Ronincats reads and crafts into a new year of Reading: Thread 6
This is a continuation of the topic Ronincats reads and crafts into a new year of Reading: Thread 5.
This topic was continued by Ronincats reads and crafts into a new year of Reading: Thread 7.
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2016
Join LibraryThing to post.
This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1ronincats
We'll be heading back this way next month for a family visit!
I’m Roni and this is my 9th year in the 75 Book Challenge Group. I live in San Diego with a husband, 3 cats and a small dog, a year-round garden, a substantial personal library and an old bungalow with lots of bookshelves. I’m retired and fill my time with throwing pottery, making wirework and beaded jewelry, and crochet-work. When I finish a project, I post a picture here.
My reading is heavily slanted toward science fiction and fantasy genre reading, but I try to work in at least a dozen nonfiction books a year, along with a few mysteries, romances and children’s books as well as books heavily recommended by other LTers. I’m also fond of rereading favorite books. I usually read around 150 books a year, as I’m a fast reader, and set my goals accordingly.
Goals:
I will continue my default goals of 150 books and 50,000 pages read for the year. This is right at my comfort level and usual reading rate for the year.
I did well on my goal to acquire fewer books than last year. I will continue that goal as well.
Thanks to a last minute donation to the library, I met my goal to get rid of more books than I acquired. I will continue this goal also.
I failed miserably in reading books off my own shelves--only 11. I plan to set a goal of 40 unread books now on my own shelves for the coming year.
3ronincats
Fiction: The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Nonfiction: The Smartest Kids in the World by Amanda Ripley
The Mantle of the Prophet by Roy Mottahedeh
Children’s: Hold Fast by Blue Balliett
Children’s series: The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas
Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud
Fantasy series: Max Gladstone’s Craft Sequence
Kate Griffin’s Matthew Swift books
Best series continuations: A Red-rose Chain by Seanan McGuire (Toby Daye)
Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (Lady Trent)
Winter by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles)
Best alt. history regencies masquerading as fantasy:
The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter
Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix
honorable mention: Uprooted by Naomi Novik
The Bullet-catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan
Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
And here is the link to my final thread in the 2015 group: http://www.librarything.com/topic/208485
4ronincats
Books Read in 2016
* reread
# library book
+ Kindle
% book off my shelves (acquired prior to 2016)
1. A Winterfold Christmas by Harriet Evans (66 pp.)+
2. The Last Chance Christmas Ball by Mary Jo Putney etal. (320 pp.)+
3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (465 pp.)#
4. The House of Twenty Thousand Books by Sasha Abramsky (340 pp.)#
5. Sorry I Barfed on your Bed by Jeremy Greenberg (64 pp.)
6. St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong (158 pp.)+
7. Halo: Mortal Dictata by Karen Traviss (496 pp.)#
8. Terry Pratchett: The Spirit of Fantasy by Craig Cabell (244 pp.)%
9. Penric's Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold (106 p.)*+
10. Blood Rites: Origins and History of the Passions of War by Barbara Ehrenreich (241 pp.)%
11. The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare (295 pp.)#
12. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley (336 pp.)+
13. New Order by Fay Wolf (181 pp.)
14. The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare (265 pp.)#
15. Game Wizards Play by Diane Duane (640 pp.)+
16. Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie (197 pp.)#
17. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Bertman (354 pp.)
18. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold (344 pp.)*
19. The Bible Doesn't Say That by Joel Hoffman (304 pp.)+
20. Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara (507 pp.)#
21. Updraft by Fran Wilde (364 pp.)#
22. Interim Errantry by Diane Duane (459 pp.)+
23. Indexing: Reflections by Seanan McGuire (325 pp.)+
24. Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire (356 pp.)
25. Biblical Literalism by John Shelby Spong (421 pp.)+
26. Heap House by Edward Carey (405 pp.)#
27. City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett (498 pp.)+
28. Cast in Courtlight by Michelle Sagara (488 pp.)#
29. Staked by Kevin Hearne (310 pp.)#
30. Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter (432 pp.)%
31. Unseemly Science by Rod Duncan (368 pp.)+
32. Cast in Secret by Michelle Sagara (521 pp.)#
33. The Custodian of Marvels by Rod Duncan (368 pp.)+
34. The Reckoners by Doranna Durgin (347 pp.)+
35. Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (348 pp.)*
36. The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester (329 pp.)%
37. Harmony Black by Craig Schaefer (332 pp.)+
38. Into the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan (350 pp.)
39. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (174 pp.)+
40. Cast in Fury by Michelle Sagara (384 pp.)+
41. Cast in Silence by Michelle Sagara (384 pp.)+
42. Putting God Second by Donniel Hartman (170 pp.)
43. Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson (278 pp.)
44. Cast in Chaos by Michelle Sagara (503 pp.)#
45. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab (400 pp.)
46. Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara (457 pp.)#
47. Cast in Peril by Michelle Sagara (538 pp.)#
48. The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox (388 pp.)#
49. Worlds Elsewhere by Andrew Dickson (437 pp.)
50. Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima (535 pp.)#
51. The Jewel and her Lapidary by Fran Wilde (89 pp.)
52. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (369 pp.)#
53. Cast in Sorrow by Michelle Sagara (478 pp.)#
54. Cast in Flame by Michelle Sagara (492 pp.)#
55. Cast in Honor by Michelle Sagara (511 pp.)#
56. Six and a Half Deadly Sins by Colin Cotterill (242 pp.)#
57. Red Hot Fury by Kasey Mackenzie (348 pp.)+
58. Date Night at Union Station by E. M. Foner (167 pp.)+
59. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams (783 pp.)*
60. Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams (747 pp.)*
61. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Anders (316 pp.)#
62. To Green Angel Tower Part I by Tad Williams (815 pp.)*
63. To Green Angel Tower Part II by Tad Williams (815 pp.)*
64. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Anders (316 pp.)#
65. The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (471 pp.)
66. Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel (362 pp.)#
67. Fridays with the Wizards by Jessica Day George (234 pp.)#
68. Alien Night at Union Station by E. M. Foner (187 pp.)+
69. Space Hostages by Sophia McDougall (442 pp.)#
70. Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (355 pp.)
71. Imprudence by Gail Carriger (352 pp.)
72. Wish Upon a Star by Olivia Goldsmith (488 pp.)+
73. Sylvester by Georgette Heyer (391 pp.)*
74. Family Plot by Sheri South (223 pp.)#
75. Unfair by Adam Benforado (289 pp.)%
76. Seveneves by Neil Stephenson (867 pp.)
77. Making the Rounds by Allan Weiss (202 pp.)+
78. The Richest Man Who Ever Lived by Greg Steinmetz (256 pp.)#
79. A Judgment of Dragons by Phyllis Gotlieb (263 pp.)*
80. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (329 pp.)*
81. A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer (432 pp.)*
82. Full of Briars by Seanan McGuire (44 pp.)+
83. Listen, Liberal by Thomas Frank (258 pp.)
84. The Islands of Chaldea by Dianna Wynne Jones (356 pp.)
85. Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer (432 pp.)#
86. Pieces and Players by Blue Balliett (306 pp.)#
87. A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire (358 pp.)*
88. The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire (358 pp.)*
89. Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (354 pp.)#
90. Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire (420 pp.)
91. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (512 pp.)*
92. Goldenhand by Garth Nix (368 pp.)+
93. Crosstalk by Connie Willis (512 pp.)+
94. Spellwright by Blake Charlton (350 pp.)#
95. Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Mayer (240 pp.)+
96. False Colours by Georgette Heyer (355 pp.)*
97. Breath of Earth by Beth Cato (387 pp.)#
98. Four Roads Cross by Max Gladstone (414 pp.)#
* reread
# library book
+ Kindle
% book off my shelves (acquired prior to 2016)
1. A Winterfold Christmas by Harriet Evans (66 pp.)+
2. The Last Chance Christmas Ball by Mary Jo Putney etal. (320 pp.)+
3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (465 pp.)#
4. The House of Twenty Thousand Books by Sasha Abramsky (340 pp.)#
5. Sorry I Barfed on your Bed by Jeremy Greenberg (64 pp.)
6. St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong (158 pp.)+
7. Halo: Mortal Dictata by Karen Traviss (496 pp.)#
8. Terry Pratchett: The Spirit of Fantasy by Craig Cabell (244 pp.)%
9. Penric's Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold (106 p.)*+
10. Blood Rites: Origins and History of the Passions of War by Barbara Ehrenreich (241 pp.)%
11. The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare (295 pp.)#
12. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley (336 pp.)+
13. New Order by Fay Wolf (181 pp.)
14. The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare (265 pp.)#
15. Game Wizards Play by Diane Duane (640 pp.)+
16. Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie (197 pp.)#
17. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Bertman (354 pp.)
18. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold (344 pp.)*
19. The Bible Doesn't Say That by Joel Hoffman (304 pp.)+
20. Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara (507 pp.)#
21. Updraft by Fran Wilde (364 pp.)#
22. Interim Errantry by Diane Duane (459 pp.)+
23. Indexing: Reflections by Seanan McGuire (325 pp.)+
24. Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire (356 pp.)
25. Biblical Literalism by John Shelby Spong (421 pp.)+
26. Heap House by Edward Carey (405 pp.)#
27. City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett (498 pp.)+
28. Cast in Courtlight by Michelle Sagara (488 pp.)#
29. Staked by Kevin Hearne (310 pp.)#
30. Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter (432 pp.)%
31. Unseemly Science by Rod Duncan (368 pp.)+
32. Cast in Secret by Michelle Sagara (521 pp.)#
33. The Custodian of Marvels by Rod Duncan (368 pp.)+
34. The Reckoners by Doranna Durgin (347 pp.)+
35. Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (348 pp.)*
36. The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester (329 pp.)%
37. Harmony Black by Craig Schaefer (332 pp.)+
38. Into the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan (350 pp.)
39. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (174 pp.)+
40. Cast in Fury by Michelle Sagara (384 pp.)+
41. Cast in Silence by Michelle Sagara (384 pp.)+
42. Putting God Second by Donniel Hartman (170 pp.)
43. Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson (278 pp.)
44. Cast in Chaos by Michelle Sagara (503 pp.)#
45. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab (400 pp.)
46. Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara (457 pp.)#
47. Cast in Peril by Michelle Sagara (538 pp.)#
48. The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox (388 pp.)#
49. Worlds Elsewhere by Andrew Dickson (437 pp.)
50. Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima (535 pp.)#
51. The Jewel and her Lapidary by Fran Wilde (89 pp.)
52. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (369 pp.)#
53. Cast in Sorrow by Michelle Sagara (478 pp.)#
54. Cast in Flame by Michelle Sagara (492 pp.)#
55. Cast in Honor by Michelle Sagara (511 pp.)#
56. Six and a Half Deadly Sins by Colin Cotterill (242 pp.)#
57. Red Hot Fury by Kasey Mackenzie (348 pp.)+
58. Date Night at Union Station by E. M. Foner (167 pp.)+
59. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams (783 pp.)*
60. Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams (747 pp.)*
61. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Anders (316 pp.)#
62. To Green Angel Tower Part I by Tad Williams (815 pp.)*
63. To Green Angel Tower Part II by Tad Williams (815 pp.)*
64. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Anders (316 pp.)#
65. The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (471 pp.)
66. Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel (362 pp.)#
67. Fridays with the Wizards by Jessica Day George (234 pp.)#
68. Alien Night at Union Station by E. M. Foner (187 pp.)+
69. Space Hostages by Sophia McDougall (442 pp.)#
70. Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (355 pp.)
71. Imprudence by Gail Carriger (352 pp.)
72. Wish Upon a Star by Olivia Goldsmith (488 pp.)+
73. Sylvester by Georgette Heyer (391 pp.)*
74. Family Plot by Sheri South (223 pp.)#
75. Unfair by Adam Benforado (289 pp.)%
76. Seveneves by Neil Stephenson (867 pp.)
77. Making the Rounds by Allan Weiss (202 pp.)+
78. The Richest Man Who Ever Lived by Greg Steinmetz (256 pp.)#
79. A Judgment of Dragons by Phyllis Gotlieb (263 pp.)*
80. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (329 pp.)*
81. A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer (432 pp.)*
82. Full of Briars by Seanan McGuire (44 pp.)+
83. Listen, Liberal by Thomas Frank (258 pp.)
84. The Islands of Chaldea by Dianna Wynne Jones (356 pp.)
85. Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer (432 pp.)#
86. Pieces and Players by Blue Balliett (306 pp.)#
87. A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire (358 pp.)*
88. The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire (358 pp.)*
89. Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (354 pp.)#
90. Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire (420 pp.)
91. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (512 pp.)*
92. Goldenhand by Garth Nix (368 pp.)+
93. Crosstalk by Connie Willis (512 pp.)+
94. Spellwright by Blake Charlton (350 pp.)#
95. Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Mayer (240 pp.)+
96. False Colours by Georgette Heyer (355 pp.)*
97. Breath of Earth by Beth Cato (387 pp.)#
98. Four Roads Cross by Max Gladstone (414 pp.)#
5ronincats
Books Acquired in 2016
1. Harmony Black by Craig Schaefer (free)
2. Unseemly Science: The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire Book 2 by Rod Duncan ($1.99)
3. Indexing: Reflections by Seanan McGuire ($1.99)
4. A Winterfold Christmas by Harriet Evans ($.99)
5. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley ($1.99)
6. Starship's Mage Omnibus by Glynn Stewart (free)
7. The Last Chance Christmas Ball by Mary Jo Putney and others ($2.51)
8. Citadel of the Sky by Chrysoula Tzavelas (free)
9. Del Rey and Bantam Books 2015 Sampler (free)
10. St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong ($1.99)
11. The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction by Justine Larbalestier (free)
12. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold ($19.89)
13. New Order by Fay Wolf ($14.91)
14. Putting God Second by Donniel Hartman (ER-free)
15. Games Wizards Play by Diane Duane ($9.99)
16. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Bertman ($10.36)
17. City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett ($11.39)
18. The Bible Doesn't Say That by Joel Hoffman ($12.99)
19. Biblical Literalism: The Gentile Heresy by John Shelby Spong ($13.99)
20. Interim Errantry by Diane Duane ($8.49)
21. The Empress and the Acolyte by Jane Fletcher
22. Listen, Liberal by Thomas Frank
23. The Unquiet Bones by Mel Starr
24. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
25. In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
26. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
27. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
28. Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson
29. Cast in Fury by Michelle Sagara
30. Cast in Silence by Michelle Sagara
31 The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
32. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
33. The Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones
34. The Mages of Bennamore by Pauline Ross
35. Seveneves by Neil Stephenson
36. The Jewel and her Lapidary by Fran Wilde
37. Desert Rising by Kelley Grant
38. Mort(E) by Robert Repino
39. The Friar of Carcassonne by Stephen O'Shea
40. Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
41. Imprudence by Gail Carriger
42. Wish Upon a Star by Olivia Goldsmith
43. Heraclix and Pomp by Forrest Aguirre
44. Marriage and the Family in the Middle Ages by Frances Gies
45. The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson
46. Full of Briars by Seanan McGuire
47. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
1. Harmony Black by Craig Schaefer (free)
2. Unseemly Science: The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire Book 2 by Rod Duncan ($1.99)
3. Indexing: Reflections by Seanan McGuire ($1.99)
4. A Winterfold Christmas by Harriet Evans ($.99)
5. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley ($1.99)
6. Starship's Mage Omnibus by Glynn Stewart (free)
7. The Last Chance Christmas Ball by Mary Jo Putney and others ($2.51)
8. Citadel of the Sky by Chrysoula Tzavelas (free)
9. Del Rey and Bantam Books 2015 Sampler (free)
10. St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong ($1.99)
11. The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction by Justine Larbalestier (free)
12. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold ($19.89)
13. New Order by Fay Wolf ($14.91)
14. Putting God Second by Donniel Hartman (ER-free)
15. Games Wizards Play by Diane Duane ($9.99)
16. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Bertman ($10.36)
17. City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett ($11.39)
18. The Bible Doesn't Say That by Joel Hoffman ($12.99)
19. Biblical Literalism: The Gentile Heresy by John Shelby Spong ($13.99)
20. Interim Errantry by Diane Duane ($8.49)
21. The Empress and the Acolyte by Jane Fletcher
22. Listen, Liberal by Thomas Frank
23. The Unquiet Bones by Mel Starr
24. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
25. In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
26. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
27. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
28. Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson
29. Cast in Fury by Michelle Sagara
30. Cast in Silence by Michelle Sagara
31 The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
32. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
33. The Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones
34. The Mages of Bennamore by Pauline Ross
35. Seveneves by Neil Stephenson
36. The Jewel and her Lapidary by Fran Wilde
37. Desert Rising by Kelley Grant
38. Mort(E) by Robert Repino
39. The Friar of Carcassonne by Stephen O'Shea
40. Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
41. Imprudence by Gail Carriger
42. Wish Upon a Star by Olivia Goldsmith
43. Heraclix and Pomp by Forrest Aguirre
44. Marriage and the Family in the Middle Ages by Frances Gies
45. The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson
46. Full of Briars by Seanan McGuire
47. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
6ronincats
And welcome to the new thread. I've gotten my tickers and my lists all updated, and I'm ready for company.
7Berly
Hey there!! Congrats on the new thread!! (I think you duplicated a picture or two in the opening post.) : )
8ronincats
>7 Berly: Aargh, you are right, Kim, I duplicated the whole first message. How did that happen?
9jnwelch
Congrats on the new thread, Roni!
I started two new threads at the same time a couple of years ago, no idea how. Looking forward to what goes into the "new development" space. :-)
I started two new threads at the same time a couple of years ago, no idea how. Looking forward to what goes into the "new development" space. :-)
10benitastrnad
ON your last thread you posted that you had read Richest Man Who Ever Lived about Jacob Fugger, so I just can't resist adding that I have close friends who live in Augusburg, Germany. When I visited them ten years ago, they took me to visit the Fuggerei. This is the oldest planned housing development in the world that is still in use. It was built in the 1500's by Jacob Fugger, as an alms house (a development for poor people back then - amazing!) and people are still living in the houses today. Part of it was bombed and destroyed in 1945 but it is still a very impressive housing development. The rent when the place was built was 1 Rheinisher per year and the current rent for a house in this development is the modern equivalent of that amount - 1 Euro per year. There strict rules about who is eligible to rent one of these homes, but people still live in them. It is an amazing place.
11ronincats
>9 jnwelch: Check it out and see if it is worthy, Joe!
>10 benitastrnad: Indeed that was brought out in the book, Benita. How neat that you have seen it.
>10 benitastrnad: Indeed that was brought out in the book, Benita. How neat that you have seen it.
12jnwelch
>11 ronincats: :-) Yes!
13PaulCranswick
Happy new thread, Roni.
>2 ronincats: Love the story board and hope to spend the next month diving into those books. xx
>2 ronincats: Love the story board and hope to spend the next month diving into those books. xx
14Familyhistorian
Happy new thread, Roni. That is quite the opening shot!
