Berly's ABCs -- Amidst Books and Chums #21

Every year I get my kids ornaments, so that when they head off on their own they can decorate their tree with some meaningful things. Or at least funny ones! This year, they are getting Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornaments. : )

Happy Holidays!

Reading Now
Killing Floor #1 Jack Reacher by Lee Child
The Best of McSweeney (625 pages) edited by Dave Eggers, Oct Obama read

January Plans
God Stalk by ????
Parable of the Sower and
Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler
Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
Nickolas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell

and others...
The Dead House, Fiona Griffiths Book 5 by Harry Bingham
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Start Without Me (LTER) by Joshua Max Feldman
Blue Mind (280 pages) by Wallace Nichols
The Master and Margarita (396 pages) by Michail Bulgakov -- paused




Read in December
100. Uncommon Type (416 pages) (A) by Tom Hanks 4.0
99. Spells: A Novel Within Photographs (157 pages) by Peter Rock 2.75
98. The Sixth Extinction (336 pages) by Elizabeth Kolbert 4.5
97. The Night Bird (362 pages) by Brian Freeman 3.25
96. The Boy Who Knew Too Much (256 pages) by Cathy Byrd 4.0
95. Home Fire (288 pages) by Kamila Shamsie (library) 4.5

Read in November / 2,848 pages / 28,538 YTD
94. all about love: new visions (237 pages) by bell hooks, Nov RL Bookclub 4.0
93. The Windup Bird Chronicles (607 pages) by Murakami 4.0
92. FEMA Test Material Class EM103 Info Systems of Emergency Management (200 pages)
91. FEMA Test Material Class EM203 Disaster Response (200 pages)
90. FEMA Test Material Class EM201 Disaster Planning and Preparedness (100 pages)
89. The Sky Below: A True Story (252 pages) (K) by Scott Flory 3.75
88. Private (A) (400 pages) by James Patterson 3.5
87. The Late Show (448 pages) (K) by Michael Connelly 3.0
86. Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans (122 pages)
85. Disaster Communications in a Changing Media World (282 pages)

Rating System
You probably won't see many below three because I am less afraid to use the Pearl rule now, but "Anathema" tickled me. So many books, so little time!

Masterpiece 5.0
Stunning 4.5
Excellent 4.0
Very Good 3.5
Good 3.0
Average 2.5
Bad 2.0
Very Bad 1.5
Don't Bother 1.0
Anathema 0.5

A=Audio
L=Library
OTS=Off the shelf
N=New/Gift
GN=Graphic Novel
IR=Indiespensable Readers
K=Kindle
LT=LibraryThing Early Reviewer

Read in October / 1,972 pages / 25,690 YTD
84. The Doll's Alphabet (167 pages) by Camilla Grudova 2.0
83. Behind Her Eyes (320 pages) (A) by Sarah Pinborough 4.5
82. The Mistress (384 pages) by Danielle Steel 2.5
81. We Have Always Lived in the Castle (162 pages) by Shirley Jackson 4.5
80. Commonwealth (322 pages) by Ann Patchett, October RL Bookgroup 3.0
79. I Am No One (341 pages) (LTER) by Patrick Flannery 2.5
78. The Grip of It (276 pages) by Jac Jemc 3.0

Read in September / 2,854 pages / 23,718 YTD
77. The Western Star (304 pages) by Craig Johnson 3.75 Thanks Ro!!
76. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (80 pages) (L) (K) by Barbara Parks 3.5
75. The Girl with all the Gifts (403 pages) by M.R. Carey 4.5
74. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (A) (224 pages) by Neil deGrasse Tyson 3.5
73. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (163 pages) (K) by E. L. Konigsburg 4.0
72. Minority Report (304 pages) Short Story Collection by Philip K Dick 4.5
71. This Thing of Darkness (509 pages) (K) by Harry Bingham 4.5
70. The Grand Sophy (371 pages) (K) by Georgette Heyer 4.0
69. Radium Girls (496 pages) (K) by Katie Moore 4.0

Read in August / 1,860 pages / 20,864 YTD
68. In the Time of Butterflies (337 pages) by Julia Alvarez, RL Bookclub 3.5
67. For We Are Many (320 pages) (A) by Dennis Taylor 4.0
66. This One Summer (L)(GN) (320 pages) by Mark Tamaki 3.0
65. Silent Child (416 pages) (K) by Sarah A. Denzil 3.5
64. Kafka on the Shore (467 pages) by Murakami 5.0

Read in July / 3,010 pages / 19,004 YTD
63. Uprooted (464 pages) by Naomi Novik 4.5
62. Ecotopia (181 pages) by Ernest Callenbach 3.5
61. The Leavers (K) by Lisa Ko, RL Bookclub July read, pearl-ruled at 151 pages
60. The Underground Railroad (306 pages) by Colson Whitehead 3.5
59. Bad Feminist (318 pages) by Roxanne Gay (Thank you, Twin!) 4.0
58. The First Word (330 pages) (K) by Isley Robson 3.75
57. News of the World (224 pages) by Paulette Jiles 3.75
56. Stillhouse Lake (K) (300 pages) by Rachel Caine 4.0
55. Sylvester: or the Wicked Uncle (400 pages) (K)( BAC) Georgette Heyer 3.0
54. The Lost City of the Monkey God (336 pages) (K) by Douglas Preston 3.75

Read in June / 2,297pages / 15,994 YTD
53. The Ice Twins (K) (320 pages) by SK Tremayne 4.0
52. Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon (320 pages) A Meg Lanslow Mystery by Donna Andrews 3.5
51. The Wailing Wind (304 pages) by Tony Hillerman 4.0
50. The Almost Sisters (339 pages) (LTER) by Joshilyn Jackson 5.0
49. The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths (504 pages) by Harry Bingham 4.0
48. The Complete Sherlock Holmes Short Story: The Red Headed League (A) by Arthur Conan Doyle, narrated by Simon Vance 3.5
47. The Complete Sherlock Holmes Short Story: A Scandal in Bohemia (A) by Arthur Conan Doyle, narrated by Simon Vance 3.0
46. The Dream Lover (400 pages) (K) by Elizabeth Berg (June RL Bookclub #1) 3.0

Read in May / 2,125 pages / 13,497 YTD
45. Dreams from My Father (480 pages) (A) by Barack Obama 3.5
44. As Time Goes By (335 pages) by Mary Higgins Clark 3.75
43. Borne (336 pages) (IR) by Jeff Vandermeer 3.75
42. A Wild Sheep Chase (353 pages) by Murakami 4.0
41. Hillbilly Elegy (272 pages) by JD Vance, May RL Bookclub 3.5
40. Ordinary Light (349 pages) by Tracy K. Smith 3.5

Read in April / 2,346 pages / 11,372 YTD
39. Love Story, with Murders (K) (400 pages) by Harry Bingham 3.5
38. Harry Potter (309 pages) re-read and April Obama Read 5.0
37. The Captain and the Enemy (A) (192 pages) by Graham Greene, Narrate by Kenneth Branagh
36. Nutshell (208 pages) (L) by Ian McEwan 4.0
35. Being Mortal (OTS) (263 pages) by Atul Gawade -- RL Bookclub 4.0
34. LaRose (384 pages) by Louise Erdrich 4.0
33. We Are Legion (A) (382 pages) by Dennis E. Taylor, Narrated by Ray Porter 4.0
32. milk and honey (208 pages) by rupi kaur 4.0

Read in March / 3,448 pages / 9,026 YTD
31. We Are Called To Rise (305 pages) by Laura McBride 4.0
30. Self-Reliance (117 pages) by Ralph Waldo Emerson, March Obama Read 4.0
29. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (456 pages) by Anne Brontë 3.0
28. The Obsession (480pages) by Nora Roberts 3.5
27. The Sign of Four (92 pages) (A) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Read by Stephen Fry 3.0
26. Dr. Mütter's Marvels (304 pages) by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz 4.5
25. Insidious (447 pages) by Catherine Coulter 3.5
24. Hunting Badger (324 pages) (K) A Leaphorn Mystery by Tony Hillerman 3.5
23. The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip (84 pages) (IR) by George Saunders 4.0
22. The Madwoman Upstairs (341 pages) by Catherine Lowell 3.75
21. The Globe: The Science of Discworld II (345 pages) by Terry Pratchett, for Paul's BAC 3.0
20. A Study in Scarlett (124 pages) (A) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, collection read by Stephen Fry 3.0
19. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (304 pages) (A) by Trevor Noah 5.0
18. The Night Beat (K) (30 pages?) Short story by Harry Bingham 3.75

Read in February / 2590 pages / 5,273 YTD
17. Talking to the Dead (368 pages)(K) by Harry Bingham 4.0
16. Life on Mars: Poems (76 pages) by Tracy K. Smith 3.5
15. Behind the Beautiful Forevers (256 pages)(OS) by Katherine Boo, for Feb Obama Reading Challenge 4.0
14. Invisible Man (608 pages) (A) by Ralph Ellison, read by Joe Morton, reread of a classic 4.0
13. Nights at the Circus (294 pages) by Angela Carter w/ Cammykitty (Late Bowie read) 2.5
12. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo (316 pages) by Amy Schumer 3.5
11. Entwined: Sisters and Secrets in the Silent World of Artist Judith Scott (LT)(215 pages) Joyce Wallace Scott 5.0
10. Jane Eyre, (457 pages)(OS) by Charlotte Bronte, classic reread for RL book group 4.5

Read in January / 2,683 pages
9. The Secret History of Wonder Woman (OTS)(332 pages not incl. the index) by Jill Lepore 4.0
8. Kindred (264 pages)(L)(K) by Octavia Butler 4.0
7. The Vegetarian (201 pages) by Han Kang 4.5
6. Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos Meg Langslow #3(288 pgs)(L)(K)by Donna Andrews 3.0
5. An Obvious Fact (336 pages)(A)(L) by Craig Johnson 3.5
4. Fun Home. A Family Tragicomic (232 page)(GN) by Alison Bechdel--RL Bookclub 4.0
3. Night of Fire (358 pages) (IR) by Colin Thubron 4.5
2. Fire Touched Mercy Thompson novel #9 (352 pages)(K)(L) by Patricia Briggs 4.0
1. Murder with Peacocks (320 pages)(K)(L) 1st in Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews 3.0

Welcome to the President Obama Challenge!!

