Chelle has found time to read (#8)

Welcome to my August thread. August is anniversary month for Nate and I so I've added some wedding toppers. We will celebrate this year with a family trip to Alberta. It is also Thingaverysary month! 7 years on LT! Hard to believe. I will be reserving my Thingaversary books for September when a whole bunch of my faves publish new books.
💜❤️💙🧡

For those that don't know me I am Chelle, 30something wife, mother of two and a police dispatcher. Hubby is an officer and between our two shift work schedules we share in all duties of house and children. I read at work when it is slow and after our daughters are in bed or relaxing. We had our second child in 2017 so life is hectic right now but I'm still trying to find time to read.
I used to read about 100-125 books a year but in 2016 I only hit 36 and 2017 I just squeaked in with 75!
I was hoping to hit 100 this year but I am so close and it's only half way through the year so I've upped my goal to 150.

My other threads (that have gone to sleep out of neglect) are:
Women's Prize for Fiction
1001 books list
Booker Prize



Print:


Finished

August Books
🎧98) You Suck by Christopher Moore
99) Imprudence by Gail Carriger
100) The Broken Girls by Simone St James
101) Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
102) Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
103) Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
104) The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel
105) The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel
106) The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel

Bailed
Lamb by Christopher Moore (Only made it two chapters)
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger (26 pages)

Books read in 2018:

January
1) Midnight Line by Lee Child
2) Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
3) The Pyramid of Mud by Andrea Camilleri
4) Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
5) Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

February
6) The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
7) Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke (eBook)
8) Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King
9) The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
10) The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
11) The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey

March
12) The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
13) Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King
🎧14) Aunt Dimity and the Summer King by Nancy Atherton (audio)
15) The People we Hate at the Wedding by Grant Ginder
🎧16) Flight by Sherman Alexie (audio)
17) Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
18) How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
🎧19) Rabbit Remembered by John Updike (audio)
20) Enchanted Islands by Allison Amend
21) Troll Bridge GN by Neil Gaiman
22) Start Running! A 5k Training Schedule for Beginners by Tony Yang
23) The Spider and the Fly by Claudia Rowe
24) Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
25) The Power by Naomi Alderman

April Books
🎧26) Damned by Chuck Palahniuk
27) This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong
🎧28) Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell (audio)
🎧29) The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
30) Misery by Stephen King
31) The Man Who Died by Antti Tuomainen
32) The Exile GN by Diana Gabaldon
🎧33) The Unquiet Past by Kelley Armstrong
34) The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
35) Wires and Nerve GN by Marissa Meyer
36) The Shadow Killer by Arnaldur Indriðason
🎧37) A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
38) Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell
39) The Hush by John Hart
40) Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan
41) Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrick Backman
🎧42) Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore

May Books
43) Origin by Dan Brown
🎧44) Fluke by Christopher Moore
45) The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
46) Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
47) Two Nights by Kathy Reichs
48) The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
🎧49) The Humans by Matt Haig
🎧50) The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
51) The Witches of New York by Ami McKay
52) Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
🎧53) The Fates will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard
54) Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
🎧55) Nevermoor The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessican Townsend
56) Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong
🎧57) Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
58) And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
🎧59) Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel

June Books
60) Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly
61) Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
🎧62) Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
63) Three Secrets by Clare Boyd
64) Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
65) Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine
66) The Outsider by Stephen King
67) Behind Closed Doors by BA Paris
68) Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
🎧69) The Stand by Stephen King
70) Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris
71) Foe by Iain Reid
72) James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
73) The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker
🎧74) Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
75) Liar, Liar by Lisa Jackson
76) Soulless by Gail Carriger
🎧77) Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman

July Books
78) Changeless by Gail Carriger
79) Blameless by Gail Carriger
80) Adventures of Captain Underpants
🎧81) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling
82) Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
83) Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers
84) Heartless by Gail Carriger
85) Timeless by Gail Carriger
86) Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine
87) Black Water Rising by Attica Locke
88) Catwings by Ursula LeGuin
89) Prudence by Gail Carriger
90) Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine
91) Beartown by Fredrik Backman
92) Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
93) The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
🎧94) The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
95) Warcross by Marie Lu
96) White Oleander by Janet Fitch
97) Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets

2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge


1. A book made into a movie you've already seen - Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
2. True crimeThe Spider and the Fly: A Reporter, a Serial Killer, and the Meaning of Murder by Claudia Rowe
3. The next book in a series you started - The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
4. A book involving a heist - The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
5. Nordic noir - The Man Who Died by Antti Tuomainen
6. A novel based on a real person - Enchanted Islands by Allison Amend
7. A book set in a country that fascinates you - A Pyramid of Mud by Andrea Camilleri
8. A book with a time of day in the title -Midnight Line by Lee Child
9. A book about a villain or antihero - The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
10. A book about death or grief - Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
11. A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling
12. A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist - The People we Hate at the Wedding by Grant Ginder
13. A book that is also a stage play or musical - Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
14. A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you - Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
15. A book about feminism - The Power by Naomi Alderman
16. A book about mental health - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
17. A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift - Rabbit Remembered by John Updike
18. A book by two authors - Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King & Owen King
19. A book about or involving a sport - Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman (soccer)
20. A book by a local author - This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong
21. A book with your favourite colour in the title - Black Water Rising by Attica Locke
22. A book with alliteration in the title - Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King
23. A book about time travel- How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
24. A book with a weather element in the title The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
25. A book set at sea - Fluke by Christopher Moore
26. A book with an animal in the title- Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
27. A book set on a different planet - The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
28. A book with song lyrics in the title - Aunt Dimity and the Summer King by Nancy Atherton (Summer Kings by Cutty Ranks)
29. A book about or set on Halloween - Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
30. A book with characters who are twins - The Hush by John Hart
31. A book mentioned in another book - And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (Magpie Murders)
32. A book from a celebrity book club - The Lying Game by Ruth Ware (Reese Witherspoon Book Club)
33. A childhood classic you've never read - Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
34. A book that's published in 2018 - The Shadow Killer by Arnaldur Indridason
35. A past Goodreads Choice Awards winner - Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (debut Goodreads author 2015)
36. A book set in the decade you were born - Misery by Stephen King
37. A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn't get to - The Unquiet Past by Kelley Armstrong
38. A book with an ugly cover - Flight by Sherman Alexie
39. A book that involves a bookstore or library - Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan
40. Your favorite prompt from the 2015, 2016, or 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenges - The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (2017 Popsugar 28. A Novel set during Wartime)

Advanced Reading Challenge

41. A bestseller from the year you graduated high school - White Oleander by Janet Fitch
42. A cyberpunk book - Warcross by Marie Lu
43. A book that was being read by a stranger in a public place - The Outsider by Stephen King (Starbucks on Instagram)
44. A book tied to your ancestry - Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers
45. A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title - Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
46. An allegory - The Stand by Stephen King
47. A book by an author with the same first or last name as you - The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
48. A microhistory - The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
49. A book about a problem facing society today - Origin by Dan Brown (Decline of religion)
50. A book recommended by someone else taking the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge - The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (Mamie)

Great American Read

I'd like to finish these before the end of 2018
Agatha Christie - And Then There Were None
🎧Anne of Green Gables - Lucy Maud Montgomery
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
The Clan of the Cave Bear - Jean M. Auel
The Godfather - Mario Puzo
Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
Little Women - Louisa May Alcotte
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
🎧The Stand - Stephen King (on audio this time)
White Teeth - Zadie Smith
Wuthering Heights - Emile Bronte