15ronincats
>12 jnwelch: ;-)
>13 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul.
Book #82 Full of Briars by Seanan McGuire (44 pp.)
This novelette falls between the last book and the new one coming out next month and is told from Quentin's point of view. Relatively uneventful for a Toby Daye book, but important backstory for the series. Not the place to start.
Book #83 Listen, Liberal by Thomas Frank (258 pp.)
This is a very depressing book. What Frank did to Republicans in What's the Matter with Kansas?, he's now done to Democrats. And I can't disagree with him at all, more's the pity.
>13 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul.
Book #82 Full of Briars by Seanan McGuire (44 pp.)
This novelette falls between the last book and the new one coming out next month and is told from Quentin's point of view. Relatively uneventful for a Toby Daye book, but important backstory for the series. Not the place to start.
Book #83 Listen, Liberal by Thomas Frank (258 pp.)
This is a very depressing book. What Frank did to Republicans in What's the Matter with Kansas?, he's now done to Democrats. And I can't disagree with him at all, more's the pity.
16Crazymamie
Happy new one, Roni! I have not read any Seanan McGuire, but I have a few on the shelves.
17RebaRelishesReading
Beautiful photo of western Kansas. Happy new thread, too!!
19EBT1002
Beautiful topper for your new thread, Roni! And a belated congratulations for blowing past the 75 mark (weeks ago, probably).
20quinaquisset
I agree with your cartoon, Roni.
I'm still waiting to see you review McKillip's latest book, Kingfisher! (I'm biased, I love all her works.)
I'm still waiting to see you review McKillip's latest book, Kingfisher! (I'm biased, I love all her works.)
21charl08
Happy new thread! Iove the cartoon. I do wish it was possible for me to swim and read (and not crash into someone else ) at the same time.
23LizzieD
O.K.! I'm still back in time to say, "Happy New Thread, Roni!" I'm looking forward to good stuff.
I wouldn't have thought it possible, but maybe Kansas is flatter than NC's coastal plain....or maybe we don't have such big fields. Anyway, that's a beautiful shot!
I wouldn't have thought it possible, but maybe Kansas is flatter than NC's coastal plain....or maybe we don't have such big fields. Anyway, that's a beautiful shot!
24souloftherose
Happy new thread Roni!
I hope you enjpy Sorcerer of the Wildeeps. I thought it had a very unusual writing style which seemed to put some readers off but I really enjoyed it. I think there's a sequel or another novella in the same world to be released.
I hope you enjpy Sorcerer of the Wildeeps. I thought it had a very unusual writing style which seemed to put some readers off but I really enjoyed it. I think there's a sequel or another novella in the same world to be released.
27The_Hibernator
Hey Roni, sorry if I missed this in my thread skim, but you said in the first thread that "We'll be heading back this way next month for a family visit!" Where is that? Nebraska? Kansas? Somewhere with flowing golden wheat? Or do I have the wrong crop altogether?
28ronincats
>14 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! You posted while I was composing up there.
>16 Crazymamie: Ah, but you are now, Mamie. Hope you are enjoying it.
>17 RebaRelishesReading: Hi, Reba. Good eyes!
>18 Oberon:, >19 EBT1002: Thanks, Eric and Ellen.
>20 quinaquisset: QQ, you'll have to wait a bit longer. I had to return it to the library without getting to it. I will get it back, though.
>21 charl08: Wouldn't that be nice, Charlotte?
>22 kidzdoc: Hi, Darryl!
>23 LizzieD: Ah, WESTERN Kansas (and eastern Colorado) are flat as can be, Peggy--the high plains. The eastern half of Kansas is not so flat.
>24 souloftherose: I hope so too, Heather. I've heard good stuff, but it is on the Kindle, so hopefully it won't disappear into the morass.
>25 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita!
>26 BLBera: Thank you, Beth.
>27 The_Hibernator: Yes, Rachel, I'm a native Kansas. And that is wheat stubble in the picture--good for you!
So, it's been an uneventful few days. I've been busy on the crafting front. I've made up some beaded necklaces, working on some crocheted hats, and brought this home from the pottery tonight.
>16 Crazymamie: Ah, but you are now, Mamie. Hope you are enjoying it.
>17 RebaRelishesReading: Hi, Reba. Good eyes!
>18 Oberon:, >19 EBT1002: Thanks, Eric and Ellen.
>20 quinaquisset: QQ, you'll have to wait a bit longer. I had to return it to the library without getting to it. I will get it back, though.
>21 charl08: Wouldn't that be nice, Charlotte?
>22 kidzdoc: Hi, Darryl!
>23 LizzieD: Ah, WESTERN Kansas (and eastern Colorado) are flat as can be, Peggy--the high plains. The eastern half of Kansas is not so flat.
>24 souloftherose: I hope so too, Heather. I've heard good stuff, but it is on the Kindle, so hopefully it won't disappear into the morass.
>25 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita!
>26 BLBera: Thank you, Beth.
>27 The_Hibernator: Yes, Rachel, I'm a native Kansas. And that is wheat stubble in the picture--good for you!
So, it's been an uneventful few days. I've been busy on the crafting front. I've made up some beaded necklaces, working on some crocheted hats, and brought this home from the pottery tonight.
29PaulCranswick
>28 ronincats: The tomatoes are back and looking splendid. If I ever make it California way Roni we must sit and have a salad fresh from your garden and eaten from your lovely pottery. xx
31RebaRelishesReading
beautiful bowl, Roni!!
32DeltaQueen50
Hi Roni, my computer woes have set me back on keeping current with most threads. Hopefully my new computer will arrive early next week. I love your opening picture, my husband is a prairie boy and I have come to appreciate the beauty that is to be found in the rolling wheat fields!
35Crazymamie
OH! Another beauty of a bowl! LOVE the shape of that one and the colors are fab.
Reporting in to say thanks for the mention of the October Daye series - I have finished Rosemary and Rue, and I really liked it. I am thinking the girls would like it, too.
Reporting in to say thanks for the mention of the October Daye series - I have finished Rosemary and Rue, and I really liked it. I am thinking the girls would like it, too.
36ronincats
Hi, Paul, Barbara, Reba, and thanks. Judy, indeed, not everyone will recognize the wheat! Hello, Lucy and Nina. Mamie, it's a metallic green on top of the brown--I'm not sure the lighting makes that clear. And yay for another Toby Daye fan. You've some adventure ahead of you and, yes, I'd think the girls would also like it.
I've been working on a dense book for the last 10 days, and picked up this final book by Diana Wynne Jones to clear my palate on Friday.
Book #84 The Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones (356 pp.)
This posthumously-published book was finished by Jones' sister after her death. She did a good job. This is a typical Jones fantasy, perhaps not as fleshed out at the end as she would have managed, but still quite enjoyable.
Book #85 Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer (432 pp.)
First of all, the frustration. This is only the first half of a complete story. Once I finally got into it (renewing it twice and finally plunging in 3 days before it was due--it is now 8 days overdue) I had to keep reading it--although I could not race through it, I had to do a chapter or two at a time because of its density. And then, to reach the "end" and realize that I could not finish the story yet--AAARRGGHH! So wait until the next book comes out in February and hope that it finishes the immediate story as there are four books intended in the series. (See, NOW I have that information.) It is a totally engrossing, fascinating, DIFFERENT future society and I strongly recommend it to everyone--once the story is complete, at least. Or go into it knowing you will have to wait. Unlike me. And that waiting will be painful, because the story is so powerful and different.
I've been working on a dense book for the last 10 days, and picked up this final book by Diana Wynne Jones to clear my palate on Friday.
Book #84 The Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones (356 pp.)
This posthumously-published book was finished by Jones' sister after her death. She did a good job. This is a typical Jones fantasy, perhaps not as fleshed out at the end as she would have managed, but still quite enjoyable.
Book #85 Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer (432 pp.)
First of all, the frustration. This is only the first half of a complete story. Once I finally got into it (renewing it twice and finally plunging in 3 days before it was due--it is now 8 days overdue) I had to keep reading it--although I could not race through it, I had to do a chapter or two at a time because of its density. And then, to reach the "end" and realize that I could not finish the story yet--AAARRGGHH! So wait until the next book comes out in February and hope that it finishes the immediate story as there are four books intended in the series. (See, NOW I have that information.) It is a totally engrossing, fascinating, DIFFERENT future society and I strongly recommend it to everyone--once the story is complete, at least. Or go into it knowing you will have to wait. Unlike me. And that waiting will be painful, because the story is so powerful and different.
37souloftherose
>36 ronincats: Too Like the Lightning sounds really interesting but I will definitely wait for the other volumes to be released. Sorry to hear about the frustration though.
38kgodey
>36 ronincats: I responded in my thread too, but I'm sorry!
39jjmcgaffey
Lovely bowl, lovely tomatoes. I'll have to pick up the DWJ - I knew it wasn't entirely her work, but hadn't gotten it clear exactly what was going on. I've seen a lot of praise for Too Like the Lightning, but it sounded too heavy for me - I hadn't heard about the cliffhanger (or at least, story interruptus) ending. I think I'll hold off on that for a while, or entirely.
40sirfurboy
>36 ronincats:.
That looks like an interesting book. I am usually annoyed to distraction by books that end in the middle in order to get you to buy the next one, but your write up and the write-ups on Amazon suggest this is not really in that category, but is something else altogether.
I will add to my TBR but I won't hurry, so that the next book may be published before I get to it :)
Thanks
That looks like an interesting book. I am usually annoyed to distraction by books that end in the middle in order to get you to buy the next one, but your write up and the write-ups on Amazon suggest this is not really in that category, but is something else altogether.
I will add to my TBR but I won't hurry, so that the next book may be published before I get to it :)
Thanks
41ronincats
>37 souloftherose: Heather, it sounds like only the first two books are so closely connected.
>38 kgodey: Forgiven, Kriti!
>39 jjmcgaffey: Hi, Jenn. TLTL is dense rather than heavy, if that makes sense. And fascinating.
>40 sirfurboy: Right, this is a half a book that the publishers split up, rather than a ploy, Stephen.
Book #86 Pieces and Players by Blue Balliett (306 pp.)
Balliett brings together all five of her characters from her previous 5 books in this latest book, once again investigating an art theft in Chicago. Told from the viewpoint of Tommy (introduced in the third book), the characters are dealing with entry into adolescence with its hormonal changes as well as introducing the two characters from the last two books to the original three. As always, her books are clever, full of puzzles and mysteries, and informative about art in a unique way.
>38 kgodey: Forgiven, Kriti!
>39 jjmcgaffey: Hi, Jenn. TLTL is dense rather than heavy, if that makes sense. And fascinating.
>40 sirfurboy: Right, this is a half a book that the publishers split up, rather than a ploy, Stephen.
Book #86 Pieces and Players by Blue Balliett (306 pp.)
Balliett brings together all five of her characters from her previous 5 books in this latest book, once again investigating an art theft in Chicago. Told from the viewpoint of Tommy (introduced in the third book), the characters are dealing with entry into adolescence with its hormonal changes as well as introducing the two characters from the last two books to the original three. As always, her books are clever, full of puzzles and mysteries, and informative about art in a unique way.
42ronincats
August Summary
10 books read
7 new reads, 3 rereads
3 library books, 3 Kindle, no books off my shelves
2 science fiction
4 fantasy
1 children's
2 nonficton
1 romance
7 female authors, 3 male
USA-5
England-5
Canada-2
Books acquired: 5
10 books read
7 new reads, 3 rereads
3 library books, 3 Kindle, no books off my shelves
2 science fiction
4 fantasy
1 children's
2 nonficton
1 romance
7 female authors, 3 male
USA-5
England-5
Canada-2
Books acquired: 5
44Donna828
I love the Kansas sunset, Roni. Will you have any "extra" time for a meet up when you visit next month? I can always make the drive to KC or even Lawrence to see you. I haven't seen Brenda since last winter and there are those lovely bookstores in Lawrence. Just sayin'! How's the new kitten these days?
45ronincats
>43 EBT1002: Ellen, that's only true because I didn't count the 5 ebooks of Heyer romances I bought on sale on her birthday to supplement the dead-tree books on my shelves.
>44 Donna828: Sorry, doesn't look like I'll get east of Topeka this trip, Donna. Another time, I'd love to. And several people have been asking after the kitten.
She got fixed last Saturday, but it hasn't slowed her down at all. I had to lock her in the bathroom today as I reorganized my yarn stash in the armoire in the living room. Speaking of which, I haven't posted any of my other crafts lately. Here's the crochet from the Olympics and the Joan Baez concert.
and some seed bead necklaces commissioned by Ellen.
The living room is now clean and I hope to get to the dining room table this weekend.
>44 Donna828: Sorry, doesn't look like I'll get east of Topeka this trip, Donna. Another time, I'd love to. And several people have been asking after the kitten.
She got fixed last Saturday, but it hasn't slowed her down at all. I had to lock her in the bathroom today as I reorganized my yarn stash in the armoire in the living room. Speaking of which, I haven't posted any of my other crafts lately. Here's the crochet from the Olympics and the Joan Baez concert.
and some seed bead necklaces commissioned by Ellen.
The living room is now clean and I hope to get to the dining room table this weekend.
46brenpike
>44 Donna828: I especially like that sunset photo above as well (go figure)! Sorry there will not be time for a quick meet-up :( Wishing you safe travels and special time with family.
47Familyhistorian
>45 ronincats: What a cute kitty picture - even in recovery she wants to be the centre of attention by sleeping on the keyboard!
48charl08
Ooh the crochet is gorgeous. I think I like the blue green best but it's a tough choice!
Glad to hear the cone of shame isn't slowing >45 ronincats: down.
Glad to hear the cone of shame isn't slowing >45 ronincats: down.
49souloftherose
>45 ronincats: I like the red/purples of the hats and the blue-greens of the beads.
Glad to hear the kitty is coping with her cone - when we had our cat done (many years ago now) she was extremely distressed by the cone round her head at first and it took her a few days to (resentfully) accept it.
Glad to hear the kitty is coping with her cone - when we had our cat done (many years ago now) she was extremely distressed by the cone round her head at first and it took her a few days to (resentfully) accept it.
50Crazymamie
Morning, Roni! Happy Saturday! Aw! Poor Sibyl - it's hard to keep a kitty down. She looks so sweet in that photo. And your hats and your bead necklaces are so pretty - what beautiful colors!
51ronincats
>46 brenpike: Thanks, Brenda. Wish I could see you all, but not this time.
>47 Familyhistorian: How quickly they learn that sitting on the computer is the way to go!
>48 charl08: She wiggled out of the cone today and has made quite clear that there is no way it is going back on (it's okay, it's 8 days and the vet said 7-10 days--besides, it's not worth getting my hands shredded for it) and it will be a restless night for all, I am sure.
>49 souloftherose: Hi, Heather. The blue-green hat is from the pattern I posted on your thread. And Sybil is no longer accepting the cone.
>50 Crazymamie: Sweet is as sweet does, and she's being a hellcat this evening, Mamie!
Book #87 A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire (358 pp.)
I reread this, the 9th book in the October Daye series, because the 10th book is coming out next week, and it's a good thing because I remembered very little of it from when I read it last year. Still a heck of a story, though, a good read. I think, since this one went so quickly, that I'll also reread book 8 just to refresh myself on the details. (sounds like a good rationale, right?)
>47 Familyhistorian: How quickly they learn that sitting on the computer is the way to go!
>48 charl08: She wiggled out of the cone today and has made quite clear that there is no way it is going back on (it's okay, it's 8 days and the vet said 7-10 days--besides, it's not worth getting my hands shredded for it) and it will be a restless night for all, I am sure.
>49 souloftherose: Hi, Heather. The blue-green hat is from the pattern I posted on your thread. And Sybil is no longer accepting the cone.
>50 Crazymamie: Sweet is as sweet does, and she's being a hellcat this evening, Mamie!
Book #87 A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire (358 pp.)
I reread this, the 9th book in the October Daye series, because the 10th book is coming out next week, and it's a good thing because I remembered very little of it from when I read it last year. Still a heck of a story, though, a good read. I think, since this one went so quickly, that I'll also reread book 8 just to refresh myself on the details. (sounds like a good rationale, right?)
52ronincats
Nothing home from the pottery this week, but watch out for next week--I glazed 11 pieces today!
53sibylline
Will take your advice to wait for the next Palmer before plunging in -- but it's on the WL!
54benitastrnad
I started listening to the third book in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy and am enjoying it very much. The CD player in my car quit working in July and so I had to limp along with the radio. However, for some strange reason it has started working again and that makes me so happy! I went to the library and checked out this book so I could listen. I like the reader and I like the story. Good YA fantasy novels.
55ronincats
>53 sibylline: Good--it's definitely worth reading.
>54 benitastrnad: Still haven't made up my mind if I'll go back and read that, but I'm glad your CD player resurrected itself, Benita.
So, who can tell me what this little beauty is? This is the second time I've had it out this summer, so useful!
And Sybil continues to terrorize the household, including the humans, who don't know when their legs will be attacked!
>54 benitastrnad: Still haven't made up my mind if I'll go back and read that, but I'm glad your CD player resurrected itself, Benita.
So, who can tell me what this little beauty is? This is the second time I've had it out this summer, so useful!
And Sybil continues to terrorize the household, including the humans, who don't know when their legs will be attacked!
56Whisper1
>28 ronincats: How very lovely!
Congratulations on reading so many books thus far Roni. I am lagging behind.
Thinking of you and sending all good wishes.
Congratulations on reading so many books thus far Roni. I am lagging behind.
Thinking of you and sending all good wishes.
57LizzieD
I don't know anything about the books, but I know that you were a fortunate couple that Sibyl didn't go crazy with the collar!
She is a beauty - well worth the current craziness.
She is a beauty - well worth the current craziness.
58jjmcgaffey
>55 ronincats: Yes, I love my food mill too. Yours is pretty - the orange is so bright! - and looks like it would be reasonably easy to clean. Mine is stainless steel and pretty old, but quite functional (I got it at a yard sale) - it makes great applesauce and the like. It clamps to the edge of something - my counter, usually - rather than vacuum-sealing like yours.
59sirfurboy
>55 ronincats: Just wondering: wouldn't it be better to place the food mill the other way round so that the handle is out beyond the counter top? You will have fewer mashed fingers that way :)
OK, so I am stating the obvious! Sorry.
OK, so I am stating the obvious! Sorry.
60RebaRelishesReading
My mom had one of the old metal ones. She used to make "bologna salad" for sandwiches with it. Probably only things too but that's the one I remember.
61ronincats
>56 Whisper1: Lovely to have you visit, Linda, and sending all good wishes your way always!
>57 LizzieD: Keep telling me that, Peggy! At least until she outgrows her kitten craziness. ;-)
>58 jjmcgaffey:, >60 RebaRelishesReading: Close, so close. I also have one of the metal meat grinders, and my mom made the same salad for us when I was a kid, Reba. But this is a specialized food mill, a tomato press. You drop the whole tomatoes in, they are ground through a sieve at the bottom, the skin and seeds come out the side, and you get pureed tomato at the bottom. I can't remember where I found it. The vacuum seal works really well, too.