This is a chance to read one of his books, or several; independently or following a monthly theme. Just have fun and let us know what you are reading and what you think about it! There are more books suggestions on the thread.

December
1. The Naked and the Dead, Norman Mailer
2. One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
3. The Golden Notebook, Doris Lessing
4. The Woman Warrior, Maxine Hong Kingston
5. Courage is Contagious And Other Reasons to Be Grateful for Michelle Obama by Nick Haramis

And anytime, any month
By President Obama
1. Dreams from My Father
3. The Audacity of Hope
3. Of Thee I Sing a truly beautiful children's book

By Michelle Obama
1. American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America
2. Michelle Obama: In Her Own Words
3. We Rise: Speeches by Inspirational Black Women by Michelle Obama, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, Rosa Parks
4. Michelle Obama: Speeches on Life, Love, and American Values by Michelle Obama, Stacie Vander Pol (Editor)
5. Michelle Obama: Our First Lady

And here are some other links:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/books/president-obamas-reading-list.html

https://www.wired.com/2016/10/president-obama-reading-list/

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/books/obamas-secret-to-surviving-the-white-ho...
(Coinciding with Mark's Poetry Month)

Completed This Year
February -- Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo ✔ ✔
March -- Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson ✔ ✔
April -- Harry Potter And the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling ✔ ✔
May -- Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama ✔ ✔
June -- The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead ✔ ✔
July -- The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert ✔ ✔
August -- Being Mortal Dr. Atul Gawande ✔ ✔
September -- Where the Wild Things Are and Junie B. Jones ✔ ✔
October -- The Best of McSweeneys edited by Dave Eggers -- halfway

What are you going to read? Click on the link and tell everyone!!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/250137

Plans for Reading


The President Obama Reading Challenge
https://www.librarything.com/topic/247375
February - Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo ✔ ✔
March - Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson ✔ ✔
April - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling ✔ ✔
May- Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama ✔ ✔
June -- The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead ✔ ✔
July - The Sixth Extinction
August - Being Mortal by Dr. Atul Gawande ✔ ✔
September - Where the Wild Things Are and Junie B. Jones ✔ ✔
October - The Best of McSweeney edited by Dave Eggers
November -
December -

RL Book Club #1
February - Jane Eyre - Jane Austin ✔ ✔
April - Being Mortal - Atul Gawade ✔ ✔
June - America's First Daughter - Laura Kanole, Stephanie Dray
August - In the Time of Butterflies - Julia Alvarez ✔ ✔
October - Commonwealth - Ann Patchett ✔ ✔
December - Choose new books! ✔ ✔

And RL Book Club #2
January - snowed out : (
February - Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel ✔ ✔
March - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (read last year) ✔ ✔
April - Born A Crime by Trevor Noah ✔ ✔
May- Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance ✔ ✔
June - Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg ✔ ✔
July - The Leavers by Lisa Ko ✔ ✔
August - off
September - off
October - We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson ✔ ✔
November - all about love: new visions by bell hooks ✔ ✔

And just maybe an occasional one from here, Mark's AAC or Paul's BAC

January AAC - Kindred by Octavia Butler ✔ ✔
February BAC - The Globe: Discworld II by Terry Pratchett ✔ ✔
April - Poetry Month - milk and honey by rupi kaur ✔ ✔
April - Paul's CAC - Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood ✔ ✔
June BAC - Sylvester: or the Wicked Uncle (K) by Georgette Heyer ✔ ✔
October - AAC Commonwealth (OS) Ann Pratchett ✔ ✔
December - AAC Ernest Hemingway or BAC Neil Gaiman

luvamystery65/Roberta's Tony Hillerman and ???

January - The First Eagle
March - Hunting Badger ✔ ✔
May - The Wailing Wind ✔ ✔
July - The Sinister Pig
September - Skeleton Man
November - The Shape Shifter

Random 2017
August - Kafka on the Shore by Murakami ✔ ✔
October - The Doll's House by Camilla Gudova ✔ ✔
October - The Grip of It by Jac Jemc ✔ ✔
November - The Windup Bird Chronicles by Murakami ✔ ✔

2018 RL Book Club #1
February - Evicted by Matthew Desmond
April -
June -
August -
October -
December - Choose books!!

2018 RL Book Club #2
January - The Power by Naomi Alderman

2018 Random
January - God stalk
January - Parable of the Sower and
January - Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler, DELVE Seminar thru Lit Arts
January - Nickolas Nickelby by Dickens (Karen GR)
Start Without Me (LTER) by Joshua Max Feldman
March - Foucault's Pendulum (Karen)
April - The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro Paul's IAC

2018 RandomCAT
January - 2018 Random CAT -- Book Bullet Hit: Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between)

2018 ColorCAT
January - Black :Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
February: Brown: Barkskins by Annie Proulx or Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
March - Green: The Grass Dancer by Susan Power
April - Yellow: Sunnyside by Glen David Gold
May - Blue:so many choices!
June - Purple: We are the Ones We have Been Waiting For by Alice Walker (The jacket cover is purple and, of course, Walker wrote The Color Purple, which I also have) or The Lady and the Peacock about Augn San Suu Kyi of Burma, by Peter Popham
July - Pink: Fever at Dawn by Peter Gardos
August - Grey: The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean or Consider the Fork by Bee Wilson
September - Metallic:The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls
October - Orange:The Burning Girl by Claire Messud or My Life in Orange by Tim Guest
November - Red: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer or Consider the Lobster by DF Wallace
December - White:The Plague of Doves by Louse Erdrich or Moonglow by Michael Chabon

and in case I need a color backup, Travic McGee by John D. MacDonald (thanks Joe!)

2018 The Two Guidos Murder Mystery Thread
January - Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
February - Involuntary Witness by Gianrico Carofiglio
March - Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon
April - A Walk In the Dark by Gianrico Carofiglio
May - Dressed for Death by Donna Leon (originally published as Anonymous Venetian in 1994)
June - Reasonable Doubts by Gianrico Carofiglio
July - Death and Judgement by Donna Leon (originally published A Venetian Reckoning in 1995)
August - Temporary Perfections by Gianrico Carofiglio
September - Acqua Alta by Donna Leon (also published as Death in High Water)
October - A Fine Line by Gianrico Carofiglio
November - Quietly in Their Sleep by Donna Leon (also published as Death of Faith)
December - Silence of the Wave by Gianrico Carogiglio (this is not part of the Guerrieri series, but is classed as a thriller. We can decide later if we want to read it or not as part of this challenge.)

New Books in 2017
✔ ✔ = read

A=Audio
N=New/Gift
GN=Graphic Novel
IR=INDIEspensable Readers
K=Kindle
LT=LibraryThing Early Reviewer

8th Thingaversary
1. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic (GN) by Alison Bechdel ✔ ✔
2. The Vegetarian by Han Kang ✔ ✔
3. Commonwealth (TBR in October) by Ann Patchett ✔ ✔
4. Swing Time by Zadie Smith
5. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer ✔ ✔
6. The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis
7. Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter ✔ ✔
8. Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith ✔ ✔
+1. Self-Reliance and other essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson ✔ ✔

