bostonian71's 2017 reading

Back for another year of reading. Aside from trying to read at least 75 books, my resolutions for LT are:

-- trying to catch up on the backlog of reviews (though I may eventually relax and concentrate on keeping up with any titles I get through Early Reviewers)
-- trying to do more of the monthly TIOLI challenges (which totally got away from me last year)

And a non-LT resolution: read more, period, as one of the ways to learn how to mitigate the results of the recent US election and as escapism from such results ...

January - 9 books (9 so far in 2017)

A Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., edited by Clayborne Carson: Inspiring and suitably named collection ... (review)
The Kitchen Counter Cooking School: How a Few Simple Lessons Transformed Nine Culinary Novices into Fearless Home Cooks by Kathleen Flinn: Down-to-earth and, dare I say it, even inspiring at times ... (review)
Discovering Jewish Meditation 2/E: Instruction & Guidance for Learning an Ancient Spiritual Practice by Nan Gefen: Has its share of touchy-feely stuff, but I felt this was pretty grounded overall ... (review)
Away Went Wolfgang!, The Habits of Rabbits and Whose Cat is That? by Virginia Kahl: Cute bedtime reading, especially the one about rabbits (which could just as easily be called "Rabbits, Rabbits Everywhere).
Gadi Mirrabooka: Australian Aboriginal Tales from the Dreaming (World Folklore), edited by Helen McKay
Pigeon Post by Arthur Ransome: Another fun escapade with these young explorers ... (review)
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 2 The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan: Enjoyable entry in Rick Riordan's Norse mythology series ... (review)
Street of Eternal Happiness: Big City Dreams Along a Shanghai Road by Rob Schmitz: Fascinating and sobering account of modern China ... (review)

I am part of the group.
I love being part of the group.
I love the friendships bestowed upon my by dint of my membership of this wonderful fellowship.
I love that race and creed and gender and age and sexuality and nationality make absolutely no difference to our being a valued member of the group.

Thank you for also being part of the group.

Welcome back!

Happy reading in 2017, Ailsa!

Happy new year, fellow Massachusian. :-)

Same to you! :)

I second those sentiments! Thank you for sharing them. :)

Thank you!

Thanks, and same to you!

Hello from a fellow Bostonian! Happy New Year. Good luck with your resolutions.

I slept through most of election night, so it still seems unreal to me. I bought my friend a book for Christmas, but it hasn't been published yet, so I don't know how it is: WHAT WE DO NOW: Standing Up for Your Values in Trump's America.

>6 cameling:. "Massachusian" is not the word I use, but that's because I embrace the offensive name other New England drivers call us. ;-)

Very interesting! May have to check that out myself. Thanks for the tip and the greetings!

Hey there Boston! Another local here. I thought I'd let you know about an event coming up, I'm hoping to attend. Any interest?

It is being sponsored by PEN/New England:

http://www.pen-ne.org/louder-together/

http://writersresist.design/index.php/organizers/

Five days before Donald Trump takes the oath of office and swears to preserve and protect the Constitution of the United States, writers & activists will gather across the country. As part of this nationwide counter-inaugural demonstration, PEN New England will be co-sponsoring a "literary protest" against threats to First Amendment rights and protections, and in defense of the free and open exchange of ideas.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15th
1:30 to 4:30 pm, Rabb Hall, Boston Public Library

Thanks for the info! That does sound interesting. I don't think I'm available that day though, dang it. At least I'm signed up for the Writers Resist e-mail list now ...

February - 9 books (18 so far in 2017)

The Pumpkin and the Pantsuit by Todd Eisner: For Clinton supporters and anyone else concerned about the political climate, this children's book is spot-on ... (review)
Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman
Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories by Terry Pratchett
The Trials of Apollo, Book 1: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2015, edited by Rebecca Skloot
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and That Is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems: I have yet to read a Mo Willems book that isn't utterly hilarious. Both these titles are *very* good ideas.

Interested in what you thought about Wonder. Great cover.

I thought it was fantastic -- the characters are pretty believable and appealing (well, except for the bullies), and I liked having all the different perspectives. Plus, the message of more kindness is definitely essential these days ...

>17 simchaboston: "...Plus, the message of more kindness is definitely essential these days ..."

A hearty Here! Here! to that sentiment!

