Berly's Bookin' It!

I am hoping to read more of my TBR piles this year!! They are everywhere. Some you see here, some are stacked by my night table, in the study, downstairs in the bookcases, and then there is the Kindle....I know you all understand.

: )

Reading Now
Black Swan Green (294 pages) by David Mitchell, ColourCAT Challenge
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike (A) (400pages) by Phil Knight
Nickolas Nickleby (831 pages) by Charles Dickens, GR Karen

God Stalk (271 pages)by P.C. Hodgell, GR led by Roni
Jan. 6-12: Discussion of Book 1 (first four chapters, Jame’s intro to the city of Tai-Tastigon and many of the key characters)
Jan. 12-18: Book 2 (Chapters 5-8) and prior material for discussion
Jan. 18-25: Book 2 (Chapters 8-11) and prior material for discussion
Jan. 25-31: Book 3 (Chapters 12-14 and appendices if so inclined) and prior material for discussion

And by Octavia Butler, Literary Arts DELVE Seminar
Jan 9: Parable of the Sower (345 pages total) Ch 1-9
Jan 16: 10-17
Jan 23: 18-end
Jan 30: Parable of the Talents (408 pages total) Ch 1-7
Feb 6: 8-16
Feb 13: 17-end

Other January Plans
Parable of the Talents (422 pages) DELVE Seminar thru Literary Arts
Talking as Fast as I Can (209 pages) by Lauren Graham, RandomCAT Challenge
The Power (386 pages) by Naomi Alderman, RL Bookclub

AlphabetCAT Challenge V, M ???

and others...
The Best of McSweeney (625 pages) edited by Dave Eggers
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




Read in January
1. Death at La Fenice (356 pages) by Donna Leon, Two Guidos GR

Read in December / 2,391 pages / 30,9292 in 2017
101. Killing Floor #1 Jack Reacher (576 pages) by Lee Child 4.0
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

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

Longer Plans for Reading


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

RL Book Club #2
January - The Power by Naomi Alderman
February -
March -
April -
May -
June -
July -
August -
September -
October -
November -



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.)

I am hoping these challenges will help me choose books I already own.



ColorCAT Challenge
January:Black - Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
February:Brown - Barkskins Annie Proulx with Fameulstee, Ireadtherforeiam, Arubabookwoman &/or Raisin in the Sun 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 Sam Kean or Consider the Fork Wilson
September: Metallic -The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls
October:Orange -The Burning Girl Claire Messud or My Life in Orange Tim Guest
November:Red - Scarlet Marissa Meyer or Consider the Lobster DF Wallace
December:White - The Plague of Doves Erdrich or Moonglow Michael Chabon

And for color backup, Travic McGee by John D. MacDonald (thanks Joe!)



AlphaCAT Challenge

Jan: V, M - As usual, the enthusiasm of January has me creating lists for my lists! But if I can I want to do this challenge, too. So far the potentials are:

Irma Voth by Miriam Toews (double points!)
Vittorio the Vampire by Anne Rice (gotta love a double V!)
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, a SF Masterworks (okay, that is a bit of a stretch for the double, but it is on the cover) ; )

Feb : P, J -
Mar: F, I -
Apr: Y, U -
May: Q, K -
Jun: G, R -
Jul: S, A -
Aug: O, D -
Sep: B, E -
Oct: N, L -
Nov: T, H -
Dec: C, W -
Yearlong: X, Z -



RandomCAT Challenge
January - Read a Book Bullet: Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between)

And Totally Random
LTER - Start Without Me by Joshua Max Feldman
Feb - Arthur & George by Julian Barneswith Megan and Mark
March - Foucault's Pendulum (Karen)
April - The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro Paul's IAC

New Books in 2018
✔ ✔ = read

Last year I read 47 out of the 85 new books I acquired. This year I am trying to read more off my shelves. We'll see how I do!!

1)...

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

Favorites from this year:

Favorites from 2017:
Fiction
Kafka on the Shore by Murakami
The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey
This Thing of Darkness by Harry Bingham
The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse#1) by Dennis E. Taylor
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
LaRose by Louise Erdrich
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Non-Fiction
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
Radium Girls by Katie Moore
Entwined: Sisters and Secrets in the Silent World of Artist Judith Scott Joyce Wallace Scott
Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay
Dr. Mütter's Marvels by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz

Next one is yours!

Welcome back!

Thanks for getting us set up again!! You are the best! : )

Happy reading 2018, Kim. I dropped a .

>10 Ameise1: Hi, Barbara. I will gladly take a star from you!! : ) I am excited for 2018. Got my January plans all set. I have signed up for a lot, so I am going to dive into some of them. First priority is probably the Parable of the Sower since it is for a class that starts on January 9th. I am psyched for it!

>11 Berly: Wow, you're organized. I have no plans so far. Probably will have a look at my MTR pile and what's on the AAC and BAC.

Here I am. Where's my chair?

Happy new 2018 thread Kimberly my dear, I will be a regular visitor here to see what you are up to throughout the year.

My goodness, you are off and running. I love that color weave you used for the ColorurCAT challenge. I'm thinking I will go light on images this year. Ha. I'll probably be about as good at that as I will be at avoiding challenges!

Oh, and you and I will both be participating in the Nicholas Nickleby and Godstalk GRs. Yay!!

>12 Ameise1: We'll see how long I can keep it up. At least I am off to a great start. : )

>13 richardderus: It looks like you brought a chair with you!! Maybe that's just wishful thinking? But here's another one just for you.



>14 johnsimpson: Hello! I always look forward to your visits.

>15 EBT1002: The images don't slow me down; it is the making sure that the darn book titles actually match what I am reading!! LOL

And you are doing a horrible job already of avoiding challenges. Ha! I expect lots of images. : )

>16 EBT1002: Yay for Group Reads with you!

Hi Kim,
Happy new thread and I can SOOOOO relate to your topper. If I place some flowers nearby, will mine look as pretty? I also have them in several locations.....

Dropping a star...

>19 jessibud2: See?! I knew my peeps here would understand. Flowers nearby always help spruce things up. Especially fake ones that never wilt if I forget to water them. LOL. Thanks for the star.

dropping off a star to remind myself to drop by now and then. I understand your topper completely of course, but I have been working on it!

You are so organized, Kim. I am in awe. I still have to decide which challenges I will commit to for 2018 because those piles at the top of your thread look way too familiar.

Starred!

>1 Berly: You have such organised looking piles of unread books. Looking forward to following your thread.