Others
10. Wait for Signs (A) by Craig Johnson (Free--Audible) ✔ ✔
11. The Night Bird (K) by Brian Freeman (Free--Kindle First Pre-Release)
12. Night of Fire by Colin Thubron, INDIEspensible Reader #63 ✔ ✔
13. Moonglow (IR) by Michael Chabon
14. The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell (from MichiganTrumpet) ✔ ✔
15: History of Wolves by Emily Fredlund, INDIEspensable Reader #64
16: Ordinary Light by Tracy K. Smith ✔ ✔
17. Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham
18. Dr. Mutter's Marvels by Christen O'Keefe Aptowicz ✔ ✔
19. Talking to the Dead (K) by Harry Bingham ✔ ✔
20. Love Story, With Murders (K) by Harry Bingham ✔ ✔
21. The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths (K) by Harry Bingham ✔ ✔
22. This Thing of Darkness (K) by Harry Bingham ✔ ✔
23. The Dead House (K) by Harry Bingham
24. The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story (K) by Douglas Preston ✔ ✔
25. Sherlock Holmes Collection (A) read by Stephen Fry (have read book 1, 2 ✔ ✔)
26. The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip by George Saunders, INDIEspensable Reader #65 ✔ ✔
27. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, Powell's INDIEspensable Reader #65
28. A Criminal Defense by William L Meyers, Jr (Free-K) no touchstone
29. 100 Books You Must Read Before You Die (A)
30. The Ice Twins: A Novel (K) by S. K. Tremayne ✔ ✔
31. Insidious by Catherine Coulter ✔ ✔
31. The Last Mile by David Baldacci
32. The Obsession BY Nora Roberts ✔ ✔
33. We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride ✔ ✔
34. Good poems selected by Garrison Keillor
33. Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay Thank you BLBera!! ✔ ✔
35. Milk and Honey poetry by rupi kaur ✔ ✔
36. The Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (I am on a Brontë tear this year!)
37. Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace
38. Why Science Does Not Disprove God by Amir Aczel
39. Seamus Heaney collected works 1966-1987 (April--Mark's Poetry Month)
40. Kafka on the Shore by Murakami ✔ ✔
41. A Wild Sheep Chase by Murakami ✔ ✔
42. Babayaga by Toby Barlow
43. Sweet Lamb of Heaven by Lydia Millet (Tournament of Books)
44. Pond by Clare-Louise Bennett
45. All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks
46. The Double by Fyodor Dostoevsky
47. For We Are Many: Bobiverse, Book 2 (A) by Dennis E. Taylor ✔ ✔
48. The Almost Sisters: A Novel (LT ER) by Joshilyn Jackson ✔ ✔
49. Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë ✔ ✔
50. The Crossing Places (Ruth Galloway Mysteries) by Elly Griffiths
51. A Small Revolution (K) by Jimin Han (Free Kindle First)
52. News of the World (K) by Paulette Jiles (Ellen's Fault) ✔ ✔
53. Hillbillly Elegy by JD Vance ✔ ✔
54. The First Word by Isley Robson (Kindle First Reader-Free) ✔ ✔
55. As Time Goes By by Mary Higgins Clark
56. The Grip of It by Jac Jemc, Powell's INDIEspensable Reader ✔ ✔#66
57. Borne by Jeff Vandermeer, Powell's INDIEspensable Reader #66 ✔ ✔
58. Mr. Rochester by Sarah Shoemaker
59. The Sound of Gravel, by a Portland author Ruth Wariner
60. Sylvester: or the Wicked Uncle (K) by Georgette Heyer ✔ ✔
61. The Deepest Grave (K) Fiona Griffiths #6 by Harry Bingham
62. Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine (June Free Kindle Read) ✔ ✔
63. The Leavers by Lisa Ko ✔ ✔
64. The Doll's Alphabet by Camilla Grudoba, Powell's INDIEspensable #67 ✔ ✔
65. Stephen Florida by Gabe Habash, Powell's INDIEspensable #67
66. The Sky Below: A True Story of Summits, Space, and Speed by astronaut Scoot Parazynski (Amazon Kindle Free July Pick)
67. The Silent Child by Sarah A. Denzil ✔ ✔
68. The Burning Girl by Claire Messed, Powell's INDIESpensable Reader #68
69. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (A) by Neil deGrasse Tyson ✔ ✔
70. Radium Girls (K) by Katie Moore ✔ ✔
71. Hunger: A Memoir (A) by Roxanne Gray
72. The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey ✔ ✔
73. The Western Star by Craig Johnson ✔ ✔
74. The Brand New Catastrophe by Mike Scales
75. Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough ✔ ✔
75. Private by Maxine Paetro, James Patterson
76. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward, Powell's INDIESpensable Reader #69
77. The Fire This Time Anthology edited by Jesmyn Ward, Powell's INDIESpensable Reader #69
78. Unlimited Memory by Kevin Horsley
79. Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado, Powell's INDIESpensable Reader #70
80. Tomb Song by Julian Herbert, ARC-- March 2018, Powell's INDIESpensable Reader #70

Favorites from this year:
Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey
Minority Report by Phillip K. Dick
Kafka on the Shore Haruki Murakami 5.0
The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson 4.5
Uprooted by Naomi Novik 4.5
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (A) by Trevor Noah 5.0
Dr. Mütter's Marvels by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz 4.5
We Are Legion (A) by Dennis E. Taylor, Narrated by Ray Porter 4.5
Entwined: Sisters and Secrets in the Silent World of Artist Judith Scott by Joyce Wallace Scott 5.0
The Vegetarian by Han Kang 4.5
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 4.5

Favorites from last year:

Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson 4.5
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore 4.5
A History of the World In 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor 4.5
Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes 4.5
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman 5.0
The Guise of Another by Allen Eskens 4.5
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs 4.5
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens 4.5
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchet 5.0
Eleanor Jason Gurley 4.5
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters 5.0
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeannete Winterson 5.0
And Again by Jessica Chiarella 4.5
As I Lay Dying by Faulkner 5.0

Happy new one, Kim. Sorry, I couldn't wait until you finish so I hope you don't run out of room. Love the ugly sweater ornaments.

>10 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg! No worries. I reserved all the spots I needed. : )

Thanks for coming to say Hi! For being first, how about some hot chocolate? With a littel schnapps perhaps? : )

Happy new thread, Kim! I love the Ugly Christmas Sweater ornaments!

Happy New Thread, Kimmers. I just snagged Uncommon Type on audio. Glad to hear you are enjoying it.

I also grabbed Code Girls, which I have also been hearing good things about.

And, yes, I passed my TKD test. yay!! Second pre-test on the way to Third Degree Black Belt. It was not easy (because I am still battling some medical stuff--what's new?!), but luckily the Grand Master took pity on me and had one of the other Masters suit up and spar with my partner who was a 6'1" sixteen-year-old Third Degree Black Belt for one of the rounds. Phew!! I needed that rest.



Now, if I can just have the same strong finish with books: I have to finish 6 more books to make 100 and about 1,500 pages to break 30,000 for the year.

The TKD motto of perseverance and don't give up: I can do it!!!

>11 Berly: Hot chocolate hits the spot! Thanks Kim and congrats on passing your TKD pre-test.

>12 tymfos: Hi Terri!! Aren't those fun ornaments? Our family photo this year also has us all wearing assorted Christmas sweaters, so I thought it was a great momento. : )

>13 msf59: Mark--I predict you will enjoy Uncommon Type very much. There have only been two stories so far that left me meh. Code Girls, huh? I will have to check that one one. I know nothing about it.

>15 Familyhistorian: : )

OMG those little sweaters in >1 Berly: are so adorable!

And CONGRATULATIONS on passing the TKD test!!!! Woot!!! Yes, indeed, you CAN do it! I know you are pleased as punch and I'm so pleased for you. *Yes*

I don't keep track of my pages but I am here cheering you on for the 6-more-books to get to your century mark! Go Kim Go! You can definitely do it. Six books of 250 pages each and you're there.

>18 EBT1002: Ellen--I just couldn't resist those little sweaters! They made me laugh out loud in the store. I am going to let the kids figure out who gets which one. ; )

Thanks on the TKD. Pumped that I could make it through it! B.A.G.

I have three books already in progress and then we'll see how far into the month we are and what I will choose to hit my goal. Congrats to you--I think you are already on 105, right?

Murder on the Orient Express was number 106 for me. I'm stoked. My Personal Best is 108 books in one year and I expect to better that. And it wasn't a year full of GNs! Those would count, mind you, but I didn't pad my stats at all. ;-)

I think I'm going to start Sing, Unburied, Sing next although I need to read Daddy Longlegs for my RLBG....

>1 Berly: omg, I love that. I am going to do that, and my boys are going to squirm and say Muuuuum! And I will laugh. :)

>14 Berly: massive congrats! That is some achievement. I bet your husband and kids are proud.

Hi Berly and congratulations on your new thread. Those are very cute ornaments.

Also, congrats on your passing your TKD test.

And, finally, thank you for @katiekrug's and my "F-Bomb".

Kim, I love your ornament tradition and wish I'd thought of it, oh, 20 years ago lol. And congrats on your TKD test! That's an amazing accomplishment under any circumstances and especially given your recent medical challenges.

>22 karenmarie: I love the F-bomb thing. It's absolutely perfect.

Happy new thread, Kim. Congrats on the big test and oh my goodness, those sweater ornaments are ADORABLE!!!

Here's a weird thing about the Tom Hanks book. I actually bought a hard copy of the book and was so pleased about that. But I decided that I do want him to read it to me so I put it the audiobook on hold at the library. However, when I checked to see how many copies were in the system and where I was in the line, guess what? It says: 0 copies, On Order. What?! I asked and was told that the library has ordered it but no one seems to know when it will arrive or how many copies have been ordered. Sheesh. I will wait a bit and see how it unfolds. I really want to the audio, and it isn't exactly as if I have nothing else in this house to read, is it? ;-)

Happy new thread, Kim! And congrats on the test!!

I saw >22 karenmarie: on your previous thread but you'd already moved on. Thanks to Karen for re-posting.

It made me snort (again)!

Happy new thread!

Happiest of new threads, Kim! The ugly sweater ornaments are the bomb! Great idea for your children's future trees.

Congrats for passing your TKD test! You rock!

28?! Now, come on! *puff, pant* *collapses in an ungainly heap*

*lifts hed* Oh - congratulations on the TKD. *recollapsing*

Happy new one, Kim! Love the ugly sweater ornaments - cute and funny. And congratulations on passing your test!!!

Happy New Thread, Kim!

Congrats on passing the tae kwan do test! Very cool.

>22 karenmarie: Love this one. :-)

Happy new thread, Beth. (I just want to see if anyone notices). I LOVE the ornaments. I also got my kids ornaments every year: V's always had hearts on them and my son's always had drums, surprisingly hard to find, btw. Scout gets stars, for obvious reasons. When V got a house of her own, I gifted her all her ornaments, and they have enough to decorate a tree.

>32 BLBera: I noticed!

Happy New thread. Congrats on the test and I am also in the ornament fan club. Lovely! I do this for two friends who set up house a couple of years ago. Which reminds me, I better look for some!

Hi Kim, Happy new thread my dear and just love the ugly sweater Christmas ornaments and big congratulations on passing the Tae Kwan Do test. Karen has always bought Amy an ornament for her tree and even though her and Andy have been together for five in their home she still buys an ornament for her when she buys another for our tree.

