Avanders' 2016 ROOTs -- 2nd Thread

SECOND THREAD - I'll re-post the beginning stuff :)
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UPDATE: Whelp. It's near the end of June and I am not doing well with the Chunksters. To be more realistic and have a goal I can actually maybe accomplish, I'm going to switch my GROUP goal to the Regular ROOTs (which I've been tracking all year). I will still try to meet my Chunkster goal, but it will be a personal goal now.

So, Group goal is ALL ROOTs -- 30. My goal the last 2 years was 24, so this is an increase, but tempered by the fact that I'm still trying to read Chunksters...



AND separately, and as a PART of that goal is still to read 12 Chunksters (500 pages or more)



And here're all the books I'm hoping to read in 2016 - goal of 48 60 total books (updated 5/30/16):



Happy ROOTing!


Oh, a mini-bio....
First, this may come as a surprise to most of you, but my real name is not, in fact, Avanders. I've been going by Avanders/Ava for years now, but my real name is actually Aletheia (pronounced Uh-LEE-thee-uh). :) I'm in my mid-thirties and have been married for going-on-13 years. No kids yet, but we're about to change that in the next year or so. I'm a lawyer by trade.. I've done private practice (corporate law), but I now work for the courts in a job that I love with an amazing boss and fantastic co-workers who have become some of my best friends. I'm a midwestern girl by birth and at heart (Wisconsin), but I currently live in the mountain-desert southwest (NM) and plan to be here for "the foreseeable future." We have 1 calico kitty (she's a cat, but we still think of her as a kitty ;)) And I have 2 biological sisters, 1 sister-in-law (husband's sister) and 1 brother-in-law-by-marriage (the sister-in-law's husband). We are currently the last hope for either of our family lines to continue as none of the siblings have or intend to have children! No pressure, though.... ;) I think that's probably enough... I have a few "likes" listed on my profile (@avanders), but if you have questions, feel free to ask!

The Deets
This post will show what books I'm actually reading/have read/intend to read.
And at the bottom, for my own record keeping, the ins for 2016...
RROOT = Regular (non-chunkster) ROOT; CH ROOT = Chunkster ROOT

JAN (9)
XX 1. Advent (Treadwell) (448) (ROOT 1), January 2, 2016 (give away)
XX 2. Alternate Susan (Cheek) (265) (ROOT 2), January 3, 2016 (give away)
XX 3. Finding Audrey (Kinsella) (288), January 6, 2016 (audio library book)
XX 4. The Eyre Affair (Fforde) (374) (ROOT 3), January 8, 2016 (give away)
XX 5. The Biggest Story (DeYoung) (132) (ROOT 4), January 10, 2016 (keep for permanent collection)
XX 6. Anarchy (Treadwell) (432) (ROOT 5), January 12, 2016 (give away)
XX 7. Mountain Story (Lansens) (384) (ROOT 6 & Dec./Jan. Book Group Book (Julie's choice)), January 18, 2016 (probably give away)
XX 8. Arcadia (Book 3 in the Advent trilogy) (512) (ROOT 7) (CH ROOT 1) & NetGalley ER), January 22, 2016 (Remove from kindle)
XX 9. The Grownup (Flynn) (64), January 24, 2016 (Borrowed from friend, will pass on)
Ave Page #s read/book in Jan = 322.11 (total pages 2,899; 93.52 per day)

FEB (3)
XX 10. City of Golden Shadow (Williams) (780) (ROOT 8) (CH ROOT 2), February 8, 2016 (give away)
XX 11. Nod (Barnes) (256) (ROOT 9), February 14, 2016 (hold onto for now)
XX 12. A Thousand Acres (Smiley) (read 100 of 400 pgs) (ROOT 10) (Mar. Book Group (Jar of Fate)), February 18, 2016 (give away)
Ave Page #s read/book in Feb = 378.67 (total pages 1,136; 39.17 per day)

MAR (4)
XX 13. Ashley Bell (Koontz) (576) (audio ER (LT)), March 2, 2016 (give away)
XX 14. River of Blue Fire (Otherland #2) (Williams) (704) (ROOT 11) (CH ROOT 3), March 2, 2016 (give away)
XX 15. Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Adams) (250) (audio library book), March 22, 2016
XX 16. Conspiracy of Us (Hall) (352) (ROOT 12), March 22, 2016 (give away)
Ave Page #s read/book in Mar = 470.5 (total pages 1,882; 60.71 ave per day)

APR (14)
XX 17. Griffin and Sabine (Bantock) (46), April 2, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 18. The Reckoning (#3 in Niceville Trilogy) (Stroud) (480), April 10, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 19. Some Possible Solutions (Phillips) (224) (ER (LT) & ROOT 13), April 14, 2016 (give away)
XX 20. The Invoice (Karlsson) (204) (ER (LT))), April 15, 2016 (Pass on)
XX 21. When Breath Becomes Air (Kalanithi) (228) (ROOT 14) (May Book Group), April 19, 2016 (keep for now...)
XX 22. Sabine's Notebook (Bantock) (48), April 20, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 23. Yellow Brick War (Paige) (270), April 23, 2016 (audio library book)
XX 24. The Way to Maturity (Wimber) (147) (ROOT 15), April 23, 2016 (keep for now)
XX 25. Map of Fates (Hall) (320), April 24, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 26. Life, the Universe, and Everything (Adams) (232), April 26, 2016 (audio library book and ROOT 16)
XX 27. Hot Pink (Levin) (207), April 26, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 28. The Golden Mean (Griffin & Sabine #3) (Bantock) (46), April 28, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 29. The Gryphon (Griffin & Sabine Cont. #1) (Bantock) (58), April 28, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 30. Who Could That Be at This Hour (Snicket) (288), April 30, 2016 (audio library book)
Ave Page #s read/book in Apr = 199.86 (total pages 2,798; 93.27 per day)

MAY (13)
XX 31. Alexandria (Griffin & Sabine Cont. #2) (Bantock) (58), May 1, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 32. Morning Star (Griffin & Sabine Cont. #3) (Bantock) (60), May 2, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 33. The Pharos Gate (Griffin & Sabine Final) (Bantock) (60), May 2, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 34. Dorothy Must Die Stories 2 (Heart of Tin, Straw King, Ruler of Beasts) (Paige) (336), May 7, 2016 (audio library book)
XX 35. When Did You See Her Last (Snicket) (279), May 13, 2016 (audio library book)
XX 36. Lovecraft Country (Ruff) (384), May 15, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 37. Ink and Bone (Caine) (352), May 21, 2016 (Library Book)
XX 38. Security (Wohlsdorf) (288) (ER (LT)), May 21, 2016 (give away)
XX 39. Shouldn't You Be in School (Snicket) (325), May 23, 2016 (audio library book)
XX 40. Why is This Night Different From All Other Nights (Snicket) (291), May 29, 2016 (audio library book)
XX 41. Mountain of Black Glass (Otherland #3) (Williams) (924) (ROOT 17) (CH ROOT 4), May 30, 2016 (give away)
XX 42. File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents (Snicket) (272), May 31, 2016 (library book)
XX 43. You'll Get Through This (Lucado) (240), May 31, 2016 (lent from a friend)
Ave Page #s read/book in May = 297.62 (total pages 3,869; 124.81 per day)

JUNE (12)
XX 44. The Composer is Dead (Snicket) (40), June 4, 2016 (library book, including CD)
XX 45. 29 myths on the Swinster Pharmacy (Snicket) (32), June 10, 2016 (library book)
XX 46. 13 words (Snicket) (40), June 10, 2016 (library book)
XX 47. Horseradish: bitter truths you can't avoid (Snicket) (168), June 11, 2016 (library book)
XX 48. Lemony Snicket: the unauthorized autobiography (Snicket) (218), June 11, 2016 (library book)
XX 49. A Curious Beginning (Raybourn) (368), June 13, 2016 (Netgalley ER - remove from kindle)
XX 50. A Tale for the Time Being (Ozeki) (422), June 17, 2016 (audio library book)
XX 51. The Case of the Missing Lady (Christie) (100), June 19, 2016 (audio library book)
XX 52. The Mirage (Ruff) (432) (ROOT 18 & RL Book Group July) (pass on)
XX 53. The Princess and the Pea (Setterfield) (16), (remove from kindle)
XX 54. This Census-Taker (Miéville) (210), June 23, 2016 (audio library book)
XX 55. Our Souls at Night (Haruf) (179), June 28, 2016 (library book)
Ave Page #s read/book in June = 185.42 (total pages 2,225; 74.17 per day)

JULY (3)
XX 56. Adulthood is a Myth (Andersen) (109), July 1, 2016 (library book)
XX 57. Whose Body? (Sayers) (208), July 12, 2016 (library book) (DNF)
XX 58. Annihilation (VanderMeer) (195) (ROOT 19), July 16, 2016
Ave Page #s read/book in July = 170.67 (total pages 512; 16.52 per day)

AUGUST (3)
XX 59. Authority (VanderMeer) (Southern Reach Trilogy #2) (341), August 2, 2016 (library book)
XX ("Total Books" GOAL!) 60. The Book of Harlan (McFadden) (400), August 17, 2016 (library book)
XX 61. The Vegetarian (Kang) (183) (ROOT 20), August 29, 2016
Ave Page #s read/book in August = 308 (total pages 924; 29.81 per day)

SEPTEMBER (6)
XX 62. Cravings (Cookbook) (Teigen) (240) (ROOT 21), September 12, 2016
XX 63. The Other Einstein (Benedict) (304) (BookReporter ER and ROOT 22), September 16, 2016
XX 64. Mayhem on the Orient Express (Logan) (304) (ROOT 23), September 18, 2016
XX 65. The Third Twin (Omololu) (330), September 18, 2016
XX 66. Pumpkin Picking with Murder (Wallace) (352), September 22, 2016
XX 67. Time Line (Crichton) (491) (audio library book AND ROOT 24), September 23, 2016
Ave Page #s read/book in September = 336.83 (total pages 2,021; 67.37 per day)

OCTOBER (0)
Ave Page #s read/book in Oct = 0 (total pages 0; 0 per day)

NOVEMBER (2)
XX 68. Welcome to the Club: 100 Parenting Milestones You Never Saw Coming (D'Apice) (144) (LT ER and ROOT 25), November 1, 2016 (give away)
XX 69. Dark Matter (Crouch) (342) (LT ER and ROOT 26), November 11, 2016 (give away)
Ave Page #s read/book in Nov = 243 (total pages 486; 16.2 per day)

DECEMBER (7)
XX 70. While the City Slept: A Love Lost to Violence and a Young Man's Descent into Madness (Sanders) (336) (RL Book Group Nov) (audio library book), December 9, 2016 (DNF)
XX 71. The Road to Inconceivable (Abadazad 1) (DeMatteis) (144) (ROOT 27), December 14, 2016 (keep for permanent collection)
XX 72. The Dream Thief (Abadazad 2) (DeMatteis) (160) (ROOT 28), December 14, 2016 (keep for permanent collection)
XX 73. The Puppet, The Professor, and the Prophet (Abadazad 3) (DeMatteis) (176) (ROOT 29), December 17, 2016 (keep for permanent collection)
XX 74. Juan and the Jackalope (Anaya) (32), December 22, 2016 (keep for permanent collection)
XX 75. The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold) (Fergus) (32), December 22, 2016 (keep for permanent collection)
XX 76. A Discovery of Witches (Harkness) (579) ("ROOTs" GOAL!) (ROOT 30) (CH ROOT 5), December 26, 2016 (definitely get rid of)
Ave Page #s read/book in Dec = 208.43 (total pages 1,459; 47.06 per day)

Also Reading The Story, NKJV (God), which is the Bible, but told as a (I believe chronological?) narrative :) If I finish this year, it will count as a CH ROOT

Top Chunskter Candidates
Arcadia
*The Thirteen and a Half Lives of Captain Bluebear (Moers) (704)
*Life After Life (544)
*Bone Clocks (624)
Bleak House (874)
*City of Golden Shadow
*Name of the Wind (662)
*Reamde (Stephenson) (1044))
The Old Curiosity Shop (624)
Infinite Jest (1079)
The Book of Strange New Things (500)
*All the Light We Cannot See (530)
*The Children's Book (883)
*Last Call (Powers) (535)
*Drood (784)
Duma Key (801)
Of Human Bondage (559)
Luminaries (832)
*A Fine Balance (603)
*11/22/63 (849)
The Little Friend (555)
*The Quincunx (787)
*IQ84 (Murakami) (925)
Map of the Sky (591)
A Discovery of Witches
Blood and Thunder (626)
2666 (898)
Kraken (529)
Deeper (655)
*Foucault's Pendulum (623)
The Stand (817)
*The Brothers Karamazov (912)
Special Topics in Calamity Physics (Pessl) (514)
*Doomsday Book (Willis) (578)
*Woman in White (Collins) (672)
*The Little Stranger (512)
All the Little Pieces (Hoffman) (512) (RL Book Group Jan)

River of Blue Fire
Mountain of Black Glass
Sea of Silver Light

*Specifically recommended to me

Also to-reads
A Year in the Merde (Clarke) (383) (borrowed from friend but loaned to others first)
Reading Tale of Two Besties (Rossi) (288) (ROOT )

AND Extra Tracking Notes:

