foggidawn reads in 2016, thread 3

Hi, I'm foggi, and this is my sixth year in this group! I'm a children's librarian in a medium-sized Ohio town and a voracious reader. I have eclectic reading tastes, but do read a lot of children's and young adult literature, both for work and because I enjoy it. I usually read about 175 books a year; sometimes TV watching cuts into my reading time, but I like discussing what I watch here, too!

I blog at http://kidlitgeek.blogspot.com -- if you are so inclined, come check it out! I mostly cross-post my book reviews there, but occasionally create new content for the blog that does not appear here.

I managed to go an entire thread without an illustrator spotlight, but I don't want to lose that feature, so here it is, back by . . . well, if not popular demand, at least, by my own whim and caprice!

This thread, I'm featuring Peter McCarty

(From Hondo and Fabian)

What I love about McCarty is his gentle, soft-focus style.


(Also from Hondo and Fabian, because it's my favorite of his books)

Look, even his dinosaurs are cuddly!


(From T is for Terrible)

His more recent work features brighter colors and more defined lines, but retains that lovely look of softness.

(From Henry in Love)

I actually got to meet Peter McCarty about ten years ago, and not just in a book-signing line. When I was in grad school (how is it even possible that was ten years ago?!?) we hosted an event where McCarty was one of the featured speakers, and in the evening, after the official events were through, he spent some time hanging out with the grad students. He's a great guy, very humble and down-to-earth, despite being very obviously a talented and award-winning illustrator. If you're not familiar with McCarty's work, get thee to a library or bookstore and check it out!

Books read and reviewed on my previous thread:

1. The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas by Madeleine L'Engle
2. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
3. Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix
4. The Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass
5. Immaculate by Katelyn Detweiler
6. Waylon! One Awesome Thing by Sara Pennypacker
7. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
8. Storyteller's Sampler, edited by Margaret Read MacDonald
9. Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor
10. Once Was a Time by Leila Sales
11. Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White
12. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
13. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
14. Forever With You by Robin Jones Gunn
15. Home of Our Hearts by Robin Jones Gun
16. One More Wish by Robin Jones Gun
17. Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky
18. Girls Like Us by Gail Giles
19. Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George
20. Departures by Robin Jones Gunn
21. Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio and Will Staehle
22. The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell
23. Seven Dead Pirates by Linda Bailey
24. The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly
25. The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox
26. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
27. Very British Problems by Rob Temple
28. Scarlet and Ivy: The Lost Twin by Sophie Cleverly
29. See How They Run by Ally Carter
30. Playing Juliet by JoAnne Stewart Wetzel
31. The Marvels by Brian Selznick
32. Canary Island Song by Robin Jones Gunn
33. All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
34. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
35. A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee
36. The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems
37. The Haunting of Falcon House by Eugene Yelchin
38. Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett
39. Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
40. Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
41. Kissing in America by Margo Rabb
42. Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero
43. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
44. Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen
45. Revenge of the Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen
46. Grayling's Song by Karen Cushman
47. It Ain't So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas
48. Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
49. The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell
50. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
51. The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith
52. The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh
53. Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff
54. Prudence by Gail Carriger
55. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
56. Cici Reno: #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker by Kristina Springer
57. The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle
58. The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham
59. Get Happy by Mary Amato
60. The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham
61. Ms. Rapscott's Girls by Elise Primavera
62. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
63. A Light in the Window by Jan Karon
64. These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon
65. The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
66. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
67. Out to Canaan by Jan Karon
68. A New Song by Jan Karon
69. Summerlost by Ally Condie
70. In This Mountain by Jan Karon
71. Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon
72. Cottage by the Sea by Robin Jones Gunn
73. Light from Heaven by Jan Karon
74. A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark
75. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
76. Summer Days and Summer Nights, edited by Stephanie Perkins
77. Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon
78. In the Company of Others by Jan Karon
79. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
80. Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good by Jan Karon
81. Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
82. Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon
83. Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
84. Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen
85. League of Dragons by Naomi Novik
86. Audacity Jones to the Rescue by Kirby Larson
87. Zoe in Wonderland by Brenda Woods
88. A Desirable Residence by Madeleine Wickham
89. Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
90. The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly
91. Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field
92. Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
93. Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen
94. It's Like This, Cat by Emily Neville

Feel free to post below!

Happy new thread Foggy. Good posting year so far over here. xx

>3 foggidawn: Thanks, Paul! I'm guessing this thread will take me to the end of the year, since things are always a little slower around here in the summer and fall, but we'll see...

Happy new one!

Happy new thread, Foggi! I hope the weekend is treating you well.

*Waves excitedly*

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread! Going back to the last thread, it looks like you are reading or re-reading some children's classics. I read Hitty some time ago and enjoyed it. I think I approached it with some trepidation at the time because I wasn't sure how readable it would be, but as I recall, it was much more readable than I'd imagined it might be.

Happy new thread!

Thanks for visiting, Amber, Micky, Steven, Anne, Lori, and Mary!

>10 thornton37814: Right now I'm taking an online course on the history of the Newbery award, so I've been reading some of the older winners. It's been really interesting so far. I agree with you about Hitty.

Here I am, masochist that I am, dropping in for some guaranteed book bullets. Happy new thread, Foggi!

>13 ronincats: Thanks, Roni! I'll get right go work on those book bullets...

Happy new thread!

>15 _Zoe_: Thanks, Zoe!

>12 foggidawn: That sounds like a fun course.

Happy new thread!

>17 thornton37814: It is! The instructor is very knowledgeable, and the discussion is thought-provoking and articulate.

>18 Kassilem: Thanks, Melissa!

(95 books read)



Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher -- Jay is a beleaguered English professor at a liberal arts college. Between budget cuts, building renovations, and the myriad letters of recommendation he is asked to write, his correspondence makes for interesting reading. Especially since he has an ex-wife and a couple of ex-girlfriends that he still has to interact with in a professional capacity...

This book was at times funny, at times touching. I picked it up because it's been making the rounds around here, and I'm glad I did.

(96 books read)



The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen -- Kelsea has spent her entire life in hiding. She is heir to a kingdom that she knows very little about. The odds are against her survival, much less a long and successful reign, but she knows that, for the good of her people, she must make the attempt.

I'm torn as to my opinion of this book. It had a lot of potential, but I don't think that potential was realized. There were so very many holes in the world building, and there were several points where I was thinking, "I don't think you understand how X works" -- X being any number of things: rivers, genetics, fire, guarding royalty... I read the whole thing (well, listened to, and I'm sure Katherine Kellgren's narration was a factor in me sticking with it even when I was frustrated with it), but I did not find the ending satisfactory either. It's the first book in a trilogy, but I'm not sure if I will bother with the other books, even though the plot was left wide open in so many ways.

>21 foggidawn: I found The Queen of the Tearling somewhat frustrating as well. However, if you do decide to continue, the setting and history are fleshed out a lot more in the second book. I'm not sure it will answer ALL your questions, but it's at least a bit better.

However, the second book is not narrated by ♥ Katherine Kellgren ♥ , so....

>22 norabelle414: No Kellgren? Well, that makes me even less likely to read it.

Yeah, no Kellgren really disappointed me. I can't tell if it was the new narrator or just the story, but Kelsey felt so different in the second one.

>24 leahbird: Interesting. Different in what way?

>25 foggidawn: More unpleasant and cynical. It's not out of place in the story, just not as pleasant.

>20 foggidawn: Mmm I have that one somewhere. Always trying to juggle my reading lists and finish up having to re-juggle when I see positive comments on my friends' threads.

Have a lovely weekend.

>26 leahbird: Hmm...

>27 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

Zoe and I are plotting a meetup in Columbus, Ohio this coming weekend -- if anyone else is interested, the thread is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/227979

(97 books read)



Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie -- When a train passenger is stabbed in the night, Hercule Poirot must sort through the evidence to identify the killer.

Possibly Christie's most iconic work, this is a must-read for mystery buffs, and the book I'd suggest if you're looking for an entry point into the author's work. This was a reread for me -- I needed an audiobook, and I do so enjoy the way Dan Stevens pronounces the word "murder."

(98 books read)



Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling -- The Triwizard Tournament is taking place at Hogwarts during Harry's fourth year. Age restrictions mean that Harry is ineligible to compete, but when his name is placed in the Goblet of Fire and he is selected as a competitor, he must do his best to survive the challenges.

Also a reread for me, of course. I started this reread mid-series, which is unusual for me, but I felt like reading this book (also unusual -- it's not my least-favorite, but it's not in my top three, either). I plan to finish out the series before reading Cursed Child, but my resolve to do so may weaken when I have the book actually in hand (I'm still waiting for my copy to be delivered). So, I'm avoiding most other threads for now -- if I' seem unusually quiet, that's why!

>31 foggidawn: My thread is entirely safe. I'm not picking up Cursed Child until I finish my re-read and I'm only halfway through Chamber of Secrets so it's likely to remain that way for a long time. :)

Ha! The Goblet of Fire is my favorite! So, which one *is* your favorite, then?

And my thread's safe, too, as long as you don't click on the spoilers...

>32 MickyFine: Good to know.

>33 scaifea: Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite.

>34 foggidawn: Oooh, nice! I love that one, too, of course. It's honestly difficult to rank them, I think.

>35 scaifea: It is difficult to rank them, though PoA is always my favorite and CoS is usually my least-favorite.

>36 foggidawn: Prisoner of Azkaban is my favourite of the films but Half-Blood Prince is my favourite of the books.

>37 MickyFine: See, Half-Blood Prince is probably my favorite of the films, but Prisoner of Azkaban is definitely my least-favorite of the films -- mostly because Cuaron's interpretation was so different from Columbus' in the first two films, and I didn't care for it. (And possibly also because I hate Gambon's Dumbledore. I wish they had chosen someone else to replace the original actor.)