When Karen decorated the tree yesterday she said to me that she thought she could do with a few more ornaments and I just laughed, I messaged Amy who commented back that she wondered how big mum thinks the tree is. When Andy first came to stay at Christmas he looked at the tree and asked his future MIL if she had been sick on the tree, luckily he survived and we laugh about this every year. To be honest we need a new tree and the next one will be seven foot tall so Karen will need more ornaments.

Hope you are having a good week dear friend and send love and hugs from both of us.

Oh yeah, congrats on the TKD - you kick butt!

Congratulations on the TKD test!! Awesome!
I love the sweater ornaments. So adorable.
We had an ugly Christmas sweater contest at our church dinner on Saturday night and there were some funny ones. My favorite was a Christmas tree sweater, complete with zigzag sleeves and hood, pom pom ornaments and a star on the hood.

>20 EBT1002: You are gonna crush your record! I have Sing, Unburied, Sing but need a week to finish up what I am currently reading. Then I could join you!

>21 LovingLit: Great! Tell me what you get for the boys and what they say. LOL

Thanks. My family is very proud of me. : )

>22 karenmarie: Thanks. And I am glad you liked and reposted the F-bomb. It certainly made me laugh! And that's only fair since you bring me great joy all the time.

>23 lauralkeet: Glad you like the ornaments and the idea, but, yeah, it might be late to start the tradition for your kids. Maybe your grandkids...? ; )

>24 jessibud2: Aren't those sweaters the best? LOL

Well, as long as you haven't run out of things to read, you can afford to wait on the Tom Hanks book. ; ) Hope it comes in soon!

>25 scaifea: Hi and thanks!!

>26 katiekrug: I am glad you got a giggle/snort out of the F-bomb reposting. Your thread is always a highlight for me, so payback!

>27 drneutron: Thanks and Hi!

>28 Carmenere: The only thing I would do differently about the ornaments for my kids, is I would get one for each of them and one for me, so that when they are gone I can remember the themes! Oh well. I guess I will just have to go visit them instead. : )

>29 humouress: Hey! Are you OK? Do I need to get smelling salts or something?



It's not my fault you know. : )

>30 Crazymamie: Thanks for stopping by! The sweaters match our family photo theme for this year. I will post that one later...

>31 jnwelch: Hi, Joe!

>32 BLBera: Now it's the ornaments--proof, yet again, that we are Twins! (PS--I noticed, LOL)

>33 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. : ) Have fun shopping for the ornaments. I have one more ornament exchange party, with one of my RL bookclubs. Next week. So I'll post pictures of those next week. ; )

>34 johnsimpson: So that's what I need! A taller tree so I can have more ornaments!! Dang. We already bought ours for this year. ; )



>35 BLBera: : )

>36 nittnut: I found the most hideous sweater for my hubby this year. (We are going to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.) It is brown ,with a quilted tree attached only at the three points to the sweater. And it has jingle bells on it. LOL

Happy new one Kimmers!

What a stellar posting year over here.

Thank you, Paul, the man with the mostest post-ests. Truly, I have loved being here this year. What an amazing, fun, caring, SMART group of people. Despite the book bullets, or perhaps because of them, it is my favorite on-line place to be.

>40 Berly: Scout would love these! She is into glitter and jewels.

Congrats on the TKD test, Kimmers. We are proud of you. I am certainly glad that you have joined us, for most the year. It is great having you around.

Ugly sweater ornaments, brilliant!

Congrats on passing the TKD test (had to look that up -- and wow am I impressed!)

Speaking of ugly sweaters, a local TV news reporter was visiting Ijams Nature Center tonight where they were hosting a "Make Your Own Ugly Sweater" party. They had some plain sweaters and all sorts of attachments which could be sewn on them. See http://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/goodwill-hosts-ugly-sweater-workshops-pho...

ETA: That's a somewhat redacted version. The longer version on "Live at Five" showed felt Santas, elves, etc. being sewn or glued onto one.

>1 Berly: I adore them.

Happy for you that you got to the next level in beating people up. Hope it works out for you. Or whatever sentiment is appropriate here, I'm at a loss....

*smooch*

I started Sing, Unburied, Sing last night and then read some more on the light rail during my commute(s) today. So we'll have to read in the same month but not in the same week.

I'll follow Richard's example: *smooch*

>43 Berly: "What an amazing, fun, caring, SMART group of people. Despite the book bullets, or perhaps because of them, it is my favorite on-line place to be."
Yes and yes.

>44 BLBera: Go Scout!! Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

>45 msf59: "I am certainly glad that you have joined us, for most the year. " Does that mean part of the year you weren't glad I joined? : P

>46 sibylline: Glad you approve! And thank you. : )

>47 thornton37814: Lori--You are so crafty, I think if you made one, even your ugly sweater would turn out cute!!

>48 richardderus: Smooches back with nary a headlock. TKD is only for self-defense. ; )

>49 EBT1002: Fine, fine...same month.

>32 BLBera: I also noticed.

Happy Wednesday, Kim!

*ducks just in case Kimmers wants a little TKD practice*

HappyStNickBerly-Boo


*skedaddles from Urban Violence Zone*

Congratulations on your TKD success, Kim. As for the sweaters, I kind of like the middle one - it's green!

Congrats, Kim.

I only looked away for a moment, honest! Happy new thread, and I love the sweater ornaments, Kim. Congratulations on the TKD results, too.

>43 Berly: Despite the book bullets, or perhaps because of them, it is my favorite on-line place to be. Face it, Kim. We are all enablers at this crazy book addiction that we have - but, apart from a few sagging shelves and complaints from moving guys, who does it hurt?

Happy new thread, Kim, and congratulations on passing your TDK test!

>43 Berly: Yes, that is how this group feels to me :-)

May I add my congratulations on passing the TKD test? Great work!

I have caught a cold. It started Monday and has gotten progressively worse. Sadness. I'll be back when I can.

Aw, Kim. Feel better quickly!!! Sheesh, right on time for the holidays. No fair!

Get well soon, Twinnie. Be nice to yourself and let people take care of you.


I hope this helps.

Feel better, Kim!

For what ails you. *smooch* from a safe, uncontagious distance

I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Kim! Looks like this group has you covered with the best kind of hot beverages for a cold. Once you start feeling better, may I recommend some mulled wine?

Poor, poor baby! Hoping you are feeling better very soon.

Sorry, you are not feeling well, Kim. Sending healing vibes to my pal. Can you read, at least? Fingers crossed.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery! I hope you feel better soon.

Tropical wishes for a speedy recovery dear Kimmers. xx

Happy new thread Kimmers!

>1 Berly: Those sweaters are so cute!

>14 Berly: Congrats on passing the TKD exam!

>22 karenmarie: :-D

>60 Berly: Ugh, sorry to hear about the cold. Hope you feel better soon.

I hope you're feeling better, Berly!

Hugs.

Hey Kim! I hope your cold has gotten progressively better! We miss you!

Hi, Kim. I certainly hope you are chasing that cold out the door. Feel better - that's an order!

Hope you are feeling better. It's been going around at work, but I've been fortunate to avoid it so far.

Hello everyone! Many, many thanks for all the wonderful get-well wishes and drinks. They are working! Well, with a little help from prednisone. ; ) Finally on the rebound. Just trying not to overdo it and lose ground. I have been very productive shopping online and ... reading books!! ONLY 3 more to hit my goal of 100. I think I am going to make it.

Okay...now to try and catch up on all YOUR threads....

No snow in Portland, but a cool new photo posted on Oregon Images thread by Josh Kent. Wow!

Good morning, Berly! I'm glad to hear that you're doing better.

Totally excellent that you have only 3 more to hit 100 for the year, and what a fascinating photo in >76 Berly:.

>76 Berly: LIKE!

Hi, Kimmers. Glad you are feeling better. Yah! Also- the book is in the mail. Smiles...

>76 Berly: How lovely!

Happy that the Plague has loosened her grip on you. Avoiding relapses sounds like a great idea, one I hope you'll implement.

>76 Berly: Wow, that's quite a wind!

Hello, Kim! That image is stunning. And hooray for feeling a bit better - hoping that continues each day. You can totally make 100 this year - you go, girl!

Hi Kim, glad that you are feeling better my dear and hope that it continues to get you back to full good health. I am certain you will hit the magic Hundred mark dear friend and send love and hugs from both of us to you all.

>77 karenmarie: Hi Karen! So glad to be on the mend. Isn't that a cool photo? Who knew barbed wire fences could be that awesome? I am on my way to bookclub tonight. We are each supposed to bring suggestions. I think they mean 2 or 3, but I was very indecisive so I have 8!! Ha! I'll let you know what we decide on.

>78 msf59: Oooh!! A book! That is the best kind of mail. : ) Thank you very much. And I did my part today to support the mail system--all my letters are sealed and stamped and waiting in the mailbox. I actually ran out of return address labels and made my own this year. They turned out pretty cute I think!

Hi Kim, first time that I've ventured out onto LT since my illness. Much improved. I went into the office today for a time and will probably split time between working in office and working at home. If it's snowing or I'm extra tired, working from home will be my preference.

I have to use a finger pulse oximeter. Was just thinking about how my niece and other swimmers are probably top of the scale in oxygen levels. My numbers are ever-improving.

>1 Berly: Where in the world did you find such unique ornaments.

Each year when I decorate, I smile at the ornaments my children made or gave to me over the years. I've sent Hallmark ornaments throughout the years. I hope they treasure them. And, I hope that they enjoy the ornaments I've saved when the time comes for the girls to inherit them.

Good to hear that you are feeling better, Kim. Love the photo in >76 Berly:, that is pretty amazing. I hope they chose some good books.