# of Books IN, in 2016:
Jan: + 1 (BOTM book (The Verdict) + 5 (set of 5 Susan Cooper Dark is Rising Books) + 1 (Thousand Acres - book group) + 1 (Behind the Scenes at the Museum)
Feb: +1 (Dec. audio ER (Ashley Bell)) + 1 (BOTM book When Breath Becomes Air) + 7 (used books from Page One, see >127 karenmarie:) + 1 (free kindle Gritli's Children - BB from @MissWatson) + 1 (Conspiracy of Us) + 1 (Between the World and Me - BB from __)
Mar: +1 (Some Possible Solutions - LT/ER) + 1 (BOTM book All Things Cease to Appear)
Apr: +2 (Darker Shade of Magic and Uprooted, bought self) + 2 birthday (Made You Up and Furiously Happy) + 1 (The Invoice - LT/ER) + 9 bday books (Illuminae, Emotion Thesaurus, Wonderbook, Importance of Being Ernest, Wired for Story, Wool, 14 (by Peter Clines, Havisham) + 2 (BOTM books The Nest and No One Knows)
May: + 1 (Security - LT/ER) + 1 (S. S by J. J. Abrams (457)) + 16 (On Beauty, White Teeth, Chronic City, At Home, French Pressed, Murder on the Orient Express, Wizard and Glass, Miracle at Speedy Motors, Alias Grace, City of God, Russia House, Blindness, City of Tiny Lights, The Expats, Martin Dressler, In the Shadow of Gotham) + 1 (Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula - BB/rec'd from @enemyanniemae) + 1 (A Curious Beginning - NetGalley ER) + 2 (bought new: City of Mirrors and Boy, Snow, Bird)
Jun: + 1 Chemickal Marriage (bday book not rec'd in Apr) + 1 (BOTM book Enchanted Islands) + 20 (from library book sale - see >107 avanders:) + 1 (A Year in the Merde)
Jul: +1 (Vegetarian) + 5 (Barnes: Lost in Austen, Against All Grain: Meals Made Simple (cookbook for permanent collection), Mayhem at the Orient Express, Seveneves, Book of Speculation, Bats of the Republic) +0 (bought The Twelve for permanent collection)
Aug: +1 (Sepulchre)
Sept: + 3 (Pumpkin Picking with Murder; The Third Twin; Night Vale)
Oct: + 1 (Dark Matter (LT ER)) + 1 (Welcome to the Club (LT ER))
Nov: + 2 (All the Little Pieces & Stealing Snow) + 12 (see >207 avanders:)
Dec: + 5 (santathing!) + 1 (Juan and the Jackalope) + 1 (Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold (LT ER)) + 1 (Anywhere at Once (Christmas gift) + 4 (McSweeney's) + 1 (Cloud Castle) + 10 (Christmas gift from MIL)

Thus, my TBRs:
(Total books from prior month, plus books IN, minus books Read (unless otherwise noted))
as of 1/1/16, total books in personal library = 864
as of 2/1/16, total books in personal library = 866
as of 3/1/16, total books in personal library = 876
as of 4/1/16, total books in personal library = 876
as of 5/1/16, total books in personal library = 887
as of 6/1/16, total books in personal library = 907
as of 7/1/16, total books in personal library = 928
as of 8/1/16, total books in personal library = 933
as of 9/1/16, total books in personal library = 932
as of 10/1/16, total books in personal library = 930
as of 11/1/16, total books in personal library = 932
as of 12/1/16, total books in personal library = 944
as of 12/31/16, total books in personal library = 966

(Not counting permanent already-read books, cookbooks, or other reference type books, but yes counting e-books (not duplicates))

And, let's see, since I last posted, I finished 5 books (but don't be too impressed... most of them were the Griffin & Sabine books, which aren't long at all!)

The Gryphon, Alexandria, and Morning Star


These are 3 books that comprise the 2nd Griffin & Sabine trilogy -- it's officially called the Morning Star trilogy.
In this series, we meet Isabella and Matthew, whose lives seem to echo Griffin & Sabine's in some ways and who seem to be drawn into this sort of supernatural struggle with Griffin & Sabine and the sinister villain who is doing whatever he can to change the course of their lives.

I don't know why, I just didn't like these as much. I didn't like Isabella and Matthew's story as much - I felt it was too contrived. And I didn't particularly enjoy Griffin & Sabine's involvement in the story either. I just didn't. But I will say, that if you're mushy gushy and like a little sex-talk in your postcards, this will probably appeal to you :) Other than that, I thought it was OK and I was eager to keep reading, but they weren't my favorites. If I were to recommend Bantock's books, I would probably recommend the original trilogy & the 7th book (see below).
Overall, I gave them , , and , respectively... with the series overall at a .

As indicated, I also read The Pharos Gate

The subtitle for this one is: Griffin and Sabine's Lost Correspondence
So, this is really just a wrap-up for the original trilogy, as opposed to continuing Matthew & Isabella's story. I don't think you need to read the 2nd trilogy to fully appreciate this last book. And I once again enjoyed it. I really like the gaps that were filled in and the way it ended. It was lovely. :)

Finally, I finished Who Could That Be at This Hour by Lemony Snicket


This was an audio book that I listened to at 1.25x speed? (It could have been 1.5x speed.)
Anyway, for what it is -- a children's mystery -- it was wonderful. "Snicket" really has a way with words and descriptions! The mystery was intriguing, the story was interesting, and the characters were endearing. I love this for an 8-10 year old, and I plan to buy the series (4 books) for my god daughter.

And this month, I have an ambitious plan:

I am currently reading (and reallllllly enjoying) Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country and S by J. J. Abrams, which is a very illuminated novel... both of which are library books.

I am listening to Dorothy Must Die Stories 2 (Heart of Tin, Straw King, Ruler of Beasts), also a library book.

And I have to read from the library still Library of Souls (3rd in the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children trilogy) and Ink and Bone

...
THEN I plan to get back to the Otherland series -- Mountain of Black Glass, which will be Chunky ROOT 4 finally!

Happy new thread! You're more than two-thirds of the way to your goal, wow, that's great ROOTing!

Happy new thread! I've just seen on your old thread that you've read The Invoice. I think i read something quirky by that author last year and really liked it so i've wishlisted this new one.

Happy way belated birthday too!

Your first name is beautiful, Aletheia.

I just ordered The Pharos Gate. Can't wait for it to show up.

Well. I'm surprised that I've read 13 of your list of chunksters. It's an ambitious list and I wish you luck.

Happy new thread! Interesting to hear your thoughts on books 4-6 by Nick Bantock. They're all (4-7) on my wishlist, but even the second hand ones are £££££ on amazon, so I'm hoping for generous benefactors :)

Very impressive tracking and stats! Happy new thread!

>8 Jackie_K:, Have you checked The Book Depository? I think they generally have relatively "normal" prices and tend to ship most places (for free).

Thank you everyone!! :)

>5 MissWatson: welllll, not quite. :) I'm more than 2/3 of the way to my reading goal, but not my ROOTing goals... I have 3 goals this year :) My "main" ROOT goal (which means, the one that counts toward group numbers) is my Chunkster ROOT goal... and there I'm a little behind, actually :(. But I'm doing well w/ the other 2 goals! (Regular, non-chunkster ROOTs and ALL Books)

>6 Carmenere: Yes, he wrote The Room recently.. perhaps it was that one? I also really enjoyed that :)
& thanks for the bday wish!

>7 karenmarie: thank you! I'm pretty fond of it ;P
Hope you enjoy the Pharos Gate!
& which 13 of my chunkster-list have you read?

>8 Jackie_K: Bummer that they're so expensive -- available from your library? I wonder how they'd read in kindle format... I really enjoy taking the items out of their envelopes, though... :)

>9 rabbitprincess: Thanks :)

Just marking the new thread

>11 avanders: The Pharos Gate should be here today. I plan on immediately reading it. I'll even interrupt Drums of Autumn by Diane Gabaldon for it.

Miscounted by one, thought I'd read Woman in White but had really read The Moonstone by the same author. Here are the ones I've read:

Life After Life
The Bone Clocks
Reamde
The Book of Strange New Things
All The Light We Cannot See
Duma Key
11/22/63
The Little Friend
The Quincunx
IQ84
The Stand
Special Topics in Calamity Physics

But I've read The Stand twice, once in the as-originally-published version and again in the "Complete and Uncut" 1153 page hardcover chunkster. :)

>3 avanders: Alethia, I read the first two books by Lemony Snicket to my grandchildren. By the time the others came out they could read themselves. I found them to be delightfully witty and the vocabulary certainly was not dumbed down.

As far was your chunksters go, I can recommend Bleak House, 11/23/63 and All the Light We Can Not See.

I also recommend The Stand. It's one of my favorite Stephen King novels. Never read the shorter version; it was the 1100-page doorstop that first got me.

Happy new thread, Ava!

>11 avanders: Ah, I see! Yes, those pesky chunksters are a bit of a drag on the overall numbers. I'll need to do something about that myself next year. I read Quincunx years ago and was a bit underwhelmed. It didn't live up to the hype at the time of publication. Of course, my reaction might be different now...

>12 Robertgreaves: Welcome Robert! :)

>13 karenmarie: OOh I hope you enjoyed it!
I love that you've read so many of the chunksters on my list! I'm so excited for... really all of them! I plan on reading the as-originally-published version of The Stand... It's been with me for so long, I don't feel like I could read any other. But after having read both, which do you prefer?

>14 Tess_W: Yes, I agree! It was so clever! I'm going to be starting the 2nd (on audio) probably this afternoon :)
Great - I look forward to getting to them! Are there any on my list that you wouldn't recommend? :-o

>15 Amberfly: I've heard so much of that... I started reading Stephen King when I was 8 (yes, a bit young for that type of book, really...), and I read a bunch of them, and somehow never made it to The Stand. At least half of my family has read it, though.. and I can't wait to get to it!

>16 connie53: Thank you, Connie!

>17 MissWatson: yeah....... :-/
But ... life should be slowing even further over the next couple months, so hopefully I can amp back up and accomplish my chunkster goal!
I just have to stop checking out library books.......
Hmm, that's good to hear about Quincunx -- I actually know no-one who's read it.. I just read about it/ heard about it and found it intriguing. I will hopefully have the right amount of expectations going into it -- if they're lower, perhaps I'll enjoy it ;)

Okay, and I finished the audio book Dorothy Must Die Stories 2 (Heart of Tin, Straw King, Ruler of Beasts)

I liked these novellas better than the last set. I thought the first, Heart of Tin, was good and conveyed the character of the Tin Man well, but it was my least favorite of the three novellas. I think that one focused a bit too much on the redundancy of his thought (though I do understand why that was done), and not enough on the plot-building and explanation as to how we got to the Dorothy Must Die novel (the novellas are all sort of prequels to the actual trilogy). But Paige did a wonderful job of developing the characters and showing the subtle development. I also loved how she portrayed Osma and the other more bit characters in the series. Overall, a very good set of prequels, and I look forward to more!

>18 avanders: I loved the as-originally-published The Stand so much that I figured more would be better, and it was. The original obviously 'stands' as is and I'm not sure there are many folks who've read both because it is such a serious chunkster. You won't be disappointed in your ROOT and then, sometime down the road, you may want to pick up the uncut version. I don't recall thinking that the original was deficient in any way after reading the uncut version. I read the uncut version because it's like LOTR or Harry Potter - something you can't get enough of.

I never read a Stephen King book until about 2008 or so when I picked up the audiobook of Duma Key at the library because I couldn't find anything I liked and it sounded interesting. I really liked it, and I have since read most of his books.

>18 avanders: I think I read my first Stephen King when I was 10 or 11, so not that much older than you were. It was The Eyes of the Dragon and looking back I have no idea what it was doing in the school's Scholastic catalogue. I didn't start to really read King until high school, though. It was (and is) my absolute favorite, but The Stand is a close second.

>20 karenmarie: >21 Amberfly: thanks for the input! I will start w/ the abridged (originally published)... then someday perhaps give the big 'un a try ;)

So interesting, Karen, that your first Stephen King was Duma Key! I haven't read that one yet (I think it's on the shelves :)), but so many people start w/ the "classics" -- the Shining, Pet Semetary, etc.

Amberfly, Eyes of the Dragon is another that I knew a lot of people (mostly boys ;p) were reading in my middle school .. a fantastic one :) But lol -- I agree that it's weird it was in your scholastic catalogue!
See, I knew I couldn't be the only one who got into Stephen King so early ;) I also loved It... so good.

And let's see, I think my first was... maybe Skeleton Crew or Salem's Lot? I read Misery and The Dark Half pretty early on too... those 2 were among my favorites :) Man... just looking at the covers almost takes me back to those days of just reading Stephen King into the wee hours......

Just started The Invoice and happy to see your 5-star review!

>17 MissWatson: Re Quincunx, yeah I was deeply underwhelmed as well.

>22 avanders: I was "broke in" on the really old Stephen Kings Cujo and Christine! But my favorite is 11/22/63.

>23 detailmuse: Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I just... REALLY liked it. :D

>24 ipsoivan: Bummer... well. If I get into it a bit and it doesn't feel like it's going anywhere for me, perhaps I'll feel better walking away, knowing you 2 didn't think it was amazing :)

>25 Tess_W: That makes sense.. You know, I've read Cujo, but never got around to Christine... one of those things were the thought of an "evil car" just didn't appeal to me that much ;P I look forward to reading 11/22/63!

>23 detailmuse: and >26 avanders: I went over to Amazon to buy The Invoice and am seriously disappointed that it won't be able to the general public until July 12th. Boo, hiss. Sounds intriguing.

>26 avanders: not excited by an evil car? What is WRONG with you, woman?

I can't remember Quincunx well, as I guess I read it when the paperback first came out, but I seem to remember it as a pastiche of Victorian fiction. At the time I remember finding it predictable, but it's possible that it is better than I remember

I must admit the only Stephen King novel I've read is Carrie, which I read when it first came out when I was a teenager. I loved it and then later read some of his short stories, which left a bad taste when I'd read them, so I never read any more.

