MickyFine's 2018 Reading Adventures, Part the First

I'm Micky, 31, librarian and general reading nerd. I'm a collections librarian for the public library system in Edmonton and as a result I read a solid chunk of non-fiction as I select it for work every day. The rest of my reading is a wide mix of genres but there's usually a healthy dose of romance, fantasy, YA, and historical fiction in the mix. In addition to books, I'm likely to discuss life events (sometimes featuring The Boyfriend The Fiancé), whatever I'm watching on TV, and my cat, Smee. Posters and lurkers alike are welcome.

January
1. Turtles All the Way Down - John Green
2. Kingdom Come - Mark Waid & Alex Cross
3. Down Among the Sticks and Bones - Seanan McGuire
4. Once Upon a Christmas Eve - Elizabeth Hoyt
5. The Trouble with Dukes - Grace Burrowes
6. Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor
7. Dunbar - Edward St. Aubyn
8. Dear Fahrenheit 451 - Annie Spence
9. Kill Shakespeare Volume 5: Past is Prologue: Juliet - Conor McCreery
10. The Miller's Dance - Winston Graham
11. The Vicar's Daughter - Josi S. Kilplack
12. Doctor Who: The Lost Dimension Vol. 1 - George Mann et. al.
13. Sandman: The Doll's House - Neil Gaiman
14. This Savage Song - Victoria Schwab
Favourite read(s):

February
15. Too Scot to Handle - Grace Burrowes
Favourite read(s):

March
Favourite read(s):

My rating system:

/ = Ran screaming in the other direction (aka did not finish)
* = Suffered through it for reasons I'm still not sure of
** = Had far more flaws than virtues
*** = A read I don't regret but could use some improvement
**** = A good, solid read that I might revisit
***** = Loved it beyond reason and will probably re-read in short order

My reading challenges for this year (besides reading at least 75 books):

1. Read one comic/graphic novel assigned by The Boyfriend The Fiancé every month.
Success rate: 1/1

2. Read one book off my own shelves every month.
Success rate: 1/1

And for your general enjoyment, the book meme completed with last year's reading list:

Describe yourself: Worth the Wait

Describe how you feel: Heart on the Line

Describe where you currently live: Across the Floor

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Little Shop of Happy Ever After

Your favorite form of transportation: The Gap of Time

Your best friend is: Fanning the Flames

You and your friends are: Rejected Princesses

What’s the weather like: In the Bleak Midwinter

You fear: Just One Damned Thing After Another

What is the best advice you have to give: Beware the Kitten Holy

Thought for the day: Any Duchess Will Do

How I would like to die: A Perilous Undertaking

My soul’s present condition: A Conjuring of Light

Well hello have a *

Hello! Dropping off my star. Happy New Year!

Welcome back!

Found you! Happy new reading year :)

Any NYE plans with The Boyfriend?

I myself am NOT a NYE kind of girl. I did the Times Square thing when I was a teenager and it forever ruined the evening for me - ha!

Welcome to 2018, Micky!

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

Happy reading in 2018, Micky!

Happy New Year Thread, Micky. Looking forward to another year of books and book gab, with my fellow "general reading nerds"!

Keep warm & cozy!

Happy New Year🎉

Happy new year, Micky. Starred you so I don't lose you in the madness once the group here gets going.

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.

Happy New Year Micky! Good luck with your reading in 2018!

Happy new year and happy reading! Borrowing your end-of-year meme!

>5 BBGirl55: Thanks, Bryony!

>6 archerygirl: Nice to see you, Kathy!

>7 drneutron: Thanks, Jim! Thanks as always for coordinating the set up of the new group!

>8 katiekrug: Hi Katie! The Boyfriend and I spent NYE at my brother's place (my brother, his wife, and their two kids live on a farm about an hour from where I live) with a bunch of friends. We did our own fireworks at around 8 p.m. so the littles could see them and then spent the evening playing board games (and then stayed overnight to avoid the drive back into town). I have to admit, it's fun having someone to kiss at midnight. :)

>9 swynn: Thank you, Steve!

>10 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel! Same to you!

>11 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

>12 msf59: Hiya Mark! Thankfully we finally had a break in our cold snap. It's now a balmy -5C (23F). Huzzah!

>13 BBGirl55: Happy New Year to you as well, Bryony!

>14 cameling: Thank you kindly. I'll have to track down your thread as well.

>15 PaulCranswick: Thank you, sir Paul.

>16 rosylibrarian: Same to you, Marie!

>17 Kassilem: Thanks, Melissa!

>18 jennyifer24: Feel free to borrow. There's a bunch of us around here who use it every year. :)

Book 1



Turtles All the Way Down - John Green

I'm going to skip blurbing this one because there are probably hundreds of summaries out there by now. What I will say is that this novel is a beautiful exploration of mental health, friendship, and what makes us a person. As one would expect of John Green, there is some absolutely gorgeous sentences and ideas smattered throughout the novel. It also has some truly funny moments. The discussion of dick pics as a response to a fanfiction story cracked me up. Highly recommended.

(Note: the only thing keeping me from giving this book a full five stars is that I found it a bit too intense to actually re-read it)

Rating: ****1/2

>21 MickyFine: Ah, John Green does it again. This one is on the TBR list, but I'm waiting for the right mood to catch me.

>21 MickyFine: My wife and I both loved Turtles All the Way Down, too, Micky. He handles the OCD aspect really well.

>21 MickyFine: I hope I can get to this one soon!

>21 MickyFine: Glad you liked that one so well. I couldn't decide if I'd like it or not. It's so different from his The Fault in Our Stars.

>22 rosylibrarian: Understandable, Marie. Nice thing about books is that they'll wait as long as you need them to do so. :)

>23 jnwelch: Agreed, Joe. He does the internal monologue so well.

>24 scaifea: I think you'll like it, Amber.

>25 thornton37814: I think all of his books are pretty different from each other, Lori, but the writing is always solid in all of them.

Book 2



Kingdom Come - Mark Waid & Alex Cross

January comic assignment from The Boyfriend.

When Superman and his generation of superheroes go into seclusion, the next generation of metahumans come into their own but lose sight of the goals of their forebears. Instead of working to save humanity, they fight only each other with no consideration for the casualties among those without superpowers. When Wonder Woman finally convinces Superman to rejoin the fray larger issues arise of exactly what kind of leader Superman is and what role humanity can possibly play in a world dominated by those with powers beyond imagination.

An interesting exploration of Superman as leader and the meaning of superheroes amongst those without powers. I found this to be a solid read although I felt that the development of the plot line that lead to the final climax was left a little too late and didn't get enough space to really breathe. I also rolled my eyes at one of the tidbits dropped in the epilogue of the arc as it was a bit too cliche for me. That said, the art in this volume is gorgeous. Cross does a brilliant job of rendering these characters in a more aged state and many of the full page panels are just beautiful. Worth picking up for the art alone.

Rating: ***

I've finally found your thread! Dropping off a star.

