The Read goes ever on and on...MrsLee 2017 part 3
This is a continuation of the topic The Read goes ever on and on...MrsLee 2017 part 2.
This topic was continued by The Read goes ever on and on...MrsLee 2018 part 1.
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1MrsLee
Invitation to the Classics by Louise Cowan - Well, sort of, I use this to point out a couple of ancient classics a year I should read.
Fireside chats by Franklin D. Roosevelt - The longest tiny book I have ever read.
The Toilers of the Sea by Victor Hugo - Not much progress in this one, but I'm going to pay more attention to it so I can read far enough to know whether I want to continue or quit.
Fabulous Memories Of A Truly Adventurous Life by Bruce Barron - My at work book, work is busy, so, slow going on this.
Persona Non Grata: A Novel of the Roman Empire by Ruth Downie -Started this audio yesterday. I've already read the book, but listening to it because I love the narrator, Simon Vance.
I had a very off week this last week, so I'm hoping that I can get back in my groove of exercise, reading, cooking and all that stuff. So far today is not looking like it, but one can hope.
Fireside chats by Franklin D. Roosevelt - The longest tiny book I have ever read.
The Toilers of the Sea by Victor Hugo - Not much progress in this one, but I'm going to pay more attention to it so I can read far enough to know whether I want to continue or quit.
Fabulous Memories Of A Truly Adventurous Life by Bruce Barron - My at work book, work is busy, so, slow going on this.
Persona Non Grata: A Novel of the Roman Empire by Ruth Downie -Started this audio yesterday. I've already read the book, but listening to it because I love the narrator, Simon Vance.
I had a very off week this last week, so I'm hoping that I can get back in my groove of exercise, reading, cooking and all that stuff. So far today is not looking like it, but one can hope.
2pgmcc
Hi, MrsLee. I am pulling up my seat to make sure I do not miss any of your posts.
It is the middle of the night and I am using my phone for this post so I shall wait until I am using my laptop before leaving my"cloak-and-dagger" comments on The Old Man and the Sea.
It is the middle of the night and I am using my phone for this post so I shall wait until I am using my laptop before leaving my
4pgmcc
I had a similar reaction to The Old Man and the Sea. My first experience of this story was the Spencer Tracy film adaptation. I saw that as more of a presentation of Spencer Tracy's acting skills rather than a telling of the story.
Reading the book was a completely separate experience and I was glad of it. As I read the bookI felt the old man's loneliness. I was only getting the old man's views and he was seeing himself being more and more marginalised within his community. He was in a deep dive spiral of depression and catching that darned fish was the only thing he could do to prove he was still a valid member of society. (These are my interpretations of the story so feel free to tell me I am wrong.)
His success in catching the fish is his proof and his battle to get it home was the hardest part.
At the end of the story I felt the whole community was not abandoning him but loved him and was concerned about his getting older and how they could support him. The reality of the community's impression of his was the opposite of what he thought. He had moved into another phase of his life and the community wanted to support him in that.
This reminded me of a story I heard from a priest in church. He was talking about the habit many of us have of thinking ourselves into a terrible situation. He told the story of the lawnmower. Forgive me if I have told it to you before.
Saturday Morning:
Man sitting in his kitchen having breakfast and looking out at the lawn in his back garden.
"I need to cut the lawn. I'll do it this morning."
"But how can I do it this morning? My lawnmower is broken."
"I'll borrow a lawnmower."
"Who will I borrow it from?"
"I don't know. Oh! Hey! The man that moved in two doors up has a lawnmower. I saw it when he was moving in. I'll ask him."
"But he may not want to lend me the lawnmower?"
"Of course he will. He'll be glad of the chance to meet his new neighbour. Worst case is he says no. Not a problem."
"But maybe he just does not lend things."
"Well, the worst thing is he says no."
"But maybe he doesn't want to lend the mower to me?"
"What would he have against me?"
"Perhaps he doesn't like me."
"Sure he doesn't even know me."
"Perhaps he saw me watching him move in and didn't like may watching him."
"Sure the worst he can do is say no."
Two doors away another man is sitting in his kitchen having his breakfast. He hears the doorbell ring.
He answers the door to a total stranger who says, "You can keep your bloody lawnmower."
Reading the book was a completely separate experience and I was glad of it. As I read the book
His success in catching the fish is his proof and his battle to get it home was the hardest part.
At the end of the story I felt the whole community was not abandoning him but loved him and was concerned about his getting older and how they could support him. The reality of the community's impression of his was the opposite of what he thought. He had moved into another phase of his life and the community wanted to support him in that.
This reminded me of a story I heard from a priest in church. He was talking about the habit many of us have of thinking ourselves into a terrible situation. He told the story of the lawnmower. Forgive me if I have told it to you before.
Saturday Morning:
Man sitting in his kitchen having breakfast and looking out at the lawn in his back garden.
"I need to cut the lawn. I'll do it this morning."
"But how can I do it this morning? My lawnmower is broken."
"I'll borrow a lawnmower."
"Who will I borrow it from?"
"I don't know. Oh! Hey! The man that moved in two doors up has a lawnmower. I saw it when he was moving in. I'll ask him."
"But he may not want to lend me the lawnmower?"
"Of course he will. He'll be glad of the chance to meet his new neighbour. Worst case is he says no. Not a problem."
"But maybe he just does not lend things."
"Well, the worst thing is he says no."
"But maybe he doesn't want to lend the mower to me?"
"What would he have against me?"
"Perhaps he doesn't like me."
"Sure he doesn't even know me."
"Perhaps he saw me watching him move in and didn't like may watching him."
"Sure the worst he can do is say no."
Two doors away another man is sitting in his kitchen having his breakfast. He hears the doorbell ring.
He answers the door to a total stranger who says,
5MrsLee
>3 Jim53: Thank you!
>4 pgmcc: I think we are on the same page, although I hadn't thought much about the community and their feelings toward him. In the beginning I saw it, but thought maybe it was the boy's insistance that made them generous. I like your take on that, and I have occasionally indulged in that lawnmower mentality.
>4 pgmcc:
6MrsLee
I'm putting aside The Toilers of the Sea until my vacation in a couple of weeks. I simply cannot bring my mind to settle on it with all the daily tasks nibbling at my brain at home. Instead I picked up "The College Cowboy" by Reuben Albaugh which has no touchstones, since I haven't entered it, and I'm not sure they will work when I do. It is an oral interview with a man who was born in 1901 in the area I was raised in. The book I have was left in the waiting room of my workplace by someone who didn't want it. It was published by a university which apparently did a series of oral interviews of old-timers in the 1970s.
Anywho, I knew this man's brother, played on their ranch and am finding it delightful to read the early history of my area through his memories. He was a bigwig in the Ag Extension Service in California, and so talks about many places I know well.
Anywho, I knew this man's brother, played on their ranch and am finding it delightful to read the early history of my area through his memories. He was a bigwig in the Ag Extension Service in California, and so talks about many places I know well.
7fuzzi
>6 MrsLee: what a treasure you found! Looking forward to a little more of a review when you have finished reading it.
8catzteach
>6 MrsLee: reading something like that would be fun!
9MrsLee
I glanced through the book Journey by Aaron Becker. It is very nice, but sort of a rip-off of Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson? Of course the artwork and story are far more detailed, but the idea is the same, only, the girl has a red marker. I'm not sure how I feel about that. The boy even has a purple crayon. Perhaps it is an homage, instead of a rip-off?
10fuzzi
>9 MrsLee: I never read Harold and the Purple Crayon, so I can't comment on similarities.
11MrsLee
>10 fuzzi: *blink, blink* Go find it now! It has always been one of my most favoritest books for children. :)
12fuzzi
>11 MrsLee: LT is good for introducing us to books we've missed, ha!
13pgmcc
>12 fuzzi: I have a series of wounds and several full bookshelves to attest to the validity of your hypothesis.
14Jim53
>9 MrsLee: There's a book that I loved but haven't thought of in ages. I'm gonna check it out this weekend and see how my granddaughter might like it. Thank you, thank you!
15MrsLee
>14 Jim53: I hope she enjoys it! Although, I'm not sure which one you are talking about? Journey, or Harold? Anyway, she will probably love either one. :)
16MrsLee
Pushed through to finish The College Cowboy by Reuben Albaugh yesterday. The reason I had to push, was that much of the book was about details of stock breeding and events that took place in the 1950s and 1960s. The reason I didn't quit, and skimmed rather carefully, was that interspersed in the telling of the California Ag Extension and their work with farmers, were many entertaining littles stories and facts. I was "listening" (this book is a manuscript of oral interviews) to the one man who really pushed through the use of hormones in the beef industry in California!
Ah, a villain you say? No, just a man who believed that getting the most product for farmers at the best price and doing it scientifically, was the thing to do. Whether the hormones would affect those who ate the product didn't even enter his mind. Science was a new god to these men who had been raised in the days before even machinery was on the farm. This man was the go-between of the scientists in the Universities and the farmers and stock raisers on the farms.
Added bonus for me, was that this man was raised in the little Northern California valley where I was. As a child, I played in the old farmhouse he was raised in. His brother was running the ranch by that time. Many is the time I remember his brother saying, "You kids get out of this barn!" :) His brother was a frightening man to me, but even as he hollered at us, the twinkle in his eye was apparent, so the fright was very temporary. I found it very interesting reading about the early history of my valley. Hearing stories which I had heard from my own grandfather, but through another man's point of view.
His views on life and women are dated, he came from the era when women were to be protected. No greased pig contests for little girls! No, they had to have a greased lamb contest. At least he saw that they deserved to have something. He was also important to the area I live in now. For years he was a judge at our local Bull Sale. This meant that he chose which bulls would be sold to breed and which were not good enough, or would not bring good qualities to the breed. He was known for his keen eye, and one day of this bull sale each year is still dedicated to him. He traveled the world and wrote hundreds of bulletins for farmers, and three books. Not bad for a young man who almost dropped out of school, couldn't spell and had very little knowledge when he went to college. He only went at the urging of an Ag advisor. His dad was not thrilled, but gave him $300 and told him, learn how to write!
After I finished that, I picked up The Patriarch also known as The Dying Season by Martin Walker. Another Bruno, chief of police book. It is enchanting as ever so far.
Ah, a villain you say? No, just a man who believed that getting the most product for farmers at the best price and doing it scientifically, was the thing to do. Whether the hormones would affect those who ate the product didn't even enter his mind. Science was a new god to these men who had been raised in the days before even machinery was on the farm. This man was the go-between of the scientists in the Universities and the farmers and stock raisers on the farms.
Added bonus for me, was that this man was raised in the little Northern California valley where I was. As a child, I played in the old farmhouse he was raised in. His brother was running the ranch by that time. Many is the time I remember his brother saying, "You kids get out of this barn!" :) His brother was a frightening man to me, but even as he hollered at us, the twinkle in his eye was apparent, so the fright was very temporary. I found it very interesting reading about the early history of my valley. Hearing stories which I had heard from my own grandfather, but through another man's point of view.
His views on life and women are dated, he came from the era when women were to be protected. No greased pig contests for little girls! No, they had to have a greased lamb contest. At least he saw that they deserved to have something. He was also important to the area I live in now. For years he was a judge at our local Bull Sale. This meant that he chose which bulls would be sold to breed and which were not good enough, or would not bring good qualities to the breed. He was known for his keen eye, and one day of this bull sale each year is still dedicated to him. He traveled the world and wrote hundreds of bulletins for farmers, and three books. Not bad for a young man who almost dropped out of school, couldn't spell and had very little knowledge when he went to college. He only went at the urging of an Ag advisor. His dad was not thrilled, but gave him $300 and told him, learn how to write!
After I finished that, I picked up The Patriarch also known as The Dying Season by Martin Walker. Another Bruno, chief of police book. It is enchanting as ever so far.
17Bookmarque
That is so terrific that you have such a personal connection to the man and the place.
182wonderY
>16 MrsLee:
"a villain you say? No, just a man who believed that getting the most product for farmers at the best price and doing it scientifically, was the thing to do. Whether the hormones would affect those who ate the product didn't even enter his mind."
That is a very good thing for us to remember. Thanks for adding that perspective.
"a villain you say? No, just a man who believed that getting the most product for farmers at the best price and doing it scientifically, was the thing to do. Whether the hormones would affect those who ate the product didn't even enter his mind."
That is a very good thing for us to remember. Thanks for adding that perspective.
19catzteach
>18 2wonderY: I thought that, too.
20MrsLee
>18 2wonderY: & >19 catzteach: We so often vilify the farmers of yore, and the scientists who came up with pesticides and such. It is forgotten that these men and women farmed in times when whole crops across the nation could be wiped out by a bug or parasite, and when their sons and daughters went off to university and brought back knowledge which seemed miraculous, they were thrilled.
My father was one of those sons. He always worked with the Extension office planting experimental seeds, etc. He believed that the new methods of farming would save the world from hunger and want and disease. Truly, we have come a long way in the world from the privation and sickness suffered in the early part of the 1900s. Although I now believe that the time has come to examine the effects of the methods more closely, I hope we won't be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. *steps down off the bandwagon* :)
My father was one of those sons. He always worked with the Extension office planting experimental seeds, etc. He believed that the new methods of farming would save the world from hunger and want and disease. Truly, we have come a long way in the world from the privation and sickness suffered in the early part of the 1900s. Although I now believe that the time has come to examine the effects of the methods more closely, I hope we won't be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. *steps down off the bandwagon* :)
21MrsLee
Interesting choice in my current audio book. The narrator is reading a story of ancient Rome, and he chooses (or is told) to read the servant's voices with cockney or broad country accents. I can see why he reads the native Britain girl with a lilted accent, but the other is a bit strange. Not really off-putting, but it did make my mind say, "Huh?"
22catzteach
>20 MrsLee: we've forgotten or just never really realized. I'm in the never really realized camp. But you are correct. They really were just trying to do right by people. I do think we now need to take a look at our food practices. They may not be so great after all.
23hfglen
>21 MrsLee: probably fairly accurate. Servants would generally not come from the best-educated, "refained" classes, and so would retain their regional accents. In Rome itself, one might have looked for fractured Latin with a strong German accent from many if not most slaves, with Greek from the occasional scribe.
24zjakkelien
>6 MrsLee: A bit late, but I keep seeing The toilets of the sea...
25Jim53
>15 MrsLee: definitely Harold. I love the sense of agency that he gets form his purple crayon, and I expect Kennedy to love it too.
26MrsLee
>22 catzteach: Live and learn, right?
>23 hfglen: I never really thought about it before, but the servants are mostly Gaul, and so of course they would speak differently.
>24 zjakkelien: haha! Pretty sure that is what I will be seeing now too.
>25 Jim53: I bet she will.
Staying home today with fever and auge, although I'm pretty sure it isn't malaria. Never have I been so bone chillingly cold. Uncontrollable shaking, in spite of the wool socks, winter robe and fuzzy blanket. Slept 13 and a half hours yesterday. Wish I could read, but it's all I can do to sip water now and then. Lost 2lbs. Too bad they won't stay off. Spent now.
>23 hfglen: I never really thought about it before, but the servants are mostly Gaul, and so of course they would speak differently.
>24 zjakkelien: haha! Pretty sure that is what I will be seeing now too.
>25 Jim53: I bet she will.
Staying home today with fever and auge, although I'm pretty sure it isn't malaria. Never have I been so bone chillingly cold. Uncontrollable shaking, in spite of the wool socks, winter robe and fuzzy blanket. Slept 13 and a half hours yesterday. Wish I could read, but it's all I can do to sip water now and then. Lost 2lbs. Too bad they won't stay off. Spent now.
31catzteach
>26 MrsLee: sorry you are sick! I hope you are feeling better soon!
32hfglen
>26 MrsLee: Somewhat belatedly, you remind me of a visit to Nairobi a few years before there was such a thing as LT (or the GD, for that matter). One of the locals asked me if this was my "fast" visit to Kenya, and if I was interested in "buds". Just in the nick of time I remembered that after WW2 the Brits unofficially held that Kenya was for officers, Rhodesia and points south for "other ranks". And it shows to this day in the accents of second-language English speakers. And so here the locals occasionally mystify overseas visitors by talking about beds flying around in the roof of their accommodation.
Were you bitten by some kind of naughty insect? Hope you get/got 100% better quickly, and are well enough to decode the story above.
Were you bitten by some kind of naughty insect? Hope you get/got 100% better quickly, and are well enough to decode the story above.
34MrsLee
Thank you all.
>30 suitable1: I don't think so, but it sure feels like it. My husband assures me that we are nowhere near a malarial zone.
>32 hfglen: I'm blaming the restaurant we ate at on Friday. I realize that there is no way to know for sure, but I choose to believe that someone on the staff was sick and shared it with me.
As miserable as this is, it is preferable to the kind of sick which requires frantic visits to the bathroom. Fever of 103.6 finally broke last night. So far, so good. Ache everywhere, but I think I will be able to read today. Now if I can just keep those d@*n chills away.
I managed to finish The Patriarch yesterday. Not sure what to read today, something light for sure.
>30 suitable1: I don't think so, but it sure feels like it. My husband assures me that we are nowhere near a malarial zone.
>32 hfglen: I'm blaming the restaurant we ate at on Friday. I realize that there is no way to know for sure, but I choose to believe that someone on the staff was sick and shared it with me.
As miserable as this is, it is preferable to the kind of sick which requires frantic visits to the bathroom. Fever of 103.6 finally broke last night. So far, so good. Ache everywhere, but I think I will be able to read today. Now if I can just keep those d@*n chills away.
I managed to finish The Patriarch yesterday. Not sure what to read today, something light for sure.
35jillmwo
I keep meaning to return to the Inspector Bruno series, since I enjoyed the first one immensely. Which ones have you enjoyed the most so far? I'll be guided by you.
And you are the first person I've ever known to suffer from fever and auge. It sounds so romantic. (More seriously, I hope you feel better soon.)
And you are the first person I've ever known to suffer from fever and auge. It sounds so romantic. (More seriously, I hope you feel better soon.)
36MrsLee
>35 jillmwo: Why thank you, although, I'm pretty sure modern doctors would call it the flu. Boring. If I have to suffer, it should be a romantic suffering. As for Bruno, I have enjoyed all of them, but probably the first 5 or so the most. After that, I started to find little things which annoy me, but haven't put me off. The one about truffles, I think it was Black Diamond was especially fun for me to read, because I am all about the food.
I'm going to work today, at least to start the day, because I thought I was mending well yesterday, until about 8:30pm, when the fever returned. :( Anyway, my boss has somewhere very important to be this morning, so I can open up and warm the seat, answering the phones, until she arrives, then return home. I am wrung out. Ugh. It didn't feel right to be sick the week before my vacation starts!
Ended up choosing Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella, to read yesterday. It is light. I'm enjoying it in spite of not caring for the protagonist at all. I think I've complained about this with another of Kinsella's novels, or perhaps just with so many of the "modern, smart women" in novels these days who actually seem nothing more than whiny, dim-witted, self-centered, immature girls. Anyway, this novel at least has a very annoying ghost, and I assume that her self-centeredness will in the end cause our protagonist to mature and grow up to live happily ever after.
