foggidawn reads in 2019: thread the third

Welcome! I'm foggi, and this is my twelfth year on LibraryThing and my ninth year in this group! I'm a collection development librarian/youth materials selector (means I buy all the kids' and teen books) for the public library system in a medium-sized Ohio town, and a voracious reader.

I'll read anything that catches my fancy, but here are some of the kinds of books I particularly like:

Books for kids and teens

Fantasy for any age -- plus the occasional work of science fiction

Inspirational fiction, if the writing is good

Mysteries, particularly cozies and golden age British detective stories

The occasional memoir or biography

Here are some of the other things I like, which can distract me from reading, but which I may occasionally post about here:

Theatre -- both viewing live theatre and participating in community theatre. I wasn't successful in my pursuit of the latter in 2018, but perhaps I will have better luck this year.

Sewing -- it's a love/hate relationship, really. I'm only barely proficient at it, so it's slow going when I get on a sewing kick, but when it goes right, I love the results.

Gardening -- I've been trying container gardening lately, and though I didn't harvest much last year, I'm hoping for better outcomes this time around.

Gaming -- I love board games when I can find people to play them with (which is not as often as I like) and I occasionally play video games, but most often I waste my time playing games on my phone. Right now, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and Pokemon Go.

Dogs -- My Sophie passed away on April 12th of this year. I am very lonely without a dog, so am hoping to adopt another later this year.

Family -- I recently became a first-time aunt! I'm always looking forward to my next chance to see the baby, and I'm working on building up his library. Also, my parents recently retired and moved to their newly-built cabin in rural Pennsylvania, so I foresee many visits there, as well.

Thanks for visiting my thread!

2019 Reading Resolution

For the past two years, I've had some success making a New Year's resolution regarding reading. I usually read as my whimsy takes me, but I've found I can manage a small set list of books to conquer. The first year, I tackled some of my oldest TBR books. Last year, I read ten "classic" works that had been languishing on my shelf. This year, I face my no-longer-secret shame: unread Early Reviewer books.



I've been participating in the LTER program for at least ten years now, and I'm usually pretty good about reading and reviewing the books I receive. However, over the years a handful have slipped through the cracks. This is the year to fulfill my obligations to those books. There are only eight of them, though the Jim Henson bio is a bit of a chunk. (Better tackle it sooner, rather than later.) Here are the titles:

The Wonderling by Mira Bartok DNF, reviewed 1/20/19
The Apprentices by Maile Meloy
Unspoken by Dee Henderson
The Book of Pearl by Timothee deFombelle
Shakespeare's Prop Room by John Leland DNF, reviewed 2/25/19
Jim Henson by Brian Jay Jones
All Things New by Lynn Austin (galley in black binding) Read, reviewed 3/13/19
Wren Journeymage by Sherwood Smith (ebook, not pictured)
Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas by Juana Medina (received in 2019, not pictured) Read, reviewed 3/22/19

I'm allowing myself to DNF any of these books that don't grab me, as long as I have read enough of them to be able to articulate in a review why they did not work for me.

I don't usually do a lot of challenges, but I'm going to try slotting in the books after I read them with the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge. I'm going to see if I can be okay with not reading every single category, or if I spend December looking for a self-published business book written in prison...

The Book Riot Read Harder Challenge

1 - An epistolary novel or collection of letters
2 - An alternate history novel
3 - A book by a woman and/or AOC (Author of Color) that won a literary award in 2018: The Poet X
4 - A humor book: Heart and Brain
5 - A book by a journalist or about journalism: The Undateable
6 - A book by an AOC set in or about space
7 - An #ownvoices book set in Mexico or Central America: Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas
8 - An #ownvoices book set in Oceania
9 - A book published prior to January 1, 2019, with fewer than 100 reviews on Goodreads: Finessing Clarissa
10 - A translated book written by and/or translated by a woman: The Winter Promise
11 - A book of manga
12 - A book in which an animal or inanimate object is a point-of-view character: The Lost Girl
13 - A book by or about someone that identifies as neurodiverse: The Girl He Used to Know
14 - A cozy mystery
15 - A book of mythology or folklore
16 - An historical romance by an AOC
17 - A business book
18 - A novel by a trans or nonbinary author
19 - A book of nonviolent true crime
20 - A book written in prison
21 - A comic by an LGBTQIA creator
22 - A children’s or middle grade book (not YA) that has won a diversity award since 2009
23 - A self-published book
24 - A collection of poetry published since 2014

Books Read (so far) in 2019

(Rereads are in italics, new favorites in bold.)

