.75
29. Life After Life (560 pages) by Kate Atkinson 4.5

May (822 pages)
28. Just One Damned Thing After Another (332 pages) by Jodi Taylor 4.5
27. A Symphony of Echoes (334 pages) by Jodi Taylor 4.5
26. The Book of Salt (156 pages out of 260) by Monique Truong 3.0

April(1601 pages)
25. The Bartender's Tale (432 pages) by Ivan Doig 4.0
24. City of Thieves (258 pages) by David Benioff 4.5
23. River Marked (304 pages) by Patricia Briggs 4.0
22. Thirteen Reasons Why (336 pages--read with my daughter) by Jay Asher 5.0
21. Paper Towns (320 pages) by John Green 4.5
20. The Rosie Project (304 pages) by Gaeme Simsion 5.0
19. Basket Case (317 pages) by Carl Hiaasen 3.5

March(2107 pages)
18. French Women Don't Get Fat (256 pages) by Mieille Guillano 3.0
17. Sisterland (397 pages) by Curtis (a woman!) Sittenfeld 4.0
16. World War Z (342 pages) by Max Brooks 3.5
15. The Green Mile (536 pages) by Stephen King 4.5
14. Shadow Spell (339 pages) by Nora Roberts 3.0
13. Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, & Me (237 pages) by Ellen Forney 4.0

February(1922 pages)
12. Chocolate War (263 pages) by Robert Cormier 4.0
11. Sisters Brothers (325 pages) by Patrick DeWitt 4.5
10. Dark Witch (342 pages) by Nora Roberts 3.0
9. Silver Borne (304 pages) by Patricia Briggs 4.0
8. Dirty Love (304 pages) by Andre Dubus--Pearl Ruled unless my book club can talk me back into it
7. Hollow City (394 pages) by Ransom Riggs 5.0

January(2340 pages)
6. Basket Case (317 pages) by Carl Hiaasen 3.5
5. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (246 pages) by Judith Kerr 4.0
4. Orfeo (369 pages) by Richard Powers 3.0
3. Flight Behavior (433 pages) by Barbara Kingsolver 4.0
2. More Than This (480 pages) by Patrick Ness 4.5
1. Dust, a Scarpetta Novel (495 pages) by Patricia Cornwell 3.5

Favorites from 2013

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald 5.0
Brewster, by Mark Slouka 5.0
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier--A Banned Book!! 4.0
The Panopticon, by Jenni Fagan 4.5
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs 4.0
The Dog Stars, by Peter Heller 5.0
What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty 5.0
Round House, by Louise Erdrich 4.5
With or Without You, by Domenica Ruta 5.0
The Death of Bees, by Lisa O'Connell 4.5
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot 5.0
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain 5.0
The Fifty Year Sword by Mark Z. Danielewski 4.0
Morgue Drawer Next Door, Jutta Profijt 4.0
Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore 5.0
A Million Heavens by John Brandon 4.5
When She Woke by Hilary Jordan 5.0

Hi, Kim. Can I come in now? Dropping by quickly; my life is as hectic as yours, I think. I'm sorry to hear about your knee. I hope that it's improving now. The Moonlight Palace looks intriguing; do you recommend it?

How did your Hallowe'en party go? We were thinking of planning something for our street, but that was the week of my 5 year old's concert and my husband was in the States on work, so we never got around to it. We're hoping we'll manage it next year, but of course, it's not as big here as it is in the US.

By the way - did you take that photo at the top? Brr - looks cold!

Happy New Thread, Kim.

Hi H! Thanks for being the first to warm up my thread. : )

No, I didn't take this photo. My backyard icicles didn't line up with the sunset quite that nicely, LOL, but it does beautifully express that winter is here now.

Yes, I would have to say your life is also on the way busy side. ; ) The Halloween party was a big success! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and I think you should give it a go next year, but only if your husband is in town. For example, the downstairs carpet got trashed, but my son and Hubby rented a carpet cleaner the next day and now it looks better than ever.

I liked The Moonlight Palace. It is short and sweet with wonderful characters.

Now I have to get cracking--behind on posting books! What else is new....

>6 Ameise1: Hi Barb! You already wished me a wonderful weekend on the last thread, so I am just going to bring your beautiful photo with me over to this thread....Thanks!