Half-Blood Prince is probably my second-favorite of the books, though that changes based on my mood.

>38 foggidawn: I know I'm in the minority on this but I actually like Gambon's Dumbledore. But everyone has a different imagination and I know he's a bit less twinkly than book Dumbledore.

Oh, I love the favorites discussion!
The first movie is my favorite - I love what Columbus did. I, too, balked at Gambon's Dumbledore at first, but then he grew on me.
And I think Order of the Phoenix is my least favorite of the books - Harry's teen angst, while very realistic and of course fueled, too, by, um, other things, still grates on me a bit in that one.

>40 scaifea: Yup, that's my least favourite too. Although I still love it. The Ministry of Magic stuff at the end remains one of my favourite things in the entire series.

Gambon grew on me to some extent. Though I never came to like him, I find him more tolerable in the later movies.

*sigh* I have stalled on some required reading for the week, and so I think that, once I finish that book, I will reward myself with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, so I can stop tiptoeing around the Internet in fear of spoilers!

>43 foggidawn: Doooooo ittttttt

>41 MickyFine: Micky: Oooh, yes, excellent point - I agree!

Hey, so this just happened:

I met fellow 75er @_Zoe_ this evening!

I very much love Zoe! She is such a happy, cheerful, intelligent, delightful soul. I love the smiles of both of you. Meet ups are great!

Thanks for posting the very lovely photo. I hope to meet you one day!

>47 Whisper1: I'd love to meet you someday, too!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child update: I've just finished the first act.

So far, I'm enjoying being back in that world, but I'm finding that it doesn't have the feel of Rowling's writing. It feels like well-written fan fiction. I'm not sure if that's because it lacks the descriptive passages of the original books, or if I'm just looking for the hand of the playwright and finding it because I'm predisposed to do so, or what. I'll definitely keep reading, so I'll post a real review when I'm done. That won't be tonight, though.

Thanks for posting the photo! My phone still hasn't uploaded it to my computer.

And Linda, thank you for your kind words! I often think of how fortunate I am to know you.

Meanwhile, I asked my sister whether she had purchased the Cursed Child and she hadn't. So much for that plan.

>49 foggidawn: That's exactly how I felt.

>46 foggidawn: Yay for happy faces!

Lovely picture! Wish I had been able to make it.

>53 Ape: Me too!

>46 foggidawn: Two happy ladies :-)
Thanks for sharing, always nice LT meet-ups!

(99 books read)



And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie -- Ten guests on a mysterious island are murdered, one by one. Who masterminded the deaths?

This was another audiobook reread for me, though in this case my recollections of the solution were hazy. I enjoyed listening to it, though I was distracted by a feeling that I had read a different version -- and so I had. That got me researching this book's history, which is quite fascinating. The original title contained a racial slur, which was eventually changed to "Ten Little Indians" (the version I read originally) and then the internal references were changed to "Ten Little Soldier-Boys" (as it stands in the version I just listened to). The solution to the mystery is impressive, though I must admit I missed the presence of Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple.

>50 _Zoe_: Ah, well. There's always the secondhand market -- I'm sure there will be used copies available for quite reasonable prices soon.

>51 leahbird: I'm now at the halfway point, and my opinion has not changed.

>52 MickyFine: :-D

>53 Ape: Wish you could have been there!

>55 FAMeulstee: Thanks!

(100 books read)



M.C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton -- The story of a few tumultuous days in the life of M.C. Higgins, a 13-year-old in the hills of southern Ohio.

This book won a trifecta of awards in its year: the Newbery Medal, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award, and the National Book Award. The writing is undoubtedly distinguished, reminding me a little bit of Flannery O'Connor's writing in its use of symbolism. However, my enjoyment of the book was hampered by a strong dislike for the main character and his interactions with the girl he meets (one of the book's major plot points). I'm glad to be able to say I've read it, but it's not a book I'll ever want to revisit.

(101 books read)



The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie -- When a family matriarch is poisoned, Hercule Poirot must discover who committed the crime.

Again, a reread for me (I think I've read Christie's entire bibliography, but I may have missed one or two, as I was not scientific about keeping track of my reading at the time). This is the first Poirot novel, told from the point of view of Hastings. I was struck, on this reread, with just how stupid Hastings is. This never bothered me originally, so I'm not sure if it's because I'm older than I was on my initial readings, or if it's because of the audiobook narration, or if that aspect of Hastings' character was softened in later books (I always liked Hastings, so I was surprised to be so impatient with him during this reading). This was read by a different narrator than my last two Christie books, and I did not like him at all -- partly because he gave Poirot such a strong accent that I had a hard time understanding what he was saying at times. Also, the denouement of this story seemed to take forever. All in all, though I love Christie, and Poirot particularly, I don't think I'd recommend this as a starting point.

>56 foggidawn: I watched the recent British adaptation of that one a few weeks ago and it's really well done. Bonus factor: Aidan Turner is in it. :D

Nice meetup pic!

>58 foggidawn: I agree with you. Of all the Newbery-award winning books I've read, this was the weakest.

>60 MickyFine: I'll have to look into that.

>61 drneutron: Thanks!

>62 Whisper1: I don't know if I'd say it's the weakest, because I do have a lot of respect for the skilled writing -- but I might say it's my least favorite.

I've finished Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but I'm going to think on it a bit before writing my review. Soon, though!

Hi foggi! I am mostly safe from book bullets because I can hide behind my TBR mountain. Congratulations on your 75! I still haven't got to the halfway point yet. That review of Let's Pretend this Never Happened, however - darn; winged me ...

I also have some "required" reading to work on this weekend, after which I'll reward myself with the Cursed Child. One of my co-workers was nice enough to bring in the library copy on her day off so I could read it over the weekend.

Happy Friday to you!

I finished Summerlost by Ally Condie and loved it. I note that you also read, and like the book. It is sweet, nothing dramatic, but such a lovely tale of friendship.

Once again, our reading paths cross.

>65 humouress: I probably shouldn't mention, then, that I am listening to the author's next book on audio...

>66 bell7: It makes a good weekend "reward," being not too very long.

>67 Whisper1: Funny how that happens, isn't it?

A quick drop-by to wish you a wonderful weekend, Foggy.

OOo! Nice meetup picture. I'm jealous. We really should have met up when I was living in Ohio!

>46 foggidawn: I meant to say: you two look like sisters :0)

>69 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! It was all too short and full of house-cleaning.

>70 The_Hibernator: Let me know if you ever come back this direction!

>71 humouress: Aww, thanks!

(102 books read)



Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne, John Tiffany, and J.K. Rowling -- This review contains SPOILERS for the first seven Harry Potter books. Spoilers for Cursed Child will be masked.

Albus Severus Potter is headed off to Hogwarts, and he fears the possibility that he might be sorted into Slytherin. Will he be able to live down his father's legacy? Meanwhile, dark deeds are happening in the wizarding world, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione must face them again, this time as adults.

Meh, it was all right. There were some great moments, but also a lot of head-scratching. Here's what I liked:
-Scorpius -- what a great character!
-The Snape cameo, because Snape. *sigh*
-Delphi Diggory -- she had the right feel for a Harry Potter character, if that makes sense, and so the big reveal of her parentage had the right impact. (However, more on that in the dislikes.)
-The action at the climax -- I can see that being really fantastic on stage, lots of emotion

Here's what I didn't like:
-It's been said elsewhere, but it's true: the writing felt like fanfic. The characters did not always ring true, details from the original series were fudged (some of those issues are big enough that they will get their own bullet point), and the whole story was preoccupied with the events of the past, so it felt like a rehashing of Goblet of Fire.
-Polyjuice: I don't think Thorne knows how it works. At one point, Albus suggests that they throw some together for immediate use from ingredients in Bathilda's basement. Hasn't anybody read Hogwarts, A History Chamber of Secrets? The concoction of Polyjuice Potion -- particularly, the fact that you cannot make it and use it in a matter of minutes or hours -- was a major plot point in that book.
-Time Turners: This was a mixed bag; I liked that the law they introduced was named after a character mentioned in the original series, but I also thought a lot of the stuff they introduced regarding Time Turners was wayyy too convenient in terms of plot. I found myself wishing that Rowling had explained more in the original series (for instance, it would have been easy for Hermione, in exposition mode, to have explained that you can't go back more than a few hours without causing irreparable harm). But my big problem with the time turners was that they contributed in a big way to to fanfiction-y feel. (Possibly because I think I wrote some of that fic as a Hogwarts Express group project shortly after the release of book 7.)
-Changes to the original series: these were mostly minor. For instance, the way Bagman announced the events in the first task, it sounded like the champions were paraded past the crowd, which didn't happen in the books. Maybe I'm misreading, but there were a lot of little things like that. But a lot of little things adds up into not respecting the source material, and with fans who know the source material inside and out, you have to expect that any little changes will be noticed, so they had better be intentional. These didn't feel intentional, they felt lazy.
-Baby Bellatrix: Wait, Bellatrix had a baby? I'm trying to fit this into the original series, and the timing is baffling me. Wouldn't somebody have noticed that this was happening? I can absolutely buy that she was sleeping with the Dark Lord (though, ewww) because she totally wanted him in the books, but on the other hand, why would her pregnancy have been kept secret? How would it have been kept secret?

I may have more thoughts on this later. I'm still thinking of rereading the rest of the series and then rereading this. But all in all, I don't regret reading it, I didn't hate it, but I don't place it on the same level as the rest of the series.

Oh! I had another thought: I didn't care for the way they raced through four years. Was that really necessary? And in terms of stagecraft, I'm curious as to how they accomplish it.