Finished Fireside Chats, although I am by no means done with the subject. I'm not sure how I want to pursue it though. I have no use for partisan rantings, I want history, cause and effect, with a balanced view. Sigh. Is there such a thing to be had?
Downloaded Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne, narrated by Tim Curry. We will listen to this on our drive to the coast this weekend. Providing that my husband doesn't come down with the ick.
Will put Orthodoxy in the place of Fireside Chats, the printed version that is. This way I can read it slowly, bit by bit. Hopefully then I will come to a conclusion or two about it.
Also received and read my ER book Can You Find my Robot's Arm? by Chihiro Takeuchi. A simple papercut illustrated story for children. I was hoping that it would be a sort "Find Waldo" theme, but it isn't. Still, it is a fun read and will make a good gift for one of my great-nieces or nephews.
I'm going to work today, at least to start the day, because I thought I was mending well yesterday, until about 8:30pm, when the fever returned. :( Anyway, my boss has somewhere very important to be this morning, so I can open up and warm the seat, answering the phones, until she arrives, then return home. I am wrung out. Ugh. It didn't feel right to be sick the week before my vacation starts!
Ended up choosing Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella, to read yesterday. It is light. I'm enjoying it in spite of not caring for the protagonist at all. I think I've complained about this with another of Kinsella's novels, or perhaps just with so many of the "modern, smart women" in novels these days who actually seem nothing more than whiny, dim-witted, self-centered, immature girls. Anyway, this novel at least has a very annoying ghost, and I assume that her self-centeredness will in the end cause our protagonist to mature and grow up to live happily ever after.
Finished Fireside Chats, although I am by no means done with the subject. I'm not sure how I want to pursue it though. I have no use for partisan rantings, I want history, cause and effect, with a balanced view. Sigh. Is there such a thing to be had?
Downloaded Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne, narrated by Tim Curry. We will listen to this on our drive to the coast this weekend. Providing that my husband doesn't come down with the ick.
Will put Orthodoxy in the place of Fireside Chats, the printed version that is. This way I can read it slowly, bit by bit. Hopefully then I will come to a conclusion or two about it.
Also received and read my ER book Can You Find my Robot's Arm? by Chihiro Takeuchi. A simple papercut illustrated story for children. I was hoping that it would be a sort "Find Waldo" theme, but it isn't. Still, it is a fun read and will make a good gift for one of my great-nieces or nephews.
37MrsLee
In my effort to shelve one more book on the appropriate shelf for it I found that I had no more space on that shelf. Now as I examine the books on those shelves critically I discover that perhaps it is time to get rid of my collection of the Mitford series. This is a difficult decision though because I truly enjoyed them at one time in my life. I'm not sure that's true anymore, so I took down the first one in the series At Home in Mitford, and decided to start reading it today to see how it affected me. I'm thinking that even if I keep the first three books which I have a memory of being the best, I may be able to get rid of the rest of the series which will still give me the space I need on the Shelf.
So far I am very much enjoying the book. I suppose the question is will I want to read it again in my life?
So far I am very much enjoying the book. I suppose the question is will I want to read it again in my life?
38pgmcc
>37 MrsLee: "Get rid of", @MrsLee?
39catzteach
>37 MrsLee: I loved the Mitford books! Such a warm, cozy feeling from them. I do not own any of them, though. I'm sure if you decide to rehome them, you will choose wisely.
40MrsLee
>38 pgmcc: & >39 catzteach: No worries, the ones I'm considering "freeing into the wild" will definitely go to the home of a "wild" booklover. They are beautiful hardcovers, so the decision is difficult. I will examine my feelings when I finish the first one and we shall see. >39 catzteach: , you will be the first to know! ;)
The three I would be keeping, if I don't keep them all, are the beat up only paperback ones.
Let's see, books for my trip.
Toilets of the Sea >24 zjakkelien: Even autocorrect does it!
At Home in Mitford
Journey to the Center of the Earth audio
And my tablet which I use as my Kindle device which gives me access to hundreds of books. No need to decide yet which I might read.
The three I would be keeping, if I don't keep them all, are the beat up only paperback ones.
Let's see, books for my trip.
Toilets of the Sea >24 zjakkelien: Even autocorrect does it!
At Home in Mitford
Journey to the Center of the Earth audio
And my tablet which I use as my Kindle device which gives me access to hundreds of books. No need to decide yet which I might read.
41pgmcc
>40 MrsLee: The committee is glad to hear that and its members wish you well for your trip to the centre of the Earth.
42jillmwo
>37 MrsLee: That's exactly the same series I was eyeing this week to determine whether it was worth the valuable shelf space. I've not yet made a final determination, but it's reassuring to know that we're in psychic tune....
43MrsLee
>42 jillmwo: O_O Cool. I told my dear local friend friend what was going on. She said that not long ago, she had "relocated" the Botswana series by Alexander McCall Smith for the same reason. I looked at that one on my shelves, and immediately decided they stay. So I'm thinking, I could do the same with my Mitford series, then if either of us had a yen for the one we didn't have, we could borrow from the other. Problem is, local friends don't always stay local. The more I read, the more I think I will be happy with the first three books, or I don't know, possibly just the first book.
I stayed up waaaaay too late last night playing in my Kindle library. I'm trying to organize it so that the books I haven't read yet are all in an "unread" collection, and those I have read are in appropriate genre collections. I have a lot of Kindle books. I decided this might be better to do at the computer, because periodically, my tablet decided that I wanted to go to the beginning of all my books instead of to the place I was at organizing. Very frustrating, and now my tablet has a few new pet names that I try to wait until my husband has his headphones on to call it.
Kindle should come up with a way to somehow mark clearly what has been read and what hasn't. On Audible, at least you can give a book a star rating when you are finished, and that shows, so you know. No rating = not read. I found that using the LT app on my phone, and working on my tablet was almost doable, except for the above mentioned issue. There may not be time enough in the world for me to get this done.
I have so many books that I have purchased for my dad or mom in my catalogue. I wish there was a way to return some of them for a small credit, or even no credit, but some I don't seem to be able to remove at all.
I stayed up waaaaay too late last night playing in my Kindle library. I'm trying to organize it so that the books I haven't read yet are all in an "unread" collection, and those I have read are in appropriate genre collections. I have a lot of Kindle books. I decided this might be better to do at the computer, because periodically, my tablet decided that I wanted to go to the beginning of all my books instead of to the place I was at organizing. Very frustrating, and now my tablet has a few new pet names that I try to wait until my husband has his headphones on to call it.
Kindle should come up with a way to somehow mark clearly what has been read and what hasn't. On Audible, at least you can give a book a star rating when you are finished, and that shows, so you know. No rating = not read. I found that using the LT app on my phone, and working on my tablet was almost doable, except for the above mentioned issue. There may not be time enough in the world for me to get this done.
I have so many books that I have purchased for my dad or mom in my catalogue. I wish there was a way to return some of them for a small credit, or even no credit, but some I don't seem to be able to remove at all.
45MrsLee
>44 fuzzi: Thanks!
I managed to sort all 602 of my Kindle books into collections today. 526 are in the "unread" collection.
I have never counter the unread books in my house. That will have to wait until my recovery is further along. I've felt a little weak in the knees since I discovered the above. I'm glad I did it though. I've been piling books up in there since 2011, and I discovered quite a few that I wasn't aware I owned and had been looking to aquire. I think there were some doubles in there as well. Many of them were free classics, and I'm thinking that Amazon maybe doesn't let you know you have it already if you didn't purchase it?
The next step will be to go through the unread ones and eliminate duplicates and those we aren't interested in. I purchased many of them for my dad and am not interested in the kind of police/action/hard hitting stuff he liked.
I managed to sort all 602 of my Kindle books into collections today. 526 are in the "unread" collection.
I have never counter the unread books in my house. That will have to wait until my recovery is further along. I've felt a little weak in the knees since I discovered the above. I'm glad I did it though. I've been piling books up in there since 2011, and I discovered quite a few that I wasn't aware I owned and had been looking to aquire. I think there were some doubles in there as well. Many of them were free classics, and I'm thinking that Amazon maybe doesn't let you know you have it already if you didn't purchase it?
The next step will be to go through the unread ones and eliminate duplicates and those we aren't interested in. I purchased many of them for my dad and am not interested in the kind of police/action/hard hitting stuff he liked.
46YouKneeK
>45 MrsLee: It’s easy to accumulate lots of books on the Kindle! Mine started getting out of control several years back, although not so many as what you have. Since then, I’ve deleted a lot of e-books that I was certain wouldn’t interest me, and I’ve been pickier about new downloads. I still have 173 unread, but many of those are leftover Baen freebies that I didn't want to delete because they might interest me, but I’m not sure I’ll ever actually get to them.
Amazon has let me know that I already “purchased” books, even when they were free. I think it probably has to be the same edition, though, and it definitely has to have been purchased through Amazon. With the classics, maybe you purchased two different Kindle editions? Or downloaded some from another site?
Amazon has let me know that I already “purchased” books, even when they were free. I think it probably has to be the same edition, though, and it definitely has to have been purchased through Amazon. With the classics, maybe you purchased two different Kindle editions? Or downloaded some from another site?
47pgmcc
>45 MrsLee: & >46 YouKneeK: I often find that my Amazon recommendations and promotion emails contain books I have bought through Amazon, even the same edition. I find it annoying. It would be very easy for Amazon to fix.
48clamairy
Are you feeling better? I took some time off from reading threads, and it seems I missed a lot. I hope you've mended.
49MrsLee
>48 clamairy: Thank you. I finally got past the fever stage today, and aside from slight spells of dizziness, am doing fine. I even walked 9309 steps! The most I've done in a week.
My friends, if you have not listened to Tim Curry reading Journey to the Center of the Earth, run, don't walk to your computer and purchase it right now! We had such fun listening on our way here to the coast.
Favorite part for me, when mentioning the list of packed supplies, the only liquid packed was gin! :D
Mr. Curry reads this so beautifully, my husband and I were both engrossed in it. His pronunciation of the many words from many sources roll off his tongue. Really, read it. I had forgotten how funny Verne wrote.
Those of you on FB have seen how my vacation is going, I will share some photos here when I get home.
My friends, if you have not listened to Tim Curry reading Journey to the Center of the Earth, run, don't walk to your computer and purchase it right now! We had such fun listening on our way here to the coast.
Favorite part for me, when mentioning the list of packed supplies, the only liquid packed was gin! :D
Mr. Curry reads this so beautifully, my husband and I were both engrossed in it. His pronunciation of the many words from many sources roll off his tongue. Really, read it. I had forgotten how funny Verne wrote.
Those of you on FB have seen how my vacation is going, I will share some photos here when I get home.
50MrsLee
Well, that was interesting. I have forgotten what it is like typing on a keyboard with a curious kitty on your lap. Had a lovely large post going, and somehow when he walked across the keyboard he took me back a page and managed to make it so I couldn't navigate, because I couldn't see the bar at the top with the refresh and back and forward buttons. Not being bright enough to know how to get out of whatever mode he put us in, I simply hit buttons until I could return to the home screen and am starting over.
Why is the kitty in the house you say? He is supposed to be an outside kitty! Well, he was tutored yesterday (shhh, code for neutered). The vet said to keep him in the house for 14 days! This will not be happening, but we thought 24 hours would be a good idea to make sure the anesthesia is out of his system. I must say, he has been a perfect gentleman. Used his litterbox as it is meant to be used, for the most part, stayed on the floor, and generally has been terrific. I wish I could find him a person who would love to have him inside the house.
We finished Journey to the Center of the Earth on our drive home. It was really good fun. I had forgotten Jules Verne's sense of humor! Thought I had read this before, but I was confusing it with At Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I liked this better. Less crazy, more rock talk. Although, to be fair, it has been years since I read the Burroughs book. As for Axel, wouldn't he be just a little ray of sunshine to have along on a trip? Not.
Anyway, I highly recommend the audio with Tim Curry as narrator. It was very fun on our trip.
Eep, cat is back at keyboard. Better get this copied fast.
I began reading The Story of Sushi: an Unlikely Saga of Fish and Rice by Trevor Corson. It has great potential, but I am having a hard time getting my mind to concentrate for reading. Cat on lap is not helpful, but is nice.
Why is the kitty in the house you say? He is supposed to be an outside kitty! Well, he was tutored yesterday (shhh, code for neutered). The vet said to keep him in the house for 14 days! This will not be happening, but we thought 24 hours would be a good idea to make sure the anesthesia is out of his system. I must say, he has been a perfect gentleman. Used his litterbox as it is meant to be used, for the most part, stayed on the floor, and generally has been terrific. I wish I could find him a person who would love to have him inside the house.
We finished Journey to the Center of the Earth on our drive home. It was really good fun. I had forgotten Jules Verne's sense of humor! Thought I had read this before, but I was confusing it with At Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I liked this better. Less crazy, more rock talk. Although, to be fair, it has been years since I read the Burroughs book. As for Axel, wouldn't he be just a little ray of sunshine to have along on a trip? Not.
Anyway, I highly recommend the audio with Tim Curry as narrator. It was very fun on our trip.
Eep, cat is back at keyboard. Better get this copied fast.
I began reading The Story of Sushi: an Unlikely Saga of Fish and Rice by Trevor Corson. It has great potential, but I am having a hard time getting my mind to concentrate for reading. Cat on lap is not helpful, but is nice.
52MrsLee
He already runs in every time we open the door, but he runs right back out for food. He is a bottomless pit. Also, he was just trying to use me for a chew toy, and so was ejected from the lap. How is a person supposed to go shower and get ready for work when they have an amiable cat in the house?
53catzteach
We shower with a cat sitting outside the shower door meowing. The cat differs from day to day. When we had a shower curtain, we sometimes had a cat join us! Yours sounds like a love.
I have always wanted to read Journey to the Center of the Earth. I'm going to see if my library has that audio version. I enjoy Tim Curry so I think I would like this.
I have always wanted to read Journey to the Center of the Earth. I'm going to see if my library has that audio version. I enjoy Tim Curry so I think I would like this.
55YouKneeK
>52 MrsLee: Staying off the keyboard seems to be the only thing I’ve ever managed to train my cat to do. :) Not counting instinctive behaviors, of course, like using the litter boxes and his scratching posts. The first day I got him, I scratched my fingernails down one of his scratching posts hoping this would somehow give him the idea of what to do with it. He immediately pranced over and started scratching his claws on it and looked at me like, “What, do you think I’m stupid?”
My cat is a handful, actually, but we don’t have too much trouble with our morning/evening routines as long as I stay on schedule. He’ll occasionally attack a pony tail holder if I foolishly leave it unsupervised. Mostly I just keep stuff shut up unless I'm using it right that moment. The schedule thing is important to him, though. Sleeping in is very, very rare. He also starts meowing at me if I’m late going to bed. If I don’t respond to his lecture in a timely manner he’ll start going crazy, attacking everything in sight, opening all the drawers, and meowing incessantly until I kick him out of the room so I can finish whatever it is that’s keeping me up late.
A purring ball of fur in the lap greatly enhances the reading experience, though. :)
My cat is a handful, actually, but we don’t have too much trouble with our morning/evening routines as long as I stay on schedule. He’ll occasionally attack a pony tail holder if I foolishly leave it unsupervised. Mostly I just keep stuff shut up unless I'm using it right that moment. The schedule thing is important to him, though. Sleeping in is very, very rare. He also starts meowing at me if I’m late going to bed. If I don’t respond to his lecture in a timely manner he’ll start going crazy, attacking everything in sight, opening all the drawers, and meowing incessantly until I kick him out of the room so I can finish whatever it is that’s keeping me up late.
A purring ball of fur in the lap greatly enhances the reading experience, though. :)
57MrsLee
>56 fuzzi: They are the Kindle books I bought him. Since I gave him and mom their Kindles, and they don't do internet, I kept everything on my account, so technically, all the books are mine, but I bought them (or obtained them for free) for him.
58fuzzi
That was sweet of you! My dad is totally off the grid (electricity and internet) so I collect and send him westerns, mysteries, and adventure books. He really likes Louis L'Amour and Robert B. Parker.
59MrsLee
Yesterday I took the bull by the horns and decided to skim read The Toilers of the Sea, when I read the last few chapters, I was very glad I hadn't put any more time into it. Think Charles Dickens at his most maudlin. Was Victor Hugo paid by the word? You cannot imagine how many words he used to tell a very small thing. I will admit that he uses words charmingly, even cleverly, but so many! It's like trying to eat a huge dense fruitcake. Glad that's over.
60Jim53
>59 MrsLee: wonderful description!
61MrsLee
>60 Jim53: Thank you. :)
I finished "The Story of Sushi: An Unlikely Saga of Fish and Rice" last night. Quite possibly the best nonfiction I've read this year. Corson uses as the base of his story, the experiences of students in a three month course during 2005, on becoming a sushi chef at the California Sushi Academy in the L.A. area. He includes stories of the various teachers and the restaurant where the academy is housed. In amongst that story, are histories of sushi making, natural histories of the many ingredients used in making sushi and general cultural knowledge of those who have fallen in love with eating sushi. This was a drama of lives, but not in the Iron Chef or reality TV show formula.
It was instructive, and inspiring and frustrating. Instructive and inspiring in that it helped me understand some of the Japanese ways of flavor (in fact, inspired by this book, I made the best sole I've ever managed last night, broiled after a light marinade in sake, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili oil and sugar - then I used the marinade to pour over my broccoli which I then roasted in the oven. Delicious!), and the possibilities of making sushi for myself. Although it is not a cookbook and contains no recipes, there are good references at the end for those who want to go further with it. Frustrating in that it makes you want to rush out to the nearest decent sushi bar and have the experience of eating well made sushi. I don't think there is one closer than 90 miles away from me, so that won't be happening soon. When I do go though, I will go with a much better understanding of the experience and food.
I wasn't going to write the review this morning, but I think it just bubbled out of me up there.
I finished "The Story of Sushi: An Unlikely Saga of Fish and Rice" last night. Quite possibly the best nonfiction I've read this year. Corson uses as the base of his story, the experiences of students in a three month course during 2005, on becoming a sushi chef at the California Sushi Academy in the L.A. area. He includes stories of the various teachers and the restaurant where the academy is housed. In amongst that story, are histories of sushi making, natural histories of the many ingredients used in making sushi and general cultural knowledge of those who have fallen in love with eating sushi. This was a drama of lives, but not in the Iron Chef or reality TV show formula.
It was instructive, and inspiring and frustrating. Instructive and inspiring in that it helped me understand some of the Japanese ways of flavor (in fact, inspired by this book, I made the best sole I've ever managed last night, broiled after a light marinade in sake, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili oil and sugar - then I used the marinade to pour over my broccoli which I then roasted in the oven. Delicious!), and the possibilities of making sushi for myself. Although it is not a cookbook and contains no recipes, there are good references at the end for those who want to go further with it. Frustrating in that it makes you want to rush out to the nearest decent sushi bar and have the experience of eating well made sushi. I don't think there is one closer than 90 miles away from me, so that won't be happening soon. When I do go though, I will go with a much better understanding of the experience and food.