Nice opening photo, Kim!

:-)

>8 Berly: Hi Darryl! Thanks. How nice to see you! You know, you should make this a habit. ; ) I am, after all, much easier to keep up with than you--less books, less travel, less posts. Not that means I am less interesting, mind you! Anyhow, glad to see you and hope you have a great weekend (assuming you have it off).

Thanks, Kim! I will try to drop by more often, especially on weekends when I'm off from work, such as this one.

57. Magic For Beginners by Kelly Link.

This collection of short stories is my new favorite. They are decidedly weird, but totally engaging and very moving, mixing everyday life with the absurd and phantasmagorical. I could not put it down, which is saying a lot for short stories! Each one left me wanting to know what crazy new idea Link had in the next piece. And the stories have stuck with me. In case you don't believe me, Michael Chabon said Link is "The most darkly playful voice in American fiction." Now are you going to read it?!

58. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Although a little uneven in pacing, I really enjoyed this book. I loved learning about the meaning of flowers--it is a charming dimension of this book. And I was truly cheering for the damaged heroine; Victoria has spent her childhood in foster care and she trusts no one. After turning eighteen, her love of flowers and their meanings lands her a job in a florist shop. Victoria soon has loyal clients asking for help in their lives through her gift of flowers, but Victoria can't heal herself until a young man enters her life and she faces a secret from her past. Poignant, engaging, romantic, funny.

58. Picture Perfect by Jodi Piccoult

Alex wakes up with amnesia, only to find out that she is actually married to THE leading man in Hollywood. So why isn't she ecstatic? In usual Piccoult style, secrets unfold. The story travels from Hollywood to exotic archeological digs and an Indian reservation. And there is a handsome policeman willing to help Alex buy time to stay safe and figure out her life. One of Piccoult's earlier books. Nothing spectacular, but still a fun read.

Howdy Kim!

again i say hi :=)

Hi Kim, nice new thread my dear, hope you are having a good weekend my dear.

>16 luvamystery65: Hiya Roberta!. Thanks for stopping by. I finished another Spenser--working on reviews today and hope to get to it. One of the better ones. Sending you happy weekend wishes!

>17 AuntieClio: Hi AC!! Did I miss you on my last thread? If so, sorry. Thanks for dropping by again. RL has been quite busy lately, but I will try to catch up with you soon. Hope life is treating you well....

>18 johnsimpson: John, my weekend is off to a good start. I caught the last half of the TKD belt test. I have 5 girl friends going for first degree and one for level four. That makes her a Master!! Quite impressive. I am soon itching to get back to it. *stops to give knee a little pep talk* Hope your weekend is a good one. Best wishes to you and your wife. (Last I checked, surgery was rescheduled, so I need to look for your update!)

Happy New Thread, Kimmers! Love the icy topper! I've been hearing some very good buzz on Kelly Link lately. I just snagged her latest collection, from E.R. plus I have an earlier collection on shelf.

How is the McBride coming? I have not read him yet, although I have his last one saved on audio.

Hey Kim! Congrats on your new, lovely thread with the seasonal icicles as a topper. Your review of Magic for Beginners has me intrigued.

>20 msf59: Hi Mark--I will definitely have to keep an eye out for more Kelly Link. As to the McBride, I think I mention in another thread that I had to the chance to hear him talk through Literary Arts in Portland. He is one smart, funny guy live! His book, A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother is also funny, he was one of twelve kids and the hierarchy and shenanigans in his household growing up were amazing! It is also poignant and thought-provoking. I am enjoying it very much. About halfway through and I might even get a chance to read a little of it now that I am sort of caught up on LT!!

>21 EBT1002: Hi Ellen--I just got caught up on your thread. Nice to see you here! Did you finish painting already?

59. The Gauguin Connection by Estelle Ryan

Dr Genevieve Lenard is an art crime investigator. She has Asperger's, but is high functioning and has the uncanny ability to fluently read other people's body language. In this mystery thriller, stolen art and stolen warfare seem to overlap. The characters are great, the plot moves well and Genevieve is unintentionally very funny. I am really looking forward to the second in the series! (If you want a longer, funnier review, go read Richard's. I think it is his fault I read this.)