"Worth picking up for the art alone"

I find that so often to be the case, and will often rank comics higher for their artistic properties, even when I find the plot wanting.

>26 MickyFine: Solid writing is always important.

Found you! Wishing you a Happy New Year and a bunch of 5 stars reads!

>28 _Zoe_: Huzzah! Glad you found it, Zoe!

>29 London_StJ: It's an excellent point, Luxx.

>30 thornton37814: Agreed, Lori.

>31 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer!

Book 3



Down Among the Sticks and Bones - Seanan McGuire

Jacqueline and Jillian Wolcott are identical twins whose parents have always wanted them to be the perfect children they imagined themselves having. But one day when they're twelve, the girls go up into the attic to play and discover that instead of the dress up clothes that have always been in the large trunk there is instead a set of stairs that go down for what seems ages. When the twins go down the stairs they enter a world that is far darker than anything they had ever imagined.

Labelled as a stand alone novel set in the world McGuire established in Every Heart a Doorway, this is in many ways a prequel to that first novel. McGuire explores how Jacqueline and Jillian become Jack and Jill and once again takes a very dark twist on fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and those large cultural narratives that have permeated the general consciousness. The novel does include some rather dark and gruesome details although nothing beyond what one might find in a Grimm tale or something from Edgar Allan Poe. Recommended for those who like a dark twist on childhood tales.

Rating: ****

Think you've hit me with my first BB of the year. I enjoyed the Adam Gidwitz fairy tale books, so this sounds good.

>33 MickyFine: I've been meaning to read that one! Maybe I'll get to it this year.

Happy New Year and happy new thread!

Happy New Year, Micky!

Hope you are having a wonderful start to your new year!
(and I agree, it is always nice to have someone to kiss at midnight! :)

Hi, Micky. Are you still enjoying a bit of a reprieve, weather-wise? We are still waiting for ours. It looks like it will finally hit town on Sunday. Hallelujah!

Hooray for Turtles All the Way Down! It is such a good read.

Hi Micky just popping...*runs in terror from the bb's*

Happy New Year to you, Micky - you're starred!

>33 MickyFine: Ooooh, that's one for me.

>33 MickyFine: Love that cover

>34 mstrust: Happy to be of service, Jennifer. :)

>35 _Zoe_: It's a short, quick read, Zoe so that might help.

>36 foggidawn: Thanks, Foggi! Happy to see you.

>37 humouress: Thanks, Nina! Love the Gaiman quote.

>38 ChelleBearss: Chelle! So happy to see you making the rounds! My year is starting off very well.

>39 msf59: Hi Mark! The weather is supposed to be pretty mellow for most of the weekend. However, they're forecasting a big dump of snow on Tuesday (10-15 cm which translates to about 4-6 inches) and of course I've got plans for that evening that require driving to the other side of town. :P Fingers crossed the meteorologists change their minds.

>40 BBGirl55: Come back, Bryony! It's not that dangerous around here. *chortles*

>41 AMQS: Thanks, Anne!

>42 London_StJ: It is most definitely up your alley. I also think the prior book in the series Every Heart a Doorway would totally be your jam.

>43 The_Hibernator: It is most definitely gorgeous, Rachel.

Book 4



Once Upon a Christmas Eve - Elizabeth Hoyt

Adam Rutledge, Viscount D'Arque loathes Christmas but when his carriage breaks down and his grandmother takes ill, he's forced to take refuge with the St. Johns during the holidays. Sarah St. John loathes any kind of rake and views Adam as the worst possible cad imaginable. But neither can deny the growing attraction between them.

A cute, quick Christmas novella. The romance feels a bit hasty, which is always a side effect of the novella format but all the characters are wonderful and well drawn. Hoyt's take on the Frog Prince in the epigraphs for each chapter is hysterical. If you're a Hoyt completist or just looking for a decent Christmas historical romance, this is worth picking up but not mandatory otherwise.

Rating: ***

>44 MickyFine: I'm always in favour of short, quick reads!

>45 MickyFine: I always find historical romances don't work well at novella length. As you said, the romance feels rushed, which doesn't really work. To believe in the HEA, I need the romance to feel a little slower with a bit more build-up, otherwise I'm side-eyeing it and wondering if they're actually going to last more than two weeks past the final page because it was all so fast!

Looks like you're already off to a great start! Down Among the Sticks and Bones goes right onto my wish list!

>46 _Zoe_: I figured you would be, knowing what your list of in progress books looks like. :)

>47 archerygirl: It's true. In an 80ish page (on my iPad) novella, there was sex by page 45ish and a marriage proposal by the end of the book (and if anyone shrieks spoiler, you have obviously never read an historical romance).

>48 jennyifer24: Hope you like it, Jenny!

>49 MickyFine: Hehe, you know me well :D

Looks like your reading year is off to a good start, Mickey. Dropping my star.

Popping by to say hi, Miky! I have a brother and his family living in Edmonton. He and his wife seem to be somewhat lacking in a sense of humour, so 've refrained from teasing them about the temps there! BRRRR it's cold! They have 4 young children -age 8 to 16 and his wife works as a pediatrician in Edmonton. Both of them hail from Vancouver like me , but they have really made Edmonton their home.

Of course we have the endless rain and gloomy skies! One can't win!

>52 vancouverdeb: It's never nice being cold. I'm not surprised they don't have a sense of humour about it. Of course, I say this from the safety of Singapore, where the daytime temperature has fallen to 27. Degrees C, that is. (It's usually a constant 32 year round, so it's noticeable enough to feel quite cool.)

:0)

>49 MickyFine: "sex by page 45", LOL. I feel like that could be the title of a band or something.

>54 rosylibrarian: Or a song by DNCE, maybe. "READ to me baby..."

>55 scaifea: LOL, now that song is stuck in my head. Na na na na!

Happy New Year, Micky! I love your meme answers... especially where you would go and your best friend. ;-) Board games, now that is my kind of NYE fun. I am not big on the partying.

Starring your thread so I can find my way back here. Wishing you a happy Sunday and a wonderful week.

>53 humouress: Regrettably, my brother and his wife seem to lack a sense of humour in virtually every area! No, bad weather is never nice, but they can tease us about our never ending gloom and rain and it does not bother me. I think it might be a Canadian sport! :-)

>50 _Zoe_: I try. :)

>51 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! Nice to see you!

>52 vancouverdeb: Luckily our cold snap broke a little after the New Year. So much so that we had freezing rain on the weekend - blech! While out walking with The Boyfriend to retrieve munchies for Saturday night, I nearly biffed it on an icy sidewalk. Luckily he was hanging onto my hand and didn't get taken down by me. :) Next big weather drama is the heavy snowfall warning for tonight through tomorrow. It's down to the 5-10 cm for Edmonton so we'll see what we actually end up with. I don't envy you the Vancouver gloom even if it does come with warmer temperatures. I do love me some sunshine, even if it is freezing outside.

>53 humouress: Oh no, Nina! Not 27C! ;)

>54 rosylibrarian: I bet there's some clever college band somewhere with a variant on it. And if not, we should find some college students looking for a band name...

