Cobscook Reads Some More 1st Qtr

2014 Christmas presents

Hi everyone! I am Heidi from downeast Maine. I am married and have two teenagers (ages 13 and 16). I work as a biologist in the Maine Department of Marine Resources shellfish management program. I also coach my daughter's basketball team.

Reading is my most favorite activity outside of family and work by far. I read in a wide range of genres and I will read in most any format. I love how my reading has changed since I started participating on LT.

I hope you will all leave a comment as I love bookish conversation!

2014 Wrap up and Stats

My top 5 reads of 2014 are:
Transatlantic by Colum McCann
The Martian by Andy Weir
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Among Others by Jo Walton
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny

2015 Plans

I like to have some plans for my reading but don't want to overplan either. That being said, I am going to participate in the American Author Challenge (AAC) II sponsored by Mark and the British Author Challenge (BAC) sponsored by Paul. I will try to overlap some of that reading with my efforts to complete the Reading List for College Bound Students listed below.

Throughout my reading, I am going to try to be more conscious of diversity in authors and characters.

I also want to use books to complete the challenges that already exist in my physical TBR or on my Kindle. If I can get them from the library, that works too.

Whatever I read, I will see if they fit into the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge as well. I expect most of my reading will fill double or triple duty!!

For about 20 years I have been attempting to finish a college bound reading list given to me by a favorite high school teacher. I only get through a few titles on the list a year but I keep plugging away.
Remaining on The List:
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer
Cyrano de Bergerac - Edmond Rostand
For Whom the Bell Tolls - Ernest Hemingway
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift
Hamlet - William Shakespeare
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - Carson McCullers
King Lear - William Shakespeare
Look Homeward, Angel - Thomas Wolfe
Macbeth - William Shakespeare
The Naked and the Dead - Norman Mailer
The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce
The Power and the Glory - Graham Greene
The Return of the Native - Thomas Hardy
The Stranger - Albert Camus
Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe

President's Challenge
I am also trying to read a biography of each of our American Presidents. Next up is John Tyler.

AAC II

January - Carson McCullers - Heart is a Lonely Hunter

February - Henry James - I've already read Turn of the Screw so I am going to substitute a Hemingway title from my TBR Classics list. Read For Whom the Bell Tolls.

March - Richard Ford - Did not get to

April - Louise Erdrich - Plague of Doves

May - Sinclair Lewis - Babbitt (on my Kindle)

June - Wallace Stegner - never read this author, plan to try Angle of Repose (library)

July - Ursula K. LeGuin - I have read The Wizard of Earthsea and liked it very much. I will read anything I can get my hands on by this author before next July.

August - Larry McMurty - I am very excited to finally read Lonesome Dove!

September - Flannery O'Connor - never read this author, plan to try A Good Man is Hard to Find (library)

October - Ray Bradbury - The Martian Chronicles (library)

November - Barbara Kingsolver - Love this author. I've read The Poisonwood Bible, The Bean Trees, and Miracle, Vegetable, Miracle. I will be reading Flight Behavior (own the ebook)

December - E.L. Doctorow - I don't think I have read anything by this author. I plan to try Ragtime. (library)

BAC

January - Penelope Lively - The Photograph
Kazuo Ishiguro - The Remains of the Day

February - Sarah Waters - Never read this author.
Evelyn Waugh - Never read this author.

March - Daphne du Maurier I have read Rebecca. I have Hungry Hill on my TBR shelves.
China Mieville I tried The City and the City but had to abandon it about three chapters in. I just wasn't feeling it at the time.

April - Angela Carter Never read anything by this author and the library has no titles.
W. Somerset Maugham - I have read On Human Bondage so I may substitute another English author from my TBR Classics list.

May - Margaret Drabble - Never heard of this author, no titles in the library.
Martin Amis - Never read this author. Lionel Asbo is available from my library.

June - Beryl Bainbridge - Never read, no titles in library
Anthony Burgess - It's a good time to finally read A Clockwork Orange.

July - Virginia Woolf - Never read this author, I really want to try The Common Reader.
B.S. Johnson - never heard of this author, no titles at library

August - Iris Murdoch - Never read this author, no titles at library
Graham Greene - The Power and the Glory is also on my TBR Classics challenge list.

September - Andrea Levy - Never read this author, no titles at library
Salman Rushdie - never read this author, the library has Midnight's Children and Luka and the Fire of Life.

October - Helen Dunmore - never read this author, no titles at library
David Mitchell - never read this author, the library has Cloud Atlas, The Thousand Autums of Jacob de Zoet, and Black Swan Green.

November - Muriel Spark - I have The Only Problem on Mt TBR.
William Boyd - never read this author, but I want to try Any Human Heart

December - Hilary Mantel - I want to try Wolf Hall which my library has.
PG Wodehouse - I have Right Ho, Jeeves and My Man Jeeves on my Kindle.

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge for 2015

*A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

*A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65

*A collection of short stories (either by one person or an anthology by many people)

*A book published by an indie press

*A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ

*A book by a person whose gender is different from your own The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

*A book that takes place in Asia Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami

*A book by an author from Africa

*A book that is by or about someone from an indigenous culture (Native Americans, Aboriginals, etc.)

*A microhistory

*A YA novel Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

*A sci-fi novel Kindred by Octavia Butler

*A romance novel: A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacClean

*A National Book Award, Man Booker Prize or Pulitzer Prize winner from the last decade

*A book that is a retelling of a classic story (fairytale, Shakespearian play, classic novel, etc.)

*An audiobook Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway

*A collection of poetry Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

*A book that someone else has recommended to you

*A book that was originally published in another language

*A graphic novel, a graphic memoir or a collection of comics of any kind Cuba My Revolution

*A book that you would consider a guilty pleasure One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

*A book published before 1850

*A book published this year

*A self-improvement book (can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)

Whew! I think that is it.....now to try to finish one more book before 2014 is over!

Happy New Year Thread, Heidi! Good luck with your various challenges and I look forward to following you around through another reading year.

I LOVE your top 5. I have not read the Penny but I did love the other 4!!

Very well organised already Heidi! I am glad to see that you'll be along for the ride with the BAC this year.

Love the thread topper! Happy new thread for a new year, Heidi!

>4 Cobscook: - That partial list makes me curious to know what was on the full list as I can appreciate why the books I have read - The Canterbury Tales, Great Expectations, Hamlet, Macbeth, The Stranger and Uncle Tom's Cabin - are all on that list.

Starred!

Welcome back!

Looking forward to watching your reading plans unfolding!

>7 Cobscook: I hadn't read that Book Riot was doing a book challenge, so thanks for the heads up. The categories look very intriguing!

>9 msf59: I actually had a hard time choosing my top 5 since I read so many great books this year. An embarrassment of riches!

>10 PaulCranswick: I am looking forward to the BAC and glad to be trying so many new authors!

>11 lkernagh: I think I have the complete list somewhere. I will try to dig it out and post it here for your perusal.

>12 drneutron: Hi Doc! Glad to be here!

>13 countrylife: Hi Cindy! We'll see how much I actually get done!

>14 rosylibrarian: Hello Marie! Nice to see you here. I am glad to give you a heads up on the Book Riot challenge. I think it will be fun to see how many books I read fit into it.

Heidi,



Happy New Year from your friend in Kuala Lumpur

Happy New Year, Heidi!

Happy New Year, Heidi! May it be filled with fabulous!

Hi Heidi - dropping off a star. This is my second year in the group and I'm hoping to get to know a few more regulars this year.

Happy New Year to all my visitors: Paul, Roni, Amber, Mamie, Mark and Juli! I'm so happy to be starting a new year with this most excellent group!

>21 SuziQoregon: Juli, it's only my third year with the group myself and I mean to get around the threads more myself if I can!

Ugh! The Steelers looked terrible last night in their 30 - 17 loss to the Ravens. So much for the playoffs!

In good news, I finished my first book of the year....

1. A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
Genre: Romance
Source: mine
Format: paperback

A fun romance with like able characters and smart dialogue. It's the first in a series of four and I will be tracking down the rest.

Currently Reading:
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
A Light at the Window by Jan Karon
The Best American Essays 2014 edited by John Jeremiah Sullivan

Welcome back, Heidi!