✅= have read
🚨= nope
🔷= would like to read
🎧= Audio book

The 100 List:
✅1984 by George Orwell
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
✅A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
✅A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
🔷Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The by Mark Twain
✅Alchemist, The by Paulo Coelho
✅Alex Cross Mysteries (series) by James Patterson
✅Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
✅And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
🔷Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Another Country by James Baldwin
🔷Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
✅Beloved by Toni Morrison
Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
✅Book Thief, The by Markus Zusak
Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, The by Junot Diaz
🔷Call of the Wild by Jack London
✅Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
✅Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger
✅Charlotte's Web by EB White
✅Chronicles of Narnia, The (series) by CS Lewis
✅Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
Coldest Winter Ever, The Sister Soulja
✅Color Purple, The by Alice Walker
✅Count of Monte Cristo, The by Alexandre Dumas
🔷Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
✅Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime, The by Mark Haddon
✅Da Vinci Code, The by Dan Brown
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Doña Bárbara by Romulo Gallegos
Dune by Frank Herbert
🚨nope Fifty Shades of Grey (series) James, E.L.
✅Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
Foundation (series) by Issac Asimov
✅Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
✅(2)Game of Thrones (series) by George R. R. Martin
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
Gilead by Marilyn Robinson
✅Giver, The by Lois Lowry
🔷Godfather, The by Mario Puzo
✅Gone Girlby Gillian Flynn
🔷Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
✅Grapes of Wrath, The by John Steinbeck
🔷Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
✅Great Gatsby, The by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
✅Handmaid's Tale, The by Margaret Atwood
✅Harry Potter (series) by JK Rowling
🔷Hatchet (series) by Gary Paulsen
✅Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
✅Help, The by Kathryn Stockett
✅Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
✅Hunger Games, The (series) by Suzanne Collins
🚨Hunt for Red October, The by Tom Clancy
Intuitionist, The by Colson Whitehead
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
✅Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
✅Joy Luck Club, The by Amy Tan
✅Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Left Behind (series) LaHaye, Tim / Jenkins, Jerry B.
Little Prince, The by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
🔷Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
🔷Looking for Alaska by John Green
✅Lord of the Rings, The (series) by JRR Tolkien
✅Lovely Bones, The by Alice Sebold
✅Martian, The by Andy Weir
✅Memoirs of a Geishaby Arthur Golden
🔷Mind Invaders by Dave Hunt
🚨Moby Dick by Herman Melville
✅Notebook, The by Nicholas Sparks
🔷One Hundred Years of Solitude Garcia Marquez, Gabriel
✅Outlander (series) Gabaldon, Diana
✅Outsiders, The Hinton, S.E.
Picture of Dorian Gray Wilde, Oscar
🚨Pilgrim's Progress, The Bunyan, John
✅Pillars of the Earth Follett, Ken
✅Pride and Prejudice Austen, Jane
✅Ready Player One Cline, Ernest
✅Rebecca du Maurier, Daphne
✅Shack, The Young, William P.
🚨Siddhartha Hesse, Hermann
Sirens of Titan, The Vonnegut, Kurt
✅Stand, The King, Stephen
🔷Sun Also Rises, The Hemingway, Ernest
🔷Swan Song McCammon, Robert R.
Tales of the City (series) Maupin, Armistead
Their Eyes Were Watching God Hurston, Zora Neale
Things Fall Apart Achebe, Chinua
This Present Darkness Peretti, Frank E.
✅To Kill a Mockingbird Lee, Harper
✅Twilight Saga (series) Meyer, Stephanie
🔷War and Peace Tolstoy, Leo
✅Watchers, The Koontz, Dean
Wheel of Time, The (series) Jordan, Robert
Where the Red Fern Grows Rawls, Wilson
🔷White Teeth Smith, Zadie
Wuthering Heights Bronte, Emily

Attempting to track our Children's Books
New books acquired and read since January 1:
Mmm, Cookies! by Robert Munsch
That's Not My Snowman... by Fiona Watt (gift)
That's Not My Puppy.. by Fiona Watt (gift)
Goodnight Songs by Margaret Wise Brown
Bear's Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson
Ladybug Girl Dresses Up by David Soman and Jacky Davis
The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield
The Bad Seed by Jory John
If you Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff
Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann (second hand gift)
Pinkalicious: The Pinkamazing Storybook Collection by Victoria Kann (second hand gift)
Silverlicious by Victoria Kann (second hand gift)
Pinkalicious: The Princess of Pink Treasury by Victoria Kann (second hand gift)
Purplicious by Victoria Kann (second hand gift)
If I were a Unicorn by Anne Wilkinson (gift)
The World is a Wonderland board book collection by Nancy Tillman (V-Day present)
The Enormous Suitcase by Robert Munsch (V-Day present)
Pyjama Day by Robert Munsch (V-Day present)
Backyard Fairies by Pheobe Wahl (Early Reviewers Program)
Happy Easter, Little Critter by Mercer Mayer
Peppa Pig's Easter Hunt
That's Not my Bunny - Usborne Touchy Feely Books
Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman
Pinkalicious: Tickled Pink by Victoria Kann
The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson (birthday)
I Like Myself! (board book) by Karen Beaumont (birthday)
The School Play (Peppa Pig) by Meredith Rusu (birthday)
Captain Underpants series Books 2-5
DogBoy Series books 1&2

NetGalley
Officer Pete by Ruth Wielockx
Fish-Boy: An Inuit Folk Tale by Vanita Oelschlager
Little White Fish and his Daddy by Guido Van Genechten
Today I'll be a Unicorn by Dana Simpson
White Wild Indigo by Jack Widick
Sloth at the Zoom by Becker & Orbie

Library books:
Stick Man by Julia Donaldson
Gruffalo crumble and other recipes by Julia Donaldson
The rabbit and the turtle : Aesop's fables / retold and illustrated - Eric Carle
The elephant wish - Lou Berger
I'm a hungry dinosaur - Janeen Brian
Tater and Tot - by Andrea Burris
Snow moon - Nicholas Brunelle
Baby Polar - by Yannick Murphy
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Cottonwool Colin by Jeanne Willis
The Dragon Snatcher by MP Robertson
A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson
The Hockey Tree by David Ward
Mom, the School Flooded by Ken Rivard
My Best Friend by Mary Ann Rodman
Never Tease a Weasel by Jean Conder Soule
Pog and the Birdies by Jane Simmons
Skippyjohn Jones and the Big Bones by Judy Schachner
Postman Bear by Julia Donaldson
The monster at the end of this book by Jon Stone
Clifford goes to kindergarten by Norman Bridwell
Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick
Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel
The Everywhere Bear by Julia Donaldson
Walter the Farting Dog Goes on a Cruise by William Kotzwinkle (As my in-laws just left on a cruise today!)
Tickets to Ride by Mark Rogalski
My Friend is so Funby Mo Willems
Elephants Cannot Dance by Mo Willems
Waiting is not Easy by Mo Willems
Trap a Leprechaun by Sue Fliess
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino
Up in the Tree by Margaret Atwood
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 2
Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey
Little Brothers & Little Sisters by Monica Arnaldo
The Night Gardener by Terry Fan
The mermaid and the shoe by Keith Gordon
Inky the Octopus by Erin Guendelsberger
Charlie Cook's Favourite Book by Julia Donaldson
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
The Fish who Cried Wolf by Julia Donaldson
Cave Baby by Julia Donaldson
The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers
Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls 2 by Elena Favilli
Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey
Secret Pizza Party by Adam Rubin
This Moose Belongs to me by Oliver Jeffers
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Who gives a hoot? : Calpurnia Tate, girl vet by Jaqueline Kelly
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Adult books acquired 2018
This Fallen Prey - Kelley Armstrong
Renegades - Marissa Meyer
Anne of Green Gables (Audio) by Lucy Maud Montgomery (audible three month trial)
Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell
Misery - Stephen King
Witches of Eastwick - John Updike
Widows of Eastwick - John Updike
Man Who Died - Antti Tuomainen
The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell (Audio read by David Tennant)
Two Nights by Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars by Sarah Shepard
Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell
Devices and Desires by PD James
A Year of Marvellous Ways by Sarah Winman
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John Le Carre
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill
Fireman by Joe Hill
The Inn by William Patterson
American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Parting Shot by Linwood Barclay
The Twenty-Three by Linwood Barclay
A Widow for a Year by John Irving
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
Paradise by Toni Morrison
Legal Tender by Lisa Scottoline
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
I Found You by Lisa Jewell
Embraced by Darkness by Keri Arthur
The Darkest Kiss by Keri Arthur
Deadly Desire by Keri Arthur
Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur
Roughneck Nine-One: The Extraordinary Story of a Special Forces A-team at War by Frank Antenori (for Nate)
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The Book of M by Peng Shepherd
Soulless, Changeless, Blameless, Timeless, Heartless by Gail Carriger
Prudence & Imprudence by Gail Carriger

NetGalley
The Shadow Killer by Arnaldur Indridason
Liar, Liar by Lisa Jackson
Foe by Iain Reid
Three Secrets by Clare Boyd
The Titan Strain by Virginia Soenksen
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker
The Nightmare by Lars Kepler
An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris

Goals for August:

Monthly goals have been scrapped.... Reading Clan of the Cave Bear series for fun instead

I hope you're open for guests. Happiest of new threads, Chelle! Needless to say, lovely toppers! You were a stunning bride. Cheers to anniversaries, both wedding and Lt!