>21 RBeffa: Aren't we all working on our piles? LOL. Thanks for the star and do drop in now and then, okay? ; )

>22 Familyhistorian: Yeah, but did you see what I have gotten myself into for January? I am never going to be able to read all that!

>23 The_Hibernator: Yay!! Great to see you out and about LT lately. I assume you got home safely. Still crazy icy here.

>24 avatiakh: All piles of books look organized if you square up the edges!! Some of the piles are organized by CAT challenges, but many of them are completely random, so don't be too impressed. I look forward to seeing you here. : )

>1 Berly: I understand! And a lot of what I love about this group is that you all understand me :)
Happy new thread and new group :):):)
I for one am excited about what bookish things will occur here.

All the best for a great year's reading, Kim. You have some great planned reading mapped out - I hope it come to fruition.

Star in place -- ready to go :)

Dropping a star!

Hi Kim! You have lots of interesting challenges - you should be able to make a bit of a dent in those piles of books :-)

>25 Berly: Ooh, ambitious! Think positive,Kim.

Look how busy you are already! And 2018 is DAYS away! Happy 2018 and good luck on Mount TBR.

Dropping off a star! See you in 2018!

Happy New Year and happy new thread! Dropping a star and wishing you luck with your reads and challenges. I'm looking forward to seeing that TBR pile shrink.

>26 LovingLit: Megan--And I am excited to see you here on my thread and in this group! 2018 is gonna be a great year.

>27 Eyejaybee: Welcome, James! Honored to have you stop by and thanks for your vote of confidence in my bookish plans. : ) Have you set up a thread yet for 2018? Are you shooting for 100 or 75 this year?

>28 RebaRelishesReading: Reba--Hi there. : ) I am wishing I was in San Diego with you right now. Still crazy icy here. Five cars in the ditch by my house this morning. I had to use four-wheel drive. Safely back home and I plan on sitting by the fire with my book.

>29 Crazymamie: Hey there, Crazy! Thanks for popping in. You are one of the people (along with Katie and Ellen) I have to thank for pulling me over to try some of the CAT challenges this year. Looking forward to reading some of my own books this year.

>30 EBT1002: Ellen--Say it, Sister!!! Glad you are starting to feel better.

>31 susanj67: Susan--That's the plan and I am sticking to it. I hope. : ) Are you doing the two Guidos group read this year? I just started January's Death at la Fenice. So far, so good.

>32 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Think positive--my mantra. See the title of my ticker counter! LOL

>33 michigantrumpet: Marianne--I don't normally start until the first of January, but I had to start a new thread and I've bitten off more than I can read, so I thought I would get a head start on both the thread and my January reading. : )

>34 SuziQoregon: Juli--I hope "see you in 2018" is both figurative AND literal!

>35 mstrust: Jennifer--There are not many times when I have wanted things to shrink. Maybe a sweater or two that wasn't available in my size. And my TBR piles!!

So, Christmas Day evening I was fortunate enough to attend a party of the front man for Pink Martini, Thomas Lauderdale. I went with my FIL and SIL and it was so much fun! He has the most eclectic house, an old multi-story store. The people were fascinating, too. Children ran around barefoot and there were City Council members, musicians, old, young. Not to mention three Steinway grand pianos, a genuine vonTrapp family singer and a three-story tree. There was much singing and great drinks. SO much fun!

I certainly like the look of those books you are before!!! Sounds like a party to remember!

Now the question is whether I should be posting here or keeping up with your final 2017 thread!

>39 LovingLit: He has the most unusual collection of books in several languages!! My kind of guy.

>40 EBT1002: I am hoping that the action shifts here. The other one is too long already!

Yes!!! BAG

>38 Berly: That looks like a fun party.

>37 Berly: Yes, you can do it! LOL

>44 Familyhistorian: It was and I can!! : )

It's not even Jan 1st yet and I'm already salivating over your booky photos and perusing your lists! *twirls ninja star expertly and flicks it at top of thread*

Ellie--Yay for ninja stars!! Great to have you back. : )

Gorgeous TBR piles!

>30 EBT1002: This.

>47 Berly: And active this, time, hopefully. No more wondering if I've fallen off the face of the Earth midway through the year! ;)

>48 libraryperilous: Hi, Diana. How awesome to see your fantastic LT name here on my own thread! BTW--Your Nancy Drew covers are hysterical.

>49 elliepotten: Agreed. No more falling off the face of the Earth. : )

>38 Berly: What a gorgeous tree! And the party looked like a hoot and a holler, too.

>37 Berly: - Yes the 'see you in 2018' is absolutely literal. I can't imagine we'll make it through the year without at least one meetup.

So, as I mentioned, I am feeling intimidated by my own January commitments (!), so I am starting several at the same time. Yesterday I cracked open:



Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower and I am on Chapter 4 (have to have read 1st 9 by January 9th for class). I can tell this one is going to be a wild ride. The main character is a 15-year-old girl who has hyperempathy syndrome. She is a preacher's daughter, but doesn't believe in God. The setting is 2024, 20 miles outside L.A., where people live in walled communities for safety.



My "Two Guido" GR Death at La Fenice (#1 Commissario Brunetti Mystery) by Donna Leon (1/4 of the way in). Unlike all the single, sexy male detectives I've read, this guy is happily married with two kids and I love him! The chatter in his head as he predicts his obnoxious boss's next move are hysterical. And it takes place in Venice, a city I have been to and adored.



For my audio book, I have just heard the intro read by than man himself, Phil Knight, creator of Nike, based here in Oregon. The rest of the book is narrated by Norbet Lee Obutz(?)



Today, I am going to continue these and give Nicholas Nickelby a try. I hope to keep on fitting in a chapter or two here and there on this one. It's a brick!!

>51 richardderus: It was a real hoot and a holler! Thomas likes all things retro, so his tree was decorated with tinsel from like the 1940s. It is made with lead in it and has to be specially disposed of. His walls are covered in artwork, from the sophisticated to hysterical framed children's drawings. Amazing food and drinks. He had a 20 foot table on the third floor brimming with food offerings (everyone brings something) and a bar equally as long on the top floor. You would have enjoyed yourself. ; )

>52 SuziQoregon: I am sure there will be a live, in-person meet-up sometime in 2018. Until then...best wishes!!

>54 Berly: Yes, I would've loved it. *sniff*

But of course I wasn't invited.

*snivel*

And it was across the width of the country.

*sniff*

How am I already 35 posts behind?!?!

Hi Kim - happy new reading year!

>55 richardderus: Sorry, luv. I had all of one hour advance warning. Barely enough time to get presentable. Not enough time for a cross-country jet. : (

>56 katiekrug: I didn't do (all of) it!!