>27 karenmarie: oh yeah, it was a surprisingly early early reviewer! Well, when it comes out.. hope you enjoy it! :)

>28 ipsoivan: lol! Ya know, it just never struck me. I was like... evil... car? What.. car? Though I have to say, having read the beginning of Bazaar of Bad Dreams, I am a little more intrigued... ;)
Hmm interesting that so many people here who've actually read Quincunx didn't enjoy it... it might be a bit longer before I get to it... ;p

>29 Robertgreaves: That's another one I haven't read.. it's always hard for me to read a book after I've seen the movie, so some good books end up on the bottom of my list because of that... Nice to know you loved it :) Interesting that you didn't like the stories so much... do you happen to remember which ones?

>29 Robertgreaves: Read the novels. I actively dislike short stories (except for a few cherished ones from teenage years and college) and haven't read any of those by King, but the novels are really good, most of them. Ones I particularly like are Duma Key, Under The Dome, Cell, Insomnia, The Stand, 11/22/63, Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, The Green Mile, The Shining, Doctor Sleep, etc. Mostly more recent ones.

>30 avanders: Can't remember the titles, sorry. One was about a young guy befriending an elderly Nazi and there were a couple that struck me as VERY homophobic even for the 1980s, which was when I read them.

>32 Robertgreaves: The guy befriending the Nazi was called Apt Pupil, a novella by King.

>31 karenmarie: of your top picks listed, I've read Insomnia (which was great), the Green Mile (quite good)... gosh, that's it! The others are on my long tbr list ;)
I think my top picks of his are The Dark Half, the 3rd and 4th book in the Dark Tower series, Eyes of the Dragon, Insomnia, Hearts in Atlantis... I'm sure there are ones I've not thought of :)

>32 Robertgreaves: well, no worries.. was just curious :) That doesn't sound familiar, but it's been years and years.. I don't remember the homophobic aspect either, but maybe I didn't read those stories or maybe I was too young to catch on :P

>33 Tess_W: oh. Yes, I didn't read that one. :)

>34 avanders: I was insufferable about NOT reading King's books, thinking they were mass market crap. I stand humbled and corrected and definitely consider myself a Constant Reader. I read the first of the Dark Tower series, and actually sorta liked it, but haven't felt the urge to continue the series. They are hiding on a top shelf behind some of the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz, so that they cannot stare reproachfully at me.

I read Hearts in Atlantis but was disturbed by it, as I recall. I gave it 4 stars, but don't know why.

>18 avanders: I've read the Quincunx ages ago. Somewhere in the 90's or so. And I remember not very much about it, only that I liked it. It was a bit strange though

I've never read any King. I'm such a wimp, I know I'd have nightmares for weeks.

>37 Jackie_K: Jackie....I don't find King the nightmarish type of fright writer. I have found Patterson a much more grisly writer than King.

>35 karenmarie: lol I have a friend who felt... feels the same way ;P I'll never convince her, but I'm glad you were persuaded otherwise :)
Did you read the originally published first or the newly edited first of the series? I've not yet read the newly edited first, but I think when I reread the first 5 books, I'll start w/ that one. (I have not yet read books 6 and 7 because I started the series before they were published & lost momentum... so I plan to re-read the whole thing :))

>36 connie53: A bit strange works for me.. :) And your book tastes & mine seem to share a lot of common ground, so perhaps I'll like it too!

>37 Jackie_K: >38 Tess_W: That's a tough call... some of King's stuff is gory but, I think Tess is right that a lot isn't that kind of horror.. it's thoughtful and explores dark places.. I can't compare to Patterson, though.. I've only read a portion of one of his YA books (which I did enjoy but I just haven't gotten back to it yet!). I'd say maybe don't read the Shining or Pet Semetary, but perhaps others might give you a sense of King w/o the nightmares. Of course, no need to push it, there are plenty of non-King books out there that need to be read! ;)

So this weekend was the biannual library clearance sale.. I didn't go crazy this time. I bought only 1 bag of books ($5 per bag), knowing some of them might be duplicates... In fact, 8 were duplicates! But stupidly, I forgot to note which non-duplicates I got before putting them in the shelves. :-o
I'll have to go back and figure it out, and then I'll report back. I can't believe I did that! I didn't log them anywhere first! Ah well....

Oh and I finished When Did You See Her Last the 2nd book in the All the Wrong Questions series..

It was a great 2nd book and I immediately downloaded the 3rd in the series. I wasn't as impressed as the first book, for some reason, but it was still great and I still plan to buy it for my goddaughter. In the second, Lemony Snicket remains in the town called Stained by the Sea and continues to explore the various odd happenings and crimes that seem to be occurring, attempting to understand what Hangfire is planning and how all the various people he is meeting fit into the plan. I like the tone, pace, and intrigue. It's a great middle-grade series.


I also finished Lovecraft Country yesterday.

Matt Ruff impresses me yet again. This time, he's written a lovecraftian, sci-fi story starring/from the perspective of a black family in the 50s. Racial tensions are extremely high, and Ruff manages to offer the black perspective without coming across as preachy. I was just very impressed with his character-building. The sci-fi/Lovecraft story is also interesting, with secret societies and evil intentions at its core. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone to whom that description appeals. I know some people hate sci-fi/Lovecraft type books... you are probably not the intended audience. But for everyone else, quite an impressive feat.

And now I'm reading one more library book, Ink and Bone (Caine) and, as mentioned above, listening to the 3rd in the Snicket series, Shouldn't You Be in School..

>39 avanders: Probably the originally published - this is a 1988 "First Plume Printing" with color illustrations by Michael Whelan. I don't know for sure. I didn't even realize there were newly edited versions of the books.

I didn't even realize there was another Lemony Snicket series. I've tapered off my children's/YA reading since daughter is now almost 23.

Just stopping in on your new thread to say hello. Sure looks like you've been quite busy reading!

>40 avanders: LOL, how could you forget that! I think one of the fun things of buying books is cataloguing them here. I love that part.

And now we won't know what you have bought! OOOOO, wait you did it on purpose! You don't want us to know how many books you got!

>40 avanders: More than once my smart phone has saved me. I log onto LT wherever I am and look to see if I already have a book.

>41 avanders: Well, you have definitely sold me on Lovecraft Country.

I have Who Could That Be at This Hour?, but I've been reluctant to start it, because then I would inevitably need to get the rest of the series, and that would be still more books on the TBR shelves. Well, at least I avoided the giant library sale by virtue of having to work that day.

Wow! your thread is quite active lately! Way back at >11 avanders: you mentioned The Invoice is the same author as The Room. Oooooo, I've got to read TI and see what else Karlsson can come up with. Maybe if I request it from the library now I'll be low on the list when it comes in.

ETA: yeah! it's on order and I'm sure I must be the first on the list :0)))))

>42 karenmarie: Yes, sounds like the original. There's a newly edited version of only the first (as far as I know).. which makes sense because the first was written around 30 years before the 7th.. so there were some major differences that I think they sought to smooth over ;)

Makes sense that you've tapered off your children's/YA reading... mine's tapered a bit too, but I still en joy them when I read (or listen to) them "_

>43 LittleTaiko: Hello Stacy! Yes, it's been nice having a little time to read again :)

>44 connie53: lol! I KNOW it's crazy! I went through my books yesterday and I think I found them all.. now I just have to catalog them... I'll post a list of acquisitions when I get it together... then you can all judge me! ;)

>45 karenmarie: I do that in normal situations, but the library sale is somewhat unique for me in that (1) they don't want booksellers there (they invite them after the normal readers get their picks), and they indicate that checking devices to verify collections is not terribly welcome, (2) it's kinda fast and furious in there, so you're doing more taking then thinking, and (3) it's $5 per grocery sized bag anyway, so I think of it as just a whole lot of free books -- i'm fine getting duplicates in that setting and just give the extras away (sometimes back to the library ;))

>46 bragan: I hope you like it! I'll look forward to your thoughts when you get around to it :)
As for the Snicket series... maybe do what I did and listen to them on audio, from the library? They're pretty fast reads/listens, which is nice.
I'm happy-sad for you that you missed the sale! Happy because it's rough on the TBR pile, but sad because I just would be sad for myself if I missed it! Hope you're not sad at all :) :)

>47 Carmenere: yes, I really enjoy his writing! I'll have to see what else he's published in English (if anything)!
And awesome that you are (probably) first in line to get it from the library! Even if not, it's such a quick read, you'll probably get your hands on it quickly ;)

>48 avanders: Wow. $5/bag even on the first day? Our first day is $3 hardcover/$2 trade paperback/$.50 mass market paperback, special corner for special books, half price the second day, and $5/bag third day. And double wow, they don't want booksellers there. I understand why, because at our sales many of the booksellers are beyond obnoxious, grabbing books, scanning them, then discarding them without putting them back properly, pushing through aisles with big plastic tubs, and being loud and obnoxious. But our board of directors of the Friends of the Library have the goal of selling books to benefit the library, and it's an uneasy truce between booksellers and individuals. I must admit I did some snarling at a bookseller last time - he was scanning and just tossing audiobooks back any old which way. I said that he should put them back properly, and he said "No", he wouldn't. I said "Bookseller?", he said "Yes", and I said "Figures". And he kept trying to nudge over into the section I was looking at, and I didn't yield. I'm usually more passive than that.

Wow - when booksellers go rogue! And there was me always innocently thinking that booksellers were benevolent, book-loving gentle souls!

>50 Jackie_K: Here in central NC they are obnoxious and irritating. Not all, obviously - the local bookstore owner (Circle City Books) was kind, friendly, and not pushy. His bookstore reflects his laid-back personality too, and I love to go there.

Unfortunately, near my area there are NO independent booksellers. We have a B&N and that is all! I usually scour the internet when I need a fix.

>52 Tess_W: There's not that much here either, Stirling has a Waterstones and that's about it, although there are quite a few independents in Edinburgh. This conversation led me to Googling independent bookshops in Scotland and I found a great list, so I've got a few more places to add to my 'must visit' list!

>53 Jackie_K: I might have to borrow your list for my own trip planning ;)

>49 karenmarie: yeah, it's pretty fantastic! Although that's only the semi-annual clearance sale... there are also monthly sales, and for those, the prices are between $1 and $4 for regular fiction novels (fiction/literature types).. though even then you can still get great deals on mass market paperbacks and kids books (25 cents each). :)
Wow - that's TERrible! Way to give your whole GROUP a good reputation! Yeah, it's the sweeping piles of books into bags/bins without even looking at the books, when there are people there, many of who don't have other feasible options for acquiring books, that rubbed people the wrong way and resulted in that policy here... The library/Friends of the Library still benefits when the booksellers come the following day... but this way, everyone can actually benefit.

>50 Jackie_K: lol! nope, not at all.

>51 karenmarie: that makes a lot of sense -- the personality of the owner will often probably show through! Although, I suppose if you have really good staff, that can override a terrible owner's personality ;)

>52 Tess_W: that is unfortunate! At least you do have B&N! It's really surprising to me too... usually in small towns I've been in, there's NO B&N, but there ARE smaller bookshops...

>53 Jackie_K: :( How far away is Edinburgh from where you are?
Glad you found a great list of stores to visit! :)

Still reading Ink and Bone, which I'm actually quite enjoying. I just haven't had tons of downtime to read.. but plugging away on it :) And it's the last library book I have (not counting audio, of course).. so after that, back to my books!
And still listening to Shouldn't You Be in School (Snicket), the 3rd in the Wrong Questions series. Enjoying that too :)

>54 rabbitprincess: here's the list I found. It's 5 years old so I can't guarantee they all still exist. I particularly liked the sound of the one in Orkney. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/oct/01/independent-bookshops-scotland

>55 avanders: Edinburgh's actually only about 30-odd miles from me, but it's a bit of a trek as for some ridiculous reason the train takes ages from here (I know about this from bitter experience as I worked there a few years ago and had a really crappy commute!). I wouldn't drive in Edinburgh city centre (especially now they have the trams), so it's definitely a train trip, but I'd have to plan the visit as it looks like it would involve a fair bit of walking.

>48 avanders: I don't really do audiobooks. I can't even keep up with all the podcasts I'm subscribed to in the listening time I have, and I generally much prefer to do anything longer than short story length in print form, anyway.

I also don't really to the library these days, on the principle that I can't justify checking books out of the library when there are already so many books I own that I haven't read. Which just means that when I want to read a book, I buy it rather than getting it from the library, and then I have even more books I own that I haven't read. I am aware of how insane this is, but I see no way out of it, so I try to accept it cheerfully. :)

And I'm a little sad about missing the last big library sale, but only a little. I really wouldn't have had enough shelf space for another bag of books. Plus, there will always be another one. There's a small monthly sale at the public library here in a couple of week I should be able to make, and hopefully will only walk out with a few volumes.

Hi Ava, just swinging by to say Hello!

Happy Sunday, Aletheia! I hope you're having a good day.

>18 avanders: I started reading Stephen King when I was about 12. I read several of his books and really liked them, but then I became overwhelmed by how many titles he had, thinking I'd never catch up, and I stopped. I never really got back to him, although I've wanted to (and of course now his list is waaay longer). I think my mom has read everything by him. All the novels, anyway :).

>41 avanders: Lovecraft Country sounds pretty intriguing!

>57 Jackie_K: That's unfortunate! Is it at least a pleasant train ride, if you take it? I love taking the train, if it's cross-country. I'm not as fond as city-commuter trains...