60. Ticker by Lisa Mentchev

I have only read one or two steampunk, so I am not sure if this book falls into the category or not. Penny Farthing had a bad heart and a brilliant surgeon figured out how to give her a clock heart, a "ticker" if you will, and so she becomes the first of his augmented patients. The only problem? It turns out the surgeon sacrificed lots of people in his practice as he experimented. Can Penny find him and stop him? Can she afford to stop him since he is the only one who can fix her ticker? Adventure, romance. Hoping there is a sequel...

Happy New Thread, Kim!!

Kim, that icicle topper looks surreal. Yes, I think winter is here to stay, darn it! Congratulations on your 5th thread for the year.

>14 Berly:: I liked your thoughts on The Language of Flowers. I too enjoyed learning what the different flowers mean. I read this with my book group, and surprisingly to me, I liked it a bit better than most of the others. I think I was just in the mood for a "poignant, engaging, romantic, funny" book. Timing is everything in life and books!

I hope you and your family have a wonderfully warm Thanksgiving!

Wow, October and June were heavy on the page numbers! I collect info on page numbers now, not so much to show off that I have read so much, but to keep myself honest with the ones that are barely classable as books! (you know the ones, the little 'books' that are barely 100 p) :)

Happy new thread, Kim! I bet you are busy getting ready for Thanksgiving, and I wish for you one that is full of fabulous. You hit me with a book bullet - the Kelly Link book, so thanks for that!

So sorry to hear you have continued knee trouble.

Beautiful topper photo!!

Oooh - Magic for Beginners sounds good and my library has it available in ebook. I like to have an ebook of short stories on my phone for those "I'm stuck waiting" times. This is definitely getting added to my list.

A little late in wishing you a happy new thread!

Have you read a lot of Picoult books?

>25 scaifea: Thanks Amber! Here I am celebrating that I am on thread number 5 and you are on what? 35? Cripes!! How do you have the time? Glad you do. ; )

>26 Donna828: Hi Donna! Yes, I liked The Language of Flowers more than I thought I would--timing is everything! I spent all day today at the grocery store and cleaning. Tomorrow is work in the morning and then cooking. We have four family recipes: the stuffing, yam shuffle, mushroom rollups and a cranberry chutney. The kids like to help on the rollups--because they have to taste test ya know!--which means less work for me, but also less rollups! Hoping you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well.

>27 LovingLit: Hi Megan! That's funny--I started counting pages to make up for feeling behind on numbers of books read when I get stuck on a big tomb and then I have hardly read any of those this year! No idea why I read more those months. November is doing well also, but I think that is because I am pushing for the 75. Dubious at this point, but....

>28 Crazymamie: HI Crazy!! Love seeing you around again. I am all sorts of busy with getting ready for Thanksgiving. My sister-in-law is coming tonight to stay with us and then we have the in-laws and a boyfriend coming on Thursday. Should be very nice and lots of fun. I think we may fit in a little shoe shopping tomorrow.... : ) Hoping yours is going to be wonderful.

>29 SuziQoregon: Hi Suzi! Magic for Beginners will be perfect for those "I am stuck and have nothing to do" moments. Let me know what you think of them and which one is your favorite story.

>30 jolerie: Hi Val! Thanks for popping in and wishing me a Happy New Thread. That is never too late! I have read a lot of Picoult's--I just checked and the number is 14! My favorites are Nineteen Minutes, A Change of Heart, My Sister's Keeper, and Lone Wolf: A Novel, but I pretty much like them all. Picture Perfect was not one of her best. Have you read any?

Happy Thanksgiving, Kim! Don't spend too long on your feet in the kitchen...

So, I got my new Indiespensable box from Powell's. They have been doing this for 6 years and I was on board from the start, when they had only 50 people (no idea how many now). My cute hubby signed me up--thank you!!

The note that goes with the box says, "Each night when I drift off to sleep and each morning when I wake, I am grateful that we met and that you decided to say yes. Just a reminder of our love." Oh yeah, I scored a good one!!