>59 sirfurboy: That's not how I use it, silly Stephen, it's only how I posed it for the photo.
So I finished book 8 of the Toby Daye series, The Winter Long, as well in preparation for receiving the 10th book from Amazon yesterday and...it didn't arrive by 8 pm like the website promised! I was devastated and my husband was totally incredulous that one could be concerned about a mere BOOK. Obviously he is not a reader. Still waiting to see if it comes in the mail this morning. In the meantime,
Book #88 The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire (358 pp.)
I went ahead and reread book 8 after rereading book 9 (above) just to refresh myself on all the little details. These books are so tightly and densely interwoven. As always, so well done and such good story. Now I'm just waiting for book 10 to appear on my doorstep.
>57 LizzieD: Keep telling me that, Peggy! At least until she outgrows her kitten craziness. ;-)
>58 jjmcgaffey:, >60 RebaRelishesReading: Close, so close. I also have one of the metal meat grinders, and my mom made the same salad for us when I was a kid, Reba. But this is a specialized food mill, a tomato press. You drop the whole tomatoes in, they are ground through a sieve at the bottom, the skin and seeds come out the side, and you get pureed tomato at the bottom. I can't remember where I found it. The vacuum seal works really well, too.
>59 sirfurboy: That's not how I use it, silly Stephen, it's only how I posed it for the photo.
So I finished book 8 of the Toby Daye series, The Winter Long, as well in preparation for receiving the 10th book from Amazon yesterday and...it didn't arrive by 8 pm like the website promised! I was devastated and my husband was totally incredulous that one could be concerned about a mere BOOK. Obviously he is not a reader. Still waiting to see if it comes in the mail this morning. In the meantime,
Book #88 The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire (358 pp.)
I went ahead and reread book 8 after rereading book 9 (above) just to refresh myself on all the little details. These books are so tightly and densely interwoven. As always, so well done and such good story. Now I'm just waiting for book 10 to appear on my doorstep.
62brenpike
>60 RebaRelishesReading: My mom used to make a beef salad (roast beef) which I loved. I don't know what happened to her food mill/grinder :(
63ronincats
Well, at least my book arrived in the morning mail!
>62 brenpike: My mom did that too, with left-over roast beef.
>62 brenpike: My mom did that too, with left-over roast beef.
65qebo
>45 ronincats: yarn stash >55 ronincats: Sybil continues to terrorize
Can you crochet in her presence?
Can you crochet in her presence?
66ronincats
>64 sibylline: Hi, Lucy1
>65 qebo: You must be kidding, Katherine. And doing beading or wirework? Better be prepared to distract her or lock her in the bathroom!
So I finished my library book before leaping into Once Broken Faith.
Book #89 Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (354 pp.)
This is book 2 of The Great Library series, in a world where the Alexandria library never burned down and the Library controls all knowledge in the world. It's a middle book which means I can't say a lot about it. I'll reserve judgment on the series until the next book is out.
But now I've leapt.
>65 qebo: You must be kidding, Katherine. And doing beading or wirework? Better be prepared to distract her or lock her in the bathroom!
So I finished my library book before leaping into Once Broken Faith.
Book #89 Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (354 pp.)
This is book 2 of The Great Library series, in a world where the Alexandria library never burned down and the Library controls all knowledge in the world. It's a middle book which means I can't say a lot about it. I'll reserve judgment on the series until the next book is out.
But now I've leapt.
67charl08
I love the idea of a tomato press. We have passata to buy in the shops here (a recent thing), so interesting to see passatutto on the side of the box. Can't find a nice red one online though!
69benitastrnad
I finished Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo last night. I had the recorded version and it was so good I couldn't wait for my morning commute to find out how the story ended. I stayed up until midnight reading the novel in bed.
This is one series that does not suffer from the second book let-down, or the wimpy ending. This one was a banger all the way! In fact, the weakest of the three novels in the series was the first. Now this is the way to end a series. The Darkling makes everybody around him suffer and the Sun Summoner barely wins the day, and then turns her back on all of it and walks off into the sunset with the guy. How that happens is quite a story. Read it and for yourself.
This is one series that does not suffer from the second book let-down, or the wimpy ending. This one was a banger all the way! In fact, the weakest of the three novels in the series was the first. Now this is the way to end a series. The Darkling makes everybody around him suffer and the Sun Summoner barely wins the day, and then turns her back on all of it and walks off into the sunset with the guy. How that happens is quite a story. Read it and for yourself.
70RebaRelishesReading
cats and knitting needles/yarn are a kick and a pain! Must be hard for someone who as crafty as you are Roni.
71ronincats
>67 charl08: I cannot remember where I found that, Charlotte, but I certainly jumped on it when I saw it.
>68 Morphidae: I thought it would fool most people, Morphy.
>69 benitastrnad: Glad the trilogy ended on a high note, Benita.
>70 RebaRelishesReading: I was stringing beads yesterday, Reba, and there wasn't a cat in sight. I wasn't going to get up to investigate the unusual occurrence, believe you me! I just enjoyed the novelty.
So I went in early to the studio today, as I only had one piece to glaze and I was not going to throw any more because I won't be there again for 3 weeks, and they would dry out too much. Here's what I brought home:
I liked both of the mugs and you can't get that good a look at them in the group picture.
I also finished the book that arrived Wednesday yesterday.
Book #90 Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire (420 pp.)
Book 10 in the Toby Daye series just keeps bringing the action on! This world just keeps getting more complex and rich. I can't give any details without spoilering earlier books, but it continues at the same high level. And there's a novella from Arlen Windermere's pov at the end as a bonus!
>68 Morphidae: I thought it would fool most people, Morphy.
>69 benitastrnad: Glad the trilogy ended on a high note, Benita.
>70 RebaRelishesReading: I was stringing beads yesterday, Reba, and there wasn't a cat in sight. I wasn't going to get up to investigate the unusual occurrence, believe you me! I just enjoyed the novelty.
So I went in early to the studio today, as I only had one piece to glaze and I was not going to throw any more because I won't be there again for 3 weeks, and they would dry out too much. Here's what I brought home:
I liked both of the mugs and you can't get that good a look at them in the group picture.
I also finished the book that arrived Wednesday yesterday.
Book #90 Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire (420 pp.)
Book 10 in the Toby Daye series just keeps bringing the action on! This world just keeps getting more complex and rich. I can't give any details without spoilering earlier books, but it continues at the same high level. And there's a novella from Arlen Windermere's pov at the end as a bonus!
72ronincats
We also stopped by the North Park library on the way home (my branch is closed for remodeling for 6 weeks) and I returned one book 2/3 read and one unread. The partially-read book was You're Never Weird on the Internet--Mary (bell7) had mentioned it, along with some other 75ers, but I needed to get it back before our trip and while I enjoyed it, I didn't need to know the rest of her memoir. And I returned Necessity without reading it because it's not a trip type of book, and I will get it again later to finish the trilogy. I brought home Dark Matter and the new Max Gladstone--I probably won't take them on the road trip but will still have time to read them when we get back. I will of course have my Kindle with its umpteen unread books on it, and am still trying to decide what physical books to take, since I will be able to leave them for my sister. I'm thinking about the Ancillary Justice trilogy, where I need to reread the first and then finish the last two, but need to look through my tbr pile before a final decision.
73jjmcgaffey
Ooh, I see a yarn bowl - no, two! I've been wanting one for ages, but being me I want to make my own, not buy one... and I'm not doing ceramics right now. Dumb, but I can't convince myself to buy one, at least not new. Maybe I'll come across one in a yard sale. That blue one is absolutely gorgeous - jewel tones.
I like the mugs. Does the blue/green one have a bit of a lip, as if it was almost a pitcher? It looks like it, in the mugs picture. It also looks huge compared to the brown one in the group picture, and then about the same size in the mugs-only one.
Lots of lovely blues and greens, and the two brown-y ones...I do love your color sense.
Yes, that's what my food mill does - I drop in, for instance, chunked and boiled (in their own juice) apples, and get applesauce out one side and skins, seeds, and stems out the other. Mine can't do anything with meat, I don't think - it doesn't have any grinder bits, just flat plates squishing the stuff against a mesh round to produce fruit puree. I haven't given mine any tomatoes to try, mostly because I love the taste of fresh tomatoes but dislike cooked ones (taste and texture both). The food mill would help with texture, but not the taste.
I like the mugs. Does the blue/green one have a bit of a lip, as if it was almost a pitcher? It looks like it, in the mugs picture. It also looks huge compared to the brown one in the group picture, and then about the same size in the mugs-only one.
Lots of lovely blues and greens, and the two brown-y ones...I do love your color sense.
Yes, that's what my food mill does - I drop in, for instance, chunked and boiled (in their own juice) apples, and get applesauce out one side and skins, seeds, and stems out the other. Mine can't do anything with meat, I don't think - it doesn't have any grinder bits, just flat plates squishing the stuff against a mesh round to produce fruit puree. I haven't given mine any tomatoes to try, mostly because I love the taste of fresh tomatoes but dislike cooked ones (taste and texture both). The food mill would help with texture, but not the taste.
74Morphidae
Love the gorgeous royal blue/sapphire bowl and the green leafy-ish bowl to the right of it.
75ronincats
>73 jjmcgaffey: Yes, the green one has a lip, and the brown one is actually taller--perspective can do weird things in photos! And thank you. Hmm, hadn't thought to use the tomato press for cooked apples. I'll have to try that. I don't like cooked tomatoes either, but don't mind tomato sauce at all, so it must be the texture for me rather than the taste.
>74 Morphidae: Thank you, Morphy.
>74 Morphidae: Thank you, Morphy.
76humouress
>36 ronincats: I just bought the DWJ, too. I didn't realise that it was (effectively) co-written until I catalogued it, but no matter; it'll just add to her canon that I seem to be building.
>71 ronincats: Oh, I see; yarn bowls. Is it hard to cut them without them falling in? I love the tails on them!
Okay; I seem to have caught up for now. Carry on!
>71 ronincats: Oh, I see; yarn bowls. Is it hard to cut them without them falling in? I love the tails on them!
Okay; I seem to have caught up for now. Carry on!
77RebaRelishesReading
That blue mug reminds me of a favorite of mine that broke last year but all of your items are lovely as usual!
78The_Hibernator
Glad your kitten got through the fixing process well! I'm dreading fixing my two kittens. Don't know if I should get them both at the same time and get it over with, or do the boy first (before he starts spraying) or what. I've never had two kittens at once before. I guess it also matters how much money I have. lol
79qebo
>78 The_Hibernator: FWIW, I had sibling male & female kittens fixed at the same time, around 6 months old.
>71 ronincats: I like the variety of blue-green items, and especially the shape of the mug.
>71 ronincats: I like the variety of blue-green items, and especially the shape of the mug.
80Crazymamie
All caught up here, Roni! LOVE the pottery - it's all gorgeous, and both of those mugs are stunning. I like that they are so different from each other.
You are reminding me that I need to get back to Toby Daye while the first one is still fresh in my mind.
You are reminding me that I need to get back to Toby Daye while the first one is still fresh in my mind.
81FAMeulstee
>71 ronincats: That is a lot of pottery, Roni, all beautiful, but I am most drawn to the deep blue bowl left of the center.
82Morphidae
>78 The_Hibernator: Whichever becomes reproductively capable first in cats - most likely the female. That's how we ended up with Maia. A neighbor had sibling dogs. She got the male fixed. Then she brought the female in and it was too late. She was pregnant.
84Donna828
Love the pottery. I love the shades of blue and green together; that color scheme always reminds me of the mountains. Evergreen trees and blue mountain lakes. I can almost smell the pine needles! Isn't it funny how we readers spend more time picking out books for trips than our choosing our clothes? I like that you share books with your sister.
85EBT1002
Roni! I've been awol and I missed that you posted a photo of the necklaces you made for me. Have I mentioned that I LOVE them? I wear one or two of them almost every day to work. They are so special and just perfect.
I hope Sybil has recovered from her surgery by now. She is so darn cute! I just love her markings.
Love the pottery, and especially the mugs so I'm glad you did a closeup of those two. I was at the Folk Arts Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway this afternoon (we saw a bear!) and I "tried on" a couple of mugs. I resisted but it was hard with one of them.
I have Ancillary Justice on my TBR shelf -- it was a gift from last year's secret santa thing. I really want to give it a try. Maybe it would be a good October read....
I hope Sybil has recovered from her surgery by now. She is so darn cute! I just love her markings.
Love the pottery, and especially the mugs so I'm glad you did a closeup of those two. I was at the Folk Arts Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway this afternoon (we saw a bear!) and I "tried on" a couple of mugs. I resisted but it was hard with one of them.
I have Ancillary Justice on my TBR shelf -- it was a gift from last year's secret santa thing. I really want to give it a try. Maybe it would be a good October read....
86ronincats
How lovely, lots of visitors! It's been a quiet day at home preparing for the upcoming trip, and putting another polyurethane coat on the latest project. My suitcase is packed a la Marie Kondo, and I'm accumulating all the stuff I absolutely have to have for the next two and a half weeks.
>76 humouress: It can be difficult. One of these, the green one, actually slumped in the glaze kiln, which it is NOT supposed to do.
>77 RebaRelishesReading: More green than blue, Reba, but quite sturdy!
>78 The_Hibernator: Rachel, call the local animal shelter and ask if there are any low cost facilities in the area. They are neutering animals earlier than they used to--with cats, it's now any time after they are over 2 pounds. The boy will be cheaper, but you don't want to have a female in heat around either.
>79 qebo: Thanks, Katherine.
>80 Crazymamie: Yes, yest, get back to Toby Daye. Remember that the second one is probably my least favorite of them all.
>81 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita. That's one of the yarn bowls.
>82 Morphidae: Good point, Morphy.
>83 weird_O: Well, Bill, it all depends on how good a seal your lips can produce! :-)
>84 Donna828: Thanks, Donna. My sharing goes back to pre-internet days, where she had no access to new books in her area, and we've just kept it up since I buy a lot more than she does. The number has gone down due to my increased library use, though.
>85 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. So glad. Here's a preview of what I'm putting in the mail on Tuesday.
I really liked Ancillary Justice and recommend it to you. I need to reread it before reading the other two books.
>76 humouress: It can be difficult. One of these, the green one, actually slumped in the glaze kiln, which it is NOT supposed to do.
>77 RebaRelishesReading: More green than blue, Reba, but quite sturdy!
>78 The_Hibernator: Rachel, call the local animal shelter and ask if there are any low cost facilities in the area. They are neutering animals earlier than they used to--with cats, it's now any time after they are over 2 pounds. The boy will be cheaper, but you don't want to have a female in heat around either.
>79 qebo: Thanks, Katherine.
>80 Crazymamie: Yes, yest, get back to Toby Daye. Remember that the second one is probably my least favorite of them all.
>81 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita. That's one of the yarn bowls.
>82 Morphidae: Good point, Morphy.
>83 weird_O: Well, Bill, it all depends on how good a seal your lips can produce! :-)
>84 Donna828: Thanks, Donna. My sharing goes back to pre-internet days, where she had no access to new books in her area, and we've just kept it up since I buy a lot more than she does. The number has gone down due to my increased library use, though.
>85 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. So glad. Here's a preview of what I'm putting in the mail on Tuesday.
I really liked Ancillary Justice and recommend it to you. I need to reread it before reading the other two books.
87weird_O
>86 ronincats: Touche!
88Morphidae
>78 The_Hibernator: >82 Morphidae: Oh! That reminds me! I have a friend who works at Golden Valley Humane Society and does a charity event that does free/low cost neutering up at Leech Lake. HE would know. Let me ask him.
89Crazymamie
The second one is your least favorite? Can I just skip it? I am guessing no.
90benitastrnad
I will second that recommendation for Ancillary Justice. That whole series is very good.
91humouress
>83 weird_O: Oh Bill - you had to go and mess up Roni's thread, didn't you?
92jjmcgaffey
>89 Crazymamie: No, you really can't. It's not just that people show up in one book and are referenced - at varying levels of important - in all the subsequent ones; things happen in each book that affect what happens later on. I agree that A Local Habitation is possibly the nastiest Toby story - but things Toby learns here are really important in later books, to the story and to Toby personally. Read it and have An Artificial Night to hand to move on, is my recommendation. That's not a light story either, but it's nicer than ALH.
93quinaquisset
>72 ronincats: My bookclub is going to read Dark Matter for next month; I have to go to the library to pick up my copy.
94ronincats
We've been busy getting ready to leave tomorrow to go back to my home town. I'll try to do some skimming evenings on the trip, but it will be intermittent.
>87 weird_O: ;-)
>88 Morphidae: Good idea, Morphy.
>89 Crazymamie: See Jenn's response in >92 jjmcgaffey:!
>90 benitastrnad: Thanks for chiming in, Benita.
>91 humouress: Thanks for looking out for me, Nina.
>92 jjmcgaffey: Excellent exposition, Jenn. I could not have said it better myself.
>93 quinaquisset: QQ, I'm going to wait until I get back to start Dark Matter, but a lot of LTers have been saying nice things about it.
I've decided that I am taking the three Leckie books and nothing else (besides the 300 books on my Kindle) because I really do want to get them read. That means I will have 4 library books here waiting when I get back to read.
>87 weird_O: ;-)
>88 Morphidae: Good idea, Morphy.
>89 Crazymamie: See Jenn's response in >92 jjmcgaffey:!
>90 benitastrnad: Thanks for chiming in, Benita.
>91 humouress: Thanks for looking out for me, Nina.
>92 jjmcgaffey: Excellent exposition, Jenn. I could not have said it better myself.
>93 quinaquisset: QQ, I'm going to wait until I get back to start Dark Matter, but a lot of LTers have been saying nice things about it.
I've decided that I am taking the three Leckie books and nothing else (besides the 300 books on my Kindle) because I really do want to get them read. That means I will have 4 library books here waiting when I get back to read.
95qebo
>94 ronincats: nothing else (besides the 300 books on my Kindle)
I hope that's enough!
I hope that's enough!
96benitastrnad
I finished listening to Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski. This was the last one in the Winner's Trilogy and while it had flashes of good thrills, it suffered from a common aliment with series, it ended this trilogy with a whimper. Since this was the recorded version part of the problem was the narrator. The accents used were so fake that by the end of the novel they got on my nerves. I have to admit that I had noticed this problem in the previous novels because I listened to them as well, but I found it really annoying with one. I think it was because the storytelling wasn't good enough to make me forget about the narration problem.
97EBT1002
I love the photo of your packing and I realize that I have packed like this for years. I had simply never thought of applying the same principle to my t-shirt drawers at home! Now I have a rainy day project for this fall. :-)
The preview made me smile smile smile! They look lovely and I can't wait to wear them. Again, thank you, Roni!
My next trip is a visit to family in Tennessee for Thanksgiving; I'm thinking to take Ancillary Justice and A Fatal Grace on that trip. They are two "vacation" sorts of reads, methinks.
Safe travels, my friend!
The preview made me smile smile smile! They look lovely and I can't wait to wear them. Again, thank you, Roni!