>58 bragan: Oooh, yeah, I can understand that. There are actually a fair number of podcasts I'd be interested in if I didn't do audio books... I think it's hard to do both!
I know what you mean about not being able to justify checking out books at the library... I try to stay away, and then every so often, I break and get a WHOLE BUNCH at once ;p I'm coming off of that now ;) lol! well, maybe it's insane, but it's also completely understandable to this group of crazies! ;)
Ok good, I'm glad you're not very sad about missing the last big sale! And you're SO right - there are always more more more!!

>59 connie53: Hello Connie! Nice to see you here :)

>60 karenmarie: Happy Sunday to you, Karen! My Sunday was pretty nice, actually.. :) I was super sick on Saturday (I just got a regular old cold, but I can't take any cold meds, so I had to suffer through it.... which was miserable but it DID make it process through my body much more quickly!) and read a lot (yay!!). Then on Sunday, I had my church class then church, then I went to brunch w/ mom, dad, and my sister which was great.. then my sister and I went to the house and did a little loading of stuff into her car (she's still slowly moving the last of her stuff out) and chatting and just sitting outside in the beautiful weather.. then we went to dinner and sat on an outdoor patio, which was also lovely. When I came home, my husband was back (he did a "century" - 100 mile bike ride, though he only got to mile 88 - in Santa Fe this weekend) and we watched some mild TV and then folded in. Overall, a great day :) Hope YOURS was lovely too!

>61 readingtangent: I know, it did get a little overwhelming realizing how many MORE of his books I still haven't (hadn't) read! Wow, to have read everything by him is rather impressive of your mom! Which were you favorites?

I really liked it... I'm continually impressed by Matt Ruff :)
I'm about to read another of his books, The Mirage, for my RL book group... if it holds up, I think he'll squarely be in my "favorite authors" list :)

This past Saturday, because of unfortunate sickness and general all-around whiny'ness (Mine), I read a lot! :) So that was a boon. ;)
I finished Ink and Bone


which was as good as I wanted it to be. It is a meaty but well-paced young adult first-in-trilogy that is set in a world in which The Library is the overarching governmental institution that Rules over All, who have mandated that originals (actual books with paper pages) shall ONLY be in its possession and the rest of the world has access via ... sort of futuristic eBooks, which are almost like kindles, but are loaded with only 1 book at any given time. The two largest opposing groups are smugglers, who deal in the black trade of originals for collectors, and burners, who seek to burn originals to prove the point that The Library should not have total control over all originals. The main character is a young (18?) man who comes from a family of smugglers, yet seeks to become a member of The Library.

There's intrigue, subterfuge, discovery, friendship, enemies, frienemies, romance, and action packed into the novel. I really really enjoyed reading it. EVEN the Romance parts!! It was so well done, I didn't find it annoying at all. ;) The world is well developed and interesting, the characters are well-developed, interesting, and dynamic, and the story/plot is interesting and moves at a good pace. Definitely recommend to YA/dystopia fans! Also, I note that, although it's YA, it's probably more along the lines of Red Rising .. a little bit denser and more mature. Can't wait for the 2nd! It's at early reviewer phase right now, so juts a little while to wait... ;)


I also read Security


This was an early reviewer from LibraryThing.
I didn't really know that much about this book before starting it.. This is how it was described:
When the gleaming new Manderley Resort opens in twenty-four hours, Santa Barbara’s exclusive beachfront hotel will offer its patrons the ultimate in luxury and high-tech security. No indulgence has been ignored, no detail overlooked. But all the money in the world can’t guarantee safety. As hotel manager Tessa and her employees ready the hotel for its invitation-only grand opening, a killer is in their midst. One by one, staff are picked off with ruthless precision. And before the night is over, as Tessa desperately struggles to survive, it will become clear that the strangest and most terrible truth at Manderley is simply this: someone is watching.

With stunning ingenuity, Gina Wohlsdorf puts readers front and center as the elite resort becomes a house of horrors. Riveting to the final sentence, Security is fierce, wry, and impossible to put down. With a deep bow to the literary tradition of Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, and Daphne du Maurier, Wohlsdorf’s razor-wire prose blitzes readers with quick twists, sharp turns, and gasp-inducing terror. Security is at once a shocking thriller, a brilliant narrative puzzle, and a moving, multifaceted love story unlike any other.

So, I thought of it as a murder mystery with a bit of thriller thrown in. And maybe some lite horror.
In fact, this is a gory slasher novel with explicit sex scenes... which is apparently standard in the classic slasher novel.

It is gory, which doesn't actually bother me. It's explicit with exactly WHAT is being done to the victims and exactly how that looks and maybe feels. SO in that way, it's classic horror/slasher, and well done. It's not scary to the reader (well, at least not this reader), but it's a thriller, so it's tense. I never felt afraid in my empty house, but I was wound tightly while I was reading it, and eager to keep moving through the novel. As I mentioned above, there is explicit sex (though NOT by the perpetrators, so there's no rape element here). That's generally on my list of "not interested," and I didn't love it here either. I thought it was unnecessary and a bit distracting and clumsy to boot. But fortunately, Wohlsdorf moves pretty quickly through the scenes, so you're not dwelling in them. Which for me, was a definite plus. And surprisingly, it's funny. I absolutely loved the perspective. It is narrated from the perspective of someone watching the developments through security cameras and that character was probably my favorite of them all. And it's a murder mystery and a slasher thriller -- there are killings, but we don't know what's really happening or why.

The pace is good -- while I did not fly through the pages, I also did not pause much. I read the whole book in essentially one sitting, and it was a very satisfying read in the end. Entertaining, interesting (the unique point of view is a strong plus here), and, for me, well-resolved. I know some people did not love how it ended, but I thought it was as complete as it needed to be. To say any more would be spoiler, so I'll refrain.

Overall, . Recommended for horror/slasher/thriller fans. But not probably for people who don't like that/those genre(s) ;)

Now, I am finally getting back to the Otherland series! At least, the 3rd book. :)
And I'm almost done w/ the third in the Snicket Wrong Questions series...

Oh, PS, here's the list of books I acquired at the library clearance sale... a very modest 16!
1. On Beauty by Zadie Smith
2. White Teeth by Zadie Smith
3. Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem
4. At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
5. French Pressed by Cleo Coyle (cozy mystery)
6. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
7. Wizard and Glass (Book 4 of the Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King)
8. Miracle at Speedy Motors (Book 9 of the series) by Alexander McCall Smith
9. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
10. City of God by E.L. Doctorow
11. Russia House by John Le Carré
12. Blindness by José Saramago
13. City of Tiny Lights by Patrick Neate
14. The Expats by Chris Pavone
15. Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser
16. In the Shadow of Gotham by Stafanie Pintoff

So glad you are feeling better and had a marvellous Sunday. And surprised you can read when you are feeling sick. I can't concentrate on anything when I'm ill.

I only read #7 of your list. And liked it a lot.

>62 avanders: I'm glad you had a good Sunday after a sick Saturday. At least you were well enough to read on Saturday. I envy you then I went to brunch w/ mom, dad, and my sister which was great; my father passed away in 2006 and my mother and sister are across the country from me. I would love to be able to say I had a meal with all three of them!! I'm so glad it was a good time.

>64 avanders: You got some good books. I loved Alias Grace for our RL bookclub several years ago and Murder on the Orient Express, which I re-read recently as it was mentioned in someone's thread. Have only heard of a few of the others, there might even be a book bullet or two in there!

>65 connie53: yes me too - thank you! :) As for reading when I'm sick -- I think it depends on the sickness... when I have the flu, I'm more into the whole TV bit.. but apparently w/ a cold, I was cool w/ some books :)
I'd read #7 before too - and really liked it too! When I re-acquire the whole series, I will start reading the whole thing again :)

>66 karenmarie: Thank you! I'm sorry to hear about your father's passing.. and it's hard when the family is so far away! My parents actually just moved down here to NM this past September.. so it's been really nice having them near again! My sister moved down here about 4 years ago, but we still feel very fortunate to be so close to each other (my sister actually lived w/ my husband & I for the past 3 and a half years, until now). Now we just have to get the other sister down here.. and then my husband's sister & brother-in-law... and we'll be great! ;) (the latter is not likely).

Glad to hear it! I'm definitely looking forward to reading both of them!

>64 avanders: That looks like a good haul! I've not read any of them, although I do have Alias Grace on the TBR pile.

>68 Jackie_K: yeah I guess I've been to so many of these sales by now, I'm getting the less common books to add to the "pile" at home ;)

Oh and I finished the 3rd in the Snicket series and am about a third done w/ the 4th now, Why is This Night Different From All Other Nights... Liam Aiken was really a great selection for reader for the series! I am eager to find out how it's "resolved." (I put that in quotes because Snicket doesn't tend to "resolve" things in the way many would like.... :))

And I'm on around page 530 of around 950 in the 3rd Otherland book.. plugging along! I am happy it has picked back up again.. the middle there was a little bit of a drag for me .. I guess I'll talk more about that in the Otherland thread ;)

Anyway, I hope to finish it this month and then I'll only be 1 book behind in my chunkster ROOT goal! If I can finish the series next month, maybe my other chunksters this year won't be quite so.... chunky? ;p

>70 avanders: Love Lemony Snicket!

I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, Aletheia!

Just waving!

>62 avanders: I think I have only read Pet Sematary, Misery, It, Carrie, The Dead Zone, The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger, and years later I read The Green Mile, Desperation, and The Regulators. I have The Shining in my (virtual) ROOT pile, though, and plan to read it this year :). And yeah, my mom is a reading machine. Always has been. I wish I'd inherited her speed!

>63 avanders: Security may be a BB for me.

>71 Tess_W: I know, he has such a unique and engaging way of writing!

>72 karenmarie: Thank you, and you too!

>73 connie53: waving back at you!

>74 readingtangent: Well that looks like a great selection of King books!
heh heh, my mom is a bit of a reading machine too ;P I am pretty fast, but she seems to get through things way faster than I can! RL is a bit of an issue for me too...

If you do end up reading it, I'll look forward to seeing how you like it! :)

Okay, let's see..
I finished Why Is This Night Different From All Other Nights, the 4th and final book in the Wrong Questions Series by Lemony Snicket...

The series is wonderful. I love the way Snicket writes and the way he perfectly presents the psyche of an intelligent, precocious 13-year-old in the middle of a terrible situation. I loved all the characters and thought the mystery(ies) was(were) wonderfully presented and "resolved." (Many things are not actually "resolved" in Snicket books.) I also thought Liam Aiken did a wonderful job reading the books, improving with the series. He was a perfect voice for Lemony Snicket. I will definitely be buying this series for my goddaughter! I believe this is age-appropriate for mature 8+ year olds (there is death and sadness) and middle-grade children. Of course, Snicket can be enjoyed by adults as well. :)
The book, , and the series as a whole, .

I also (FINALLY!!) finished Mountain of Black Glass, the 3rd (of 4) in the Otherland series. This is my 4th Chunky ROOT for the year.. so now I'm only 1 behind!


This book is massive and, for me, dragged a bit in the middle. However, it dramatically picks up in the second half and the ending gets rather exciting, forcing the reader (me) to pick up the next book right away (another 1000 pages). The characters are richly drawn in the Otherland series, and the 3rd book is no exception. The reader is drawn closer and closer to the characters, and Williams delves deeper into their minds and psyches. It is rather impressive how many different voices are present in the series, with each having a separate and unique personality.

The series presents chaotic situation and baffling scenario after chaotic situation and baffling scenario, yet the story as a whole continues to move forward, answering some questions and leaving more in its wake. The series shifts a bit into a more fantasy-like genre for much of book 3, but the sci-fi is still definitely present, and I am continually impressed with the depth of Williams' thinking and exploration. Although Book 3 lagged a bit in the middle for me, I am still overall very pleased with the series.

I am not saying more because ... any discussion of the plot of book 3 would be spoiler. :)
But a few thoughts for those who've read them already:
I absolutely love the developing personality of the Other. It is interesting how child-like he seems and I get the feeling that he is protecting the children that have been taken hostage, even if he needs them to operate.

I also am very interested in the developing relationship between Dread and Dulcie Anwin... and the developing case that Calliope is working through. I love that it is culminating in Sydney.

I am pleased that Jacoubian and Wells' stories developed the way they did... even in the apparent death of Jacoubian. And it's sooooo interesting that the ceremony didn't work for any of the brotherhood except partially for the one guy (whose name is evading me right now). BUT I wonder if the brotherhood may actually somehow be revived at some point in book 4 --- after all, they are, at this point, "merely code" anyway.

There is definitely more to !Xabbu than meets the eye.. his response was interesting when Renie said he was back in his real form (or however she phrased that)... and he didn't respond as expected.

Ooooh, and I loved who Emily was. But 2 questions remain at this point... if one of her other selves killed her... why was the baby she may have been carrying such a central point of her character for so long? Maybe something will develop where the presence of the baby was crucial... And the 2nd question is ... Dread said he "left something behind" with Martine when he was killed (when in Quan Li's body).... I don't think we know what that is yet... If so, I completely missed it!

Mmmmm... that's all for now. :)

This book gets another .

CURRENT
So, now I'm listening to A Tale for the Time Being on audio...
I'm hoping to finish You'll Get Through This today, a book a friend lent me..
I'm reading A Curious Beginning, an early reviewer received from NetGalley..
and I'm reading Sea of Silver Light.. the 4th and final in the Otherland series...

Oh... and ... yeah, oops. I bought a couple more books this weekend too :-o Brand new ones!!
Boy, Snow, Bird
, which has been on my wishlist for a while now .. and I found it for $5.99 at Barnes & Noble! Plus, I had a coupon for another 15% off, not to mention my B&N membership 10%, so overall, it was a good price ;)

Description from Amazon: In the winter of 1953, Boy Novak arrives by chance in a small town in Massachusetts looking, she believes, for beauty—the opposite of the life she’s left behind in New York. She marries Arturo Whitman, a local widower, and becomes stepmother to his winsome daughter, Snow.