So this the the 50th box and Powell's sent a list of all the books they have sent -- there are a ton of awesome books, many are prize winners. This box includes Loitering New and Collected Essays by Charles D'Ambrosio, All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews, and a bar of salted chocolate (they always send a little something extra). Last month was The Bone Clocks, which I still have to get to (I know Mark!) I love new books. Happy sigh.

>34 katiekrug: Oh Hi Katie--almost missed you there. : )

My feet are killing me right now, but it' time to put them up and have a little vino, so it's all good. Thanks for looking out of me. ; )

Wow Kimmers that is some opening picture! A box from Powells?! I am jealous.

Yeah, she's actually another one of my go-to authors. I know that some people can sometimes find her formulaic, but I find her books always interesting. The topics are always thought provoking and the characters intriguing. I've read Plain Truth, The Tenth Circle, Vanishing Acts, Perfect Match, Mercy, My Sister's Keeper with Plain Truth and My Sister's Keeper being my favourite so far. That is not even including all her other novels on my TBR mountain that I've yet to read... :)

>37 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Yes, this seems to be a favorite thread topper. Thanks. : ) As to my Powell's box...you should be jealous!! Ha, ha!

>38 jolerie: Obviously, since I have read 14 of Picoult's books, she is one of my go-to authors also. I forgot about Plain Truth--that was a favorite, too. I haven't read The Tenth Circle yet...but I can fix that!! I should go check my list of favorite authors and make sure I listed her.

I did!

When I finally read a Picoult novel, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I've read three, I think - Salem Falls, Plain Truth, and Tenth Circle. The last is probably my favorite. I have heard her new one is excellent.

She's on my list too! :D
I really should get onto her other books in the new year. Same with Katie, I've heard that Leaving Time is a gooder.

>31 Berly: Well, I don't bathe all that often... *snork!*

You know, I've always felt my inner snooty-pants grumble about Picoult, too, for some silly reason - sounds like I need to quiets Ms. Snooty-Pants down and give one a try...

^ lol, I concur (on both points)

Happy Thanksgiving, Kim! Jodi Picoult doesn't seem to get much LT love or attention around here but I've liked the couple of books I have read. I've been hearing very good things about Leaving Time, which I managed to snag on audio.

Enjoy the holiday, my friend!

Happy Thanksgiving, Kim!

>44 msf59: I've read My Sister's Keeper and Nineteen Minutes and they both got 8/10 stars.

>46 Morphidae: I also liked My Sister's Keeper and I've had Nineteen Minutes on shelf forever.

Happy Thanksgiving to the whole family Kim :-)

Happy Thanksgiving Kim and the rest of the family, hope everything is well with you my dear and Karen is progressing well. Love and hugs to you my dear.

Happy Thanksgiving, Kim!

Kimmers, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Malaysia or the UK but I couldn't let the occasion pass without chiming in with my own thanks to all my dear friends in the group for making a tough year a joy for much of the time. xx

Kim, I wish you a fabulous weekend.

>40 katiekrug: So, I love getting book bullets on my own thread! I will have to look for Tenth Circle!

>41 jolerie: And Leaving Time. Yikes! She is a reliable good read for me. I think I am going to save these for 2015 though. I already have too many actual books by my bedside. : )

>42 scaifea: Miss Snooty Pants...you better do some research and choose a Piccoult for next year!! ; )

>43 LovingLit: Perxactly!!

>44 msf59: See even Mark is in on Picoult!

>45 kidzdoc: Hi Doc! Hmmmm...does Doc have any Picoult? He does not! LOL

>46 Morphidae: Morphy is in with 8/10 stars! Yes!

>47 msf59: Mark, move Nineteen Minutes up on the list, sir!

>48 Ameise1: >49 johnsimpson: >50 tymfos: Hope Thanksgiving was wonderful in you house as well. Thanks! More on that later... : )

>51 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the good wishes even though you don't celebrate over there. It has been a pleasure to visit you through the ups as well as the downs. Thank YOU!

>52 Ameise1: Barb, that looks heavenly and I could really use some of that right now! Thanks.

It has been all kinds of crazy here with great food and visiting friends. I hope everyone who celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday had a wonderful time.

I am so grateful for all my amazing friends here on LT--thank you!

>54 Berly: Nope. I'm in cahoots with Ms Snooty Pants.