March - 7 books (27 so far in 2017)

Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes by Maya Angelou
Count Your Chickens by Jo Ellen Bogart: Cute enough, but this lacks the humor and creativity of Mo Willems ... (review)
Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo
Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon by Kate DiCamillo
We Are All Stardust: Scientists Who Shaped Our World Talk about Their Work, Their Lives, and What They Still Want to Know by Stefan Klein
Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems
A Plague of Unicorns by Jane Yolen

In terms of keeping up with reviews and the challenges ... er, well. Life happens, I guess. (Also, politics.) Will try to be better, but other priorities somehow keep shoving their way forward. At least staying up to date with ratings is much easier ...

April - 10 books (37 so far in 2017)

If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur by Linda Bailey
For This We Left Egypt? by Dave Barry, Alan Zweibel and Adam Mansbach
The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction by Neil Gaiman
Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World by Matthew Goodman
We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea by Arthur Ransome
The (unofficial) Hogwarts Haggadah by Moshe Rosenberg
Rad Women Worldwide: Artists and Athletes, Pirates and Punks, and Other Revolutionaries Who Shaped History by Kate Schatz
I'm a Frog by Mo Willems
We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems
A Night to Remember: The Haggadah of Contemporary Voices by Mishael & Noam Zion

May - 4 books (41 so far in 2017)

Heritage by Sean Brock
The Compass Rose: Stories by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Martian by Andy Weir
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

June - 9 books (50 so far in 2017)

How to Bake Pi: An Edible Exploration of the Mathematics of Mathematics by Eugenia Cheng
Stealing the Elf-King's Roses by Diane Duane
Our Israeli Diary: Of That Time, Of That Place by Antonia Fraser
The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert Macfarlane
An Atlas of Countries that Don't Exist: A Compendium of Fifty Unrecognized and Largely Unnoticed States by Nick Middleton
Secret Water by Arthur Ransome
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper
Project Superhero by E. Paul Zehr

July - 6 books (56 so far in 2017)

American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World by David Baron
The Door Into Fire by Diane Duane
From Percy Jackson: Camp Half-Blood Confidential and The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan
Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue by Nicholas Teich
Sleeping Beauty's Daughters by Diane Zahler

August - 5 books (61 so far in 2017)

Poor Man's Feast: A Love Story of Comfort, Desire, and the Art of Simple Cooking by Elissa Altman
Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth by Margaret Atwood
Tales from Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle) by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Lives of Dillon Ripley: Natural Scientist, Wartime Spy, and Pioneering Leader of the Smithsonian Institution by Roger Stone

September - 9 books (70 so far in 2017)

March (Trilogy Slipcase Set) by John Lewis & Andrew Aydin
Interim Errantry 2 by Diane Duane
My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories by David Lebovitz
Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine by Sarah Lohman
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Batwoman: Elegy & Batwoman Vol. 1: Hydrology (The New 52) by Greg Rucka
Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape by Lauret Savoy
Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error by Kathryn Schulz

October - 6 books (76 so far in 2017)
Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson
SPQR by Mary Beard
A Wizard Abroad by Diane Duane
Conservation of Shadows by Yoon Ha Lee
King Solomon's Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World by Joan Nathan
Les Enchantements d'Ambremer by Pierre Pevel

November - 5 books (81 so far in 2017)
Unexpected Stories by Octavia Butler
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Big Meow by Diane Duane
My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew by Abigail Pogrebin
Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries by Neil deGrasse Tyson

>26 simchaboston: Congratulations on reaching 75, Ailsa!

Congrats!

Thanks, FAMeulstee and drneutron!

December - 6 books (87 in 2017)

The ABC's of LGBT by Ash Hardell
American Primitive and Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver
The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan
Feed the Resistance: Recipes Ideas for Getting Involved by Julia Turshen
Batwoman Vol. 3: World's Finest by J.H. Williams

Wishing you all good things this holiday season and beyond.

It is that time of year again, between Solstice and Christmas, just after Hanukkah, when our thoughts turn to wishing each other well in whatever language or image is meaningful to the recipient. So, whether I wish you Happy Solstice or Merry Christmas, know that what I really wish you, and for you, is this:

Thank you, and same to you and yours!

Thank you! The same to you and yours in 2018!