Your thoughts echoed mine quite well. Although, you were more generous to Delphi than I was. ;)

>75 leahbird: I went over to your thread and reread your review. I can see how you might have suspected that Delphi was up to something, but I was giving her the benefit of the doubt -- I bought into her Diggory-ness (at least until the point where she started dropping hints about not having attended Hogwarts, etc.) and figured she was just invested in Amos' happiness and maybe had some plan of her own along that line. I had thought maybe she had been a toddler when Cedric died and had fond memories, or something.

I still think that it would have been better to make her the child of some unknown female Death Eater, or even someone brought back in time as it was rumored Astoria was, rather than Bellatrix. I think he was going for the big shock of using a recognizable character, but it would have been more in keeping with the world to not retcon a Bellatrix pregnancy.

Hi. I found a wonderful illustrator. Have you read any of the illustrated books of Gennady Spirin? If not, I highly recommend them.

(103 books read)



Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor -- When Marty discovers an abused and underfed hunting dog on his rambles through the countryside, it's love at first sight. Unfortunately, the dog belongs to Marty's neighbor, a hard, cruel man who isn't interested in giving the dog up. Moreover, Marty knows his family can't afford a pet; they can barely afford to keep food on their table. When Marty finds the dog again, he faces a moral dilemma: is it right to lie in order to save an animal's life?

This Newbery winner has appealing subject matter, makes for interesting group discussion, and has a strong first-person narrative voice. Plus, the dog doesn't die! (I don't feel that that's a spoiler, as there are three more books in the series with the dog's name in the title.) It's not a new favorite of mine, but it's a solid choice on the part of that year's committee. I can see myself recommending this book to young animal lovers.

(104 books read)



The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron -- Growing up in a tiny, impoverished community in the high desert, Lucky must find a way to deal with her grief over her mother's death and her fear that her guardian might choose to leave her.

This book has excellent sensory descriptions, and the main character is nuanced and fully realized. However, I find that the plot is too ephemeral, and there are too many details which strain credulity, for me to really love it. This book won the Newbery when I was in grad school, the first year I really paid attention. It was a surprise to a lot of people then, and I still find it a quirky choice. I'm sure it has its readers out there, but it's not one I think of when I'm recommending books.

(105 books read)



Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson is the author's second memoir, dealing with her struggles with mental illness in her trademark hilarious style. Recommended to those who enjoyed her first book, and to anyone who suffers from, or knows someone who suffers from, depression or anxiety.

(106 books read)



Royal Wedding Disaster by Meg Cabot -- Her sister's wedding is on the horizon, but first Olivia must cope with the pressures of starting a new school. This second book in the Princess Diaries spinoff series is just as fun and fluffy as the first, From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess.

(107 books read)



Figgs and Phantoms by Ellen Raskin -- Mona's family doesn't believe in heaven, they believe in Capri. Not the real-world island off the coast of Italy, but a paradise specific to their family. When Mona's favorite uncle "goes to Capri," she's determined to follow him there -- but can she find the way?

This is a truly weird little book, and not in a good way. I felt off-balance all the way through, due to the unlikable main character, the intentional absurdity of the details, and the extended dream sequence at the climax. This book was awarded a Newbery Honor -- but I'm still not quite sure why!

>79 foggidawn: The Higher Power of Lucky is one of my favorite Newbery's. I also very much like Missing May which also deals with the subject of grief and loss.

Did you know that many librarians banned The Higher Power of Lucky because it contained the word scrotum?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/books/18newb.html?_r=0

>83 Whisper1: Yes, I remember the whole silly debate! A handful of school librarians removed or chose not to select it. Since schools function in loco parentis, some were not comfortable with the book's vocabulary. I don't know of any public libraries that did the same (though there may have been a few), since public libraries have a different function. At any rate, I thought the use of an anatomically correct term (referring to a dog, not even a human) and Lucky's reaction to it (asking a trusted adult for the definition) were entirely appropriate. If the book had not won the Newbery, I doubt it would ever have been an issue.

(Side note: some of the content of Figgs & Phantoms is way more shocking -- dirty books and STDs. I wonder if there was any outrage back when it got a Newbery honor?)

I've been meaning to read Jenny Lawson's books since forever, but I haven't gotten around to them yet. They certainly sound relatable!

>79 foggidawn: I was in undergrad but read a few recent Newberys for a project in Children's Literature that year. I remember the whole kerfuffle and thinking it was blown out of proportion myself, though like you I thought that parts of the plot strained credulity especially that a child who had lived near the desert her entire life would so unwisely and unsafely run away into it and get herself in that kind of trouble.

Happy weekend to you! I am furiously scrolling past all Cursed Child talk, as I haven't been able to get to it yet. Love your Agatha Christie kick! I remember reading And Then There Were None dozens of times when I was young. I read it aloud to the girls, too.

>85 Ape: You should give them a try!

>86 bell7: Yes, that part bothered me, too.

>87 AMQS: I tried to mask anything spoilery, but I understand the mad scrolling, as I was doing the same before I read it.

>73 foggidawn: Oh yay, I've finished the book and can chime in with spoiler-y comments.

I didn't trust Delphi as soon as she was disappointed she couldn't go back in time with the boys the first time, but was shocked when they revealed that she was Voldemort's daughter. I mean, besides the *ick* factor, when on earth would it have happened with no one knowing? So that was weird to me. I'd forgotten the detail about how long Polyjuice Potion took to make, but that's right, there were elements that made it, what, a month long process? It did read a little like fanfic, though I enjoyed it more than I didn't - still not as great as the originals.

I would definitely want to see it as a play and see if any of the challenges of reading it get smoothed out with watching.

>89 bell7: Exactly! I think that was my first twinge of distrust, and then more so when she was talking about not having gone to Hogwarts -- but I never suspected what she was really up to until the reveal. But I'm also bad at guessing whodunit in mystery novels. I'd also like to see the play, but not enough to start plotting a trip to London. I'm hoping it comes to Broadway in a year or two.

>90 foggidawn: London is amazing so I'd love to go back, but I wouldn't hold my breath to be able to make the play... Glad to know I'm not the only person bad at guessing whodunit in mysteries ;)

I can finally read your comments on The Cursed Child, having finished it myself. I agree with everything, and it's funny we both came to the "fanfic" conclusion. I felt the same!

>91 bell7: Exactly. I've been there and would love to go again, but the play is not going to be my impetus for planning the trip (as it might have been if I had really, really loved it).

>92 Ape: Yep. You were a little rougher on it than I was, but I think we agreed on most points.

(108 books read)

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol -- Arianwyn is looking forward to the day she passes the test to become a proper witch -- but then, something goes wrong with the testing equipment. Instead of passing, Arianwyn is given an apprentice witch badge and sent on assignment to the small town of Lull, near the edges of the Great Forest. Normally, an apprentice wouldn't be given an assignment, but there's a shortage, and sightings of dark creatures are becoming increasingly common. Can Arianwyn succees in her new assignment? Will she ever become a full-fledged witch?

So, this book doesn't come out in the US until some time next year, but at a conference I heard Barry Cunningham talking about it. Since he's the guy who published Harry Potter, when he gets excited about a project, I think it wise to listen up! Is this the next Harry Potter? Well, probably not quite, but I think it's got the potential to be the next Inkspell or Fablehaven. The characters are solid, the setting is charming, and the pacing is good. I'll certainly read more in the series, for though this book has a satisfying conclusion, there are hints that there are more stories to be told in Arianwyn's world.

(109 books read)



Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger -- More outrageous steampunk adventures, this time with a train heist! This book was on par with other volumes in the series (which starts with Etiquette & Espionage). These books are a lot of fun, and I particularly enjoy the audio versions.

>95 foggidawn: I think I liked that one best of the series. Glad they work for you in audio. :)

>96 MickyFine: I think it went places the first two didn't, in terms of character development. I'm interested to read the fourth, now (though I'm on a long holds list for the e-audiobook).

>97 foggidawn: Ah the plight of the long holds list. Our library maintains a 5:1 holds ratio for all formats and even then you can still wait several months before you see something you've been waiting for eagerly.

>98 MickyFine: Yeah, with ebooks the long wait is more of a sure thing, as Overdrive now offers an automatic checkout feature, so even if a person in front of you in line is not checking their account, that copy is going to be tied up for the full three weeks or whatever. I also think there's less likelihood of things being returned early, though I do try to remember to return them when I am done, so maybe others do as well.

>95 foggidawn: I saw this on audio at the library yesterday, but passed on it because it was #3. Based on your profession of how fun it is, I will now pull the #1.

>100 brodiew2: Yes, definitely start with the first one!

>95 foggidawn: I really like those on audio too!

>94 foggidawn: You sold me on "the next Fablehaven" I love Brandon Mull.

>83 Whisper1: & >84 foggidawn: A ban on the word scrotum - heaven forfend! With my forgetful nature I am real glad of the invention as I am sure things would have gotten misplaced otherwise. xx

>102 leahbird: They have good pacing for listening -- they don't drag. Also, the narrator is good.

>103 The_Hibernator: I always worry that I have oversold a book when someone reacts to a readalike recommendation. :-) I stand by it, though!

>104 PaulCranswick: Oh, my!

My reading seems to have stalled. I'm making my leisurely way through a reread of Order of the Phoenix, I started an audiobook that I can't get excited about finishing, and I started reading a third book that is just really not holding my attention. I'm hoping cooler weather will come soon and jump-start my desire to read.

>73 foggidawn: Ok, I can join the spoiler party!

I also had issues with the Bellatrix baby plot line because I have always read Voldemort as utterly asexual. Plus part of mind can't help but think that if making horcruxes causes your nose to disappear, other... protruding body parts are likely to be affected.

I was discussing this with a friend of mine and her head canon that I have fully embraced is that Delphi was a magical test tube baby. It makes more sense for everyone involved because Bellatrix would still be all over having the baby of Voldemort but he wouldn't actually engage in what I think he'd perceive as utterly disgusting human intimacy.