>55 scaifea: Lol.

>57 lkernagh: Hiya Lori! So happy you found me and enjoyed the meme. I just finished starring your thread over in the Category Challenge. :)

>58 vancouverdeb: Weather observation is definitely a spectator sport in Canada. :)

Hi... *hides eyes from bb's* there is a vote going on over on my thread. You know what to do. 😁

>60 BBGirl55: I'll make sure to pop over. :)

Found and starred your thread Micky!

>33 MickyFine: Down Among the Sticks and Bones was one of my final reads of 2017 and because I was in a bit of a blue patch I pre-ordered Beneath the Sugar Sky once I finished it and I'm really looking forward to starting it.

>49 MickyFine: 'and if anyone shrieks spoiler, you have obviously never read an historical romance'

Heh!

>62 souloftherose: Happy to see you, Heather! Hope the next Wayward Children book is everything you want it to be.

Book 5



The Trouble with Dukes - Grace Burrowes

Returning to Britain after the Napoleonic War, Hamish MacHugh just desperately wants to return home to Scotland. Instead, he's greeted with the news of the death of a distant relative which has made Hamish the next Duke of Murdoch. Still carrying the emotional baggage he's brought back from the war, Hamish is in no mood to field all the suddenly interested females who would besiege a young, rich duke. Until he meets Megan Windham. The bespectacled near spinster turns Hamish's life on its ear. However, less than reputable secrets from Megan's past threaten the budding romance between her and Hamish.

Another historical romance writer to add to my list of ones worth picking up. While the extended cast of characters can be initially overwhelming (there's a family tree at the front of the book) and it took me a while to adjust to Burrowes writing style, at its heart there's a thoroughly charming romance. Plus any romance novel that makes mildly bawdy jokes about sporrans gets my stamp of approval.

Sex note (because I know there's a wide variety of preferences amongst romance readers): while there is sex in the novel, the details are largely glossed over. Not quite fade to black but close. May be appropriate for some gentle romance readers.

Rating: ***

Problem with vote. Second vote going on.

Happy new year Micky - and you have apparently already got me. I'd been looking at Turtles all the way down whenever I see it about, on account of the link to Terry Pratchett, but it hadn't occurred to me to read it. Perhaps I should!

>65 BBGirl55: I'll check in on it.

>66 evilmoose: I definitely recommend it!

Hi, Micky. Did you get that snow they predicted? All our snow is gone, due to a freakish warm-up. Back to cold tomorrow though.

>64 MickyFine: Some lunatic publicist thought I would like to read this! SMH

Yes, we do have the Vancouver Gloom. I did check and yes, if I was willing to travel for an hour or so, I could find a Devacut place. I will keep that under consideration. As for weather, my other brother lives in Barrie ON. Apparently they had a big ice / snow storm today. MY SIL tried to open their community mailbox, but it was frozen shut. I'll take the rain, though of course we get frozen rain here and there too. Blew my hair more or less straight yesterday and had to get my picture taken as I had to renew my Driver License. Was raining and misty out - poof!

A-HA! I was wondering why you weren't on my talky forummy list. It's because you hadn't started a thread yet, and then I was off-forum a bit, and also I'm an idiot. :)

Droppin' you off that two-weeks-overdue star!

>4 MickyFine: I WILL NOT BEWARE THE KITTEN, and the duchess thing made me snort into my cup of tea. A classy start to my Saturday morning. On the other hand, the fear part was the realest of reals and now I feel quite uncomfortable.

>68 msf59: We got some snow but it wasn't the horrifying dump they predicted. However we then dropped into the deep freeze with windchills of -40C (also -40F) for a couple days in a row. Makes me almost glad I was home sick Wednesday through Friday.

>69 richardderus: In no universe does this one scream out as a Richard book.

>70 vancouverdeb: Hopefully the pic ends up being decent despite the poof.

>71 elliepotten: So happy you've caught up with me, Ellie. Want a cuppa?

>72 MickyFine: YES PLEASE OMG YES. I had one of days today where my dad 'popped in to see me' but ended up arriving at the same time as my sister, so three hours later they were still chatting, and then after THAT my sister (who was also 'just popping in') stayed for another four hours looking at wedding dress ideas, and baaaaasically I haven't drunk enough and my head hurts and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOMAN GET THE KETTLE ON PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

>72 MickyFine: Oh my, windchills of -40F?! That sounds end of the world cold. I hope you're inside and warm and stocked up on tea and chocolate.

-40 = EW!!
We are hovering around -10 to -15 with freezing rain yesterday. Yuck
Hope you are feeling better!

So I'm reading a graphic novel. My Brother's Husband. Canadian bear goes to Japan, meets his dead lover's brother, bonds with the brother's little daughter.

>72 MickyFine: Brrrr. -40C? We've had -21C this week, which is the coldest we've had for years (it's been a lot of slushy winters lately) and it felt SO cold. Even though that is actually perfectly normal for these parts. I wish I could have stayed home.

>73 elliepotten: *hastily hands Ellie a cup of tea and scuttles off*

>74 mstrust: They thankfully disappeared before I started venturing outside again.

>75 ChelleBearss: I'm feeling less plague-ish. The nasal congestion has finally passed but the lymph nodes in my neck are still visibly swollen so they're currently coated in VapoRub in an effort to get them to go down.

>76 richardderus: As bears do. ;)

>77 PawsforThought: We've been yo-yoing a lot more than we typically would in January. It was up to -1C yesterday but it's supposed to get colder all day today and head back down to -20C.

>64 MickyFine: - Love the "note" at the bottom of your review. I am one of those readers that prefers "romance-lite" when reading.

Sorry to read about the return of the deep freeze. We are having a wonderful burst of sunshine today, but as Deb mentioned >70 vancouverdeb:, the Gloom will descend once again, probably starting tomorrow.

>78 MickyFine: We've had yo-yoing temperatures, too. After last week's coldsnap it's up to -4 C now. I mush prefer stable temperatures, even if it's cold.

Hope your lymph nodes are back to normal! Did the vaporub trick work?

>79 lkernagh: I figured it would be worth including as I know there's a few people who come through here that have varying levels of preference when it comes to the sexy times in their books. We're supposed to warm up to positive temperatures for a couple days this week and then head back to normal winter temperatures in mid negative teens.

>80 PawsforThought: Me too. It's what drove me crazy when I lived in Lethbridge. Chinooks meant you could go from -20C to 5C in a matter of hours.

>81 ChelleBearss: They've gone down a bit but they're still pretty swollen. I'll try more VapoRub tonight after work.

Book 6



Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor

Lazlo Strange, war orphan turned junior librarian, has always dreamed an impossible dream: to go in search of the lost city of Weep. It doesn't matter to him that almost everyone else believes the city is a fairy tale, Lazlo desperately wants to see for himself. And so his entire world is turned upside down when warriors from Weep come to Lazlo's town to recruit individuals to help them with a mysterious problem that will completely shatter Lazlo's understanding of the world.