My next trip is a visit to family in Tennessee for Thanksgiving; I'm thinking to take Ancillary Justice and A Fatal Grace on that trip. They are two "vacation" sorts of reads, methinks.
Safe travels, my friend!
98ronincats
>95 qebo: I hope so too, Katherine.
>96 benitastrnad: I've only read her children's trilogy, Benita.
>97 EBT1002: Glad to provide you with a project, Ellen. The beads should arrive Friday.
We're in for the night in Holbrook AZ, 540 miles out of 1500.
>96 benitastrnad: I've only read her children's trilogy, Benita.
>97 EBT1002: Glad to provide you with a project, Ellen. The beads should arrive Friday.
We're in for the night in Holbrook AZ, 540 miles out of 1500.
99RebaRelishesReading
Happy travels, Roni!!
100The_Hibernator
:) Thanks everyone for the suggestions on fixing my kittens! I'm taking them in to the vet on Tuesday for a general check up, and I'll see what they have to say on the subject, too. I don't want to wait too long on Puck, and have him start spraying.
101souloftherose
Safe travels Roni and enjoy the Leckie trilogy - I loved those books and read/reread the whole trilogy back to back on one of our holidays last year.
102sibylline
Oh my! I didn't realize you haven't yet read the Leckies! Great choice, although it will make it hard to socialize here and there! You'll be sneaking off to read your book!
103Familyhistorian
Ah the dilemma of packing books for a trip. Hope you have a good one!
105Crazymamie
Safe travels, Roni. Nice job with the packing!
>92 jjmcgaffey: Thanks for that, Jennifer - it's what I figured, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
>92 jjmcgaffey: Thanks for that, Jennifer - it's what I figured, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
107foggidawn
Happy thread! I just realized that I hadn't seen you pop up in my talk feed lately, and lo and behold, it was because I missed the jump to this thread. Hope you are enjoying your trip!
108benitastrnad
I listened to the Jennifer Donnelly children's fantasy novel Deep Blue. This is the first in her Waterfire Saga series. It is aimed at middle school and tween readers and as such it might have a following. For me, as an adult reader, it just fell flat. It was preachy and heavy handed in its approach to the message about conservation of the oceans and the wildlife in it. The plot was simplistic and the characters were stock. Given the audience for this book I am willing to overlook those deficiencies because I think that children would like this novel, even if I found it to be a lightweight in the genre. Pus, this was not at all what I expected from a novel by Jennifer Donnelly. She is a much better author than displayed in this novel.
Another annoying thing was the fake accent the reader used for the recorded version of the novel. It didn't manage to convey anything to the reader because it was so obviously fake. When the reader read the book with no accent it was a descent recorded book, but with that accent it screamed fake in a great big way.
A poor reader and poor dialogue with stock characters does not make me want to pick up the next title in this series, but I would be OK with recommending it to 5th graders. It did have a delicious cover.
Another annoying thing was the fake accent the reader used for the recorded version of the novel. It didn't manage to convey anything to the reader because it was so obviously fake. When the reader read the book with no accent it was a descent recorded book, but with that accent it screamed fake in a great big way.
A poor reader and poor dialogue with stock characters does not make me want to pick up the next title in this series, but I would be OK with recommending it to 5th graders. It did have a delicious cover.
110benitastrnad
I finished reading Worldwired by Elizabeth Bear. This was the last book in the Jenny Casey trilogy and just loved this series. I will definitely be reading more of Bear. This last novel read more like a thriller with sci/fi elements than it did a straight work of sci/fi. All around, it was good stuff.
112DeltaQueen50
Roni, I have been quite horrible at keeping up with LT the last couple of weeks. Hope you enjoying your trip and the books you packed to take with you. I have all three of the Leckie books on my shelf so I will be very interested in what you think of them. I am heading out this weekend for a week or so, some time with my husband and then visiting with my Mom and other family.
113Berly
Hi Roni! Loving all your books, beads, bowls and mugs (I couldn't think of a B word)!! Hope you are having a wonderful time on your trip. : )
115RebaRelishesReading
Hope you have a fun, safe trip (and that SD has cooled off by the time you get there -- it was 102 downtown last Saturday!!!)
116Crazymamie
Safe travels, Roni!
117The_Hibernator
Hope you had a good trip, Roni.
120LizzieD
How did I lose you? I knew somehow that you were away (fb maybe?), but your thread has kept going.....
Hope the kitties were happy to see you and you them. Hope you enjoyed the Leckies. I've broken down and ordered #2. That was a bit dumb since I also have City of Blades waiting, and I certainly can't read them both at once. On the other hand, I love having them to touch!!!
Glad you're back!
Hope the kitties were happy to see you and you them. Hope you enjoyed the Leckies. I've broken down and ordered #2. That was a bit dumb since I also have City of Blades waiting, and I certainly can't read them both at once. On the other hand, I love having them to touch!!!
Glad you're back!
121ronincats
Settling in, sort of. Saturday was unpacking and pottery. Sunday was hitting the nurseries for winter garden supplies--plants, replacement soil, fertilizer. Today was cleaning house--dusting and vacuuming after being gone nearly 3 weeks, with the cats left in the house (yes, a pet-sitter came by regularly), lots of dust and fur. Until the UTI symptoms started. So far I'm managing it with cranberry supplement, but we'll see re: long-term. That pretty much stopped the high activity stuff with the kitchen still undone. I read some from a fantasy trilogy I have out from the library, but I'm craving some light reading rather than this so-far rather standard epic fantasy story. Lots to share, from pictures to narrative, but either haven't had the time or the energy. I have done some catching up on other threads, but SO far behind, that hasn't gone very quickly either.
123RebaRelishesReading
Oh dear -- no fun coming home and not feeling well. Hope you're better soon.
126dragonaria
Hope you feel better soon! Love all the craftiness! Am I turning green? just a little. And thanks for the BB's! I'll be seeking out the Great Library series soonish!
127souloftherose
Sorry to hear about the UTI Roni - get better soon!
128PaulCranswick
Glad to see you back safely but less happy to note that you are not at your best. Yasmyne has had UTI issues recently and it is no fun I know. Take care my dear and get well soon.
129thornton37814
I'm sure your fur babies were quite happy to see you.
131ronincats
Fortunately, the cranberry extract and Vitamin C seems to have worked without the need for lab test or antibiotics--what a relief! The symptoms are nearly gone now, and my energy level is starting to creep back up.
I hope to at some point acknowledge all of my visitors from the last few weeks, but for right now I'm just going to start from scratch.
September Summary: probably my worst month ever for reading. Yes, we were traveling and I can't read in a car. Yes, it's impolite to read when sitting with company and friends. But still, even before we left...
Books read: 5 Pages read: 2000
3 rereads, 2 new, one of those was a library book.
I reread books 8 and 9 of the October Daye series preparatory to receiving book 10 on the 6th, Once Broken Faith. I also read a library book, Paper and Fire, the second in The Great Library series, all in the first third of the month.
On the trip, I did get a start on my reread of Ancillary Justice, but went to the local book store, Rivendell, and picked up a paperback copy of The Goblin Emperor for my sister (I had read it from the library so hadn't sent it to her, and I wanted to patronize the store) and of course I had to reread it before I gave it to her.
I've already bought more books than I read, with three of those coming in on my Kindle today, their publication date:
Goldenhand by Garth Nix--the next book in his Abhorsen series, this brings back my favorite character Lirael.
Crosstalk by Connie Willis--because, you know, it's Connie Willis!
Nemesis by Anna Banks--saw a review of this somewhere and had to have it.
Also bought Octavia Butler's Wild Seed omnibus (4 books) for the Kindle for $1.99 and Juanita Coulson's Unto the Last Generation was free.
For my Kindle First book, they finally had a genre book after two months without and so I chose Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Mayer, an urban fantasy, for my free book of the month.
And all those are acquired in the first three days of October. That's not counting my pre-orders (the next Lady Trent memoir due out next April, the next Liaden book due out next May)
I hope to at some point acknowledge all of my visitors from the last few weeks, but for right now I'm just going to start from scratch.
September Summary: probably my worst month ever for reading. Yes, we were traveling and I can't read in a car. Yes, it's impolite to read when sitting with company and friends. But still, even before we left...
Books read: 5 Pages read: 2000
3 rereads, 2 new, one of those was a library book.
I reread books 8 and 9 of the October Daye series preparatory to receiving book 10 on the 6th, Once Broken Faith. I also read a library book, Paper and Fire, the second in The Great Library series, all in the first third of the month.
On the trip, I did get a start on my reread of Ancillary Justice, but went to the local book store, Rivendell, and picked up a paperback copy of The Goblin Emperor for my sister (I had read it from the library so hadn't sent it to her, and I wanted to patronize the store) and of course I had to reread it before I gave it to her.
I've already bought more books than I read, with three of those coming in on my Kindle today, their publication date:
Goldenhand by Garth Nix--the next book in his Abhorsen series, this brings back my favorite character Lirael.
Crosstalk by Connie Willis--because, you know, it's Connie Willis!
Nemesis by Anna Banks--saw a review of this somewhere and had to have it.
Also bought Octavia Butler's Wild Seed omnibus (4 books) for the Kindle for $1.99 and Juanita Coulson's Unto the Last Generation was free.
For my Kindle First book, they finally had a genre book after two months without and so I chose Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Mayer, an urban fantasy, for my free book of the month.
And all those are acquired in the first three days of October. That's not counting my pre-orders (the next Lady Trent memoir due out next April, the next Liaden book due out next May)
132ronincats
So, I did go to the pottery on Saturday and brought home one bowl, 10.5 inches across and 2 inches high. Here it is along with most of the crocheting I accomplished on the trip: 3 pairs of fingerless gloves, 2 hats and two cowls. I also made another hat that my mom liked so I left it with her.
And I finished my unfinished wood table project before we left, but we left it in the back yard where I had been working on it while we were gone. Here it is up front where it belongs.
And I finished my unfinished wood table project before we left, but we left it in the back yard where I had been working on it while we were gone. Here it is up front where it belongs.
133Morphidae
>131 ronincats: I'm about to read Wild Seed. Have you read it before? I read Kindred which I was rather meh on (6/10) but then I absolutely adored Bloodchild 9/10 stars. So I'm pretty uncertain about this one.
134thornton37814
The knitting and pottery both look lovely.
135ronincats
Okay, so the next installment. It's a 1500 mile drive back to my home town, so it takes about two 575 mile days and 350 at the end on the last day. This time we went through Phoenix, Flagstaff, Gallup, Albuquerque, Tucumcari, and then on two-lane up through the corner of Texas, across the panhandle of Oklahoma, and on the diagonal through Kansas from Liberal to Dodge City and on to home. The trip there was fortunately uneventful--Molly is a good little traveler and the roads were not that crowded, although the truck traffic is always heavy.
My mom is doing well, but definitely tiring more easily. She has a cadre of good friends who she socializes with at least 5 days a week through morning coffee or bridge games, as well as my sister in town. However, there were three funerals in the one full week we were back there including at least one good friend of hers--I know it comes with the age territory as well as the small town knowing everybody, but that doesn't make it easier for her. We were able to spend a lot of time with her as my sister and her husband, nephew and his wife were at work during the week and the great nephew and great nieces were in school. We made it to two home football games, as my oldest greatniece is a cheerleader and my nephew is the announcer/playcaller. Also got to Topeka to have lunch with my brother's widow, my sister-in-law, with Mom. One of the advantages (?) of being at home is that I put more stairs on my Fitbit than the whole rest of the year combined, 86 altogether for the visit. We took my aunt, the last surviving sibling of my dad, out to lunch and had breakfast with a couple of my mom's generation who used to have a native American jewelry store just outside of town that we shopped from for years--he was a friend of my dad's back when and she worked with my Mom. Mom took me to all three of her coffee get togethers to show me off to her friends. But the highlight for me was the last Monday when all 4 of my closest high school friends (there were 6 of us but one died several years ago) were together for the first time since high school for lunch and then visiting back at my mom's house. Five hours that went by way too quickly. The most elusive friend had been coming from Denver to visit her sister over the weekend, and stayed an extra day for this--it was great to see her again for the first time in 20 years.
The trip back was also fairly uneventful. The hubby had arranged to pick up some venison on the way back from a meat processing business in Larned, so had bought a big cooler and we had arranged to pick up some dry ice in Salina. 25 pounds of venison plus some sausage, pork chops and beef sirloin steaks went into that cooler, along with the dry ice. We made it through all the two-lane that first day. It was fun on I-40 that day and the next to see the vehicles pulling collapsed balloons on the way into Albuquerque for the balloon festival that weekend. Ah, btw, I am an inveterate license plate observer, a hold-over from childhood trips. I saw Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida from the Atlantic seaboard. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and of course the states we traveled through, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, from the Midwest. Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona from the West. Ontario, Baja and Sonora as well. I don't count truck trailers--half of them seem to be licensed in Maine for some reason. And it was a little early for the snowbirds from Canada and the northern states to be out.
And we stopped in Gallup and ended up buying some jewelry to match some I already owned on the second day, in the rain. Overnight at Flagstaff and then into San Diego about 3 in the afternoon. My first order of business the next morning was to clean out the refrigerator and chest freezers of mystery and freezer burned items to make room for the meat in the cooler!
Sunday, as I said above, was getting garden supplies and tearing out the zucchini and cucumber plants, which had pretty much died while we were gone due to the extreme heat. We had to replace a rosemary plant and another in our drought-resistant bed, and I got strawberry plants, swiss chard, peas, and kale, and seeds for arugula, lettuce mix, snow peas, sugar snap peas and sweet peas for the garden, plus I need to re-sow carrot seeds--only one sole plant germinated and survived from earlier plantings! Today we are going to plant the seedlings and I'll start soaking the pea seeds.
Okay, that nearly catches me up. Next post later today will recognize all of you visitors above. Oh, and I finished Goldenhand and started Crosstalk yesterday, as well as we went out to Puesto on Taco Tuesday to celebrate National Taco Day! I had Chicken al Pastor and Tuna tacos and a Negra Modelo beer.
My mom is doing well, but definitely tiring more easily. She has a cadre of good friends who she socializes with at least 5 days a week through morning coffee or bridge games, as well as my sister in town. However, there were three funerals in the one full week we were back there including at least one good friend of hers--I know it comes with the age territory as well as the small town knowing everybody, but that doesn't make it easier for her. We were able to spend a lot of time with her as my sister and her husband, nephew and his wife were at work during the week and the great nephew and great nieces were in school. We made it to two home football games, as my oldest greatniece is a cheerleader and my nephew is the announcer/playcaller. Also got to Topeka to have lunch with my brother's widow, my sister-in-law, with Mom. One of the advantages (?) of being at home is that I put more stairs on my Fitbit than the whole rest of the year combined, 86 altogether for the visit. We took my aunt, the last surviving sibling of my dad, out to lunch and had breakfast with a couple of my mom's generation who used to have a native American jewelry store just outside of town that we shopped from for years--he was a friend of my dad's back when and she worked with my Mom. Mom took me to all three of her coffee get togethers to show me off to her friends. But the highlight for me was the last Monday when all 4 of my closest high school friends (there were 6 of us but one died several years ago) were together for the first time since high school for lunch and then visiting back at my mom's house. Five hours that went by way too quickly. The most elusive friend had been coming from Denver to visit her sister over the weekend, and stayed an extra day for this--it was great to see her again for the first time in 20 years.
The trip back was also fairly uneventful. The hubby had arranged to pick up some venison on the way back from a meat processing business in Larned, so had bought a big cooler and we had arranged to pick up some dry ice in Salina. 25 pounds of venison plus some sausage, pork chops and beef sirloin steaks went into that cooler, along with the dry ice. We made it through all the two-lane that first day. It was fun on I-40 that day and the next to see the vehicles pulling collapsed balloons on the way into Albuquerque for the balloon festival that weekend. Ah, btw, I am an inveterate license plate observer, a hold-over from childhood trips. I saw Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida from the Atlantic seaboard. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and of course the states we traveled through, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, from the Midwest. Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona from the West. Ontario, Baja and Sonora as well. I don't count truck trailers--half of them seem to be licensed in Maine for some reason. And it was a little early for the snowbirds from Canada and the northern states to be out.
And we stopped in Gallup and ended up buying some jewelry to match some I already owned on the second day, in the rain. Overnight at Flagstaff and then into San Diego about 3 in the afternoon. My first order of business the next morning was to clean out the refrigerator and chest freezers of mystery and freezer burned items to make room for the meat in the cooler!
Sunday, as I said above, was getting garden supplies and tearing out the zucchini and cucumber plants, which had pretty much died while we were gone due to the extreme heat. We had to replace a rosemary plant and another in our drought-resistant bed, and I got strawberry plants, swiss chard, peas, and kale, and seeds for arugula, lettuce mix, snow peas, sugar snap peas and sweet peas for the garden, plus I need to re-sow carrot seeds--only one sole plant germinated and survived from earlier plantings! Today we are going to plant the seedlings and I'll start soaking the pea seeds.
Okay, that nearly catches me up. Next post later today will recognize all of you visitors above. Oh, and I finished Goldenhand and started Crosstalk yesterday, as well as we went out to Puesto on Taco Tuesday to celebrate National Taco Day! I had Chicken al Pastor and Tuna tacos and a Negra Modelo beer.
136RebaRelishesReading
Sounds like a fun road trip. As you know, we like those too. I heard on the news this morning that there's a Santa Ana in the SW again. Hope it doesn't get too bad. Love your knitting and bowl, too, btw :)
137LizzieD
Well, that settles it. You are Wonder Woman, Roni, and I'm left wondering how you have so much energy. Am I that much older than you???
138ronincats
I forgot to mention how surreal it was to see the tall grass prairies so green at this time of year! Usually they have completely browned off. Maybe the 9 inches of rain the area received during the month had something to do with it--that's OUR annual rainfall average, which we haven't been reaching lately.
>99 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba.
>100 The_Hibernator: Looking forward to your thinking after the vet visit , Rachel.
>101 souloftherose: I didn't make much progress, Heather, unfortunately. And now I'm home with library books to finish!
>102 sibylline: I've read the first one, Lucy, and very much enjoyed it. I waited until the third was out to read the second, and keep having difficulty creating enough space to read all three with my other commitments.
>103 Familyhistorian: Thanks for the empathy, Meg.
>104 humouress: Thanks, Nina.
>105 Crazymamie: Jenn's answer was right on, Mamie!
>108 benitastrnad: Even though I would read it rather than listen to it, preachy and heavy-handed are not favorite qualities of mine, Benita. I think I'll skip that series. Sounds like the Donita Paul books.
>109 sibylline: Thanks, Lucy.
>110 benitastrnad: I have to finish that series, Benita, having read the first two books. I do like Bear's writing a lot.
>111 EBT1002: I am so glad you love them, Ellen. I loved doing them for you.
>112 DeltaQueen50: Judy, I caught up with your thread the other day (over 100 messages) but didn't leave a comment. I'll be by soon.
>113 Berly: Thank you so much, Kim.