Happy new thread and congratulations on both anniversaries.

Of your stack of books I have read Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson and The Wonder by Emma Donoghue and rated both highly. I also liked Clan of the Cave Bear when I read it in the 1980's, enough to read the rest of the series as they were published.

I do want to get to the Book of Dust sometime but the library copies always seem to be checked out ... so I am not the only one.

Hello ChelleBearss! I hope all is well with you.

I am interested to see what you think of The Lamb Moore. I never read this one, but it was the last Christopher Moore book I attempted. I was a huge fan, back in the day, even met him at a signing, but kind of brought all to a halt. Yes, I had some issues with it, but it was also funny, what I read anyway. I must have been moving out of that pphase or something. None of his subsequent books have been interesting enough to bring me back.

Carriger sounds like fun.

My kids have also really enjoyed the Dogman series.

>7 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! We were very happy that the wedding day ended up being exactly what we wanted and I can't wait to go back to the wedding resort in a few years. This is year 6 and I've told Nate we HAVE to go back for year 10!

>8 calm: Hi Calm! I was surprised to find Book of Dust sitting on the shelf so I snatched it up. I am hoping to get to it before it's due back but that's rarely what happens when I borrow books! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the others!

>9 brodiew2: Hi Brodie! I have enjoyed the previous Moore book's that I have read. Lamb seems to be mocking Christianity so I may enjoy it more than others as I am not religious. We shall see as I just started it today. \
Carriger is a lot of fun and I would totally recommend that series!

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread, Chelle!

>1 ChelleBearss: Awww. Congrats on the upcoming anniversary. We celebrate our 35th next week. (You have to hang out on the planet for a while to get to the big numbers - my folks made it to 63).

I must've missed it - how did you like Name of the Wind? I loved it, and the second one. We've been waiting forever for the third. Apparently he's a very painstaking writer.

Happy
1. Thingaversary!
2. Anniversary!
3. New Thread!

Hi Chelle, I'll add my good wishes to >13 mstrust: above. Looks like August is shaping up to be a great month for you!

Do my eyes deceive me or did you do your wedding photos at Peggy's Cove? Regardless, happy anniversary to you and Nate, good luck with the upcoming trip to my dear province, and props for all the books your eyeing to read this month.

Happy new thread, Chelle and happy Thingaversary!
LOVE your toppers, when is your wedding anniversary?

Happy new thread, Chelle. Beautiful photos at the top. You are reading lots this year -- I don't think I've ever gotten to 150.

Love the wedding pictures with the lighthouse Chelle. What a great spot for photos.

Thanks again for the cyberpunk recommendation - I was struggling to find one for that category!

>11 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>12 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! 63 years is amazing! My parents are at 45 and Nate's 34 (I think). I will have to live to 94 for us to make it to 63 years! :)
I did enjoy Name of the Wind and I will grab book two later this year for my commute to work. I wasn't blown away by the ending though, even though I enjoyed the story a lot.

>13 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer for the trifecta of happy!

>14 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy! August has always been a kind month, I find.

>15 MickyFine: Ha, good eye, Mickey. We did get married in Peggy's Cove at a seaside resort. It is one of my favourite places! Right down the road from the lighthouse and the local fish market where we bought lobsters and had a cook out the day after the wedding. It was very "east coast" and I loved it!

>16 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! It's September 29th.

>17 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I think my best year to date has been 123 but I aim to beat that this year! :)

>18 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! I hope the book worked for you and wasn't too gamey.

Happy everything, Chelle! :-)

Thanks, Shelley! Happy weekend to you!

Happy Saturday, folks!

This morning Nate gets to coach Chloe's soccer team. Her regular coach is away this weekend and sent out a request to all the parents to see who would be there this morning and who would be able to help out a bit. I sent back that we would be there and could help out a bit. His respond was "Thanks for offering to coach this weekend, I'll drop off the supplies for you" Doh!
So ya, Nate gets to coach today (tee hee). I'm sure I'll pay for this later :)

Happy New Thread, Chelle. Love the anniversary toppers! Have a great weekend.

>23 ChelleBearss: Yikes. Never volunteer...

>23 ChelleBearss: - :-). Good luck with that!

I plan to spend as much of today indoors as I can, given our weekend forecast. Stifling! Make sure your crew drinks a lot, out there!!

Happy new thread, Chelle!

Charlie and I LOVE the Dog Man books! So goofy and fun.

I have been informed by my sleepy husband that apparently he is watching Ellie on the blanket while I coach soccer. Hmfph.
I guess four hours sleep is not enough to deal with 4 year olds.

>24 msf59: Morning, Mark! Hope you can find a way to stay cool today.

>25 charl08: Lesson learned, Charlotte. A few weeks ago a different dad coached and he is buddies with our regular coach so I, wrongly, assumed he was doing it again and we were volunteering to "help". Whoops

>26 jessibud2: Thanks lol. Try to stay cool! It's supposed to be 29 later but thankfully for soccer time it's only supposed to make it to 23. Hydrating and a freezie after :)

>27 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! We are on chapters 3 of Dog Man and Chloe seems to be enjoying it. It's in actual comic book form and she wasn't sure of it at first but I think she is following along ok.

Bailed


I found that I could not get into this one at all. Sad because I had been really enjoying Moore's books.

Happy Sunday, folks!

I survived the soccer practice and apparently the little kiddos seemed to have fun. Score!
Today we are heading into town to visit my parents while Nate heads up north to work an overtime shift at a town a few hours away. They are having a huge town reunion and expecting 10 000 to 30 000 people and had to ask for help from neighbouring police detachments.


99) Imprudence by Gail Carriger

This was just as fun and action filled as the previous books. I really like Rue and I am looking forward to seeing what she gets into next! I plan to purchase the next instalment as part of my Thingaversary books.

Morning, Chelle. I am only leaving the house to food shop today. The rest will be spent in the cool, comfy Man-Cave. Books & baseball.

It looks like you are enjoying your Christopher Moore books. I should get back to him myself. It has been awhile.

Morning, Mark! Hope you enjoy your cool man cave today! We are heading to my parent's. Chloe and my dad will go swimming and Ellie and I will hang out with my mom in the yard. It's hot already so I'm not really looking forward to sitting outside!

I hope you can keep cool, Chelle. Good news that soccer went well, but don't get *too* good at coaching or you'll be given your own team :-)

Thingaversary Book Plan! Hoping to preorder these soon:

Competence by Gail Carriger (out now}

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (September 18)
Elevation by Stephen King (October 30)
Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly (October 30)
Past Tense by Lee Child (November 5)
Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny (November 27)

That's it for now. I'm sure I'll find one more I need sometime soon :)

>33 susanj67: Hi Susan! This was a one time gig! I much prefer watching from the sidelines!