>79 richardderus: The Plague is in abeyance. No energy yet, but mustering through. Took a nap and managed to make it to bookclub last night though! I forgot to write down all the choices (bad Kim), but I remember these winners: Evicted, Sing, Unburied, Sing, The Oregon Trail (it is a contemporary work and I can't remember the author), A Gentleman in Moscow and ???. We only meet 6 times a year for this group and one of the meetings is purely the social Holiday Bash.

>80 drneutron: I know! I can't believe how sideways the ice formed! I love the mental image of the windswept prairies, but maybe not the reality!!

>81 Crazymamie: Thanks for the well wishes. On the mend, just not there yet. Headed into work today to try and get the books to balance before year end. Wish me luck!!

>82 johnsimpson: Shooting for that 100! Halfway through one book; two hours left on the audio and then just one more. I have faith. : )

>84 lindapanzo: So nice to see you here!! Please take care. It sounds like you REALLY got hit hard by this pneumonia. I should stop whining about my little cold. ; )

>85 Whisper1: I found the sweater ornaments at Crate and Barrel I think. It is one of my more fun holiday traditions and I know the kids like them because they always want tot make sure they hang up THIER specific baubles. We try to remember when we got them or what the story is behind each one, so decorating the tree is a fun trip down memory lane and a way to pass on our family history. I am sure your decorations are and will be appreciated very much!

>86 Familyhistorian: Hi there! Glad you like the photo. Pretty spectacular and I am glad I was not driving under those conditions. LOL. Check out the books we chose in >87 Berly:. Some good ones I think!

>87 Berly: Good luck, Kim!

>87 Berly: It looks like those books are ones that have been warbled about on the threads, Kim. Did you have a hand in putting forth all the titles?

>89 Crazymamie: I will take that luck and run with it. Thanks. : )

>90 Familyhistorian: I may have had something to do with 3 out of the 4. : ) And I am very happy with The Oregon Trail addition. It is two guys trying to do the same trip current day, and fo course being from Oregon, it sounds like a fun read! Still can't remember the fifth choice. I will just have to wait for the email reminder. We are going to start with Evicted in February and I already own that one, so I am safe.

Good to see you getting back to rude health, Kimmers. xx

Hi Kim, I just can't keep up with you! Every time I drop by, there are so many entries I have to skip to get near the bottom. I'm sorry to hear you have been ill. This cold weather doesn't help, does it? Keep warm.

>92 PaulCranswick: Rude as in rudimentary?! And not rude as in bad manners, I hope! : )

>93 Oregonreader: It's okay. I have trouble keeping up myself. Just pop in and out when you can. : )

I am warm right now, tucked in bed, but I have prednisone insomnia tonight, so I am making the most of it and visiting other peoples threads!

I'm an insomniac tonight, too, but am going to attempt to go back to sleep in a few minutes. I hope you can get some (more) sleep tonight.

Hope you got back to sleep, Kim. Sweet Thursday, my friend!

Ah, the wee small hours of the night! Haven't seen those all week. My horrible neighbor is quiet for a change.

Ugh, insomnia. I rarely have it, but it is The Worst. Hope you get to rest today!

>95 karenmarie: I saw 2:36am and then ZZZZZZZZ. That means less than 5 hours of sleep. I might be cranky today. Just saying.

>96 Crazymamie: Sweet Thursday only because it is the precursor to Happy Friday and Super Saturday!! Same to you. : )

>97 richardderus: Glad your neighbor is cooperating and letting you sleep. Phew! Me own brain was the problem. It would not shut up!

>98 katiekrug: Thanks. Every possible list was running through my head and I blame the 2018 Color CAT challenge: I was so excited looking through my books for possible candidates! I found one (or several) candidates for every color but yellow and purple!! And that was just from my bedroom piles. LOL. This is what I found last night:

2018 ColorCAT Challenge
January - Black: Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
February: Brown: Barkskins by Annie Proulx
March - Green: The Grass Dancer by Susan Power
April - Yellow:
May - Blue: so many choices!
June - Purple:
July - Pink: Fever at Dawn by Peter Gardos
August - Grey: The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
September - Metallic: The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls
October - Orange: The Burning Girl by Claire Messud
November - Red: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer or Consider the Lobster by DF Wallace
December - White: The Plague of Doves by Louse Erdrich or Moonglow by Michael Chabon

I really want to read more books off my own shelves!! So I am going to try this and the RandomCAT Challenge. Looks like fun!

Sweet Thursday, Kim. Hope your week is going well and that you are feeling better. I may join you on a few of those ColorCAT titles, especially the first 2, which have been on my shelves forever.

Happy Thursday, Mark. The week is going well and I am back to about 80% wellness. : ) I'd love to have your company on those reads!!

Hiya, Kim!

If you're looking for books with color in the title, all the Travis McGee ones do, starting with The Deep Blue Good-bye. Just sayin'.

>99 Berly: Have you read Purple Hibiscus by Adichie? I think Huxley has a short book titled Chrome Yellow, but I haven't read it.

>99 Berly: and >103 ffortsa: - Adichie also wrote Half of a Yellow Sun so you could knock both colors out with the same author!

>102 jnwelch: Do I even know Travis McGee? I better check him out!

>103 ffortsa: >104 katiekrug: I love Adichie and Huxley! Thanks you guys. : ) I am going to keep these suggestions, in case I don't feel in the mood for the ones I have already.

I searched my TBR Towers downstairs and came up with

Purple: We are the Ones We have Been Waiting For by Alice Walker. The jacket cover is purple and, of course, Walker wrote The Color Purple, which I also have. I might also try The Lady and the Peacock about Augn San Suu Kyi of Burma, by Peter Popham. Peacocks are purple, right?

Oh! And I found Sunnyside for my Yellow selection. By Glen David Gold, it follows the celebrities of Hollywood and the realities of WWI. Chaplin, Fairbanks, and Rin Tin Tin!!



There. Now I have a plan to read at least 12 books off my shelves. We'll see how it goes!

I'll never get caught up, but what darling sweater ornaments on your top post! I hope you have a daughter in the mix, because my two sons do not seem to share my sentimentality with Christmas ornaments or much else!
Oh , prednisone insomnia. I've not suffered, but I've known other people to have been likewise affected I am glad to hear your are feeling quite a bit better.

Hi Berly!

>99 Berly: Clever! I wish you luck with it.

>108 karenmarie: Thanks! Trying to read a wee bit more off the shelves. : )

On the other hand...I just got my nice, new, hardcover copy of The Power, my January read for my second RL bookclub. Margaret Atwood. Winner of the Bailey's Women's Price for Fiction. *sheepish grin*

But I am entitled!! Because I forgot that it is my THINGAVERSARY!!!

How many does that make?....be right back....

Found it. I joined LT on December 2, 2008. So that makes this my 9th anniversary!!

Thank you, Ricardo!! Did I mention that it is wonderful to have you back here on LT? It is!! : )

>111 Berly: *smooch*

Let's see how long the internet survives the death of net neutrality.

Happy belated thingagummy, Twinster.

Yes, you will make 100. Go, Beth, go! (See what I did?)

>99 Berly: I'm almost positive you bought The Grass Dancer, which is fabulous when we were at Birchbark Books. READ it! You will love it.

Happy Thingaversary, Kimmers! Yah! We joined the same year. I joined in June. Like minds...

>112 richardderus: : )

and then >: (

>113 BLBera: I think I did buy it with you in MN! About time I get to it, huh?!

>114 msf59: Yay for our nine years on LT and like minds and all that!!

>107 vancouverdeb: Missed you up there--so sorry! I have two girls and they are more into the ornaments than my son, but he does have his favorites. ; )

I only managed 4.5 hours of sleep last night. Hoping for a wee bit more today. Otherwise, I am gonna have to hit the coffee hard in the morning! LOL

Hope you get some sleep Kim. And congrats on the nine years!
I am supposed to be finishing off my ridiculous "currently reading" shelf but instead have picked up Swedish crime (!)

>116 Berly: Hi, Char. Thanks and thanks! : )

Ha! I have been sorting through the TBR piles by my nightstand, trying to reshuffle, reorganize and make myself feel less stressed about what I SHOULD be reading! Your Swedish crime sounds perfect for right now. I have to finish one more that I am in the middle of, and then I should be good on finishing the audio by end of month, which will bring me to the magic 100, and then I can be FREE to read whatever!! ; )

I just decided on another book for January: 2018 RandomCAT
January -- Book Bullet Hit: Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between). I have it on my shelf and my daughter wants me to hurry up and read it so she can have it. LOL. We watched the series together years ago and have fond memories of the wacky characters. Book bullet from Chelle.

So, my daughter's friend, who has been living with us these past 6 weeks, is graduating today. And then she is packing up the car and driving cross country back home, far, far away from us. I am very happy for her and sad for us. She has been a fun addition to our household.

Hi Kim. Sorry to hear you had a cold, but glad you’re feeling better.

>76 Berly: Brrr; that just conjures the feeling of harsh ice-carrying winds. Happy, for once, to be sitting in warm Singapore.

Sure. Rub it in. : ) Happy Friday!!

Ellen rekindled my interest in the Travis McGee books. As she says (my paraphrase), some of the social sentiments are a bit dated. But he's an appealing main character, and the stories are snappy. For me, they're great change of pace books when I need to lighten up a bit.

I am #8 on 2 ebook copies at the library!! Looks like a new series for me in 2018. Thanks Joe (and Ellen)!

Happy Friday Beth

>76 Berly: there are some dog-like creatures ni the new Star Wars film that look remarkably like that icy fence! You will know when you see.

>118 Berly: I hear you! My bedside table overfloweth with readings.