1. Awkward: The Science of Why We’re Socially Awkward and Why That’s Awesome by Ty Tashiro
2. The Bride of Ivy Green by Julie Klassen
3. A Rather Lovely Inheritance by C.A. Belmond
4. The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
5. The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth
6. A Rather Curious Engagement by C.A. Belmond
7. A Rather Charming Invitation by C.A. Belmond
8. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
9. The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
10. The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson
11. The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan
12. Dog Songs by Mary Oliver
13. Heart and Brain by Nick Seluk
14. The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
15. The Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan
16. A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos
17. The Undateable by Sarah Title
18. Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story by Debbie Tung
19. Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
20. In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
21. The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
22. Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
23. Within the Sanctuary of Wings by Marie Brennan
24. How to Date Men When You Hate Men by Blythe Roberson
25. The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
26. The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu
27. Level 13: A Slacker Novel by Gordon Korman
28. Kind of Coping by Marzi Wilson
29. Early Riser by Jasper Fforde
30. The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
31. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
32. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan
33. All Things New by Lynn Austin
34. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
35. Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
36. Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
37. Talking to Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
38. New Kid by Jerry Craft
39. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
40. Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas by Juana Medina
41. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
42. Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee
43. Eventown by Corey Ann Haydu
44. Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
45. A Bachelor Establishment by Isabella Barclay
46. Bryony and Roses by T. Kingfisher
47. Nate Expectations by Tim Federle
48. Lessons from Lucy by Dave Barry
49. Fame Adjacent by Sarah Skilton
50. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
51. My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life by Rachel Cohn
52. Refining Felicity by Marion Chesney
53. Perfecting Fiona by Marion Chesney
54. Enlightening Delilah by Marion Chesney
55. Finessing Clarissa by Marion Chesney
56. Curse of the WerePenguin by Allan Woodrow
57. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
58. Animating Maria by Marion Chesney
59. Marrying Harriet by Marion Chesney
60. The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves
61. Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn
62. The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
63. Owl's Outstanding Donuts
64. Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann
65. A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

(66 books read)



The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon -- It's been a thousand years since the fire-breathing dragons rose in the West and were defeated, but signs point to their imminent return. Four individuals will have key roles to play in the upcoming conflict: Ead Duryan, lady in waiting to Queen Sabran IX of Inys, who is secretly a mage and warrior, planted at the court to protect Sabran; Tané, an orphan of the East, who has dreamed her entire life of becoming a rider of the Eastern water dragons; Lord Arteloth Beck, who has been exiled from Inys for no fault of his own, and Niclays Roos, a Mentish alchemist living in exile for his inability to produce the elixir of life. Throughout this vast and sprawling story, their individual tales will overlap and intertwine as they seek to prevent the end of their world.

This is an enormous chunk of a book, but it does stand alone as a single story arc -- no cliffhangers, no waiting for the next volume. Due to the sheer size, it took me a long time to read, mostly because I didn't want to haul it around, or even pick it up sometimes, so I kept reading other things! However, the story is well-written and engaging, and when I really got into it, I finished the last half of it in a matter of days. It's refreshingly diverse and the characters are full and complex. The worldbuilding borrows some stock elements from our world (the East bears a strong resemblance to Asia, the West to Europe), but I found the whole thing richly imaginative and an enjoyable, immersive read. I'd recommend it -- but do your wrists a favor and read the ebook version!

Happy new thread!

>5 foggidawn: I'm excited for this one -- I snagged the ebook for $1.99 on Memorial Day. If you haven't read Shannon's other series starting with The Bone Season, I recommend them -- but, there are supposed to be seven books in the series, total, and only the first three are out, and she's only been releasing them once every two to three years or so. So, I wouldn't blame you for waiting to start them!

>6 curioussquared: Excellent bargain! I might be interested in Shannon's other books, but I'll probably wait until the series is closer to completion before reading it.

Happy New Thread, foggi! Nice review of The Priory of the Orange Tree. I'm tempted - good tip to read it on an e-reader!

>8 jnwelch: Yeah, in most cases I prefer print, but for chunksters like that, ebook is the way to go!

Happy new thread!

Happy new one!

Happy new thread! Great review of The Priory of the Orange Tree and thanks for the heads up about the size!