Happy new thread, Chelle. Love the wedding photos and hope you're having a happy anniversary. August is anniversary month for us too. It will be 30 years on Aug. 24.

Love the wedding topper Chelle. And happy Thingaversary. Good on you pre-ordering the new Louise Penny. I can’t wait myself.

Happy Civic Holiday! (To those that have a long weekend today! :)
Yesterday we spent the afternoon visiting my family while Nate was away working. Today is gearing up to be another hot and humid day as it's already 25c at 8am! I'm hoping we can take the girls to the beach or waterpark this afternoon once Nate gets home.

Here are a few action shots of yesterday's fun


I also took a photo of Chloe's sunflower crop that she grew from seed. This year they got taller than last year.


>36 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! Unfortunately Nate has to work on our actual anniversary this year as someone else needed that day during vacation picks and he is at the bottom of the vacation pick totem pole. We hope we can get a date night while we are on vacation.
Congrats on 30 years! That's pretty amazing!

>37 brenzi: Thanks, Bonnie! I am also looking forward to the Louise Penny. It's late this year as she has been putting out one each August for the last few years but this year I have to wait until November. Boo.

Love the photos, Chelle. That swimming pool sure looks refreshing. Chloe has quite the green thumb!

WOW! Those sunflowers!!! How cool is that!

Chelle, lovely photos! I loved my uncle's pool when I was a kid. It was a similar size to the one your parents have. Is Elissa sitting in a little "pool in a pool" in the second photo? I have never seen a thing like that before, but what a clever idea. And those sunflowers! Great effort, Chloe!

Hope you get a change for a nice anniversary celebration. Love the photo of Chloe in the sunflowers. Got my pre-order in for the next Penney too. Can't wait.

>39 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! The girls both loved the pool and I'm sure it was refreshing! The humidex was so high that it felt like 36 or something ridiculous yesterday. Today we are having thunderstorms so it's an inside day now!

>40 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley! Chloe is pretty proud of them!

>41 susanj67: Thanks, Susan! My dad's best friend lives across the street from them and has the pool. We've tried to talk my parents into putting in a pool because they have a huge yard but they have no desire when they can use his buddy's whenever they want.
The floating thing is just a little raft thing. Ellie seemed to like it as long as someone was touching her and freaked if we let go.

>42 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! I'm hoping my BIL will be willing to watch the girls one night so we can slip out for dinner or even a drink.

100) The Broken Girls by Simone St James

I put off reading this as I thought it was going to be too scary for nights when I was home alone but once I started it on a sunny afternoon I couldn't stop reading it at night as well. I didn't end up finding it too scary but instead just the right amount of creepy and intriguing. I thought this was very well done and I didn't guess most of the plot line, which made me quite happy!
4.5🌟

(And with this book I have reached my initial goal of 100 books!! I will now be putting my goal up to try and beat my best year (2012 - 123) and I think I may hit 150)

Congrats on the 100, Chelle! It's all gravy from here. :-)

Congrats Chelle! Lovely pictures in the pool.

Hi chellebearss!

>44 ChelleBearss: Congrats on 100! I saw the cover on this an was intrigued by it, first, and read just enough to creep me out as well. I did not continue but it's good to hear that you ended up enjoying it.

It is one of the most intriguing covers I've seen in a while. The grey black of the broken window and the dull blue of the out of focus school building in the back ground mixed with vibrant, but minimal orange of the leaves. Probably too much information, but the cover wouldn't leave me alone for a while. I was in boarding school myself many years ago.

>38 ChelleBearss: I love the Chloe/sunflower photo. That's the little angel.

Congratulations on reading 100 books and it sounds like a good one.

Morning, folks. It's rainy day here and yesterday afternoon we had some thunderstorms. I'm happy about that as our grass was getting pretty sad!
Nate left last night for his 24 hour motorcycle ride. He is travelling from Woodstock, Ontario to Saint-Philippe-de-Néri, Quebec, which is around 2000km round trip. He is trying to do this within 24 hours to get a badge from the motorcycle club Iron Butt. He has done two rides similar to this in the last year but this is the most ambitious one yet. If he still feels good when he gets back to Woodstock and still has time left he may keep going on the highway to get another 500km to get the next badge up. I think he is nuts but these rides make him happy.
Today Chloe has craft camp so Miss Ellie and I will be hanging out and cleaning house. My kitchen floors need some serious love.

>45 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! I have a couple challenges still that I'd like to do but the reading pressure is for sure off, which is nice.

>46 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! They had a blast!

>47 brodiew2: HI Brodie, nice to see you! Yes, such a simple cover can give you chills, eh! The whole book wasn't spooky, only parts of it. The rest reads like a thriller murder mystery. If you like a touch of scary and a touch of creepy then it's a good book to try!

>48 msf59: Thanks, Mark! She is pretty proud of them! We grew a few last year as we had given out giant sunflower seeds at her birthday party in the goodie bags. This year she planted the whole seed package.

>49 calm: Thanks, Calm! It was pretty good!

Hi Chelle, a belated Happy Anniversay, Thingaversary and new thread my dear. Just love your thread topper photos dear friend they are gorgeous and Nate is a lucky man, sending love and hugs from both of us.

>51 johnsimpson: Hi, John! Thank you! I tell Nate that he is lucky all the time, but he thinks that I'm the one that is lucky :) Perhaps we both are!

101) Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

This was absolutely thrilling! Sci-fi isn't really my go to genre and I would have never thought a thriller about quantum physics and alternate reality would be so thrilling and enjoyable. This was a five star read for me and I highly recommend it!
5🌟

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
Bailed after 26 pages. Too YA silly for my current mood, which makes me sad as I have loved the last two series that I finished by Gail Carriger.

Morning, Folks. Rainy day here, again. We have a busy day of appointments and then dropping the kiddos at their grandparent's while we run into town to interview a daycare and hit up Costco. Thrilling stuff.

I'm currently trying to talk Nate into a day trip to Toronto sometime soon to see the Banksy exhibit. 35 million dollars worth of Banksy art all in one place. Biggest exhibit ever and after the show the exhibit goes back to the over 40 different collectors. I am hoping to talk Nate into a day trip and maybe I can treat him to a meal at the Cheesecake Factory!

Hi Chelle!

Happy Anniversary, Thingaversary, new thread, and 100 books read.

>34 ChelleBearss: I'd pre-ordered Lethal White already, but thank you for the head's up on the newest Stephen King and Michael Connelly. I actually think I'm going to pass on the newest Louise Penny - I might pick it up in a year or so at the Friends sale. I've begun to actively dislike her writing style.

Have a lovely day, even if it's a busy one. Good luck with the day care. Personally I love to go to Costco, but maybe that's just me.

>53 ChelleBearss: Yes! Our whole family loved Dark Matter, Chelle.

Yes! Tell Nate that Joe, Debbi and I said that you have to see the Banksy exhibition, no ifs, ands or buts. I'm sure that will convince him.

Wow--Happy new thread, Anniversary (whenever you to actually celebrate it), Thingaversary, amazing sunflowers and 100 books already!! You are killing it. : )

Sweet Thursday, Chelle! Hooray for Dark Matter! A smart, fun read.

Morning, folks! It's a good day here at Chez Bearss as not only did we find an awesome daycare provided yesterday we are also planning our day trip to Toronto for next week! I managed to talk Nate into a trip to the Ripley's Aquarium and the Banksy exhibit in Toronto! I'm very excited!

>56 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen! Sorry to see that you haven't been enjoying Louise Penny's writing. I enjoy her story lines and have become addicted to buying her books.

>57 jnwelch: Glad to see your whole clan loved Dark Matter! It was a good one! Have you read The Chalk Man? I'm debating starting that sometime soonish

>58 kidzdoc: It totally worked, Darryl! I am very excited and I hope the girls can handle an hour of art gallery time before hitting up the aquarium,

>59 Berly: Thanks, Kim! It's been a great summer

>60 msf59: Yay for Dark Matter, Mark!