Cursed Child: I also had issues with the idea of Voldemort being interested in sex. It's just not in character with him. I can see it when he was younger, as Tom Riddle he was described as charming and popular with the ladies, but by the time he started ripping his soul to pieces I don't think he was interested in that sort of thing.

I can see it from Bellatrix's perspective, she was always crooning over him, but I think Voldemort would have seen that as an effective way of controlling her, not for sleeping with her.

>106 MickyFine: Head canon accepted. (Also, ewwww.)

>107 Ape: I agree. I think I mentioned on another thread, there's a scene where Voldemort is dismissive of Snape's loyalty to Lily, saying that there were plenty of pure blood women he (Snape) could have, presumably among Voldemort's followers. I'd assume that the same was true of Voldemort: that if he wanted women, he could have them -- but like you all, I don't think he was interested in letting someone get that close to him, literally or figuratively.

Just saying hi, catching up on all the cursed child talk.

>109 xymon81: Hi!

Hey, everyone -- theatre is eating my spare time again. I'm three books behind, and too tired to deal with reviews tonight, but I thought I'd say hi!

Hi foggi!

>101 foggidawn: I went to the library website and could not believe it when I found volumes 2-4 on audio, but no volume one. I wonder if it was damaged. I will have to request that they replace it. Drat. I am looking forward to this.

>112 norabelle414: Hi!

>113 brodiew2: Well, rats. If they don't buy a replacement, they might Inter-Library Loan it for you.

>111 foggidawn: Hi Foggi! What play are you working on?

>115 MickyFine: It's really exciting, because we're premiering a play by a local playwright. When I first heard that, I was skeptical, because most of us have probably had the experience of reading something by a friend or a "local author" that was . . . underwhelming. However, this play is fantastically funny. It also has approximately a gazillion props, which is what I'm working on. The title is Empty Nest, and it's about a family with two adult children and a teenager, and what happens when one of the adult children (who has always been "the successful one") loses her job and tries to conceal that fact from her family during one hectic holiday vacation.

>116 foggidawn: Sounds pretty fun. Glad you're enjoying the process. :D

*screwing eyes tightly shut, plugging ears* Lalalallaaalala...

>116 foggidawn: *opening eyes briefly to give thumbs up*

>118 humouress: *returns thumbs up*

Argh. Lots going on right now, and I'm having complicated feelings. Sorry to do the LT equivalent of vaguebooking, but some of it is stuff I don't post about online. It's mostly good, just with the potential for change, which makes me anxious. And I haven't been reading much lately, because I've been spending a lot of time at the theatre, and even when I have been home, my concentration and energy are just not there. (If I counted each time I read through the script of the play we're doing as a book read, I'd be much more on target!) I do have a couple of books to report -- just not nearly as many as you might expect. I'm going to try and post those today.

(110 books read)

Empty Nest, an original play by P.J. Gassman -- Of the Barnett siblings, Gwen has always been the most successful, whether in dominating her high school debate team or in securing a high-power job as a stockbroker in New York City. Her brother Jake, on the other hand, has dropped out of law school to pursue a career as a chef, a move which necessitated him moving back in with his parents. As the holidays approach, the family anticipates Gwen's return home, but when she arrives, she has a little secret: after an office kerfuffle, she's lost her job, so she's stuck at home until she can find a new position -- which won't be easy, since her old boss is talking about her firing to everyone he knows. She's determined not to tell her family until she has a new job lined up -- but siblings Jake and Zoey uncover the truth. As the lies and secrets spiral out of control, add to the mix a cooking feud between Jake and an elderly neighbor lady, a surprise visit from one of Gwen's more obnoxious former clients, and a budding romance for Jake. The play builds to a hysterical and heartwarming conclusion for all involved.

As I mentioned above, I've actually read this script multiple times now, what with rehearsals and performances and all. I'm involved behind the scenes, creating and running the props (of which there are many). I've been having such fun, as the play is chock full of lines and sight gags that still make me chuckle, despite having seen it enough times that you'd think I would be over it by now. I can't speak highly enough of this play's phenomenal family dynamics and sparkling wordplay. I feel kind of in the wrong for talking it up to you all so strongly, since the production I'm involved in is its world premiere, and the show has not yet been sold to a script company (though I have my fingers crossed for it to sell soon), but someday I'm hoping it will be more widely available.

On the theatre note, I have season tickets for the biggest of the local professional theatres in my city and got to watch my first play of the year last night. They did The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and it was brilliant. Great acting and an adorable golden retriever puppy cameo (who had the cutest bio in the program). I love going to the theatre. :)

>121 MickyFine: Aww, puppy! I brought my dog to the theatre for the long day of technical rehearsals, and joked that I thought about trying to pass her off as a prop, but I don't think she's well-trained enough to be on stage!

(111 books read)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling -- reread, of course. As always, I like the book but am a little frustrated about some of the teenage angst, specifically Harry's refusal to tell McGonagall or Dumbledore about Umbridge's abusive detentions. Lots of good stuff introduced in this book, though, including Luna Lovegood, who's probably one of my top five favorite characters from the series. And speaking of favorite characters, I always love the little glimpse into Snape's character that this book provides.

>123 foggidawn: The angst has it's irritating qualities but let's be honest everything would just be better if Dumbledore would just fracking talk to Harry. ;)

>124 MickyFine: True that.

(111 books read)

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay -- Sleeping Beauty's daughter has a very different set of gifts than her mother did. Knowing that she was about to die, Sleeping Beauty passed on to her daughter Aurora her fairy gifts, but she shaped them into weapons for her daughter to use against her enemies. Rather than being sweet and lovely, Aurora is strong and fast, the perfect fairy-blessed fighter -- and she'll need all of her gifts to avenge her dead parents and take back her kingdom from the usurping ogres who seek to kill her. She'll also need the help of cursed Prince Niklaas, who is trying to find a way to escape his fate. Probably best if he doesn't know she's a girl, though, right?

I enjoyed a lot of things in this story, though a few bothered me. There's the usual, but nonetheless tiresome, problem in romances -- namely, if the two characters would just talk to each other, so many problems could be avoided. (Please note that I cannot seem to take my own advice on this, but that's neither here nor there.) However, I was impressed at how a certain plot twist was handled -- it kept me guessing.

I listened to the audiobook, and found it well-narrated, with good pacing to keep the listener engaged. If you like this sort of fantasy with fairy tale elements and female warriors, this is one you might want to check out.

(112 books read)

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol -- High-schooler Anya is walking home through the park, consumed with unhappy thoughts of an unpleasant day, when she falls in a deep hole. At the bottom lies a skeleton -- and a ghost. The ghost tells a sad and frighting tale of a hundred-year-old murder, and Anya fears that she may share the girl's gruesome fate if nobody hears her shouts and rescues her from the hole. When rescue does come, however, Anya leaves the hole . . . and so does the ghost. Anya promises to try and solve the ghost's long-ago murder, but the ghost seems more anxious to experience modern life. As the ghost becomes fixated on Anya's life, particularly Anya's crush on a school sports star, Anya starts to wonder if the ghost's intentions are good.

Very enjoyable! Graphic novel fans, don't miss this one!

(113 books read)

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella -- One calamitous day, a couple weeks before her wedding, Poppy loses both her engagement ring and her phone. By some stroke of desperate luck, she finds an abandoned phone in a trash can and decides to use it, at least until the ring is found. She has to have a contact number to leave with the hotel where the ring was lost. Unfortunately, the phone belongs to Sam -- or at least, it belonged to his PA until she ran off to be a model. Sam wants the phone back, but grudgingly allows Poppy to use it for a few days. Hijinks ensue.

Pretty typical for a Kinsella, though more enjoyable than the last one I read. Poppy has a few moments of cringeworthy stupidity, but she's generally a likable character. The plot goes through a number of twists and turns, some of which I predicted, and some of which kept me guessing. Basically, if you enjoy this sort of story, this one is worth a look.

I listened to the audiobook, which I chose because it was narrated by Jayne Entwistle. She does not disappoint.

>128 foggidawn: I liked that one when I read it. Glad it found another fan.

>129 MickyFine: I thought you might like that one.

Uggghhh, this week. I am so over it, though it appears to be not done with me yet.

Happy Sunday! If you haven't read When Friendship Followed Me Home, I highly recommend it. I can't rave enough about it.

>131 foggidawn: Awww boo. I hope this week is a significant improvement.

Sorry you've had a bad week, Misti! *Hugs*

>132 Whisper1: I've been eyeing that one. I'll have to check it out!

>133 MickyFine: & >134 Ape: Thanks, guys. It was a mixed bag, this past week. The theatre stuff was good, but I had some other things going on that were less good. Today was my last big anxiety-causing thing, at least for now, so I'm hoping for a calmer, less stressful week.

>119 foggidawn: Vaguebooking, ha ha. I hadn't heard of that term. Well - whatever is going on, I hope it is for the best!

(114 books read)



The Last Boy at St. Edith's by Lee Gjertsen Malone -- St. Edith's tried going coed, but the experiment failed. The school soon stopped accepting boys, but allowed those already enrolled to continue. Over the years, the number of boys has dwindled, and now, the thing he has dreaded has finally come to pass: Jeremy is the last boy left at the school. He gets his tuition waived because his mother is the secretary, which means that she can't afford to pull him out and send him to another private school -- and the public schools in his area are not desirable. Jeremy is desperate: he has to find a way to get kicked out of school that won't land him in juvie. He and his daring friend Claudia settle on a prank war as the best way to get him in just enough, but not too much, trouble. Jeremy has some rules: nobody is to get hurt, and nothing is to be permanently damaged. Unfortunately, things start to (literally) snowball out of his control. Will his plan work, or is Jeremy headed for more trouble than he bargained for?