Thanks and same to you. I just starred your PopSugarReadHarder (or whatever it is called) thread. I am slammed already for January, but if I decide I hate my challenges or get bored by them, I know where to look!

Happy reading!

>53 Berly: I quite enjoyed Death at La Fenice when I read it last year and I am a little annoyed with myself for not reading more in the series this year even though I ordered the followup from Amazon. Well, the followup in sitting on the short stack alongside my reading chair and it will get read early this year! The one you are reading was a refreshing change from typical mysteries and I can't imagine someone not liking it.

Your Christmas party adventure sounds awesome. You have way too much fun!

I got something in the mail today for which thanks are in order. I shall leave it to your discerning intelligence to determine its nature.

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

>58 RBeffa: Ron--Hi there! If you want join us, there is a group read of this series and another Italian Guido by Gianrico Carofiglio. Our 2018 thread is here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/276579

Stop by and check it out!

You can never have too much fun. ; )

>59 richardderus: Ricardo--Well, that took it's sweet time getting to you! Did I have the right address/room #? In any case, smooches back and enjoy the little something.

: )

>60 Berly: Oh yes, who knows how long it's been here. Remember me talking about other people getting very, very ill here? I budged not an inch outside until the illness all-clear got sounded, so I wouldn't even run the risk of being compromised.

Enjoy I shall!

>61 richardderus: Ah! That makes perfect sense. Good job avoiding the plague rounding your residence. ; )

>60 Berly: I had forgotten about seeing that group read. Our local libraries (14 of them in our system) have zero of the one author. Scattered around are many of the Donna Leon books but with a lot of holes in the early ones. I've been looking for the early ones in bookshops and the friends of the library sales but they are hard to come by - but I've gotten a few and the rest I will order over time if I don't find them.

I may drop in on the group read now and then.

There was apparently a German TV series made of Donna Leon's books and one library near here has the DVD's of it (in German with subtitles). I'll probably give it a try after reading a couple of the books.

>63 RBeffa: Hope to see you pop in on the Guido thread now and again! I snagged the first one through my library and haven't searched for the rest of them or the other series yet. Hmmm...should do that shouldn't I? Probably not gonna do the subtitle thing. Unless you rave about how good they are.

Dropping my star. Hope your 2018 is filled with lots of great reads!

Okay, Top Reads in 2017

Fiction
Kafka on the Shore by Murakami
The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey
This Thing of Darkness by Harry Bingham
The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse #1) by Dennis E. Taylor
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
LaRose by Louise Erdrich
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Non-Fiction
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
Radium Girls by Katie Moore
Entwined: Sisters and Secrets in the Silent World of Artist Judith Scott Joyce Wallace Scott
Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay
Dr. Mütter's Marvels by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz

>65 thornton37814: Hi, Lori!! I wish the same for you.

Oh, The Radium Girls was so heartbreaking to read but I was completely unable to put it down. It won the Goodreads Choice Award for History & Biography.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle was an excellent read, too, though so different as to be unrecognizable as the same order of object...The Girl with All the Gifts surprised me by being much better than I expected. We Are Legion is on the 2018 list.

The Girl With All the Gifts is on my maybe list for 2018 - it's ready and waiting on my shelves - so I'm glad to hear it's great! And I did enjoy We Have Always Lived in the Castle. My first Shirley Jackson, and definitely not my last!

>68 richardderus: I am not surprised it won on Goodreads. And I highly recommend We Are Legion on audio, if you do that sort of thing. If you haven't read Born A Crime, do!! It is my #1 pick from last year.

>69 elliepotten: I hope to get to the sequel of GWAtG in 2018; it's on my WL!

So......I went out to dinner with a friend, and the restaurant just happened to be next door to Annie Bloom's Books. Okay, so I made the reservations.

Walked away with Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout and Arthur & George by Julian Barnes. They were on sale. : )

Nice start, Kim!

I'm glad to see Home Fire in your list of favorite reads for 2017, as it made my top 10 list as well.

>53 Berly: I've read this Donna Leon when it first was printed. After that one I read year by year the next ones. After ten years I stopped. Enjoy it, it's a lovely mystery series.

>53 Berly: >73 Ameise1: I enjoyed the early Donna Leon novels, too, and particularly Death at La Fenice. I did find that the series lost its attraction after a while, though - perhaps I just read too many of them too closely together.

Starred! Wow! You have been busy over here, all ready! Go, Kimmers! I like that topper.

>72 kidzdoc: Hi, Darryl! So glad to see you here! Thanks. It isn't quite the new year yet, but I am sending best wishes to you for the year ahead--your parents and Pediatric recertification and staying Woke!! (Did I use that correctly?) I look forward to your many reads because you are one of the ones who helps to broaden my horizons. : )

>73 Ameise1: Barbara--That is very disciplined reading, one a year. We are alternating between this series and another Guido murder/mystery, so I will be reading 6 of them this year. It is off to a great start with Death at La Fenice.

>74 Eyejaybee: James--Hopefully, every other month will not be too close together! You and Barbara should pop in and share your thoughts on the group read thread, or at least enjoy a trip down memory lane. ; ) And, I have to ask, what is the history behind your LT name? : )

>75 msf59: Hiya, Mark! Can you tell I am ready for 2017 to be over and on to 2018? Happy to have you on board again. Those piles of books up top? I am quite sure several of them are a result of your warbling. : )

>76 Berly:. I may well do so.

Nothing particularly interesting behind my LT name - my initials are simply IJB 😀

>77 Eyejaybee: {slaps forehead} That was way too easy!! LOL

I got a new Fitbit for Christmas and finally found the time and break in the weather to go on my inaugural run/walk with it! Walk because I live in a hilly area and I haven't done squat (get it?) in the exercise category since my TKD test early December. Yay! Now I have to "run" errands so I hope to get a few more steps in. : )

I see you've added the BingoDOG card to your thread. I'm sooooo tempted by that one, too.....

>80 EBT1002: Good eye! I like putting the little dots on the Bingo card. So satisfying!! And, no, I haven't finished a CAT yet, but I was playing around with the dot colors.

And I am about 40 pages away from the big reveal on my Guido mystery. Dying to read it but I am holding out until January, as in 12:01am January 1st!! LOL.

12:01am in whose time zone? Australia's, New Zealand's, India's?

>82 richardderus: Middle East ;-)

I love it. I have this image of you with toothpicks in your eyes, keeping yourself awake until midnight so you can read the last chapter. Or, if you can accurately estimate how long that last chapter will take, you can start earlier! If it's a 12-minute chapter, you can start reading it at 11:49pm on December 31!