Looks like you have a ton of good reading planned for this year. I hope you enjoy all the reads!

Thanks Stasia! It's nice to see you here!

>26 Cobscook: I have to visit while I can. School starts again tonight. *sigh*

Oh dear, on a Sunday night?!?! Good luck with your semester!

It officially begins Monday midnight - on the school's time, which is Eastern. Since I am in the Central time zone, it begins for me at 11pm Sunday.

Thanks for the good wishes. This session looks like it is going to be a beast.

2014 Reading Stats

Genres Read
Classics: 14
Comics/GN: 3
Fantasy: 13
Fiction: 10
Historical Fiction: 1
Horror: 1
Mystery: 7
Nonfiction: 30
Romance: 6
SciFi: 13
Suspense: 6
YA/Children's: 6

Format
Hardcover: 20
Paperback: 34
Ebook: 38
Audiobook: 18

Authors
Female: 56
Male: 50
Both: 4

2015 was the year of the audiobook! In 2013, I only listened to 8 of them as compared to 18 in 2014.

I am disappointed that I was only able to read a total of 110 books in 2014, and I hope to do a bit better in 2015. I don't think I will be able to reach my high of 144 books which I read in 2012 though.

>29 alcottacre: I am sure you will do well but I know how stressful it can be!

Happy New Year, Heidi! You have some great plans for 2015. Good luck with everything!

Happy Sunday, Heidi! I hope you are enjoying your McCullers. I am starting mine today.

>30 Cobscook: I couldn't do without audio books. They make everything so much better - driving, cleaning, getting ready in the morning. :)

144 books? Wow! 114 is my all time high and I credit a series of graphic novels.

>32 susanj67: Thanks Susan! As always I am excited to start a new year with new reading plans. Everything seems possible now.

>33 msf59: Hi Mark! I am at 40% with The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. I plan on reading some this afternoon as I half pay attention to the football games.

>34 rosylibrarian: Hi! I think the increase in my audiobook consumption was the highlight of my reading year in 2014. Several of my favorite reads from last year were audios and the narration definitely increased my love of those books. The Martian, Station Eleven, The Long Way Home,and Among Others were audios.

2.The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Genre: classic
Source: mine
Format: ebook

Read for AACII and it is a book off my Recommended Reading List for College Bound Students.

Morning Heidi! Hooray, for McCullers! I also just finished Ballad of a Sad Cafe! Smiles...

>365 - I am currently reading that one and loving it!

Oh, I loved The Heart is a Lonely Hunter when I read it last year! Morning, Heidi!

Hello!!! Do read King Lear this year... I am re-reading it now, for my book circle discussion next week.

Re Margaret Drabble -- let me know if you want a book; I have several of hers here. Re Evelyn Waugh -- I'd suggest looking for a cheap version of Brideshead Revisited, simply because it is by far the best of his books. On Helen Dunmore, you want to find a copy of The Siege; Amazon copies for a penny plus shipping, and I think you'll find it's worth it.

I also hereby resolve to stop whining about my library and its resources (or lack of same). Can you do inter-library loans?

Hope your Xmas swap books were clean copies, at least -- they look suspiciously like ex-library books, which can be iffy. I want for quantity over new and & shiny, I'm afraid!

Did I miss you saying that you might read King Lear this year? I am wanting to read that since I just finished up Station Eleven and it was in there. One of the Shakespeare's that I haven't gotten to yet.

>41 Crazymamie: Heidi has it as a candidate in >4 Cobscook:, on her long-term reading list. I'm just giving her a nudge. Do you want to join me in a Lear-intensive weekend, Mamie? I plan to start with Act I, Scene I on Friday afternoon and then just keep reading. (Book circle discussion is next Wednesday night...)

Heidi, I'm very glad to have found you again! Looks like you have some great reading lined up. I agree with reading King Lear. It's a great play.

I'll be following you to see how things go with all your plans.

>42 Chatterbox: Oh, thanks for that, Suz. Lear-intensive weekend?! Sounds good! I'm in.

Hello, hello everyone! Before I respond to your comments, here is something for Lori from way back in >11 lkernagh:

The story behind this list is that is was given to me by a favorite teacher when I was in high school and I have been working on completing it ever since. The list in >4 Cobscook: is what I have left to read.

Recommended Reading List for College Bound Students
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
Alice's Adventures Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll
All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque
Animal Farm - George Orwell
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
Babbitt - inclair Lewis
The Bible
Billy Budd - Herman Melville
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
The Call of the Wild - Jack London
The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer
The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Crucible - Arthur Miller
Cry, The Beloved Country - Alan Paton
Cyrano de Bergerac - Edmond Rostand
Daisy Miller - Henry James
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
Death Comes for the Archbishop - Willa Cather
A Death in the Family - James Agee
Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller
The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank
Emma - Jane Austen
Ethan Frome - Edith Wharton
For Whom the Bell Tolls -Ernest Hemingway
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
Go Tell It On The Mountain - James Baldwin
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift
Hamlet - William Shakespeare
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - Carson McCullers
The House of the Seven Gables - Nathaniel Hawthorne
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
The Jungle - Upton Sinclair
King Lear - William Shakespeare
Look Homeward, Angel - Thomas Wolfe
Lord Jim - Joseph Conrad
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Macbeth - William Shakespeare
Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
My Antonia - Willa Cather
Mythology - Edith Hamilton
The Naked and the Dead - Norman Mailer
Native Son - Richard Wright
1984 - George Orwell
The Odyssey - Homer
Of Human Bondage - Somerset Maugham
Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce
The Power and the Glory - Graham Greene
Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane
The Return of the Native - Thomas Hardy
Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe
Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare
The Scarlett Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne
Silas Marner - George Eliot
Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
The Stranger - Albert Camus
A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
The Three Musketeers - Alexander Dumas
The Time Machine - H.G. Wells
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
The Turn of the Screw - Henry James
Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe
Walden - Henry David Thoreau
War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

>37 msf59:, >38 lkernagh:, >39 Crazymamie: I didn't have a chance to comment this morning but I did like The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. I really loved Mick, the young teenage girl who was one of the central characters. I'm sure I did not get all of the symbolism, but it was interesting to me how all of these disparate characters looked to the deaf/mute Singer as kind of a god-like character. They each looked to him for all the kindness and understanding they were missing in the rest of the world, and in the meantime, he was just a normal guy who didn't really understand what they expected of him.

>40 Chatterbox: Hi Suz! Unfortunately, I can't join you and Mamie in the King Lear read this weekend. It is my son's 17th birthday on Friday, and we will be headed to our camp for a weekend of ice fishing. I will try to get to it this year though.

I would love a copy of a Margaret Drabble book if you have an extra one kicking around! Ok, Brideshead Revisited it is for Waugh and The Seige for Dunmore. I'm sure I can get a copy of those. I still have $80 of Amazon gift cards to use!

As for my library, yes interlibrary loan is available to me, but it is kind of a hassle as I no longer work in the town where my library is. In all of the books for the AACII and the BAC which I indicated a book was available from the library, I meant that the particular book was available through my library's Overdrive program, either as an ebook or an audiobook. There may be some availability of some titles in hard copy at the actual library. I am considering joining the library in the town which I currently work, but I don't know if they have interlibrary loan or not.

Re: the Xmas swap books. Yes, two were ex-library books but they are in great condition and it does not bother me in the slightest. I love quantity over quality most of the time!!

>41 Crazymamie:, >42 Chatterbox:, >43 Matke:, >44 Crazymamie: You all have got me quite interested in King Lear now! Mamie, I didn't consider the fact that Lear was the play in Station Eleven. That makes me want to read King Lear even more now.

Gail, it is great to see you posting here! I will look for your thread to follow along with you as well.

Hi, Heidi. Just dropping through to see what you've been up to. Good luck with the fishing!

3. Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway
Genre: fiction
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

On the Book Riot podcast, Rebecca Schinsky has mention Nick Harkaway as a favorite author several times. I chose this audiobook based on her recommendation. While I had difficulty at first, keeping track of all the various characters, and following along with the steampunkish elements of the plot, I eventually got into the rhythm of the story and enjoyed it very much. I can't even begin to summarize this book, but it involves clockwork, gangsters, a drug lord who wants to be a god, and a brilliant French inventor. The way Harkaway plays with language and dialogue was a treat.