>115 RebaRelishesReading:, >116 Crazymamie:, >117 The_Hibernator:, >118 katiekrug: Thanks for all the good wishes for the trip home, Reba, Mamie, Rachel and Katie!
>119 EBT1002: I love that image too, Ellen.
>120 LizzieD: No, didn't say anything on Facebook about being away--a little paranoid about posting on such a public venue that the house is empty, but it's good to see you found me, Peggy.
>122 LizzieD:, >123 RebaRelishesReading:, >124 charl08:, >125 avatiakh:, >126 dragonaria:, >127 souloftherose:, >128 PaulCranswick:, >130 Morphidae: Thanks for all the good wishes about conquering the UTI, Peggy, Reba, Charlotte, Kerry, Kimberly, Heather, Paul and Morphy. The cranberry and vitamin C supplements have kept the UTI from progressing to dire straits, but during the middle of the day I still have some symptoms. I ended up taking a 90 minute nap this afternoon whereas the last two days I simply read while lying down during that time. I am confident that my body is fighting this off without antibiotics.
>129 thornton37814: The cats are very happy to have us home and have forgiven us. The baby attacked us at the front door as we arrived--the older cats took a few hours to emerge. While we were gone, the litter of wild kittens in the neighbor's back yard moved into ours. With Molly gone with us, there was no little dog to contest property rights. They've moved back across the fence now, but still come over at night to our porch or deck.
>133 Morphidae: Morphy, I haven't read the Wild Seed books, although I have read other Butlers.
>134 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori.
>136 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, it's been in the mid-70s the last three days. Friday and Saturday are supposed to warm up into the 80s at the beach, but the low 80s. Still, very dry for the next few days.
>137 LizzieD: You are older than I, Peggy. It's inescapable. But I am certainly no Wonder Woman.
Today I trimmed back the tomatoes to those vines that were still producing fruit and planted 8 strawberry plants out front where the beets had been. I also planted the pea seedlings in one of the big pots out front and chard and kale in the other raised bed, plus we planted the rosemary and the other perennial in the drought-resistant section of the yard. Tomorrow I will get the names of all the varieties and enter them into my garden plan book and the front yard plan. Then we took Molly for a short walk in Balboa Park, and then I came home and took a 90 minute nap! NOT Wonder Woman. But I am finally CAUGHT UP here on my thread! Hurrah!
>99 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba.
>100 The_Hibernator: Looking forward to your thinking after the vet visit , Rachel.
>101 souloftherose: I didn't make much progress, Heather, unfortunately. And now I'm home with library books to finish!
>102 sibylline: I've read the first one, Lucy, and very much enjoyed it. I waited until the third was out to read the second, and keep having difficulty creating enough space to read all three with my other commitments.
>103 Familyhistorian: Thanks for the empathy, Meg.
>104 humouress: Thanks, Nina.
>105 Crazymamie: Jenn's answer was right on, Mamie!
>108 benitastrnad: Even though I would read it rather than listen to it, preachy and heavy-handed are not favorite qualities of mine, Benita. I think I'll skip that series. Sounds like the Donita Paul books.
>109 sibylline: Thanks, Lucy.
>110 benitastrnad: I have to finish that series, Benita, having read the first two books. I do like Bear's writing a lot.
>111 EBT1002: I am so glad you love them, Ellen. I loved doing them for you.
>112 DeltaQueen50: Judy, I caught up with your thread the other day (over 100 messages) but didn't leave a comment. I'll be by soon.
>113 Berly: Thank you so much, Kim.
>115 RebaRelishesReading:, >116 Crazymamie:, >117 The_Hibernator:, >118 katiekrug: Thanks for all the good wishes for the trip home, Reba, Mamie, Rachel and Katie!
>119 EBT1002: I love that image too, Ellen.
>120 LizzieD: No, didn't say anything on Facebook about being away--a little paranoid about posting on such a public venue that the house is empty, but it's good to see you found me, Peggy.
>122 LizzieD:, >123 RebaRelishesReading:, >124 charl08:, >125 avatiakh:, >126 dragonaria:, >127 souloftherose:, >128 PaulCranswick:, >130 Morphidae: Thanks for all the good wishes about conquering the UTI, Peggy, Reba, Charlotte, Kerry, Kimberly, Heather, Paul and Morphy. The cranberry and vitamin C supplements have kept the UTI from progressing to dire straits, but during the middle of the day I still have some symptoms. I ended up taking a 90 minute nap this afternoon whereas the last two days I simply read while lying down during that time. I am confident that my body is fighting this off without antibiotics.
>129 thornton37814: The cats are very happy to have us home and have forgiven us. The baby attacked us at the front door as we arrived--the older cats took a few hours to emerge. While we were gone, the litter of wild kittens in the neighbor's back yard moved into ours. With Molly gone with us, there was no little dog to contest property rights. They've moved back across the fence now, but still come over at night to our porch or deck.
>133 Morphidae: Morphy, I haven't read the Wild Seed books, although I have read other Butlers.
>134 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori.
>136 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, it's been in the mid-70s the last three days. Friday and Saturday are supposed to warm up into the 80s at the beach, but the low 80s. Still, very dry for the next few days.
>137 LizzieD: You are older than I, Peggy. It's inescapable. But I am certainly no Wonder Woman.
Today I trimmed back the tomatoes to those vines that were still producing fruit and planted 8 strawberry plants out front where the beets had been. I also planted the pea seedlings in one of the big pots out front and chard and kale in the other raised bed, plus we planted the rosemary and the other perennial in the drought-resistant section of the yard. Tomorrow I will get the names of all the varieties and enter them into my garden plan book and the front yard plan. Then we took Molly for a short walk in Balboa Park, and then I came home and took a 90 minute nap! NOT Wonder Woman. But I am finally CAUGHT UP here on my thread! Hurrah!
139Morphidae
Whoo hoo! All caught up! And now I add more! Bwhahaha.
I finished Wild Seed and it was really good. I gave it 8/10 stars. Butler is such an amazing storyteller and her characters are so interesting!
I finished Wild Seed and it was really good. I gave it 8/10 stars. Butler is such an amazing storyteller and her characters are so interesting!
140ronincats
Hah! Now that I am finally caught up, having visitors is no stress, only a pleasure, Morphy. Glad to know you enjoyed Wild Seed and I look forward to it.
Just read from Publisher Weekly that Megan Whalen Turner will have a new book in the Queen's Thief series coming out next May!! It's titled Thick as Thieves, so put that on your calendar, all you lovers of Eugenides.
Just read from Publisher Weekly that Megan Whalen Turner will have a new book in the Queen's Thief series coming out next May!! It's titled Thick as Thieves, so put that on your calendar, all you lovers of Eugenides.
141Morphidae
Just to be clear, I just read Wild Seed not the omnibus. I'll have to get each of the books separately.
142ronincats
>141 Morphidae: Got that, Morphy. Just glad you liked that first one.
So, it's Saturday, and I did bring home one piece tonight. It's a little over 5" tall.
This was the last piece I had trimmed before heading back home in early September, so I glazed it last week when I got back. I hadn't thrown anything before I left because I didn't want it to dry out while I was gone. Last week I threw a storm, but with clay that was a little hard and gritty, making it difficult. Today I trimmed all of that, two large bowls, 3 soup bowls, 2 "saved" bowls that semi-collapsed due to either the poor clay or my ineptness, and a tiny dipping dish. Then I threw two large (for me) vases and 3 small bowls for shaving soap. No glazing for 2 weeks now, most likely. This all needs to dry thoroughly before being bisque fired.
Hot here today, up to 88. Two more days in the 80s before we dip back down to normal.
So, it's Saturday, and I did bring home one piece tonight. It's a little over 5" tall.
This was the last piece I had trimmed before heading back home in early September, so I glazed it last week when I got back. I hadn't thrown anything before I left because I didn't want it to dry out while I was gone. Last week I threw a storm, but with clay that was a little hard and gritty, making it difficult. Today I trimmed all of that, two large bowls, 3 soup bowls, 2 "saved" bowls that semi-collapsed due to either the poor clay or my ineptness, and a tiny dipping dish. Then I threw two large (for me) vases and 3 small bowls for shaving soap. No glazing for 2 weeks now, most likely. This all needs to dry thoroughly before being bisque fired.
Hot here today, up to 88. Two more days in the 80s before we dip back down to normal.
143ronincats
I have been reading this week, just not posting it. As mentioned in >131 ronincats:, I read the following in Kansas after picking up the paperback copy for my sister.
Book #91 The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (512 pp.)
I liked the book even more on this reread, and knowing about the index of characters at the end of the book helped immensely!
Book #92 Goldenhand by Garth Nix (368 pp.)
This is book 5 of the Old Kingdom series by this Australian author, and it brings us back to the main story line following up with Lirael and Nick several months after the close of Abhorsen. It was great to be back in this world and see more of these characters, but this book seemed more of a YA to me than the first three three despite the danger involved and the addition of a new character.
Book #93 Crosstalk by Connie Willis (512 pp.)
One of the biggest criticisms by genre readers of Willis' books involving the Oxford time-traveling team is that cell phones don't exist in that future, enabling the missed communications that drive so many of the plots. I suspect that this is Willis' response to that criticism. The book is most like her Bellwether (a favorite of mine) in that it is set in a near future with only one small technological innovation, a procedure that enables couples with an emotional connection to sense each other's feelings directly. Set in communications corporate America, Briddey has to deal with what happens when there is too MUCH communication. Oh, and it's a romantic comedy as well as satire. Enjoy.
Book #94 Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Meyer (240 pp.)
Finally, after four months, Kindle First offered up a genre book (fantasy/science fiction) among its free monthly offerings, and so I took it. My bad. This is urban fantasy by a USA Today bestselling author from Vancouver. It's basically an action film with little character development and no down time at all, short (it will be a trilogy), and very little originality beyond the original premise. At least the author picked two fairly unusual Greek monsters. So--fast, lightweight, supernatural, action-packed--maybe a beach book that you didn't have to pay for?
Book #91 The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (512 pp.)
I liked the book even more on this reread, and knowing about the index of characters at the end of the book helped immensely!
Book #92 Goldenhand by Garth Nix (368 pp.)
This is book 5 of the Old Kingdom series by this Australian author, and it brings us back to the main story line following up with Lirael and Nick several months after the close of Abhorsen. It was great to be back in this world and see more of these characters, but this book seemed more of a YA to me than the first three three despite the danger involved and the addition of a new character.
Book #93 Crosstalk by Connie Willis (512 pp.)
One of the biggest criticisms by genre readers of Willis' books involving the Oxford time-traveling team is that cell phones don't exist in that future, enabling the missed communications that drive so many of the plots. I suspect that this is Willis' response to that criticism. The book is most like her Bellwether (a favorite of mine) in that it is set in a near future with only one small technological innovation, a procedure that enables couples with an emotional connection to sense each other's feelings directly. Set in communications corporate America, Briddey has to deal with what happens when there is too MUCH communication. Oh, and it's a romantic comedy as well as satire. Enjoy.
Book #94 Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Meyer (240 pp.)
Finally, after four months, Kindle First offered up a genre book (fantasy/science fiction) among its free monthly offerings, and so I took it. My bad. This is urban fantasy by a USA Today bestselling author from Vancouver. It's basically an action film with little character development and no down time at all, short (it will be a trilogy), and very little originality beyond the original premise. At least the author picked two fairly unusual Greek monsters. So--fast, lightweight, supernatural, action-packed--maybe a beach book that you didn't have to pay for?
144Morphidae
>143 ronincats: I love Goblin Emperor. It's one of my comfort re-reads.
145PaulCranswick
>143 ronincats: & >144 Morphidae: OK The Goblin Emperor goes on the wishlist. Name sort of reminds me of an ex-boss of mine.
Have a splendid Sunday, Roni.
Have a splendid Sunday, Roni.
146jjmcgaffey
Cute little pitcher! I love the blues, they're gorgeous.
147ronincats
>144 Morphidae: Morphy, I suspect it is becoming one of mine as well. That's why I went ahead and bought a copy.
>145 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. And the titular character is actually the nicest person in the book, but the palace politics will probably remind you strongly of corporate maneuvers.
>146 jjmcgaffey: Thanks, Jenn.
Book #95 Spellwright by Blake Charlton (350 pp.)
I don't remember how this book popped up on my radar, but it doesn't appear to be from a conversation here. I think probably the release of the third and final book of the series was written up in one of my newsletters. This is epic fantasy with a really novel system of spell writing (shock!) and with an apprentice who is dyslexic. There is a huge amount of potential in the magic system and world-building and character--but it basically fell flat for me. I ended up skimming the last half of the book and won't go ahead and read the next two books which I have here from the library. I don't know if it was the writing style or that I don't really like the main character or that characters aren't really developed that much or that I didn't connect with any emotional underlay or the pacing...whatever. It's a pity, but when I went to look at the reviews before writing this, it's clear that I'm not the only one with this reaction and there are just too many good books to read to stick with so-so ones.
>145 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. And the titular character is actually the nicest person in the book, but the palace politics will probably remind you strongly of corporate maneuvers.
>146 jjmcgaffey: Thanks, Jenn.
Book #95 Spellwright by Blake Charlton (350 pp.)
I don't remember how this book popped up on my radar, but it doesn't appear to be from a conversation here. I think probably the release of the third and final book of the series was written up in one of my newsletters. This is epic fantasy with a really novel system of spell writing (shock!) and with an apprentice who is dyslexic. There is a huge amount of potential in the magic system and world-building and character--but it basically fell flat for me. I ended up skimming the last half of the book and won't go ahead and read the next two books which I have here from the library. I don't know if it was the writing style or that I don't really like the main character or that characters aren't really developed that much or that I didn't connect with any emotional underlay or the pacing...whatever. It's a pity, but when I went to look at the reviews before writing this, it's clear that I'm not the only one with this reaction and there are just too many good books to read to stick with so-so ones.
148The_Hibernator
I totally agree about having too many good books to read the so-so ones. I had a discussion about this with Morphy at our last book club meeting. She seemed to feel that most books are average, so you shouldn't skip a book just because you think it will be average. But she's a lot faster of a reader than I am, so I always make sure that a book has above average reviews before reading it. (Pretty much, I make sure it's above 3.75 stars on LibraryThing.)
149Donna828
>135 ronincats: Thanks for the trip update, Roni. That's a lot of license plates you observed. I remember doing that with my brother when we traveled in the 50s and early 60s. I'm glad you were able to meet with old friends and do so much with your family.
>142 ronincats: So pretty. I also wanted to comment on the lovely table you painted. That looks like such a relaxing place to sit and rest after you do your gardening chores. And now you have a lovely place to set your iced tea and book!
>142 ronincats: So pretty. I also wanted to comment on the lovely table you painted. That looks like such a relaxing place to sit and rest after you do your gardening chores. And now you have a lovely place to set your iced tea and book!
150EBT1002
>135 ronincats: It sounds like quite an adventure! I also love the table you painted and, of course, the vivid blues in the little pitcher in >142 ronincats:.
Have a great week, Roni!
Have a great week, Roni!
151Ameise1
Hi Roni, I can see lots of great art works. I love them. I was absent several weeks on LT but I try to do better in the future.
I wish you a great start into the new week.
I wish you a great start into the new week.
152susanj67
Roni, your trip sounds great. And I still marvel about how many days you can drive in the US and still not be all the way across it :-) I grew up in, and now live in, very narrow countries! All your crafting looks great. I particularly love the colours in the crochet. I hope you're feeling better.
153jnwelch
Hi, Roni.
I'm another fan of Goblin Emperor. I also loved the Abhorsen books, but I'm not sure what to make of the new Lirael and Nick book. Is it - simplified?
I haven't read Connie Willis in ages. Crosstalk sounds like a fun one.
I'm another fan of Goblin Emperor. I also loved the Abhorsen books, but I'm not sure what to make of the new Lirael and Nick book. Is it - simplified?
I haven't read Connie Willis in ages. Crosstalk sounds like a fun one.
154ronincats
>148 The_Hibernator: I'm sure I read a lot of average books, Rachel, but when one just isn't entertaining me, that's when I feel it's time to stop. It can be a dilemma--I am sure there are lots of authors whom I avoid based on their first book that probably got better over time.
>149 Donna828: That's when I picked up the habit, Donna. It's just become habitual now, and a game to keep it all straight in my head while I ride. And thanks for commenting on the table--I put a fair amount of work into that thrift store table. It's not great art but it is the funky interest piece I wanted out there with the chair.
>150 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Again, thanks for noting the chair and for the pottery love. Hope you are having a good work week.
>151 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara! I was gone for several weeks as well and know how hard it is to catch up here. I fear my vacation pictures are no match for yours, however.
>152 susanj67: Susan, that's only to the halfway point across the country, you realize? From San Diego (which is the furthest east point on the West Coast) to the East Coast is at least as much time again. Thank you for visiting and commenting on my crochet. I am feeling better--the UTI symptoms are all gone but I've been battling a nagging background headache for the last 24 hours.
>153 jnwelch: Joe, I can't really say what it is without spoilering. The action picks up right after The Creature in the Case and I don't think it's simplified. I love Lirael as a character, too--she's my favorite in the first three books. I just didn't get pulled into the world as completely this time, which might just be me, and then there's all the romantic pairing off of characters at the end of the book, not to mention it's very much a coming of age book for the main characters.
So, I've cleaned, priced, and repacked all my pottery for the shows on Saturday and next Thursday and am in the process of doing the same with my crochet. I got my seedlings into the ground up front--peas, kale, chard, strawberries--and planted lettuce, carrot, arugula seeds. I need to get around to the side garden with the rest of the pea seeds and the sweet pea seeds, but it was too hot over the weekend. Today is supposed to see a cool down; we shall see.
I've been in a reading slump since finishing Spellwright. I'm not ready to jump into any of my library books, nothing on my tbr pile appeals at the moment, I can't get to the Heyer I need, I want a comfort read and can't settle on anything, and I may just jump back into the reread of Ancillary Justice by default.
>149 Donna828: That's when I picked up the habit, Donna. It's just become habitual now, and a game to keep it all straight in my head while I ride. And thanks for commenting on the table--I put a fair amount of work into that thrift store table. It's not great art but it is the funky interest piece I wanted out there with the chair.
>150 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Again, thanks for noting the chair and for the pottery love. Hope you are having a good work week.
>151 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara! I was gone for several weeks as well and know how hard it is to catch up here. I fear my vacation pictures are no match for yours, however.
>152 susanj67: Susan, that's only to the halfway point across the country, you realize? From San Diego (which is the furthest east point on the West Coast) to the East Coast is at least as much time again. Thank you for visiting and commenting on my crochet. I am feeling better--the UTI symptoms are all gone but I've been battling a nagging background headache for the last 24 hours.