Hi, Kim! Better wish you a happy new year now, before you are on to a second thread.


(sunrise at Newgrange, Ireland)

>82 richardderus: Good point. Well, at the minimum I can at least use Eastern Pacific Time, since that is what all my time posts are on LT anyways. So, that means I can finish it at 9:01pm my time. Thanks, Richard!!

>83 Ameise1: Or I could just go with that. LOL

>84 EBT1002: Oh! You guys are just full of great tips! Instead of starting the last chapter at 9:01, I can just be on the last page. Perfect.

>85 majleavy: All right, all right. I should have just made another last thread for 2017, but I was so excited about my January reads!!

Great photo. Someday I would love to go to Ireland.

>86 Berly: For sure go, if the opportunity ever arises - gorgeous country. I've been, but never really got out of the Dublin area - cooped up in the National Library or Bewley's Cafe most of the time.

>87 majleavy: My daughter did a college semester in Dublin and I would love to go with her as my tour guide someday. I will try check out your two favorite haunts, and I will be sure to venture a little further abroad as well. ; )

Wow, this thread is so busy already! Good luck with all your challenges this year.

>71 Berly: Walked away with Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout and Arthur & George by Julian Barnes
Yes! I can vouch for one, and would be keen to read the other (seeing as I have it on my shelf).

>89 charl08: Says the woman who has already enticed me with the title Frankenstein in Baghdad!! I made some suggested reading times on your thread. ; )

>90 LovingLit: I would love to read one of those with you! Which one is sitting on your shelf?

>90 LovingLit: uh oh, now I am afraid of having to commit (*aargh! Fear of commitment!!*)
I have Julian Barnes on my shelf....shall we? I know I ought.... (subtext: go on, make me)

Happy New Year, Kim! I look forward to chiseling books off my TBR with you :0)

>92 LovingLit: We ought. Definitely. In fact, we will! Question is when. Shall we go on a date with Arthur & George in February? : )

>93 Carmenere: Yay! I look forward to it. Now where did I put that chisel....

Nope. Not looking at the BingoDog card.

>95 SuziQoregon: But it is so cute! And it has a dog picture. And it's fun to put the little dots on....

: )

>53 Berly: I've read the first two Donna Leon mysteries. I own quite a few of the others in pb. Not sure why I don't seem to pick them up but maybe this'll be the year for it.

I'm also hoping to get through Nicholas Nickleby in small portions. It'll take awhile. I'm still on the preface. I managed to get through Bleak House in small increments in 2014 and so it's time to tackle another long Dickens novel, I think.

>97 lindapanzo: Hi Linda! Well, you should star the thread (nor sure it is up yet) and then join us when we catch up to you! We are reading another Guido in-between the Donna Leon series.

As for Nicholas Nickelby, I am tryout to read a little every day. I already blew it because I didn't get to it today. Whoops! But I am going to just keep going and I might not finish it in January. We'll see.

Hope you are feeling better and better!

Hi Kim, Just stopping by to wish you and the family a Very Happy New Year my dear and hope that 2018 is a really good one. Sending love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

>100 Berly: John--Thank you so much. I send the same wonderful wishes for a Happy New Year to you and Karen. I look forward to seeing you knock over the tomes this year!

>100 Berly:, What, by being clumsy rather than reading them, lol.

We are celebrating my oldest's birthday today. I am making brunch: quiche, fruit salad, hash browns, pancakes and sausage. After we are all stuffed she wants to play some games. Just immediate family and her boyfriend. Should be fun!

Happy birthday to your oldest my dear and enjoy brunch, making my mouth water here.

>101 johnsimpson: LOL! You are fast and funny. NO. You know that was not what I meant. : P

>103 johnsimpson: Napkin....

I am looking forward to bashing the Big ones and getting to 75 and I will get a napkin out of the cupboard if you insist. Love and hugs dear lady.

Let me help. Here you go...

>107 Berly:, Thank you kindly my dear.

Happy New Year! I wish you to read many good books in 2018.

Happy reading in 2018, Kim!

>4 Berly: I am going to read Barkskins with Megan (@Ireadthereforeiam) in the first quarter. If you have planned it for February, I am sure we can go along with that month.

Happy new year, Kim! This year I will try to keep up with you... but you are already setting a cracking pace!

So nice to see your piles of books. I enjoy the Donna Leon series - have read about 12 of them.

Happy Sunday, Kim. Ooh, I would be up for Arthur & George. I have been wanting to read that one forever.

I hope you have a nice New Year's Eve planned.

Happy new year, Kim. I love your thread topper because it looks like a very much neater version of my book piles in the house. Starred you.

Happy New Year, Kim. Your thread is already moving much to fast for me! I'll stop in when I can.

view from Zürich's landmark mountain Üetliberg

Happy New Year, Kim! I've got an hour and a half to go here, but I'm already yawning. Still, no point going to bed with every firework in the county about to go off, right? Sooooo, I thought I'd use my last few minutes of 2017 well and come wish all my favourite people a healthy, happy and hopeful 2018! See you on the other side of midnight!

Dropping off a
And wishing you

Yay, Happy New Year, Kim. We finally caught up with the rest of the world. They just started setting off the fireworks!

Happy New Year
Happy New Group here
This place is full of friends
I hope it never ends
It brew of erudition and good cheer.

^Hugs to Kimmers & family! Let's have another stellar year of reading!

How can I be this far behind on a thread already? Lol

Happy New Year, Kim! I won't even pretend I've read everything go you got up to here in 2018 while I was still living in 2017. I'll just draw a line here and try to keep up going forward.

Happy new year, Kim! My goodness, you have been busy in RL and on this thread :-)

>31 susanj67: I'm not signed up for that one - I probably have enough to be getting on with :-)

A picture from a warmer day and a reminder that winter is great for reading and spring will come!

>1 Berly: I certainly do understand about a house stacked with books throughout. I fear though that my obsession has reached a tipping point. I hope to read books that I own and cut way back on those I accumulate.

All good wishes to you my friend. Let's hope for good health!

Happy New Year and Happy New Thread, Kim!

I love the book stacks at the top. I've got to trim mine down, too, this year. Here's to a year of great reading!

>109 The_Hibernator: I love that little guy! Cheers to 2018.

>110 FAMeulstee: Oh, I would love to read that with you guys! I have it in February because I figure bark is kinda brownish and that's the color challenge for that month. I added your names to the list up top so it's official!! Let's do it.