>49 ronincats: Hey Roni! Almost missed you there! I won't be partaking in the fishing, but camp is a great place to get some reading done. I am definitely looking forward to that.

>44 Crazymamie: Shall we have a King Lear thread, or do you simply want to join me on my thread?

Yes, Lear was the play that the actor who is a focal point of the narrative is performing in at the time of civilization's collapse. What is amusing is that I know the Toronto theater where she set those scenes quite well. It's where Branagh took his Renaissance Theater Co. with productions of Lear (!) and "Dream" back the year after he released the film of Henry V.

Let me know which of these you would like: The Ice Age, Jerusalem the Golden or The Needle's Eye. I have pulled them out and will despatch once you let me know if one appeals more than the others. I'm completely agnostic. One I'm definitely hanging onto and I don't think I've read one or two others. I also have an ARC of Pure Gold Baby, but I don't think her later works are as good.

>4 Cobscook: I still love that list your teacher gave you! I can rec The Old Man and the Sea, I read it in 2013 and loved it. I also want to read Uncle Tom's Cabin and For Whom the Bell Tolls this year. At some point!

>45 Cobscook: aaaah ha. The complete list! Coolness. I can recommend The Torchlight list as well, for all the books anyone needs to read to give you an all-round 'education'. Full stop. I enjoyed the reasons given in the book for why each was included.

>52 Chatterbox: I'll just join you on your thread, Suz. SO cool that you know the theater where Station Eleven opens!

Hello, Heidi! Happy Wednesday to you!

>52 Chatterbox: How cool that you know that theater so well! And your comments make me think Emily St. John Mandel does as well. I wonder if she saw that production of Lear in that theater and that's what sparked the idea for her novel?

>53 Chatterbox: I think Jerusalem the Golden sounds like a book I can relate to so I choose it. Thanks so much!!

>54 LovingLit: I have made a previous attempt at Uncle Tom's Cabin but it is so heartbreaking I had to give it up. I still plan to read it but I need to be in the right frame of mind....so I probably won't be reading it in the fall or the winter. Those seasons tend to have me feeling dark and dreary already.

Ouch! Book bulleted on my own thread! The Torchlight List sounds like a fun reference.

>55 Crazymamie: Happy Hump Day Mamie!!

>56 Cobscook: Heidi, in the back of the book, the author states: "The Toronto staging of King Lear in this book is partially based on James Lapine's exquisite 2007 production of the play at the Public Theater in New York City, in that Lapine's production featured the unusual addition of three little girls who performed nonspeaking parts as child versions of Lear's daughters." Nothing is mentioned about whether or not she saw the other production in Toronto.

> 23 Cobscook: I've had A Rogue by Any Other Name on my list for a while - may have to bump it up the pile!

>58 Crazymamie: Thanks for that bit of info Mamie! I listened to Station Eleven on audio so missed that addition. I think that it's super interesting to think about how an author might have come up with the idea for a particular book.

>59 archerygirl: Hi there! I definitely think you should give A Rogue By Any Other Name a try. It's fun, sexy, and smart...what better way to spend a winter afternoon?

I'm checking in and dropping my star. Hopefully I'll have more time to keep up in a few days.

Hi Lori! Glad to see you here whenever you can make it.

It's my son's 17th birthday...how the heck did THAT happen?!?!?

One more of Preston as a baby just for fun.

And for book news, I am currently reading:

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - I am about halfway through this wonderful novel and I love it so far.

Euphoria by Lily King is my current audiobook. This is excellent as well.

Still working on A Light at the Window by Jan Karon and The Best American Essays 2014 edited by John Jeremiah Sullivan.

Happy birthday to Preston! 17 years go by in a second, doesn't it?

I loved Remains of the Day when I read it a couple(?) years ago. Awfully sad, though. I think my next book will be A Pale View of Hills, another book that looks both sad and fascinating.

Just finished The Member of the Wedding, which I loved. It's quite funny when looked at from one point of view, but still...sad.

I hope your week-end goes beautifully.

>66 Matke: Hi Gail! I don't know about you, but I find a great many books that have won critical acclaim or that are considered classics, are sad. That is why I often have to space out my literary fiction or classic reads....can't have too much sadness all at once.

Happy Birthday to Preston! What a handsome young man you have there, Heidi. Hoping that his birthday is full of fabulous! My baby will be 17 this year - the baby!!

>68 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie, we think he's pretty great too! How did we get old enough to have kids this age? I still feel 20!

>66 Matke: I left Member of the Wedding out on my desk at work. I didn't figure I would get to it this weekend so I decided that I would leave it there in hopes that I would be able to read it during my lunch breaks next week.

Happy Birthday to your bouncing baby boy, Heidi! How very cool. Glad you are loving The Remains of the Day. It was my first Ishiguro and remains my favorite.
I am also glad you are enjoying Euphoria. I have this one saved on audio. Yah, Me!

Happy Birthday to Preston!

And I'm happy to see that you're enjoying The Remains of the Day - I started in on it yesterday and am loving it so far, too.

I finished The Remains of the Day last night....Excellent but so sad. Off for a day of ice fishing and cross country skiing! Yay!

>73 Cobscook: I loved that one, too, Heidi. Hoping that your Saturday is full of fabulous fun.

Wow, you are reading so many at once! I think in winter I will get back to my habit of reading 4 or 5 at a time. With it dark by 5om then, being inside by the fire reading is just the thing. These days here it isn't dark til 930pm.

Yes, the production that I saw at the Toronto theater didn't feature any of the details that Mandel describes in Station Eleven, but it's interesting that she has taken those from another production! (One that I didn't see...) I saw a rather gruesome production at BAM with Derek Jacobi as Lear a few years ago -- excellent.

Glad you are enjoying your Ishiguro. I located "Pale View", and though I thought I had read it when it was first published, it's not sounding familiar and the cover doesn't look as if it has been read, so...

4. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Genre: Fiction
Source: mine
Format: paperback

Thanks again to Suz for gifting me with this book during the 75 Secret Santa swap.

I read this for the British Author Challenge.

This story involves a aging English butler looking back over his years of service in the years leadingup to and through the second World War. An excellent look at what happens when you put your job ahead of your life as well as when you bury your conscience in order to succeed in your career. I think I like this one even better than Never Let Me Go which was also great book.

>74 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! I had a fantastic weekend. Got lots of cross country skiing in as well as just hanging out with my family. I love weekends like this!

>75 LovingLit: Hi Megan! Yes I generally read three or four at once. I usually have one fiction and one nonfiction going as well as something on audio. In addition, I might have an ebook going. I never mix them up so it works for me. I agree that I tend to get more reading done in the winter though and you're right, the early darkness definitely has something to do with that.

>76 Chatterbox: Hi Suz! So far I am two for two in enjoying my Ishiguro reading. I am quite interested in the book he has coming out in 2015...The Buried Giant.

I'm glad to see that you liked The Remains of the Day - I'm certainly enjoying it!

>79 scaifea: The Remains of the Day really is excellent. I have been thinking about it off and on all day. I definitely want to see the movie now too.

It's a balmy -14 degrees F here this morning....gah!

I finished Euphoria yesterday and started Hexed this morning during my treadmill torture. Still working on the essay collection and have started Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage which is excellent so far.

Morning Heidi! Hope to get to Euphoria soon. I think I might listen to Being Mortal next and then that one. Hooray for Colorless Tsukuru! It's a good one!

A bit warmer here, I won't mention the temp. But YIKES to yours! I also just picked up Colorless Tsukuru and His Years of Pilgrimage from the library even though I have absolutely no idea how I will squeeze it in this month.

>82 msf59: Hi Mark! I feel like I've heard good things about Being Mortal. Maybe Michael Kindness picked it as one of his top books of 2014? I think you will really like Euphoria when you get to it.

>83 Crazymamie: Hey Mamie! We are up to 22 degrees F this morning. It's amazing how warm that can feel after subzero temps. I know the "overbooked" feeling well!

5. Euphoria by Lily King
Genre: fiction
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

Euphoria is on the long list for the Maine Readers Choice Award.