Such a gorgeous fantasy world in this one. While it took me a couple chapters to adjust to the world that Taylor has created, I then became swept up in it. Beautifully drawn characters, a complex conflict between different groups, but what really makes it compelling reading is the emotional journeys of our central characters. If you're a fantasy reader, definitely pick this one up although be warned that the ending is a bit cliffhanger-ish and there's no publication date for the next book just yet.

Rating: ****

Laini Taylor appears to have serious mojo these days. Lovely review.

>83 MickyFine: Darn. That one is on my list. Actually it's on my phone as audio,, so very close. I might just have to deal with the cliffhanger though. I don't think I can wait.

>84 richardderus: Thank you, RDear. *smooches*

>85 Kassilem: The cliffhanger isn't terrible, IMO. I'd say start listening. :)

just popping by with a small gift

>83 MickyFine: Oh, Strange the Dreamer sounds good, Micky. I liked her previous ones. Onto the WL it goes.

>87 BBGirl55: That is a fantastic gif(t), Bryony. :D

>88 jnwelch: Good spot for it, Joe.

Hi, Micky. I hope your week has been going well. Strange the Dreamer sounds like a fun fantasy novel.

Book 7



Dunbar - Edward St. Aubyn

Hogarth Shakespeare series take on King Lear.

On the spectrum of books I've read in this series, this one falls somewhere between middling and good. St. Aubyn does well at engaging with the themes of insanity and family loyalty but his characterizations of the two elder sisters (Abigail and Megan in this version) reach almost scenery gnawing levels of villainy. At the same time, Florence (this version's Cordelia) remains largely bland and only interesting when she's interacting with other men (sigh). If you're a completist when it comes to this series or you're a big fan of King Lear, this one is worth picking up but otherwise no strong recommendation for or against.

Rating: ***

>90 msf59: Highly enjoyable, Mark. If it strikes your fancy I definitely recommend picking it up.

>91 MickyFine: Oh hell no. Three stars just isn't a draw.

>91 MickyFine: I liked it a little better than you did.

>93 richardderus: Understandably, RDear. If you do want to do a Hogarth Shakespeare, I can highly recommend Hag-Seed if that hasn't already crossed your reading palate.

>94 thornton37814: I can see this one having a better impact on other readers but it wasn't my jam for the most part.

I agree with >95 MickyFine:. Hag-Seed is the best one in the series to date.

I was almost afraid to pop in here, because my library stack is a mile high and I really can't stand another book bulle --- ok, I'll go get Every Heart a Doorway.

I had forgotten about Laini Taylor! I think I read two of the Smoke and Bone trilogy and need to get to the third sometime .... onto the list anyway!

>97 London_StJ: Good. :) It's just as short as Down Among the Sticks and Bones so you'll fly through it.

>98 ChelleBearss: I haven't read any of her other stuff but I'm feeling like I might stick another of her books on The List.

Book 8



Dear Fahrenheit 451 - Annie Spence

Public librarian, Annie Spence, writes letters to the books she loves (both personally and professionally), break-up notes for the books she's weeding from the stacks, and also hands out some reading suggestions for various people and moods.

As a public librarian myself, large chunks of this book had me cracking up or nodding in agreement although I think it has appeal for those who aren't in working in the field. As a book about books it is, of course, very dangerous for adding titles to your to read list. Highly recommended.

Rating: *****

I read that one a few months ago and thought it was pretty fun. Especially by her letter to Stephen King's Misery.

>100 MickyFine: I'm going to have to read that one eventually, aren't I?

Book 9



Kill Shakespeare Volume 5: Past Is Prologue: Juliet - Conor McCreery

Set prior to the events of the first volume of Kill Shakespeare, this volume focuses on Juliet who in the wake of Romeo's death must make the decision between following Romeo into the grave or choosing to live and turning her passion to a new cause.

While not a bad narrative, this volume wasn't as strong or as fun a mash up of all things Shakespeare as previous entries in the series. If you're interested in Juliet's back story, it's worth looking at but not a must-read.

Rating: ***

>101 mstrust: I had several favourite letters including the one to the Miss Marple series.

>102 foggidawn: You really should, Foggi.

Somehow I missed your thread at the beginning of the year. Well, by somehow I mean I have been a very distracted and bad LTer all around. ;) But I've found you now and all is well.

>100 MickyFine: Oh, no. I've been struck by a book bullet.

>100 MickyFine: Definitely going on my reading list! That looks like so much fun.

>105 leahbird: Happy you made it, Leah.

>106 thornton37814: It's a good one to get hit by.

>107 Kassilem: It's a lot of fun, Melissa.

Just a note to say that I've been inspired by Ellie to try and keep track of films and tv seasons watched on my thread. We'll see if I can stick with it.

Last night's double feature:



Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

Netflix, first viewing

I did not fall in love with this one, which I kind of expected to since my brother and The Boyfriend are both really fond of it. It's cute and there's some decent underlying messages but it's not one I feel the need to watch again.



27 Dresses

Mine, rewatch

Remains fluffy but cute. And James Marsden is very handsome.

Hag-Seed. Every Heart A Doorway.

I am *never* coming back here without Biblio-Kevlar!

>91 MickyFine: - Great review! I have been debating about reading that one. I am not a big King Lear fan so I can probably forgo reading Dunbar and not feel as though I am missing out on anything special. ;-)

>100 MickyFine: - So after dodging a BB above, you now zing me with one for the Spence book. *sighs*

Wishing you a happy Sunday, Mickey.

>100 MickyFine: Well, I'm taking a hit on that one and adding it to the reading list.

Love Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs!

I really liked "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" too, and the sequel. It's giant food! I watched "Dog Day Afternoon" for the first time a few days ago.
>103 MickyFine: Too bad, it sounds like an interesting premise.

>111 richardderus: It's not that dangerous around here, Richard, I swear. *innocent face*

>112 lkernagh: Of the two, it's the much better BB to take, Lori.

>113 archerygirl: Huzzah!

>114 ChelleBearss: I can see it's appeal. It just didn't appeal to me. *shrug*

>115 mstrust: I do highly recommend the other volumes in the Kill Shakespeare series. It's an awesome comic series. And bonus points for being Canadian!

Book 10



The Miller's Dance - Winston Graham

Ninth book in the Poldark series

In the shadows of Napoleon's wars in Europe, as well as the War of 1812, life continues on in Cornwall. Ross worries about his wife's health as he and Demelza wait for their newest child. Clowance and Jeremy Poldark both continue to suffer the vagaries of love and make some truly astounding life choices. Meanwhile George Warleggan continues to attempt to manipulate those around him and discovers that the people closest to him are far less pliable than those over whom he holds financial sway.

A solid entry in the series that I thoroughly enjoyed and surprisingly devoured over the course of the weekend. These characters are all so familiar now that I relish any time I get to spend with them. Although Jeremy Poldark What the heck were you thinking robbing a bank coach? You idiotic man-child. *grumbles*. I'm pleased that even though the focus has shifted more heavily to the next generation, there's still plenty of page count devoted to Ross and Demelza. Of course I most definitely look forward to my next visit with these characters whenever the next book comes up in the shuffle of The List.