I wasn't going to write the review this morning, but I think it just bubbled out of me up there.
622wonderY
>61 MrsLee: That book always cracks me up, MrsLee, if you are referring to The Zen of Fish, which is where your link goes.
My hilarity with it is that it was shelved with the natural sciences books (in particular, how to care for pets) rather than the food and cookbooks section, when it came out. At least this was the case at the Borders bookstores, where I worked at the time. It was as if no one at corporate headquarters had bothered to read the cover beyond the main title. And Corson's other title actually did belong in the science section.
My hilarity with it is that it was shelved with the natural sciences books (in particular, how to care for pets) rather than the food and cookbooks section, when it came out. At least this was the case at the Borders bookstores, where I worked at the time. It was as if no one at corporate headquarters had bothered to read the cover beyond the main title. And Corson's other title actually did belong in the science section.
63MrsLee
>62 2wonderY: Well, that is not the title of the story I read, unless it is one of those books which has two titles. Confusing, as I can't get my title to come up at all. I wonder what's up? I know I'm not the only one with that book on LT. Some research will be required, but no time to do it this morning. The book I read would not pass the S.P.C.A. rules for keeping fish though. ;)
ETA:
I see that "The Zen of Fish:the story of Sushi from Samurai to Market" was the original title in hardcover. Paperback is The Story of Sushi: An Unlikely Saga of Raw Fish and Rice, so, this is really confusing. The combinations page shows a big mashup of titles. Sigh.
ETA:
I see that "The Zen of Fish:the story of Sushi from Samurai to Market" was the original title in hardcover. Paperback is The Story of Sushi: An Unlikely Saga of Raw Fish and Rice, so, this is really confusing. The combinations page shows a big mashup of titles. Sigh.
642wonderY
>63 MrsLee: Heh! Perhaps that mis-calculation of the hardcover marketing had something to do with changing the title.
65MrsLee
I finished At Home in Mitford. It was enjoyable, especially for the dialog and characters. I can see myself reading this again in the future, so I made the decision to purchase the hardcover. I also decided to let the rest of the series go along with the first book which was a paperback. Happily, a coworker from my time at the hotel said she would love to have them, has never read them, and her mother will enjoy them too. So, happy ending for me, happy beginning for her.
I began reading Enchanted Vagabonds this morning. A memoir of a journey by canoe (rather a homemade vessel which is a sort of cross between a canoe/sailboat/kayak) along the southern coast of California, continuing on to Peru. This was in 1933, done by a young husband and wife. I'm not very far into it, but I can tell I will enjoy it because he writes with a sparkle in his eyes.
I began reading Enchanted Vagabonds this morning. A memoir of a journey by canoe (rather a homemade vessel which is a sort of cross between a canoe/sailboat/kayak) along the southern coast of California, continuing on to Peru. This was in 1933, done by a young husband and wife. I'm not very far into it, but I can tell I will enjoy it because he writes with a sparkle in his eyes.
66catzteach
>65 MrsLee: glad you found a good home for Mitford. :) the Vagabond book sounds good! Not an easy adventure, especially that long ago!
67stellarexplorer
>50 MrsLee: You are describing two of my favorite books from childhood. I read everything Verne ever wrote, and still liked the rereads as an adult. Maybe with the exception of The Island of Dr Moreau.
And At the Earth's Core! A seminal experience when I was 11 or 12. I found a very old very dusty copy in the stacks of my school library, the kind with the beautiful inset photographs of illustrations. It clearly hadn't seen the light of day in decades, and for me it was like discovering buried treasure. There is no later experience that can match finding treasure in the recesses of a library at age 12. I'm sure I sat on the floor in the aisle, transfixed and wide-eyed, until I'd read the last page. The risky adult reread turned out not to be the same.
And At the Earth's Core! A seminal experience when I was 11 or 12. I found a very old very dusty copy in the stacks of my school library, the kind with the beautiful inset photographs of illustrations. It clearly hadn't seen the light of day in decades, and for me it was like discovering buried treasure. There is no later experience that can match finding treasure in the recesses of a library at age 12. I'm sure I sat on the floor in the aisle, transfixed and wide-eyed, until I'd read the last page. The risky adult reread turned out not to be the same.
68Bookmarque
Moreau is Wells. I get them mixed up, too.
69stellarexplorer
>68 Bookmarque: That makes me feel so much better! It explains so much!
70MrsLee
>67 stellarexplorer: I never discovered Verne or Burroughs until I was an adult, so I envy you that experience! I do remember discovering Treasure Island as a young adult, my first experience of the older authors which brought the realization that there were treasures waiting to be discovered in older books! Like you, I found a stack of tattered, almost in pieces, books which had belonged to my uncle. The picture on the cover was not decipherable. The spines were falling off. The black cloth binding was torn and grayish, but the words inside were fine! I read it in one sitting, and I believe Howard Pyle was the illustrator, but I'm not sure. There was Treasure Island, The Black Arrow, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and Five Weeks in a Balloon. I still have a couple of them, others disintegrated beyond repair.
The Island of Dr. Moreau was just weird. :P
The Island of Dr. Moreau was just weird. :P
71stellarexplorer
>70 MrsLee: Those experiences are irreplaceable and ecstatic. It only works if you are of a tender age. I remember so many of them. They are some of the most powerful and treasured moments of my life.
72Jim53
>70 MrsLee: The one I remember finding as a pre-teen was Kidnapped.
73MrsLee
Am feeling particularly pissy right now. I ordered a hardcover copy of At Home in Mitford off of ebay, and today I received a paperback. :( I don't want the hassle of returning the book and paying for return shipping, I want my hardcover!
I may not buy off that site anymore, the sellers don't seem very reliable to me. Last thing I ordered was some glassware, which was packaged so poorly that half of it was broken when it arrived. Yes, the seller refunded the amount of the broken glassware, but these were items I had been looking for for 20 years, not easy to find, and I wanted the quantity I ordered. Ah well, first world, I know.
I may not buy off that site anymore, the sellers don't seem very reliable to me. Last thing I ordered was some glassware, which was packaged so poorly that half of it was broken when it arrived. Yes, the seller refunded the amount of the broken glassware, but these were items I had been looking for for 20 years, not easy to find, and I wanted the quantity I ordered. Ah well, first world, I know.
74pgmcc
>73 MrsLee: You can lodge an eBay dispute and eBay will sort it out.
I empathise with your disappointment.
I empathise with your disappointment.
75Bookmarque
Ah that's the pits. I want particular editions, too, and when I don't get them I sulk. It seems fitting.
76MrsLee
Well, the seller refunded my money, said I didn't have to return the book. She said she uploads items by ISBN and doesn't pay attention to how they come up (!) I'm going to donate this copy. Sigh. It really isn't about the money. I wanted that hardcover. Still, seller did what they could.
77MrsLee
Finished Persona Non Grata on our trip to the Bay Area yesterday. I stand by my previous review of this title, I liked it a lot. The audio version was very enjoyable.
Next audio up is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, narrated by Anne Hathaway. It is 3h, 52m, so should be over before I tire of it. Since I only listen to my audio books when I walk, and I only walk 30-50 minutes about 3-4 days a week, I tend to tire of long stories.
I also plan to finish Enchanted Vagabonds today, it has been a terrific read. If I do so, and if I have time, I will begin Deadpool Vol. 1: Secret Invasion by Daniel Way for something completely different. I found this on the Amazon Prime free reading, so of course, instead of reading any one of the thousand books I already have, I downloaded that.
Next audio up is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, narrated by Anne Hathaway. It is 3h, 52m, so should be over before I tire of it. Since I only listen to my audio books when I walk, and I only walk 30-50 minutes about 3-4 days a week, I tend to tire of long stories.
I also plan to finish Enchanted Vagabonds today, it has been a terrific read. If I do so, and if I have time, I will begin Deadpool Vol. 1: Secret Invasion by Daniel Way for something completely different. I found this on the Amazon Prime free reading, so of course, instead of reading any one of the thousand books I already have, I downloaded that.
78jillmwo
>77 MrsLee: I'd never encountered Enchanted Vagabonds until you mentioned it just now. Does the style of writing hold up fairly well? If they really left home with only five dollars between them (as the marketing blurb on Amazon suggests), then the couple might seem incredibly naive. Are they?
79MrsLee
>78 jillmwo: It's complicated. They had the help of a book publicist in writing this first book, and she apparently thought it would be a good idea to present it as a good old-fashioned adventure tale. Which is good. It really is that. However, many critics thought it made the couple sound crazy as loons. Which is also true. I think the answer lies somewhere in between. Here's the review I wrote a minute ago. :)
"A true life adventure story, this is a recounting of Dana and Ginger Lamb's travels down the Pacific coast from San Diego, along Baja, California, across the Gulf of California, down Mexico and Central America to the Panama Canal. They traveled in a small boat which they made themselves; a cross between a canoe, kayak and sailboat, setting out in October of 1933. There are quite a few black and white photos to illustrate their many adventures.
Oh my! It's almost impossible to believe they survived this trip. It's like reading an adventure written by Jules Verne, only with even more hair-raising predicaments and disasters. In fact, I believe that some of the stories are a bit romanticized, such as the seeking and almost finding of "pirate's treasures" and "lost cities." The Lamb's strike me as being story tellers of the old school, who know how to make a tale, if not out of whole-cloth (there is plenty of verification of the trip and many of the events), at least a bit more exciting than the reality. That being said, their reality was far more excitement than I ever hope to see in my lifetime!
This couple wanted to test themselves. They wanted to know what they had in them and if it was the stuff that would enable them to survive. What they don't expound on are their qualifications for this journey. They mention that they had been preparing and training for two years. They don't specify what that training entailed beyond target practice. One can infer from the text and situations survived, that it included engineering, food preparation, sewing, hide tanning, medical training, navigation and many other skills which most folks don't possess in their day-to-day lives.
The Lambs found that their curiosity, work ethics and flexibility served them well. They were able to adapt to their surroundings, often taking advice and cues from the natives they met, to survive the hoards of insect perils, sun and heat, and lack of potable water. They purposely began their trip with less than $5.00 so that they would be depending on the land and their skills, refusing many offers of help along the way, but gladly accepting it when they were at the end of their own resources.
In fact, that was one of the lessons they learned; that sometimes people survive because they are a community. Another lesson they took away from their trip was the value of hard work. Not hard work to save and scrape so that one could "one day" enjoy a time of no more work; but the value of work itself for the human mind. Work is what makes rest enjoyable. This is a book full of little revelations they had, sprinkled in amongst sheer terror, exhaustion and excitement. I loved their descriptions of the people and lands they met, of how they mentally overcame the obstacles they faced before they could physically conquer, and the details of their survival methods."
"A true life adventure story, this is a recounting of Dana and Ginger Lamb's travels down the Pacific coast from San Diego, along Baja, California, across the Gulf of California, down Mexico and Central America to the Panama Canal. They traveled in a small boat which they made themselves; a cross between a canoe, kayak and sailboat, setting out in October of 1933. There are quite a few black and white photos to illustrate their many adventures.
Oh my! It's almost impossible to believe they survived this trip. It's like reading an adventure written by Jules Verne, only with even more hair-raising predicaments and disasters. In fact, I believe that some of the stories are a bit romanticized, such as the seeking and almost finding of "pirate's treasures" and "lost cities." The Lamb's strike me as being story tellers of the old school, who know how to make a tale, if not out of whole-cloth (there is plenty of verification of the trip and many of the events), at least a bit more exciting than the reality. That being said, their reality was far more excitement than I ever hope to see in my lifetime!
This couple wanted to test themselves. They wanted to know what they had in them and if it was the stuff that would enable them to survive. What they don't expound on are their qualifications for this journey. They mention that they had been preparing and training for two years. They don't specify what that training entailed beyond target practice. One can infer from the text and situations survived, that it included engineering, food preparation, sewing, hide tanning, medical training, navigation and many other skills which most folks don't possess in their day-to-day lives.
The Lambs found that their curiosity, work ethics and flexibility served them well. They were able to adapt to their surroundings, often taking advice and cues from the natives they met, to survive the hoards of insect perils, sun and heat, and lack of potable water. They purposely began their trip with less than $5.00 so that they would be depending on the land and their skills, refusing many offers of help along the way, but gladly accepting it when they were at the end of their own resources.
In fact, that was one of the lessons they learned; that sometimes people survive because they are a community. Another lesson they took away from their trip was the value of hard work. Not hard work to save and scrape so that one could "one day" enjoy a time of no more work; but the value of work itself for the human mind. Work is what makes rest enjoyable. This is a book full of little revelations they had, sprinkled in amongst sheer terror, exhaustion and excitement. I loved their descriptions of the people and lands they met, of how they mentally overcame the obstacles they faced before they could physically conquer, and the details of their survival methods."
80MrsLee
I finished reading Deadpool. It was kind of fun but I enjoyed the movie in some ways more. The humor was better in the movie and the violence was pretty much the same in both, not as much foul stuff in the comic. I probably won't pursue it to purchase.
With my random choosing method in which the answer is always 42; I picked my next read which is King Solomon's Mines. I wasn't really thinking I wanted another adventure story so soon after the above-mentioned one however it is what it is and I will see if I can read it.
With my random choosing method in which the answer is always 42; I picked my next read which is King Solomon's Mines. I wasn't really thinking I wanted another adventure story so soon after the above-mentioned one however it is what it is and I will see if I can read it.
81fuzzi
>76 MrsLee: I've had issues with amazon, abebooks, and Ebay when buying books, but Ebay has the best return/refund record for me. Amazon marketplace sellers just shrug and say "too bad", and then it's a pain to file a claim. On Ebay, they are very anxious to protect their ratings, and so will go the extra mile to make sure you are happy. I had a terribly time finding The Reason for a Flower in hardcover, had to return several to Amazon when I received paperback books. But Ebay came through, yippee!
And use Paypal to pay for orders, because they also have a good buyer protection policy.
And use Paypal to pay for orders, because they also have a good buyer protection policy.
82MrsLee
Whoops! I haven't updated here for a bit.
Currently reading King Solomon's Mines, with variable enjoyment. The chapter on elephant slaughter almost made me put the book aside, but he promised there was only one. The treatment of and attitude towards natives is also hard to swallow. The only way I can manage it is as a history lesson. A hard one.
Since it is difficult to read with enjoyment, I also picked up Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L. Sayers. This may have been a mistake because of all her books, this is the least enjoyable one. I wanted to reread it because I was not satisfied with the current review I have on it, but again, it is not easy so I am soldiering on with lots of skimming of the timetables.
From the library I have Native North American Art, to further my art education this year. I confess, I am mostly looking at the pictures and reading the captions, then skimming for other information I may not have heard before. I love looking at primitive/early objects. From the very beginning, people didn't just make useful things, they made the useful things beautiful. I love that.
I try to read a couple of chapters in each of these each day, but don't always accomplish it. None of them are exactly compelling.
Currently reading King Solomon's Mines, with variable enjoyment. The chapter on elephant slaughter almost made me put the book aside, but he promised there was only one. The treatment of and attitude towards natives is also hard to swallow. The only way I can manage it is as a history lesson. A hard one.
Since it is difficult to read with enjoyment, I also picked up Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L. Sayers. This may have been a mistake because of all her books, this is the least enjoyable one. I wanted to reread it because I was not satisfied with the current review I have on it, but again, it is not easy so I am soldiering on with lots of skimming of the timetables.
From the library I have Native North American Art, to further my art education this year. I confess, I am mostly looking at the pictures and reading the captions, then skimming for other information I may not have heard before. I love looking at primitive/early objects. From the very beginning, people didn't just make useful things, they made the useful things beautiful. I love that.
I try to read a couple of chapters in each of these each day, but don't always accomplish it. None of them are exactly compelling.
83fuzzi
>82 MrsLee: the "problem" with some older books is that our societal attitudes have changed so much. I recently read Heart of Darkness and was not comfortable with his descriptions of the natives.
Aside from The Nine Tailors, I've not read any Wimsey books in many years, though I loved them as a teen (I thought Ian Carmichael was the cat's meow for a while, ha).
Aside from The Nine Tailors, I've not read any Wimsey books in many years, though I loved them as a teen (I thought Ian Carmichael was the cat's meow for a while, ha).
84Sakerfalcon
>82 MrsLee: The Native American art book sounds very interesting. I confess that I tend to buy art catalogues, telling myself I will read the essays, but usually only end up looking at the pictures.
85MrsLee
>84 Sakerfalcon: It is, and it deserves more of me, but I haven't it to give right now. I do find myself dipping into the text now and then. Interesting observations on the way Europeans viewed and skewed the native arts, the roles of men and women in the process and such.
86MrsLee
Finished the audio of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as read by Anne Hathaway. It was an enjoyable experience. Although I may not have loved every "voice" Hathaway came up with, they were each distinct and so easy to follow. None were horrible, and each had character.
Quite interesting to read the differences between the book and the movie. I'm not sure I've read the book before, or if I did, perhaps it was an abridged version? I grew up watching the movie every year. Except the part with the monkeys. Horrible, horrible, close your eyes! Having read "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire, I have to say that I was a bit ambivalent to the treatment of the witches in this story. They were certainly one dimensional and not very interesting except as a bogey for the story. However, this story is a product of its time, and marvelous for all that.
"It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out." A quote from L. Frank Baum about this story.
Did he achieve it? There are certainly ideals of bravery, kindness and wisdom to live up to, as well as loyalty. I will grant that the winged monkeys in the written version are not the nightmares of the original movie, but still quite unsettling, and there are many other "nightmare" creatures and events in the tale. The trials and tribulations of Dorothy were not brought upon her for some misdeed, or stepping out of the rules, as in old fairy tales, but simply part of her life, which she had the persistence to overcome. So I would say that yes, this is a good model of a modern fairy tale, but I like the old fairy tales, too.
Next up in audio is Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck.
Quite interesting to read the differences between the book and the movie. I'm not sure I've read the book before, or if I did, perhaps it was an abridged version? I grew up watching the movie every year. Except the part with the monkeys. Horrible, horrible, close your eyes! Having read "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire, I have to say that I was a bit ambivalent to the treatment of the witches in this story. They were certainly one dimensional and not very interesting except as a bogey for the story. However, this story is a product of its time, and marvelous for all that.
"It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out." A quote from L. Frank Baum about this story.
Did he achieve it? There are certainly ideals of bravery, kindness and wisdom to live up to, as well as loyalty. I will grant that the winged monkeys in the written version are not the nightmares of the original movie, but still quite unsettling, and there are many other "nightmare" creatures and events in the tale. The trials and tribulations of Dorothy were not brought upon her for some misdeed, or stepping out of the rules, as in old fairy tales, but simply part of her life, which she had the persistence to overcome. So I would say that yes, this is a good model of a modern fairy tale, but I like the old fairy tales, too.