This is an extremely compelling novel that sucks you into the story immediately. While it is fiction, the story is loosely based on the life of Margaret Mead, the famous anthropologist.

In the 1930's, a husband and wife team of anthropologists are in New Guinea studying the natives. When things don't work out with the tribe they are living with, they decide to return to Australia. Before they can set sail, they meet up with an English anthropologist who hooks them up with a different tribe to study.

This book hits all kinds of themes. There's a love triangle, homoeroticism, questions of the moral ethics of living with and studying another group of people, domestic violence, slavery and exploitation of native peoples. The plot rips along and the best thing you can do is hang on for the ride. This is an excellent read!

6. The Best American Essays 2014 edited by John Jeremiah Sullivan
Genre: nonfiction, essays
Source: mine
Format: paperback

I found this collection of essays to be uneven which is fairly typical for me in this genre.

>85 Cobscook: Holy cow! Sounds like a great one!

I've been whining about our low(for here) temps, but I know New England has been renamed New Arctic. Makes me shiver just to think about it!

Wishing you a good and warmer weekend, Heidi.

Hi Gail! It was -4 F this morning but it is supposed to warm up to 40(!) tomorrow. We are keeping warm in a gym watching my niece play basketball this afternoon.

>45 Cobscook: - Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting the complete list! This is one of the best reading lists I have come across.... it doesn't have a bunch of obscure books I have never heard of. ;-)

I have been playing catch up on LT and it took some time to make my way back here. I hope you have had a wonderful weekend Heidi and happy belated birthday wishes to your now 17 year old!

Glad you enjoyed Remains of the Day yes - excellent but sad

>89 lkernagh: I am glad you find the list interesting. It has been fun working through it for all these years. I need to have a little direction in my reading or I fall into ruts.

>90 SuziQoregon: I keep thinking about The Remains of the Day. I have a feeling it is one I will reread. But boy was it sad!

7. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
Genre: fiction
Source: Library
Format: ebook

This is another book on the Maine Readers Choice Award long list.

So.....I was underwhelmed by Tsukuru Tazaki. The book was well written, I was interested in the plot, but I felt no emotional connection with any of the characters. In particular Tsukuru Tazaki left me cold and I felt that he never reacted in a believable way to any of the events of the book. It left me wondering if this is a cultural thing, that Japanese readers would relate to without a problem.

>92 Cobscook: Oh, dang. I just picked this one up at Prairie Lights at the meetup...

>92 Cobscook: At some point I do want to read all of Murakami's book, but this one's plot has never seemed that interesting to me. Maybe it is a cultural thing?

>93 scaifea: Maybe it will appeal to you more than it did me Amber. To each his own and all that....

>94 rosylibrarian: I also plan to try something else by Murakami. It was such a weird feeling to be so emotionally disconnected from a story that was all about relationships.

>92 Cobscook: Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki
I read this last year, the first Murakami for me, and yeah, I had a similar reaction to the emotional distance. Then I read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, which will probably be the last Murakami for me. :-)

>96 qebo: Really? Was it the lack of emotion again or something else? Now I am curious!

>97 Cobscook: Well, here's my review.

>98 qebo: Hoo boy! That does not sound like my cup of tea at all. I was struck by your observation of meaningful vs gratuitous violence in the Wind Up Bird Chronical. I felt the same confusion but about the masturbation references in Colorless. For awhile I thought it meant Tsukuru had been responsible for a particular crime that was a major part of the book....but no.

I made it through about half of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and it drove me mad so I gave up and vowed never to try one again. I don't care how much people rave about him, he's just not an author for me.

>100 lunacat: Hi Lunacat! I am still interested in trying 1Q84 but I am not afraid to abandon ship if I don't enjoy it.

Hi Heidi! Sorry about the frustrations over Murakami. I can see him being a bit cold and distant but for some reason he always works for me. You should try Kafka on the Shore next. It remains my favorite.

>102 msf59: Ah there's a positive recommendation! Thanks Mark! I don't want to give up on Murakami after only one try, but I am not interested in The Wind Up Bird Chronicle after qebo's and other reviews I've read.

Heidi, complete agreement here about the deep sadness in The Remains of the Day. I loved it, but its sadness still lingers, and it was quite some time ago that I read it.

On Murakami, I loved The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, but I couldn't begin to say why. I do remember simply surrendering to the total weirdness, and just floating along with it. I'll re-read that one before I tackle any others--I think I have 2 more around here somewhere.

>104 Matke: Hi Gail! I have a feeling The Remains of the Day is going to stick with me for a long time too. I am going to put it on the shelf and plan to re-read it someday, which is something I am doing less and less of as I get older.

Thanks for chiming in on the Murakami discussion. I thought the premise of the story of Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage was interesting and that held my attention. It was the lack of emotional connection to the characters and the feeling that Tsukuru lacked emotion that bothered me. And the above mentioned weirdly placed masturbation references!

http://www.firstgiving.com/team/282218

I will be participating in the National Readathon today from 12-4PM as part of the Books on the Nightstand team! YAY! My family has already been warned "Do Not Disturb". Since we are forecasted to received 6-10 inches of the wonderful white stuff it should be pretty quiet around here.

What will I be reading? Well I have two books on the go that I want to try to finish. One is #NewsFail by Jamie Kilstein and Allison Kilkenny which is all about the media bias that we are experiencing today, both from conservative and "liberal" media outlets. The second is Curtsies & Conspiracies, the second book in Gail Carriger's steampunk YA fantasy series where a young ladies' finishing (espionage) school is set on airships. It is super fun.

If I finish both of those I will probably start either Stephen King's Revival or the book I won through LT's early reviewer program, Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves. This is book one in a new mystery series by a local author and it's set in the north Maine woods.

I am so excited for today. #booknerd

Sounds like an excellent plan for a Saturday, Heidi! I ended up returning the Murakami to the library unread after reading your comments - maybe another time as I was struggling to figure out how I was going to fit it in right now anyway. The only Murakami that I have read is IQ84, which I quite liked. I do have Kafka on the Shore in the stacks, and that one seems to get good press around here.

Hoping that your weekend is filled with fabulous!

I just read The Strange Library by Murakami, and I'm afraid I didn't "get it." Maybe there wasn't anything to get? At least it was only about a 30 minute time commitment to read.

Hi Heidi, keep warm! Sounds like you need to these days.

I have hardly read any Murakami, but my first fiction of his was Colorless Tsukuru and I liked that one a lot.

I hope you had a great Readathon, Heidi! Looking forward to your thoughts on Revival, which I do have saved on audio.

>107 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! It makes me feel a little bit bad that you returned the Murakami to the library....I hope I didn't steer you wrong! Maybe you can try it again some other time when your reading schedule is more open.

>108 thornton37814: Hi Lori! Yes, I felt similarly with my experience. The story seemed straightforward but I felt like I was missing some symbolism or maybe some cultural references. I bet Murakami would make a great tutored read.

>109 LovingLit: Hi Megan! Thanks for sharing your dissenting opinion on Colorless. We survived the 6" snowstorm yesterday and we supposedly have another major blizzard coming Monday night into Wednesday.

>110 msf59: Hi Mark! I had a wonderful readathon but I did not start Revival after all. Its coming up soon in the TBR though.

National Readathon Update:

It was lovely to read for four straight hours yesterday afternoon. I got a lot of reading accomplished so I feel it was a huge success in all ways.

8. #NewsFail by Jamie Kilstein and Allison Kilkenny
Genre: Nonfiction
Source: mine
Format: hardcover

The authors run an independent news podcast called Citizen Radio. Their goal is to report unbiased news and feel they can do this because they do not take corporate sponsorship. They are equal opportunity critics of both the liberal and conservative tv media. The book is informative and funny and I enjoyed the read even though I don't agree with all their conclusions. Some of the topics they cover in the book include climate change, gun control, feminism, and poverty.

9. Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
Genre: YA
Source: mine
Format: paperback

The second book in this steampunk fantasy series where a young ladies' finishing (espionage) school is set on airships was just as much fun as the first. The ladies are learning deportment and flirting along with spying and personal defense. And this time, there are visiting boys at the school....oh my!

I also started Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves. A lady detective leaves her up and coming career in Boston to take a job in the sheriff's department of Aroostook County in northern Maine. Her goal is follow up on a lead involving her missing 9 year old niece, who was kidnapped as a baby. I only got a few chapters into the story but it is great so far.