>57 kidzdoc: Just as I suspected! LOL. But I like your highbrowness. Don't be changing nothing. : )

Mark's American Author Challenge-II:

I am gonna give this a try...

January: Carson McCullers* - The Member of the Wedding

February: Henry James - The Golden Bowl or What Daisie Knew

March: Richard Ford* - The Sportswriter

April: Louise Erdrich - The Plague of Doves

May: Sinclair Lewis* - It Can't Happen Here

June: Wallace Stegner - Crossing to Safety

July: Ursula K. Le Guin - The Left Hand of Darkness

August: Larry McMurtry -

September: Flannery O' Connor -

October: Ray Bradbury -

November: Barbara Kingsolver -

December: E.L. Doctorow* -

* New authors to me

Happy Sunday, Kimmers! I will get to Nineteen Minutes but I think I will read Leaving Time first, since it's been buzzing and I snagged it on audio.

Love the AACII list! Glad to see you tagging along.

I am a little shy about doing this, but I truly need help. I need wrist surgery but don't have the funds to pay for it. Please help if you can. Thanks! https://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-stephanie-pay-for-wrist-surger...

>59 Berly: I am stumped by the list and may have to wait til people start raving (or other) about books before jumping in. I did wait til November for this years AAC! I will prob go with what is on my stacks, which so far is not many!

>61 AuntieClio: Stephanie--Already sending you good mojo. I will go check out the website. Good luck! You have had a rough year.

>62 LovingLit: Megan--The authors were chosen by Mark, and my understanding is that each person can choose a book to read by that author. I will *try* (I really am a more spontaneous reader) to fit one in each month and so far I have figured out some picks for the beginning of the year. Wait and see how this develops for you and the books that others suggest. One of two might tempt you! ; )

Hi Kim - just catching up and waving hello!

^^Did you miss my little post up there? Hmmmmmmm, Kimmers?

It looks like we have to help little Megan out with the AAC. I'll hold her hand the first month and then...

>64 SuziQoregon: Hey Suzi! Hello back to you! So glad you are all caught up again. Phew. I was getting worried for you. ; )

>60 msf59: Mark! Maybe, perhaps...oops!! But the love was still there buddy. : )

AND...

>65 msf59: I think you are holding a lot of hands here, dude. What would we do without you?!

Marky-Mark The Hand-Holder! It doesn't really sing but I sure don't mind doing it.

"Yesterday I saw you standing there.
Your head was down, your eyes were red,
no comb had touched your hair.
I said, "Get up and let me see you smile.
We'll take a walk together,
walk the road a while."
'Cause I got a hand for you.
I got a hand for you.
I wanna run with you.
(Won't you let me run with you.)
Hold my hand.
(Want you to hold my hand.)"

-Hootie & the Blowfish

Hi Kim, I wish you a fabulous weekend.

Hey Kim. I'm glad you're joining in on Mark's AAC-II. I didn't participate at 100% in 2014. We'll see how 2015 goes.

I have never read a Jodi Picoult and I think I'm with Darryl on this. A very dear friend recommended Nineteen Minutes to me but I just don't think I can do it....

>67 msf59: Awwww! That's so sweet. : )

>68 Ameise1: Thanks Barb. I crashed and burned this weekend. Just frazzled. As my Dad would say, nothing that a little red wine won't fix!

Got the Holiday cards at work mostly finished. Decorations at home all put up. Read another book. (Way behind on posting the reviews, but pushing for that 75!)

>69 EBT1002: Nineteen Minutes had a pretty good punch to it. That would be high on my list of first-to-read by Picoult. Maybe someday...who knows?!

It's a sad day when your old clothes qualify for the kids ugly Christmas sweater dress up party. Lol!

(No clue how to rotate the picture...Hints?)

>65 msf59: boo hoo, I am a junior AAC reader :)
And mainly a spontaneous reader.

>71 Berly: LOL!! No hints sorry, I presume you have to rotate prior to posting?

No fair laughing!! It was upright when I copied it. They better win first prize for the sweaters. : P

Stopping by to wave hello and to say how sorry I am that I'm not able to keep up with the threads. Are you feeling better?

Giggling at the sweater photo. Hope they won a prize.

What fun sweaters!