Kim, Happy belated Thingaversary!

Great minds, etc - I also buy a Christmas ornament for the boys each year so that when they leave us they will have some ornaments to remind them of home - we usually get a similar one too. It reminds me that I have not purchased our ornaments yet...

Also belated congrats on passing your TKD test.

Hope you are feeling better and getting more sleep, Kim.

Happy Thingaversary, Kim. I joined in 2008 too, they must have had a new advertising campaign or something that year. I joined in February so my 10th Thingaversary will be soon.

So do you have your books picked out to celebrate your Thingaversary?

>125 BLBera: Happy Saturday, Kim!!

>126 LovingLit: I have not seen Star Wars yet, but my son did last night and he confirmed that the key picture looks like something in the movie. Now, of course, I am dying to go see it!! LOL

An overflowing bookish nightstand is far preferable to a barren one.

>127 rretzler: So, did you get the ornaments for this year yet? What is the theme? Thanks for the TKD and LT Thingaversary congrats. : )

>128 ronincats: After two abysmal nights of sleep, last night was 8 hours! Whoohoo!! I feel like a human being again. Today is packing up our guest for her journey home. I am actually sneaking in time on the computer while she showers. Then it is all hands on deck cause she wants to get on the road. Have no idea how she is going to fit everything in her car. I see a UPS shipment in her future...

>129 Familyhistorian: I dion't know about the advertising...my cute hubby saw LT and told me I should check it out. So glad he did!!

Yesterday, between graduation activities for my daughter's friend, I made a trip to Powell's, unloaded a bunch of books, got my in-store credit and promptly and wisely spent it. : )

I got four of my books for January:

God Stalk for a group read headed by Roni.
Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler for my DELVE class thru Lit Arts
and the many-paged Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens for Karen's group read.

Yay!!

Someday I'll post a photo of my TBR. It is contained in six bins, a bookcase, fourteen milk crates...then there's the Kindle with its 2000+ books....

2000 books on Kindle!!! Well, I guess you are never at a loss for a book. With that many, I would never be able to choose one. I would be frozen with indecision, LOL.

I think I'd be considered disabled by my crippling case of tsundoku should a cure for gout ever be discovered. I still acquire books at an unnerving rate.

Just a quick note as we're rushing off to see the Last Jedi. I've seen the icicle dogs in the trailer, though. (I'd better take a shawl.)

>131 Berly: Yay, God Stalk!

>132 richardderus: No comment.

>131 Berly: Hooray for the January books! Glad you'll be joining us on the Dickens.

Happy Sunday, Kimmers. Hope you are enjoying the weekend.

Hi Berly! Happy Sunday to you.

So glad you'll be participating in the Nicholas Nickelby read.

>134 richardderus: I'd heard of tsundoku before but had forgotten about it. Thanks for defining my chronic condition, RD! *smooches*

>135 humouress:, >137 karenmarie: "If you can't be a shining example, you'll be a horrible warning."

*smooch* for slug-a-bed Kimmers!

After all, it's 10 after 6, shouldn't you be up already?

>94 Berly: I was referring to #4 honestly.

rude

adjective
adjective: rude; comparative adjective: ruder; superlative adjective: rudest
1.
offensively impolite or bad-mannered.
"she had been rude to her boss"
synonyms: ill-mannered, bad-mannered, impolite, discourteous, impertinent, insolent, impudent, cheeky, audacious, presumptuous, uncivil, disrespectful, unmannerly, ill-bred, churlish, crass, curt, brusque, blunt, ungracious, graceless, brash, unpleasant, disagreeable, offhand, short, sharp; More
antonyms: polite, civil, chivalrous
2.
referring to a taboo subject such as sex in a way considered embarrassing or offensive.
"Graham giggled at every rude joke"
synonyms: vulgar, coarse, smutty, dirty, filthy, crude, lewd, obscene, offensive, indelicate, improper, indecorous, salacious, off colour, tasteless, in bad taste; More
antonyms: clean
3.
having a startling abruptness.
"the war came as a very rude awakening"
synonyms: abrupt, sudden, sharp, startling; More
4.
BRITISH
vigorous or hearty.
"Isabel had always been in rude health"
5.
dated
roughly made or done; lacking sophistication.
"a rude coffin"
synonyms: primitive, crude, rudimentary, rough, rough-hewn, rough and ready, simple, basic, makeshift
"everything in the rude cabin was filthy"
antonyms: sophisticated, classy
archaic
ignorant and uneducated.
"the new religion was first promulgated by rude men"

Have a lovely Sunday, Kimmers!

Hello Friend

Stopping by to wish you a wonderful holiday season. I am late in sending cards this year, know that I am thinking of you!

Great haul at Powel'ls, Kimmers! Glad you found God Stalk there, along with the others.

>92 PaulCranswick: >94 Berly: >139 PaulCranswick:
I love international language-use differences! I just said "quaint as" on Amber's thread, knowing that it might not be understood...(the usual international response to that would be, "quaint as what?").

Happy Monday, Kim. I can't wait for another trip to Powell's. We were talking about our upcoming trip to Oregon, and I mentioned I wanted to see my friend in Portland, and my sister said, "And go back to Powell's." She knows me too well.

Hi Kim, hope you had a good weekend my dear and a nice book haul from Powell's. Wishing you a good week ahead on the run up to Christmas dear friend and send love and hugs to you all.

>134 richardderus: So that's what it is called!! LOL. I've got it bad, too. Although less on the Kindle and more lining the walls under windows, by my night table, etc, etc, etc.

Tsundoku is the phrase for acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one's home without reading them.

: )

>135 humouress: How was the movie? I keep running out of time to get to the movies!!

>136 msf59: Weekend? What weekend? It went by so fast, I think I missed it! LOL. Hubby and I went to an ugly Christmas Sweater party on Saturday. I thought we, or at least he, should have won the contest, but no such luck. Look...isn't this awful?! It is a quilted tree. And, no, my T-neck is not filled with sperm. They are dogs and cats poking out of Christmas stockings. ; )

>137 karenmarie: Sufferers of Tsundoku unite!! Oh wait. That's what LT is, isn't it?

>138 richardderus: Slug-o-bed. Ha! I wish I had seen more of it this weekend.

>139 PaulCranswick: OH! Is that what you meant by "rude"? I feel much better. : )

>140 Whisper1: Hello, Linda!! That is such a cute Christmas scene. I have been thinking of you often, but haven't had much LT time to tell you so. Hoping the holidays are treating you well and that you are winning the pain war. Hugs, you wonderful person, you!

"And, no, my T-neck is not filled with sperm." Thank God for that. LOL. Great photo. You should have won.

I got your Christmas photo. Thank you. Such a lovely family.

>141 ronincats: I always have fun at Powell's and I was remarkably restrained with my purchases this time. : ) I am excited for January--I"ll be reading 3 SciFi including God Stalk!!

>142 LovingLit: It is a sad, sad day when the English language used on my own thread loses me. Sigh. ; )

>143 BLBera: Happy Monday, Twin!! I am very excited to see you again this summer. And, duh, we will be going to Powell's! Your sister gets points for knowing you.

>144 johnsimpson: Hi, John. Thanks, I am feeling pretty good about this week. I am mostly on top of all things Christmas--crossing my fingers I haven't forgotten anything. LOL. Hope you and Karen have a wonderful week ahead.

>148 msf59: I thought you might get a kick out of that. (Someone thought they were sperm, and if they did, how did I not win!?!) Mine is not really that bad, just very retro. Hubby's, on the other hand...very bad! Thanks for the ugly vote. : )

I am very biased, but I think I lucked out with a wonderful family, as did you.

Do you mean that the only books you bought at Powell's were the ones listed in #131? Such restraint!

Happy new thread, fabulous ornament tradition and congratulations on passing your TKD test! WOOT! Sorry to learn that you came down with a cold.... it has been a rather bad fall/winter for ailments all around. I suffered a cold in Oct and again in Nov. As far as I am concerned, I should be good for two years now. We found hot toddys with a generous dosing of single malt scotch was a good cold cure. ;-)

>146 Berly: - Love that pic!

>145 Berly: - Tsundoku is the phrase for acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one's home without reading them.

Seriously? That is an actual word, and that is the actual meaning? Who knew? Who sits down and makes up words like this?

Well, add me to that list of - what are we called? tsundokists?

>151 Familyhistorian: Major restraint!!! I am already planning another trip in January. Maybe I'll be a bad girl then. LOL

>152 lkernagh: Hey! Nice to see you here. Glad you like my ugly sweater photo -- It was a very fun party. I like your cure for the common cold: I will have to give it a try next time I run in to trouble. ; )

>153 jessibud2: Richard gets credit for introducing Tsundoku to my vocabulary. Join the club, fellow Tsudonkist!!

Walt's sweater didn't win the awful sweater contest?! Gadzooks and forsooth, the winner must have been eyewateringly awful. No chance you took a photo of it, is there?

Guy in the T-shirt on the left won. What do you think? ; )

Happy Tuesday, Kim! Eeek! I've been neglecting your thread for too long! 1. Glad you're feeling better, still, I hope you have time to rest and recover fully during all the business. 2. Good luck on your Color CAT challenge! I hope you succeed so you can add more books to the empty slots left behind.
3. Happy 9th Thingaversary. I celebrated my 9th or was it 10th, I don't know, back in October. I never seem to remember it till the month after :/
4. Great pic of your ugly sweaters! In my book, sperm stockings and quilt trees take the prize. I like your shoes, are they like clogs?.
5. >156 Berly: Now that's my kind of party! Lots of good cheer to be had there.

>156 Berly: Those are some ugly sweaters.