DOn't feel badly, Heidi. I wasn't sure if I had time for it anyway this month - I would really have had to work at it. SO, if it might be a miss, I would rather wait until I have more time. If that makes any sense! Happy Sunday to you!

Great books for your readathon!

#112: I read Etiquette & Espionage, but did not realize the second book in the series was out. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Heidi!

>113 Crazymamie: I promise not to feel badly about it any longer Mamie! :)

>114 lkernagh: Thanks Lori! I was glad they all turned out to be good reads that kept my attention. I was pleased at the amount I got read too.

>115 alcottacre: I live to serve Stasia! Actually I think the third one is out in that series too.

10. Hexed by Kevin Hearne
Genre: urban fantasy
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

Book 2 in the Iron Druid series finds Atticus battling an old enemy and fixing his alliances with other local supernaturals. Oberon the hound continues to delight. Try the audiobook if you're into this series cause it is super fun!

Its the blizzard of the century folks! Just ask the hysterical local weather forecasters. They are looking for 18 - 24" to hit my area over the next two days with winds up to 55mph. I think Mother Nature is trying to give us all this winter's snow in one week. Hope we keep the power on this time!

In the meantime, I started Brown Girl Dreaming on audiobook this morning and boy is it ever good! The author reads the book and does a fantastic job. I can see why it won the National Book Award.

Ooh, some fine reading going on over here! I LOVE the Iron Druid series on audio! Go Oberon!

Brown Girl Dreaming is wonderful on audio. Keep enjoying...

Morning, Heidi! So, how much snow do you have so far...?

>119 msf59: I feel like 2015 has been an EXCELLENT reading year so far! I hope it continues.

>120 scaifea: Morning Amber! It started snowing here around 5AM and we have a few inches so far. The wind is crazy though. I can hardly see out the window with the blowing snow. Luckily, the governor declared a state of emergency so its a snow day for me and the kids. My hubby is a mechanic for DOT so he had to go to work to support the plow drivers. It took him well over an hour to drive his normal 25 min commute.

Weather Update: Its only 8:00AM and I just went out to shovel for the first time....there was already 10" in front of my door! I guess I will have to go out every hour to make sure we don't have to escape out the window! LOL

Wow, Heidi! Stay safe in all that snow. I am also listening to Brown Girl Dreaming and loving it. I like to listen to those Iron Druid books when I walk - I am currently on book five Trapped. And you're right - Luke Daniels makes these books so much fun to listen to!

>122 Cobscook: Crazy! I have to admit I am jealous though. I really miss having snow days.

I hope you keep your power! It must be amazing to see Mother Nature when she starts flexing her muscles like this.

Hello all my lovely visitors! I went back out around 9:00AM to shovel again and had just as much snow in front of the door...sigh....its going to be a long day with the shoveling!

>123 Crazymamie: I have now read one Iron Druid book in print and listened to one in audio. I think I like the audio better too. And I love the crazy neighbor side story....with rocket launchers in his garage! What!

>124 rosylibrarian: Its nice when you are all cozy with the wood stove going and the lights on. Gets tiresome when the power goes off and you have to flush the toilet with a bucket! LOL For now, its a nice day!

>125 lunacat: This is a pretty powerful one for sure. The weatherman is predicting another storm for Friday and maybe one for the beginning of next week too. It will start to get hard to find places to put all the snow.

>126 Cobscook: Sheesh! And people still claim climate change isn't occurring?

Unseasonably mild winter this year, although without the torrential and continuous rain of last year. Guess that's not making you feel any better. If you'd like, we could take a couple of inches of snow off your hands but any more than that and the whole country would shut down, we're just not equipped for extreme weather of any kind!

Hopefully it will begin to ease, and you keep your power. Just think of all the calories you're burning with your shoveling. You can definitely treat yourself afterwards.

And people still claim climate change isn't occurring?

This drives me absolutely bonkers. At least several times a winter, some bonehead on my Facebook feed makes a comment on a cold day something like, "too bad about that global warming stuff". That's when I want to pull my hair out! Its not about one individual day's temperature. Its about all these incredible storms. Storms that used to only happen every century and now are happening every year.

We are equipped for the snow here so I don't worry about that so much. Its losing the power that becomes a problem, especially when it is so cold. Many people have no alternative heat source once the power goes off and its especially difficult for the elderly.

I will definitely deserve a treat after the shoveling! Ha! Something positive after all!

11. Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves
Genre: mystery
Source: Mine, won from the LT early reviewer program
Format: hard cover

As a resident of eastern Maine, I was very excited to receive book one in the Lizzie Snow series through the Library Thing Early Reviewer program. Sarah Graves lives in Eastport, Maine and is the author of the Home Repair is Homicide series as well. I have followed the latter series for years and enjoy recognizing the landmarks and characters in Graves stories. I found this same enjoyment in Winter at the Door.

Lizzie Snow takes a job as the liaison officer for the sheriff's department of Aroostook County in northern Maine. She gives up her up and coming career as a detective in Boston for this position in order to track down leads involving her niece who has been missing for eight years. As soon as she arrives in Bear Kill, a small town near Houlton, Lizzie is thrust into the middle of several mysteries all the while trying to get her bearings in an unfamiliar landscape.

While I loved the setting and found the mystery interesting in this book, I was a little disappointed in the 'everything but the kitchen sink' approach to plotting here. There was waaaay too much going on, and too many characters who were competing to be the bad guy of this book. I was also slightly irritated with the immediate love triangle Lizzie embroils herself in. I will try the next installment of the series, but I hope the author can be a bit more focused in it.

I love snow but had the flippin' high winds! Of course, this is from the individual who lives in a place that grinds to a halt when someone spots a snowflake in the air. ;-)

I hope you are able to enjoy your non-snow shoveling moments sitting beside a fireplace with an inviting fire and a warm cup of your favorite hot drink.

Here you go, Heidi!

I hope your hubby's day wasn't too awful; I picture those DOT trucks at full capacity for an over-full day's worth of needing his attention. Hope your wind has abated and the shoveling necessity, too. Roni's hot chocolate and a book apiece for you and the kids in front your wood stove sounds like a fine day.

I'm glad you like audio books - for your classics reads, when you get to it, I cannot recommend more highly taking on The Return of the Native audio with ALAN RICKMAN (!) reading it. It is beyond brilliant. I finished it and then started it right over. That's how good. I wish he would do more. It's a great great list and you will love some of them and appreciate all of them.

La! You are in Maine so you got the worst of it. We only got five inches over here in Vermont. Dodged a bullet.

Last year my daughter turned 18 and now she's away at college and I still can't believe it!

The New Yorker I just finished (four months old) has an excerpt from the Jill Lepore book featured at the top of yr. thread. It's very unsettling - this guy was so keen on women's rights and then he lives in this menage a trois with two women. I just was reading an Iris Murdoch novel where the fellow in it was trying to convince his wife to accept his new young mistress as part of the household . . . as you can imagine it went up in flames. Since reading it all I do is come across other examples!

>130 lkernagh: Hi Lori! Yes, we survived the last storm but unfortunately we are forecast to get 12-18" more tomorrow into Saturday. Thankfully the winds will be a bit less forceful, only gusting to 35 mph. The winds drive me nuts too.

>131 ronincats: Mmmmmm...that looks delish Roni! You did add some rum, no?

>132 countrylife: Hi Cindy! Luckily the DH did not have too awful a day on Tuesday. He was only a few hours later than normal and did not have to spend the night at his shop as he had originally thought. The kids and I stayed cozy and warm here at home!

>133 sibylline: Hi Lucy! That recommendation sounds great. I will be looking that audio adaptation up and adding it to my Audible WL.

Are you getting hit with this latest storm I wonder? I am sure you will get your fair share of the snow in VT! Is your daughter's college in VT too?

Unsettling is the exact right word for The Secret History of Wonder Woman. I just can't believe that these women, who were so committed to women's rights, could be so blinded by this guy! Very strange that you are seeing similar storylines in other books!

12. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Genre: poetry
Format: audiobook
Source: mine

I don't care for poetry.

That being said I absolutely, positively, adore Brown Girl Dreaming. If all poetry were like this, I would love it too.