Rating: ****

*peeks into thread*

BOOK TITLE!!!

*flees*

>117 MickyFine: Sigh. That reminds me that I really need to watch the second season of Poldark. I was on holiday when it started airing here and never got around to watching and catching up.

Ross Poldark! *shakes fist at sky angrily*

>118 richardderus: Oh come now, that book has been around longer than I have. If you were going to get a BB for it, it would have happened by now. ;)

>119 PawsforThought: I just finished the third season recently. It was sitting on the PVR for ages before I actually got to it.

>120 norabelle414: He makes poor life choices but he's so pretty.

>121 MickyFine: And he has all the good hair! 😍

I was actually just re-watching Poldark this week. God, he is pretty. The second I step foot in the UK I am heading straight for Cornwall.

I stopped reading the Poldark books right at where the TV series is. I keep debating whether or not I just want to plow on. I really loved the books, so it was hard to stop.

>109 MickyFine: What whaaaaaaat! Yeah, I watch a lot of stuff, but often keep putting off full-length movies in favour of telly, so I thought keeping track would be fun. :D

>110 MickyFine: Never seen CWACOM, but my sister loves 27 Dresses so that one gets an outing every so often. The Benny and the Jets scene is obviously a CLASSIC, and as far as bridesmaids movies go, it remains a hell of a lot more my thing than ACTUAL Bridesmaids, so... yay?

>121 MickyFine: Awww Aidan. I'm still a 'Mitchell from Being Human' girl meself. All Irish accent and tumbling curls and tight vests and fingerless gloves. Unfffff.

>122 leahbird: Fact. If I could get my curls to look as good as his, I would be a very happy lady.

>123 rosylibrarian: Acceptable life choices, Marie. :) I'm quite ahead of the show now and I have to admit it's kind of fun going into a season having a rough idea of what will happen and figuring out what they'll include and what they'll skim over.

>124 elliepotten: It is fun. Although I totally opted for watching TV saved on my PVR on Sunday rather than watching a movie because I didn't feel like doing a post afterwards. :P

I haven't watched Bridesmaids because just from the trailer I can tell that it is Not My Thing.

*whispers* I still haven't watched Being Human.

Hi Micky just popping by and leaving this

Hi Micky!! I see you've moved to Edmonton now! Good to see that we are still in the same province! :D

Hi Micky!

>124 elliepotten: I don't know who that fella is but WOW!

>124 elliepotten: Oooh, Being Human! It's been ages since I watched that - I'm due for a re-read. And yes, he was *very* pretty in that.

Hi Micky! Loved your comments on Dear Fahrenheit 451 - that was a greta audio, and I ended up having to get the print book so I cold refer back to all the amazing recommendations! I've read some, too:)

Things warmed up a bit?

>124 elliepotten: Yes, Being Human hair (and the rest) is the highpoint. I had to stop watching when he left to be a Hobbit.

>125 MickyFine: I have paid real money to try to get my curls back into that condition but they refuse. It's not fair!

>131 leahbird: He was a dwarf, not a hobbit! Tsk, tsk.

>124 elliepotten: I don't know who that is, but I wouldn't mind finding out. In the meantime, can someone please pick those mugs up off the floor!? Honestly.

Hi, Micky!

>133 scaifea: That, dear Amber is Aidan Turner, who plays the lead character in Poldark. Also was one of the dwarves in the Hobbit films, and the gif is from Being Human, where he was a very *fine* vampire.

>126 BBGirl55: Well isn't that kind of you, Bryony. :)

>127 jolerie: Yup, I'm back in YEG. In fact, next month I'll have been back for two years. (Also, yay for a Valerie visit!)

>128 ChelleBearss: Hey Chelle. Aidan Turner is a very attractive gent and I can give you a long to watch list if you'd like.

>130 AMQS: Hi Anne. I was pretty pleased to escape Dear Fahrenheit 451 with only a half dozen or so BBs. It has been warmer here this week but we're due to head back to snowy and colder weather starting tomorrow. We'll see what actually happens.

>131 leahbird: I recently switched one of my products and it's worth the pretty pennies because it's been doing good things for my curls.

>133 scaifea: Hiya Amber! Paws has very helpfully pointed you towards all the things you can watch Aidan Turner in. He was also in the recent adaptation of And Then There Were None (and he might spend a scene wearing just a towel). ;)

Book 11



The Vicar's Daughter - Josi S. Kilpack

Cassie Wilton is endlessly frustrated by her family's policy of only allowing one daughter to be out in society at at time until each one is married. Particularly as Cassie's older sister, Lenora, is so shy and anxious in company that Cassie is convinced they'll both be condemned to ending up as old maids. However, when Lenora has a chance encounter with Evan Glenside, the recent heir to the Glenside estate, Cassie takes it upon herself to further their relationship by writing letters to Evan as Lenora. However, what Cassie doesn't count on is finding in Evan the only man with whom she could ever picture herself. In the wake of Cassie's letters, can she ever straighten up the mess she's made for Lenora, Evan, and herself?

A case of cute premise but middling to poor execution. As a Christian romance, I felt like the character growth and the lesson Cassie supposedly learned over the course of the novel was pretty muddled. And both of her parents are characterized kind of terribly. They often cross the line of being unkind to Cassie and I found it unbelievable in a vicar and his wife in this genre (although their attitudes are admittedly more period accurate). I also felt like the obstacle between Cassie and Evan arrived far too early and was dragged on too long. Not recommended.

Rating: **

You're reading up a storm, Micky!

>137 katiekrug: I know. Admittedly several of the books this month have been short so the number looks impressive but the overall page count is probably going to match up with a month in which I read a more normal 6-8 books. The numbers will probably get higher tomorrow too. I'm waiting for holds to come in (they're in transit so they should show up shortly) so I don't want to start a full book from my own shelf so I'm reading comics collections from hoopla instead. So they're substantial enough to count as a book but still very fast reads.

>132 PawsforThought: What an embarrassing mistake to make! I'll blame it on posting at 1am. 😉

>110 MickyFine: 27 Dresses: very fluffy and cute. I liked that one, too, when it came out. (Surprised, huh? ;)

Congrats on all your reads!

>140 saras.library: Nah, it's edgier than the typical romantic comedy so I could see it having Sara appeal. :)

Book 12



Doctor Who: The Lost Dimension Vol. 1 - George Mann et. al.

When a white hole begins to consume everything and everyone around it, the Doctor (in almost all of his incarnations) must work to figure out what's going on.

This collection of Doctor Who comics is FUN! With different entries in the story arc primarily focusing on the ninth through twelfth Doctors (although every entry has an appearance from at least one other old school Who doctor), it's fun to encounter such a broad Doctor Who story. With plenty of familiar faces cropping up throughout this is a delight for fans of the series and as a bonus has a solid story arc that I'm looking forward to seeing how they resolve going forward.