>153 jnwelch: Joe, I can't really say what it is without spoilering. The action picks up right after The Creature in the Case and I don't think it's simplified. I love Lirael as a character, too--she's my favorite in the first three books. I just didn't get pulled into the world as completely this time, which might just be me, and then
So, I've cleaned, priced, and repacked all my pottery for the shows on Saturday and next Thursday and am in the process of doing the same with my crochet. I got my seedlings into the ground up front--peas, kale, chard, strawberries--and planted lettuce, carrot, arugula seeds. I need to get around to the side garden with the rest of the pea seeds and the sweet pea seeds, but it was too hot over the weekend. Today is supposed to see a cool down; we shall see.
I've been in a reading slump since finishing Spellwright. I'm not ready to jump into any of my library books, nothing on my tbr pile appeals at the moment, I can't get to the Heyer I need, I want a comfort read and can't settle on anything, and I may just jump back into the reread of Ancillary Justice by default.
155Morphidae
>148 The_Hibernator: >154 ronincats: I'm not talking about other reviews when I say average. I'm talking about how I rate a book myself. I can't rate every book I read as above average* because *by definition* that would make them average. How can I truly say, this is something special if everything I rate is marked special. This is what I mean when I say most books are average. Does this make sense?
*Also, I think a lot of people think "average=bad" whereas I equate average to good. Like, I had a good meal.
*Also, I think a lot of people think "average=bad" whereas I equate average to good. Like, I had a good meal.
156ronincats
I agree with you, Morphy, about average books, as rated by me, being entertaining books work reading. I save my 4s for those that do more than that, and 5s for the few totally outstanding ones.
Reading problem solved. Stopped by the library to drop off the Spellbinder books and The Obelisk Gate was waiting for me.
Reading problem solved. Stopped by the library to drop off the Spellbinder books and The Obelisk Gate was waiting for me.
157Morphidae
>156 ronincats: Yep, exactly! A 3 means I was entertained! I enjoyed them. I "liked" them. If I "really" liked them, they get a 4. If I love them, they get a 5. (Well, I use a 1 through 10 scale, but you know what I mean.)
I use the Netflix scale not the Amazon scale.
I use the Netflix scale not the Amazon scale.
158susanj67
>154 ronincats: Roni, yes, I knew you hadn't gone all the way across. It's true what they say about the difference between the US and Europe: In the US, a hundred years is a long time. In Europe, a hundred miles is a long way :-) The Pioneer Woman on the Food Network has to drive an hour to get to the supermarket, which over here would be unthinkable, even outside big cities (unless maybe up in Scotland or somewhere very remote). Sorry your head is not co-operating - I hope the headache goes soon.
159thornton37814
>158 susanj67: I would find driving an hour to the supermarket frustrating myself. I might be able to get by if a local store was in operation nearby with essential staples.
160FAMeulstee
Hi Roni, glad you are back, catching up myself, after only a week ;-)
Nice pottery and crocheting up there & I love the painted wood table!
Nice pottery and crocheting up there & I love the painted wood table!
161DeltaQueen50
Hi Roni, I really enjoyed The Goblin Emperor when I read it earlier this year and I love the fact that it was a stand-alone book which is often difficult to find the in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Genres.
I am just the opposite of you in that I got a lot of reading done when we were away last week with the days at the remote cottage very much a reading retreat. Now that I am home my reading pace as slowed as I struggle to catch up with chores. Hubby and I are setting out again next week for a short 4 day road trip so I hope to get lots of reading done then.
I am just the opposite of you in that I got a lot of reading done when we were away last week with the days at the remote cottage very much a reading retreat. Now that I am home my reading pace as slowed as I struggle to catch up with chores. Hubby and I are setting out again next week for a short 4 day road trip so I hope to get lots of reading done then.
162Whisper1
Your road trip sounds fun. And, as always, I am in awe of your creativity. The gloves and scarves are lovely. And, your pottery is outstanding. Then, there is the wonderful necklaces.
You are a marvelous person with an abundance of talent. God has blessed you richly.
You are a marvelous person with an abundance of talent. God has blessed you richly.
163RebaRelishesReading
>158 susanj67: to be fair, she does her "big" shopping in Tulsa which is probably close to an hour from her ranch but she's close to Bartlesville which is a small city and has at least one supermarket. That said, I love your comparison of 100 years and 100 miles which is a perfect description the differences.
164benitastrnad
I have a copy of Goblin Emperor at home, so I just need to get it read sometime. Sounds like it might be a good vacation read.
165PaulCranswick
I have been getting some Sci-fi prompting from Morphy and Kerry and Alex recently. Cannot lay my hand on a copy of The Goblin Emperor but i did fold and buy a book by Peter F. Hamilton (I won't hazard what the F. stands for!) who Kerry and Alex have been touting. I maybe mellowing in my old age.
Have a lovely weekend.
Have a lovely weekend.
166Morphidae
>165 PaulCranswick: Oh, no! Is it just not available in Malaysia?
167GeezLouise
Hey Roni have a lovely week.
168ronincats
>157 Morphidae: Yes, exactly!!!
>158 susanj67: I figured you probably knew that but I also know how different perception of distance is in England compared to the US. And I figured out the headache was because I didn't have any coffee that day--caffeine withdrawal!
>159 thornton37814: Quite true, Lori.
>160 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!
>161 DeltaQueen50: A remote cottage sounds perfect for reading. So much of my time was spent with family and friends--which let me crochet but not read.
>162 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda. Your gift is with people!
>163 RebaRelishesReading: it is a great comparison, isn't it, Reba?
>164 benitastrnad: I think it would be a good vacation read, Benita.
>165 PaulCranswick: Sorry to hear you can't find a copy of The Goblin Emperor, Paul.
>166 Morphidae: My question too, Morphy.
>167 GeezLouise: You too, Rae!
So I have read two books since I was last here nearly a week ago.
Book #96 False Colours by Georgette Heyer
This is a reread-along with Liz's (lyzard) once-a-month Heyer book, and a favorite. The characters of Lady Denville and Sir Bonamy are just so inimitable!
Book #97 Breath of Earth by Beth Cato (387 pp.)
I must have read about this book on a monthly list of newly published books, as I didn't have it tagged and don't recognize any other LTers with it in their library. This is a fantasy set in San Francisco in an alternate reality where the North allied with Japan at the time of the Civil War to bring it to a quick conclusion, creating the United Pacific. Ingrid, our POV, is a female with unrecognized geomancer abilities (because only men have magic, right), serving as secretary to one of the Wardens training young geomancers and keeping the San Andreas fault stable. But when the Auxiliary is bombed, killing everyone except Ingrid and her mentor, everything falls apart. How long can San Francisco be kept stable, who is responsible, and why is the military arresting them? This is fun and exciting and an entertaining story. Book one in a series, the story is not complete in this book, but it has a natural stopping point, not a cliffhanger. Definitely recommended.
My show went well. This is the same venue I did in May, in the local organic nursery, City Farmers just half a mile from the house. He doesn't charge anything to have a booth there, so it's all profit (well, once materials and labor are taken into account). Here's the view from inside my booth--I got to watch monarchs flitting over the milkweed all day.
I sold several nice pieces of pottery, and I put all my chipped pieces in a box labeled Blooper Bargain Box--50% off marked price. AND I got rid of four of those pieces as well. Also earrings and one crochet hat. Lovely day this time (it was raining as we set up in the spring) and I had a prime location right near the entrance. Of course, I then had a pajama day yesterday as I recuperated from the full-day show.
>158 susanj67: I figured you probably knew that but I also know how different perception of distance is in England compared to the US. And I figured out the headache was because I didn't have any coffee that day--caffeine withdrawal!
>159 thornton37814: Quite true, Lori.
>160 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!
>161 DeltaQueen50: A remote cottage sounds perfect for reading. So much of my time was spent with family and friends--which let me crochet but not read.
>162 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda. Your gift is with people!
>163 RebaRelishesReading: it is a great comparison, isn't it, Reba?
>164 benitastrnad: I think it would be a good vacation read, Benita.
>165 PaulCranswick: Sorry to hear you can't find a copy of The Goblin Emperor, Paul.
>166 Morphidae: My question too, Morphy.
>167 GeezLouise: You too, Rae!
So I have read two books since I was last here nearly a week ago.
Book #96 False Colours by Georgette Heyer
This is a reread-along with Liz's (lyzard) once-a-month Heyer book, and a favorite. The characters of Lady Denville and Sir Bonamy are just so inimitable!
Book #97 Breath of Earth by Beth Cato (387 pp.)
I must have read about this book on a monthly list of newly published books, as I didn't have it tagged and don't recognize any other LTers with it in their library. This is a fantasy set in San Francisco in an alternate reality where the North allied with Japan at the time of the Civil War to bring it to a quick conclusion, creating the United Pacific. Ingrid, our POV, is a female with unrecognized geomancer abilities (because only men have magic, right), serving as secretary to one of the Wardens training young geomancers and keeping the San Andreas fault stable. But when the Auxiliary is bombed, killing everyone except Ingrid and her mentor, everything falls apart. How long can San Francisco be kept stable, who is responsible, and why is the military arresting them? This is fun and exciting and an entertaining story. Book one in a series, the story is not complete in this book, but it has a natural stopping point, not a cliffhanger. Definitely recommended.
My show went well. This is the same venue I did in May, in the local organic nursery, City Farmers just half a mile from the house. He doesn't charge anything to have a booth there, so it's all profit (well, once materials and labor are taken into account). Here's the view from inside my booth--I got to watch monarchs flitting over the milkweed all day.
I sold several nice pieces of pottery, and I put all my chipped pieces in a box labeled Blooper Bargain Box--50% off marked price. AND I got rid of four of those pieces as well. Also earrings and one crochet hat. Lovely day this time (it was raining as we set up in the spring) and I had a prime location right near the entrance. Of course, I then had a pajama day yesterday as I recuperated from the full-day show.
169Morphidae
>168 ronincats: I love your Blooper Bargain Box and it seems others do as well!
170sirfurboy
The weather in that photo still looks lovely with you. It is cooling down here so I envy you!
Breath of Earth looks interesting. I just seem to be adding to my TBR lately and not clearing much!
Breath of Earth looks interesting. I just seem to be adding to my TBR lately and not clearing much!
171sibylline
Road trip! Sounds as if it went really well. I can't imagine driving 500 plus miles in one day - it's different though here in the northeast -- you can't just get in a groove and go the way you can out west. Too much traffic, too many curves in the road, too tiring.
Love that table you painted wayyyy back up there.
Love that table you painted wayyyy back up there.
172qebo
>131 ronincats:, >143 ronincats: A new Connie Willis? Oooh, maybe this'll get me out of my reading funk. Skipping the wishlist; I'm off to order it promptly...
>168 ronincats: I got to watch monarchs flitting over the milkweed all day.
The view is sure a bonus!
>168 ronincats: I got to watch monarchs flitting over the milkweed all day.
The view is sure a bonus!
173PaulCranswick
>167 GeezLouise: & >168 ronincats: Nope it isn't in the shops here. I will order it by book depo or hang on for my next trip to the UK.
Have a great weekend, Roni.
Have a great weekend, Roni.
174ronincats
Good morning, all! Wow, I haven't posted since Monday. I had another small show on Thursday, when the temperatures climbed into the mid-90s. Needless to say, no one bought any crochet items. Yesterday was recovery day, plus I finished a hat and made half a dozen ear climbers for friends of my mom. Today, it's back to the pottery and make up some time, as I didn't go last week due to the garden show.
>169 Morphidae: Morphy, it was really popular at the garden show, but not as much interest at the other.
>170 sirfurboy: It could have cooled down here on Thursday with my blessing, Stephen! Actually, we are cooling down today--it will only reach the mid-80s. (That's 29 celsius instead of 35, for all of you like me who cannot do this in their head.)
>171 sibylline: You are right--out here it is all long straight lines and open country. And truck traffic. This time of year, the car traffic is relatively light, with the summer vacationers back at home and the snowbirds not on the road yet. Thanks for the table love--I just wanted that bit of folk art type funk out front.
>172 qebo: Hope you've located the new Willis by now. Closest in nature to Bellwether, really mostly a romantic comedy with her trademark humor. And the nursery venue is definitely a plus. Also, this warm weather has really germinated my seedlings quickly--the difficulty is in keeping the topsoil moist for them!
>173 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. You have a relaxing one, okay?
I did finish one book this week, the fifth of the Craft Sequence by Max Gladstone.
Book #98 Four Roads Cross by Max Gladstone (414 pp.)
I really cannot recommend this fantasy series enough. Tough, smart, gritty but not dark, diverse, fantastical in a completely new form, totally entertaining...what can I say? I cannot sit down and read one of these through--they are so tightly plotted and complex that I read a couple of short chapters and then let it sit until the next day--but I can't not go back and find out what happens next. This one is particularly satisfying as we go back and find out what happens with Tara after her story in the first book of the sequence.
>169 Morphidae: Morphy, it was really popular at the garden show, but not as much interest at the other.
>170 sirfurboy: It could have cooled down here on Thursday with my blessing, Stephen! Actually, we are cooling down today--it will only reach the mid-80s. (That's 29 celsius instead of 35, for all of you like me who cannot do this in their head.)
>171 sibylline: You are right--out here it is all long straight lines and open country. And truck traffic. This time of year, the car traffic is relatively light, with the summer vacationers back at home and the snowbirds not on the road yet. Thanks for the table love--I just wanted that bit of folk art type funk out front.
>172 qebo: Hope you've located the new Willis by now. Closest in nature to Bellwether, really mostly a romantic comedy with her trademark humor. And the nursery venue is definitely a plus. Also, this warm weather has really germinated my seedlings quickly--the difficulty is in keeping the topsoil moist for them!
>173 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. You have a relaxing one, okay?
I did finish one book this week, the fifth of the Craft Sequence by Max Gladstone.
Book #98 Four Roads Cross by Max Gladstone (414 pp.)
I really cannot recommend this fantasy series enough. Tough, smart, gritty but not dark, diverse, fantastical in a completely new form, totally entertaining...what can I say? I cannot sit down and read one of these through--they are so tightly plotted and complex that I read a couple of short chapters and then let it sit until the next day--but I can't not go back and find out what happens next. This one is particularly satisfying as we go back and find out what happens with Tara after her story in the first book of the sequence.
175souloftherose
Hi Roni - catching up!
>132 ronincats: That looks like a very productive trip in terms of your crochet. I like the greens and purple in the scarf/cowl in the middle of that picture. And I love the blue table in the following picture.
>142 ronincats: Those are some lovely blues in that jug.
>143 ronincats: I have Crosstalk on loan from the library (strangely no waiting list even though it's a new release - I think Willis is a lot less popular in the UK) and also have my eye on Goldenhand. I tried starting Crosstalk last week but the opening pages reminded me too much of being at work so I've put it to one side. I enjoyed Bellwether so hope I can get in the mood for it and will try again this week. And you've reminded me to check the kindle first listings in the UK and then saved me from trying Venom and Vanilla which is also on offer in the UK.
>152 susanj67: Echoing Susan's comment - I really can't get my head round how big the US is.
>174 ronincats: I've only read three books from this series but totally agree and so pleased you loved this one which is next up for me (I'm reading in chronological order). I also adore the cover art for this series.
>132 ronincats: That looks like a very productive trip in terms of your crochet. I like the greens and purple in the scarf/cowl in the middle of that picture. And I love the blue table in the following picture.
>142 ronincats: Those are some lovely blues in that jug.
>143 ronincats: I have Crosstalk on loan from the library (strangely no waiting list even though it's a new release - I think Willis is a lot less popular in the UK) and also have my eye on Goldenhand. I tried starting Crosstalk last week but the opening pages reminded me too much of being at work so I've put it to one side. I enjoyed Bellwether so hope I can get in the mood for it and will try again this week. And you've reminded me to check the kindle first listings in the UK and then saved me from trying Venom and Vanilla which is also on offer in the UK.
>152 susanj67: Echoing Susan's comment - I really can't get my head round how big the US is.
>174 ronincats: I've only read three books from this series but totally agree and so pleased you loved this one which is next up for me (I'm reading in chronological order). I also adore the cover art for this series.
176ronincats
>175 souloftherose: Hi, Heather! Good to see you on the threads this weekend. Thank you for the craft love. I think part of Willis' genius is her ability to evoke those supremely irritating everyday work situations. But she always ends up soldiering through to redemption!
Let's see. From here to the middle of Kansas is twice the distance from John o'Groats to Land's End over there, and that's halfway across the country (the US).
Oh, glad you are loving the Craft Sequence books as well! They are so well done. And I love the cover art too. There was an article or Facebook post which I cannot find where a woman posted her picture next to the latest cover, and they do indeed look very much alike.
Let's see. From here to the middle of Kansas is twice the distance from John o'Groats to Land's End over there, and that's halfway across the country (the US).
Oh, glad you are loving the Craft Sequence books as well! They are so well done. And I love the cover art too. There was an article or Facebook post which I cannot find where a woman posted her picture next to the latest cover, and they do indeed look very much alike.
177ronincats
Pulled this old favorite off my shelves for my Halloween read:
Book #99 The Goblin Reservation by Clifford D. Simak (160 pp.)
Ah, 160 pages, able to be read in an evening, blend of sf and fantasy that used to be called science fiction, one of my favorite classic sf authors (although Way Station will always be my favorite of his), this is what science fiction books were like in the 60s. I always feel like this gently humorous mystery is the ancestor of Connie Willis' time travel books. Peter Maxwell, Professor at the College of Supernatural Phenomena on Wisconsin Campus, comes home from a trip where he ended up on the wrong planet and several weeks late to find out that he had returned three weeks previously and subsequently been murdered. Reconnecting with his friends, the Neanderthal Alley Oop and Ghost, and meeting up with the young lady who is a historian in the Time Department of the college and her bio-mech companion, Sylvester the sabertooth tiger, the latter two now living in his (used-to-be) apartment, Peter is busy trying to broker a deal for the aliens who diverted him to their planet as well as mediate between the goblins and the trolls on the Supernatural Reservation and solve not only his own murder but also what the Artifact is and why it is so important to negotiations with the Wheelers. AND wraps it up in 160 pages. This is a lovely, satisfying story even now, 48 years after it was written.
But it does show its age on page 23, when it refers to "the trees, great and ancient elms that had stood since time forgotten, the sturdy sentinels of many generations" on the Wisconsin campus. Anybody remember those stately elms? Used to be one just outside my bedroom window as a child. And then they were all wiped out in just a few years--so sad.
Book #99 The Goblin Reservation by Clifford D. Simak (160 pp.)
Ah, 160 pages, able to be read in an evening, blend of sf and fantasy that used to be called science fiction, one of my favorite classic sf authors (although Way Station will always be my favorite of his), this is what science fiction books were like in the 60s. I always feel like this gently humorous mystery is the ancestor of Connie Willis' time travel books. Peter Maxwell, Professor at the College of Supernatural Phenomena on Wisconsin Campus, comes home from a trip where he ended up on the wrong planet and several weeks late to find out that he had returned three weeks previously and subsequently been murdered. Reconnecting with his friends, the Neanderthal Alley Oop and Ghost, and meeting up with the young lady who is a historian in the Time Department of the college and her bio-mech companion, Sylvester the sabertooth tiger, the latter two now living in his (used-to-be) apartment, Peter is busy trying to broker a deal for the aliens who diverted him to their planet as well as mediate between the goblins and the trolls on the Supernatural Reservation and solve not only his own murder but also what the Artifact is and why it is so important to negotiations with the Wheelers. AND wraps it up in 160 pages. This is a lovely, satisfying story even now, 48 years after it was written.