A wicked stepmother is a creature Boy never imagined she’d become, but elements of the familiar tale of aesthetic obsession begin to play themselves out when the birth of Boy’s daughter, Bird, who is dark-skinned, exposes the Whitmans as light-skinned African-Americans passing for white. And even as Boy, Snow, and Bird are divided, their estrangement is complicated by an insistent curiosity about one another. In seeking an understanding that is separate from the image each presents to the world, Boy, Snow, and Bird confront the tyranny of the mirror to ask how much power surfaces really hold.

Dazzlingly inventive and powerfully moving, Boy, Snow, Bird is an astonishing and enchanting novel. With breathtaking feats of imagination, Helen Oyeyemi confirms her place as one of the most original and dynamic literary voices of our time.

And I could NOT resist buying City of Mirrors, the 3rd in the Passage Trilogy...


Description in Spoiler (and I haven't even read most of it yet) because it's all kinds of spoiler if you haven't finished the 1st two yet! Description from Amazon: The world we knew is gone. What world will rise in its place?

The Twelve have been destroyed and the terrifying hundred-year reign of darkness that descended upon the world has ended. The survivors are stepping outside their walls, determined to build society anew—and daring to dream of a hopeful future.

But far from them, in a dead metropolis, he waits: Zero. The First. Father of the Twelve. The anguish that shattered his human life haunts him, and the hatred spawned by his transformation burns bright. His fury will be quenched only when he destroys Amy—humanity’s only hope, the Girl from Nowhere who grew up to rise against him.

One last time light and dark will clash, and at last Amy and her friends will know their fate.

>77 avanders: Both of those are on my radar. Let me know what you think of them when you get to them?

>64 avanders: - Nice list - I've read a few of those. Blindness was particularly interesting. Have you read any by him before?

>78 enemyanniemae: definitely will do! It will take me a while to get to City of Mirrors (my mom has it right now.. and I intend to reread the 1st and 2nd before reading the 3rd), but hopefully I'll find time to get to Boy, Snow, Bird before too long.. ;)

>79 LittleTaiko: I've only read Death with Interruptions by Saramago... I quite enjoyed it, though his writing style takes some adjusting to... I like my paragraphs broken up a bit more ;)

Oh I just found this and wanted to post it... I think we can all relate.... ;) (it's about buying "too many" books...)

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/7040...

>81 avanders: Oh my, I think somebody spied on me and followed me. But how did they get into my head?

>81 avanders: Aye yi yi... says the lady who just got home from an annual book fair and effectively wiped out all her progress of ROOTing. *loud and heavy sigh*

>81 avanders: Great article! I too am notorious for killing time in bookstores and wandering out with books, although I find it easier to resist when I'm at the big chain bookstore, Chapters, which has more knick-knacks than books, and more "popular" books than "interesting" ones.

>81 avanders: I love that.

Two phrases I particularly liked from the article:

"...there's something about putting them in a row with other books, read and unread, that creates the cumulative impression of your reading self."

"A library of mostly unread books is far more inspiring than a library of books already read."

>81 avanders: and 85 Thank you for that great link, Aletheia! It is eminently quotable.

Here are the two I had picked out before looking at what Jackie posted:

"And you have read all these books, Monsieur France?" "Not one-tenth of them. I don't suppose you use your Sevres china every day?"

I almost like the second sentence better on this one:

"A library of mostly unread books is far more inspiring than a library of books already read. There's nothing more exciting than finishing a book, and walking over to your shelves to figure out what you're going to read next."

Is this person a teenager? I don't see how an adult with only 371 books can have this 'problem' :-)

Great article about book buying problem, Aletheia. (>87 Robertgreaves: I agree, 371 is not what I would consider a problem). I liked the line "A library of mostly unread books is far more inspiring than a library of books already read." If that is true then my own personal library is very inspiring (and way, way more than 371 unread books!)

>87 Robertgreaves: I know, I read the start of the article thinking wow they obviously have a huge problem, then saw the number 371 (which isn't that much more than my own TBR count) and did a double take! They've obviously not joined this group if they think that's so outrageous :D

>86 karenmarie: I nearly included the second sentence too!

>87 Robertgreaves: I noticed the relative small "library" too.

>89 Jackie_K: Great minds, Jackie!

>371 not the big times, surely!

>87 Robertgreaves: Yeah, I was relating to that article, until he said that his out-of-control book collection was 371 volumes, and then I just sort of wanted to pat him on the head and say, "That's cute." :)

>82 Tess_W: lol, right?!

>83 enemyanniemae: hee hee, it happens to the best of us ;)

>84 rabbitprincess: I can see that that wouldn't hold as much appeal. I like the knick-knacky stores too.. but bookier places probably do hold more sway for me too :)

>85 Jackie_K: Yes - I love both those phrases too!

>86 karenmarie: lol I thought that response was perfect ;)
And yes, I agree w/ your bolded portion as well!

>87 Robertgreaves: and >88 Familyhistorian: you know, I got the impression they were early 20's.. had a roommate that seemed to be more friend/acquaintance, and only 371 books ;)
And I have the same .. situation. A very inspiring library w/ many more than 371 books ...

>89 Jackie_K: lol we should invite him or her! ;) (I got the impression it was a she for some reason.. maybe because I'm a she and I was reading it?)

>92 bragan: lolol right? That's a decent collection, but certainly not out-of-control...

>81 avanders: Stealing that link for my Dutch book club!

>87 Robertgreaves: I was thinking the same thing Robert. How can you only have 371 books? And be 63 years or so.

>93 avanders: I got the 'she impression' too.

I love all the quotes especially the one about the Sevres china. I can use that!

>94 connie53: the article probably serves as a good "public interest message" -- The More You Know -- teaching our less booky friends about our "problems" ;)

Hi Aletheia! Just dropping by to say hi and happy Wednesday.

Hello & Happy Wednesday to you too!

>81 avanders: fun article!

>86 karenmarie: There's nothing more exciting than finishing a book, and walking over to your shelves to figure out what you're going to read next
So true! In fact, I'm likely to give in to the excitement and begin a new one before I've finished the prior one(s!).

>98 detailmuse: Hi MJ! I used to keep several books going, then stopped for years and years while daughter was small and I was super busy. Now, 3 months into retirement, I find that I'm reading multiple books and starting new ones just out of sheer excitement, just like you.

>98 detailmuse: Same here. My eyes and mind start wandering along the shelves before I finished the one I'm currently reading. I'm doing that now!

>100 connie53: Sometimes anticipation of the next book spoils the book I'm actually reading.

>100 connie53:
>101 Robertgreaves:

Ditto for me, I started dreaming of my next book about half way through my current read!

And me too. I'm mentally leaping to the next and impatient for the current to end. Bad.

It is a risk, admittedly. And, in fact, I had recently started Lexicon and gotten about halfway through. Then, I got interested in Outlander and am currently on book 7 of 8. I finally put Lexicon back on my shelves. I want to finish it, but will probably have to start it over again.

>98 detailmuse: glad you enjoyed! :)

>99 karenmarie: through >104 karenmarie: I love to go into the Book Nook and peruse the shelves, even while I'm in the middle of a book, but I try to read only one type of book at a time... i.e., 1 fiction, 1 cookbook, 1 non-fiction, etc. Sometimes I end up reading more than 1 at once, though.. I used to read multiples at a time, but I found that I actually prefer focusing on one at a time and then, yes, the joy of picking the next book is heightened for me by that experience ;)

And I agree w/ you, Robert, if I have my eye too firmly attached to the next book, it makes my experience reading the current book worse. Which is what I'm definitely presently experiencing!!

>104 karenmarie: I have done that w/ a few books over the years... and I hate it! Usually, by the time I actually get back to a book that I've put on the shelves, I have the slightly unpleasant experience of having to re-read a book so I remember the details, but being a little frustrated because I kind of already know it.... So when that happens, these days, I try to put the "I didn't quite finish you" book either on bedside stand, so I read it SOON, or in the give away pile... like, if I don't like it enough to read it soon? It's probably time to let it go.... :)

Also, I read The Composer is Dead, a murder mystery for .. kids? It's like a board book, but of course deals with a murder mystery. BUT it's not gruesome at all. Just funny/detective'y. I didn't love the book... but I decided to listen to the CD that came along w/ it too, which is an audio narration of the book by the author (Snicket) as WELL as a lot of orchestral music. I am actually quite enjoying that. :)

I'm still reading the ER A Curious Beginning, which I definitely do not love. Hopefully I will finish it soon so I can move on!

And I'm listening to A Tale for the Time Being still, which I am enjoying, but... I'm ready for it to move a little more quickly (... which is why I sped up the reading to 1.75x speed)

Then on the bedside shelf is Sea of Silver Light (Otherland 4).....

Happy Friday everyone!!

So... there was a library book sale. And I succumbed.


1. The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2005
2. Inkdeath
3. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet
4. French Women Don't Get Fat
5. Song of Susannah (accidental duplicate)
6. The Diamond Age
7. Unaccustomed Earth
8. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
9. The Wastelands
10. Odd Apocalypse
11. Remember Me (bought as gift for someone)
12. A Swiftly Tilting Planet
13. The Twits (getting kids books for 25 cents at these sales is the best way to gather a kids' collection :))
14. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
15. The Wind in the Willows
16. Perilous Gard (accidental duplicate)
17. Kristy and the Secret of Susan
18. Brief History of Time
19. Indian in the Cupboard
20. Wind in the Door
21. Witch of Blackbird Pond
22. ttfn
23. Dark Tower

Spent ... $16 or $17 on the above, total...
I also bought some other books for my mom & 12 or 13 of babysitters club little sister for my friend's kid :)

The Twits is gross and hilarious, which makes it a good read for children ;) Looks like you had a good haul!

>107 avanders: LOL, nice haul!

>107 avanders: Library sales are so much fun. Of course you had to succumb! Good haul.

>107 avanders: Oooh, that is an excellent book haul.

Nice haul, Ava! And you got the Jacob de Zoet book! Great read.

>108 rabbitprincess: lol gross and hilarious - sounds perfect for kids! ;)

>109 Tess_W: :D I thought so!

>110 karenmarie: they really are!

>111 bragan: it was especially nice getting the last of the Dark Tower books that I didn't have so can (re)read the whole series now! (someday...)

>112 connie53: yeah! I thought of you when I found it :)

Okay, since last checking in, I read the 2 Snicket kids books, 29 myths on the Swinster Pharmacy and 13 words,
.

both of which were really for me... cute, but not amazing.

And I also read his other 2 books, Horseradish: bitter truths you can't avoid and Lemony Snicket: the unauthorized autobiography
.

both of which were books for me, filing in the universe nicely :)
All 4 of those were library books that I read pretty quickly...

I also finished the NetGalley ER A Curious Beginning
.

which I did not particularly enjoy. What a tiresome heroine, hero, and relationship. :P I will need to actually write a review, since it's an early reviewer, but for now, suffice it to say it was a book for me.

I also finished A Tale for the Time Being


which I listened to on audio, read by the author herself, Ruth Ozeki. I understand that the written version has annotations and other nice things that are worth seeing, but that the audio is read by the author which allows us to know exactly how she intended it and ALSO read in partial Japanese and French (which she then translated), which I loved. SO I think I do want to take a gander at the physical copy, but for now, was very pleased w/ the audio. I definitely enjoyed Nao's story more (a 16-year-old Japanese girl who moved from California, where she was raised, to Tokyo, and struggles greatly but also learns many life lessons from her own experiences, her father's struggles, and her great grandmother's love and wisdom. I thought Ruth's story (she's the sort of narrator, and I believe this is partially autobiographical) wasn't as compelling by a long shot, but it was okay, and there were parts I enjoyed, including, of course, her investigation of Nao's life. I also liked Haruki #1's story and, of course, Jiko (her great grandmother). Overall, a lovely read, definitely recommended.

And I also listed to the novella, The Case of the Missing Lady, by Agatha Christie.


This was pretty funny and I'm glad I found it :) Not anything crazy, but certainly enjoyable. I think it was maybe a half hour audio book?

I also finished a regular (non-chunky) ROOT, which was also my RL book group for July, The Mirage


by Matt Ruff, one of my favorite authors. I REALLY enjoyed this book and thought he did a GREAT job with the story and the back-story ... and I'll say much more later.

SO that leaves me reading:
- Our Souls at Night, a library book, yes, but I want to read it because it's a Tournament of the Books book and quite short - I assume I can get through it pretty quickly :)
- This Census-Taker by China Miéville on audio ... very weird and interesting so far...
- Sea of Silver Light (Otherland #4), which I'm not very far in, but as soon as I finish Our Souls at Night....

>114 avanders: Good! You liked A Tale for the Time Being Four stars is good!

>113 avanders: I've had the first four (I think) Dark Tower books sitting on my shelves forever and ever and ever, and somehow I keep not getting around to reading them. One of these days...

>115 connie53: yes! I really did like it and definitely recommend it! I've already requested the physical copy from the library, so I can peruse it while the story is still fresh in my head :)

>116 bragan: I think a big series like that can be intimidating! But having read the first 5 already (years ago), I at least know that I quite enjoy them and they read pretty quickly... Even so... "one of these days" is probably most accurate ;)

>114 avanders: My goodness, Aletheia! You've been very busy on the book front. Congratulations.

I have Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography on my shelves - I'll be interested in hearing what you have to say about it.