>111 cushlareads: I'd love to see you here as often as you can make it. No worries if you skim the posts a little bit. ; )

>112 msf59: Arthur & George in February! Now we are a threesome. You, me and Megan!! Added to my Random list up top.

>113 cameling: I have to admit that is one of my neater piles. : ) Looking forward to your travel, food and book adventures this year!

>114 ffortsa: My thread is moving too fast for me!! LOL. It will slow down after all the new year hoopla. I hope to see you as often as you are willing.

>115 mstrust: Cheers! Hope 2018 is simply fantastic.

>116 Ameise1: Happy New Year! And thank you again for all your wonderful photos on my thread.

>117 elliepotten: It's the other side of midnight! Hope you got some shut eye. So glad you have the time to be back here. You always make me laugh. : )

>118 ronincats: A star AND a book! Whoohoo! Here's to lots of both in 2018.

>119 Familyhistorian: It feels good to be caught up, doesn't it? I wish it wasn't such a fleeting thing! Happy New Year.

>120 PaulCranswick: There's my guy, starting the year off with poetry. I am sure I will see lots of you in 2018. Hope it is an easier one for both of us!

>129 Berly: I found two more to join our group read of Barkskins, I will drop a note when I put up the thread.

>121 Carmenere: I love that! 365 happy days. I will work to make that my reality. All my friends here help. Wishing the same for you!

>122 msf59: My favorite warbler! As usual, I am sure I will steal a couple of your book ideas. Hope we have another fabulous year of reading!!

>123 nittnut: Who said anything about reading goals being reasonable? Ha! Have you seen my lists up above? And this is supposed to be a more spontaneous year of reading. Where did I go wrong? LOL. Seriously, I vow to read only what I want and if I miss a month on a challenge...oops! : )

>124 rosalita: Moving forward is the best way to go! Wishing you a wonderful 2018. And love that you are here.

>125 susanj67: Yeah, I am ready for a few days of boring. LOL. Today should be a good one. I plan to catch up here and READ!! Happy New Year. : )

>126 witchyrichy: Hi there! Great to see you here. Thanks for the visit. And thanks also for the spring reminder. Wishing you a wonderful 2018.

>127 Whisper1: Amen to the good health wishes! And to reading our already-owned books. I hope 2018 is a great year for both of us. No more pain!

>128 jnwelch: Happy New Year! May 2018 be happy, healthy and filled with great books.

I hope I didn't miss anyone. Best wishes to all my friends here for a wonderful

>133 FAMeulstee: Excellent! Thank you. : )

Here's to good books, good conversation and good friends!

>97 lindapanzo: Nope

>139 SuziQoregon: Exactly!! Happy 2018.

Happy New Year, Kim! Wishing you great reading in 2018!

>141 tymfos: Thanks, Terri! Where is your thread going to be this year? I don't see you in the 75ers yet...did I miss you? Happy 2018!!

>142 Berly: I'm here:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/279803
Just put the thread up today.

Thanks...coming right over!!

I have not read a page of a book yet...just trying to find everyone's new thread in 2018!! And I went for a walk.

Last night we assembled a present my Dad gave to my Hubby for Christmas. It is a remote controlled helium-filled shark. LOL Everyone wanted a turn flying it! The test was to see if you could get it to go over the walkway, turn it around and then come back under the walkway.

>145 Berly: I love those things! Such fun.

>145 Berly: That looks like fun!

>146 richardderus: >147 rosalita: Tons of fun! Except the darn thing keeps moving around the house because of the regular air currents and it shows up in unexpected places and scares the *#$^ out of me!! LOL

>145 Berly: That’s awesome

Okay! I am 1 for 1. 1 book in 1 day! Well, I actually started it in December. Along with about 4 other books.

Death at La Fenice (356 pages) by Donna Leon for the Two Guidos GR hosted by Roni.



"Death at La Fenice is the first novel in Donna Leon's internationally best-selling Commissario Guido Brunetti series. During intermission at the famed La Fenice opera house in Venice, a notoriously difficult conductor is poisoned, and suspects abound. Brunetti, a native Venetian, sets out to unravel the mystery behind the high-profile murder. To do so, he he calls on his knowledge of Venice, its culture, and its dirty politics. Revenge, corruption, and even Italian cuisine play a role. The novel that started it all, Death at La Fenice is an entrancing mystery, rich in atmosphere."

I really enjoyed this Murder Mystery. The setting is awesome -- I have been to Venice and could picture some of the places described. And our detective, Guido, is a likable, imperfect guy, who is married no less...with kids! I didn't see the complete solution although I had my suspicions. Works for me! 3.5

>94 Berly: Shall we go on a date with Arthur & George in February?
Or how about sooner? I have my NF sewn up for Jan, and could use a fiction as a sidebar. How about January sometime?

>145 Berly: you have the perfectly designed house to fly that thing in!! Looks like fun.

>145 Berly: Looks funny but we never could have such a thing. My elder daughter is since she was a baby afraid of such balloons.

>150 Berly: Glad to hear that you enjoyed it.

>145 Berly: Ha! I love it! So funny that it keeps floating around and scaring you - I can totally see that happening to me, too.

Happy new year, Twin. Your pile of books looks very neat. Good luck reducing it in 2018. I'll see you in June!

Another Donna Leon fan! I love those books and just read one while I was in St. Croix -- still rubbing it in, Twin! Twin minds think alike.

Are you going to continue with one book a day through the year? That should help you get through some of those piles.

A helium-filled shark? Hilarious. Who won?

*Must have helium filled shark*

Literary Hub's The Best Books of 2017 (as determined by overlap of 32 sources)
Have it! Must read.
Read it!