>61 ChelleBearss: I was at the Aquarium in July! Very cool - the children should love it. My 15 year old daughter and I were in TO for a field hockey tournament at U of T. I was last in Toronto when I was 9.

Yay for finding a daycare! That must be a load off your mind.

And huzzah for a fun trip to Toronto! I only ever go to Toronto for conferences so the closest I've been to a tourist is a walking tour one of my friends took me on (she lives there) that showed off major highlights and a wander of the Toronto Reference Library (so gorgeous). Hopefully the girls are cooperative during your art gallery visit!

Wow, those are beautiful wedding pictures. You both look so charming!

>61 ChelleBearss: I haven't read Chalk Man, so I'll look forward to hearing your reaction to it. Right now I'm reading and liking a Chicago-based mystery, Broken Places by Tracy Clark.

Happy Friday, Chelle. Dark Matter goes on the list.

Hi Chellebearss! Happy Friday!

Dark Matter was fun. I listed to it on audio last year and enjoyed it. I'm glad you liked it as well.

Ooh, Banksy! Sounds brilliant. Hope you have a great time.

Hooray for finding good day care. That's so important both to the kiddies but also to your peace of mind. Also glad to hear you'll be having a get-away to Toronto next week. I haven't been there in ages -- time to go back.

I loved Dark Matter so now I am going to have to look at Chalk Man...

Congrats on finding daycare you like--it just makes life so much easier if you are happy with the provider. And hurray for a Toronto jaunt!

Happy Saturday, Folks!
This morning Chloe has soccer this morning and I think it's her last day (silent cheer for the end of things!!)
We've had a rough few days around here as I managed to catch a summer cold and the girls have had runny noses and miserable attitudes for days. I'm hoping we are nearing the end though! Nate's on nightshift this weekend so I need to find some extra patience to get through the days alone and feeling crappy!

>62 raidergirl3: Glad that you and your daughter liked the aquarium! Nate and I went a few years ago and loved it and I think that Chloe will have a blast!

>63 MickyFine: Hi Micky! I love being a tourist in Toronto and we have been trying to catch a Jays game every summer since we moved back to Ontario. I think we are going to miss the Jays game this year as I think Ellie is still a bit small but hopefully next summer!

>64 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel! I was younger and smaller then :)

>65 jnwelch: Hi Joe! I'm not sure when I'll get to it but it's on the list of potentials! :)

>66 BLBera: I hope you love it, Beth!

>67 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie! I'm glad that so many people have loved Dark Matter!

>68 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! I'm hoping the girls can be calm and quiet for a short time so we can look through the exhibit! My dad is coming along too for the aquarium so he can always distract the kids for us as I don't think he has a lot of interest in Banksy considering he didn't know who Banksy is :)

>69 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! After we walked through the last home daycare and had some concerns it was nice to walk into this sparkling clean home and see her meal plans and schedules and an amazing playroom. She has three super well behaved children and she seems really down to earth and nice but has rules and regulations to make life run smoothly. Nate and I both loved her!

>70 Berly: Hi, Kim! Hope you are feeling better! I'm not sure if Chalk Man will be similar to Dark Matter, but a while back it caught my interest. I've yet to read it though, bad Chelle!

102) Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
Great American Read

I borrowed this book from the library about 10 years ago and let it expire and had to return it unread. I never got around to trying again until I saw it on the Great American Read list and decided to add it to my list of GAR books to try and enjoy this year.

I loved it! I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of their surroundings from that time period and the ways they survive and enjoy life in such an unforgiving climate. I need to know what happens next to Ayla and I'll be grabbing the second book very soon!

>73 ChelleBearss: - Hi Chelle. The first 4 books in the Clan of the Cave Bear series came out around 2 years apart. I gobbled them up. Then there was a big gap of several years without another before she continued the series. I will admit that I have the next 2 but just haven't got around to reading them. Same thing happened to me with Diana Gabaldon's *Outlander* series; I read the first 4 one after another then took a break and still haven't got back to them. But, both series (what I've read so far) were excellent. I also loved the Cave Bear series for the prehistoric descriptions. The beginning of what we now know as pharmacology, for just one example - so interesting!

Well done, Chelle! I look forward to your comments about the Banksy exhibition in Toronto. Several years ago Debbi, Joe and I went to Dismaland, the amusement park designed by Banksy and his colleagues that was temporarily on display in Weston-super-Mare, UK. I have a Facebook photo album from that day, which the three of us won't soon forget.

>74 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! I think that's part of the reason that I gobble up series once I find one I like. If I put them down to savour them I forget what I read or I forget to go back to them! When I started the Outlander series I read the first two or three and then took a break that lasted a couple years! Then I had to read the first few over again because I couldn't remember what I read, but then I finished the whole series one book after another. Now I'm sadly waiting for her next one to (maybe) come out in 2019.
I do love the TV show of Outlander though. Jamie, Mmmmm! :)

>75 kidzdoc: Wow, Darryl, I bet that would have been amazing! I'll admit that I don't know a ton of about Banksy but I've seen articles on his art over the years and I know he can be a bit controversial. I like that he seems to go different directions and it's not all anti-establishment and a lot are trying to get people to open their eyes. I also like that he is still unknown in such a know everything instantly age and that he doesn't give reasons or explanations to his art and leaves it up to us to examine and think about what his message might be. I find the whole thing very interesting and I'm excited to take a walk through and see so much!

Good morning Chelle -- I hope you and the girls are feeling better today.

>78 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! I am feeling a little better but still drained. We are having a TV and relax day!

Yay to the end of doing all the things!! One month off until the next activity, and school, starts!

Hay for soccer and the end of soccer! Hope your household starts to feel better...today!!

>73 ChelleBearss: I have read The clan of the Cave Bear (and the next three books) three times, as the last two books were not published when I started. With each next book I started at the first book to read them all :-)

Echoing what Darryl said about Dismaland and Banksy, Chelle. The Dismaland theme park was so clever and funny - it's hard to describe, but to give you an idea, their "security" wouldn't let me in until I stopped smiling and looked appropriately grumpy.

I look forward to hearing about the Toronto exhibit.

103) Dog Man by Dav Pilkey

Enjoyable and fun. Chloe liked Captain Underpants a little more but she was very exciting about the instruction in the back that show how to draw Dog Man and Petey.

>81 Berly: Thanks, Kim! It would help if I was sleeping better but Chloe decided that 6am was a great time to party today. Ugh.

>82 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! If I pause long enough I'd have to start over each time too. Do you plan on finishing the series?

>83 jnwelch: Joe, that sounds pretty awesome. I hadn't heard of Dismaland so I went and looked it up last night. Pretty creative, that Banksy!

>80 ChelleBearss: Love it!!

Happy Sunday, Chelle. I hope you are enjoying the weekend. We are heading to CO, later this morning, so I won't be around much this coming week, but I will update when I can.

Hi Chelle!

I'm happy that you found a wonderful daycare. Congrats.

I hope that you're all feeling a bit better today.

I read the first 4 Outlander books then stopped in the middle of the fifth. I re-read them then continued the series in 2016. I, too, am anxiously waiting for the next one.

Hope you are all fully recovered, Chelle, and able to enjoy a wonderful Sunday.

Chelle, I binged on the Cave Bear series a few years ago, and loved them. You have many happy hours ahead of you :-) I finished the original ones just in time for the last one which was published, so I didn't have to reread. But with Outlander I think I'm only up to book 5. I thought I would wait for her to finish the series but I don't think she's ever going to!!

Gabaldon is still writing the ninth book of the Outlander series. She sometimes posts extracts of the work in progress on her author site, I haven't read them as I am waiting for the book :)

As for Cave Bear I did hear rumours that there might be a 7th book. As Auel takes years between books I wouldn't be surprised as book 6 definitely left things in a place where it could be continued. Spoiler for anyone who hasn't read all the books I would love to learn what happened to Durc; one of Ayla's spirit world journeys certainly implies that her children will meet

Just as an aside, I saw Diana Gabaldon speak here in Toronto several years ago. She is a delightful speaker and so funny! I am rushing out now but when I get home later, I will look for a pic to post!