>118 karenmarie: it looks more impressive than it is, what with so many of those being kids books ;)
Hmm... I assume you've read the Unfortunate Events series? Assuming so, this unauthorized biography "fills in holes".. meaning. ... well, I don't want to spoil it. If you haven't read the series, ignore this. If you have, the series really shows that, although the Baudelaires' story is interesting, it's not the mystery that becomes so engaging... that is the mystery of Lemony Snicket himself. So, the unauthorized autobiography offers more in his story, continuing in the same vein of everything being shrouded in mystery and nothing being altogether clear once it's all said and done.. I haven't read Beatrice's Letters yet, but I mean to. I imagine there's more coming... :)
If you haven't read the series yet... be sure to read those before you read the autobiography!

>119 avanders: Well, I've only read 8 of the 13 books about the Baudelaires. Daughter and I enjoyed the series as far as we got with it, I kept acquiring books, but we never finished. Should I finish the series? Should I read the autobiography? Inquiring minds want to know!

>120 karenmarie: lol sorry I couldn't say more ;)
Since you were enjoying the books, I think you should finish the series (won't take you too long) and THEN read the unauthorized autobiography... :)
The series develops in an interesting way... you learn a lot in those last 5 books ;)

>114 avanders: Really need to try again with A Tale for the Time Being. I was enjoying it and got distracted. Probably because it's an e-book. I have a much easier time ignoring those books.

>122 LittleTaiko: I hate it when that happens! There are several books I "need to get back to"... which, at this point, means start over from the beginning ;P
And I completely agree.. way easier to ignore e-books!

So a few updates:
BOOKS
Since last checking in, book-wise, I have finished 3 books..
Well, the first, The Princess and the Pea, is hardly a book. It's really a short story, but written by Diane Setterfield, whose Thirteenth Tale I absolutely loved. The Princess and the Pea is a cute little retelling of the classic tale.

I also listened to This Census-Taker by China Miéville, a short-ish novel. It was a rough start for me, with an... Irish reader? But once I became familiar with the cadence and reading style, I quite enjoyed the book. It's dark and weird, like much of Miéville's stuff, and definitely made me glad I have more of his books on my shelve. :)

And I read Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf, which was a Tournament of the Books book for this year... It was another quick one (under 200 pages) and started out very quickly (read the first half in one easy sitting). I thought it dragged a little after that point, but then it picked back up. It seems more a "day in the life of..." type of a story than an actual novel with a climax, but it was well done and showed the perspective of the main characters, two lonely elderly people, quite well. It was also heartbreaking in many ways. Most ways. Really, what I'm trying to say is, it is good but sad.

ALSO, I've modified my goal for this year.... see details in the 1st post of this thread :)
Click here: >1 avanders:

LIFE
We have very early good news re pregnancy... (YAY!). Trying not to be nervous or anxious about the potential for a miscarriage... and praying that this pregnancy doesn't end in one..
Very exciting but weird time!!

And I'll be heading out on a long road trip/work trip soon, so probably won't have much of a presence around here (if at all) until mid-July...

So, meanwhile, Happy Reading All!

>124 avanders: Oh, I'm keeping everything crossed for you that your early pregnancy works out! Come on little thing, you hang on in there and keep on growing! xx

>124 avanders: - that's great news. All fingers crossed for you and the little one!

>124 avanders: Aletheia - positive thoughts and prayers to you at this time. Good luck with the road trip/work trip too. Take good care of your self!!!

Best of luck, Aletheia.

>124 avanders: Excellent books and LIFE update! Wishing you every good thing!

Best of luck, Aletheia. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

better than best wishes!!

Just catching up. Wow! That's some book haul.

Praying for you on the real life update for peace and health!

Take care and enjoy your trip! See you when you get back :)

Best wishes for you and your family!

>124 avanders: Glad to hear you've enjoyed so many of the books you've read lately! Wishing you the best on the personal front :).

Best of luck with everything!!

Such good news! I hope you feel al right and everything is going well!

I hope things are going well for you, Aletheia! Sending positive thoughts and best wishes.

Hope all is well and you are enjoying your travels!

Everything okay, Ava? I hope to hear from you soon.

Hi Ava, missing you and hoping all is well.

>140 connie53: and >141 Tess_W: - what Connie and Tess said!

Just catching up with your thread, Ava and reading your news. I hope everything is well with you.

Still missing you and hoping you're doing well.

Yes Ava - hope that you know that you are missed, and will be welcomed back with open arms! Your LT things are thinking of you x

We are indeed. Hope all is well--look after yourself.

>145 Jackie_K: LT things? I meant friends! I think my mind is in outer space at the moment! :D

Ava, get back to us soon. We really do miss you.

Missing you, Ava!

First, I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who gave me well wishes and good thoughts and wishes and prayers! And THANK YOU for everyone being so sweet and kind and I've missed you all!!
Second, I can't BELIEVE it's been TWO MONTHS?! I've been exHAUSTED.. and that is my only excuse. I have thought OFTEN of you all and, again, I have missed you!! But I couldn't even pull up the computer to read/type anything... I've just had to satisfy myself w/ my assumptions that you were all doing quite well ;)

Also, that road trip was SO exhausting, but we survived (barely at moments!!). I will be doing a write-up of it for the organization's newsletter ... if there's anything interesting of note, I'll copy portions of it here ;)

But the best update to report is baby is still doing well!!
I'll be 14 weeks this Thursday, so we're out of the hardest period :D
And here's a pic!



I know.. it looks like every other ultrasound at ~12 1/2 weeks.... but now it's *mine* ;)
Also, I know many of you know this already, but that first trimester is so. much. more. exhausting than I remotely anticipated. And now I'm finally almost through it!!

Work has been very very busy as well, so it's been work, eat and try not to be sick, and sleep. That's pretty much been my life these past couple months... nothing missed really ;) I haven't even been able to read much... But I've read a little .. I'll update the trackers and lists shortly...
I'm very much looking forward to reading more again and having hopefully lots of amazing fall weather to read in ;)

So, last of all, I just want to say HELLO and THANK YOU for your kind thoughts and words & hopefully I'll be more present in this next trimester :)

PS >147 Jackie_K: lol an understandable slip ;)

Okay book stuffs all updated...
I only acquired 7 TBRs in July & August (that's pretty good for me ;))
1. The Vegetarian
2. Lost in Austen
3. Mayhem at the Orient Express
4. Seveneves
5. Book of Speculation
6. Bats of the Republic
7. Sepulchre

And I also bought Against All Grain: Meals Made Simple, a cookbook for my permanent collection :)

Otherwise, I've met my overall "read" goal for 2016 (60 books)...
am JUST on scheduled for my group ROOT goal for 2016 (30 ROOTs)...
and way behind on my unofficial Chunkster ROOT goal for 2016 (12 chunksters) -- at only 4 chunksters so far ;p
Ah well, I can blame it on pregnancy ;)

Yay! You're back and 14 weeks and the baby looks gorgeous!

I'm so happy for you!!!!!

And I just finished reading Seveneves and recommend it highly.

And blame away! Pregnancy definitely takes it out of you.

Ooh, it's so good to see you back! And hello little baby, I bet mummy's reading to you already! :)

If I remember rightly the second trimester was when I had the most energy (by the third I was too big to be energetic!). I also remember starting to feel human again from about 15 weeks, not needing to go to bed within an hour of getting home from work, and being able to eat more than crackerbread without wanting to barf. Hopefully your experience will be similar, which would mean you'll start feeling better by the end of the week! (fingers crossed!)

Welcome back, it's great to see you again!

Good to read you again, Ava. What a lovely little baby! As a new grandmother I can feel what you must have felt when seeing the baby for the first time.

Take good care of your self and the little one!

Love and hugs!

So good to see you back and know that you are doing well, Ava.

>150 avanders: You know, I think I somehow missed out on the well-wishes leaving above, so let me correct that immediately. As I said on my own thread, it's very nice to see you again, and I'm so delighted to hear the small growing thing is doing well! I hope you're feeling some relief from the exhaustion soon.

>151 avanders: How was The Vegetarian, by the way? It's one of those books I keep eying, but can't decide whether it's something I actually want to read or not.

Welcome back! I saw you'd been making the rounds so came straight here to see how you were doing :) Very glad to hear the good news! Hope you get your appetite and energy back soon and that you have some awesome books to keep you and baby company this fall!

Glad to hear you're both doing well. Exhaustion is just God's way of saying, "Sleep while you can!!!" LOL :)

Take care of yourself (ves)!

Welcome back. Good to hear pregnancy is going well.

Welcome back and thanks for sharing the good news. Take care of yourself!

Welcome back! And don't feel bad about being exhausted - you're making a human, that's hard work.

>152 karenmarie: thank you! :D
Awesome re Seveneves -- I can't wait to get to it!

>153 Jackie_K: Thanks! singing and reading are probably going to be very big parts of baby's development ;)
That's what I keep hearing... that magical 2nd trimester--- can't wait!

>154 connie53: & likewise :)
Yes, it's so crazy and wonderful! Hearing the heartbeat, seeing it kick and dance around... very cool! :)
xo

>155 Familyhistorian: Thank you :) I really couldn't believe how long it'd been...

>156 bragan: lol well thank you! Starting to feel some relief.... very ready for that 2nd trimester energy I keep hearing about ;P
Oh, The Vegetarian.... it's intense and heartbreaking and so good and so sad. It's definitely a difficult read.. but I thought the author did such a great job of developing realistic characters... the story is told in 3 parts, 1 from the woman's husband, one from her brother-in-law, and one from her sister. You hear very little from her own perspective (limited snippits in the 1st part)... but the responses from the characters and their own psychological battles develop her character surprisingly well. Overall, I gave it 4 stars, not 5, because even though it was so good... it just didn't happen to be one of those books that "blew me away." But it's a very strong 4 stars :)

>157 rabbitprincess: Thank you! Doing much better ;)
I seem to already be getting my appetite back... not sure I want to get it ALL the way back...... ;)
Also, have you heard of a book company (publisher?) called Usborne (website here)? My friend sells their books and I just bought a couple last night... they look really cool for little kids, so I'm hoping their quality is good :)

>158 avidmom: lol! That's a good point and I really need to follow his command!! ;)

>159 Robertgreaves: Thank you!

>160 MissWatson: thanks & of course! Am trying.....

>161 jen.e.moore: thank you! I know, it's so weird to think of it that way! I'm .... building... a little person... inside. So crazy!! I always thought it was the most normal and natural thing in the world... until I got pregnant ;) It's so cool.. and weird.. and cool.. :)

>162 avanders: Thanks! The Vegetarian is definitely going on my wishlist, then.

I hope the fabled 2nd trimester brings all the renewed energy you are hoping for. :)

Well! Wonderful that the baby is doing well (and you soon will be!). Welcome back, and happy reading and sleeping.

Excited at your happy status!

A Facebook friend sells Usborne books and I've participated in a fundraiser she did to donate books+stuffed animals to a Ronald McDonald House. She's very excited about the books and I've been curious to hear another opinion, am eager for yours.

So nice to see you back! Also good to hear everything's going well with the baby. I know.. it looks like every other ultrasound at ~12 1/2 weeks.... but now it's *mine* ;) I had to laugh at that :). Congratulations!

And, hmmm...The Vegetarian. Sounds intriguing, maybe.

Hi, Ava and welcome back!

Happy to hear that everything is going well.

You definitely liked The Vegetarian more than I did. For me, everyone's reactions to her were so unrealistic that it just didn't work for me. The section from the sisters perspective was the only one I thought worked.

Congratulations and glad you are back! I'm not sure we've officially "met", but I am looking forward to getting to know you :-)

>163 bragan: I hope you enjoy it .. will definitely look forward to your thoughts!
& thanks.. me too! So far, it is better!

>164 ipsoivan: thank you! Ha ha, happy sleeping.. I need that ;P

>165 detailmuse: Thanks! Very cool - I'll update once I receive the books :)

>166 readingtangent: thank you! lol yeah, I've always thought early ultrasounds all kind of look the same... but it really does feel different when it's yours! :)

>167 Tess_W: thank you!

>168 LittleTaiko: Thanks! I can definitely see that perspective on The Vegetarian .. Although I think the other perspectives/reactions were extreme, I think they're feasible. Of course, this from the jaded lawyer who reads cases about the worst of people all day, every day ;p So take that w/ a grain of salt! :)

>169 Sace: Thank you! & Likewise :)

I was really disappointed with our early ultrasound picture! The scan was great, and we saw everything in lots of detail on the screen, but then when she went to take the pictures our little monster decided to move at that exact second, and so the picture was so blurred you couldn't even really tell which end the head was! When we had the 20 week scan I mentioned this, and they took a couple of photos of her then for me which were much clearer!

Great anecdote. Ours was a lovely crisp profile that she actually resembled when she came out. She did look like she was waving.

Our daughter looked like a peanut in the ultrasound, so that's what we called her for a while. Peanut.

My daughter apparently looked like a boy...until the next ultrasound. That was almost 30 years ago though and I couldn't make anything out. Apparently neither could the tech.

Good to have you back, kiddo! Hope things are going well for you.

>174 Sace: Ultrasounds made 30 or more years ago were not that great. I had the same experience with my two pregnancies.

>171 Jackie_K: lol the babies move when they want to move, don't they ;) My docs couldn't get any NT-Scan information because he kept squiggling ... and we went twice! But no worries, we got all the info we needed through all the other things I've been doing w/ the docs (so many doctor appointments!)

>172 ipsoivan: so cute!

>173 karenmarie: makes sense ;) I had a friend who called hers Bean for the same reason ;)

>174 Sace: Honestly, when I see ultrasound pics these days, I can hardly tell what's going on if I'm not told... there's a lot of information there, but I guess you have to understand what you're looking at! In the picture I have of my baby's "arms/hands".. well, I can't see them at all ;p

>175 enemyanniemae: thank you! Things are going quite well.. though sometimes the sick lingers ... ;-\

>176 connie53: interesting.. I'd love to see a comparison!