>156 Berly: Holy moley! The younger dude in the cardigan gives y'all some stiff competiton. Not remotely a patch on that...thing...Walt was wearing, though.

Hi Kim! Happy Tuesday!

>156 Berly: Ummm. That's certainly quite the shirt...

>156 Berly: Wow. Those are some terrible jumpers...
Looks like a fun party.

>146 Berly: - You know, Kim, I propose that you submit this picture again, for a recount of votes. Your husband surely must get extra points for the star coming out the back of his sweater and hovering over his head like a, well, a tree-topper, for that quilt tree.... ;-)

Hi, Kim.

You and your hubby are a lovely ill-dressed, I mean, appropriately dressed, couple. I would've voted for your hubster over the ones in >156 Berly:.

What two sci-fis are you reading in January besides Godstalk?

Hi Kimberly! I add my vote for your husband's sweater. It's excellent. Happy belated Thingaversary! I hope your cold is better.

>157 Carmenere: Lots of good cheer and VERY bad clothing. My red shoes are actually ankle high cowboy boots. Complete with striped red, white and green socks. LOL. Happy belated Thingaversary!!

>158 BLBera: Exactly. : )

>159 richardderus: Now, don't get sucked in by the younger guy's good looks. My Hubby's...patchwork thing...definitely was the worst!

>160 The_Hibernator: Happy Wednesday!

>161 charl08: Very high quality ugly jumpers and a most fun party! It is an annual I try not to miss.

>162 jessibud2: Ha!! Good point. He definitely should have gotten extra points for the star tiara.

>163 jnwelch: Thanks for the vote of ugliness, I mean confidence. : )

I am also taking a 6-week class on Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents starting in January. Can not wait!!

>164 nittnut: Another vote!! Thank you. ; ) I still have a few slots to fill for my Thingaversary...! My cold is pretty much a thing of the past--yay!!

Oh I'm so jealous of the Octavia Butler course. Just reading Kindred now, what a great book.

>166 Berly: Oh, those are the two Octavia Butler books I've read so far. Really good. How great to take a 6 week class on them! I look forward to hearing how it goes.

An Octavia E Butler class! How interesting!

>167 charl08: I just read Kindred this year and I had two issues with it, explained in my review, but don't read that until you finish! I really did enjoy it though; I gave it a 4 I think.

>168 jnwelch: Somewhere I got the impression that the Parable books were SciFi, but I think they are more dystopian society, class and religion. Should be great books for discussion.

>169 The_Hibernator: The last Delve class I took was Murakami's 1Q84 and it was awesome! So, I am excited for this one. Besides, what's not to like about the chance to be back in "school" talking about books?

So far behind on reviews...just gonna give a quickie on these:



95. Home Fire (288 pages) by Kamila Shamsie (library)

Modern day British Muslims, Islamist terrorists, love, family and state. This novel, set in England and the US, looks at two families and the very different paths the children take. Five sections are each narrated by one of the principal characters, continuously moving the timeline forward. Brilliantly told and the ending blew me away. Timley and captivating. 4.25



96. The Boy Who Knew Too Much (256 pages) by Cathy Byrd

"This is a powerful and inspirational story about a young baseball prodigy who, at the age of two, began sharing vivid memories of being a baseball player in the 1920s and 30s. Christian Haupt described historical facts about Lou Gehrig that he could not have possibly known at the time. Distraught by their son's uncanny revelations, his parents embarked on a journey of discovery that shook their beliefs to the core and forever changed their views on life and death."

Without being preachy, this certainly makes one wonder about the immortality of the soul. Well told and fascinating, and just the right touch of humor. Non-Fiction. 4.0

97. The Night Bird (362 pages) by Brian Freeman

"When a series of bizarre deaths rock San Francisco, homicide detective Frost Eaton discovers a connection that leads him to psychiatrist Francesca Stein. Dr. Stein's controversial therapy helps people erase their most terrifying memories -- and all of the victims were her patients. As Frost and Dr. Stein carry out their investigation, the case becomes increasingly personal -- and dangerous. Long-submerged secrets surface as someone called the Night Bird taunts the pair with cryptic messages pertaining to the deaths. As the body count rises and the Night Bird circles ever closer, a dedicated cop and a brilliant doctor race to solve the puzzle before a cunning killer claims another victim."

You know the type! Easy read. Murder/mystery, psychological page-turner. 3.25



98. The Sixth Extinction (336 pages) by Elizabeth Kolbert

"Over the last half a billion years, there have been five mass extinctions of life on earth. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. Elizabeth Kolbert combines brilliant field reporting, the history of ideas and the work of geologists, botanists and marine biologists to tell the gripping stories of a dozen species including the Panamanian golden frog and the Sumatran rhino some already gone, others at the point of vanishing. The sixth extinction is likely to be mankinds most lasting legacy and Elizabeth Kolberts book urgently compels us to rethink the fundamental question of what it means to be human."

A fascinating and sobering look at what humans are doing to our planet. A standout of 2017 for me. Highly recommended!! 4.5

Kim, is The Boy Who Knew Too Much fiction or non-fiction?

99. Spells: A Novel Within Photographs (157 pages) by Peter Rock

The author used multiple photographs from five artists to inspire this work.

" 'The images came first. One way to think of it is that the stories herein, and the larger story they become, were already embedded in the photographs. My attention and intuition acted as a kind of excavation that brought them to the surface, into words.' The texts range from narrative to prose poem, from folktale to rant to reverie to an essay written by a fourth grader. The overarching story follows three friends who have recently graduated from high school; it explores their relationships and how things change when they become entangled with an elderly widower who claims to have dreamt of one of them. The ensuing drama explores the relationship between dreams and waking life, between the head and the heart, between shadows and their bodies, between the living and the dead."

Interesting concept and I enjoyed some of the pieces very much. The overarching story worked well at first, but then it was too dream-world for me. If you want something on the different side, then this is the one for you! Personally, it was a bit too bizarre. Maybe I am just missing the genius. 2.75

>173 jessibud2: Non-Fiction!! I added it to the description.

I thought The SIxth Extinction was fascinating (and scary)! I also really liked Home Fire. Good reading, Kim!!

She approacheth 100.....

>172 Berly: Nice review of The Sixth Extinction. I need to get to that one.

>176 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! : )

>177 EBT1002: Half hour left on my audio...I can feel it!

>178 Oberon: Yes! You really should get it.

Hi Kim, Just stopping by to wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. You've been doing some good reading.

>178 Oberon: I loved The Sixth Extinction too. Definitely worth a read.

Glad to see the book update, Kim. And hooray for Home Fires & The Sixth Extinction. I am also big fans of both.

You might enjoy Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches and I highly recommend the audio.

Sweet Thursday!

A half hour???? What are you doing on LT???

Happy Yule Book Flood!

>180 Oregonreader: Hi, Jan!! Merry and Happy wishes to you, too! Thanks.

>181 The_Hibernator: : )

>182 msf59: Vactionland...I will dutifully check it out as I do with most of your warbles.

>183 EBT1002: I finished!! Just have to do quick review so it's official...tomorrow...

>184 richardderus: Thank you, Ricardo!!! Smooch.

>170 Berly: Kim, is your review of Kindred on the work page? I have finished it, I promise!

It is on the review page. Let me know if you can't find it. : ) What did you think? I will go check out your thread....

>188 Berly: HAHAHA



The REAL lord of xmas

I'll be good!! I mean, I've BEEN good!! Oh, please don't hurt me! Doyouwantsomecookies?!

100. Uncommon Type written and read by Tom Hanks 4.0

I loved enough of these short stories to recommend the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio version: having Hanks bring to life his own tales was wonderful! The plots are pretty simple, but the characters and settings are colorful; many of them are set in the 50's and 60's. Remember to look for the typewriter connection in each one. (Hanks has a thing for old typewriters.) A great way to hit the magic 100. : )

Congrats on #100! Wow! I can't wait for my library to get this audiobook already. It's *on order*!

Congratulations! 100 books is a great accomplishment.

Congratulations on reading 100, Kim!

Congratulations, Kim! Well done.

Congrats on 100!

I've tracked down your review (there were a lot!) I wasn't bothered by the husband, and the second one She did talk a lot about not going out because she was afraid. Not sure if that's what you meant?

Hooray for 100 and Uncommon Type! I will have to add it to the audio rotation.

Happy Saturday, Kim. I am sure you will be in a whirlwind of activity, these next few days. Enjoy!

Hiya, Kim. Congrats on 100!

Congrats on the century!

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.

>188 Berly: Exactly.

Congrats on hitting 100, and with a book you loved. Is that it for the year, or are you going for 101?

Anyway, Happy Holidays to you and yours. Take care and have a healthy season.

See you next year in Portland! (Even though it IS your turn)

>190 Berly: Yes. Cookies will mollify me and prevent me from calling in Krampus.

>191 Berly: Yay!!



Love,

Congratulations on hitting 100 and wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Kim.

>192 jessibud2: Thanks and I hope your library gets Uncommon Type in soon!

>193 Whisper1: : ) I am very happy. I don't think I have hit 100 since I first joined up.

>194 Familyhistorian: Thank you and

>195 Oregonreader: Thanks you!

>196 charl08: HA! Now I have to go back and read my own review...

>197 msf59: Thanks, you should, and yes, life is a whirlwind the next few days. But my cards are mailed, my shopping is done, my gifts are wrapped (I am NEVER this far ahead on the holiday hoopla!) and today is all about cooking. Yam souffle, the stuffing, cauliflower mash and mushroom rollups. The girls are going to help me. Son is off to the mountains snowboarding. We are celebrating on Christmas Eve with the masses and then having a small, pajama day for Christmas.