Brown Girl Dreaming is Woodson's account of growing up in the 60's and 70's. Through short narrative poems, we learn about her family, about growing up in the south as an African American during the Civil Rights movement, about moving to New York City and starting school. It is moving, emotional, and beautiful. It made me cry in places and laugh in others.

It is a riveting account of growing up with brown skin in a place and time of hurtful actions and policies but also a place and time of great change.

I grew up in Maine in the 70s and 80s. This is one of the whitest states in the US. Culturally, there is not much relationship between my childhood and Woodson's. However, her poems are so evocative, they called to mind memories from my own childhood. She tells the story of growing up brown, but she also tells the story of growing up rural, of growing up American, of just growing up. I can see why she was given the National Book Award. She is a powerful writer. Everyone should read this book, fall in love with the gorgeous writing, and realize how universal some of our experiences are.

What a great book.

I keep meaning to pick up Brown Girl Dreaming... I think after reading your review I really *need* to do so!

Morning Heidi! I loved your review of Brown Girl Dreaming. It is such a good read/listen and she does a terrific job narrating it.

I have The Secret History of Wonder Woman saved on audio.

>135 Cobscook: I need to bump that one up on the list. I didn't realize it was entirely done in poems.

Of COURSE I added rum! Sheesh!

>136 scaifea: Please do Amber! It is fantastic and I can't stop thinking about it.

>137 msf59: thanks Mark. I am so glad you and others warbled about it because I don't think I would have tried it otherwise.

>138 rosylibrarian: It is all in verse but it's clearly a narrative. It's just beautiful. I don't have any experience in reading poetry but I would like to read more books like Brown Girl Dreaming that's for sure.

>139 ronincats: Ha! Could I have some more please? I just finished shoveling out from another 12" dump of the white stuff!

>140 Cobscook: No problem!

Although if you want some variety, go for this stuff!

Looks like I will need it again today....another 10 - 16 inches is forecast for today into tomorrow! Maybe Inwill drink all the servings myself and sleep until April!!!!

In other news, how about them Patriots! That was an exciting Super Bowl!

Morning Heidi! We got hit with about 18 inches. Yuck! Good luck this week.

This is a snowbank at my son's high school....before today's storm!

Whoa!

13. The Republic of Imagination by Azar Nafisi
Genre: nonfiction
Source: library
Format: hardcover

The author looks at the importance of reading fiction in America through the lens of three classic novels: Huck Finn, Babbitt, and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. She also weaves in her personal story of becoming an American citizen and leaving her native country of Iran because of the revolution. Since I read Heart is a Lonely Hunter at the beginning of January, I really appreciated the analysis provided here. An interesting book and lots to think about.

14. Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill
Genre: Fiction
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

I don't really know what my opinion is of this short audiobook. I can't say I enjoyed it....the subject matter of a marriage in trouble was too dark and depressing. But on the other hand, the audiobook held my attention even though there wasn't any plot to speak of. The style of this book was non-traditional as well. *shrugs*

>143 msf59: Hi Mark! I say "enough already" with the snow. I am heartily sick of it. It took me an hour and 15 minutes to drive my 45 minute commute home this afternoon.

>145 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Whoa is right!

I have lived through several blizzards from my Indiana days, and I will emphatically state for the record that I love living in Georgia. I miss seeing the snow fall, but not dealing with it. Please be careful and stay safe.

Thanks Mamie! I love snow and I can't imagine living somewhere where it never snows.....BUT this is storm number four in 9 days, three of which have dumped over a foot of snow at a time. That is a little much!!

149: I hear you on the snow - same for down here in southern Maine. We have had 3 snow days within this past week! I do not mind because I really dislike driving in the snow. I think back to December where we were wondering where all of the snow was - it was just a little behind schedule!

>142 Cobscook: There's plenty more where that came from, Heidi, so I can keep the supply flowing as long as you need it!

>150 jayde1599: Hi Jess! Yes, I think Mother Nature is trying to give us all the snow for the whole winter in one week!

>151 ronincats: Roni, you are such a great friend....always thinking of others! :)

Reading Update:

I have DNF'ed A Light at the Window by Jan Karon. After a month of trying to read it and just not having any interest I have decided to move on. I am trying to be better about giving myself permission to let go of books I am not enjoying.

As for books I AM enjoying, I am halfway through The Photograph by Penelope Lively. I am enjoying it very much. I did not finish it for January, but I think it will be ok with Paul if my BAC reads are a little late!! :)

I need to pick out my next audio from my To Be Listened to pile on Audible. Maybe something that fits with Fantasy February.....

Hi Heidi! That is a heck of snow hill! I could listened to Dept. of Speculation also, but I am glad I stuck with the print. I think it worked better in that format. I liked the book but it is not warm & fuzzy or for every taste.

Glad you liked the Lively. That one sounds good too.

>153 Cobscook: No problem at all, Heidi. The sawn-off administrator of that particular challenge is always amenable to a little approximation. xx

>154 msf59: The Literary Disco podcast had a very good discussion of Dept. Of Speculation that they published a few weeks ago. I waited until after I had read the book to listen to it and found it a very interesting companion piece.

>155 PaulCranswick: Hello Paul! Thanks for being understanding! I finished the Lively and it was so good! For being dead, Kath was an extremely compelling character. I am so glad the BAC pushed me to try this author.

I have been neglecting this thread and my LT friends. My coaching gig has started back up, we have had sooooo many snowstorms and my work schedule is out of control. So there are my excuses! LOL! Anyway, I am slowly reading and will be back to update my list.

>135 Cobscook: ok, I like the sound of this! You have hooked me.
Hopefully it will drop out of the ether into my lap, as Being Mortal has (a friend bought it brand new! and lent it to me). Brown Girl Dreaming is newly published, isn't it?

I think you have convinced me about Brown Girl Dreaming I just requested the audio from the library.

>158 LovingLit: >159 SuziQoregon: So glad I have convinced you both to try Brown Girl Dreaming. I don't think you will be disappointed. And yes, Brown Girl Dreaming just came out in late 2014. I got my copy through Audible.

15. The Photograph by Peneelope Lively
Genre: Fiction
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover

Read for the BAC. This was an excellent read and I am so glad the BAC pushed me to try this new-to-me author.

16. Venetia by Georgette Heyer
Genre: Romance
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

This was a fun listen, but highly improbable.

Ok, that maroon part of the state on the far eastern side, near where it says Eastport....that's where I live. We are forecast to receive up to 36" of snow Saturday through Monday....with 60 mph winds. Oh dear Lord! This is on top of the 70"+ we have already received in the last three weeks.

>162 Cobscook: Wow.

>162 Cobscook: Holy. Moly.

>162 Cobscook: - Sounds like a good time to batten down the hatches and settle in for the long haul, Heidi.

>165 Crazymamie: - Awe... sooooo cute!

Weather update: We have only gotten about a foot of snow so far but the wind is howling a gale. Still have power though so it's all good. Near white out conditions outside so we will just stay in here where it's nice and warm! I do feel like Mamie's polar bear up there though!

Happy Sunday, Heidi! I feel your pain, here in the frigid Midwest. Fortunately, we have not been hammered with relentless snow. Whew! I sure hope that continues!

I wish you Maine folk, good luck. Hope you are getting in plenty of R & R.

There is a snow mountain in the parking lot of the Providence Armory, across the street from me, being added to daily. Not to mention the stuff that's on the street. But our snowbanks are, at worst, only about five feet high! I was astonished to find in NYC last week that there's almost no snow at all outside of the park and some isolated grey slushy mounds on the isolated street corner, easily bypassed. Meanwhile, I haven't seen a bare sidewalk here for two weeks!

Hang in there... We had the whiteout conditions last night and early this morning so it seems to have blown itself out and. We're left with just the wind. Which is nasty. Can't believe we're now in the second half of February and this stuff is STILL going on.

Hi Mark and Suz. We are forecast for another 8-10 inches tomorrow. We have had only four days above freezing since December. It's very discouraging. I am very much looking forward to our Florida vacation scheduled for the end of April.

17. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor
Genre: fantasy
Format: Ebook
Source: mine

Third book in the St Mary's series about dime traveling historians....read if you want to know the true story of the Trojan horse!