This was a quick, fun read. It was also an interesting, though not incredibly deep, look at masculinity and what it might be like to be in Jeremy's situation. I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy boarding school stories and tales of prank wars, though this does not have quite the high levels of hilarity that typically characterize the latter.

(115 books read)

Piccadilly Jim by P.G. Wodehouse -- Standard Wodehousian plot, with a slightly wild young man and a feisty and desirable young woman, plus plenty of comical friends and relations. When I went to enter this book into LT, I found that I had read it before, a mere five years ago, though while I was reading it this time I had no sense of déjà vu as I would normally expect on a reread. I think this is because it is so very typical of Wodehouse, with nothing standing out to distinguish it. It's also a very quick read. So, recommended, though if you've never read Wodehouse, start with something about Jeeves and Wooster and work from there.

>136 rosylibrarian: Thanks.

So, I can explain some of the vagueness lately: I just accepted a job offer! I'll be moving about an hour and a half north to work as a Collection Development Librarian for Youth Materials -- meaning I get to select all of the children's and teen books, etc. for a library system a little larger than the one I'm in now. Kind of my dream job, actually. I don't expect I'll be on LT much for the next few weeks, as I'll be packing and moving, but hopefully after that I can be around more often.

That's awesome!

>141 Ape: Thanks!

(116 books read)



I Was Here by Gayle Forman -- When Cody's best friend Meg commits suicide, Cody must face up to the fact that she didn't know Meg as well as she thought she did. Sure that there are things nobody is telling her, she sets out on a quest to discover the truth about Meg's death. Along the way she meets, and is ineluctably drawn to, Ben McAllister, Meg's last boyfriend, who may know more than he's letting on.

Ugh. I'm fine with the whole quest aspect of the book, but the romance between Cody and Ben set my teeth on edge the whole way through. I found it weird and creepy, and it kind of ruined the book for me. Also, Cody decides to go confront the scary old guy from the Internet who, as it turns out, was egging Meg on. What was she hoping to accomplish by this? Because it was an incredibly stupid thing to do, though she doesn't have to deal with any consequences beyond the obvious emotional ones from the encounter.

I listened to this on audiobook, and the aspects specifically relating to the audio production (narration, sound quality, etc.) were fine -- not outstanding, but they did not detract from the story.

>140 foggidawn: CONGRATS!!!

>144 leahbird: Thanks!

>140 foggidawn: Congratulations! I am a huge fan of collections librarian-ing. :D

>146 MickyFine: Yes, collections librarians for the win! :-D

Congratulations!!

Oh, congrats!!

An hour and a half north? Where does that put you, then? Near my old neighborhood, I think?

It purts here an hour further away from me, this is the 3rd loveyl LT lady I've scared away from my area of Ohio. I'm going to empty out the whole state!

>148 ronincats: Thanks!

>149 scaifea: I'll message you.

>150 Ape: Hey, at least I will still be in Ohio!

Congrats!

151: Unless you are making a slow, inconspicuous run for the border. :P

>152 drneutron: Thanks!

>153 Ape: Drat! You've discovered my secret plan!

>140 foggidawn: Well done on the new job Foggy, especially it being a dream job.

>155 PaulCranswick: Thanks!

>140 foggidawn: Congratulations!! How exciting! It sounds like a wonderful job :)

>157 aktakukac: Thanks!

Congratulations Foggi!!

>159 norabelle414: Thanks!

I am internally screaming and jumping up and down: Megan Whalen Turner is finally, finally finally publishing a fifth book in the Queen's Thief series! This is literally the best, most exciting book news I've heard in years!

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/...

>161 foggidawn: I KNOW, RIGHT?! WOOOOT!!!

>161 foggidawn: I am pleased for you Foggi, now all I have to do is go and google who the heck she is!

Have a great weekend.

>AND working on the sixth! Yes, I saw that yesterday too and posted it on my thread and on the message thread. Now I just have to wait until next May.

That sounds like a fantastic job. Congrats!

>162 scaifea: Not many people I know are excited about this, but the ones who are, really are!

>163 PaulCranswick: This is one of those "kids books" series I would recommend for adults. The first book is the simplest interms of plot (though still excellent, of course), but imperative to read them in order.

>164 ronincats: Yep, but we've waited this long already -- what's a few more months?

>165 The_Hibernator: Thanks!

Packing continues apace. My mother came to visit and spent a couple of days packing my books, which was an enormous help. On one hand, it removes a major distraction and helps make the task seem more manageable, but on the other hand I feel rather bereft without them.

I've secured lodgings in my new town. I'll be renting a neat old house with a nice front porch and lovely interior woodwork. When I get moved in, I'll have to post pictures.

>167 foggidawn: Glad the moving stress is tolerable so far. Your new house sounds adorable! I look forward to the pictures. :)

>140 foggidawn:
Congratulations on your new job!

>140 foggidawn: Congrats on the new job & good luck with packing, moving & unpacking ;-)

>168 MickyFine: >169 Deedledee: >170 FAMeulstee: Thanks!

Congratulations on obtaining your dream job!. I can't wait to see which books you are selecting for the library collections!

>172 Whisper1: Thanks!

>140 foggidawn: Dream job, yay! Congratulations!

>174 rosylibrarian: Thanks!

(117 books read)



Necessity by Jo Walton -- Third book in an excellent trilogy that mingles mythology and the Classics with science fiction. I found this book a little more satisfying than its predecessor, or perhaps I just went into it with modified expectations. Either way, I highly recommend the series -- but of course, start with the first book, The Just City.

(118 books read)



The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson -- Tough foster kid Gilly is not interested in making friends when she is placed in a new home. All she wants, all she's wanted her whole life, is for her mother to come for her -- or for her, Gilly, to find some way of getting to her mother. Will Gilly find a way to make her dreams come true -- or will foster mother Mamie Trotter be able to win Gilly over to a different idea of family?

I had read this before, but it's been at least ten years. This time, I listened to the audiobook. I had forgotten that this book is, in its own way, nearly as emotionally evocative as Bridge to Terabithia. Gilly is a complex and initially unlikable character, judgmental and racist, and her development over the course of the story is impressive.

>177 foggidawn: I read that one in a children's lit course during my undergrad and adored it. Impressively, even on my newer edition that haven't changed the cover much.

>178 MickyFine: Yeah, that one has not had many cover upgrades. Maybe it's due for one? Still a great book, though!

(119 books read)



A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck -- When Mary Alice's family falls on hard times in pre-WWII Chicago, she must spend a year in the country with her irascible Grandma Dowdel.

I had never read this before, and it was recommended to me by a friend. I enjoyed very much the humor and the strong characters, particularly Grandma Dowdel. I'll be sure to go back and read A Long Way from Chicago as well. I listened to this on audiobook, and I thought the narrator did a very good job.

My reviews are very brief and insipid lately, but better that than nothing, I suppose!

They do the job, Foggi.

Given your upcoming move I'm impressed your reviews are more than "Book good/bad." ;)

>182 MickyFine: I've read more audiobooks than paper books so far this month. I don't know if that's ever happened before!

Ugh. Packing. I'm at the point where it feels like I have always been packing, and I will always be packing, and I will never be done dealing with boxes. Right now, I'm having trouble filling boxes, but I still have plenty of stuff not in boxes, which makes for some interesting combinations of items in the boxes as I struggle to locate filler items.

(120 books read)



Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot -- Mia has a lot going on: her father has just been arrested for driving his newly acquired Formula 1 race car on a major highway, news of her hitherto unknown half-sister has just come to light, her stalker is making death threats, and the paparazzi want to know why Michael hasn't popped the question yet. When Michael decides to take her away for a romantic weekend in the Bahamas, Mia isn't sure she can clear her schedule -- but she's going to be glad she does!

For fans of the series, this is a pleasant and satisfying conclusion, though I was surprised that the author spent so much time on the weeks surrounding the proposal and then jumped straight to the wedding. I didn't mind much, since I have read Olivia's perspective on events in the From the Notebooks of a Middle-School Princess series, so listening to this book felt in some ways like a reread. Definitely recommended for readers who love the series -- and even if, like me, you've skipped a book here or there, you'll have no trouble following the plot if you want to see how everything turns out.

>184 foggidawn: Sympathies. I've been lucky to have relocation allowances every time I've had to move for work and paid to have the movers pack for me. It can make unpacking a bit of a mystery exercise but it makes the process a little bit less stressful.

>185 foggidawn: One of these days I'll go back to that series. One day...

>185 foggidawn: Ooh, a relocation allowance sounds like such a luxury!

>186 MickyFine: As I said in my review, if you don't feel like catching up with all of the books you may have missed, I don't think you will feel too far behind if you decide to just read this one. Normally I wouldn't advocate skipping around in a series like that, but in this case there was really no way I was going to go back and catch up.

>187 foggidawn: I think the last time I read a Princess Diaries book I was in junior high so a little revisit probably wouldn't be terrible anyway. :)

Congrats on the new job and new digs! I am also looking forward to the Megan Whalen Turner book in May - fortunately I have plenty of new and old books to keep me busy until then. Glad to see you liked A Year Down Yonder. I really enjoy Richard Peck's books and they are well-suited to audio, I think.

Have a lovely weekend xx

(121 books read)

Baker's Magic by Diane Zahler -- A girl who can infuse the items she bakes with her emotions befriends a princess and faces down an evil mage. The characters were good, but there were too many holes in the world building and plot for me to really enjoy this one.

>188 MickyFine: I get you.

>189 bell7: Thanks! I too have plenty of books to keep me occupied, even though most are still in boxes at this point.

>190 PaulCranswick: Belated thanks for that!

I think my reading totals for October were a record low for me. I'm hoping November will be better, though I still have many boxes to unpack and lots to do before the new house starts feeling really homey. New job is good so far -- lots of new systems and processes to learn, but I'm going to enjoy it when I get everything down pat.