Happy Monday, folks! Today Chloe has craft camp and Nate is sleeping from his weekend of nightshifts. I'm all caught up on the house things (at least the things that can be done while someone is sleeping) so when Ellie sleeps I think it will be a coffee and book in the sun kind of morning!
At some point I also have to purchase tickets for our daytrip to Toronto for tomorrow. I won't be online tomorrow as we are leaving bright and early to get a full day in. I'm debating driving to the Go train and taking that in, or just driving and parking at our favourite spot by the aquarium. Each way costs about as much and will take about the same amount of time. I think the Go Train just saves in case their is construction or road delays. Hmmm. Still thinking on it.

>86 msf59: Morning, Mark! Hope you are having a great trip!!

>87 karenmarie: HI Karen! I think we have more waiting to do for the Gabaldon book as I understand it's not complete yet. Hopefully sometime next year!

>88 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, nice to see you around the threads! We had a decent Sunday which involved a lot of relaxing :)

>89 susanj67: Hi Susan! I'm not sure if Gabaldon has another book in her after this next one. It takes her so long to write them though, so who knows! The next season of the tv show starts up again in November, yay!
I went to look at my TBR book stack and couldn't find anything that appealed to me so I ended up starting right into the second Auel book. I have a feeling I'm going to binge read the series!

>90 calm: Hiya, Calm! I don't read the excerpts either as I don't want any spoilers! I keep checking her website periodically to see if she has posted any release updates but looks like it will be a bit yet.
Most of the things I've read about the Auel series say the 6th book is the last. I'm sure her fans would love more though so one can only hope! I can't believe both Outlander and The Cave Bear series both took multiple decades to tell their stories! The first Outlander was published 27 years ago and the first Cave Bear was published the year before I was born, 38 years ago!
I'll refrain from looking at your spoiled until I've read a few more books :)

>91 jessibud2: That's very cool! That's something I haven't had the joy of doing yet! Perhaps once the girls a bit older I can sneak out to some author events!

Hi Chelle, I am glad that you enjoyed The Clan of the Cave Bear that was a book (and a series) that I loved way back before LT. I have been working my way through the audios of the Outlander series but currently have stalled on book #7, so I need to get going on that again. You picked a nice assortment of books to read from the Great American Read list.

>85 ChelleBearss: I did finish the series the last time, Chelle :-)
I would start over again if Auel decides to write a 7th book, or else I might re-read them all one day.

>92 ChelleBearss: - There is ALWAYS construction in Toronto, Chelle. Use GO if it doesn't make that much of a difference. Also, it's going to be hot tomorrow!

I am eager to hear about the Banksy exhibit. I may go next week when an out of town friend comes in.

I am still a newbie when it comes to posting pics in posts. I will try to post a couple here from the 2009 Diana Gabaldon talk I went to:





(I have descriptions of the photos on my gallery from my profile.)

Edited to fix my initial! Yay! Thanks, Nora. I think the step I had forgotten was to click on the actual picture first. I think what I had done was right click on the smaller version when viewing the entire gallery.

>94 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy! I hope you'll go back and finish the Outlander series. It's one of my favourites and I'm anxiously waiting on the next one! Have you read many from the GAR list or my GAR choices? The GAR website listed the top 40 books so far and it's pretty much what I expected.

>95 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! They are pretty long books so I can't imagine rereading them too often but I am enjoying them so far! I'm almost finished the second book and I may just keep going and pick up the third right away.

>96 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley! I think we are going to jump on the GO in Aldershot, if we can find parking! We will be arriving around 9am so I'm crossing my fingers that it's a light commuter day!
Thankfully we won't be wandering around Toronto outdoors too much but I'll make sure we are dressed light enough for the weather!
I checked out your pics on your gallery, thanks for sharing them! I would love to meet her someday, her and a ton of others!!

>96 jessibud2: You're super close! The step that you missed is when you go to the picture page (for example, https://www.librarything.com/pic/6509897), right click on the picture itself and click "Copy image address" from the menu. THAT is the link you need to use in your html.

I thought that was what I did. I even double-checked. But I will try again tomorrow, when I am not so tired. Thanks, though!

>98 norabelle414:, >96 jessibud2: - Thanks, Nora. You were exactly right; I had forgotten to click on the actual individual picture.

Hi Chelle, and happy Tuesday to you.

104) The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel
3.5🌟
I enjoyed this one very much, although it dragged a little in the middle. I've grown very fond of Ayla and this series and I plan to continue it right until the end!

>98 norabelle414: Thanks for helping out, Nora!

>99 jessibud2: >100 jessibud2: Glad you were able to fix it! :)

>101 karenmarie: Hi Karen! Happy Wednesday :)

Hi Folks!
Lazy Wednesday here as we are all pretty tuckered from our day trip to Toronto yesterday. We took the Go Train and that is way more confusing than it needs to be! We managed to get on the wrong train going home but thankfully it was travelling parallel to where we needed to go, before branching north, so we managed to get off and take an Uber (our first Uber!) about 5 minutes to the correct Go line and hop on the correct line!
The Banksy exhibit was very interesting but it was also pretty busy so we didn't get a ton of time to stand around and really look. We had Ellie asleep in her stroller so we kind of had to try and keep out of people's way with it. There were some stunning pieces and some that seem very angry. Chloe got a free red Banksy heart balloon and was over the moon happy and then we had to check it when we got to the aquarium. When we left we tried to pick it up but someone else had already taken it! Chloe was pretty devastated and cried about it. I was pretty shocked that anyone would steal a child's balloon!

Other than the slight train and balloon drama it was a pretty great day. Both girls were very well behaved and everyone had fun. Here are a few pics. My favourites are the one of the girls sitting together in front of the large tank watching the big fish and the one of Chloe standing in front of the Banksy stained glass painting that was made with the help of school children from LA.

I love all of the photos but especially the one of Chloe with the stained glass painting (I had no idea he did things like that!) and the one of her popping up in the middle of the aquarium.

Love the photos of the Banksy exhibit, Chelle, thanks. Wish we could see this! So sorry about Chloe's balloon- it's hard to get much lower than stealing a child's balloon. Poor Chloe. She looks like she had fun at the exhibit and the aquarium, though.

Chelle, good to know the Banksy exhibit is good. Was it hard to get to from downtown? Not that I am downtown; in fact, I live in the north end, but east and I know the exhibit is in the west end. I will likely go by public transit as parking anywhere and any time in this city is a nightmare. Was it all outdoors and was there a charge?

So sad about the balloon. Just a real head-shaker. Your pics are terrific!

Hi Chelle, I have seen that you are reading The Clan of the Cave Bear series, I read the first two about 25 years ago when a work colleague of Karen's gave her them to pass on to me. I am going to get back to this series as they fit my criteria for this year so I have pulled the first one of the shelf in the loft and put it on the spare bedroom bookcase ready for me to pick up.

I loved the photos you posted on Facebook about your visit to the Banksy exhibition and so sad that Chloe had her balloon stolen. Sending love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

Just dropping by to wish you a great weekend! Besides the balloon incident, it looks like you had a great day trip to Toronto!

Morning, folks! It's been a busy few days here. They girls and I went to visit one of my best friends yesterday and meet her 4 week old baby. He slept the whole visit through the very loud sounds of 3 kiddos playing. What a baby! It was a nice visit and the girls loved their cuddles.
Chloe is spending the weekend with her grandparents and today Nate is off on a motorcycle ride with my dad. It will be just Ellie and I hanging out today. I have a bit of cleaning to do, a trip to the library to return grossly overdue books and then lots of reading planned! I'm almost finished the third book from the Earth's Children series The Mammoth Hunters and it's excellent. I'm really enjoying this series and I highly recommend starting the first book Clan of the Cave Bear to anyone who hasn't read it yet!