But it does show its age on page 23, when it refers to "the trees, great and ancient elms that had stood since time forgotten, the sturdy sentinels of many generations" on the Wisconsin campus. Anybody remember those stately elms? Used to be one just outside my bedroom window as a child. And then they were all wiped out in just a few years--so sad.
178ronincats
So, tomorrow is my 9th Thingaversary, and we stopped by Mysterious Galaxy today on the way home from the Harvest Festival, a fortuitous circumstance. And so I splurged a little. Of course, I already had picked up some Kindle books on the 3rd in anticipation, and one coming out on Tuesday. Here's the list.
Today I bought these 5 physical books:
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin--I have this from the library but knew I wanted a trade paperback to go with the Hugo-award winning first book of the series that I own.
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher--I knew that I wanted to own this when it came out in paperback, and so I could share it with my sister.
Poison or Protect by Gail Carriger--probably paid too much for this novella but, hey, it's Carriger.
The Copper Promise by Jen Williams--had this on my Amazon wishlist for the Kindle, but again, a Thingaversary splurge.
Linesman by S. K. Dunstall--an interesting sounding space opera that caught my eye.
On the third, I bought these newly published books for my Kindle:
Crosstalk by Connie Willis
Goldenhand by Garth Nix
Nemesis by Anna Banks--sounded interesting but I started it and don't like the voices it's told in, so sorry I paid for it.
And Tuesday the next Cast in book by Michelle Sagara, Cast in Flight, comes out, 12th in that series I was warbling about earlier this year, and it will magically appear on my Kindle!
Today I bought these 5 physical books:
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin--I have this from the library but knew I wanted a trade paperback to go with the Hugo-award winning first book of the series that I own.
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher--I knew that I wanted to own this when it came out in paperback, and so I could share it with my sister.
Poison or Protect by Gail Carriger--probably paid too much for this novella but, hey, it's Carriger.
The Copper Promise by Jen Williams--had this on my Amazon wishlist for the Kindle, but again, a Thingaversary splurge.
Linesman by S. K. Dunstall--an interesting sounding space opera that caught my eye.
On the third, I bought these newly published books for my Kindle:
Crosstalk by Connie Willis
Goldenhand by Garth Nix
Nemesis by Anna Banks--sounded interesting but I started it and don't like the voices it's told in, so sorry I paid for it.
And Tuesday the next Cast in book by Michelle Sagara, Cast in Flight, comes out, 12th in that series I was warbling about earlier this year, and it will magically appear on my Kindle!
179ronincats
The observant will note that I have not picked up my bonus book yet, and I am waffling between these two books on Amazon:
Build your own wire pendants or Wire jewelry masterclass: wrapped, coiled and woven pieces using fine materials (I love the bracelet on the cover)
Which one should I get?
Build your own wire pendants or Wire jewelry masterclass: wrapped, coiled and woven pieces using fine materials (I love the bracelet on the cover)
Which one should I get?
180EBT1002
I keep wanting to read one of your recommendations. I'm looking at the Craft Series. Max Gladwell. Hmmm.....
This football game that you and I are both watching is a comedy of errors. Frankly, neither team deserves a win!
But I still want one....
This football game that you and I are both watching is a comedy of errors. Frankly, neither team deserves a win!
But I still want one....
181brenpike
Happy 9th Roni! I think I would choose the (latter) Abby Hook book because of the bracelet on the cover :)
182EBT1002
Happy Thingaversary, Roni!!!! I just explained Thingaversaries to P and she said "well, but what if you already have a lot of books to read?" I looked blankly at her. ;-)
Thanks for watching that horrible game with me. I haven't even been drinking and I feel like I'll have a hangover tomorrow.
Thanks for watching that horrible game with me. I haven't even been drinking and I feel like I'll have a hangover tomorrow.
183EBT1002
And I put Three Parts Dead on hold at the library. We'll see if I can shoehorn it in among the other things I "need" to read before they are due back.
184ronincats
I DID have a glass of wine with the game and, believe me, it didn't really help any. ;-)
I'm staring blankly at P as well. It's not like I didn't have nearly 300 books in the tbr pile already.
And hurrah for trying a gladstone--stick with it and it will reward you!
>181 brenpike: Hi, Brenda. Thanks for chiming in and voting! What are you doing up so late?
I'm staring blankly at P as well. It's not like I didn't have nearly 300 books in the tbr pile already.
And hurrah for trying a gladstone--stick with it and it will reward you!
>181 brenpike: Hi, Brenda. Thanks for chiming in and voting! What are you doing up so late?
185jjmcgaffey
Huh. I thought I owned Goblin Reservation...seems not. How annoying, the book sale is just over. Well, I'll keep an eye out for it - that sounds weird and wonderful.
186brenpike
>184 ronincats: I'm a bit of a night owl and besides that, I took a nice long nap today after the grandkids left :)
188Morphidae
>174 ronincats: Should I read the Craft Sequence in publication or chronological order?
189DeltaQueen50
Hi Roni, I have no advice to give you on your craft book choice but I agree that the bracelet on the cover of "Wire Jewellery: Master Class" is gorgeous! I loved Way Station when I read it not all that long ago so I must track down more of Clifford D. Simak's books. I am currently in the midst of setting up my 2017 thread at the Category Challenge and I am happy to say we are going to continue with the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Monthly Themes, we have some interesting ones planned.
190Crazymamie
Jumping down here to say a quick hello and offer my opinion. I still have to catch up with you, which I will have to do after dinner, as we are in the middle of preparing it. I think both books look great - guess I would lean toward the one with the bracelet on the front. SO fabulous!
*Back in a bit!
*Back in a bit!
191ChelleBearss
>142 ronincats: wow, Roni, I love all your pottery! I took a class on slab pottery a few months and it was fun although I didn't like my finished product. I'd like to try a wheel class this winter if I can get it to work around my work schedule!
192Crazymamie
Okay. All caught up, and now I am exhausted - you have been VERY busy! I love all the beautiful things that you are making and had fun reading about your adventures. A belated Happy Thinga to you! Nicely done with the book choosing. I also loved The Goblin Emperor! Such a great book. And I have the first book in that Max Gladstone series, so I am excited to get to it.
193RebaRelishesReading
>179 ronincats: I'd vote for the top book and hope you make that fantastic turquoise one shown at the top right quadrant. I love that!!
Oops, correct that to "left side" -- don't know what I was thinking yesterday
Oops, correct that to "left side" -- don't know what I was thinking yesterday
194ronincats
>185 jjmcgaffey: It is dated, Jenn, but gently so and still quite enjoyable.
>186 brenpike: Quite a night owl even with the nap, Brenda!
>187 katiekrug: Thank, Katie. Hope the packing went well today and another Happy Anniversary!
>188 Morphidae: I'd say read the first book published and then go to the chronological order, simply because I liked how the first acquainted you with the world. Here's what the author has to say:
http://www.tor.com/2014/05/26/this-is-how-i-numbered-my-books-and-im-sorry/
>189 DeltaQueen50: Judy, you started with the best, but his gently humorous books like this one and The Werewolf Principle still reward reading. I'm not over in the Category Challenge and keep forgetting to check for that thread, so anytime you can post a link I will appreciate it!
>190 Crazymamie:, >192 Crazymamie: So kind of you to come over during dinner prep, and even better that you came back! Thanks for the vote and I'm so thrilled that you are starting the Gladstone books as well.
>191 ChelleBearss: Chelle, it's so wonderful to have you back! But I'm not sure how well pottery production goes with an active toddler. ;-)
>192 Crazymamie: Well, only 3 votes in, and you are the contrary one. But I like that pendant too.
Today we just relaxed, listened to the rain for the 15 minutes that it rained, and I read one of my new books.
Book #99 Poison or Protect by Gail Carriger (190 pp.)
This is a straight-up R-rated romance featuring a side character from the Etiquette & Espionage series. Being a novella, it has a rather limited plot. Recommended only for Carriger devotees.
>186 brenpike: Quite a night owl even with the nap, Brenda!
>187 katiekrug: Thank, Katie. Hope the packing went well today and another Happy Anniversary!
>188 Morphidae: I'd say read the first book published and then go to the chronological order, simply because I liked how the first acquainted you with the world. Here's what the author has to say:
http://www.tor.com/2014/05/26/this-is-how-i-numbered-my-books-and-im-sorry/
>189 DeltaQueen50: Judy, you started with the best, but his gently humorous books like this one and The Werewolf Principle still reward reading. I'm not over in the Category Challenge and keep forgetting to check for that thread, so anytime you can post a link I will appreciate it!
>190 Crazymamie:, >192 Crazymamie: So kind of you to come over during dinner prep, and even better that you came back! Thanks for the vote and I'm so thrilled that you are starting the Gladstone books as well.
>191 ChelleBearss: Chelle, it's so wonderful to have you back! But I'm not sure how well pottery production goes with an active toddler. ;-)
>192 Crazymamie: Well, only 3 votes in, and you are the contrary one. But I like that pendant too.
Today we just relaxed, listened to the rain for the 15 minutes that it rained, and I read one of my new books.
Book #99 Poison or Protect by Gail Carriger (190 pp.)
This is a straight-up R-rated romance featuring a side character from the Etiquette & Espionage series. Being a novella, it has a rather limited plot. Recommended only for Carriger devotees.
195jnwelch
Hi, Roni.
I keep meaning to read Way Station. I've read other Simak, but never that one. Your enthusiasm is giving me the needed push.
I keep meaning to read Way Station. I've read other Simak, but never that one. Your enthusiasm is giving me the needed push.
197Familyhistorian
Catching up with your thread and feeling somewhat breathless after reading all that you have been up to, Roni. About your book choice, the bracelet on the second book is beautiful but I would prefer to know what is inside before recommending either. Are there any reviews?
198ronincats
>195 jnwelch: It's a special book, Joe. Do it!
>196 charl08: You aren't any help, Charlotte!
>197 Familyhistorian: The first book is rated at 4.5 on Amazon, the second at 5.0. I'd love to know more about what is inside as well, but unfortunately that's a disadvantage of online shopping.
>196 charl08: You aren't any help, Charlotte!
>197 Familyhistorian: The first book is rated at 4.5 on Amazon, the second at 5.0. I'd love to know more about what is inside as well, but unfortunately that's a disadvantage of online shopping.
199ronincats
Book #100 Cast in Flight by Michelle Sagara (544 pp.)
Many of you may remember that I gobbled my way through the first 11 books of Sagara's Elantra series earlier this year. The 12th book was released at midnight EDT yesterday, which means it showed up on my Kindle at 9 local time, and I got through a third of the book then, and finished it last night. It continues straight on from where Cast in Honor let up and resolves one of the plot lines initiated there--but this is a continuing story and there are plenty left to follow up on! Can't say anything specific without spoilers for prior books, but this is just fun entertaining fantasy.
200ronincats
So, today I finally am roasting the sugar pumpkin I picked up a few weeks ago and trying the food processor pie dough recipe that Amber shared, with the end product being a fresh pumpkin pie and then left-over puree for which there are lots and lots of ideas in the magazines. It won't be the last pumpkin dish made from this puree.
I also plan on sorting out my seed packets. I tend to not use a complete packet, not having a large garden space, and to stuff them into the gardening cabinet, so I have seeds that are at least 10 years old in there. I need to replant my sugar snaps, as the ones I planted didn't come up well, so that is the impetus.
I also plan on sorting out my seed packets. I tend to not use a complete packet, not having a large garden space, and to stuff them into the gardening cabinet, so I have seeds that are at least 10 years old in there. I need to replant my sugar snaps, as the ones I planted didn't come up well, so that is the impetus.
201ronincats
Oops, forgot to record this one that I read before the Carriger.
Book #101 Psion by Joan D. Vinge (346 pp.)
This used to be a favorite back in the 80s, and I picked it up for a fill-in read before all my recent acquisitions. But I think it is showing its age, thematically. Vinge is a good writer--her The Summer Queen is deservedly a classic--but this take on telepaths now feels out-dated.
Book #101 Psion by Joan D. Vinge (346 pp.)
This used to be a favorite back in the 80s, and I picked it up for a fill-in read before all my recent acquisitions. But I think it is showing its age, thematically. Vinge is a good writer--her The Summer Queen is deservedly a classic--but this take on telepaths now feels out-dated.
202Crazymamie
Roni, congrats on passing 100 books read!! And fresh pumpkin pie!! YUM!
204RBeffa
>177 ronincats: Well that was a great idea for a re-read. I devoured Simak's books for quite a few years. His was a unique style among SFF authors. 60's and 70's paperbacks had a lot going for them.
205RebaRelishesReading
Wow, 100 books. Congratulations!
208ronincats
Thank you, Mamie, Joe, Reba, Jenn and Carrie! Ron, Simak was one of my very early influences.
Well, gang, you were seriously ineffective at helping me choose the bonus book for my Thingaversary earlier this week. (See >179 ronincats:) Honestly, people, what's a gal to do? Well, I did the obvious and ordered both, they arrived today, and I think the pendant book is going to be the most useful.
Well, gang, you were seriously ineffective at helping me choose the bonus book for my Thingaversary earlier this week. (See >179 ronincats:) Honestly, people, what's a gal to do? Well, I did the obvious and ordered both, they arrived today, and I think the pendant book is going to be the most useful.
209benitastrnad
I am slowly reading my way through Child of a Hidden Sea by A.M. Dellamonica. This is the one I am reading during my lunch time at work and it has been a good solid fantasy read. The reviews of it were very good and I think they were right on target with this one. I will most certainly read the sequel.
210charl08
Congrats on the 100 books! And glad you got some nice books for your thingaversary.
Your seed plans sound very organised. Hoping to have a bit more luck with succession planting next year.
Your seed plans sound very organised. Hoping to have a bit more luck with succession planting next year.
211cal8769
>208 ronincats: I missed the challenge but I'm willing to help now. I love the cover of the 2nd book. That is a beautiful piece!
212Crazymamie
>208 ronincats: Good thinking, Roni!
213FAMeulstee
100 books, congrats Roni!
>179 ronincats: & >208 ronincats: I have been staring at those two covers and really could not decide... so I think you did the best: buy both :-)
>179 ronincats: & >208 ronincats: I have been staring at those two covers and really could not decide... so I think you did the best: buy both :-)
216DeltaQueen50
LOL Roni! Somehow I knew that you would end up with both books. I totally understand not being able to decide between books and going with both - I suspect most of us around LT know all about that!
217eclecticdodo
ooh, I only just noticed - 100 books - well done!
218ronincats
>209 benitastrnad: I haven't read anything by that author, Benita. I'll have to give it a try.
Thank you, Charlotte, Anita, Beth, Mary, and Jo, for the 100 book love.
Mamie and Judy, isn't that the LT way?
Carrie, better late than never! And thanks, Beth, for noticing (and loving) my table.
Here's the haul from the pottery yesterday.
Thank you, Charlotte, Anita, Beth, Mary, and Jo, for the 100 book love.
Mamie and Judy, isn't that the LT way?
Carrie, better late than never! And thanks, Beth, for noticing (and loving) my table.
Here's the haul from the pottery yesterday.
219ChelleBearss
wow, great pottery haul!! I just love the green glazes best!
220eclecticdodo
beautiful. The wavy edged blue green to bottom left is my favourite. Such rich colours
222souloftherose
Congratulations on reading 100 books! Also a fan of the red bowl.
223luvamystery65
Congratulations on 100 books read Ro! Also, Happy belated Thingaversary.
I love love love your table that you fixed up for your garden.
I wish I lived closer to pick up some of your crochet items. When I was in WA I picked up 2 knit scarves and a poncho. The poncho is gorgeous in blues and greens. She spinned and dyed her own yarn. So lovely. She warned me of the price, but I told her my mom crocheted and I know how much work goes into handmade items. It's my treasure.
I love love love your table that you fixed up for your garden.
I wish I lived closer to pick up some of your crochet items. When I was in WA I picked up 2 knit scarves and a poncho. The poncho is gorgeous in blues and greens. She spinned and dyed her own yarn. So lovely. She warned me of the price, but I told her my mom crocheted and I know how much work goes into handmade items. It's my treasure.
224nittnut
>218 ronincats: Oooh. I love the pottery. I think my favorite is the biggest one - greens and browns? Love how the glaze turned out. My crafting is limited to knitting dishcloths at the moment. I need them very badly, and most of my stuff is on a boat still. Sigh. I do have a lovely merino wrap in the works, but it's been too hot to have merino on my lap.
226The_Hibernator
As usual, love the bowls.
227Donna828
Hi Roni. I'm too late to vote on the jewelry book. You came up with the perfect solution! I'm also late for your Thingaversary and congrats on 100 books. I love that you had a craft show in a garden center...and so close to home. Btw, I posted a couple of Hope pics on my thread.
229Crazymamie
>218 ronincats: Gorgeous!
Happy Halloween, Roni! I have started A Closed and Common Orbit, the follow-up to The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - really liking it so far.
Happy Halloween, Roni! I have started A Closed and Common Orbit, the follow-up to The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - really liking it so far.
230kidzdoc
>218 ronincats: Fabulous pottery pieces, Roni! I especially like (and could definitely use) the two largest bowls.
231ronincats
Thank you for visiting and commenting, Chelle, Jo, Morphy, Heather, Ro, Jenn, Brenda, Rachel, Donna, Lucy, Mamie, and Darryl.
I wish you lived closer as well, Ro, but know that I am more willing to ship crochet and jewelry items than pottery, only because the latter is so outrageously expensive to ship. I do small items because the yarn for bigger items such as ponchos is more expensive than people are generally willing to pay, and that is before the labor involved. Your poncho sounds beautiful. I have a hand-woven ruana that is a work of art.
Jenn, I'm glad you are settled in enough to be doing any handwork!
Saw the Hope pictures, Donna. I need to get back there to comment!
Mamie, Katie posted that The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet is on sale for $1.99 for the Kindle today. Since I'm still on the waiting list for it at the library, I went ahead and bought it.
San Diego Magazine has reviewed the following books for November.
I wish you lived closer as well, Ro, but know that I am more willing to ship crochet and jewelry items than pottery, only because the latter is so outrageously expensive to ship. I do small items because the yarn for bigger items such as ponchos is more expensive than people are generally willing to pay, and that is before the labor involved. Your poncho sounds beautiful. I have a hand-woven ruana that is a work of art.
Jenn, I'm glad you are settled in enough to be doing any handwork!
Saw the Hope pictures, Donna. I need to get back there to comment!
Mamie, Katie posted that The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet is on sale for $1.99 for the Kindle today. Since I'm still on the waiting list for it at the library, I went ahead and bought it.
San Diego Magazine has reviewed the following books for November.
232ronincats
October reading has picked up from September to average.