Next up in audio is Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck.
87MrsLee
I've finished Five Red Herrings. Glad this wasn't the first Sayers novel I read, because I never would have read another one if it was. Too many timetables, too much dialect. Not content to do broad Scotch dialects, she threw in what I took for a person with a lisping speech defect, but apparently was supposed to be a Jewish merchant. Perhaps he was a Jewish merchant with a lisp. It could happen. :/
I did enjoy the last chapter where the police followed Wimsey around the countryside as he reconstructed the crime. I enjoyed the very few references she allowed herself in this, but other than that, it really is a story for someone who cares passionately about timetables, railroads and Galloway.
I did enjoy the last chapter where the police followed Wimsey around the countryside as he reconstructed the crime. I enjoyed the very few references she allowed herself in this, but other than that, it really is a story for someone who cares passionately about timetables, railroads and Galloway.
88hfglen
>87 MrsLee: Possibly my liking for the way she (through Wimsey) used timetables in this one stems from a conversation I've had far too often in one form or another, when wearing my botanical-historian hat. The general form goes something like this:
Interlocutor: Seeing X was Y's mentor, how did Y manage not to know...
Me: Remember first that when Y died of old age, X was only four years old. Go check the dates.
Interlocutor: Oh.
Interlocutor: Seeing X was Y's mentor, how did Y manage not to know...
Me: Remember first that when Y died of old age, X was only four years old. Go check the dates.
Interlocutor: Oh.
90Sakerfalcon
>86 MrsLee: The trials and tribulations of Dorothy were not brought upon her for some misdeed, or stepping out of the rules, as in old fairy tales, but simply part of her life, which she had the persistence to overcome.
I hadn't thought about this before but you're right. I like that Dorothy's not being punished and that amid the difficulties and her homesickness she does find friendship and helps those she cares about as well as pursuing her own quest.
I hadn't thought about this before but you're right. I like that Dorothy's not being punished and that amid the difficulties and her homesickness she does find friendship and helps those she cares about as well as pursuing her own quest.
91MrsLee
I just discovered something. I have never seen a movie of King Solomon's Mines by Rider Haggard, and in fact, have been confusing it with another classic, The Man Who Would be King by Rudyard Kipling. Apparently, Haggard's story was the one which set off a genre of books at the time called "Lost World" books. Seeing that I recently confused a Jules Verne story with an Edgar Rice Burroughs tale, I would say that I am afflicted with confusion in my classics.
There are similarities, such as three main characters on the trip to a hidden world. I wonder if I ever would have caught on to my mix-up if I hadn't read the Wikipedia entry on it?
There are similarities, such as three main characters on the trip to a hidden world. I wonder if I ever would have caught on to my mix-up if I hadn't read the Wikipedia entry on it?
92MrsLee
Finished Native North American Art last night. I checked it out from the library intending only to look at the photographs and read their captions, but then I would dip in and out of the text, and every time I dipped in I ended up reading quite a bit. I focused on the bits which explained how the various tribes used/made/perceived art and learned quite a lot.
93MrsLee
I am loving Pavilion of Women so far. Buck is a master at making a character from another culture easy to identify with, while at the same time of her own culture. I'm not sure how to say that. Anyway, I don't know if the love will continue, but the beginning is enchanting. It speaks to my middle (high end of middle?) aged heart.
Still haven't decided whether I'm going to quit reading King Solomon's Mines. I'm finding it difficult to enjoy the "Lost World" because that particular area is not lost or unknown anymore. It is well known and I would rather read a true history of the actual area. I have decided that I will do my best to finish it by the end of September, or let it go if I can't.
Still haven't decided whether I'm going to quit reading King Solomon's Mines. I'm finding it difficult to enjoy the "Lost World" because that particular area is not lost or unknown anymore. It is well known and I would rather read a true history of the actual area. I have decided that I will do my best to finish it by the end of September, or let it go if I can't.
94SylviaC
I haven't read anything by Pearl S. Buck yet, but I do have Pavilion of Women on my Kindle. You'll have to let me know whether you think it would be a good starting point for me.
95hfglen
>93 MrsLee: In that case may I recommend the works of A.P. Cartwright and some of Lawrence G. Green's; of the latter, Full Many a Glorious Morning. Your easiest way of finding these may just be to come and read my copies.
96Darth-Heather
>95 hfglen: yay! Reading party at Hugh's! Let's go!
97hfglen
>96 Darth-Heather: It's a good thing I laid in a new supply of sweet wine then! Bring warm clothes; it's foggy, cold and miserable out.
98MrsLee
>94 SylviaC: For the most part, here books are individual stories. I have loved many of them, but this one suits me just now. Others, like The Good Earth were perfect when I was in my twenties. Which doesn't mean they would not be good now, it just means it was perfect then.
I read The Living Reed not too many years ago, and that was also a fine story. She packs so much of the culture and thought-ways of the people into her stories.
>95 hfglen: One of these days you may find me on your doorstep with a bottle of wine and a selection of cheese. :)
I read The Living Reed not too many years ago, and that was also a fine story. She packs so much of the culture and thought-ways of the people into her stories.
>95 hfglen: One of these days you may find me on your doorstep with a bottle of wine and a selection of cheese. :)
99ScoLgo
>98 MrsLee: Like yourself, I am also easing my way out of middle age. I first read The Good Earth two or three years ago and, despite not having experienced anything by Buck before, found it a deeply moving novel. It's really rather timeless. I would attribute that timelessness to the simple prose style and the unflinching look at the subject matter. So much more 'real' than most historical fiction, at least in my opinion. I have the two sequels on my shelf and really need to make time for them soon -- maybe with a quick re-read of book one first.
But then, you come along and tempt me with Pavilion of Women... Too many books to read! ;)
But then, you come along and tempt me with Pavilion of Women... Too many books to read! ;)
101MrsLee
>99 ScoLgo: I like to keep books by authors I know are a sure thing on hand. Sometimes you need a sure thing. Happily, Buck wrote lots of them!
>100 brodiew2: Thank you, and with you as well. I am sitting here when I should be in bed, but we went to a brewery for dinner tonight and socialized, so I'm winding down before bed.
Sadly, no. The vendor went above and beyond, refunding my money and not making me ship the book back (I donated it), but I've not found a hardcover yet. The rest of the series I gave to a friend.
>100 brodiew2: Thank you, and with you as well. I am sitting here when I should be in bed, but we went to a brewery for dinner tonight and socialized, so I'm winding down before bed.
Sadly, no. The vendor went above and beyond, refunding my money and not making me ship the book back (I donated it), but I've not found a hardcover yet. The rest of the series I gave to a friend.
102stellarexplorer
>91 MrsLee: There are several movies of King Solomon's Mines. I remember seeing one as a kid, not that I recall it well enough to recommend it. For me, since it was fantasy in the first place, it doesn't matter that the reality of its setting is now known. It's whether the story holds up and offers an immersive reading experience. It has been a few decades since I read Haggard, so I'm not sure.
103hfglen
>98 MrsLee: Of course with a bit of warning we could fetch you from the airport. And arrange a cheese-buying expedition to the Midlands :)
More to the point, may I suggest you keep half an eye open for the works of T.V. Bulpin, who wrote as extensively about the eastern part of southern Africa as Lawrence G. Green did about the west.
More to the point, may I suggest you keep half an eye open for the works of T.V. Bulpin, who wrote as extensively about the eastern part of southern Africa as Lawrence G. Green did about the west.
104MrsLee
>102 stellarexplorer: I can't say the reading is unpleasant, but I do seem to be finding lots of excuses not to read, rather than picking it up. That might be me and not the book. However, all day at work yesterday my mind kept drifting to the characters in Pavilion of Women and wondering how they were getting on, while the other doesn't enter it, and the characters in King Solomon's Mines are in much more physical danger. Part of my problem may be the STTM (slogging through the mud) factor. Not literal mud, but lots of travel, almost dying-but saved at the last-possible-moment stuff.
>103 hfglen: Considering that I am not a world traveler, but for the most part an armchair traveler, if I ever did venture out I would probably need all the babysitting I could get! Thanks for the author recs.
>103 hfglen: Considering that I am not a world traveler, but for the most part an armchair traveler, if I ever did venture out I would probably need all the babysitting I could get! Thanks for the author recs.
105MrsLee
I did finish King Solomon's Mines today. Have decided to begin Martin Walker's Fatal Pursuit next.
106MrsLee
I ended up enjoying King Solomon's Mines more than I thought I would, but I did skim certain passages. Haggard could rival King Solomon in describing "Sheba's Breasts." Meaning the mountain range, which I was surprised to find actually existed. He managed to be extremely suggestive about their shape and such without being explicit. Nice work. He was also quite funny at times. I laughed at several passages and situations they found themselves in.
As for the treatment of natives, well, I would say that if you were comparing it to many of the other books of its day, it was rather broad. There was an interracial relationship, although the narrator did not approve, it wasn't so much due to the races, but to the perception of "society back home" and how that would affect her. He treated the natives as individuals, some were clever, some were brave, some were smart, some were wicked, some were evil, some were dense.
Anywho, done with the third quarter of the year, and here are the stats for the last three months.
Third quarter
27 books read, 17 fiction, 10 nonfiction
19 by men, 07 by women, 01 combined male and female, ** Anonymous
13 by authors I’ve never read before
19 physical books, 04 audio and 03 ebooks
Oldest writing was by Aristotle (in 364-322BC), oldest physical book from 1952(The Old Man and the Sea).
Not counting ebooks, audio books or rereads:
Books Retained After Reading : 5
BooksDiscardedRehomed: 16
As for the treatment of natives, well, I would say that if you were comparing it to many of the other books of its day, it was rather broad. There was an interracial relationship, although the narrator did not approve, it wasn't so much due to the races, but to the perception of "society back home" and how that would affect her. He treated the natives as individuals, some were clever, some were brave, some were smart, some were wicked, some were evil, some were dense.
Anywho, done with the third quarter of the year, and here are the stats for the last three months.
Third quarter
27 books read, 17 fiction, 10 nonfiction
19 by men, 07 by women, 01 combined male and female, ** Anonymous
13 by authors I’ve never read before
19 physical books, 04 audio and 03 ebooks
Oldest writing was by Aristotle (in 364-322BC), oldest physical book from 1952(The Old Man and the Sea).
Not counting ebooks, audio books or rereads:
Books Retained After Reading : 5
Books
107pgmcc
>106 MrsLee: The committe is glad to see you are "rehoming" books you find it no longer possible to support, rather than "Discarding" them.
108MrsLee
I enjoyed my October reading plan last year, so thought I would try it again this year. Don't know if I'll make it through all these, and I don't particularly care, and if something else comes up, I'll run down that rabbit trail, but otherwise, here's the plan:
Comic Epitaphs from the very best old Graveyards by Henry R. Martin - completed
The Dance of Death by William Herman (pseudonym of Ambrose Bierce) - completed
Death for Dear Clara by Q. Patrick - completed
Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides - completed
Cannibal Cousins by John H. Craige - completed
The Spirit of St. Louis by Charles A. Lindbergh - nope, there's always next year!
Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell, ebook - completed
Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie, ebook - completed
Fatal Pursuit by Martin Walker, which I am currently reading - completed
Comic Epitaphs from the very best old Graveyards by Henry R. Martin - completed
The Dance of Death by William Herman (pseudonym of Ambrose Bierce) - completed
Death for Dear Clara by Q. Patrick - completed
Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides - completed
Cannibal Cousins by John H. Craige - completed
The Spirit of St. Louis by Charles A. Lindbergh - nope, there's always next year!
Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell, ebook - completed
Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie, ebook - completed
Fatal Pursuit by Martin Walker, which I am currently reading - completed
109pgmcc
>108 MrsLee: Are you aware that the third Witches of Lychford story is coming out this month?
110MrsLee
>109 pgmcc: Yes, and that I'm DREADFULLY behind in reading these. I think I have the first two, so if I enjoy this one, I'm sure I will be adding the third in a bonus round of purchasing for my Thingaversary, which is on the 12th of this month. Hmmm, next year will be my 12th Thingaversary on the 12th of October. I wonder if that means I have to buy twelve sets of books or something...
111pgmcc
>110 MrsLee: I am not sure my computer can display the number of digits necessary to show how many books you will have to acquire. We shall probably have to use scientific notation.
112catzteach
>108 MrsLee: >109 pgmcc: I was in my favorite book store this weekend and saw a paper copy of Witches of Lychford. I almost bought it, but I already had a book in my hands and I went in with the intention of not buying as I spent almost $100 in there two weeks ago.
113fuzzi
Just chiming in here, recommending Pearl S Buck books. I read both The Good Earth and Sons when I was in my late teens or early twenties, and loved them both.
114MrsLee
Fatal Pursuit is done. It was enjoyable as they all are, but I do wish the author could figure out a relationship for Bruno. The same old circle is getting tedious, and his utter devotion to a character I have no patience for and see nothing attractive in is annoying. Still, I enjoy reading these for the community and the snippets of history more than for the mystery or Bruno's love life, and on that the author is on target. This time it was a bit of vintage car lore, and Resistance activity.
Have begun Ghost Soldiers and am finding it very readable. If my eyes would stay open longer, I could read more. As it was, I went to bed at 8:40pm and slept like a tossing log. Up in the morning at 5am, and figuring out how to work the gym into my morning schedule. No more walking with vicious dogs and suspicious people! At least not until summer when it is light again.
Have begun Ghost Soldiers and am finding it very readable. If my eyes would stay open longer, I could read more. As it was, I went to bed at 8:40pm and slept like a tossing log. Up in the morning at 5am, and figuring out how to work the gym into my morning schedule. No more walking with vicious dogs and suspicious people! At least not until summer when it is light again.
115MrsLee
Began reading Witches of Lychford, to lighten up the Ghost Soldiers. So far, entertaining. I see that this is the book which has the infamous passage inspiring debate here about whether or not one can tell which kind of glasses are being rinsed under the tap when one is not able to see them.
116MrsLee
I did not realize Witches of Lychford was a novella. I don't pay close attention when books are discussed here if I haven't read them. Only enough to find out if they are liked and the main reason why, so it's entirely my own fault. I was a bit let down.
That can be a good thing. I won't say it's the best book I've ever read, but it was entertaining, and by the end, I was getting curious about the women involved. There seems much room for expansion, so I am looking forward to the sequels.
Will begin Death for Dear Clara by Q. Patrick (that's how it is in the book, but the touchstone comes up Patrick Quentin, will have to do some research). Husband picked it up at library sale for me. It was published in 1937, and I've never heard of this author, although, it looks as if he wrote several murder mysteries. The front of the book has a little letter on it which says, "The Honor of your Presence is Requested at the Murder of-" Does my husband know my tastes, or what?
That can be a good thing. I won't say it's the best book I've ever read, but it was entertaining, and by the end, I was getting curious about the women involved. There seems much room for expansion, so I am looking forward to the sequels.
Will begin Death for Dear Clara by Q. Patrick (that's how it is in the book, but the touchstone comes up Patrick Quentin, will have to do some research). Husband picked it up at library sale for me. It was published in 1937, and I've never heard of this author, although, it looks as if he wrote several murder mysteries. The front of the book has a little letter on it which says, "The Honor of your Presence is Requested at the Murder of-" Does my husband know my tastes, or what?
117clamairy
>116 MrsLee: So you didn't hate it? I knew it was short when I bought it because I looked at the page count. It's very entertaining, but I also wished it were heftier. Still, it's good fun!
I've never read King Solomon's Mines and I'm not sure I could get through the elephant chapter you mentioned. :o( I believe I started The Man Who Would Be King when I was too young to appreciate it and never tried again.
I've never read King Solomon's Mines and I'm not sure I could get through the elephant chapter you mentioned. :o( I believe I started The Man Who Would Be King when I was too young to appreciate it and never tried again.
118MrsLee
>117 clamairy: No, I didn't hate it. I can see myself wondering what is happening with the women in the story: as they were beginning to seem real to me, the story ended. I will read at least the next book.
119fuzzi
>117 clamairy: do try The Man Who Would Be King again. I recall reading and enjoying it, probably as a young adult (early 20s). Kipling stories can be so engrossing, good. And I love his poetry.
Hmm...I should read Kim on my Classics-I-Have-Not-Read challenge next year...
Hmm...I should read Kim on my Classics-I-Have-Not-Read challenge next year...
120MrsLee
>119 fuzzi: I remember liking Kim very much when I read it.
Did a little web search on Q. Patrick. Seems that name, along with Patrick Quentin and a couple of others were used by a team of writers. I say a team, but it was one man and different partners he had through the years. He began with a woman who was called Patsy, he was called Rick, and hence Patrick. The Q was added for interest. When she married, he found a male co-writer and they wrote together for about 30 years. I haven't decided about the book. It is a puzzle mystery, and not bad, but I haven't engaged with any characters yet. The star detective so far is simply clever, not engaging. I can see Leonardo DiCaprio playing him, and that isn't necessarily a compliment.
Did a little web search on Q. Patrick. Seems that name, along with Patrick Quentin and a couple of others were used by a team of writers. I say a team, but it was one man and different partners he had through the years. He began with a woman who was called Patsy, he was called Rick, and hence Patrick. The Q was added for interest. When she married, he found a male co-writer and they wrote together for about 30 years. I haven't decided about the book. It is a puzzle mystery, and not bad, but I haven't engaged with any characters yet. The star detective so far is simply clever, not engaging. I can see Leonardo DiCaprio playing him, and that isn't necessarily a compliment.
121zjakkelien
Hi MrsLee, can I be curious and ask you something? You said in another thread: Believe it or not, fantasy is not really my preferred genre. :D I just like to hang out with all you folks!
I think we are all glad that you chose to hang out here (I know I am), but I was just wondering how you came to decide to join this group? There are so many groups on LT, and if I hadn't been a fantasy fan myself, I would never have thought to look here.
I think we are all glad that you chose to hang out here (I know I am), but I was just wondering how you came to decide to join this group? There are so many groups on LT, and if I hadn't been a fantasy fan myself, I would never have thought to look here.
122MrsLee
>121 zjakkelien: I love Tolkien, and all things Tolkien. That's why I joined this group. Then they introduced me to Sanderson, then Bujold, then Pratchett (not necessarily in that order), then Butcher, Wurts, Moore, Fford, and a few others.
I am willing to try authors, but so many fantasy authors/stories are so deadly serious. I'm not. I have difficulty commiting myself to learning the new worlds and the huge novels. I don't think the huge novels would bother me as much if I were younger, or not working. They never used to, but now I can barely bring myself to open one.
I am willing to try authors, but so many fantasy authors/stories are so deadly serious. I'm not. I have difficulty commiting myself to learning the new worlds and the huge novels. I don't think the huge novels would bother me as much if I were younger, or not working. They never used to, but now I can barely bring myself to open one.