>105 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! In front of the stained glass there was a yellow line indicating where to stop and signs saying not to touch. Chloe came running from Nate to where I was standing right in front of it and she started to cross the line. I thought she was going to barrel right into the painting but thankfully she stopped right when she reached me. I could see the docent stand up in alarm and I thought we were going to get tossed out but thankfully Chloe stopped moving and we were able to stand still and look for a bit before the room filled up

>106 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! There is a special place in hell for someone that steals from a 4yo. She loved the aquarium and has now decided that she wants a pet fish. We have told her she can't get one until we get home from our trip and I'm hoping that by the time we get home that she will have forgotten about that request!

>107 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! It was a pretty good exhibit! I wouldn't go on a weekend though as we went on Tuesday and it was still pretty busy! It was right near the Bloor Go stop if you are able to get to that, Sterling St - south of Bloor and east of Dundas. It was about a 5-10 minute walk from the Bloor Go stop. It was an indoor exhibit. It did have a parking lot if you wanted to drive. Entrance fee was $35.

>108 johnsimpson: Hi John! Glad that you can fit the Earth's Child series into your challenge this year! I plan to read all 6 books immediately!

>109 figsfromthistle: Hi There! It was a great trip to Toronto, thanks! It was super busy though, for a Tuesday, so I am glad that we didn't try and go on the weekend!

Hi Chelle,

Dundas and Bloor. Isn't that right downtown? I somehow thought it was more in the west end. I have to go check my street guide now. Anyhow, thanks for the tips. I will let you know if I get there.

Edited to add that I just checked and yes, I was right (and so were you!). In the downtown, Bloor and Dundas run parallel but in the west end of the city, Dundas curves north and crosses Bloor so what you said now makes perfect sense. Not sure my friend and I will go tomorrow, though, for the reasons you mentioned plus, it sounds a tad pricey. We are going to a show today and the Banksy would turn it into a rather expensive weekend.

105) The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel

I love when an author creates two very strong characters who I know should be together, but they are so strong and stubborn that it could go either way in the end. I had to finish this well past my bedtime as I just had to know which way it would end up.
4🌟

>111 jessibud2: Hi Shelley. I agree that I found it rather pricey but I wanted to see some of it so it was worth it to me. I'll probably never have a chance to see his art again. I was just glad that both girls were free!
Enjoy your show today!

>112 ChelleBearss: - WOW! You are breezing right through that series, Chelle. You're making me want to give it a try... The first one is on my Kindle.

>114 katiekrug: Yes, do it! I loved the first one .. and the second ... and the third :) I started the fourth last night. I've clearly scrapped my original August goals and am just going to finish this series instead. This next one is apparently 900 pages so I doubt I'll finish it before we leave for vacation. I also need to pack at some point!

Jim (drneutron) posted this link and I was shocked to see that I've only read 22 from this list of 100 best horror novels. I've found quite a few from this list that I'm going to pick up for October scare reading!
https://www.npr.org/2018/08/16/632779706/click-if-you-dare-100-favorite-horror-s...

Chelle, it sounds like you are enjoying the Cave Bear series as much as I did!

Sorry to hear about the balloon incident - there are some awful people out there.

>116 susanj67: I am enjoy it, Susan. Although this fourth book has started out with way too many memories from the previous books and a lot more descriptions about the animals they are seeing on their travels. I do enjoy reading about the animals and land descriptions but this one seems to have a bit too much.

Happy Monday, folks!
Chloe is off to craft camp again this morning and it is her last one! She is excited but I think sad too, that it's coming to an end.
We are leaving on our trip to Alberta this Wednesday night so the next two days will be spent with travel prep (cleaning, packing, etc)
In other news I don't recall if I had mentioned that I did not get the half time spot at work that I had applied for as they have decided to remove the position. instead I got a call last week offering me a full time hour spot (right now I am a full time employee that chose to work 9 hour shifts instead of 12). I've decided to take the full time spot and I will start when I go back in September. It's the same amount of days but 12 hour shifts instead of my normal 9.

Hi Chelle!

How long is your vay-cay going to be? Good luck with the prep - I always start getting excited when the suitcases come out.

It will be a big change going back to work after being off with Ellie. I hope the 12-hour shift days work out well for you and your family.

>118 ChelleBearss: - Wow, 12-hour shifts sound gruelling! Will Chloe be in school full days? Good luck with everything. Somehow, things have a way of falling into place; it will all work out!

Enjoy the last of summer, your time away and coming home

Hi, Chelle. I'm glad you had a good time with the Clan of the Cave Bear books. My wife and I both enjoyed those, too, back in the day. How amazing to follow a good story set so long, long ago.

Hi, Chelle. It sure is tough catching up on threads, while away, but I am trying to pop in, here and there. We had a grand time in Colorado. I love those Rockies, (the mountains, not the baseball team), and the Denver Meet Up was pretty sweet, as well.

Hi, Chelle! Yay for craft camp! I'm glad she loved it. And yay for returning to work, yes? Maybe? I hope it turns out great for you.

My sympathies for travel prep - not my favorite thing in the world.

Happy Tuesday
I've almost finished the big pack just waiting for tonight to double check everything and to pack more of Nate's stuff once he wakes up. Today I need to do some chores and then relax in prep for our travels. 6am flight with kids is going to SUCK! I'm hoping they are so tired that they fall asleep on the plane.

>119 karenmarie: Hi Karen! It's only a short 6 day trip. Nate couldn't get more time off so we are doing a short visit. It will be nice to see his brother though!
I'm ready to go back to work but I know once I get back I will be ready for time off again rather quickly :)

>120 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! Yep, JK is now 5 full days! That's different from when I was in school. She is looking forward to it and so am I! :)

>121 jnwelch: Hi Joe! I am really enjoying this series, however this fourth books has too much education info in it. I love learning about the animals and land from that time but I've come across parts that have about 4 pages of info. I liked it better in the last books how she managed to weave it into the story better.

>122 msf59: Hiya, Mark! Glad that you had a great trip! You shared some great photos! Hope you have some down time at home before heading back to work!

>123 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Chloe was sad that craft camp is finished so we are going to do some painting at home today. We are going to make some presents for her Aunt and Uncle that we will be visiting later this week. I think we have decided on water paint bookmarks that I can laminate. She has started trying to write words (Mom, Dad, names, etc) so I will try and get her to write something for her uncle on the back of them.
I am excited to go back to work as I do love my job, however it's still work. I'm not very good at the whole stay at home parent thing though so I do need to get back to making some money. It's bugging me that I'm not contributing right now.

Hurray for travel!! Glad Chloe enjoyed the craft time so much and I am sure you two will come up with your own ideas, too. Congrats on the job (and good luck with 12-hour shifts!). I know it will bring a balance back into your life, at least until you decide you'd rather not be working again. LOL Happy Tuesday!

>125 Berly: Yay for a visit from Kim!! :)
I'm excited to go back to work where I can drink coffee hot and talk to adults but I know the joy will wear off rather quickly! They are already messing around with my schedule and annoying me and if it keeps up I'll have to turn down the full time spot. I'm a touch annoyed right now.

Hi Chelle, I just went over the list of the Top 40 for the Great American Read and to my surprise I have read 35 of them. Of the original 100, I had read 55 and I have another 5 on my shelves to read at some point. I would be hard pressed to choose one book as the "best" but I do have a special place in my heart for Lonesome Dove, although I have been expecting To Kill A Mockingbird to take first place or perhaps the Harry Potter books.

>126 ChelleBearss: Hope the schedule gets sorted soonest. I came across a giant paper plane book in a second hand shop whilst I was on my trip (complete with paper to make them). Was gutted I only had my rucksac, looked like it would be a lot of fun for an (almost) craft activity.