Rating: ****

Doctor Who comics are a rabbit hole I've so far managed not to fall down, and here you are blazing away with the bibliobullets.

>143 richardderus: I'm not a huge comics reader but I just couldn't resist a multi-Doctor crossover. And luckily hoopla had them in their collection so I could get at them pretty easily.

Ah, damn. THey're on hoopla. Now I have to go get them...

Are you getting like crazy snow?? We are luckily avoiding the worst of it down here.

>145 drneutron: Sorry, Jim. Well, not really sorry. :P

>146 jolerie: We had a light skiff this morning but nothing coming out of the sky right now. However, we do have an official heavy snowfall warning for Edmonton now (for a chunk of this morning they were unsure where the storm was going to hit). It's supposed to start coming down later this afternoon and this evening.

Yeah, I heard about it this morning on the news. Stay safe and warm as much as you can! :)

Boo to snow! Are you due for a huge storm overnight or tomorrow?
My BIL is travelling here tomorrow from Red Deer, hopefully his flight isn't delayed

Snow Removal Idea:

>148 jolerie: Oh yeah. I live walking distance from work and don't have any plans that require driving until the weekend. I should be good.

>149 ChelleBearss: Nothing too crazy, Chelle. Worst we could get is about 10 cm between this afternoon and tomorrow morning. And if your BIL is going from Red Deer down to Calgary, he might skip most of it.

>150 richardderus: Interesting choice, RDear. Happily, I live in an apartment so snow removal isn't my problem. :D

>141 MickyFine: Really? Hmm, I must rewatch it then.

>142 MickyFine: Iiiii didn't know there were Who comics. This looks interesting.

*delurking to wave hello and hoping, if I stay low, that the BBs will miss me*

>152 saras.library: Let me know how you like it this go around.

>153 lycomayflower: This one was a lot of fun, Laura. As of right now, there are comic series for each of the New Who doctors excluding the War Doctor.

>154 humouress: Good luck, Nina. Hope you emerge unscathed. :)

Book 13



Sandman: The Doll's House - Neil Gaiman

In this second volume of Sandman comics, Dream must track down the handful of his creations which have escaped the dreaming and gone into the real world. At the same time, a new vortex has arrived in the realm of humanity who threatens the entire existence of the dreaming itself.

This collection is dark, even for Gaiman. As I'm reading about an assortment of serial killers holding a convention before bedtime, I definitely had the thought of, "Is this really a good idea for me?" But the world Gaiman spins is fascinating. And I also appreciated the single issue digression from the main story line in which a man refuses to accept Death and he and Dream meet up every 100 years for several centuries. Maybe not pre-sleep reading material but definitely enjoyable if you're into Gaiman's darker side.

Rating: ***

Big Life Announcement

Effective as of 25 January 2018, The Boyfriend has now exchanged that title for The Fiancé.

So exciting Micky!!!!

Congrats, Micky!!

Congratulations to you and TF, Micky!

>157 MickyFine: Congratulations Micky! Whohoo!

Oh boy, CONGRATS!!! That's wonderful!!

(Also, yay for Gaiman!)

Oh, that's wonderful, Micky! Congrats!

(I love the photo :) )

Congrats!

Congrats! How exciting!! Good luck and have a blast with the planning!

(I'll confess to trying to zoom in on your picture to see the book title! :)

>157 MickyFine: Italo Calvino no less! Clearly a match made in book heaven. Many many happy years together.

>157 MickyFine: Whoohooo! Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

It’s a good year for the 75ers.

Thank you to Valerie, Nora, Steve, Deb, Paws, Amber, Katie, Chelle, Jennifer, Richard, Laura, Foggi, and Nina for the engagement felicitations. :D

>163 scaifea: I knew you'd be psyched about the Gaiman. I'm looking forward to when the next volume shows up in the shuffle.

>164 katiekrug: Pinterest inspired (of course) but I'm very pleased with how it turned out. Very adeptly directed by my mom. ;)

>166 ChelleBearss: It's the very wonderful, if a bit trippy, If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino.

>168 richardderus: The book was picked partially for aesthetic reasons (that gorgeous embossed cloth cover is just so darn pretty) but also because said book is awesome. I have a feeling it'll crop up again as a prop for wedding photos too. :)

Oh my, you got me with a BB with Doctor Who The Lost Dimension, Micky. I'll track that one down.

You're not alone in finding The Doll's House awfully dark. I hope it doesn't scare you off the next one, Dream Country. It's great - as is the whole series, IMO.

>173 jnwelch: Hope you enjoy the DW comics, Joe. I found them quite fun.

As for Sandman, I'll be picking up the next volume at some point. This isn't my first spin with Gaiman so I know that he can sometimes get very dark but that the general arc is usually worth going through. :)

I forgot to post my movie viewing from the weekend.



RED (2010)

Mine, rewatch

Exactly what was required after a full day of church, baby shower, and telling people about the engagement. The Fiancé and I kicked back and enjoyed all the action flick fun. Is there anything better than watching Helen Mirren fire a gigantic machine gun? I don't think so.

I watched Red for the first time recently and thought it was great fun!

>176 katiekrug: I'm pretty sure I saw it for the first time in movie theatres for my birthday. I went with a bunch of friends from library school and we enjoyed that several important parts of the plot were all about cataloguing and records management. ;)

>177 MickyFine: we enjoyed that several important parts of the plot were all about cataloguing and records management.

Nerds.

:)

>178 richardderus: And proud of it. ;)

Awesome article over on Buzzfeed about the broader influence of romance novels. Worth looking at for the accompanying art alone.

Heya Micky, nice to see you reading your way through Sandman. Maybe I should do my first re-read. I find the darkness a bit too dark, but oh my gosh, the stories, especially later on. *curls up in the corner with a tea*

Ooh, that's a great article, Micky. I'm going to post it on my thread, too. I had read Sarah MacLean's essay in The Washington Post - glad to see it discussed in a broader context. I love this quote: "Romance is political in the broader meaning of the word, in that politics isn’t simply a tally of votes, but an accounting of power. It is about how we care for one another, how far our circles of empathy extend, and whose voices are privileged or heard. It is about who is seen as a full human being, worthy of respect and narrative interiority."

>181 evilmoose: Things to which to look forward. :) *sips own cuppa*

>182 katiekrug: My favourite quote was “'I think part of why we come to romance, especially as young women, is because it centers us — at a time when the rest of the world doesn’t ... The male gaze is everywhere, but romance is the female gaze.'”

Yes! I was all nodding along when I read that. Sing it, sister.

>157 MickyFine: How great, Micky! Congratulations!

An Italo Calvino book - he's got good taste. :-)

>185 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! Book is mine and I don't think he's read it; it was picked more for its aesthetics (although I do love it).

Congraz! a gif just for you:

Congrats on your engagement!!!

Congrats! That's so great!

Congrats! That's so wonderful! I'm so happy for you!