123Darth-Heather
>122 MrsLee: Have you ever read Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams? It's not very serious, and the hero is very handsome :)
124MrsLee
>123 Darth-Heather: Not yet, I'll keep my eyes open for it. Thanks!
126MrsLee
So I'm reading along in Death for Dear Clara, which was published in 1937. I come across a paragraph describing the detective's apartment, and I do believe it is referencing many of the famous detectives in the Golden Age.
"Though a hard-boiled member of the regular force, the young detective saw no reason to be spartan in his private life. His apartment was comfortable without being ultra-modern or depressingly decadent. It boasted no orchids (Nero Wolfe), no priceless objets d'art (that's exactly as it is in the book, but I don't know which detective this would be), no first editions (Lord Peter or ?). There were no specially monogrammed Persian cigarettes (is that Poirot?), no quaintly shaped pipes of meerschaum (Sherlock) or any other material. At his bedside, there lay no limply leathered Religio Medici (perhaps this one is Lord Peter?). And his colored boy, Oscar, while reasonably efficient, was utterly without story value (of course that is offensive to our modern sensibilities, but I understand that the author is simply saying he is no Bunter)."
Anyone else have a go at which detectives are being referenced in that paragraph?
"Though a hard-boiled member of the regular force, the young detective saw no reason to be spartan in his private life. His apartment was comfortable without being ultra-modern or depressingly decadent. It boasted no orchids (Nero Wolfe), no priceless objets d'art (that's exactly as it is in the book, but I don't know which detective this would be), no first editions (Lord Peter or ?). There were no specially monogrammed Persian cigarettes (is that Poirot?), no quaintly shaped pipes of meerschaum (Sherlock) or any other material. At his bedside, there lay no limply leathered Religio Medici (perhaps this one is Lord Peter?). And his colored boy, Oscar, while reasonably efficient, was utterly without story value (of course that is offensive to our modern sensibilities, but I understand that the author is simply saying he is no Bunter)."
Anyone else have a go at which detectives are being referenced in that paragraph?
129Sakerfalcon
>128 MrsLee: The perfect way to celebrate! Enjoy!
130brodiew2
Good afternoon, MrsLee! Happy Thingaversary! Mine was on the 8th.
No purchases yet, but I am really enjoying The Punch Escrow recommended by another LT user.
No purchases yet, but I am really enjoying The Punch Escrow recommended by another LT user.
131zjakkelien
>122 MrsLee: Ah, that explains! I can imagine the aversion to big new worlds, I am not always in the mood for that either. And I tend to prefer smaller fantasy nowadays.
132MrsLee
>130 brodiew2: Thank you!
Finished Death for Dear Clara. It was okay, nothing I would seek out to read, but I would read it if I saw it on a shelf at a hotel and I had nothing else to read. Is that damning with faint praise? The author is overly fond of the word "sardonic." None of the characters were very interesting. Not even the detective. In fact, I would say that the author went out of the way to make him not unique.Also, solution depended on perpetrator confessing, with even the detective not sure until the end. Eh. They would never get a conviction, but happily for them all, murderer jumped to his death.
Finished Death for Dear Clara. It was okay, nothing I would seek out to read, but I would read it if I saw it on a shelf at a hotel and I had nothing else to read. Is that damning with faint praise? The author is overly fond of the word "sardonic." None of the characters were very interesting. Not even the detective. In fact, I would say that the author went out of the way to make him not unique.
133stellarexplorer
>122 MrsLee: I had to laugh, because while IMHO Tolkien is among the greatest writers of the 20th century, the next four on your list include 3 I don’t like and 1 I’m still deciding on. Do I belong here? Yes.
134MrsLee
>133 stellarexplorer: Happily, the genre of Fantasy and Scifi seems to have a very large variety of stories, so we don't all have to like the same thing. :)
I am mostly a Golden Age murder mystery girl. That's where I feel at home. A few modern mystery writers have beguiled me, but I find that that genre too can be very serious. Serial killers, torture, deep police methods, people with perpetual destructive forces in their relationships. Bah. I read too much of that in the headlines. Call me a sissy, but I'm just trying to keep my head above water.
On the other hand, I can't stand most of the modern "cozy" mysteries either.
I am mostly a Golden Age murder mystery girl. That's where I feel at home. A few modern mystery writers have beguiled me, but I find that that genre too can be very serious. Serial killers, torture, deep police methods, people with perpetual destructive forces in their relationships. Bah. I read too much of that in the headlines. Call me a sissy, but I'm just trying to keep my head above water.
On the other hand, I can't stand most of the modern "cozy" mysteries either.
135MrsLee
Next up: The Dance of Death, amazing how many books have this title. Anyway, I picked it up at a library sale only because of its title and the pretty lettering on the cover. Plus my grandmother's writing is inside (she used to work at the library in the '50s and '60s).
Having a tough time with Ghost Soldiers. I might try skimming and reading only about the rescue, but reading about the torture and maltreatment of the prisoners is too much for me. I made it through Unbroken, but that was enough for a lifetime.
Having a tough time with Ghost Soldiers. I might try skimming and reading only about the rescue, but reading about the torture and maltreatment of the prisoners is too much for me. I made it through Unbroken, but that was enough for a lifetime.
136pgmcc
>134 MrsLee: I cannot remember if you were part of the conversation with @jillmwo when she hit me between the eyes with at Law by Cyril Hare. It is interesting and very amusing. Given your description of what you like and what you do not like I suspect "Murder at Law" could suit you perfectly.
On the strength of this novel I have acquired two more volumes by Mr. Hare, namely, When the Wind Blows and Untimely Death.
One point that adds to the credibility of these novels is that "Cyril Hare" is the nom de plume for a lawyer who became a judge, called, Alfred Gordon Clark.
On the strength of this novel I have acquired two more volumes by Mr. Hare, namely, When the Wind Blows and Untimely Death.
One point that adds to the credibility of these novels is that "Cyril Hare" is the nom de plume for a lawyer who became a judge, called, Alfred Gordon Clark.
137MrsLee
>136 pgmcc: Yes, she got me with that bullet, but due to the bulges of unread books on my bookcases, it is only on my wishlist so far!
138MrsLee
Ho boy. That was a tough one to read. Finished Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission. I did skim some of the parts about the "Bataan Death March" and the life in the POW camp. Problem is, if you skim too much, you miss the stories of heroism and courage and survival. So I sought a balance for my soul. I had to keep reminding myself that cruelty is not a national trait, but a human trait. Otherwise it would be easy to fall into the trap of hating a race rather than despising the actions of a few. The author did a good job of presenting that, I believe.
At the back are some present day photos of survivors and rescuers. A lot of old men who look like they would be loving grandfathers. There is a steely twinkle in their eyes, good humor is on their faces. I was struck by how easy it is to discount the elderly, forgetting that they have lived lives many of us could not imagine surviving.
Occasionally at work there will gather some old men in the waiting room and the conversation will turn to military service. They will share with one another some of their experiences. They don't see me in my office, and I almost hold my breath, not wanting to interrupt the flow of their conversations. Untold depths lie in those wrinkled faces and arthritic hands.
At the back are some present day photos of survivors and rescuers. A lot of old men who look like they would be loving grandfathers. There is a steely twinkle in their eyes, good humor is on their faces. I was struck by how easy it is to discount the elderly, forgetting that they have lived lives many of us could not imagine surviving.
Occasionally at work there will gather some old men in the waiting room and the conversation will turn to military service. They will share with one another some of their experiences. They don't see me in my office, and I almost hold my breath, not wanting to interrupt the flow of their conversations. Untold depths lie in those wrinkled faces and arthritic hands.
139MrsLee
Today I managed to read all of The Dance of Death
I began this with no background information and soon became appalled. The author, in extremely suggestive language was preaching against the WALTZ! Well, okay, I thought. Lots of people were against dancing, including my own great grandparents, so I thought I would read it out of interest. It struck me as a bit strange, and a bit of a mania how fervently this man who was not religious was going on about it.
I have heard of Ambrose Bierce, the real author of the piece. I rather thought he wrote things such as journalism and possibly some O. Henry type of stories or something like that. About half way through I decided to do some research and discovered that he was a satirist, and this was a bit of satire. Very well, I suppose it was a bit like The Onion of their times.
He certainly is talented with words, and his alliteration commands attention.
"...simpering simpletons who sympathize..." I think it was after stumbling over that I decided to research the author some more.
"...facile fair being whom favoring fortune..."
"...no personal or pulpit popularity to preserve..." Yeah.
Still and all, I think after reading this I will go take some Waltzing lessons. ;) Whew, is it hot in here?
On a side note, Ambrose Bierce disappeared without a trace, and the mystery has never been solved. The man who inspired this particular essay, William Herman Rulofson, whose name was used as the pseudonym, died falling off the top of a building in San Francisco, CA. He was heard to scream on the way down, "I am killed!" Hmmmm, the plot thickens. Bierce did warn that waltzing led to murder, perhaps a dancing teacher didn't see the humor in the essay and took his revenge?
I began this with no background information and soon became appalled. The author, in extremely suggestive language was preaching against the WALTZ! Well, okay, I thought. Lots of people were against dancing, including my own great grandparents, so I thought I would read it out of interest. It struck me as a bit strange, and a bit of a mania how fervently this man who was not religious was going on about it.
I have heard of Ambrose Bierce, the real author of the piece. I rather thought he wrote things such as journalism and possibly some O. Henry type of stories or something like that. About half way through I decided to do some research and discovered that he was a satirist, and this was a bit of satire. Very well, I suppose it was a bit like The Onion of their times.
He certainly is talented with words, and his alliteration commands attention.
"...simpering simpletons who sympathize..." I think it was after stumbling over that I decided to research the author some more.
"...facile fair being whom favoring fortune..."
"...no personal or pulpit popularity to preserve..." Yeah.
Still and all, I think after reading this I will go take some Waltzing lessons. ;) Whew, is it hot in here?
On a side note, Ambrose Bierce disappeared without a trace, and the mystery has never been solved. The man who inspired this particular essay, William Herman Rulofson, whose name was used as the pseudonym, died falling off the top of a building in San Francisco, CA. He was heard to scream on the way down, "I am killed!" Hmmmm, the plot thickens. Bierce did warn that waltzing led to murder, perhaps a dancing teacher didn't see the humor in the essay and took his revenge?
140MrsLee
Hopefully tonight I will have a chance to begin Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie.
Why is the apostrophe in Hallowe'en? Is that to somehow show how to pronounce it? Is it an old way of spelling it? Is it because the word Halloween is derived from All Hallows Eve, and so shows the condensation of the word?
Why is the apostrophe in Hallowe'en? Is that to somehow show how to pronounce it? Is it an old way of spelling it? Is it because the word Halloween is derived from All Hallows Eve, and so shows the condensation of the word?
141Sakerfalcon
>140 MrsLee: I've always assumed it was the third of your suggestions, a contraction of eve/evening.
142SylviaC
>140 MrsLee: >141 Sakerfalcon: That is my assumption, too. In my early school years, I was taught to spell it with the apostrophe.
143MrsLee
I made a post in the Unread Support group about themed months of reading, and that being a good way for me to occasionally dip into the stacks of books in my house that are otherwise neglected due to new acquisitions.
One of the members came up with a theme for me to include The Three Musketeers in, so that I would certainly read it soon. They suggested "Stylish Hats."
So, here's what I came up with last night after a quick tour of my shelves for my theme, "Stylish Clothing." Changed from hats due to the paucity of hat-like books or titles, and discovery of several other articles of clothing which intrigued.
This theme is for November, after my spooky theme is finished.
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Duma - first read in November
Seven League Boots by Richard Halliburton
Lone Cowboy by Will James (cowboy hat)
The Apprentice by Jacques Pépin (on cover is a photo of author in his chef's hat)
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (witches are notorious for their hats, at least fictional ones)
Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh
Hood by Stephen R Lawhead - Kindle
I'm not including my audio reads in the themes, because for them I am going to the oldest books purchased which I've not read and reading forward.
Don't think I'll make it through that whole stack in one month, but no worries. The point is fun, not pressure. :)
One of the members came up with a theme for me to include The Three Musketeers in, so that I would certainly read it soon. They suggested "Stylish Hats."
So, here's what I came up with last night after a quick tour of my shelves for my theme, "Stylish Clothing." Changed from hats due to the paucity of hat-like books or titles, and discovery of several other articles of clothing which intrigued.
This theme is for November, after my spooky theme is finished.
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Duma - first read in November
Seven League Boots by Richard Halliburton
Lone Cowboy by Will James (cowboy hat)
The Apprentice by Jacques Pépin (on cover is a photo of author in his chef's hat)
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (witches are notorious for their hats, at least fictional ones)
Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh
Hood by Stephen R Lawhead - Kindle
I'm not including my audio reads in the themes, because for them I am going to the oldest books purchased which I've not read and reading forward.
Don't think I'll make it through that whole stack in one month, but no worries. The point is fun, not pressure. :)
144pgmcc
>143 MrsLee: Enjoy your fashion parade.
145reconditereader
A Discovery of Witches is so fun, though I think most of the fancy clothing in the series comes in the later books. Enjoy!
146Sakerfalcon
>143 MrsLee: That is a great idea, and a wonderful theme! I hope you enjoy the reads!
147jillmwo
>143 MrsLee: What fun! Much doffing of one's chapeau and whipping of capes, I should think. Not to mention the clomping of boots.
148Marissa_Doyle
Ooh, I have the Pepin on my TBR pile too.
A Discovery of Witches did not do it for me, unfortunately. Will be curious to see which side you land on.
A Discovery of Witches did not do it for me, unfortunately. Will be curious to see which side you land on.
149MrsLee
>148 Marissa_Doyle: Yes, I think I've seen both views here, so we shall see! Really, I could be reading that one for my Halloween month, too. Maybe it will be my crossover book.
>147 jillmwo: Now I want to get out my costumes so that I can read in style.
I finished Hallowe'en Party this weekend. It was fine. I can never give Agatha Christie novels more than three stars because the characters are not real. They seem to be cut outs in the story to move the prose along. I don't care about any of them, and in this one, Poirot was not very endearing either. It was a fine mystery. I knew some of it, not all of it.
Next up will be Cannibal Cousins. I have no idea.
>147 jillmwo: Now I want to get out my costumes so that I can read in style.
I finished Hallowe'en Party this weekend. It was fine. I can never give Agatha Christie novels more than three stars because the characters are not real. They seem to be cut outs in the story to move the prose along. I don't care about any of them, and in this one, Poirot was not very endearing either. It was a fine mystery. I knew some of it, not all of it.
Next up will be Cannibal Cousins. I have no idea.
150SylviaC
>149 MrsLee: That's how I generally feel about Christie. The books are much more about the puzzles than the characters. I like them well enough, but I don't have any particular attachment to them. The ones that stand out most for me are the ones that feature neither Miss Marple nor Poirot. In fact, I don't read the Poirot ones at all any more, because I've never found him endearing.
151fuzzi
>150 SylviaC: I feel better. I've read two or three Poirot mysteries and have no interest in any others.
152cmbohn
I am a big Poirot fan, but to each their own. Have you seen the previews for the new Orient Express? Branaugh is emphatically NOT my idea of the character, but I expect I'll see the movie anyway.
153catzteach
I am in the love it camp for Discovery of Witches.
I have never read a Christie book. I have seen a few movies based on the book and enjoyed those.
I have never read a Christie book. I have seen a few movies based on the book and enjoyed those.
154MrsLee
>152 cmbohn: Poirot for me will always be David Suchet, but I expect I will watch the new movie anyway. I do enjoy Branaugh's takes on Shakespeare. I don't always agree with his interpretations, but they make for fun shows to watch.
>150 SylviaC: Usually people look at me aghast when I say that. It feels nice to be understood. :) I can always read a Christie mystery novel though. I don't keep them, but if I'm stuck on holiday without reading material (not likely to happen now that we have Kindles), I can pick up her mysteries and have an enjoyable read.
>150 SylviaC: Usually people look at me aghast when I say that. It feels nice to be understood. :) I can always read a Christie mystery novel though. I don't keep them, but if I'm stuck on holiday without reading material (not likely to happen now that we have Kindles), I can pick up her mysteries and have an enjoyable read.
155zjakkelien
>149 MrsLee: >150 SylviaC: I can see your points on the Christie's, but I enjoy them every now and then anyway. I used to like Poirot best, but later on, I started to find his arrogance grating. I like Miss Marple better now.
156SylviaC
I do read Christie sometimes, but there are others that I'm likely to reach for first. Lately, I prefer her nonfiction to her fiction.
157zjakkelien
>156 SylviaC: They're just so nice and predictable. When there is a lot going on in my head, I need something comfortable to read, and Christie is one of those authors that work.
158SylviaC
>157 zjakkelien: Yes, that's when I'm most likely to turn to her mysteries, too. You know just what you're getting. Enough of a puzzle to hold your attention, but it won't require a big investment of time or emotions.
159Darth-Heather
>158 SylviaC: That's just it. They are a good size when you need a bit of filler, and reliably entertaining - I like them after a really big novel or series, kind of like a palate cleanser :)
160Bookmarque
I don't mind Christie's books too much. Prefer Poirot, but not by much. The thing that I can't take too much of is the way she portrays the English's bad sides - judgmental, bigoted, uncharitable and class conscious to the point of causing harm. It's ugly and so I don't read many of her books.
161MrsLee
By skimming a lot, I finished Fabulous Memories of a Truly Adventurous Life. Yeah. Whatever. Only interest in local events and people kept me reading this. It was like being stuck in a room with a loud voiced man who can't shut up about himself and thinks that everything he does holds interest for others in the room. I probably won't write that in my review because he is bound to have family or friends on Facebook.
The only thing worthwhile about reading this book is that it has made me want to seek out Earle Stanley Gardner's books about Baja, California.
I sort of started Cannibal Cousins, but I've had company, so not much time for reading. It is about the American occupation of Haiti. I don't know much about that.
The only thing worthwhile about reading this book is that it has made me want to seek out Earle Stanley Gardner's books about Baja, California.
I sort of started Cannibal Cousins, but I've had company, so not much time for reading. It is about the American occupation of Haiti. I don't know much about that.
162MrsLee
Still so much drama at work. My heart isn't in it. Therefore, I decided to read while I wait for management to get their sh*t together. Started Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist by Tim Federle. Amusing. Why it's divided into "gal" cocktails and "guy" cocktails I don't understand, but whatever.
163fuzzi
>162 MrsLee: sounds like my work, lately. Too many wannabe chiefs...
164MrsLee
Finished Comic Epitaphs: From the very best old Graveyards. I suppose it is amusing enough, but I was so disappointed that the author didn't differentiate between authentic epitaphs and made up ones that it lost its shine for me.
165SylviaC
>164 MrsLee: I've read a few of those epitaph books, and I always wonder how many of them are real. I also wonder how much the books copy from each other.