Morning, folks! We are home from our Alberta trip and I need a vacation to rest from our vacation! Traveling with small children is not really much of vacation but we managed a couple fun day trips and a two days of visiting with their uncle and aunt and some cousins.
We hit up Drumheller and visited the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology and it was fun and very interesting. I was glad to see a mammoth skeleton there as I am currently reading the Clan of the Cave Bear books and they talk about hunting mammoths. It was very interesting to be able to see how big they really are and visualize how many people would be needed to take one down.






On the way back from Drumheller we stopped off for a quick visit (an hour out of the way) to see Buffalo Jump view point. It was an amazing view and we were glad we stopped.


We also went hiking north of Canmore and the views were pretty great. It was a little cold and the air was a bit smokey when we first started out but it cleared up by the time we reached the top. Chloe did great with a little help and Ellie did awesome in the baby carrier on Nate's back. Chloe needed to pee when we got to the top and of course there are no washrooms on a mountain. She got to pee in the woods and while she was sitting there a little chipmunk came right up to her shoulder. I think that was the highlight of her day!




This is my favourite shot of the day! The lakes were so clean and blue. I've never seen a lake that colour before! They were closed off with fencing for reclamation so we couldn't hike the secondary path but we still got a pretty view. I'll be printing this one on canvas to hang in my house somewhere as well as the photo below it with Nate and Elissa in front of the waterfall. Nate and his brother took the path marked difficult and we took the easy path for Chloe. They found that waterfall on their side of the path.

Hi Chelle!

Great photos, sounds like a lovely time. You're right - vacations with little'uns are not relaxing. They're fun and rewarding but definitely not relaxing. I hope you can relax a bit as you settle back in.

I really love that one of the lake, too - close up branch but in-focus distant shore. Very nice.

>127 DeltaQueen50: Morning, Judy! I've read 27 of the top 40 and some of my faves are on that short list. I have voted for multiple books and have a few that I would be happy to see win.

>128 charl08: Morning, Charlotte. That's too bad that you had to leave that craft book! We didn't see anything fun like that for Chloe on this trip but she did buy a stuffed dinosaur at the museum.
I ended up turning down the full time hours spot as they were messing with my schedule too much. Losing that little bit of extra money will suck but working straight 8-5 won't suck! :)

>130 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Yeah, once the kids were asleep we got to have adult time with Nate's brother and his wife. We had some drinks and played board games and it was a lot of fun. We played Exploding Kittens and Pandemic. Nate is now addicted to Pandemic and has already bought it so we can play this weekend :)

Oooh! Drumheller and the Royal Tyrrell Museum are on my bucket list! Sounds like you had a fabulous time and the photos are terrific. Those last 2, especially!

Hello Chelle!

>129 ChelleBearss: wonderful picture of your family on vacation. Love the shot of the pond that you can see to the bottom. The Mammoth skeleton is pretty sweet, too.

Great pictures of your trip, and some great family pictures! Looks like a fun trip.

>129 ChelleBearss: Glad you had such a great trip out here, Chelle. I totally have identical photos of the mammoth and the Albertosaurus (?) from my last trip to Drumheller. Glad the smoke wasn't too bad in Canmore. We got a lot here in Edmonton while you were in the province. :/

Good luck settling back into life after your vacation!

Looks like you had a great trip and I love the photos of you and your family.

P.S. I had never looked at the Great American Read list so thanks for prompting me to do that. I've read 33 of the 100. I should probably keep it in mind and try to read some more of them.

I love those photos, too, Chelle. And what beautiful scenery on your trip!

Welcome home, Chelle. Your trip to Alberta looks beautiful. I love the photos. You have a good eye. I am glad that Chloe got to pee in the woods. Always one of my favorite things to do.

I know it is tough to do this with 2 little ones, but you guys seem to have made the best of it.

Sounds like the family had a fun vacation, Chelle. When my nephew was quite young he got to go camping and was so impressed with peeing out-of-doors that my sister caught him using one of her large houseplants as a target! I too, hope you get to relax a little now that you are home.

Great photos! I hope you get rested up - I remember what that's like...

Thanks, everyone! We've had some very sleepy girls here and Chloe had a major meltdown at 6pm last night and found herself in bed an hour early. She is still asleep after 14.5 hours! Jet lag and early travel days have wiped her out. Hoping she wakes refreshed this morning!

>132 jessibud2: I hope you scratch that off your bucket list! It was definitely worth a visit and if you are all the way out there already make the detour to buffalo jump! The view was spectacular!

>133 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie! We were sad that the trail was closed for the ponds but the view from the main path was pretty amazing too

>134 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer! It was fun but exhausting. Thankfully we stayed with my BIL and not at a hotel, so that helped.

>135 MickyFine: HI Mickey! The smoke was pretty bad in Calgary the day we arrived and in Red Deer on the second day. The rain helped clear things up a bit before our hike, though, which we were thankful for!

>136 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! Do you have a list of which ones you'd like to try and read?

>137 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! Alberta has some really amazing views and is so clean and beautiful compared to Southern Ontario.

>138 msf59: Hi, Mark! I think it went pretty well, all things considered. Nate and I were ready to sell them for pocket change on the flight home though!

>139 DeltaQueen50: Ha, Judy, that's awesome! Chloe was a little afraid to do the whole squat and pee thing but the chipmunk provided a nice distraction!

>140 scaifea: Hi Amber! I've not been sleeping well but I have been resting and reading once the kiddos are sleeping. Next vacation needs to be kid free! :)

106) The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel

I am really enjoying this series and the characters that Auel has created, however, this one was way too long and too full of information about the animals, land and time frame. There were pages upon pages that read like an encyclopaedia instead of a novel and I ended up skipping forward to avoid the large sections that were information and not story. The story itself is still great and I've already started the next in the series.
3.5🌟

>136 RebaRelishesReading: No, I don't have a list. I just went through counting the ones I had read and not giving a lot of thought to the others but now that you mention it I should go back and do that.

Great vacation photos, Chelle! Thanks for sharing them with us.

>145 RebaRelishesReading: Yes, Reba, you should definitely do that! :)

>146 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl!

I'm only 20% into a 700+ page book so I won't be finishing any more this month.
This month I read about half of what I read last month but a few were pretty huge and I barely read at all on our vacation. I appear to have temporarily given up on audio books as I only finished one and gave up on another. I think I am finished with Flavia as I have tried to read the third book multiple times and keep bailing on it.

August Totals:
🎧98) You Suck by Christopher Moore
99) Imprudence by Gail Carriger
100) The Broken Girls by Simone St James
101) Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
102) Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
103) Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
104) The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel
105) The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel
106) The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel

9 books read
1 children's chapter books
1 audio
1 Great American Read
6 just for fun

Best:
Dark Matter

Bailed:
Lamb by Christopher Moore (Only made it two chapters)
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger (26 pages)
A Red Herring Without Mustard (audio)

>144 ChelleBearss: That's the main problem I had with the later books in that series. It was almost as though she had done a lot of research and had to put it all in the books. Fortunately there is still a good story if you can get past all the infodumping.

>149 calm: Yes, infodumping is exactly what she did! Good word!
I haven't found as much in this 5th instalment so far, but I have skipped a few pages already that had too much season information. I'm sure those won't be the only pages I skip forward.

Hi Chelle!

I've never heard of Pandemic, and actually never heard of cooperative gameplay board games 'til I looked it up.

I hope you have a great day.

Sorry you didn't like Lamb -- I loved it, but at least we have Jean M. Auel in common! ; ) Love the vacation photos. Welcome back and enjoy your weekend.

>151 karenmarie: It's very addicting, Karen! Nate even paid for the app on his phone so he could play Pandemic alone.

>152 Berly: Thanks, Kim! Glad you liked Auel as well! I'm on the 5th now and loving them!

I'll be starting my September thread today. As soon as the chillin's let me sit down again!

New thread is up!