I've had that issue with having to rotate pictures. I usually have to use a different photo program and rotate the picture. Save it and then re-upload onto LT. It's a hassle and I don't really understand why it happens and other times not.

Hi Kim, hope everything is well with you my dear, love and hugs.

>73 Berly: he he. *laughing with you not at you*

Hi Kim. I've read one Jodi Piccoult book: My Sister's Keeper but thought the ending was just too contrived and cutesy for my taste so I never went further with her books.

BTW, you have to rotate the pictures before you post them. I've had trouble trying to post pictures here myself. They'll look fine on my computer but when they show up here they're upside down or laying on their side.

Hi Kim. I was encouraged to wear an "ugly sweater" (when and how did this tradition get started? It wasn't around when I was a younger) to work on Wednesday. You know ---- finals week and the holidays coming up and all....
I chose not to participate. ha.

I think the kids should win first prize for their sweaters, especially in the sideways category.

Kim, I wish you a fabulous weekend.

Awesome sweaters! Please let us know if they win. They aren't that ugly, though...

Now these are ugly Christmas sweaters.

>84 kidzdoc: - I think the pants are worse than the sweaters!

The green one with the smiling teddy is the least appalling of them, but yeah..........the trousers are ten times worse than the jumpers.

Yeah - those pants are awful

Christmas sweaters jumpers. I never understood the phenomenon. Unless it was a joke. They are a joke, aren't they?

Hey! At least you don't have to worry about cars hitting you while you are walking on the streets at night with those pants. I'm sold. Or not. ;)

Kim, I wish you a lovely weekend and Merry Christmas.

>88 LovingLit: I'm with you, Megan. I have no idea how this "tradition" got started and I simply refuse to participate. Regardless of what one calls them.

Hi Kim, hope you are having a good weekend my dear, I have a Christmas jumper from last year but refused to get another this year, the jumper thing seems to have taken off over here the last couple of years. Love and hugs to you and the family.

Hi Kim, Just posting to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and have a fabulous day my dear from John and Karen. Sending love and hugs from Yorkshire.

Happy Christmas, Kim!!

From our family to yours!

Berly, I'm so happy to have made your acquaintance this year. Your encouraging words to me, an snarky sense of humor mean a lot to me. I'm so grateful to have you in my life.

Merry Christmas, Kim!

Doing the rounds with a festive Connie to wish you a very Merry Christmas full of joy, love and books.

BIG holiday hugs to my pal!!

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Kim!

Let the madness begin!

http://www.librarything.com/groups/75booksin2015

Have a lovely festive season, Kimmers!

Kim, I wish you a lovely weekend.

Kim - hope you had a lovely Christmas

Happy New Year!

Hi Kim, just a quick post to wish you and your family a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year my dear and have an enjoyable reading year in 2015. xx

Happy New Year, Kim. Here's hoping it is filled with good health and lots of fun.

May all your wishes come true.

Kimmers!



Happy New Year from your friend in Kuala Lumpur

How can I be so far behind on my own thread?! Thanks for keeping it going. I promise to respond to everyone individually tomorrow when I FINALLY will have some time! Right now, I am tucking the last 8 boys in bed. Twenty kids over for New Years. Very fun. This month has had great ups and downs. more on that later. But for now, please know I am alive and well and I miss you all and wish you a wonderful 2015. Happy New Year!!! : )

>74 Whisper1: Everything is feeling fine but the knee...Hope you are hanging in there until the big fix for you!

>75 SuziQoregon: Glad the photo made you laugh--it certainly has that effect on me! Apparently there were no prized given out, but they got lots of compliments and were very happy. Which means my sweaters were exceptionally ugly?!?! LOL

>76 jolerie: NO clue why the picture is sideways. I saved and reloaded it twice and then gave up. It just puts a new twist on things, right?

>77 johnsimpson: Love and hugs back! When I get a little caught up here, I will be over to check on you and your wife. Hugs.

>78 LovingLit: "he he. *laughing with you not at you*" Thank you for being on my side. ; )

Happy New Year, Kim! Hoping that it is filled with fabulous! And good to know that you are alive. *goes to cancel the search party*

>79 brenzi: Yes, her endings can be a little formulaic, in that there is usually a twist. But I still love Piccoult and think you should give her another try. And I am hoping for better luck next time on the picture orientation....!