On 22 lists
Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders

On 19 lists
Exit West, Mohsin Hamid
Sing, Unburied, Sing, Jesmyn Ward

On 14 lists
Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann

On 13 lists
Pachinko, Min Jin Lee
Priestdaddy, Patricia Lockwood
Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng

On 12 lists
Hunger, Roxane Gay
Her Body and Other Parties, Carmen Maria Machado

On 9 lists
We Were Eight Years in Power, Ta-Nehisi Coates
Sour Heart, Jenny Zhang

On 8 lists
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me, Sherman Alexie

On 7 lists
The Power, Naomi Alderman
Manhattan Beach, Jennifer Egan
The Future is History, Masha Gessen
The Leavers, Lisa Ko
White Tears, Hari Kunzru
The Answers, Catherine Lacey
The Rules Do Not Apply, Ariel Levy
Home Fire, Kamila Shamsie
Borne, Jeff VanderMeer

On 6 lists
Stay With Me, Ayobami Adebayo
The Idiot, Elif Batuman
What We Lose, Zinzi Clemmons
What Happened, Hillary Clinton
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, Samantha Irby
The Changeling, Victor LaValle

On 5 lists
American War, Omar El Akkad
All Grown Up, Jami Attenberg
Grant, Ron Chernow
Sunshine State, Sarah Gerard
Goodbye Vitamin, Rachel Khong
The Burning Girl, Claire Messud
Made for Love, Alissa Nutting
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, Arundhati Roy
The Blood of Emmett Till, Timothy B. Tyson
They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib

On 4 lists
What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky, Lesley Nneka Arimah
The Best We Could Do, Thi Bui
Marlena, Julie Buntin
Ill Will, Dan Chaon
The Dark Dark: Stories, Samantha Hunt
One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, Scaachi Koul
Forest Dark, Nicole Krauss
The Ninth Hour, Alice McDermott
Homesick for Another World, Ottessa Moshfegh
New People, Danzy Senna
Bunk, Kevin Young

On 3 lists
Future Home of the Living God, Louise Erdrich
So Much Blue, Percival Everett
Electric Arches, Eve L. Ewing
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Emil Ferris
World Without Mind, Franklin Foer
Stephen Florida, Gabe Habash
American Fire, Monica Hesse
The Dawn Watch, Maya Jasanoff
The Refugees, Viet Thanh Nguyen
Mrs. Fletcher, Tom Perrotta
After the Eclipse, Sarah Perry
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Conversations With Friends, Sally Rooney
The Golden House, Salman Rushdie
Autumn, Ali Smith
Don’t Call Us Dead, Danez Smith
The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
The Book of Joan, Lidia Yuknavitch

and a few from the end of the list

The Doll’s Alphabet, Camilla Grudova
The Grip of It, Jac Jemc
The Lost City of the Monkey God, Douglas Preston

"...it shows up in unexpected places and scares the *#$^ out of me!" Oh dear! Too funny, Kim!

>145 Berly: - You guys need to lighten up a bit in your house.....;-)

Too funny.

>156 Berly: Cool list - off to see how many I've read...

Happy Monday cleverly disguised as Tuesday Kim.

>156 Berly: Interesting list

Hi Berly! Happy New Year - reading your thread has made me miss you (and dodge some BBs), and I hope to keep up better this year.

Why not sail that shark past a neighbor's second story window?

OMG that looks like a perfect present for my grandson -- he has a birthday next month -- must try to find one

What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky, Lesley Nneka Arimah

A MUST READ. Must. Must!! I gave it 5 stars.

Also adored Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann but suspect you might find it a trifle on the "...and...?" side as it's neither a microhistory nor a narrative reconstruction of the crimes.

Hi Kim, your thread is racing along my dear and I think you will be setting thread No 2 up by the beginning of next week. I need to pop along regularly to keep up with what you are up to dear friend.

>149 SuziQoregon: It was/is so much fun! Totally silly.

>151 LovingLit: My January is overbooked. : ( Nicholas Nickelby is a tome. If you can't wait I understand, but the Arthur & George date works better in February for me.

I shot a video of it swimming around and I let out a scream (on purpose) as it was just about to get me. My Dad thought it was hysterical.

>152 Ameise1: Well the, you definitely should not have this kind of balloon in your house! Especially not a shark.

I am very happy to start this new Donna Leon series. I hope the other Guido is as good in February!

>153 scaifea: I never knew there were so many subtle air currents in my house! Sharkie keeps winding up everywhere! LOL

>154 BLBera: Hi Twin! I have my work cut out for me, trying to reduce the book piles. Don't we all!

It will be great to see you in June. : )

Another Guido fan! How many have you read?

A book a day is NOT going to happen. Unless I quit my job. Which is NOT going to happen. : )

Hubby won the shark challenge. Course he also spent the most time playing with it, so he had the advantage. I may ask for a rematch.

>155 drneutron: B.A.G.

>157 Crazymamie: Right? I am not the only one who has been surprised. LOL. Such a crazy gift.

>158 jessibud2: Are we too serious for you? I will try to fix that. Right away!

>159 BLBera: How many have you read and more importantly do you want to read any of the ones I already have on my must-read-this-year list? The Bold ones!)

: )

>160 SuziQoregon: Happy Monday Tuesday!

>161 LauraBrook: I'm glad I did a good enough job on the thread that I made you miss me. Now you know you really should stop by more often! : )

>162 mstrust: Just as soon as it gets a little warmer outside so I don't have to suffer during the evil deed. Bwa ha ha!!

Hi Kim and happy New Year. I've got you starred now. Exactly how many challenges are you participating in? Haha. Plus two books clubs? You should be whittling down those piles of books in no time. I see you're reading Black Swan Green, a book I loved, loved, loved a few years ago. I'm going to try to keep up but don't have high hopes.

>163 RebaRelishesReading: Anytime I can help with ideas, just let me know. ; ) He'd be a very happy kid.

>164 richardderus: Thanks for the further endorsements! I totally trust your judgment.

>165 johnsimpson: What can I say? Stuff happens and I just want to share! ; )

Hope I got everyone. Let me know if I missed.

You missed me lol

>170 brenzi: Bonnie is back!! Yay! So great to see you here. Made my day.

I am trying to participate in challenges that don't require me to go out and buy new books, but let me use ones off the shelf. The ColourCAT, AlphaCAT and RandomCAT should help, but the two RL bookclubs and the Guidos don't. LOL. And if something doesn't appeal I am not going to be a completist this year. I want to read for FUN!

Just pop in when you can and remember that there are always lots of posts in the beginning of the year and then it calms down a little.

Big hugs.

>172 brenzi: Nope. I was just busy typing! : )

I've read 12. The Gay and Machado are on my list. I'm reading The Power right now. Touchstones must not be working.

Hi Kim--Thanks for keeping my 2017 thread warm while I was doing my marathon completion of all my 2017 reviews--125. I've started my 2018 thread now.

I have Barkskins on my Kindle, having bought it on a Kindle Daily Deal or something, so I would be amenable to joining in a group read in February, or some other time.

Best wishes for the New Year to you and your family!

Happy new year! Wishing you an awesome year of reading in 2018!

>175 BLBera: Twin--Impressive! You've read double what I have. I haven't started The Power yet but it is for my RL bookclub later this month. Then we can chat about it.

>176 arubabookwoman: Deborah--Anytime; it was my pleasure. And Barkskins in February!!

Thanks for the new year wishes and same to you.