Also, life update... we now know...

I'm 17 weeks along now, but because the information came via a blood test/chromosomal analysis, we know "for sure" that it's a boy :)

2nd trimester has definitely been better than 1st, but I'm still waiting for that magical burst of energy? At least most days I'm mostly "normal" ;)

I'm glad things are going well, Aletheia!

We switched from Peanut to Burpee Louise when I started having indigestive issues (read: able to produce amazing burps/belches). Burpee is obvious, and for a while I was toying with Louise as a middle name for a girl. I didn't know she was a girl, but was convinced she was a girl except for one two-week period when I thought I was going to have a boy.

It's all good. :)

And re books.. I have actually been reading! At least, a little...
I finished Cravings -- which is a cookbook, but also includes a lot of anecdotes and sass-talk from super-model Chrissy Teigen
I loved it and I have so far loved every recipe i've tried... an easy

I also read The Other Einstein, an early reviewer for BookReporter.com ... which I'm also counting as a ROOT bc I've... erm, had it for a while. :-o
It's a novelization/fictionalization of the story of Einstein's wife - who she was, how she met Einstein, and how much she contributed to his successes while her own achievements were pushed back because of her unfortunate "female" status. I really enjoyed this.. particularly the parts that focused on her friendships at the school in Zurich where she met Einstein. I understand some people are put off by the author's failure to include more science or math discussion, but I read it more as a story, not as an educational piece. I understand that the author took MANY liberties -- so I believe it was never intended to be "educational." Just a theory of how maybe their life could have been. Also, Einstein is NOT depicted in a positive light in the book.. so if that will bother some, best to stay away ;)


Then while I was traveling (to Chicago for baby sister's wedding!), I read Mayhem on the Orient Express (no touchstone?? by Kylie Logan), a cozy mystery that was JUST what I want from a cozy mystery, , and The Third Twin, which was a YA Thriller that I read very quickly and quite enjoyed for its speed, mystery, and intrigue, .

I'm currently reading another cozy mystery (it is, after all, fall ;)): Pumpkin Picking with Murder, which is pretty good.. it's not the first in a series, but there's enough information for me to not feel lost despite the fact that I didn't read the earlier book(s). I've also finally started listening to Timeline again and am alllllmost done.....

Other than that.. I have Sea of Silver Light on my bedside stand and I WILL finish that this year.... and I have to read Dark Matter -- my last ER!!

Yay for FALL and READING!!

>179 karenmarie: lol! Burpee Louise is fantastic! Our little guy is still called Piggy because he seems to always be hungry..... ;)

Looks like you've been getting some good reads there in the midst of Life Stuff!

I don't remember us giving our baby a name when I was pregnant. We didn't know the gender through the pregnancy, so I think mainly we just referred to her as 'Baby' (we're so imaginative. All our daughter's soft toys are similarly imaginatively named. Bear, Elephant, Caterpillar, Dog etc!). My husband did suggest we refer to the baby as 'A', as both our girl and boy names began with A, but I didn't want to tell anyone in advance the names we'd chosen, as I wanted the baby to be the first to know, so I thought if we even told people that much they'd start probing more! :)

Lots of good reading, Aletheia! Piggy works too.

Hi Jackie! We didn't know the gender either, although I had an amniocentesis and the doctor's office knew. They kept the secret so that we found out when she was born. She's 23 now, and her favorite soft animal, which she still keeps on her bed and who travels when she travels, is called Spotty Little Leopard. I don't have a pic of him, but he was a gift from husband's mother and was the first thing she responded to with a true laugh. He's light turquoise with dark turquoise spots. We may have named one or two others, but they're either packed away or given away.

>178 avanders: Exciting! :D

Wow, a boy! My first was a boy too. And I loved the idea. Because I always wanted an older brother. So if my second would be a girl (and it was) she was sure she had an older brother to watch over her (which he did several times)

>178 avanders: Yay, congrats! I think a little boy would be so much fun, but maybe that's because so far all I have is goddaughters and a niece :). Not that they aren't wonderful, but...someone among my friends and family really needs to have a boy ;).

>180 avanders: Glad you've been enjoying your reads! Pumpkin Picking With Murder sounds like a perfect "pick" (heh) for this time of year. And I love that picture of the girl reading outdoors.

Congrats, Ava, I'm "partial" to boys--having 2 and 4 grandsons. (and one wee granddaughter!)

A boy! Congrats! I don't want to be a downer, but I never got that energy either. :-/

I just love that fall reading picture. And thanks for the mystery reviews. Maybe it's the season, but I've been craving a mystery.

And I didn't congratulate you on knowing that you've got a boy!!!

Congratulations. I'm very happy for you and your husband.

Yay! Boys are awesome. I have two of 'em.

Practical too, cause when they get bigger they can lift heavy stuff and reach the stuff on the taller shelves in the house. ;)

Take care of yourself (ves)!

Are you having any cravings yet?

Hi Aletheia - just dropped by to say hi and hope things are going well for you.

Hi Aletheia--know you are crazy busy--hope you get some r&r.

Hi Ava/Aletheia. I hope everything is going well with you! Thinking of you.

Thinking of you, Aletheia!

Hope all's well! :)

>182 Jackie_K: Trying... My reading has slowed even more recently, but trying to pick it back up again ;)
lol I'm often the same way w/ naming things... I call almost all dogs "doggie" ;)

>183 karenmarie: wow, impressive that the doctor's office kept it a secret -- I'm constantly hearing about how the doctor/nurse/tech. slipped up ... that would be such a bummer if you wanted to wait and someone accidentally told you!

>184 rabbitprincess: Yeah! :D

>185 connie53: .. you know, I always wanted an older brother too! Now we just need a 2nd to be a girl... ;)

>186 readingtangent: lol I'm sure that affects your perspective .... we have lots of girls around (me and my two sisters, plus my husband has only a sister)... it's so crazy that we're about to ... grow the family. All of this is still so bizarre to me sometimes!!

>187 Tess_W: thanks! I think my husband is fully adjusted, but I'm still adjusting to the whole thing.... ;p

>188 Sace: lol I hear that from a lot of people, actually... FORtunately, although I never got the magical burst, I definitely got back to "normal" and, with some motivation added in there to get house things done, it might look like "extra" ;) (see bottom of this post)
I know, I'm the same way in the fall - love reading mysteries! And in winter.... :)

>189 karenmarie: lol no worries & thanks! :D

>190 avidmom: lol very good point! And given my 5'2" height, however tall he ends up being will be helpful :) (husband is 6'2" so there's quite the possible range there...)
Cravings? Not so much... salt is the closest. But I have plenty of aversions. I often just don't want to eat, but I do .... but it's annoying sometimes ;p

>191 karenmarie: >192 Tess_W: >193 connie53: >194 karenmarie: >195 Jackie_K: and THANK YOU for checking in and, yes, exhausted, but doing well :)
I started to feel MUCH better after month 4... I still get insanely tired earlier than I'm used to (like.... 730/8 most nights), but daytimes feel closer to normal... some days are even actually normal ;)

Overall update
I've been doing a LOT to get the house ready... well, first, in October, my mom and I spent several weekends helping my sister get HER house set up so that she would get the rest of her stuff out of OUR house, which was all stored in what is to be the nursery... and that was a lot of work! THEN last weekend we focused on my Imagination room... As I explained on someone else's thread:

I recently split up my books: What used to be my "book nook" (you can see pics in my member gallery on my profile page) is becoming a parlor of sorts... it still has 3 bookshelves in there on 1 wall, but we're putting the liquor cabinet and "china" (my tea sets) in there along w/ the "piano" (electronic) and 4 chairs & a coffee table... then the living room has 2 large'ish shelves...

and then I moved the rest upstairs into what I'm calling the Imagination Room (which is the room I had painted in Dr. Seuss theme), which serves as a craft room/art room/play room/reading room... 2 pics (just 2 different perspectives using the panoramic feature):





So last weekend, we unpacked the boxes, moved furniture, set it up, etc. And it's done! YAY! (except I need 2 more lamps in there)
And a couple weeks ago, I also set up the office (home office for my husband) / guest room, so that's also done.

All that's left is the nursery itself.. that's delayed because when my husband pulled the baseboards to paint, he saw we had (gasp) black mold!
Fortunately, it's not much, it's very contained (we do live in the dessert), and will be relatively easy to fix... and best of all, homeowners insurance will cover mold fixing, painting the room, AND recarpeting!! (aside from our deductible, of course).. so that's even better news! Once we have the go-ahead from the insurance company, we can move on the nursery. And all we have to do in there is set up this crib (pic below.. I LOVE it!!), get a glider-chair and put it in there, move the dresser/changing table in there, and modestly decorate. So... relatively easy ;)

Crib:

it's a convertible... from a crib to a toddler bed to a full size/day bed :)

So other than all THAT, not much to report ;p
Hadn't read too much, but hoping to start up again now that it's a little cooler and things are largely done in the house...

Don't know if I'll make my ROOT goal this year, but I'll keep trying!

>196 avanders: I LOVE your Imagination Room!! I'd love to do something like that. Your crib is lovely too. Sounds like you have been super busy. And a boy! How wonderful for you and your husband.

My, my, you've been a busy mom-to-be. Congratulations on everything you've accomplished so far.

We had a convertible bed for daughter, which we used through the toddler bed stage and then sold..... I still have the dresser that went with it - it's convertible too, with a changing table top one way and a regular top the other, just switch the drawers. I also still have all her crib sheets, bumper pads, and etc. Just can't bear to get rid of them.

I love the convertible bed and I love your Imagination Room. You're very talented.

>197 enemyanniemae: Thank you! Me too ;D
And yes, super busy, but ... eager! Waiting for March!

>198 karenmarie: lol yes, it feels that way! I need to stop feeling guilty about not doing enough.... ;p
Oooh, interesting, I hadn't heard of a convertible dresser... good idea!
And thank you! I've enjoyed working on all of it, even if I'm a bit exhausted because of it ;)

I am in love with that Imagination room! (And a little jealous.) That crib is lovely!

Such a beautiful world for your little one to arrive in.

You have been very busy, indeed! The rooms look amazing.

Beautiful room!

>200 Sace: >201 Robertgreaves: >202 MissWatson: >203 Tess_W: Thank you!! We're so excited about it all... especially now that we have so much more done... it was starting to feel overwhelming but we feel much more prepared now ;)

>205 This-n-That: Thanks! I was more successful earlier on, but I'm trying not to get too far away from my reading habits! :)

I actually finished another book! :D It was a ROOT and I loved it... Dark Matter by Blake Crouch... Review to come.

I also went to the library clearance sale today ($5 to fill up a grocery paper bag of books!). All things considered, I did quite well. I brought home a handful of duplicates (and I'll pick which ones I want to keep before giving the rest away) & some permanent collection books (i.e., cookbooks), and a handful of novels/non-fiction books...

The list (not listing duplicates):
1. City of Thieves
2. Scarlet
3. The Third Angel
4. The Geographer's Library
5. The Third Bear
6. Fingersmith
7. The Charming Quirks of Others
8. The Right Attitude to Rain
9. Babywise
10. Wheat Belly
11. Freakonomics

Then, permanent collection additions:
12. From Emeril's Kitchens
13. Paula Deen & Friends
14. Baking (Better Homes and Gardens)
15. The Buttercup Bake Shop Cookbook

And also, I bought a brand new book that I've been wanting from a used/new bookstore this morning...
16. The Sixth Extinction

All told? not too shabby for library clearance sale day ;)

Nice haul!

That is a nice haul! Freakonomics is the only one of those I've read (I enjoyed it).

Impressive!!

Good haul, Aletheia!

Like Jackie - Freakonomics is the only one I've read and recommend it highly.

Great haul! Book sales are such fun.

Nice bag o' books you brought home! I've not read a single one but many are titles I have thought about buying.

You guys sound like you are ready to go! Such an exciting time. A friend's daughter recently went to the hospital to induce labor (she wasn't due for another month and her baby is over 8 pounds now). I need to find out whether I have a grand niece or grand nephew. (doesn't matter- ALL babies are grand)

Thanks everyone! I agree .. it was a fun selection! :)
My husband has also read Freakonomics .. glad to hear so many of you have enjoyed it! :)

>213 enemyanniemae: fun! years ago, I thought I would hold out and not find out the gender.. but when it came down to it, I needed to know as soon as possible ;p
And I agree -- niece or nephew, they're all grand! :)

>214 avanders: You sent me in search of my own copy of Frekonomics. There was some panic for a couple days because I couldn't find it, but I did finally located it on the 4th search of the same book closet. :-) Thank you for the reminder about it. It's going to fit well in one of my 2017 categories.

>215 Sace: I hate that panicky feeling when I can't find a book I know I have.

Hi Aletheia!

Have you started acquiring any books for your baby yet?

I'm So Happy For You! Boys are amazing, I have one myself!
From your ultrasound, I'm guessing you're due in....February/Marchish?

Nice book haul! and I loved Dark Matter too!

*note to self: check up on ROOTERS more often :0)

>215 Sace: glad you found it! ;) Hope we both enjoy reading it :)

>216 karenmarie: oh yes, of course ;) I have several volumes from when I was little, plus a whole set of children's stories that I found at Half Price Books a few years ago, and then a whole bunch of other board books & other books for older kids... those are mostly all upstairs in that imagination room :)

>217 Carmenere: lol Thank you! We're pretty excited :D
Yep, due March 2nd :)

Okay, here's my Dark Matter review!


Review based on ARC (Advanced Readers Copy received for free in exchange for an honest review).