We were predicted to get a lot of snow over Valentine's Day too, but the storm blew out to sea. I have been seeing pictures of Eastport on the news!! It looks like you have been getting nailed! We only got about 4-5" today. It was finally warm enough to go outside to play. The freezing temps are the worst part about this winter -- I usually do not mind the snow. I just want to be able to go play in it!!

Hi Jess! We lucked out today and only got about 3 inches. I agree though that the cold temps have been the worst part about this winter. It is the longest stretch I have ever worn long johns!! I am so over it.

Sending you warm thoughts, Heidi!

Thanks Roni! We are supposed to get another 7 inches tomorrow night into Sunday but the temps are supposed to be a bit higher. I've been thinking of you because I am listening to Crystal Soldier on audiobook. It is excellent. I thought I had read it before but I don't remember anything but the tree!

Sooo..... We got the storm last Sunday as predicted, it snowed another couple of inches on Monday morning, and we are currently in the midst of getting another probable ten inches. I'll just be over here in the corner crying....

BUT in better news, I am currently reading some great books including Everything I Never Told You, For Whom the Bell Tolls and Crystal Soldier (in audio). All the snow makes for good reading time... Too bad not much else is not getting done!

Heidi: I don't understand why the snow we get here doesn't seem to be translating into more reading time for me! Oh, wait, I know why - Tomm keeps traipsing off on his business trips and leaving me to shovel it all! Ha!

Wow, Heidi! I will stop complaining about our weather. Yikes. Hope you survive it, my friend. Come on, springtime!

I heard the 5th St. Mary's book is coming out soon. Hooray!

>177 scaifea: That darn shoveling is getting the way of lots of things! And it is so unrewarding a task....it's the same motion over and over again!

>178 msf59: I think you totally have the right to keep on complaining about your own weather! It's all relative and by this point in the winter, everyone is tired of it!

18.A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor
Genre: Fantasy
Source: mine
Format: ebook

Can't give you a summary because: spoilers; but if you like the first three of this series, you'll probably like this one too.

19. Crystal Soldier by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Genre: SciFi
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

Part of the Liaden Universe, but pre-pre-pre history to the books at the core of the series. Space opera done well.

>176 Cobscook: bah! I wanna read For Whom the Bell Tolls too! *tantrum*
So little time.....

>180 Cobscook: I have to get back to Taylor's world. Read the first one and loved it, got to make time for the rest. Thanks for the unintended shove. :)

I am embarrassed by how long it has been since I last posted to my own thread. What can I say other than life gets in the way.

>181 LovingLit: And adding to the things I have not gotten done, I am still working on For Whom The Bell Tolls. The book is good, my insane schedule is not.

>182 mahsdad: They are super fun reads Jeff! I hope you find your way back to them.

So I am currently sitting outside a comic book shop wanting to make my first visit ever to such an establishment. The sign says it opens at 11 but it is 10:57 and there is no sign of life.... :(

I did make it into the comic book shop and scored the following:

Cuba My Revolution by Inverna Lockpez
Chew Vol. 1 by John Layman

Sadly, they did not have the first volume of Ms. Marvel which is what I went in there to find!

20. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Genre: Fiction
Source: Library
Format: ebook

A Maine Reader's Choice Award longlist selection, this book knocked my socks off.

21. The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
Genre: nonfiction
Source: mine
Format: paperback

Very interesting and written in an engaging manner. Too bad history wasn't taught in this way in school.

22. The Remedy for Love by Bill Roorbach
Genre: Fiction
Source: Library
Format: Ebook

Another MRCA longlist selection, a quick read but one that I had some problems with. The story itself was great, but some of the actions taken by the characters during a Maine blizzard stretched credibility a bit too far in my opinion.

The sign says it opens at 11 but it is 10:57 and there is no sign of life.... :(

I usually have a similar experience when I go to the local bead shop in town. They do open up, like your comic books shop did, but it gets me nervous until I see the someone come racing past me and unlocking the door. ;-)

>186 Cobscook: I read Everything I Never Told You for a book club this year. It was a great debut novel for that author.

I had the same problems with The Remedy for Love that you mentioned, Heidi. But I thought he painted a pretty good setting.

Ya got me with The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England!

Heidi! Hey! I lost sight of you somehow; sorry I haven't checked in till now.

I loved The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England! So much so, in fact, that I just got another one about, maybe, Elizabethan England. You're right: if history were taught in this engaging manner, more students would pay attention and learn.

I'm hoping everything's going well with you and that it's just the regular ups and downs of life that are keeping you busy.

A very good weekend, restful, calm and without snow, is wished for you.

Happy Friday, Heidi. Congrats on going to a comic store. I don't think I have ever been.
I enjoyed a few of the Chew series. I hope you do.

Have you warmed up at all? Is it still snowing? Will spring ever come? (86 here yesterday and predicted hotter today--stupid summer temps in March!)

Well, you can't get me with the book bullet on The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England because it is already on my wish list.

Wow, I am an utter failure at keeping up with my LT pals lately. March was insane for me between keeping up with the job, coaching my daughter's middle school basketball team, and following her travel basketball teams to weekend tournaments. On top of it all I came down with a nasty cold about two weeks ago that seems to have settled into a sinus infection. Since the end of January, my little part of the world has had about 170" of snow fall and even though the calendar says it is spring, there is still well over 4' of snow in my yard.....but enough about that junk, let me greet all my lovely visitors!

>187 lkernagh: Hi Lori - It seems like this happens to me at specialty type shops mostly. The comic book shop was even stranger because it is in the back of a bowling alley!

>188 rosylibrarian: Hi Marie! Everything I Never Told You has really stuck with me. It definitely is a book to make you think.

>189 countrylife: Hi Cindy! My work here is done! Hee Hee.

>190 Matke: Hi Gail! It is lovely to see you here. Unfortunately, the weather man says maybe another few inches of snow this weekend. Gack!

>191 msf59: Hi Mark, my favorite postman! I haven't read Chew yet, but I did end up ordering Ms. Marvel Vol 1 from Amazon....I am a little over halfway through and loving it.

>192 ronincats: Hi Roni! I would love some of your summer temperatures. It is currently in the mid 50s and this is the warmest day we have had since probably last November. Cold air returns tomorrow though, sadly.

>193 thornton37814: Hi Lori! Darn, I love to get my friends with the book bullets, lol. I hope you get a chance to pick up The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England soonish.

23. Crystal Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Genre: SciFi
Source: mine
Format: Audiobook

Love the Liaden series...

24. On Immunity by Eula Biss
Genre: nonfiction
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

Very interesting collection of essays that explore the history of vaccination and current cultural issues surrounding herd immunity.

25. Cuba My Revolution by Iverna Lockpez
Genre: Graphic Novel
Source: Mine
Format: paperback

Caution - this one contains a lot of violence and disturbing images. A graphic memoir about what life was like in Cuba during and immediately following the Cuban revolution

26. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Genre: Fantasy
Source: mine
Format: paperback

Needed something fun and silly...this hit the spot.

27. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean
Genre: Romance
Source: mine
Format: paperback

Love MacLean's smart, funny and independent heroines.

28. No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean
Genre: Romance
Source: mine
Format: paperback

See above

29. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
Genre: classic
Source: mine
Format: paperback

I really wanted to like this, but I did not. What a slog....it just went on and on and on.

30. Kindred by Octavia Butler
Genre: SciFi
Source: mine
Format: ebook

Loved this mix of scifi and historical fiction about a African American woman in the 70s who is mysteriously pulled back to the south pre-Civil War to save her ancestor.

Currently reading:
Ms. Marvel Vol 1 by G. Willow Wilson

Dragon KeeperRain Wilds Chronicles, Vol. 1 by Robin Hobbs

John Tyler the Accidental President by Edward Crapol

Good to see you pop your head out of the local snow bank, Heidi!

Wow, look at all of those read books! Way to go, Heidi!

And Happy Easter Weekend!

Wow, sounds like there is not enough time in the day for all you have on your plate! Glad to see you surfacing, Heidi and I wish you and your family a lovely Easter weekend!

>198 ronincats: I have missed having the time to be here on LT. I am really hoping things settle down in a few weeks once basketball wraps up.