>80 EBT1002: TRIVIA!! "The actual mass-market ugly sweater reached its peak popularity sometime in the 1980s, according to the Wall Street Journal...At least, that’s according to the three men who wrote “Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book: The Definitive Guide to Getting Your Ugly On.” Authors Brian Miller, Adam Paulson and Kevin Wool hedge that claim, saying the world will never be sure who held the first ugly sweater party." The Style Blog, Posted at 04:17 PM ET, 11/29/2011

>81 Ameise1: And a fabulous weekend to you too!!!

>82 kidzdoc: Thank you for saying they are not that ugly!! : )

>84 kidzdoc: And implying that my sweaters are nowhere near this level of ugly!!

>85 katiekrug: Oh my God!!! The pants! They kinda take it all to another whole level of ugly don't they?

>86 lunacat: I think the guy with the holly berry T-neck has it pretty bad! And it took me a minute to remember that "jumpers" are "sweaters"! (See number 88 below.) At least we can agree that the pants are the worst.

>87 SuziQoregon: Can you imagine wearing reflective pants? Not me. Especially not now, when I have a few extra pounds due to lack of exercise and pity eating. ; ) Man! They would show off every wrinkle and bulge. I'll pass thank you very much!

>88 LovingLit: Thank you for clarifying the jumper/sweater thing. And, yes, it is a joke. Until you are innocently wearing a holiday sweater and someone asks you where the Ugly Christmas Party is...then it kinda hurts. LOL>

>89 jolerie: Oh right! I never thought of the pants as protective night time reflective gear. Good thinking!

>90 Ameise1: Another lovely picture. You know, you have me totally spoiled now and I look for these every weekend. Thank you very much. : )

>91 EBT1002: See #113 above for the start of this lovely tradition. I, myself, have not been to an ugly sweater party, although apparently I have been wearing ugly sweaters. ; )

>92 johnsimpson: Love and hugs right back at you. Hope Karen is feeling fine.

>93 johnsimpson: >94 scaifea: >95 jolerie: >96 AuntieClio: >97 ChelleBearss: >98 lunacat: >99 msf59: >100 kidzdoc: >101 drneutron: >102 PaulCranswick: >103 Ameise1: >104 SuziQoregon: Merry Christmas!! I love you guys!!

I spent the holidays in the midwest with my side of the family. It was cold (by comparison to Portland) and we got a dusting of snow for Christmas. My kids hadn't seen their cousins in several years and they all got along splendidly. We played an insane number of board games! The old favorites are Mahjong, Farkle and the classic card games. The new favorites include Dixit, Ligretto, The Best of TV and Movies, and The Logo Board game.

We ate family recipe favorites like Yam Souffle, Mushroom Rollups, Cranberry Chutney and of course, Stuffing. I had to make a run to the store though because my parents hadn't remembered to triple the ingredients for the food--we had fourteen under one roof for three days! Talk about togetherness--crazy but great fun.

The only thing that was a little hard was my Mom is definitely starting to lose her memory. She was trying so hard to make sure everyone was taken care of and she kept asking the same questions over and over. But she was of good cheer and so appreciative of family and her life. Made me cry a couple of times.

I hope you all had the chance to be with loved ones and that it was a wonderful time.

>104 SuziQoregon: >105 johnsimpson: >106 ffortsa: >107 Ameise1: >108 PaulCranswick: Happy New Year!!!



To all my friends here on LT, I wish you health, happiness and lots of great books!!! Here's to a wonderful 2015. Hugs and kisses.

Ahem.

>111 Crazymamie: Sorry! I was on a roll and missed you! Happy Christmas and Merry New Year! No need for the search party. : ) Maybe just an Advil or two, but I will save that for after I make breakfast for the boys. Taking a quick break here to make pancakes, hash browns, bacon and quiche. See you in an hour or two!

I got a giant bottle of Advil in my stocking this year, Kim, so I've got you covered! I made note of those games that you mentioned that you particularly liked - we are always on the lookout for new ones. We love the Logo game, too!

Haha! I may hit you up for some later. : )

I think I am going to start a new thread and finish up my December business there. Come say Hi!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/185688