166MrsLee
Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist is completed. Now I just have to make all the drinks, and read all the books. Or perhaps watch the movies inspired by the books with the drinks. That would be fun. Only, I probably won't, because I don't have room for all the bottles needed to create all the drinks. Especially the ones I'm not likely to enjoy.
Anywho, on with the Cannibal Cousins. I can see this becoming a book I skim through, although it has been interesting so far.
Anywho, on with the Cannibal Cousins. I can see this becoming a book I skim through, although it has been interesting so far.
167MrsLee
In spite of all the ghouls and goblins last night, I was able to finish Cannibal Cousins. It was pretty interesting for an older nonfiction written by a Marine/policeman/journalist. He had a Mark Twain sense of dark and subtle humor.
His words when describing the African-Haitians were frequently jarring to my modern ears, and yet he claimed to have no race issues, and I don't think he did for a man of his times. It's hard to explain, but it was interesting to read a man who was very enlightened in his day and see how far we've come in our views today.
I have not known much of anything of Haitian history other than there are a lot of hurricanes there, the original natives were pretty much all killed by early discoverers, it was a colonial country used for plantation growing of sugar, rum was popular and Voodoo. This delved a good deal into the history and politics of the peoples and went a long way towards explaining the complications of forcing a Democracy on a people who do not want one.
I managed to finish 10 books in October, which has set me up nicely for my 100 books this year. I now only have to complete 3 to meet that goal, and I'm pretty sure I can do that, even with the holiday season upon us.
It's November now, so I shall begin my elegant wardrobe list of books.
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - first read in November - finished
Seven League Boots by Richard Halliburton
Lone Cowboy by Will James (cowboy hat)
The Apprentice by Jacques Pépin (on cover is a photo of author in his chef's hat) - finished
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (witches are notorious for their hats, at least fictional ones) - finished
Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh - finished
Hood by Stephen R Lawhead - Kindle
Not necessarily in the order listed, except that I will begin with the Musketeers. I'm still reading (listening to) Pavilion of Women and loving it. Do you know, it has a male narrator and he doesn't bother me one bit with his voices.
His words when describing the African-Haitians were frequently jarring to my modern ears, and yet he claimed to have no race issues, and I don't think he did for a man of his times. It's hard to explain, but it was interesting to read a man who was very enlightened in his day and see how far we've come in our views today.
I have not known much of anything of Haitian history other than there are a lot of hurricanes there, the original natives were pretty much all killed by early discoverers, it was a colonial country used for plantation growing of sugar, rum was popular and Voodoo. This delved a good deal into the history and politics of the peoples and went a long way towards explaining the complications of forcing a Democracy on a people who do not want one.
I managed to finish 10 books in October, which has set me up nicely for my 100 books this year. I now only have to complete 3 to meet that goal, and I'm pretty sure I can do that, even with the holiday season upon us.
It's November now, so I shall begin my elegant wardrobe list of books.
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - first read in November - finished
Seven League Boots by Richard Halliburton
Lone Cowboy by Will James (cowboy hat)
The Apprentice by Jacques Pépin (on cover is a photo of author in his chef's hat) - finished
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (witches are notorious for their hats, at least fictional ones) - finished
Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh - finished
Hood by Stephen R Lawhead - Kindle
Not necessarily in the order listed, except that I will begin with the Musketeers. I'm still reading (listening to) Pavilion of Women and loving it. Do you know, it has a male narrator and he doesn't bother me one bit with his voices.
168jillmwo
I'm pulling up a comfy chair and waiting to hear back from you about the titles on that list.
169MrsLee
Sigh. I'm rapidly getting bored with the two titles I'm reading at the moment. They are not boring, but I find my attention span limited these days. I want to finish them already!
171MrsLee
Also finished Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck, the audio I was listening to. Narrated by Adam Verner, this is a narrator to look for. I very much enjoyed his reading to the extent that I was not aware of it, only of the story unfolding. I don't think he ever hit a false note. The story itself has a strong spiritual message, although not necessarily of one particular faith. Its insights into middle age and a woman's soul were profound and I loved it for that, as well as for the exposure to an old world Chinese home.
Next up: True Grit by Charles Portis. I've had this on my shelves for some time to read, never got to it, and now I see that I've also had it in audible form. So, although it doesn't fit much with my theme of wonderful clothing, I will be happy to listen to it.
Next up: True Grit by Charles Portis. I've had this on my shelves for some time to read, never got to it, and now I see that I've also had it in audible form. So, although it doesn't fit much with my theme of wonderful clothing, I will be happy to listen to it.
1722wonderY
>171 MrsLee: Hmmm, as a middle-aged woman, I might want to re-visit Pavilion of Women. I read and loved it as a young woman.
173SylviaC
I have Pavilion of Women on my Kindle, so whenever I get around to it, it will probably be the first Pearl S. Buck book I read.
174fuzzi
>171 MrsLee: I loved True Grit when I read it a couple years ago. Enjoy.
175MrsLee
>172 2wonderY: >173 SylviaC: I think you would both enjoy it. I see they've made a movie of it, I may try to find that. I would love to have a visual of the home.
176MrsLee
>175 MrsLee: Having seen the cover of the movie, I sincerely doubt I would like it, and will probably not try. William Dafoe is the Caucasian priest, that's bad enough although not a game ender, but the cover has him caressing Madame Wu, a thing which would NEVER have happened. Bah!
177MrsLee
Finished Hand in Glove. It was reliable.
A satisfying mystery, with some amusement, some puzzle and some fun characters. I like to read Ngaio Marsh; she is reliable. Inspector Alleyn and his wife Troy are one of the few couples in mysteries which have a happy and stimulating marriage.My only disappointment was that the simpering, tittering character was not the one murdered.
Next up is A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Interesting so far, but I didn't get further than the first chapter. Since today is my 34th Anniversary, I best spend some time with my partner instead of telling him to go find something to do because I'm reading a book! ;)
A satisfying mystery, with some amusement, some puzzle and some fun characters. I like to read Ngaio Marsh; she is reliable. Inspector Alleyn and his wife Troy are one of the few couples in mysteries which have a happy and stimulating marriage.
Next up is A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Interesting so far, but I didn't get further than the first chapter. Since today is my 34th Anniversary, I best spend some time with my partner instead of telling him to go find something to do because I'm reading a book! ;)
179pgmcc
A Discovery of Witches is a book I have browsed and wondered about. I am interested in hearing your view on it.
Congratulations on your anniversary.
Congratulations on your anniversary.
181SylviaC
>177 MrsLee: I don't know why I have never been able to finish a Ngaio Marsh book. I've certainly tried enough, and my mother (who was a connoisseur of mysteries) loved them, but I wasn't ever able to get more than a couple of chapters in. And I have no idea what it was that I didn't like about them.
183fuzzi
>177 MrsLee: Happy (belated) Anniversary!
184Sakerfalcon
I saw some of your anniversary pics on Facebook - looks like you had some very nice celebrations! Congratulations!
185MrsLee
Thank you all for the good wishes, we had a lovely dinner, I tasted some special gin (Rogue Pink Spruce), and our drive through back-roads was interesting, even if I didn't see as many birds as I was hoping for. I did see a couple of great grey herons, lots of snowy egrets, several hawks, some vultures munching on a fox, and lots of little black birds at a distance which I couldn't identify. Some on the water, some on power lines and some in the air, but no murmerations. The country we drove through was some the best farmland in California. Orchards and rice fields, mostly.
>179 pgmcc: Still haven't gone far enough to know yet. Not blown away, but interested enough to want to know more. The tone is somewhat dry or monotone so far. A person telling, not showing, but that may change.
>181 SylviaC: & >182 suitable1: I put Marsh alongside of Christie as far as the mysteries go. Always readable, but I don't save them, and I don't really seek them out. If they come to me, I will not mind reading them. In a sense, they never quite come off the way Sayers does, even though the detective is a peer married to a talented artist. The humor is there, but not much, and I don't feel as though I had learned something interesting at the end, or had to enlarge my brain a little to understand them.
>179 pgmcc: Still haven't gone far enough to know yet. Not blown away, but interested enough to want to know more. The tone is somewhat dry or monotone so far. A person telling, not showing, but that may change.
>181 SylviaC: & >182 suitable1: I put Marsh alongside of Christie as far as the mysteries go. Always readable, but I don't save them, and I don't really seek them out. If they come to me, I will not mind reading them. In a sense, they never quite come off the way Sayers does, even though the detective is a peer married to a talented artist. The humor is there, but not much, and I don't feel as though I had learned something interesting at the end, or had to enlarge my brain a little to understand them.
186zjakkelien
Congratulations on your anniversary, MrsLee!
187MrsLee
>186 zjakkelien: Thank you!
We are gearing up for the USA Thanksgiving celebration. Hence very little reading time at the moment. My two boys are coming home, but my daughter won't make it this year. Happily, she has another family to spend the day with, so I won't have to feel like she's missing out. She also promised to come home at Christmas time. :)
Last night I made a cranberry jam sort of thing. Fresh cranberries, sugar, orange peel, cardamom, cloves, a bit of black pepper and salt Can't remember if I put another spice in there, oh yeah, nutmeg. I cooked it for about 20 min., then pureed it in my Vitamix and poured it into a pretty bowl. I'm happy to say that I think it firmed up! I wasn't sure whether it would. It tastes great.
I was able to listen to my audio book while I chopped (snipped each leaf with a pair of scissors) enough dried lemon verbena to fill two tea tins. This is a new herb which I discovered is an old plant growing in my yard! My grandmother called it something like a lemon bee bush or some name I never could remember, but knew it had to do with lemons. It makes one of the best infused herbal teas I've ever had, and is supposed to be anti-inflammatory.
Tonight I am going to try to make a pie crust in my Vitamix. In theory, it should work. Will bake the pecan pie tomorrow night; as well as the garnet sweet potatoes which I bake, then slice and fry in butter. I can do that ahead and just warm them in the oven on the day of the big dinner. The rest of the dinner: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, salad w/mandarin oranges, bacon bits and pecans and a honey/mustard/garlic dressing, roasted Brussels sprouts, I will be cooking the day of. Trying to keep it simple this year, and since I don't eat bread when I can help it, no stuffing/dressing this year. My husband bought some dinner rolls though. I plan to try making spelt bread with my Vitamix for the day after sandwiches. Those are a tradition I do not want to give up!
We are gearing up for the USA Thanksgiving celebration. Hence very little reading time at the moment. My two boys are coming home, but my daughter won't make it this year. Happily, she has another family to spend the day with, so I won't have to feel like she's missing out. She also promised to come home at Christmas time. :)
Last night I made a cranberry jam sort of thing. Fresh cranberries, sugar, orange peel, cardamom, cloves, a bit of black pepper and salt Can't remember if I put another spice in there, oh yeah, nutmeg. I cooked it for about 20 min., then pureed it in my Vitamix and poured it into a pretty bowl. I'm happy to say that I think it firmed up! I wasn't sure whether it would. It tastes great.
I was able to listen to my audio book while I chopped (snipped each leaf with a pair of scissors) enough dried lemon verbena to fill two tea tins. This is a new herb which I discovered is an old plant growing in my yard! My grandmother called it something like a lemon bee bush or some name I never could remember, but knew it had to do with lemons. It makes one of the best infused herbal teas I've ever had, and is supposed to be anti-inflammatory.
Tonight I am going to try to make a pie crust in my Vitamix. In theory, it should work. Will bake the pecan pie tomorrow night; as well as the garnet sweet potatoes which I bake, then slice and fry in butter. I can do that ahead and just warm them in the oven on the day of the big dinner. The rest of the dinner: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, salad w/mandarin oranges, bacon bits and pecans and a honey/mustard/garlic dressing, roasted Brussels sprouts, I will be cooking the day of. Trying to keep it simple this year, and since I don't eat bread when I can help it, no stuffing/dressing this year. My husband bought some dinner rolls though. I plan to try making spelt bread with my Vitamix for the day after sandwiches. Those are a tradition I do not want to give up!
188jillmwo
>187 MrsLee: Have a great Thanksgiving! You sound as if you will truly have a groaning board.
PS Congratulations on the anniversary as well.
PS Congratulations on the anniversary as well.
189MrsLee
>188 jillmwo: Thank you, and you as well!
>179 pgmcc: The story has picked up considerably, to the point that I have decided that the day after Thanksgiving will be a DNBR day, and I'm taking it to work hoping for moments to sneak reads in. Yesterday was great, very few phone calls, my work all done, and the bosses not there so I didn't have to feel guilty. :P
I am a bit worried that it will turn into nothing but a cross-eyed romance though. We shall see. The lovely vampire in it is easy to picture in my head, because I'm pretty sure there is such a one here in my town. He is a doctor who brings his car in for service now and then and truly, I have never seen such beautiful people as him and his wife in the flesh. They are very personable as well. Have to be vampires.
>179 pgmcc: The story has picked up considerably, to the point that I have decided that the day after Thanksgiving will be a DNBR day, and I'm taking it to work hoping for moments to sneak reads in. Yesterday was great, very few phone calls, my work all done, and the bosses not there so I didn't have to feel guilty. :P
I am a bit worried that it will turn into nothing but a cross-eyed romance though. We shall see. The lovely vampire in it is easy to picture in my head, because I'm pretty sure there is such a one here in my town. He is a doctor who brings his car in for service now and then and truly, I have never seen such beautiful people as him and his wife in the flesh. They are very personable as well. Have to be vampires.
190catzteach
After all that cooking, you will need a DNBR day! It sounds delicious! It’s making me rethink my asparagus and do a brussel sprouts dish that includes paprika, pecans, and usually dried cherries, but I could do cranberries. Hmmmm.....
191hfglen
>190 catzteach: Viewed from here, the only thing wrong with that ingredients list is the Brussels sprouts.
192pgmcc
>189 MrsLee: I am glad A Discovery of Witches is shaping up, but do please let me know if it degenerates into a romance. (Sitting back to see if there is a backlash to my comment about degenerating into a romance.) :-)
193SylviaC
>192 pgmcc: That's okay. Some of us feel the same way about horror.
194fuzzi
>187 MrsLee: no pectin added? Interesting. I love cardamom, based upon eating cardamom Christmas cookies, using my great-grandmother's recipe.
>191 hfglen: I love Brussels sprouts, though we don't have them at Thanksgiving.
>193 SylviaC: hear, hear!
>191 hfglen: I love Brussels sprouts, though we don't have them at Thanksgiving.
>193 SylviaC: hear, hear!
197zjakkelien
>189 MrsLee: I think you're on to something regarding that doctor. I am wondering, have you ever seen them in sunlight? Personable doctors that are very beautiful are known to sparkle in sunlight.
A friend of mine hooked up with an American some time ago, so last year was the first time I celebrated thanksgiving. We had a discussion about the stuffing, since I didn't think it was right to call something stuffing if it hadn't been actually stuffed into a bird. Apparently it is normal to make more stuffing than fits into the bird, and then some of it is just served on the side? To differentiate, I proposed to call stuffing that isn't stuffed into anything just stuff, and only call it stuffing if it had been stuffed into the turkey...
A friend of mine hooked up with an American some time ago, so last year was the first time I celebrated thanksgiving. We had a discussion about the stuffing, since I didn't think it was right to call something stuffing if it hadn't been actually stuffed into a bird. Apparently it is normal to make more stuffing than fits into the bird, and then some of it is just served on the side? To differentiate, I proposed to call stuffing that isn't stuffed into anything just stuff, and only call it stuffing if it had been stuffed into the turkey...
198hfglen
>194 fuzzi: In that case you'd be in hog heaven here. Elachi (aka karramong or cardamom) goes into everything in Indian and Cape Malay cuisine.
199MrsLee
>197 zjakkelien: I will only say that my co-worker and I, both women who are of an age not to be smitten, were smitten, and swore there was a "glow" around him.
As to the stuffing, I believe it is in the South that it is called "dressing" because "stuffing" is uncouth. However, in my family, it was stuffing in the bird, and dressing out of the bird. Personally, I prefer it out of the bird. My favorite is oyster dressing, but sausage and sage is right up there too.
The dressing is confusing, because of salad dressing. Ah, terminology.
Ended up making a banana pie, pecan pie and chocolate pie. My son's girlfriend is bringing a cheesecake. I am trying not to eat much this day, because I plan to taste them all!
As to the stuffing, I believe it is in the South that it is called "dressing" because "stuffing" is uncouth. However, in my family, it was stuffing in the bird, and dressing out of the bird. Personally, I prefer it out of the bird. My favorite is oyster dressing, but sausage and sage is right up there too.
The dressing is confusing, because of salad dressing. Ah, terminology.
Ended up making a banana pie, pecan pie and chocolate pie. My son's girlfriend is bringing a cheesecake. I am trying not to eat much this day, because I plan to taste them all!
200zjakkelien
>199 MrsLee: Never knew that it could be called dressing as well. You're right that that is also confusing!
Your pies sound great!
Your pies sound great!
201fuzzi
>197 zjakkelien: my dh makes a sausage stuffing that is scrumptious, so he makes a double batch, but only part of it fits inside the turkey. I bake the rest in a casserole dish, and drizzle a little of the giblet cooking water on top, to keep it moist. :drool: I'm from New England, we called it stuffing, but I've heard it called either stuffing or dressing here in the Carolinas.
>198 hfglen: in everything? Wouldn't a person get tired of cardamom that way?
>199 MrsLee: no pumpkin? No mincemeat?
We had a friend join us for dinner, as she wasn't able to travel "home" to be with family. She was totally unfamiliar with mincemeat pie, but loved it from the first bite. She took home a "care package" for tomorrow. ;)
>198 hfglen: in everything? Wouldn't a person get tired of cardamom that way?
>199 MrsLee: no pumpkin? No mincemeat?
We had a friend join us for dinner, as she wasn't able to travel "home" to be with family. She was totally unfamiliar with mincemeat pie, but loved it from the first bite. She took home a "care package" for tomorrow. ;)
202MrsLee
>201 fuzzi: I love mincemeat! Pumpkin pie not so much. Last week I made 2 pumpkin cakes, which are wonderful. Problem is, we only had 7 people for dinner, and I don't want too many sweet leftovers!
I blew it on the graham cracker crusts, of all things. Oh well, the banana and chocolate filling were wonderful. Thanks Julia Child and my Vitamix! My pecan pie wasn't quite sweet enough. However, the rest of dinner was wonderful! I didn't buy very many Brussels sprouts, thinking they would not be that popular. They were one of the favorites! No leftovers.
Now for a hot cuppa and bed.
I blew it on the graham cracker crusts, of all things. Oh well, the banana and chocolate filling were wonderful. Thanks Julia Child and my Vitamix! My pecan pie wasn't quite sweet enough. However, the rest of dinner was wonderful! I didn't buy very many Brussels sprouts, thinking they would not be that popular. They were one of the favorites! No leftovers.
Now for a hot cuppa and bed.
203BookstoogeLT
Stuffing is the food of the gods. Mrs Bookstooge makes it with onions, celery (to give it a nice crunch) and then a bit of vege-sausage. We make it on the stove and then keep it warm in a casserole dish and serve it as a side. I mix it with greenbean casserole on my plate and man, that is good food!