>177 banjo123: Rhonda--I wish you many books and lots of time to read them!

>166 Berly: Nicholas Nicely sure is a tome! I see your point :)
I am engaging Arthur and George, and have it cocked and ready on my bedside table for Feb.

I'm so behind on this thread, but a belated Happy New Year!

Thanks for posting the LitHub list of books on everyone's best-of lists. I lose hours every year reading the best books of the year posts Largehearted Boy collates.

>156 Berly: I think the LitHub list is one of the better lists I've seen.
>145 Berly: The shark! What a great gift but I can see where it could take a bite out of your reading time.
I've read a few books from the Commissario Guido Brunetti series and I also love the setting. I fear I've read them out of order, just a bit, and still find them all enjoyable.

>150 Berly: When you all get to about the fourth book in that series, I'll join in for a book or two. :-)

>156 Berly: Oh, that IS a good list. I may copy and do the same thing you did with bold and strikethrough....
when I get a freaking moment. As always happens in early January, the threads are taking off and I am already so overwhelmed that I'm ignoring my own thread. It's a weird coping mechanism but it's what I have.

Warm Wednesday Wishes, Berly-boo!
or
Warm-Wednesday Wishes
or
Wednesday Warm Wishes
or...

>173 Berly: It sounds like we both have similar goals: clean off the shelves and have fun while doing so!

We held a conference at the big old hotel in Roanoke, VA, over the holidays. It is beautifully decorated with trees donated by the community everywhere. One of the sponsors brought a shark to fly around. All I could imagine was a tree hitting the ground! We did make the drone operators go outside.

I love Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti series. I don't read the series in order but they all seem to do well as standalones. My challenge is that because I read them out of order and have read quite a few of them, sometimes when I'm at the library or bookstore, I can't remember if I've read one of them or not, and have to skim the first few pages to see if it's familiar. I've also ended up re-reading a couple .... not that I've minded. Having been to Venice as well, I too am able to visualize the city as she describes Brunetti's jaunts and of course .. the food! oh the food!

>179 LovingLit: Yay! Thanks for delaying the Barkskins until Feb. It will be fun to read again with you. It's been a while!

>180 libraryperilous: OMG! That is some list! If I am ever stumped for ideas....

>181 Carmenere: I thought it was a good list, too. Glad you liked it. Aha ha! about the shark taking a "bite" out of my reading time.

You are not the first to say they have read the Guido series out of order and it still worked for them. So that means people can just plunge right in whenever the mood strikes.

>182 EBT1002: Awesome! Then I am assured of more joint reads with you this year. : )

>183 EBT1002: LOL. Hey whatever coping mechanism works for you! I just need to take some vacation days in order to keep up with everyone's thread. Like Mamie's!

Hope you are feeling better?!

>184 richardderus: Man, I could use those warm wishes. Its is cold (for here)! Sending warm thoughts your way, too. And a smooch.

Kim, how can I be so far behind so soon! I'm skipping to the bottom to say Happy New Year and also how overwhelmed I am by your lists of TBRs and challenges.

Wishing you a wonderful year of happy reading!

>185 witchyrichy: Hello! Well, I could certainly see how the shark might be a menace inside. All the trees sound absolutely lovely, but it wouldn't be good to knock them over. What was the conference for?

Here's wishing both of us luck with the reading this year!

>186 cameling: I am sure the Donna Leon series is fine even if you haven't been to Venice, but it is definitely so much more fun knowing some of the places referenced. And why am I not surprised you would get all excited about the food? ; ) Well, if you are not sure you have read one of ours this year, or you don't mind a re-read, join us, okay?

>189 Oregonreader: Hi and Happy New Year!! The point of the challenges is to get me to read OFF MY SHELF and I will be inclined to skip if I don't own it or can't get it from my library. And, above all else, I want to be having fun with my books! Less guilt, more fun. Yup. That's my 2018 reading motto.

Happy Wednesday, Kimmers. I am listening to an excellent NF book, called The Fact of a Body, but boy, is it dark and disturbing. Yikes.

I will have to balance it with something lighter on the print book front. Glad to see such interest in Barkskins. I have it in print and on audio.

>192 msf59: I am listening to Phil Knight's autobiography. An hour in and I am liking it very much. He is really a very eloquent guy!

I look forward to Barkskins with you and the gang in February. ;)

Venice made my mold allergies go MAD. What I could see was gorgeous, of course, but man-o-mighty was I clogged and miserable.

I read the Brunettis until I got to Acqua Alta and then forgot about them. I don't know why they just...slipped my mind.

>194 richardderus: Yes, I do remember the mold. Luckily, I went in summer, so it was on it's best behavior. Talk about sweltering though!!

So I expect you can join us then for Acqua Alta this fall. : )

Busy place, this thread. *grin* I might be able to keep up, by June. Lol

Oh, Kim, did you see Obama's best of 2017 list?

The Power by Naomi Alderman
Grant by Ron Chernow
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
Janesville: An American Story by Amy Goldstein
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Five-Carat Soul by James McBride
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
Dying: A Memoir by Cory Taylor
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
*Bonus for hoops fans: Coach Wooden and Me by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Basketball (and Other Things) by Shea Serrano

I did!!

I am hoping to get to at least these this year:

The Power by Naomi Alderman -- Jan
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond -- Feb
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

How about you?

>196 nittnut: Just pop in when you can -- I love when you show up!

>198 Berly: Well, I have read A Gentleman in Moscow---which is so enjoyable--and Evicted. I definitely want to read Anything is Possible and Sing, Unburied Sing this year.

>200 banjo123: Here's to both our plans!!

>197 banjo123: Oh for the good old days when we had a President who could read.

Hi Twin.

Hi Kim. Just swinging by to wish you a belated Happy New Year! Love the shark :0) Hmmm; that’s the school mascot. Maybe we should get one....

Morning, Kim! Happy 2018!

>202 BLBera: Isn't that the truth - the days when the USA had a President that was able to read. Sigh! Trumps twitter storms. ARGh.

>202 BLBera:, >204 vancouverdeb: - or one who was more articulate and intelligent than "my button is bigger than your button" behaviour. Sheesh

I want to get to Evicted this year, too.

Hi Kim!

Line in the snow! (We got up to 4.5" here in central NC)

I looked at your thread before the new year but didn't star it, then somehow missed you. Sorry!

Happy new thread, happy new year.

A Gentleman in Moscow was one of my few 5-star reads of 2017. I heartily recommend it.

Onward N2!

>195 Berly: I will do my best to remember.

Morning, Kim! Sweet Thursday!