Totals being low is totally understandable, given the move and new job. Glad the job is going well. Tell us more about the new house--is there a library area, or plenty of room for bookshelves?

>194 ronincats: I'm using the room that's probably intended to be the dining room as my office/library (my table fits just fine in the breakfast nook off the kitchen), so yes, plenty of space for books! One of my friends is coming up this weekend to help me unpack the books, so if that job goes smoothly, I'll take some pictures of the full shelves.

Sounds like a great use for the room. I'll look forward to pictures.

Glad to hear the move went pretty smoothly and you're liking the new job so far. So with it being a collections gig, I'm guessing no evenings or weekends for you?

>197 MickyFine: No evenings, and only the very occasional Sunday afternoon (all staff are drafted to cover the public service desks on Sundays).

(122 books read)

The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories by Rae Carson -- In three novellas, Rae Carson tells the stories of some of the secondary characters in her Girl of Fire and Thorns series. "The Shadow Cats" focuses on Alodia, "The Shattered Mountain" on Mara, and "The King's Guard" on Hector. It's been a couple of years since I read the series, so my memory of the events in the main story was a bit hazy -- but since these stories are all prequels, in their own way, that didn't matter very much. I enjoyed listening to these, and would recommend them to fans of the series.

>198 foggidawn: Sweet. That's one of my favourite things about my job. No evenings, no weekends. It's glorious. :D

My sister just read the Fire and Thorns series a couple weeks ago and says it is her second favorite series ever. :)

Happy weekend foggi!

>200 MickyFine: Indeed!

>201 Ape: I wouldn't rate it quite that high, but it is very good.

>202 The_Hibernator: Thanks! Hope yours was good, too.

Bookshelf unpacking update: progress was made, but the job is not done yet. Plus, one of my cheap bookcases died (I tried to move it in a direction it apparently did not want to go) so I have to put together a new one. That task will probably have to wait until next weekend.

(123 books read)

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck -- Every summer, Joey and his little sister Mary Alice spend a week with Grandma Dowdel out in the country. It's always an adventure!

I enjoyed this audiobook, but not quite as much as I liked A Year Down Yonder. Perhaps I should have read them in order. Still, a very pleasant listen.

Yesterday was my tenth Thingaversary! I need to buy some books! It's hard to believe I've been hanging around here for ten years.

(124 books read)



Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos -- In a dystopian future, teens work in highly competitive jobs as trendsetters, dictating what's in and what's out. When a few disenfranchised teens question the system, is revolution imminent?

I liked this book, though there were maybe a few problems with the internal logic of the story. Still, if you enjoy fashion and dystopias, this is a book you should certainly take a look at.

>205 foggidawn: Congrats, foggi! Happy 10th!

(125 books read)



Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier -- When Cat's family moves to a quirky little town in northern California for her younger sister's health, she discovers that the entire town has a fascinations with ghosts, as evidenced in part by their Day of the Dead festivities. Will encountering the town spirits help her come to terms with her own questions about the afterlife?

Telgemeier's books are all kinds of fun to read, and I'm sure this one will garner plenty of fans. Other reviewers have raised questions about cultural appropriation and accuracy, and those are valid concerns, so I'd recommend pairing this with informational literature about the region and the holiday in question, in order to get a more rounded picture.

>205 foggidawn: Belated happy 10th Thingaversary!

Happy Thingaversary, foggi!

Happy Thingy!

Happy 10th!

Happy 10th!

Thanks, Nora, Anita, Roni, Stephen, Jim, and Katherine!

I have not done a darn thing about unpacking my books since last weekend, but I'm about to dive in again. Unfortunately, my replacement bookcase is waiting on a replacement part, so I'm no going to be completely finished until that arrives. Still, I'm planning to make some good progress!

(126 books read)



Save Me a Seat by Gita Varadarajan and Sarah Weeks -- Two fifth-grade boys, Ravi and Joe, have the potential to be good friends, if they can see past their differences and unite against the class bully. This is the sort of book that's going to be read and loved in schools all over, and rightly so. The characters are interesting and definitely develop over the course of the story, and the conflict in the book will keep readers engaged to see if things turn out satisfactorily in the end. As an adult reader, I felt like I could see some things coming that, perhaps, younger readers might not, but I'm not the target audience for this book. I think the kids who are the target audience will enjoy and relate to this story. I listened to the audiobook, and would recommend it.

(127 books read)



The Cat Who Turned On and Off by Lilian Jackson Braun -- Qwilleran, a newspaper reporter in a northern city, takes on an assignment in the antiques district in the weeks leading up to Christmas. With the help of his cats, he investigates the mysterious death of an antiques dealer. This is one of the early entries in the Cat Who series, and one of my favorites, so I chose to read it now as it's seasonal and a comfort book for me. Though it's not the first book, it's a decent entry point into the series if you're not familiar with it: early enough that you haven't missed much back story, but far enough in for the author to have hit her stride.

(128 books read)

Miss Ellicott's School for the Magically Minded by Sage Blackwood -- I'm reviewing this elsewhere, so just including it here for my count -- but I will say, if you liked Blackwood's earlier books, don't miss this one when it comes out in March 2017.

Hi Foggi, I'm just catching up on your thread. Congrats on the new job! If you moved north in Ohio, are you anywhere near me? (I'm in Oberlin)

>218 kgodey: A little closer than I was, perhaps. I'll message you.

(129 books read)

Enter Laughing: A Comedy in Two Acts by Joseph Stein, based on the novel by Carl Reiner -- David's boss wants David to become a machinist, and David's parents want David to become a pharmacist, but deep in his heart, David dreams of becoming an actor. When he joins a small company and is cast as the romantic lead, hilarity ensues.

I can see this being very funny on stage. There are some great lines and sight gags. I'll be reading quite a few plays this winter, as I'm on the committee to select the shows for next season at the community theatre in the town where I used to live. Not sure how this one will rank in comparison with the others I will be reading -- it was all right, but didn't blow me away.

Foggy, I am thankful for your presence in the group.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who visit here!

A while ago, I promised pictures of my bookshelves once I got the room set up. Here they are!

Most of my bookshelves are all in one room. Here they are, going around the room:

These ones are in the corner to the left as you go in. They hold my vintage books and classics, mass-market paperback fantasy and mystery, inspirational fiction, and a few other random things.

There's a window between those shelves and this one:

It holds mostly juvenile fiction, with some non-fiction on the bottom shelf.

Here's a better view of the ones that are to the right side in that last picture:

They are my fantasy and YA shelves.

Then there's a low shelf under a window that looks out on the back porch:

It holds the last of the YA, and then unread books (starting with the ones that are stacked sideways).

Then, one more shelf in the corner:

The rest of the unread books. Amazingly, that one actually has one empty shelf on the bottom!

That's the library (for those of you who were counting, the fourth corner holds my desk, which is much too messy to be photographed at present)! However, I do have two shelves that have overflowed out into other areas of the house.

This one sits basically back-to-back with that last unread shelf, in the corner of the kitchen/breakfast nook:

It's all juvenile paperbacks, with my old set of Reader's Digest Books for Young Readers on the bottom.

One more shelf, out in the living room --

Hey, Sophie, get out of the way!


There. That one is picture books and Calvin and Hobbes. It has a little extra room, too! I actually did a decent job of getting rid of some things when I moved, so I have a tiny bit of room to grow before I have to do some more purging (or buy some more shelves).

I'm pleased with this setup, though I'll probably do some rearranging of the actual books once I get the rest of the house to my liking -- the large collections will stay as they are, but I always struggle to find a good arrangement of the nonfiction and the oddly-sized books. Also, the picture books are in no order whatsoever; they just got thrown onto the shelf as they came out of the box.

Once I get the room completely organized and decorated to my liking, I will take some pictures that give more of a whole-room overview.

Yay for bookshelf porn!

Nice!

So nice to see others bookshelves, thanks for sharing! And hi to Sophie, I don't mind to see you in the way :-)

They are beautiful!! :)

Thanks, everyone!

(130 books read)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Kendall, adapted from the novel by Jane Austen -- another play script, and a very good one. This playwright manages to retain the essence of the original, with its charm and humor, while doing a lot of things that make it work theatrically.

(131 books read)

Almost, Maine by John Carlini -- In a series of interconnected vignettes, nine couples portray love, or almost love, from a variety of angles. I was reminded a little bit of Our Town. Liked it, but didn't love it.

(132 books read)

Out of Order: A New Comedy by Ray Cooney -- A British farce, with lots of mistaken identities, innuendo, and physical humor. Definitely funny, but the ending didn't work for me.

(133 books read)



Venetia by Georgette Heyer -- A sensible but inexperienced young woman falls in love with a rake, and even more unexpectedly, the rake falls in love with her, too. Still, the course of true love never did run smooth...

Heyer is always good fun, and I liked this one very much.

(134 books read)



The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski -- Kestrel didn't intend to buy a slave at the market, but something about this one caught her attention. She's inexplicably drawn to him, but little does she know that he's plotting revolution. Can love survive when the two find themselves on opposing sides?

Listened to the audiobook, and would recommend.

(135 books read)



The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan -- Thor's hammer has been stolen, and Magnus and his friends must return it before Loki manages to bring about the end of the world and stuff. With Riordan, you generally know what you're getting into, and this is no exception -- lots of wild adventures and goofy humor.

Are you going to continue with The Winner's Curse trilogy? I liked that one a lot, but haven't made time for the other two. Just like Georgette Heyer - every year I say I am going to read one of her novels, but that hasn't happened yet either!

The bookshelf pictures are great, by the way :)

>234 foggidawn: I wasn't a huge fan of Riordan's books when he first started writing, but they've grown on me. I've seen mixed reviews of his Norse Mythology and Egyptian Mythology series' though.