204MrsLee
>203 BookstoogeLT: I do love it.
Have finished my slice of pecan pie for breakfast (it's much better this morning, not that I'm not stuffed), and now begins my DNBR day!
Have finished my slice of pecan pie for breakfast (it's much better this morning, not that I'm not stuffed), and now begins my DNBR day!
205jillmwo
>204 MrsLee: Breakfast of champions! Pecan pie is the best although apparently fruit-based desserts are back in style (based on what I saw at our thanksgiving get-together yesterday.
207MrsLee
I managed to finish A Discovery of Witches, thanks to my DNBR day, but had to finish it this morning. I went to bed at 1:30am because there was no way I could read the last two chapters.
So. What did I think? Well, I finished it, so that it a sign that it wasn't a terrible, unpleasant or boring read. I don't really feel a compulsion to seek out the next book in the series though. I enjoyed the author's references to ancient alchemy manuscripts, mitochondrial DNA and suchness. I was interested in the world she built. The characters have good potential.
I became very tired of reading in detail the changes of Diana's clothing. She changed her clothes at least three times a day, wore very casual clothes not unlike what I wear when I'm at home, in monochrome colors for the most part. Yeah, not interesting and tedious.Although I didn't mind her relationship with the vampire, there was way too much focus on that when I would have rather had the story move on. She loves him, he loves her. I get it already.
I've rated this at 3* because while I was interested enough to finish it, and I don't resent the time spent on it, I'm not sure I'm interested enough to pick up another long book by this author, even though the subject matter of the next book sounds interesting.
Next up is The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pépin. I'm very excited about this one, he drew his own illustrations, and he sports a spectacular chef's hat on the cover, although he looks about 10 years old.
So. What did I think? Well, I finished it, so that it a sign that it wasn't a terrible, unpleasant or boring read. I don't really feel a compulsion to seek out the next book in the series though. I enjoyed the author's references to ancient alchemy manuscripts, mitochondrial DNA and suchness. I was interested in the world she built. The characters have good potential.
I became very tired of reading in detail the changes of Diana's clothing. She changed her clothes at least three times a day, wore very casual clothes not unlike what I wear when I'm at home, in monochrome colors for the most part. Yeah, not interesting and tedious.
I've rated this at 3* because while I was interested enough to finish it, and I don't resent the time spent on it, I'm not sure I'm interested enough to pick up another long book by this author, even though the subject matter of the next book sounds interesting.
Next up is The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pépin. I'm very excited about this one, he drew his own illustrations, and he sports a spectacular chef's hat on the cover, although he looks about 10 years old.
208pgmcc
>207 MrsLee: I do not see a level of enthusiasm on your part for A Discovery of Witches that would send me running to get a copy. Thank you for testing the water for me.
209MrsLee
>208 pgmcc:, Coulda been just me, but I saw more "what could have been" than than what I love.
210Sakerfalcon
>207 MrsLee: I didn't comment while you were reading because I didn't want to influence you, but my feelings about A discovery of witches were very similar to yours. Far too much changing clothes, drinking tea, going jogging and not nearly enough of the plot elements introduced at the start of the book. I also got fed up of Matthew continually treating Diana like a little child, carrying her paternally up to bed and verbally patting her on head with comments like "yes, you are as strong as a lioness but now you are tired and must rest". However, several people on LT whose opinions I value have really liked this book, so I think it is a marmite one.
211MrsLee
>210 Sakerfalcon: Yes, everyone was always putting her to bed!
I managed to swallow quite a bit of The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen yesterday. It is quite readable, and in fact, very enjoyable. This one will be a keeper with my other "chef's lives" books.
I managed to swallow quite a bit of The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen yesterday. It is quite readable, and in fact, very enjoyable. This one will be a keeper with my other "chef's lives" books.
212Darth-Heather
I love stuffing, but don't put it in the turkey. I can't make enough of it that way. I do it in my biggest crockpot - cornbread cubes, hot sausage, apples, cranberries, celery. Drizzle with chicken or turkey bouillon so it gets the flavor. I need to have enough leftover to put in the turkey sandwiches.
This year I made cranberry sauce with jalapenos - it came out better than I expected, and was also good on the sandwiches.
This year I made cranberry sauce with jalapenos - it came out better than I expected, and was also good on the sandwiches.
2132wonderY
>207 MrsLee: & >210 Sakerfalcon: I agree with both you're assessments. I had less patience and more other books pressuring me, so I abandoned A Discovery of Witches half way through. Good concept, pedestrian execution, I thought.
214pgmcc
>207 MrsLee: >210 Sakerfalcon: & >213 2wonderY:
You have all saved me some money and reading time. Thank you.
You have all saved me some money and reading time. Thank you.
215MrsLee
It's a little early, but I'm predicting that I won't be finishing too many books before the end of November. I will finish my current read, The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen, and the Ogden Nash poetry book I'm reading. Possibly True Grit as well, but I'm not sure about that since my husband has started walking with me and it seems rude to listen to a book.
For December, I'm not going with a holiday theme this year, but sticking with my fabulous garments theme. Also adding the two books left to read from my SecretSanta last year.
Seven League Boots
Lone Cowboy
Hood
The Third Pig Detective Agency by Bob Burke - SantaThing
The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff - SantaThing
For December, I'm not going with a holiday theme this year, but sticking with my fabulous garments theme. Also adding the two books left to read from my SecretSanta last year.
Seven League Boots
Lone Cowboy
Hood
The Third Pig Detective Agency by Bob Burke - SantaThing
The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff - SantaThing
216zjakkelien
I loved The enchantment emporium!!! The most scary people in the family are the little old ladies, and they are not shy in personality... I just loved the whole thing.
217MrsLee
Finished The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen last night. Loved it and will be keeping this one. What with the lovely ink drawings by Pépin and the recipes at the end of each chapter, it will make a great addition to my chef shelf. I'm thinking that onion soup with a crusty cheese topping will be on the menu soon at my house!
Also finished You Can't get There from Here by Ogden Nash. I enjoy the way he plays with words and ideas. Pretty sure that about half of this book was beyond my understanding; it was still fun to read. Many of the people and topics are relics of a bygone age, but some are surprisingly current.
Will be starting The Third Pig Detective Agency today, and the book to replace Nash will be Heavenly Date by Alexander McCall Smith. A collection of short love stories and meetings. Perfect for the bathroom. ;)
Also finished You Can't get There from Here by Ogden Nash. I enjoy the way he plays with words and ideas. Pretty sure that about half of this book was beyond my understanding; it was still fun to read. Many of the people and topics are relics of a bygone age, but some are surprisingly current.
Will be starting The Third Pig Detective Agency today, and the book to replace Nash will be Heavenly Date by Alexander McCall Smith. A collection of short love stories and meetings. Perfect for the bathroom. ;)
218fuzzi
>217 MrsLee: I love Nash. We had a black cat when I was small, and I remember either my mom or dad quoting "The panther is like a leopard..." poem in reference to our Sam.
219MrsLee
>218 fuzzi: My family's favorite was always "The Tale of Custard the Dragon." My daughter requested that night after night. :)
Finished True Grit last night. I cannot tell you how much I liked this story, and especially in the audio form. I will probably go ahead and read the written word version as well so I can experience it that way too. How I love Maddie! What a girl! I am even more determined to get the newer version of the movie on Blue-ray, because that one stuck much closer to the book, at least in my recollection. It has been a very long time since I watched the John Wayne version.
Next up for audio (and I'm cheating on my choosing method because it was hard to chose a book to listen to after True Grit) is Hamlet: Prince of Denmark: a Novel by A.J. Hartley. I loved his version of Macbeth, and since I love Hamlet more than Macbeth, I'm hoping for more of the same.
November saw me over the 100 books read this year mark. Earlier than the past two years for sure, so even with some dry spells, this has been a good reading year. Funny, because I feel like I have less and less time to read with the exercises I've added into my days, but perhaps the audio books have made up for that? I'll probably know better when I look at my year end statistics.
Finished True Grit last night. I cannot tell you how much I liked this story, and especially in the audio form. I will probably go ahead and read the written word version as well so I can experience it that way too. How I love Maddie! What a girl! I am even more determined to get the newer version of the movie on Blue-ray, because that one stuck much closer to the book, at least in my recollection. It has been a very long time since I watched the John Wayne version.
Next up for audio (and I'm cheating on my choosing method because it was hard to chose a book to listen to after True Grit) is Hamlet: Prince of Denmark: a Novel by A.J. Hartley. I loved his version of Macbeth, and since I love Hamlet more than Macbeth, I'm hoping for more of the same.
November saw me over the 100 books read this year mark. Earlier than the past two years for sure, so even with some dry spells, this has been a good reading year. Funny, because I feel like I have less and less time to read with the exercises I've added into my days, but perhaps the audio books have made up for that? I'll probably know better when I look at my year end statistics.
220fuzzi
>219 MrsLee: I'm SO glad you enjoyed True Grit! I decided to read it after seeing the remake a few years ago, and loved both.
The John Wayne True Grit movie is good for watching John Wayne and Robert Duvall, but that's it. I couldn't stand the actress who played Mattie in that version.
Now, you need to read Shane and Gone To Texas. The latter is the basis for one of my all-time favorite movies, The Outlaw Josey Wales, ha!
The John Wayne True Grit movie is good for watching John Wayne and Robert Duvall, but that's it. I couldn't stand the actress who played Mattie in that version.
Now, you need to read Shane and Gone To Texas. The latter is the basis for one of my all-time favorite movies, The Outlaw Josey Wales, ha!
221MrsLee
I am not loving The Third Pig Detective Agency. The premise is fun, I guess. The pig who built the brick house runs a detective agency in Grimmland. It incorporates all the fairy tale characters, and other fantasy characters as well, giving nods to Tolkien and others. The pig is a Mickey Spillane noir-type of detective.
Perhaps it's my grumpy old age, or my mood at the moment, but the book is trying too hard. Too clever by half. With a pig as a detective, you either have to ignore that and let him have human traits, such as the ability to do things with his "trotters" (that word is on every page, I swear). Or don't make him a pig in the first place, because he seems to be functioning as a normal detective would in most instances, and then, for no real reason, the "trotters" are mentioned as being difficult to manage things with and it throws me right out of the story because I'm suddenly aware that the character can't do most of the things he supposedly has been doing. It's like watching a movie with talking animals who function like humans. Annoying.
Anyway, I've read the first story in it, and I will start the next, but if my reluctance to pick it up continues this week, I will put it away without any qualms. Unlike Jim Butcher, who knows and understands the land of fey and the characters within, this seems to be a hit and miss thing. Some of them are completely different from their fairy tale likenesses, others aren't and there doesn't seem to be any reason why, except for the author's whim.
This was a SantaThing gift, and I can't say it was a wrong choice, because it should be hitting all my buttons, but it isn't.
Perhaps it's my grumpy old age, or my mood at the moment, but the book is trying too hard. Too clever by half. With a pig as a detective, you either have to ignore that and let him have human traits, such as the ability to do things with his "trotters" (that word is on every page, I swear). Or don't make him a pig in the first place, because he seems to be functioning as a normal detective would in most instances, and then, for no real reason, the "trotters" are mentioned as being difficult to manage things with and it throws me right out of the story because I'm suddenly aware that the character can't do most of the things he supposedly has been doing. It's like watching a movie with talking animals who function like humans. Annoying.
Anyway, I've read the first story in it, and I will start the next, but if my reluctance to pick it up continues this week, I will put it away without any qualms. Unlike Jim Butcher, who knows and understands the land of fey and the characters within, this seems to be a hit and miss thing. Some of them are completely different from their fairy tale likenesses, others aren't and there doesn't seem to be any reason why, except for the author's whim.
This was a SantaThing gift, and I can't say it was a wrong choice, because it should be hitting all my buttons, but it isn't.
222Bookmarque
Ugh. Sounds like a trial. I've always maintained a little soft spot for pigs because, while they are smart, they don't have thumbs and are tasty. Cows and chickens are just plain dumb.
223BookstoogeLT
>219 MrsLee: Congrats on breaking into the triple digits!
224Marissa_Doyle
Oh, I'm glad to hear the good report on The Apprentice--it's in my Nook. I'll have to get to it soon.
And you're wise to not bother continuing the A Discovery of Witches series--things got very tedious in the second book, even more than the first. And stupidly romance-ish.
And you're wise to not bother continuing the A Discovery of Witches series--things got very tedious in the second book, even more than the first. And stupidly romance-ish.
225Sakerfalcon
>219 MrsLee: I need to find my copy of True grit and read it. Your review has pushed it up my Tbr pile.
226fuzzi
>225 Sakerfalcon: do it! Do it!
227MrsLee
>222 Bookmarque: Pigs are my favorite farmyard animal for sure, but not Harry Pig. I've begun the second story, because it has a Christmas theme, so I thought it only fitting to try it, but it isn't any better for me. I think by this weekend I will skim it to finish and be done with the book.
>223 BookstoogeLT: Thanks!
>224 Marissa_Doyle: Hope you enjoy The Apprentice! It's just too bad about A Discovery of Witches, so much potential.
>225 Sakerfalcon: I am enjoying the printed version too, but I miss Donna Tartt's narration! Sometimes I would like to read it as if I hadn't heard her reading it, to see if I still like it, but I can't not hear her voice any more. She did a great job, but since the accent is strong, I feel silly trying to replicate it in my head as I read. Why do I care? Because the other voices in my head will mock me for my inadequate accent. ;)
So, my printed book of the moment is bringing no joy, but my audio book: Hamlet: Prince of Denmark: a Novel is thrilling! Narrated by Richard Armitage, and he is doing a fantastic job. These authors do Shakespeare right.
>223 BookstoogeLT: Thanks!
>224 Marissa_Doyle: Hope you enjoy The Apprentice! It's just too bad about A Discovery of Witches, so much potential.
>225 Sakerfalcon: I am enjoying the printed version too, but I miss Donna Tartt's narration! Sometimes I would like to read it as if I hadn't heard her reading it, to see if I still like it, but I can't not hear her voice any more. She did a great job, but since the accent is strong, I feel silly trying to replicate it in my head as I read. Why do I care? Because the other voices in my head will mock me for my inadequate accent. ;)
So, my printed book of the moment is bringing no joy, but my audio book: Hamlet: Prince of Denmark: a Novel is thrilling! Narrated by Richard Armitage, and he is doing a fantastic job. These authors do Shakespeare right.
228MrsLee
Meh, December is not going too well as concerns my reading. Two no-goes. I quit reading both The Third Pig Detective Agency and The Enchantment Emporium. Not my kind of stuff. Others have liked them much more than I. Ah well.
So, I head back to nonfiction, because fiction is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I began Over the Top last night. I have no commitment to it, because I don't like to be stuck in a book which makes me not want to read, but last night what I read of this was interesting enough. A memoir of a young American who signed up to fight in WWI before America entered the war. We shall see. This was published in 1917, and was meant to encourage Americans to love our English cousins, so perhaps something to quell the naysayers of our entering the fray?
So, I head back to nonfiction, because fiction is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I began Over the Top last night. I have no commitment to it, because I don't like to be stuck in a book which makes me not want to read, but last night what I read of this was interesting enough. A memoir of a young American who signed up to fight in WWI before America entered the war. We shall see. This was published in 1917, and was meant to encourage Americans to love our English cousins, so perhaps something to quell the naysayers of our entering the fray?
229fuzzi
>228 MrsLee: I find the pre-WWI period to be very interesting, so let me know what you think of it. :)
230zjakkelien
>228 MrsLee: I am sorry to hear that, particularly on The enchantment emporium, since I am one of the people who loves it. I guess there is no accounting for taste...
231tardis
>228 MrsLee:, >230 zjakkelien: I'm another that loves Enchantment Emporium and sequels but I kind of see your point (I read your review on FB). I encourage you to try other books by Tanya Huff though - the particular theme that got you on EE isn't present in her other series. I especially enjoy her military SF Confederation series, starting with Valor's Choice, and her stand-alone fantasy, The Silvered. Also Summon the Keeper and sequels.
232fuzzi
>228 MrsLee: I read your review of The Enchantment Emporium. Your description of the book reminded me a little of the Robert Heinlein Lazarus Long tales, which were full of similar "connections". While I still love some of Heinlein books, certain intimate acts outside society norms was just not something I wanted to read about.
233Sakerfalcon
>231 tardis: I second your recs for the Valor series and The silvered. Having read both good and bad reviews of The enchantment emporium I think it isn't likely to work for me, so I will resist giving it a try.
234MrsLee
>229 fuzzi: So far I'm still enjoying it! Do I have your address? If so, I will send it to you when I'm finished. I don't collect books from WWI (although I have a couple), only from WWII (and that, only very readable ones I've loved).
>230 zjakkelien: It's a very good thing so many of us have different tastes! I find that my tastes also change with age, mood, etc. I can see where others would enjoy that book, but it didn't work for me. That's when I give a book a 2-star rating. That means it had some fatal flaws for me, but the writing (phrasing? grammar? creativity?) itself wasn't one of them, and so others may like it. My biggest beef with the book was the obscurity of what was going on and how things worked. I can see how that would tantalize another reader, but I couldn't put up with it here, and especially with the theme of incestuous sex throughout, also unexplained. It felt like the author kept hitting me with a bludgeon saying, "Here, take that! and that! and that! And like it, too!" My response is, "Bye-bye."
>231 tardis: &>233 Sakerfalcon: I won't cross her off my list, but she is way down there. It wasn't just the one theme that turned me off, although that was the final straw. I was very impatient with her vagueness. Really, I have only found a few fantasy authors I love. It isn't my go-to genre.
There have been some odd ones which don't seem to fit me, and yet I still love them. Not sure why, but I think it has to do with giving me something more than simply a story. Jim Butcher, Christopher Moore, Terry Pratchett, Jasper Fforde are those who don't seem to fit me, and yet I love them because they tie their tales to deeper things like mythology, cultural ways, etc. They may twist them and make me jump, but they also make me think deeper by their challenges.
The more traditional fantasy authors I love also have a depth to their worlds and themes, J.R.R. Tolkien, Brandon Sanderson and Lois McMaster Bujold (not fantasy perhaps, but still fairly traditional in her story telling).
I think reading isn't as easy for me as it used to be, and so I need to have a damn good reason to be reading a book now, or I simply won't read it.
>230 zjakkelien: It's a very good thing so many of us have different tastes! I find that my tastes also change with age, mood, etc. I can see where others would enjoy that book, but it didn't work for me. That's when I give a book a 2-star rating. That means it had some fatal flaws for me, but the writing (phrasing? grammar? creativity?) itself wasn't one of them, and so others may like it. My biggest beef with the book was the obscurity of what was going on and how things worked. I can see how that would tantalize another reader, but I couldn't put up with it here, and especially with the theme of incestuous sex throughout, also unexplained. It felt like the author kept hitting me with a bludgeon saying, "Here, take that! and that! and that! And like it, too!" My response is, "Bye-bye."