>180 MickyFine: I really enjoyed that article. Thanks for posting it!

Oh, and I forgot to say - congrats on the engagement! (More accurately, I was just feeling curmudgeonly, as I have been going through the opposite, and so I feel like a horrible dark presence lurking in a corner, covered in a dark cloak, pointing wavering fingers at happy couples and warning them to beware)

Thanks to Bryony, Jenny, Melissa, Rachel, and Megan for the congratulations. :D

>187 BBGirl55: Pretty accurate representation of how I feel about now, Bryony.

>191 lycomayflower: I had a feeling it would be up your alley, Laura.

>192 evilmoose: *tosses glitter blanket over dark cloak* There. Much better. ;) (Seriously though, sorry for all the things making you feel curmudgeonly).

>157 MickyFine: OMG OMG OMG OMG! I'm so late - I was away trying on dresses for my sister's wedding, conveniently enough. CONGRATULATIONS DUUUUUUUDE. Love your lil engagement photo too! Awwwwwww. :)

>194 elliepotten: Thank you, Ellie (also, top notch gif selection). Did you find a good dress?

ETA: Never mind. Popped over to your thread and saw the story. *hugs*

Ohh, congratulations!!! So happy for you! Finally stopping by and dropping a star, too...at least I got to it before the end of January :)

Congrats on your engagement, Micky.

Reading through your thread I was reminded that I am reading my way through the Sandman series, although I seem to have been distracted by other books. I have plans to pick up The Doll's House from the library the next time I go. >180 MickyFine: What a great article on the romance genre.

>193 MickyFine: Now a glitter blanket, that sounds as if it might solve a lot of problems. Oh, though you know what would solve everything?



A pair of these.

>196 aktakukac: Thanks, Rachel! You've been pretty busy these last few weeks so I'm happy you made it over. :)

>197 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! Isn't that article awesome?

>198 evilmoose: Yes! I don't think it's possible to be curmudgeonly in those.

>199 MickyFine: Great article and there was a BB in it too. Dangerous Books for Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels Explained sounds very interesting

Congrats on your big news Micky!! So happy for you!

>201 leahbird: Thanks, Leah. :)

Book 14



This Savage Song - Victoria Schwab

In a dystopian future, the USA has conglomerated into larger states and every act of violence between humans results in the birth of a monster. In the divided city of Verity, Kate Harker is desperate to prove to her father that she is just as ruthless as he is and a worthy heir to take over his territory where he rules the monsters and extorts money from all of the citizens in exchange for their safety. On the other side of town, August Flynn is a Sunai, the most rare type of monster. He's fully devoted to his adopted father's cause of fighting the monsters to protect the human population. As the truce between the two sides begins to wobble, August is tasked with infiltrating Kate's high school in case of need of leverage. When everything starts to fall apart, August and Kate will find the strangest ally may be each other.

I picked this one up because I so loved Schwab's Shades of Magic trilogy. While this universe that she's created isn't quite as compelling, it remains fascinating. She creates flawed characters whom you can't help but root for as they face off against the brutal world in which they live. There's a beautiful idea at work in how monsters are created and August's struggle to figure out who he is is a fascinating character arc. With plenty of action moving the plot along and a serious twist at the end, I will definitely be picking up the sequel to this one.

Rating: ****

I'll read the Shades of Magic books in preference to this one, then, since your warbling was half-hearted and those books get all kinds and sorts of praise from all and sundry.

*smooch*

Completed last night



Doctor Who Season 5

Mine, re-watch

This was a fun season to watch with The Fiancé who wasn't sure he would like Matt Smith after how much he loved David Tennant. As it's a rewatch for me but a first watch for him, I've been working hard to avoid giving any spoilers. It was particularly hard to not give away that Rory would be back after he died during the lizard-people two-parter. This season probably has my highest number of favourite Matt Smith episodes in it so always a joy to watch.

>204 richardderus: Oh most definitely. Shades of Magic trilogy is SO GOOD!!! It went straight into the personal collection (a high compliment to any book as I'm quite picky about books I actually buy).

For some reason any review with the word dystopian totally sucks me in even though I've read so many of those kind of books. Just hasn't gotten old for me yet. :D

Off to look up Shades of Magic as well. Looks at you shooting all those BBs.

January Summary






Numbers in parentheses are for year to date.

Books read: 14 (14)
Books ditched: 0 (0)

Fiction: 13 (13)
Non-fiction: 1 (1)

Library: 12 (12)
Mine: 1 (1)
Borrowed elsewhere: 1 (1)

Re-reads: 0 (0)

Female authors: 7 (7)
Male authors: 7 (7)

Adult fiction: 9 (9)
YA fiction: 4 (4)
Children's fiction: 0 (0)

Pages: 3,996 (3,996)

Average rating: 3.5 (3.5)

Average time to read book: 2.8 days (2.8 days)

Favourite book(s): Strange the Dreamer was a really awesome establishment of a fantasy world and Dear Fahrenheit 451 made this librarian's heart just glow.

>207 jolerie: *blows smoke off the mouth of my book cannon*

A+ covers on the books you read this month.

>208 MickyFine: - That's a lot of books! Well done.

>208 MickyFine: *jaw swinging like in Looney Tunes*

...and you work full time...

>203 MickyFine: So good to see a positive review of This Savage Song. It's in my TBR.

Looks like January was a great month for you! 14 books and an engagement! :)

>157 MickyFine: Congratulations to you both!

OMG - congratulations! I really, really, really love the photo. Have you set a date yet?

>210 norabelle414: They do look pretty all strung together like that. :)

>211 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>212 richardderus: I do work full time but *whispers* six of those books were sub-250 pages.

>213 Narilka: Hope you like it!

>214 ChelleBearss: January was a very big month, it's true.

>215 souloftherose: Thanks so much, Heather!

>216 rosylibrarian: Thanks, Marie! I'm quite pleased with how the photo turned out. We actually just set the date this week. The big day will be 16 September 2018. :)

>217 MickyFine: I am not supportive of the Page Count Police. A read's a read's a read for me. I'm still in awe.

*smooch*

>217 MickyFine: September is a GREAT month to get married in. My anniversary is September 3rd. :)

>219 rosylibrarian: - Eh, it's no October ;-)

But we can all agree that autumn weddings are The Best!

>218 richardderus: Thank you, RDear. *smooches*

>219 rosylibrarian: I think it'll be good. Early enough into fall to still be pretty warm but not sweltering.

>220 katiekrug: October in this neck of the woods can get a bit dicey. Snow is not out of the realm of possibility as early as the second week of the month. September is a little safer. But yay for autumn weddings!

Totally understand. We got married (outside) on October 24, forgetting that it can still be a tad warm in Dallas then. Luckily, it was in the evening, so not too bad...

>222 katiekrug: The ceremony and reception will both be inside so the weather considerations are mostly just for photos. :)

Yay for picking a date! Does that also mean you’ve found a venue as well?