>199 scaifea: Hi Amber! Happy Easter to you and yours. I am currently sitting in the hair salon waiting to get my first cut since November!

>200 lkernagh: Happy Easter to you as well! Time is certainly in short supply. Thank goodness for audiobooks...I think they have saved my sanity.

>201 Cobscook: Agree about the short supply of time, Heidi. Where on earth does it go to?

Have a lovely Easter my dear. xx

>202 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! It's definitely true that older you get he less time there seems to be. At least my lack of time has mostly been caused by other things that I love. I try to remember to be grateful since so many people have tragic things that suck up their time.

Thanks for the Easter wishes too!

Just wanted to say thank you for convincing me to get Brown Girl Dreaming on audio. I adored it and now I need to buy the book. I will always hear the author's voice when I read my favorite parts.

>204 SuziQoregon: Yay! I am so happy you tried Brown Girl Dreaming on audio. Such a beautiful beautiful book!

Hi, Heidi! Miss seeing you around, but it looks like you are getting some prime reading in. I have On Immunity saved on audio. Cuba My Revolution sounds really good.
Ms. Marvel Vol 1 is a joy, isn't it?

>206 msf59: Hiya Mark! Ms. Marvel really made me understand the graphic novel love. I am holding myself back from purchasing Vol. 2. I'm trying really hard to be good since I spent a bunch of money on books last month!

31. Ms. Marvel Vol. 1 No Normal by G. Willow Wilson
Genre: GN
Source: mine
Format: paperback

So.Much.Love for this book. Khamala Khan is an awesome character. I loved her interactions with her parents. I love how she is an awkward geek. I love her coming to grips with her superpowers...hint, it's not smooth.

>208 Cobscook: really want to get to this one. I just know I'm going to love it.

>209 SuziQoregon: Get it for sure! It is awesome!

32. Imitation in Death by JD Robb
Genre: Suspense
Format: Audiobook
Source: Mine

This was a re-read for me.

33. John Tyler, the Accidental President by Edward Crapol
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: Paperback
Source: mine

Who knew John Tyler was the only president to become a citizen of another country....the Confederate States of America. Other than that though....yawn.....

34. Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay
Genre: Nonfiction - essays
Format: ebook
Source: Library

This book is fabulous and everyone should read it immediately. I love Roxanne Gay's voice in these essays and how honest she is about feminism, racial issues, women's reproductive rights, etc. Also, there is competitive Scrabble....need I say more?

35. An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine
Genre: fiction
Format: paperback
Source: mine - a gift from my Secret Santa, Suz!

Don't expect a fast paced, plot driven book here. Instead we have a character study of a woman in Beruit, recounting her life as an 'unnecessary woman'. Our narrator has made literature her life and so she uses a lot of quotes from books and tons of what I like to call 50 cent words, many of which I didn't recognize or understand the meaning of. I found that irritating. However, the story is beautifully written and the ending is great.

I just finished John Tyler and found it a bit of a yawn session, too, when I wasn't gaping at how sleezy Tyler seemed to be. Sheesh.

so much reading!! RL so hard to keep out!!

Nice to see you here, anyway :)

>212 scaifea: Yes, John Tyler was a bit of a sleeze wasn't he...that's what happens when folks don't pay attention to the V.P. candidate I guess!!

>213 LovingLit: I'm not on here enough that's for sure but I have been getting some reading done so that's good.

So my family just got back from a ten day vacation, seven days of which were spent in Disney World. Now, Disney is not a relaxing place, however, I discovered that reading on your Kindle app on your smartphone is a great way to pass the time spent waiting in lines and waiting for the rest of your family to get done riding rollercoasters! I re-read the first three Harry Potters mostly in the parks...not what they intend for visitors to be doing but it worked great for me!

Here's the family at EPCOT, my favorite Disney park. This was taken on my daughter's 14th birthday which we celebrated by eating at the Coral Reef restaurant. Our table was right next to the giant fish tank with sharks and rays and turtles swimming by while we ate. Fun!

36. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Genre: fantasy
Source: library
Format: ebook

Reread.

37. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Genre: fantasy
Source: library
Format: ebook

Reread.

38. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Genre: fantasy
Source: library
Format: ebook

Reread.

39. Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean
Genre: romance
Format: Paperback
Source: mine

My least favorite of this quartet about the owners of a gambling hell finding love.

40. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Genre: fiction
Source: mine
Format: paperback

A slow read, but lots of great lines. I underlined the heck out of this novel. A real think piece.

41. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Genre: fantasy
Source: Mine
Format: hardcover

Why stop my reread just because I am home???

So, inquiring minds want to know--did you go to Hogwarts and drink butter beer?

Oooh, a Disney vacation! Lovely!

>216 Cobscook: Epcot was my favorite too. It was like a little mini globe of fun! Beautiful family. :)

>218 ronincats: Hi Roni! No unfortunately we did not get to Universal. I would have loved to tried the Butterbeer though!

>219 scaifea: Hi Amber! Yes Disney is awesome but very tiring.

>220 rosylibrarian: Woo Hoo more EPCOT love! It is the best!

42. Chew Vol. 1 by John Layman
Genre: GN/Comic
Source: mine
Format: paperback

I really enjoyed this first volume of the comic series about a detective that can tell the backstory of any food item by eating it....including dead bodies. Gross and hilarious!

43. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Genre: fantasy
Source: mine
Format: hardcover

Reread

44. The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne
Genre: nonfiction, memoir
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

There are a lot of angles in this memoir....Mormons, losing/finding faith, libraries, Tourette's Syndrome, and weightlifting. While disjointed at times, I did enjoy this read.

45. Year of Reading Dangerously by Andy Miller
Genre: Nonfiction
Source: Mine
Format: ebook

An interesting collection of essays about reading "important" books. Not sure I agree with his selection of "important" books.

46. The Insecure American edited by Hugh Gusterson
Genre: Nonfiction
Source: library
Format: ebook

A collection of essays about all the ways Americans are insecure....touches on economics, religion, politics, race, class, etc. Some essays were more interesting than others.

47. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Genre: Horror
Source: library
Format: paperback

Oh my creepy!!! This was an awesome read....can't believe it's taken me so long to get to it.

48. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Genre: fiction
Source: mine
Format: paperback

Everyone is right, this is a truly excellent book and not only that, it is an IMPORTANT book. Should be required reading for all Americans. I loved it.

Oh, yay! I'm so glad that you liked The Haunting of Hill House! It's definitely the creepiest book I've ever read. Now, if you haven't already, I humbly suggest watching The Haunting (the original film, NOT the remake). Easily the scariest movie I've ever watched, too.

>225 scaifea: Ooooh I don't know if Incould watch it....it would probably make me sleepless for months! The book alone has given me nightmares! I used to love horror films in my teenage years, but now I have no stomach for them. What a wimp I am!

>226 Cobscook: Yeah, you know, I'm the same way. I haven't watched the movie in years and come to think of it, I probably couldn't handle it anymore, either. Ha!

My tastes in books and movies have definitely changed since I had kids. I much prefer happy endings these days!

Hi Heidi! Just joined and noticed that you are from Maine. My sister spent 6 years in Maine in Presque Isle at the Airforce Base there as well as one year in Lewiston. I have friends in Portland. It was our hope to do a Thelma and Louise type vacation up the east coast beginning in Boston and ending in Portland this summer (minus the crime, of course!). But alas and alack, back surgery for my sister.

I noticed you posted about the book by Shirley Jackson. I'm going to try to pick that one up as I did love her short story The Lottery.

>217 Cobscook: underlined the heck out of it .... *smiles*
I am forever noting down impt things I read. I then proceed to throw out the bits of paper! Kindles are good for that though, you can keep your obsessive underlining. :)

Stopping by to say hello, Heidi!

>229 Tess_W: Hi Tess! Welcome to LT. I live in between Presque Isle and Lewiston on the eastern point of Maine. I hope your sister is recovering well from her back surgery!

>230 LovingLit: My copy of Gilead is a paperback in rough shape that I picked up at a yardsale for $.50. I was just looking at it thinking..."why am I keeping that"? I am in the midst of a book purge!

>231 lkernagh: Hi Lori!!

Come join me over at my second thread of the year!