>231 tardis: &>233 Sakerfalcon: I won't cross her off my list, but she is way down there. It wasn't just the one theme that turned me off, although that was the final straw. I was very impatient with her vagueness. Really, I have only found a few fantasy authors I love. It isn't my go-to genre.
There have been some odd ones which don't seem to fit me, and yet I still love them. Not sure why, but I think it has to do with giving me something more than simply a story. Jim Butcher, Christopher Moore, Terry Pratchett, Jasper Fforde are those who don't seem to fit me, and yet I love them because they tie their tales to deeper things like mythology, cultural ways, etc. They may twist them and make me jump, but they also make me think deeper by their challenges.
The more traditional fantasy authors I love also have a depth to their worlds and themes, J.R.R. Tolkien, Brandon Sanderson and Lois McMaster Bujold (not fantasy perhaps, but still fairly traditional in her story telling).
I think reading isn't as easy for me as it used to be, and so I need to have a damn good reason to be reading a book now, or I simply won't read it.
235pgmcc
>234 MrsLee: I am right there with you about not reading something that is not working for me, no matter how many people rant and rave about it.
Stephen R. Donaldson is an author that put me off his work by including incestuous sex. I could see the story leading to it from miles away. I think he designed his whole Chronicles of Thomas Covenant around the concept and it, as well as the appalling writing, put me off him for ever.
I have been having a great reading year; not so much in the number of books I have read, but in reading books that I have liked and, in particular, since September I have been able to read new books that have come out by three of my favourite authors, John Le Carré's A Legacy of Spies, Ken MacLeod's The Corporation Wars: Emergence, and Nick Harkaway's Gnomon. Actual, it is four. I forgot Paul Cornell's A Long Day in Lychford which came out in October.
I hope you find something to interest you more sometime soon.
Stephen R. Donaldson is an author that put me off his work by including incestuous sex. I could see the story leading to it from miles away. I think he designed his whole Chronicles of Thomas Covenant around the concept and it, as well as the appalling writing, put me off him for ever.
I have been having a great reading year; not so much in the number of books I have read, but in reading books that I have liked and, in particular, since September I have been able to read new books that have come out by three of my favourite authors, John Le Carré's A Legacy of Spies, Ken MacLeod's The Corporation Wars: Emergence, and Nick Harkaway's Gnomon. Actual, it is four. I forgot Paul Cornell's A Long Day in Lychford which came out in October.
I hope you find something to interest you more sometime soon.
236fuzzi
>235 pgmcc: I knew there must be a reason why I never felt the need to explore the Chronicles of Thomas series. And Harry Potter (not for the same reason). And Game of Thrones. Not my thing.
I used to feel I had to read a book to the end, but I don't anymore. There are too many books on my shelves, too many wonderful author recommendations whose works I'm so glad I decided to try, like Conrad Richter, James Alexander Thom, Laurie R. King, D.E. Stevenson, Alistair MacLean, Chaim Potok, Forrest Carter, Lois McMaster Bujold, and Georgette Heyer. Most of those recommendations came from other LT'ers, so thank you, all!
>234 MrsLee: I'll PM you, thanks!
I used to feel I had to read a book to the end, but I don't anymore. There are too many books on my shelves, too many wonderful author recommendations whose works I'm so glad I decided to try, like Conrad Richter, James Alexander Thom, Laurie R. King, D.E. Stevenson, Alistair MacLean, Chaim Potok, Forrest Carter, Lois McMaster Bujold, and Georgette Heyer. Most of those recommendations came from other LT'ers, so thank you, all!
>234 MrsLee: I'll PM you, thanks!
237pgmcc
>236 fuzzi: It was Thomas Covenant that cured me of the feeling I had to finish a book once I had started.
238fuzzi
>237 pgmcc: so that's something to be said for Thomas Covenant...
239pgmcc
>238 fuzzi: As far as I am concerned it is the only positive thing that can be said.
240Darth-Heather
I'm a little gratified to hear that some others didn't like the Covenant books. My dad raised me on classic SFF and this was the one that I never warmed up to. I just couldn't like the main character but I chalked it up to my maybe being too young and inexperienced to appreciate the author's style. I assumed it was just over my head. I didn't like Dune then either, but eventually gave it another try. I don't think I will go back to Covenant though.
241fuzzi
I liked Dune, but after reading the next two books, gave up on that universe. I still think the first book should be at least attempted by everyone interested in scifi and world building.
I was not raised on SFF, but discovered them on my own (love the library!) and from my older sisters' shelves.
I was not raised on SFF, but discovered them on my own (love the library!) and from my older sisters' shelves.
242Marissa_Doyle
>240 Darth-Heather: You're not alone in your dislike. I couldn't get past page 20 of the first book, and have never touched any of his work since.
>241 fuzzi: I compare Frank Herbert to a stopped clock--occasionally he gets it right. I don't think he himself understood why Dune was so good, and pursued the less interesting themes and threads in the next books.
>241 fuzzi: I compare Frank Herbert to a stopped clock--occasionally he gets it right. I don't think he himself understood why Dune was so good, and pursued the less interesting themes and threads in the next books.
243reconditereader
Listen, Dune is great, and after that there are some frankly crappy books. Book 4 or 5 is good but you have to keep reading to get to them. It's not really worth it. I frequently re-read the original, but the heck with all the rest of them.
You can read my review of Lord Foul's Bane to see my opinion on Thomas Covenant... (spoiler: he's a jerk).
You can read my review of Lord Foul's Bane to see my opinion on Thomas Covenant... (spoiler: he's a jerk).
244zjakkelien
>243 reconditereader: Completely agree!
245pgmcc
>243 reconditereader: I read your review and went to give it a thumbs-up only to realise I had given it a thumbs-up some time ago.
246fuzzi
>243 reconditereader: hahaha, loved your review!
247jillmwo
Add my name to the list of those who didn't find the Thomas Covenant books to be compelling.
248stellarexplorer
And mine to the list of people who own a copy, have never read it, and now wonder whether to read it for historical completeness, or to skip it because it is no doubt horrendous.
249BookstoogeLT
>236 fuzzi: Actually, Harry is a long lost Weasley * wink *
Thomas Covenant. Horrible.
Dune. Great. All of them :-D well, none of Baby Herbert's stuff though...
Thomas Covenant. Horrible.
Dune. Great. All of them :-D well, none of Baby Herbert's stuff though...
250MrsLee
I finished Over the Top last night. Very much liked it. Enjoy would be the wrong word, considering the subject matter, but I found it an absorbing read.
I think I will stick to rereads for the rest of this month. Not sure. Possibly I will just focus on finishing the other three books I have going. I've rather lost my reading mojo at the moment. Christmas, depression over a hamstring injury which has brought my exercise program to a screeching halt in spite of how careful I was being, and a run of disappointing reads at the beginning of the month. Oh, and Pocket Camp, and Animal Crossing game which I found for my phone; all have combined to put me in a kind of a reading funk.
I think I will stick to rereads for the rest of this month. Not sure. Possibly I will just focus on finishing the other three books I have going. I've rather lost my reading mojo at the moment. Christmas, depression over a hamstring injury which has brought my exercise program to a screeching halt in spite of how careful I was being, and a run of disappointing reads at the beginning of the month. Oh, and Pocket Camp, and Animal Crossing game which I found for my phone; all have combined to put me in a kind of a reading funk.
2512wonderY
>250 MrsLee: It appears I own that book, but haven't read it. I'll have to rummage around for it.
As you say in your review, the use of gas on the battlefield had lifelong costs. Growing up, our next door neighbor was a WW1 veteran and his family. His life was a complete ruin. He wandered the neighborhood, apparently completely non-verbal, occasionally entering the wrong home and having to be re-directed to his front door. Fortunately, his wife was an incredibly strong and loving woman, caring for him and her children and entertaining the neighborhood kids with regular popcorn and 8mm movie evenings in her basement.
As you say in your review, the use of gas on the battlefield had lifelong costs. Growing up, our next door neighbor was a WW1 veteran and his family. His life was a complete ruin. He wandered the neighborhood, apparently completely non-verbal, occasionally entering the wrong home and having to be re-directed to his front door. Fortunately, his wife was an incredibly strong and loving woman, caring for him and her children and entertaining the neighborhood kids with regular popcorn and 8mm movie evenings in her basement.
252Bookmarque
I’m sorry to hear about your injury. Be kind to yourself and don’t let it get you down. Revisit some favorites and recharge.
253fuzzi
>250 MrsLee: sorry about your injury, and mojo. Sometimes a comfort read/reread will take care of my mood, or a reading slump.
254catzteach
>250 MrsLee: sorry about the injury. Rest up and let it heal.
255Sakerfalcon
>250 MrsLee: Sorry to hear that you've been having a bad time. I hope you heal up soon and get your reading mojo back.
256jillmwo
>250 MrsLee: The sensible solution to your very real woes would be to sit yourself down, put the leg up and seek out the comforting environment of well-known books and the manageable uncertainty of playing games on your phone. ((((Hugs))))
257MrsLee
Thank you all. I had it in my head that after R.I.C.E. all last week I would be able to start up again this week, but apparently that is not so. Now a tendon in my other leg is attacking me. I'm not going to worry about stuff until after Christmas, but take all the advice so freely offered by my kind friends here.
Also, my body has decided that no matter what time I go to bed, 4am is the time I should be getting up, weekday or no weekday. So, did someone snatch my original body and leave me this stupid one that hurts all the time and can't sleep? I don't like it, no siree.
Also, my body has decided that no matter what time I go to bed, 4am is the time I should be getting up, weekday or no weekday. So, did someone snatch my original body and leave me this stupid one that hurts all the time and can't sleep? I don't like it, no siree.
258MrsLee
Another dud for me. Heavenly Date by Alexander McCall Smith. Boring and depressing stories, at least the first three. I'm not willing to give the rest a chance. Ick.
259Bookmarque
Ew. So sorry you had another dud. That reading funk just has to break. What's on your TBR pile? Can I make a rec from there? On anything else?
260MrsLee
>259 Bookmarque: I decided to reread If Death Ever Slept by Rex Stout. I know I will enjoy it!
I have an ambitious reading project in mind for this next year with an eye to making room on my shelves. It may be folly. More on this later.
I have an ambitious reading project in mind for this next year with an eye to making room on my shelves. It may be folly. More on this later.
261jillmwo
>260 MrsLee: Well, now I'm all on tenterhooks about your ambitious reading project. I always admire people who make PLANS as I tend to too frequently fly by the seat of my pants.
262MrsLee
>261 jillmwo: Well, sometimes my "plans" are only good for about a month, maybe two. Especially where reading is concerned. :P
Husband brought Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms by Ralph Keyes, home from a Little Free Library. I've begun it in the "washroom" and will continue reading it there in my "private moments." Already, in the first couple of pages, there is a Winston Churchill story which amused me. He was at a dinner in America and asked for a piece of the breast of chicken. The woman next to him reprimanded him saying it would have been more appropriate to ask for "white meat." Imagine, sitting next to Churchill and reprimanding him for that? The next day he sent her a corsage with a note suggesting she pin it to her "white meat." :D
Husband brought Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms by Ralph Keyes, home from a Little Free Library. I've begun it in the "washroom" and will continue reading it there in my "private moments." Already, in the first couple of pages, there is a Winston Churchill story which amused me. He was at a dinner in America and asked for a piece of the breast of chicken. The woman next to him reprimanded him saying it would have been more appropriate to ask for "white meat." Imagine, sitting next to Churchill and reprimanding him for that? The next day he sent her a corsage with a note suggesting she pin it to her "white meat." :D
263fuzzi
>262 MrsLee: ha!
>257 MrsLee: my body likes to do that, too, though not 4:00am. I tend to wake up about 5:00am, even on weekends. The good thing is the quiet at that time, once I've fed the cats. After they've stuffed their maws, and I've taken Tirzah outside for a short walk, and fed the ferals, I can sit down with my first cup of coffee and read, or pray, or chill...and no one bothers me. :)
>257 MrsLee: my body likes to do that, too, though not 4:00am. I tend to wake up about 5:00am, even on weekends. The good thing is the quiet at that time, once I've fed the cats. After they've stuffed their maws, and I've taken Tirzah outside for a short walk, and fed the ferals, I can sit down with my first cup of coffee and read, or pray, or chill...and no one bothers me. :)
264MrsLee
I hope to finish Hamlet Prince of Denmark: a Novel before the new year, but I'm not walking, so not sure how I will do it. Not sure I will start reading any other books either. I did finish If Death Ever Slept, I believe it redeemed my reading month, but I also started watching a TV show on Netflix called "Glitch" and although there are some great faults if one looks at it disinterestedly, it is still appealing to me for now. Perhaps I just like the Aussie accents? Nah, it has to be more than that, but I do find myself making commentary on it. My husband keeps asking why they are doing something (he is not watching, he just passes through now and then) and I tell him I have no idea. Jinn was fairly interested last night, enough to get up to the screen and try to warn a doomed character about her fate, but he lost interest soon enough.
265catzteach
I watched both seasons of Glitch. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it, either.
Glad Jinn is doing better! I hope he keeps improving!
Glad Jinn is doing better! I hope he keeps improving!
266MrsLee
Hmm, two seasons? Not sure I will watch both. My staying power with TV shows is about like my will to read a book which isn't a delight anymore. I give them up. I don't like to be strung along.
267fuzzi
>266 MrsLee: agreed about staying power. Life is to short to "waste" on something I don't care about.
268MrsLee
Busy working on my year end stats, but may I just say, what a convenience it was when I found that I could sort my books which were tagged as "r2017" by their "finished" date? Oh my. This has saved me so much time and headaches!
Anyway, back to work for me. I'll do one more post with the results, and then tomorrow will unveil the Grand Reading Plan for 2018.
Anyway, back to work for me. I'll do one more post with the results, and then tomorrow will unveil the Grand Reading Plan for 2018.
269BookstoogeLT
>268 MrsLee: did someone say "stats"? Looking forward to those!!!
271Bookmarque
I'm working on mine, too MrsL. Although next year will feature no plan as usual.
272MrsLee
I finally got all the numbers to add up (at least to my satisfaction, there is a slight discrepancy due to omnibus editions and books I didn't list on LT due to the fact that I didn't read more than a few pages in before I discarded them, but count due to the fact that they are no longer taking up shelf space).
Year End Counts:
Mystery: 29
Fantasy: 21
Fiction: 32
Western: 2
Graphic Novel: 1
Drama: 2
Children: 16
eBook: 8
Audio: 11
Short Stories: 2
Novelette:
Scifi: 4
Comics: 1
Humor: 3
Poetry: 2
Pamphlet:
YA: 3
Cookbook: 2
Reread: 30
Unfinished: 14
Fiction: 81
Nonfiction: 32
Total: 113
Ratings:
Loved it, will probably reread, definitely keep***** 31
Liked it lots, will recommend, possibly keep to loan**** 32
Liked it, will probably not keep*** 38
Didn't like it, but others might** 12
Hated it, probably didn't finish, would like to shred*
The high number of the ratings reflects the 30 rereads I did this year, also that I know how to avoid books I'm pretty sure I won't like. The fact that there are no "1" star rated books means that I either quit reading a book before it irritated me that much, or I thought the writing might not put off someone else, even though I was put off. One star books are truly horrid and unreadable IMO.
Stats:
113 books read, 81 fiction, 32 nonfiction
65 by men, 43 by women, 05 combined male and female, ** Anonymous
52 by authors I’ve never read before
90 physical books, 12 audio and 08 ebooks
Oldest writing was by Aristotle (364-322BC), oldest physical books from 1877 (The Dance of Death), oldest illustrations in Marco Polo’s Travels, from 1300.
Not counting ebooks, audio books or rereads
Books Retained After Reading : 37
Books Discarded: 43
This year I read more fiction than usual, but I think that is due to the fact that I read through many of Beatrix Potter's children's works when I read a couple of nonfiction works about her.
If you don't count children's books, unfinished and rereads, my total for the year was: 53 I do count all of those since I try to review them or sort them in my house, or remove them from my house. All requires a mental decision, so they count in my book, so 113 total for me.
Honorable Mention in oldest writings for each quarter:
Marco Polo 1295
William Shakespeare 1598
Brillat-Savarin 1825
Alexandre Dumas 1844
And now, for something completely different (well, not really, it's still gonna be about what I read during the year).
Year End Counts:
Mystery: 29
Fantasy: 21
Fiction: 32
Western: 2
Graphic Novel: 1
Drama: 2
Children: 16
eBook: 8
Audio: 11
Short Stories: 2
Novelette:
Scifi: 4
Comics: 1
Humor: 3
Poetry: 2
Pamphlet:
YA: 3
Cookbook: 2
Reread: 30
Unfinished: 14
Fiction: 81
Nonfiction: 32
Total: 113
Ratings:
Loved it, will probably reread, definitely keep***** 31
Liked it lots, will recommend, possibly keep to loan**** 32
Liked it, will probably not keep*** 38
Didn't like it, but others might** 12
Hated it, probably didn't finish, would like to shred*
The high number of the ratings reflects the 30 rereads I did this year, also that I know how to avoid books I'm pretty sure I won't like. The fact that there are no "1" star rated books means that I either quit reading a book before it irritated me that much, or I thought the writing might not put off someone else, even though I was put off. One star books are truly horrid and unreadable IMO.
Stats:
113 books read, 81 fiction, 32 nonfiction
65 by men, 43 by women, 05 combined male and female, ** Anonymous
52 by authors I’ve never read before
90 physical books, 12 audio and 08 ebooks
Oldest writing was by Aristotle (364-322BC), oldest physical books from 1877 (The Dance of Death), oldest illustrations in Marco Polo’s Travels, from 1300.
Not counting ebooks, audio books or rereads
Books Retained After Reading : 37
Books Discarded: 43
This year I read more fiction than usual, but I think that is due to the fact that I read through many of Beatrix Potter's children's works when I read a couple of nonfiction works about her.
If you don't count children's books, unfinished and rereads, my total for the year was: 53 I do count all of those since I try to review them or sort them in my house, or remove them from my house. All requires a mental decision, so they count in my book, so 113 total for me.
Honorable Mention in oldest writings for each quarter:
Marco Polo 1295
William Shakespeare 1598
Brillat-Savarin 1825
Alexandre Dumas 1844
And now, for something completely different (well, not really, it's still gonna be about what I read during the year).
273Narilka
Those are some impressive stats. Looks like you had a great year of reading. Here's hoping 2018 is just as great :)
274BookstoogeLT
I approve those numbers!!!
275MrsLee
>273 Narilka: & >274 BookstoogeLT: I spent the whole day, from about 5:30am to about 4:30pm, give or take and allowing for some food and drink; compiling, checking and cross referencing them. I was happy as a clam doing so.
This topic was continued by The Read goes ever on and on...MrsLee 2018 part 1.