I may be traveling to Alberta in August and was hoping you might like to join in on a meet-up. No set plans yet but maybe the week of the 23rd in Red Deer or nearby.

Yay for Fall wedding. It's a beautiful time to take pics. :)

Yes...let us Albertans convene at some point!

>224 ChelleBearss: Still working on the venue bit. The ceremony will be at our church but I'm still looking at options for the reception venue. Going to try and hammer that out ASAP.

>225 jolerie: It should be, Valerie. All appendages crossed.

As for the Alberta meet-up, put me down as a tentative yes. I'm getting a new niece or nephew in August, I'll be moving at the end of that month (I'm old school and won't be living with The Fiancé until after we're married so my stuff will be going to what will be our place and I'll be staying with the parentals for a couple weeks), plus it'll be 4 weeks until the wedding. So either I'll be desperate for a mini break or I'll be far too swamped to consider leaving town. Time will tell. :)

>157 MickyFine: - Congratulations! Love that "engagement photo" posted!

Looks like you had a very good reading month in January!

>157 MickyFine: Congratulations!! How wonderful! Love the photo:)

>226 MickyFine: It’s not a no so I’ll take it!! :) I should know in a couple months what our travel plans will be.

Good luck with your venue search. Hope you find something you love!

Great January stats and those covers all look good together.

Hi Micky love the stats. Just to let you know there is a vote going on over on my thread.

>227 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori. Reading went very well in January.

>228 AMQS: Thanks, Anne!

>229 ChelleBearss: Awesome. Keep me posted and I'll figure out whether it's feasible to join you. Thanks for the well wishes on the venue hunt. I should be going to look at one later this week.

>230 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg.

>231 BBGirl55: I'll pop over shortly, Bryony.

Night in with The Fiancé on Saturday night meant a double feature:



My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Borrowed from Mom, rewatch

The Fiancé had never seen this one and I wanted to expose him to the extreme end of crazy wedding things so that he'd feel better about our planning. It had been a while since I'd watched this one and I'd forgotten how funny it is.



Leap Year

Mine, rewatch

I'm forever making references to this film (mostly, "Throw it in the wash, it'll be grand") so The Fiancé requested a viewing. It's not the best movie ever but it's enjoyable fluff.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 4

After a day that was mostly full of making wedding decisions and other wedding tasks I was utterly brain dead so I binged the last 4 episodes of this season. I love this show that can be both funny and still deal with serious issues so beautifully (Ep. 16 "Moo Moo", I'm looking at you). I'm excited that I'm finally caught up on the seasons on Netflix so that I can finally tackle the episodes I've been saving on the PVR.

OH, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'! I saw that one on my first trip to London in 2002 and haven't seen it since. I think a re-watch is in order. And it's probably funny enough to get The Wayne to watch - he'll do rom-coms if there is enough com :)

Hi Micky! Dropping off a star here -- your books look super interesting! I used to post in the 75ers group several years ago (I think I last fully participated in 2012) and I think I remember you from back then. Congrats on the engagement!

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is one of my favorite movies -- the Greek family is VERY similar to my giant Bolivian family (we own a restaurant and everything), and I anticipate many of the same obstacles when I get married :) Don't worry, I've warned my boyfriend.

>234 MickyFine: JAKE AND AMY FOREVERRRRRRRRR

After My Big Fat Greek Wedding came out everyone asked me if I had seen it. Yes, and also I had one:) Sort of. It was Greek and had plenty of kooky anyway. Real Greeks think the movie is funny but are aghast at the characters. Do Greek Americans really act like that? Yes they do.

>157 MickyFine: I LOVE THE NEWS, AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT PHOTO. WELL DONE YOU TWO.

Congratulations!

>235 katiekrug: Hopefully you and The Wayne enjoy it!

>236 curioussquared: Hi Natalie! Welcome back to the group. And thanks for the congratulations! I'm very lucky that my family is basically no drama in comparison with the one in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

>237 norabelle414: You know it.

>238 AMQS: Well, I'm glad you and Stelios survived the kooky and continue to rock the whole marriage thing. :)

>239 London_StJ: Thank you kindly, Luxx!

Book 15



Too Scot to Handle - Mary Burrowes

Anwen Windham is tired of being cossetted by her family, who can't seem to resist coddling her after nearly losing her during a childhood illness. She desperately wishes that instead they could understand her passion for the young, poor orphans at the Home for Urchins where Anwen serves on the ladies' committee. When Lord Colin MacHugh accidentally discovers Anwen's strong passion for her boys and the Home, he realizes there is far more to this quiet young woman than initially meets the eye. When the two team up to rescue the Home from penury, they discover an attraction that cannot be denied.

A cute historical romance with some solid characters although it never quite lives up to the awesomely punny title. Anwen and Colin are both lovely and likable but the conflict felt a bit half-hearted and the mystery rolled into it wasn't mysterious at all. Not a bad way to spend some time if you're in the mood for an historical romance but not one I'd force on anyone. That said, I'm eager to read the next book in the series because the heroine and hero have both been identified as extremely bookish. :D

Rating: ***

>157 MickyFine: Congratulations, Micky! :) So happy for you!

The title is indeed awesomely punny

Hi. Just so you know the Vote on my thread was tied, so please go vote again. Thanks.

>242 saras.library: Thank you, Sara!

>243 London_StJ: I love me a punny romance title and I find the Highlander romance novels tend to be the best for those.

>244 BBGirl55: Noted. I'll head on over. :)

Haha..that title. I don't know whether to cringe or to laugh..

Our turn to get a big dump of that white stuff. Brrr..

>246 jolerie: I saw the forecasted amounts for southern Alberta. You have my sympathies. All I can say is I'm very glad I don't live in Lethbridge anymore.

I love how you are getting married in a few months and not 2 years or something . Nothing against long engagement, but my son and his wife got engaged in December of 2013 and married in July of 2015 . I thought that was such a long engagement. Personally, Dave and I got engaged in April and married in July of the same year. Just cut to the chase, I say. But Dave and I were quite practical. We got engaged in a mall parking lot. We had picked out the ring together ,and we were waiting for it to be sized. So when Dave picked me up after work , I knew he had the ring. I told him, just get it out the ring and I'll put it on. Engagement done! And we went to McDonalds for dinner. But Dave was laid off from work at the time and so we had to be a bit thrifty. I'm not one for surprises. How we got engaged was by looking at wedding rings together, and Dave brought me a sketch he had done at a jewelers of the sort of engagement ring he envisioned me wanting. That was just a year after we began dating, so to buy a little time I told him - it's not quite the ring I had in mind, but I'll know the ring when I see it. So I saw the " right ring " in April of the same year.

>248 vancouverdeb: My parents also got engaged in a parking lot. As my mom tells it, Dad was acting goofy (he can’t keep a secret), and she turned to him and said, “You have the ring, don’t you?”

>248 vancouverdeb: That's a fun story, Deb.

>249 foggidawn: Aww. That's cute.

All right. This thread has reached capacity. Time to move on to Part the Second!

>238 AMQS: So funny.