Happy Thursday Morning to you, Kim!

I'm reading The Power - interesting so far. I'll have to get my Butler out as well.

Morning Kim! Sweet Thursday, as Mark would say!

>190 Berly: Our conference is the Virginia State Educational Technology Conference: mostly teachers and principals talking about how to use digital technologies to teach and learn.

I must have missed something on your thread ... are you doing a Donna Leon group read? Count me in .. even if I've already read it, I'm happy to re-read. Which one of her books are you planning to read and which month is this group read to take place, please?

>214 cameling: Here's the Group Read, Caro: http://www.librarything.com/topic/280103

>202 BLBera: Ain't that right!

>203 humouress: I saw this post somewhere else and I liked it a lot! Glad to have it on mine, too. ;)

>204 vancouverdeb: Happy 2018! The less said about twitter and him the better. Grrr.

>205 jessibud2: Nothing like starting a nuclear war over who has the bigger button. Yeesh! Grow up.

>206 The_Hibernator: I think Evicted is one of the planned reads for my RL bookclub but the secretary hasn't sent out the list yet and I can't remember. I'll try to let you know when I find out.

>207 karenmarie: I can't believe how many places got snow that usually don't! Crazy! I am glad you found me again. : ) On chapter 4 for N2!

>208 richardderus: Great! And I will try to remember to remind you. I think we stand a 10% chance. LOL

>209 Crazymamie: Hi Crazy!! Happy Thursday.

>215 richardderus: Thanks for the link, Rdear. I just took a peek ... I am absolutely IN with this group read. I love both authors and haven't read as many Carogilio as I have Leon, so I'm ecstatic that this will be my nudge to improve my acquaintance with Guido Guerrieri. *does happy dance*

Hope you are having a wonderful start to your new year!

>211 BLBera: And Good Evening to you!!

>212 EBT1002: And another greeting for you!

>213 witchyrichy: Cool! I am learning all sorts of things about you. What is your particular focus and role in education?

>214 cameling: >215 richardderus: Man, I am so far behind on my own thread! Richard is even answering for me!! (LOL and thank you.) I also have the books listed in >3 Berly:. Hope you both can join us!

>218 cameling: Yay!! She's in!!

>219 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! Pretty good so far. I know your year is off to a great start! So glad you are all home and under the same roof. See happy dance up above ^^. : )

Well, this month's reading is not my usual. Three of the books I am reading are for group reads and each week dictates how many pages we are discussing. I have not read this way in a long time and am finding it difficult to not only stop but then switch plots. At least my audio is unlimited!

>197 banjo123:



^Is that a killer list or what? God, I miss that man. I wonder what Trump's Best of the Year list looks like? Of course it would blow Obama's out of the water.

I want to get a hold of The Power!!

I should be starting The Power next week...!

edited to add a thank you for the Batman image. : )

Oh, good for you! Obama sure would have made a great 75er, eh? He has impeccable taste in books. Evicted, Anything Is Possible & A Gentleman?
Swoons...

>224 msf59:, >227 msf59: - I got the funniest email from a friend today. I wish I could post pictures to my thread. It relates to the current presidency. Maybe I can get someone to post it on my thread for me. Stay tuned

>216 Berly: Thanks Kim. I was looking for a bookish ‘Happy New Year’ greeting and when I found this, it sounded like a really nice way to start the year (however belatedly) and it resonates with me, too.

>228 jessibud2: Are you having trouble with your quote marks (especially if you’re trying to post pictures on an iPad)? Have a look at the How to do Cool Things on Your Thread thread, down at the bottom.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/129158#6310589

>229 humouress: - No, there is just something with my computer that is not compatible with the instructions on how to post pictures inside a thread post. I can upload pics to my gallery with no problem but not to my thread. Madeline (SqueakyChu) was visiting me last summer and she is much more tech savvy than I am and she tried and wasn't able to get it to work, either. So really, it isn't just me, it's some glitch with the computer. Not a big deal. I have already emailed her and asked her to post it to my thread (I sent her the cartoon via email).

>223 Berly: No need to stop on God Stalk, Kim! Just limiting open discussion to avoid spoilers for slower readers--you can still make any comments you want with the "spoiler" feature. Or just keep notes to bring out in the appropriate time period.

Hi, Kim. Dropping a star.



I'm so far behind...

>53 Berly: I've had Death at La Fenice and Parable of the Sower on my list for a couple of years, but don't seem to get around to them. Maybe this year... Reading these posts makes me want to join in the Guido's group read too.

>112 msf59: >151 LovingLit: I'd like to read Arthur & George as a group read as well, but with 2 GRs already in January, I pump for February.

All caught up here. Happy Friday, Kim!

>227 msf59: Obama would make a great 75er!

>228 jessibud2: I hope you figure out how to post it! Maybe you should call a tech guy and have them help you figure out how to do it. I know your computer has been non-cooperative for a long time.

>229 humouress: I think there is no time limit on good wishes.

Thanks for the happy dance! Chloe's dance moves resemble Elaine quite often!

Happy Friday Kim!

Nice to see Obama's best of 2017 list. Several of those are on my radar already..

>230 jessibud2: Excellent. I will pop on over to see this cartoon.

>231 ronincats: Phew! Because I decided I can't have three books being read this slowly. It's killin' me! LOL. I am just going to read my class books that way.

PS--Enjoying Godstalk, obviously!

>232 rretzler: Join the Guido Group!! Especially since you already have the books. It would be fun to have you along. And Arthur and George in February.

>233 Crazymamie: Happy Friday, Crazy!!

>234 Berly:, >237 Berly: - Well, I discovered there is also the matter of *copyright*. So, here it is in the non-visual form. Use your mind's eye to get the image:

A classic cartoon image of Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, seen from the back, as they walk together down a path. Text above their heads: "Is trump still president?" asked Piglet. "Yes," replied Pooh.
Text at the bottom of the cartoon: :F**k," said Piglet.

;-p
Indeed

>238 jessibud2: Here it is:

>235 ChelleBearss: You are welcome. Much deserved. I hope you have captured her happy dance on video. LOL

>236 SuziQoregon: It is a great list, isn't it? I enjoyed many of the Obama reads from last year and I have a few of these on my TBR list this year. I like his book tastes!

>238 jessibud2: >239 richardderus: Indeed. Out of Piglet's mouth, swearing actually has an impact.

HI Kim!

I've read 8 chapters of NN.....

>238 jessibud2:/>239 richardderus: I love it!

After all my boring household chores, N2 it is!!

Waving from the frozen tundra of the Northeast!