>198 jnwelch: Hurray!! Thanks for helping me celebrate.

>199 drneutron: As long as the century is 100 books and not 100 birthdays!

>200 Ameise1: Awww! Too cute. Happy holidays to you, too.

>201 BLBera: I know it is my turn to visit you, but everyone is coming out here in June for son's graduation. Next year, I will head out your way and visit MN. : )

I am halfway through my first Jack Reacher, so hopefully I can hit 101!!

>202 richardderus: Take one! Take 'em all!! Just spare me.



Thanks and love the ring!

>203 cameling: Love that tree!! Thanks for the holiday wishes and I wish the same for you! Okay....gotta go cook. : )

>188 Berly: Ha ha! Love it!

Your thread is on fire, Kimmers.

And congrats on hitting 100!!!!

>207 Berly: OOOO yuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmm

*smackmunchsmacksmack*

Merry Christmas to you, my friend! Wishing you much love, laughter, and light at this holiday season.

Hurrah for 100, Kim!

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

Hi Kim, stopping by to wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and happiness this holiday season and for 2018!

Hi Kim. As you know, I can't add pictures but I wanted to add my best wishes for the holiday season to you and your family.

Hi Kim!



Stopping by to wish you and yours all good things this holiday season. And, joy at your reading your first Jack Reacher!

>188 Berly: Haha! Congratulations on getting to 100+!!



Knowing you lights my world!
Merry Christmas! Peace and Joy!

Congratulations on reaching 100 books read my dear.

Hi Kim, wishing you and the family a very Merry Christmas my dear and sending love and hugs dear friend from both of us.

Have a wonderful holiday with the family, Kimmers! Hope you can kick back tomorrow. That is our plan.

Happy holidays! I am thankful this holiday season for all the good friends I have made in this group. You are all so supportive. I don't know what I'd do without you!

Happy Holidays, Kim and family!

Wishing you all good things this holiday season and beyond.

Merry Christmas from Philadelphia, Kim!

Hey, Kim!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!

ps... happy belated thing-a-versary, too :-)

Happy Holidays to you and yours! Its such a joy to be a part of this group, and I’m glad to call you friend.

wishing a holiday and new year of peace for you and yours!

To all my wonderful friends here on LT, I wish you a very happy holiday time, whatever you may be celebrating!!!

I have had company nonstop and we have been running around rescuing people stuck in the ice (see below)...hope to catch a breath in the next day or so. Please know that I am thinking of you and sending best wishes and I will stop by your threads as soon as I can. BIG HUGS!!!

I'd rather have snow than ice on the roads any day. Stay safe and warm!

Still a bit under construction, but here's the new group: https://www.librarything.com/groups/75booksin2018

Happy Boxing Day!

>209 EBT1002: >211 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! Happy Boxing Day!! I actually finished Jack Reacher #1, so that makes 101 books this year. Yay! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Hugs to you and P. : )

>210 richardderus: Richard--so glad to have you back. And glad I (temporarily) satiated the beast. ; ) Smooches.

>212 ronincats: Roni--That was so beautifully put, so loving and all encompassing...ti made me teary!! Wishing you love, light and happiness now and always.

>213 lkernagh: Lori--Thank you so much for the lovely holiday wishes! Hoping the same for you.

>214 jessibud2: Shelley--Best wishes for a wonderful time with family and friends!

>215 karenmarie: Karen--I hope you had fun yesterday and hope it continues right on through to the new year! And, yes, I am now a Jack Reacher fan!

>216 nittnut: Jenn--Love that! Happy holiday wishes to you and yours. : )

>217 johnsimpson: John--Love and hugs to both you and Karen.

>219 msf59: Mark--Happy Holidays! I plan on doing some dishes from the second batch of visitors last night and then maybe books and movies. Kicking back indeed!

>220 The_Hibernator: Rachel! See all that shiny stuff under your snowmen? Yup. That was my street this morning. It seems to have improved a little, but what rotten timing. I am so sorry to have missed you this morning. I hope you have a safe (if delayed) flight back home and also that you had a wonderful time visiting your soon-to-be new family. Best wishes for 2018!!

>221 ffortsa: Happy Holidays, Judy!! : )

>222 rretzler: Robin--That is the perfect bookish Holiday greeting! Best wishes to you and yours.

>223 PaulCranswick: Paul--I hope this is a better year for you (family and business) and me (health)!! Happy Holidays!

>224 kidzdoc: Darryl--Love that tree!! Thank you. Hope your holiday is going well and sending my very best wishes to your Mom and Dad (and you!).

>225 -Cee-: Cee!! How wonderful to have a post from you. : ) I hope to see more of you in 2018?!?! Happy holidays to you and yours.

>226 mahsdad: Jeff--It has been wonderful to get to know you this year and I look forward to continuing our burgeoning friendship in 2018. Happy belated holiday wishes!! : )

>227 banjo123: Rhonda--Thanks and happy holidays (belatedly) to you and yours! How've you liked the ice?

>228 Berly: Ice Pictures.

>229 drneutron: Jim--Snow over ice any day. Except for some cool photos. LOL

>230 drneutron: Thank you, again and again, for keeping us 75ers humming along. I plan to set up my thread later today. Hope you are enjoying the holidays!!

I hope I didn't miss anyone.

Happy Boxing Day!!!

I had the time today, so I started my 2018 thread. Hope to see you all there!!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/279059

Hi, Kim. Thanks for the well-needed beer. It looks like it will be an early one for me tonight.

Sleep well my friend!

>238 Berly: *powerless to resist*
*trying to resist*

Happy winter holidays to you!!

Hi Kim. Thank you for your Christmas wishes. I’m dropping by to belatedly wish you, too. You may have got me with a Tom Hanks B.B. Congratulations on hitting 100!



Wishing you and your family all the best for the holiday season.

>241 LovingLit: You want to go there; you know you do!! : )

>242 humouress: Thanks! What a great location for a tree! Happy holiday wishes to you and yours.

Stopping by to add my Christmas wishes Kim! Glad to see you rated Home Fire very highly - Darryl recommended that one to me and I hope to get to it in 2018.

>238 Berly: So 2017 was such that you are gonna start 2018 a few days early? Does that mean you are going to abandon this thread for the new one? I'm astonished at how many threads have been started for the 2018.

Hi Kim!

Ice. Awful. Dangerous.

Stay safe! And just think, there are 21 more novels and a multiplicity of Jack Reacher short stories out there. Joy. Rapture. Fun.

And happy Wednesday to you!

>244 souloftherose: Thanks, Heather! Definitely try to get to it in 2018. A very good read.

>245 weird_O: I am normally a good girl and wait until January, but I got so excited about my January reads (which may be beyond my capacity to actually get through) and I had the time, so I jumped the gun and started my 2018 thread.

Don't hate me. Just go to the new thread. LOL : )

>246 karenmarie: 21 more Jack Reacher novels? Seriously? That is great/bad news! I loved the first one, but what have I gotten myself into?

Hi, Kimmer! Thanks for the warm wishes. I am home but I am heading out to meet Bree and some friends for brews and eats. A favorite watering hole is closing this week. We are BUMMED!!

>249 msf59: Sorry, man. Tell Bree I say Hi! and that great minds think alike (our book to you for Christmas!). Hugs.

>250 Berly: Funny, Birding Without Borders was on my Swap Wishlist but Bree thought it just sounded perfect for me. B.A.G. She knows her Dad.

>248 Berly: You've gotten yourself into a serious amount of light reading for those times when serious stuff just doesn't cut it! Fun, occasionally thought-provoking, never a dull moment.

>252 karenmarie: Good point. Nice to have those. : )

Hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family!

Happy Holidays, Kim!

>254 ChelleBearss: Chelle!! So nice to see you here on LT. I have missed you. I hope that means the third treatment is doing the trick and soon you guys can leave the hospital and be on your way home! It gets long being away. I know your best Christmas gift was that Elissa's surgery went well. Now if you can just get home again soon and enjoy 2018. : )

>255 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe! I read that you had a great time except for the driving. Yikes!!

Glad things are calming down for you for the latter part of the holidays, Kim. Get yourself some reading time.

>257 ronincats: I have enjoyed some reading time. But as we all know, there can never be enough of it! Thanks for stopping by. : )

Happy belated Christmas greetings to you and yours, Kim and may 2018 be truly spectacular!

>260 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda!! I am all in for a spectacular 2018--same to you!

Hoping to get round the threads one more time this year, Kimmers. What better place to start.

>262 PaulCranswick: Awww! You say the nicest things. Congratulations on reaching the magic 10,000 posts. Hope you are having a wonderful time with your family. : )

Happy weekend, Kim. You're very busy to fill your upcoming challenges.

>264 Ameise1: Hi Barbrara--I am taking a break this morning to have brunch with a friend and then I have some last minute shopping to do for my daughter's birthday tomorrow (it's actually today but we are celebrating tomorrow). We are having brunch here and then she want to hang around and play games. Should be lots of fun.

Happy Saturday!!

Happy New Year, Kim.

I'll be trying this reading business anew in 2018, hoping to do better both in numbers (just...just...well, uh....a half-dozen more would be satisfying) and in being more social (getting around the threads, tipping the hat, sharing a smile). See you on the other side, my friend.

Buh-bye 2017...

Love that image!!!

Best of luck starting anew. It's great that we get to do that every year. I feel less weighed down, more hopeful.

Here's to 2018!

Hi Kim!



Peace, Health, and Happiness in 2018

Happy New Year!!! I wish both of you the very best in 2018. : ) You are the best!!

I have a new thread! Please join me over here...





https://www.librarything.com/topic/279059