>235 aktakukac: I have checked out the second one, plan to start listening to it this weekend. And thanks!

>236 The_Hibernator: I'm enjoying the Norse ones, though I never really got into the Egyptian ones.

Another round of plays read in preparation for an upcoming committee meeting:

(136 books read)

The Crucible by Arthur Miller -- In colonial America, a witch hunt breaks out in a small town. I somehow never read this in school, but I read other stuff on Salem. I can see this being a good, edge-of-your-seat kind of show; I'd love to see it performed someday. (But not by our company, as I think it's beyond our current capabilities.)

(137 books read)

Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw -- In the war-torn Balkans, a young woman hides an enemy soldier, and must eventually face the consequences. Not Shaw's best.

(138 books read)

The Miracle Worker by William Gibson -- Young Anne Sullivan comes to the Keller home to try and teach their deaf and blind daughter Helen to communicate. Another famous and amazingly powerful play (that is also beyond our company's capabilities right now).

(139 books read)

Setting the Moon -- another show by a local playwright (not the same one as last time) -- pretty good, but I'll be interested to see what the rest of the committee thinks.

(140 books read)

Miss Holmes by Christopher M. Walsh -- A re-imagined Sherlock Holmes, with Holmes and Watson as women. This one is excellent, and I hope my committee agrees.

(141 books read)



Gertie's Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley -- Gertie determines to impress her absent mother by becoming the best fifth grader ever, but her efforts are not appreciated by the rest of her class. Ramona Quimby meets Harriet the Spy. I found this well-written and enjoyable, though not as good as Raymie Nightingale, which is similar in theme.

(142 books read)



Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton -- A narwhal and a jellyfish meet by chance, and become best friends. Together they eat waffles, imagine stories, and form a "pod" made up of other sea creatures. This early comic book is a good step up for young readers who enjoy the antics of Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie, as it has similar humor and friendship dynamics.

I was despairing of reaching 150 this year, but I may reach it after all. Hooray for plays and children's books!

>242 foggidawn: Huzzah indeed!

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

>243 MickyFine: Thanks! Hope yours was good, too.

(143 books read)



Camp Rolling Hills: First Base by Stacy Davidowitz -- Summer camp hijinks ensue when a new boy's arrival (plus adolescent hormones) disrupt group dynamics amongst a group of old friends. This book was fun, and kids who have this sort of summer camp experience will be able to relate. It doesn't transcend its genre -- I wouldn't recommend it to adults.

(144 books read)

Rehearsal for Murder by D.D. Brooke -- One year after a member of their company dies in a fall from a balcony, the cast and crew of a Broadway flop are reassembled by the playwright, who makes an accusation of murder. This play was recommended by another member of my play reading committee, and I can see why. It's an enjoyable story, and would work well for our location and audience.

(145 books read)



Snow White: A Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan -- Phelan takes the original story and sets it in 1920's New York, with a Wall Street baron as Snow's father and an aging Ziegfeld girl as the evil queen. Phelan's artwork is gorgeous, and the setting works very well for the story. Recommended.

>247 foggidawn: You hit me with that one.

Hope all is well with you and that you're settling into your new digs and job. :)

>242 foggidawn: You are well on your way :-)

>248 MickyFine: And it's a graphic novel, so reading it takes hardly any time at all. And thanks for the good wishes -- things seem to be going well at present. We're in our end-of-year budget wrap-up at work; I'm sure you're familiar. ;-)

>249 FAMeulstee: Yep, I'm feeling pretty good about it at this point!

>250 foggidawn: Yeah, ours is extra weird this year because our department (as well as the rest of the central branch) are moving to a temporary location for the next 2-3 years while the downtown branch undergoes extensive renovations. So we're in the midst of a shipping shut down which makes figuring out how much stuff will show up before the end of our fiscal year tricky.

I've always wanted to read The Crucible. Or to see it performed. I loved the movie.

>251 MickyFine:, Yeah, that does sound kind of crazy!

>252 The_Hibernator: Yes, I'd love to see it performed live someday.

(146 books read)



Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Anderson -- Continuing in my trend of reading quick things to boost my reading numbers and sense of accomplishment, I picked up this collection of comics. Considering that you all are probably somewhat bookish and are reading this on the Internet, you've probably seen some of Anderson's comics before. They're cute, and I can relate to about 75% of them, so I enjoyed this book and would recommend it, particularly to other bookish introverts who struggle with feelings of inadequate adultishness.

>253 foggidawn: I wouldn't recommend it. We're all hoping the move back in a few years will fall at a more convenient time.

(147 books read)



The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson -- When a toddler in his neighborhood is kidnapped, OCD 12-year-old Matt must stretch beyond his comfort zone to investigate the crime.

I found this book okay, not great. The characters seemed a little flat to me, and I figured the mystery out early on. However, the kids who are this book's target audience are less likely to see the solution coming, and the representation of Matt's OCD seems accurate from the little I know about it.

>255 MickyFine: Yeah, starting in my position so close to the end of the year has been enough of a challenge for me!

>257 foggidawn: I can imagine. At least there will be a fresh budget canvas in January. :)

>258 MickyFine: Yes, I'm looking forward to that. Also to the time, a year from now, when I will be looking at all of the best of the year lists and I will not have to wonder whether I bought that for this library or the other one.

(148 books read)



Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston -- Hermione Winters is looking forward to her senior year, especially since she and her best friend are co-captains of the cheerleading squad. But then, just before the beginning of the school year, the unthinkable happens: Hermione is raped at cheer camp. Over the course of the year, Hermione must face many difficult things as a result of the attack. Fortunately, her parents and best friend are supportive, but some other people in her life are not.

This is a great, thought-provoking read. The subject matter is difficult, but not presented in graphic detail. The writing and characterization are strong. Recommended.

(149 books read)



Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure by Ann M. Martin -- Out of the blue, Missy Piggle-Wiggle gets a note from her great-aunt, asking if Missy could come and stay at the Upside-Down House for a while and take care of the animals. Since Missy has the same sort of magic as her auntie, she's a good fit for the town. After all, even in these days, children are apt to come down with common ailments like tardiness, greediness, or the Whatevers . . . and Missy is just the person for the job.

As soon as I saw this book coming out, I knew it was going to be a good fit for me. In my childhood, I read all of the original Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books, and everything I could get my hands on by Ann M. Martin (the Baby-Sitters Club series, of course, but my favorite was Ten Kids, No Pets). Going into this book, I felt a little trepidation, but I need not have worried: Martin perfectly captures the whimsical charm and innocent magic of the original series. When I closed the book, I felt as if I had spent a few hours in the world of childhood again. I'm pretty sure this is intended to be the start of a new series, but the episodic nature of the plot means that the conclusion of this book is satisfactory. Recommended to kids who enjoy stories with a little bit of magical fun -- and to adults who harbor nostalgia for Betty MacDonald's classic tales.

>261 foggidawn: Good to know! Have you seen there's a biography of Betty MacDonald come out recently? It looks interesting.

>260 foggidawn: I've heard good things about that one but I'm not sure I could handle the subject matter. I do love the Shakespeare reference of the title though.

>262 norabelle414: I did not know that, about the biography. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

>263 MickyFine: I was hesitant going in, but as I mentioned in my review, the author doesn't go into graphic detail about the attack. Some readers might find it triggering just on the basis of the subject matter, but I thought it was written pretty skillfully, all things considered.

While I'm on the topic, sort of: a friend of mine who is a professional artist is doing a collaborative project titled "Mere Objects." As part of the installation, she's asking survivors of sexual assault to send her tiny things that represent their personality. It's a really cool project, so I thought I would mention it here. If you're interested in learning more, here is the link to her site: http://www.sarahjanesstudio.net/mere-objects

>264 foggidawn: I might pick it up at some point. But I find I'm less likely to pick up "issue" YA novels these days.

>265 MickyFine: I'm much more likely to go for fantasy, but the Shakespeare connection in that one put it on my radar.

(150 books read)



Where Am I Now: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame by Mara Wilson -- A former child star looks back at the events of her childhood, teen years, and early twenties.

From hearing about her here and there, I thought Mara Wilson sounded like an interesting person, so I was intrigued when I saw this memoir. It's an interesting read, organized topically rather than chronologically, so it feels like going through her life strand by strand, so to speak. She writes evocatively about her mother's struggle with breast cancer, her own issues with OCD and other mental health issues, and about the death of Robin Williams, her former Mrs. Doubtfire costar. The book is at times poignant, at times funny. Readers who enjoy this sort of memoir will probably enjoy this one.

Congratulations on reaching 150!

Happy super belated 10th Thingaversary! It's crazy to think it's been that long. My 10th is coming up in May.

Also, awesome shelves! How many shelves do you have in total? I feel like I've been very confined with just 3, but then my husband reminds me we have to move them all the next time the Air Force decides our time is up. Le sigh.

>268 FAMeulstee: Thanks!

>269 rosylibrarian: Six tall ones, two smaller ones, and the low unit that I use for picture books. It is a big hassle to move them all, I must admit. I'm hoping not to do that again for a long time.

Well done Foggy in reaching the 2x75 mark.

Have a lovely weekend.

>271 PaulCranswick: Thanks! So far my weekend has been wet and slushy, but I'm enjoying some reading time, at least.

(151 books read)



Geekerella by Ashley Poston -- Elle is not excited when she sees who's been cast to play the male lead in the movie reboot of her favorite sci-fi show. She does see the possibilities, though, when a cosplay contest is announced. The prize money would be enough to get her away from her stepmother and stepsisters once she finishes her senior year. Meanwhile, Darien is secretly thrilled to be playing Carmindor, but his manager (who also happens to be his father) insists that, for the sake of Darien's image, he should play it cool. His father also insists on him appearing at the convention where the cosplay competition will take place, but due to some personal history, Darien doesn't do conventions. When he tries to contact the organizers, though, he ends up with a wrong number -- Elle's number. Neither knows who the other is. Can a romance develop in spite of secrets and differences?