I loved this book. I have struggled with reading lately primarily because my focus is so hard to keep... life and what not. But this book kept me trapped in its pages when other failed!

Brief synopsis: (nothing more revealing than what's on the inside jacket cover) Jason Dessen is a physics professor at a small college in Chicago, married to the love of his life and with a beloved teenage boy. One night, he is abducted by a masked stranger and asked if he is happy with his life right before he is knocked unconscious. He awakens to a life he does not recognize, unmarried with no children, but wildly successful in his career. Any more description is essentially spoiler, so I'll leave it at that....

I'd describe this book as a light sci-fi (there are definitely sci-fi elements, but the science itself is pretty light and in no way overwhelms the story), very light horror (just a little dark at times), thriller. It is fast-paced and the concept does not lose intrigue over the events of the story itself. (This is a peeve of mine - when stories drop their fascinating concept in favor of over-characterization or over-describing scenes, etc.) Jason Dessen is relatable and charismatic; his wife is somehow both perfect and quite imperfect in a way that does not grate; and the other characters (who I'll not name so as to not spoil anything) are lovely and well filled in. It is also a love story that is not sappy and, in my opinion, perfectly shows a scientist's split attentions and focus, while still prioritizing the thing that, of course, would matter the most. (no more details ;))

I have already recommended this book to my husband and mother and plan to recommend it to anyone else who thinks it sounds interesting because I think it won't disappoint! Also, very excited for the movie that is supposedly in development! (Note: This is in NO WAY related to the syfy tv series.)

An easy 5 stars from me!

Aaaand my review on Welcome to the Club by Raquel D'Apice


Review based on ARC (Advanced Readers Copy received for free in exchange for an honest review)

This appears to be a blog-turned-into-a-book (and if that's not true, then it certainly reads like one!). I am currently pregnant and read the book as a sort of "welcome" that the title announced. In reality, I think the book would probably be a bit more preferred by people who are already parents, especially those in their first few years of parenting.

What D'Apice essentially does is lay out, in a humorous and often sarcastic way, many "firsts" that new parents experience, such as First Time Baby Accidentally Head-Butts You in the Lip or First Time Your Child Refuses to Eat Something or First Car Ride Alone with the Baby When He's Screaming His Head Off. D'Apice does not generally offer advice, so much as camaraderie. She lets new parents know that all the crazy new stuff they're experiencing is normal, not that crazy, and experienced by others. She thus addresses many new parents' fears and frustrations in a funny, light-hearted way.

I think, for me, although I found it generally humorous and fine, I wasn't really blown away. Although I am a soon-to-be parent, I don't think I'm typical in that I am not really concerned about all these things that could and likely will go wrong... this is likely due to the fact that I'm on the older end of "new parents" and the fact that most of my good friends have children, so I've already "seen it all" (not all, of course, but a lot :)). So, it was enjoyable, a quick read, fine. And I think that a lot of new parents will really appreciate it, but it wasn't my favorite, my most amusing, my most helpful book.

Overall, still, Three and a Half of five stars. Solid and certainly recommended for the new parents who feels overwhelmed and alone.

>219 avanders: Intriguing review, Aletheia, and I've just added it to my wishlist.

Yay baby books!

>221 karenmarie: hope you enjoy! :)

Also, SantaThing is Active!!!
Here's a link ... And for those who don't know what this is, it's essentially a LT-sponsored secret santa book exchange with other LT members (more info if you click on the link). I've done it for years and I love it!!

>222 avanders: Your enthusiasm and that picture made me smile :-)

>223 Sace: lol glad to hear it ;)

So I decided to just read a no-obligation book that I've been wanting to read (that happens to be both a ROOT & a chunkster)... it's A Discovery of Witches - and it's been lovely reading a book for pure enjoyment again :) I'm about a quarter of the way in and quite enjoying it! A few others are sort of languishing on the bedside stand, but I'll get to them, promise......

>222 avanders: Already signed up! I've participated for a good 5 years and have never been disappointed in what others have chosen. (actually reading one that I got last year right now) Definitely would recommend to anyone who might be interested. (saw your profile! And Tess's too!)

Happy Thanksgiving, Aletheia!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!!!

>225 enemyanniemae: I know -- I just love how other people think about my library & thoughts on books :)

>226 karenmarie: and >227 Carmenere: oh, thank you! It's quite a belated response, but Happy Thanksgiving to you both, too!! :)

Well... November wasn't as productive w/ reading as I'd hoped...
I finished just the 2 (that I also reviewed, above, yay!)...

Which leaves me w/ an ambitious December!
All the books I have planned for December are ones I'm already in the process of reading, except for 1, which is supposed to be a fast-paced thriller (here's hoping!)

My plan (in order):

1. Currently reading: A Discovery of Witches (Harkness) (579) (ROOT 27) (CH ROOT 5)

2. Will finish: In Other Rooms, Other Wonders (Mueenuddin) (256) (ROOT 28 & RL Book Group Oct)

3. Hope to finish: Sea of Silver Light (Otherland #4) (Williams) (1072) (ROOT 29) (CH ROOT 6)

4. Plan to finish this massive series that we (Connie, Maggie, and I) all started this year, though I'm the only one who hasn't yet finished!): While the City Slept: A Love Lost to Violence and a Young Man's Descent into Madness (Sanders) (336) (RL Book Group Nov) (audio library book)

5. And this is the one that's supposed to be a fast-paced thriller: All the Little Pieces (Hoffman) (512) (which would be my "ROOTs" GOAL!) ROOT 30 & RL Book Group Feb & (CH ROOT 7)
Ave Page #s read/book in Dec = 551 (total pages 2,755; 88.87 per day)

Wishing you a productive and fun reading month!

Good luck with your reading plans!

Hi Aletheia!

Have fun reading this month. My, my. Four going at once. You're a better man than I am, Charlie Brown! I keep a fiction and a non-fiction going at best.

Happy Friday!

I'm hoping you have a productive, successful December!

Good luck for December reading! You can do it!

Goooooo Aletheia!!!

>230 rabbitprincess: >231 MissWatson: >232 karenmarie: >233 Sace: >234 Jackie_K: >235 Carmenere:
THANKS for all the positive vibes & well wishes!!

>232 karenmarie: lol yes.. I've actually tried to cut down on this (I used to read many books at once), but I find it creeping back in every so often ;)

Ava;
I love the meme. You are just way too cute!~!

>237 rainpebble: lol glad you liked ;)

How are you keeping now? I hope that you are enjoying pregnancy and avoiding the worst of the aches and pains!

Thanks for dropping by, Aletheia. I hope you're doing well!

>239 Jackie_K: >240 MissWatson: thanks for dropping by! Doing pretty well overall -- I do get tired and achy, but I think, at this point, it's pretty good ;) I'm just over 7 months (!!) and can't believe how soon that baby will be here!

As for reading...
I've made a few changes since my last update...
First, I DNF'd While the City Slept: A Love Lost to Violence and a Young Man's Descent into Madness, which was for my RL Book Group, and which I was listening to on audio. It's not bad, but it's not amazing. I probably made it about a third of the way through. But it's a bit long-winded at this point and I know the story... and I've been told by friends that I should probably skip the trial testimony anyway bc of its graphic nature (combined w/ the hypersensitivity during pregnancy that I seem to be experiencing....)... so I stopped. I'm okay with that. I doubt I'll re-pick it up....

I also decided to read a middle-grade trilogy (it was actually supposed to be a much longer series, but I think the publisher decided to stop publishing?) that I've been meaning to get to --- of course, the timing may have been partly motivated by my desire to reach my goal by the end of the year ;) Anyway, I read the first 2 yesterday: The Road to Inconceivable (Abadazad 1), which is ROOT 27 (and I will keep for permanent collection/future kids) and The Dream Thief (Abadazad 2), which is ROOT 28 (again, will keep for permanent collection).

I'm thus reading The Puppet, The Professor, and the Prophet (Abadazad 3), which will be ROOT 29, and I fully expect to finish A Discovery of Witches (Harkness), which will be ROOT 30 and put me at my goal for the year!! (it will also be my 5th chunky root for the year... not so great, but at least I tried!).

I also still hope to finish In Other Rooms, Other Wonders and Sea of Silver Light (Otherland #4).

Hi, Altheia! Glad you are not too uncomfortable! I bet you are getting excited and nervous all in one! It will be an incredible experience! Merry Christmas.

>242 Tess_W: thanks!
Yes actually.... it just kind of hit me yesterday that ... my 17-year relationship w/ my husband is really all going to change....
got a bit nervous about that for the first time! Otherwise generally feeling mostly excited ;)
& Thanks & Merry Christmas to you too!

Book update...

I finished the 3rd book, The Puppet, The Professor, and the Prophet (Abadazad 3), ROOT 29. It was okay, but in any event, disappointing that we will never know how the series ends! (was supposed to be 8-parts, but the original publisher went bankrupt and the 2nd publisher (Disney?) cancelled the series after 3) (again, will keep for permanent collection).

Now back to A Discovery of Witches -- I'm a little more than halfway done. This will be ROOT 30 and put me at my goal for the year!!
I like it okay. I like the story parts much more than the romance parts. So the romance slows me down a bit, but we've finally gotten past one of the longer ones so the "action" is picking back up a little bit again ;)

Now I just need to find that elusive time to read....

Avanders- CONGRATULATIONS!!!! On your pregnancy news! Wow! due in early March. These months are going to fly!

As for reaching your goal-you can do it!

Almost there!

>245 LadyBookworth: Thank you!! I know, I can't believe it's already the end of 2016?!

>246 Tess_W: chugging along.. just like the little engine that could... ;)

Happy holidays to you, Altheia! Am I spelling that correctly, or have I forgotten?

Thanks Tess! Very close.. there's a missing "e" in there ;) (Aletheia)

To all:

A Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice and a Kewl Yule to you and yours, Aletheia

Stopping by to say Happy Holidays!

I hope you have a good Christmas, Ava!

Merry Christmas and wishing you a blissful holiday week!

Ava; you made my day. What a brilliant Christmas card. I love it. Thank you so much and I hope your Christmas was wonderful.
warm & gentle hugs to you............
belva

Hi Aletheia! A Belated Merry Christmas to you. I'm venturing out into the LT world again today, baby steps at first, and am going to draw another line in the sand and go forward on all the threads and friends I haven't had the heart to engage in and with lately. Appropriate oohs and aahs, and congratulations and so sorrys,..... but here's an Early Happy New Year to you and best wishes for all good things in 2017.

>251 Tess_W: >252 Robertgreaves: >253 enemyanniemae: >254 connie53: >255 Carmenere: >256 rainpebble: >256 rainpebble:
Thank you all! I hope your holiday weekends were lovely and calm and wonderful! :)

>257 karenmarie: baby steps are completely understandable & no pressure!
& Likewise for your 2017!

Book update:

I read a cute story that is my friend/her children's favorite book: Juan and the Jackalope
I think it requires a little explaining to *fully* get it (if you don't know some of the New Mexico tales), but it's a fun book all the same :)
(keep for permanent collection)

I also got to page 350 or 400 in A Discovery of Witches when I finally decided I just couldn't anymore... I know it's popular and well-rated, but the romance was ... UGH for me. I won't go into it (unless you're curious) because of potential spoilers.. but rather than just give up without verifying (I wanted to know: should I read this so I can go onto the other books in the trilogy? Does it get better?), I went and found a fully spoiled detailed summary of the book and... verified beyond ANY doubt that I should definitely NOT finish it. So. From what I've read and from what I know, I give it a . Solid premise/idea, poor execution (imho).

BUT with that, I've met my ROOTs GOAL!!!
So excited about THAT!

Now I'm still going to read In Other Rooms, Other Wonders until I can't anymore (we'll see if that happens ;p)
and I will definitely finish Sea of Silver Light (Otherland #4), though I don't know if it will happen by 12/31...

I'm also reading Anywhere at Once, a book I got in my stocking from my sister-in-law, which was written by 106 2nd through 8th graders - adorable. I'm a little less than halfway through that...

PS does anyone know how to *create* a new touchstone for a work? Anywhere at Once doesn't appear to have one associated with it (so I did a regular internet link), but I'd love to create a new one....

Congrats on reaching your target.

>260 avanders: From the WikiHelp

You can also "force" touchstones to a book (or author) by putting in brackets the work number (or author code) and two colons, followed by your text.

I just had to do this on Sunday.

Also, I saw your "Goal reached" post on the December ROOTs thread. It made my day!

Hurray for meeting your goal! Congrats!

>260 avanders: it appears that a touchstone is there for the book in question. Sometimes they "appear" later....has happened to me.

Congrats on reaching your goal!!!

Good morning, Aletheia, and congratulations!

I've dropped books after reading upwards of 300 or 400 pages. Good for you. Too many books, too little time!

Well done on meeting your goal!

Happy New Year! I know this will be a Very Exciting Year for you and I'm happy for you.

Happy New Year, Aletheia, and congrats on reaching your goal :)!

I just added Dark Matter to my wish list. I read Security back in October based on a BB from you and I really liked it. Just wanted to let you know and say thanks.

>261 Ameise1: >262 Sace: >263 rabbitprincess: >265 Carmenere: >266 karenmarie: >267 Jackie_K: >269 readingtangent: Thank you!! :)

>262 Sace: & thanks for the tip! :)

>264 Tess_W: it appears that you're right! ;)

>266 karenmarie: you're very right about the sentiment.. I struggle w/ it ;p

>268 karenmarie: and >269 readingtangent: Happy New Year to you too!

>269 readingtangent: I'm glad you enjoyed Security! Hope you enjoy Dark Matter too :)

And to all:


See y'all in the new 2017 group!