Goldenhand Nix, Garth Oct 5, 2016 Kindle 368
Crosstalk Willis, Connie Oct 7, 2016 Kindle 512
Spellwright Charlton, Blake Oct 8, 2016 hb 350
Venom & Vanilla Mayer, Shannon Oct 10, 2016 Kindle 240
False Colours Heyer, Georgette Oct 14, 2016 Kindle 355
Breath of Earth Cato, Beth Oct 16, 2016 tpb 387
Four Roads Cross Gladstone, Max Oct 20, 2016 hb 414
The Goblin Reservation Simak, Clifford Oct 22, 2016 mmpb 160
Psion Vinge, Joan Oct 24, 2016 mmpb 346
Cast in Flight Sagara, Michelle Oct 25, 2016 Kindle 544
Poison or Protect Carriger, Gail Oct 26, 2016 tpb 160
And acquisitions were above average, thanks to my Thingaversary.
Seed to Harvest Butler, Octavia Oct 2, 2016 Amazon
Crosstalk Willis, Connie Oct 3, 2016 Amazon
Goldenhand Nix, Garth Oct 3, 2016 Amazon
Nemesis Banks, Anna Oct 3, 2016 Amazon
Ash & Bramble Prineas, Sarah Oct 16, 2016 Amazon
The Obelisk Gate Jemisin, N. K. Oct 23, 2016 MG
The Cinder Spires Butcher, Jim Oct 23, 2016 MG
The Copper Promise Williams, Jen Oct 23, 2016 MG
Poison or Protect Carriger, Gail Oct 23, 2016 MG
Linesman Dunstall, S. K. Oct 23, 2016 MG
I'm doing really lousy at reading books already on my shelves. I've read 35 of the 57 bought so far this year.
233ronincats
So, I was looking for this on tor.com when discussing Four Roads Cross above, because I thought it was so amazing. I couldn't find it, though, until Tor reposted it because actress Stephanie Rae Cross carried it further and dressed up as the viewpoint character Tara for Halloween.
http://www.tor.com/2016/09/29/real-life-actor-stephanie-ray-glass-sees-herself-i...
Actor Stephanie Ray Glass shared this delightful side-by-side comparison with the Craft Sequence’s badass necromancer Tara Abernathy! It’s good to know that there are real Max Gladstone characters living and walking among us… although hopefully the King in Red will choose to remain fictional.
http://www.tor.com/2016/09/29/real-life-actor-stephanie-ray-glass-sees-herself-i...
Actor Stephanie Ray Glass shared this delightful side-by-side comparison with the Craft Sequence’s badass necromancer Tara Abernathy! It’s good to know that there are real Max Gladstone characters living and walking among us… although hopefully the King in Red will choose to remain fictional.
234jnwelch
>233 ronincats: "Like"
235ronincats
>234 jnwelch: I thought you would, Joe. ;-)
So, I've been doing other stuff and minimal reading this week. Sunday I fixed pumpkin-apple pancakes and sausage lasagna, along with cleaning the kitchen. Yesterday I finally cleared off the dining room table, that horizontal surface that attracts all the incidental flotsam of the living space, which took most of the day as it involved actually putting away all the stuff on it. Plus, I had made the mistake the day before of pulling out my recipe drawer, that drawer in which I stuff all the recipes I think I might make some day, so I had added that to the tabletop clutter. I threw away about a third and sorted the others by type and put in plastic sheet protectors (the whole group in one sheet) and put that away as well. Today I baked an apple pie with our apples and pears and made a potato-spinach soup with ham for dinner, and did all my laundry in between.
What I should be doing is jewelry because my big show is in two weeks. And studying our humongous ballot.
I'm working on a bunch of books, making slow progress. My bathtub books are the reread of Ancillary Justice and the nonfiction The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction, while on the nightstand are The Copper Promise, Ash & Bramble, and The Obelisk Gate.
So, I've been doing other stuff and minimal reading this week. Sunday I fixed pumpkin-apple pancakes and sausage lasagna, along with cleaning the kitchen. Yesterday I finally cleared off the dining room table, that horizontal surface that attracts all the incidental flotsam of the living space, which took most of the day as it involved actually putting away all the stuff on it. Plus, I had made the mistake the day before of pulling out my recipe drawer, that drawer in which I stuff all the recipes I think I might make some day, so I had added that to the tabletop clutter. I threw away about a third and sorted the others by type and put in plastic sheet protectors (the whole group in one sheet) and put that away as well. Today I baked an apple pie with our apples and pears and made a potato-spinach soup with ham for dinner, and did all my laundry in between.
What I should be doing is jewelry because my big show is in two weeks. And studying our humongous ballot.
I'm working on a bunch of books, making slow progress. My bathtub books are the reread of Ancillary Justice and the nonfiction The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction, while on the nightstand are The Copper Promise, Ash & Bramble, and The Obelisk Gate.
236ronincats
Oh, and for the third month in a row, the Early Reviewers selection rubric has refused to let me have a copy of Hag-Seed.
237charl08
>236 ronincats: Boo! Hope you get hold of a copy soon.
238jnwelch
Did you read the 5th Wave books, Roni? I'm on the last one now. So far it's been a good series.
240Crazymamie
Morning, Roni! Nice lineup of books - I have read exactly zero of those, but I do have Ancillary Justice in the stacks. You have been busy lately - I am drooling over your culinary adventures. All of those meals sounded great! Your recipe drawer story made me smile - we keep ours in a 3-ring binder in page protectors so it's easy to add and remove them.
241DeltaQueen50
Hi Roni, I, too, like your lineup of current reads. I have the Ancillary Justice trilogy on my shelf and hope to get to them soon. Ash & Bramble has also caught my attention as I do love those re-worked fairytales!
242ronincats
>237 charl08: At this point, Charlotte, I'll just wait to get a library copy. Thanks for the sympathy.
>238 jnwelch: Not one with which I am familiar, Joe. I'll check it out.
>239 Morphidae: See below, Morphy.
>240 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. AJ is a reread, a necessary reread as I have the other two books of the trilogy on the TBR pile, which is why it is probably going slowly. I'm just having trouble getting immersed in story (any story) right now.
>241 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. I loved Prineas' middle school books, The Magic Thief series---delightful and original. This one is much more complex and dark, playing around with the ideas of fairy tale tropes. Which is what's kept me from being immersed, but until I finish, I don't know if it's a plus or a minus.
So, I just spent a couple of hours reviewing my sample ballot and the 500 pages of supporting information. Thank heavens for the Voters Edge website, which summarized, told me not only who supported state props but also where the money was coming from pro and con, and provided all the links to news and analysis articles in print around the state for each one. Without that, this would have taken days not hours. I had 41 decisions to make, of which 10 were candidates (but no judges, we cleared them out in June) and the other 31 were state and local propositions. I still have a few undecideds, but 9/10 and 23/31 are done.
>238 jnwelch: Not one with which I am familiar, Joe. I'll check it out.
>239 Morphidae: See below, Morphy.
>240 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. AJ is a reread, a necessary reread as I have the other two books of the trilogy on the TBR pile, which is why it is probably going slowly. I'm just having trouble getting immersed in story (any story) right now.
>241 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. I loved Prineas' middle school books, The Magic Thief series---delightful and original. This one is much more complex and dark, playing around with the ideas of fairy tale tropes. Which is what's kept me from being immersed, but until I finish, I don't know if it's a plus or a minus.
So, I just spent a couple of hours reviewing my sample ballot and the 500 pages of supporting information. Thank heavens for the Voters Edge website, which summarized, told me not only who supported state props but also where the money was coming from pro and con, and provided all the links to news and analysis articles in print around the state for each one. Without that, this would have taken days not hours. I had 41 decisions to make, of which 10 were candidates (but no judges, we cleared them out in June) and the other 31 were state and local propositions. I still have a few undecideds, but 9/10 and 23/31 are done.
243Morphidae
>242 ronincats: Oof. I think we only had two propositions. I only had to do research for two judges and the local city council. I voted party lines for federal and state. I think it took me about an hour.
244FAMeulstee
>242 ronincats: That ballot sounds complicated, Roni.
We have seperate elections for Local government, Provincial government, National parliament and European parliament (oh and once in a while a referendum). In all cases we get an invoke to vote send at our home and go vote on that day. You can convert your invoke to vote somewhere else or to vote by mail.
We have seperate elections for Local government, Provincial government, National parliament and European parliament (oh and once in a while a referendum). In all cases we get an invoke to vote send at our home and go vote on that day. You can convert your invoke to vote somewhere else or to vote by mail.
245archerygirl
Breath of Earth sounds interesting - I've put in a suggestion for it at my local library, as they don't have a copy yet. And I've finally put a hold on A Long Way to a Small and Angry Planet, because everyone seems to love it so much and I can't resist any more.
I started reading Crosstalk a couple of days ago and I'm enjoying it, although I'm finding it a little stressful, too, because the constant messages and emails and demans on Briddy feel a little too close to reality! If you haven't cracked it open yet, you should read The Obelisk Gate pronto. I enjoyed it even more than The Fifth Season, if that's possible.
(I'm slowly trying to catch up on LT threads after life made me lose track for a few months. Sloooowly.)
I started reading Crosstalk a couple of days ago and I'm enjoying it, although I'm finding it a little stressful, too, because the constant messages and emails and demans on Briddy feel a little too close to reality! If you haven't cracked it open yet, you should read The Obelisk Gate pronto. I enjoyed it even more than The Fifth Season, if that's possible.
(I'm slowly trying to catch up on LT threads after life made me lose track for a few months. Sloooowly.)
246benitastrnad
The Dellamonica book is the first in a trilogy. It had great reviews when it came out. The second in the series is now out, with the third still to be published. Child of a Hidden Sea is my work book. I keep it on my desk to read during my lunch hour, but since I have not had enough time to take lunch for the last month I am not making much progress on it. I have read about 100 pages and it is very interesting so far. The plot is just getting started so it will be interesting to see where she takes it. I'll let you know how I like it when I finish.
247The_Hibernator
Sorry you didn't get a copy of Hag-Seed. I've been hearing such great things about it!
248ronincats
Book #102 Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas (469 pp.)
This is not so much a fairytale retelling as a story about characters attempting to escape the structure of Faery. As such, it alludes to multiple fairy tales as the main characters fight for independence in lieu of being forced into a fairy-tale ending. I don't know that it succeeds as a compelling story, but I think that I would have loved it as a middle-grader!
Judy, the most engrossing and creative fairy tale retelling I have encountered this year is Toads and Diamonds, so look for that if you haven't read it.
Book #103 Penric's Mission by Lois McMaster Bujold (145 pp.)
Bujold published the third e-novella of Penric's adventures this week. I would recommend starting books in the Five Gods World with The Curse of Chalion in order to have both a deeper and broader introduction into the way this world works, but you can read these anytime after that book. This book was less satisfying to me than the prior two; it seemed unfinished, but incomplete Bujold is better than complete almost anyone else.
249PaulCranswick
>248 ronincats: Lois McMaster Bujold is someone I have seen on the bookstore shelves for a good while without knowing where to start. Any ideas Roni?
I trust that your weekend has been a good one.
I trust that your weekend has been a good one.
250ronincats
>243 Morphidae: These stupid props. No is my default unless they can convince me otherwise--they are an excuse for timid legislators and deep pockets. But they require a fair amount of research.
>244 FAMeulstee: Unless you move, Anita, here a sample ballot with candidate info and a booklet with the texts of any new laws are mailed to your house with each election (usually primaries in June and election in November). You can take your sample ballot, premarked with your choices, with you to the voting place to speed up your voting. A neighborhood location is available on the day itself, but there will be places where you can vote early or drop off mail-in ballots, which you also have the option of requesting.
>245 archerygirl: Breath of Earth was interesting--reminded me a bit of Lackey's The Fire Rose with the magic in San Francisco. I haven't gotten to The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet yet--I was waiting in the hold line at the library but it came up for sale on Kindle at $1.99 the other day so I went ahead and grabbed it. The most interesting thing about its reviews is that those people who don't read much science fiction love it and those who do don't think it's anything special. I look forward to it. And yeah, Willis does a really good job at getting into bureaucratic environments, almost too good. I still haven't started The Obelisk GAte; I think one reason I am stalling is that I've forgotten a lot of the first book. But I will.
>246 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I'll look forward to your review.
>247 The_Hibernator: Me too, Rachel. :-(
>249 PaulCranswick: Paul, I think for you I will recommend The Curse of Chalion. I think you will be able to identify with Cazaril and enjoy the breadth and depth of the world-building. Not that I wouldn't suggest her science fiction as well; I just think this is the best book to hook you on her writing.
A quiet weekend. I finally got some crocheting done today for next weekend's show, but still have to do some jewelry. No pottery came home yesterday after the big haul the week before, but I did get some glazing, trimming and throwing done, so that was productive.
Also watched my Jayhawk basketball team play the last of their exhibition games--good chance to see the new players.
The season starts Friday.
>244 FAMeulstee: Unless you move, Anita, here a sample ballot with candidate info and a booklet with the texts of any new laws are mailed to your house with each election (usually primaries in June and election in November). You can take your sample ballot, premarked with your choices, with you to the voting place to speed up your voting. A neighborhood location is available on the day itself, but there will be places where you can vote early or drop off mail-in ballots, which you also have the option of requesting.
>245 archerygirl: Breath of Earth was interesting--reminded me a bit of Lackey's The Fire Rose with the magic in San Francisco. I haven't gotten to The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet yet--I was waiting in the hold line at the library but it came up for sale on Kindle at $1.99 the other day so I went ahead and grabbed it. The most interesting thing about its reviews is that those people who don't read much science fiction love it and those who do don't think it's anything special. I look forward to it. And yeah, Willis does a really good job at getting into bureaucratic environments, almost too good. I still haven't started The Obelisk GAte; I think one reason I am stalling is that I've forgotten a lot of the first book. But I will.
>246 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I'll look forward to your review.
>247 The_Hibernator: Me too, Rachel. :-(
>249 PaulCranswick: Paul, I think for you I will recommend The Curse of Chalion. I think you will be able to identify with Cazaril and enjoy the breadth and depth of the world-building. Not that I wouldn't suggest her science fiction as well; I just think this is the best book to hook you on her writing.
A quiet weekend. I finally got some crocheting done today for next weekend's show, but still have to do some jewelry. No pottery came home yesterday after the big haul the week before, but I did get some glazing, trimming and throwing done, so that was productive.
Also watched my Jayhawk basketball team play the last of their exhibition games--good chance to see the new players.
The season starts Friday.
251EBT1002
Just swinging by to say hello, Roni. I hope you're doing well.
"I just spent a couple of hours reviewing my sample ballot and the 500 pages of supporting information." It's amazing how complicated it can be. I almost always vote against "citizen initiatives" here in Washington because the system is so messed up: it's easy to pay folks to obtain signatures and the initiatives too often "sound good" but have awful unintended (?) consequences. They are often efforts to reduce taxes, which sounds good on the face of it but can adversely impact public education and social services. I think I only voted for one this time around. Anyway, I'm so ready for this election to be over. I always feel that way but this time I'm really nervous about the possible outcome and rather sad and scared to see the terrible divisiveness in our country.
I hope you have a great week ahead!
"I just spent a couple of hours reviewing my sample ballot and the 500 pages of supporting information." It's amazing how complicated it can be. I almost always vote against "citizen initiatives" here in Washington because the system is so messed up: it's easy to pay folks to obtain signatures and the initiatives too often "sound good" but have awful unintended (?) consequences. They are often efforts to reduce taxes, which sounds good on the face of it but can adversely impact public education and social services. I think I only voted for one this time around. Anyway, I'm so ready for this election to be over. I always feel that way but this time I'm really nervous about the possible outcome and rather sad and scared to see the terrible divisiveness in our country.
I hope you have a great week ahead!
252archerygirl
>250 ronincats: I love The Fire Rose (I'm a bit of a Lackey fangirl), so if Breath of Earth reminds you of that, I'm definitely looking forward to getting it! If my library doesn't get it in, I'll have to splurge a bit. My tenth Thingaversary is next month...
253sibylline
I didn't know that Bujold had continued the Five Gods series. I gather books 4 and 5 are available as E-books. I guess I could do print on demand as I don't do the E-book thing?
Presently I seem to be bingeing on Kate Elliott - have yet to try a Mercedes Lackey.
Presently I seem to be bingeing on Kate Elliott - have yet to try a Mercedes Lackey.
254Morphidae
>250 ronincats: I know I voted Yes to one of the props. It was something on the lines of "Should state congressmen not be able to vote on their own raises?" But better worded. Heh.
Breath of Fresh Air or Breath of Earth? The Fire Rose is one of my most favorite books of all time, so I must read it.
>249 PaulCranswick: >250 ronincats: I heartedly agree. The Curse of Chalion would be perfect.
Breath of Fresh Air or Breath of Earth? The Fire Rose is one of my most favorite books of all time, so I must read it.
>249 PaulCranswick: >250 ronincats: I heartedly agree. The Curse of Chalion would be perfect.
255ronincats
>251 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Good to see you back on the threads after a week of absence. Silly of me, I know, but after your stroke, any extended absence makes me nervous. I'm with you on your feelings about the election.
>252 archerygirl: It's the magic stabilizing San Francisco bit that is most similar between the two books, but The Fire Rose is a favorite of mine too, written before Lackey started phoning them in.
>253 sibylline: Lucy, the first two Penric books are out in hardback as well, but at ridiculous prices. However, Audible has Penric's Demon for $2.99 which might be an acceptable option for you. Otherwise, I'd just read it on my computer rather than printing it out, since it's short.
It's very strange but although I loved her earlier works as Alis Rasmussen and have them in my library for rereads, I've never gotten into her Kate Elliott books. I'm pretty sure that I read Jaran (her first under that name) and wasn't enthralled. I probably should try some of her later work.
>254 Morphidae: I don't know how that happened, Morphy. Either my mind (and fingers) were on total autopilot or spellcheck got creative. I've corrected it now. And there are two things in which we are total agreement, The Fire Rose and The Curse of Chalion for Paul!
And typing the numbers here reminded me that it's time to set up a new thread.
>252 archerygirl: It's the magic stabilizing San Francisco bit that is most similar between the two books, but The Fire Rose is a favorite of mine too, written before Lackey started phoning them in.
>253 sibylline: Lucy, the first two Penric books are out in hardback as well, but at ridiculous prices. However, Audible has Penric's Demon for $2.99 which might be an acceptable option for you. Otherwise, I'd just read it on my computer rather than printing it out, since it's short.
It's very strange but although I loved her earlier works as Alis Rasmussen and have them in my library for rereads, I've never gotten into her Kate Elliott books. I'm pretty sure that I read Jaran (her first under that name) and wasn't enthralled. I probably should try some of her later work.
>254 Morphidae: I don't know how that happened, Morphy. Either my mind (and fingers) were on total autopilot or spellcheck got creative. I've corrected it now. And there are two things in which we are total agreement, The Fire Rose and The Curse of Chalion for Paul!
And typing the numbers here reminded me that it's time to set up a new thread.
This topic was continued by Ronincats reads and crafts into a new year of Reading: Thread 7.