This plot is very similar to Jennifer Smith's This Is What Happy Looks Like, with plenty of geeky details thrown in and a Cinderella-esque framework to hold it all together. Fluffy fun -- if you think it sounds interesting, you should give it a try.

(152 books read)

Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott -- Three con men try to retrieve a doll stuffed with heroin from the apartment of a photographer and his blind wife.

Well-written and suspenseful, though slightly dated. Another of the plays I'm reading for my community theatre committee.

(153 books read)



Our Town by Thornton Wilder -- Daily life, love and marriage, and death in a small New England town. This was a reread for me; I found it just as powerful as I remembered.

>273 foggidawn: Hmm, those are all things I like in my fluffy novels. I'll keep it in mind.

I've added cover images to most of my reviews upthread (well, to the ones from the bookshelf photos down, at least). For those who like that sort of thing.

>277 foggidawn: Ooooh, shiny. :)

(154 books read)



What Light by Jay Asher -- Sierra loves spending the Christmas season at her family's Christmas tree lot, but she knows better than to get too attached to any boy she meets there. Any relationship that starts on the tree lot comes with a built-in expiration date. But she can't help being attracted to Caleb, a handsome boy with a dark past. Is a relationship with him worth the potential heartbreak?

A pleasant seasonal read, though lacking the emotional impact of Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why. If you enjoy YA and you're looking for a quick holiday read, I'd recommend this.

I might make it to 160 by the end of the year. I have a couple more plays to read, and a few things started that I might go back and finish. It will still be my lowest total (continuing a downward trend) since I started tracking on LT, but I think if I hadn't done that whole sudden move/job change in October, I would have beaten last year's total of 168.

>280 foggidawn: I'm hoping to make 125 this year but my current read is not a fast read (it's good, just not fast) so I'm getting less optimistic about making that total. Still this will be my best year since the first year I joined the 75ers.

Props to you for getting a double 75. :)

>281 MickyFine: Congrats on your best year! I've been in a long downward trend; I blame technology.

(155 books read)



A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle -- Mary's grandmother is dying in the hospital when a strange, faded older woman approaches Mary with a message.

This is a lovely little story about death and family, about four generations of Irish women and the ties that bind them together through the years. It's hard to classify -- it's sort of like a children's book, in that it is brief and one of the main characters is a child (and a few of the memories we see from the others are from a child's perspective), but I don't think children are the ones who would most enjoy this story. I would, however, definitely recommend it to adults, and to the introspective, thoughtful child who doesn't mind a story without a lot of plot.

>282 foggidawn: Thanks!

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

>285 PaulCranswick: Sharing those wishes with you, Paul.

And to all who are celebrating who visit here, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

This is the Christmas tree at the end of the Pacific Beach Pier here in San Diego, a Christmas tradition.

To all my friends here at Library Thing, I want you to know how much I value you and how much I wish you a very happy holiday, whatever one you celebrate, and the very best of New Years!

(156 books read)

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski -- Kestrel navigates the subtle dangers of court life. This is the second book of a trilogy, and so it really doesn't stand alone, or need to. I'll be starting the third book soon, as I'm really enjoying this series.

>287 ronincats: Happy holidays to you, too, Roni!

(157 books read)

Summer of my German Soldier by Bette Greene -- One hot Arkansas summer, awkward pre-teen Patty Bergen befriends a German prisoner of war, and shelters him briefly when he escapes.

I read this book in sixth grade, and I empathized so strongly with Patty at that point that the book had a lot of emotional impact and stuck with me for a long time. Rereading it as an adult, I can take a more balanced view, but it's still a very good book. (I still find Patty's parents infuriating, though!)

>291 Kassilem: Now there's the best kind of holiday wish!

I didn't get any books yet (I participated in SantaThing, but my books have not arrived yet), but I did get some money that I may use to treat myself to a couple. I'm not complaining, as I got several lovely and useful things.

But books trump all ;)

>293 Kassilem: Indeed.

(158 books read)

How to Stage a Catastrophe by Rebeca Donnelly -- Reviewing elsewhere, just including it here for my count.

(159 books read)

A Step from Heaven by An Na -- When Young Ju is four years old, her family immigrates from Korea to America. However, their problems (specifically, her father's alcoholism and abusive behavior) follow them to their new country.

This is a brief book, beautifully written. If you enjoy realistic stories about family life, particularly ones featuring different cultures, I would recommend this one.

It's the end-of-year book meme, my favorite!

Describe yourself: Evil Librarian

Describe how you feel: Awkward

Describe where you currently live: A Desirable Residence

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Cottage by the Sea

Your favorite form of transportation: Roller Girl (I had no good answers for this one)

Your best friend is: A Most Magical Girl

You and your friends are: Furiously Happy

What’s the weather like: Summerlost

You fear: Very British Problems

What is the best advice you have to give: Let's Pretend This Never Happened

Thought for the day: Adulthood is a Myth

How you would like to die: Playing Juliet

Your soul’s present condition: A Step from Heaven

I was trying to come up with my top five books for the year, and have discovered that my only 5-star reads of 2016 have been rereads. Am I getting pickier about what gets five stars, or did I have an off year? Anyhow, I decided to pick the best from several categories instead:

Best historical fiction: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septys
Best series completion: Necessity by Jo Walton
Best how-did-I-miss-that? children's classic: Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen
Best play script: Empty Nest by PJ Gassman
Best fantasy: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Best Newbery contender: Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Best audiobook: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Best memoir: Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Best picture book: Nobody Likes a Goblin by Ben Hatke
Best graphic novel: Snow White by Matt Phelan

Though I hope to finish another book or two before the year ends, I've gone ahead and started my thread in next year's group:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/244882

Hope to see you all there!

>297 foggidawn: Excellent meme responses! It's always nice to get a librarian title in the mix. :D

>300 MickyFine: Isn't it? I'm pretty happy with most of my responses this year, but the first two are my favorites.

I've still got at least four partially finished books that I'm hoping to polish off before the end of the year, so I've just decided that my New Year's Eve plans are for a mini-readathon. I'm going to run to the store for some yummy snacks either tonight or tomorrow morning, and then plan on reading for the rest of the year. Who's with me?

Playing Juliet is a great answer, although it would be a horrible way to go. I have hated swords, knives, and all other types of sharp objects since I was little.

Your New Year's Eve plans sound great. We are going to get together with some friends, mostly so my husband has someone to watch the OSU game with. I want to be around other people so that if the Buckeyes don't win, I can go hang out with other people and avoid him :) I might get a little reading in during the afternoon tomorrow.

>301 foggidawn: Rightfully so.

>302 foggidawn: I'll be trying to finish a book tonight so that I can get to a nice even 120 for the year (I'm partway through a Christian romance so odds are good I can finish it). Tomorrow I'll actually be busy being social as post-church my brother is having a few people over to his house in the boonies. There will be a lasagna dinner and then board games! :D

Good luck on your readathon, though!

Your meme answers are brilliant, and made me chuckle! :)

>303 aktakukac: I was thinking of the stage death, not of it being my actual death. I guess that's cheating a little bit!

>304 MickyFine: Board games and lasagna sounds like an excellent plan!

>305 Ape: Glad you liked them!

Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Foggy

>307 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! Same to you.

I'm two books into my NYE readathon; reviews to come!

(160 books read)

Morning is a Long Time Coming by Bette Greene -- Six years after sheltering German soldier Anton Reiker, Patty travels to Europe in search of closure.

I honestly can't remember whether or not I've read this book before. Its predecessor had such an impact on me that I feel I must have sought it out, but I have no memory of actually reading it. Either way, it's a much different book, and I think an inferior one. Maybe I started it as a teen but never finished it, and that's why I don't remember it. It's not a book that I'd recommend.

(161 books read)

Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter -- The libretto of the hit Broadway musical, interspersed with essays on the making of the show and its impact on popular culture.

Discovering Hamilton has been one of the best things about 2016 for me, and this book does a great job of encapsulating and expanding upon the show. Worth the price for the photos and the lyrics, the essays make for a nice bonus. It's also a physically handsome volume. A must-have for Hamilfans.

(ETA: It's also my first non-reread 5-star book of 2016. Better late than never, I guess!)

(162 books read)

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown -- A shipwrecked robot is washed up on an island and befriends the local animal population.

A decent read, albeit with some plot holes. I didn't find it very compelling; I started it this summer and only came back to it here at my year-end cleanup. It might appeal to kids who like robots and desert island adventure stories, but I think most readers can pass on it. The ending is clearly set up for a sequel, but I probably won't read it.

(163 books read)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens -- Miserly Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas through supernatural intervention. It's a family tradition of ours to read this every year, and I wheedled and cajoled them into finishing it off tonight.

(164 books read)

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger -- While dealing with emotional trauma from growing up in a broken home, John falls in love for the first time with Marisol, a lesbian.

For some reason I expected this book to be gritty, but I actually found it rather sweet, or maybe bittersweet. I can relate to John's romantic angst, as I imagine most people could -- I've certainly been there, more than once, loving somebody who couldn't or wouldn't love me back. This is a Printz honor book, and though I don't always love the Printz committee's selections, I agree with them in this case. Recommended.

(165 books read)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling -- I started a HP reread this summer, but got distracted by moving and all. Reading the last few chapters of HBP is always emotionally draining, so perhaps subconsciously I wasn't up for it. At any rate, I made it through, and perhaps now I will go on to read DH.

Not tonight, though -- this concludes my NYE readathon. It's been a good way to finish out 2016.

That's a wrap, folks! Don't forget to join me on my new thread:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/244882

Happy New Year!