I think I remember reading on your first thread that you hadn't finished The Wonderling. I just came across it again - our district's elementary books review committee gave it a rating of 5 (a must-purchase), and I couldn't help wondering about it, since I remembered your review. I have also picked up the book a number of times both before and after reading your review and even the cover blurbs never grabbed me.

>10 drneutron: and >11 figsfromthistle: Thanks for stopping by!

>12 AMQS: Yes, I DNF'd that book. I just couldn't get into it. I can see a kid who really loves fantasy being more enthusiastic than I was; it may just be my jaded palate. But I'm surprised that it's listed as a must-purchase for your district.

Happy new thread, Foggi! Just sending along more hugs and wishing you some fantastic summer reads.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread! I am glad you had a good weekend!

Happy new thread, Foggi!

>1 foggidawn: starred your thread!

We lost our dear Tirzah in January. We went and visited with a rescue dog being fostered by a friend the next day, and the following day met another rescue dog, who we brought home "on trial"...I think you know how that ended. Cleo is still with us.

I never adopted so quickly after losing a furry friend before, but I found it really helped the grieving process.

>16 compskibook: and >17 FAMeulstee: Thanks for visiting!

>18 fuzzi: I really do need another dog; I find I am more anxious and awkward without one (as well as lonely and sad, but those are more to be expected under the circumstances). But I have a couple of trips coming up this summer, so I don't want to start looking at dogs until after those are over. I definitely plan to start looking by late summer, though!

(67 books read)



Best Babysitters Ever by Caroline Cala -- Malia, Dot, and Bree need to make some money for an epic joint birthday party. When Malia is inspired by an old paperback in a library discard box, the three turn to babysitting, even though they've never actually done any babysitting, and are not really even sure they like kids. Things start out well enough, until Malia's evil older sister steals their idea and runs with it. Can the three original babysitters get their clients back, or will they lose the babysitting business and their friendship, as well?

This is a light, fun read. The adults in this book are the absolute worst, but I'm sure that won't bother the target audience. It was cute to see the Baby-Sitters' Club re-imagined for a new generation, including some shade cast at the original ("Is this seriously what people found fun in the '90s?"). An enjoyable, if inessential, read.

(68 books read)



Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins -- This book follows a group of friends on the cusp of adolescence, as they explore new ideas, find new interests, and form first crushes. The plot structure is very loose and episodic; the content is rooted in nostalgia. There are occasional illustrations that don't do a whole lot for the story. Set in a small town in the 1970s, I found myself wondering what sort of appeal this book would have for young readers today. It won the Newbery Medal in 2006, inexplicably. This reads like a book for adults who grew up in the 1970s, and not a book for children at all. The writing is good, and the characters are interesting, if not always fully realized (I had trouble distinguishing some of the boys, particularly, and Debbie's best friend Patty has no personality to speak of), but there's so little action that I really had to push myself to stay engaged. I wouldn't recommend this for kids, but adults who were teenagers in the '70s might find it a nice walk down memory lane.

>20 foggidawn: I am so delighted to see a reinvention of BSC. I read so many of those as a kid.

>22 MickyFine: Oh, I did too! I remember desperately waiting to get my hands on the next book in the series (this was back when there were only 20-some of them, total).

>23 foggidawn: If you're into podcasts, one of my co-workers loves Baby-Sitters Club Club. In case you need a dose of nostalgia.

>24 MickyFine: I want to love podcasts, but I am not successful at keeping up with them. Thanks for the recommendation, though!

>24 MickyFine: Ooh, I'm in the Baby-Sitters Club Club Club! I love that podcast because it is so dumb that I really don't have to pay attention to it and can listen to it while I'm falling asleep and not worry about missing anything. Also there's an EXCELLENT facebook group for it.

>21 foggidawn: Wow. I have absolutely no memory of this book. I know I've read it, because I've read all the Newbery Medal books, but even after looking up summaries, I still don't remember it. Yoicks.

>27 scaifea: There's literally nothing memorable about it. How it won the Newbery is a mystery to me. I'm having trouble remembering what went on in it, and I read it three days ago, so...

>28 foggidawn: Ha! Okay, that makes me feel a bit better. I'm still troubled that I could completely forget an entire book like that...

>29 scaifea: Oh, I know I have forgotten things I read years ago. I think it was last summer that I read a book and discovered, when I went to add it to LT, that I had read it about ten years before. You'd think something in the book, at some point, would have sparked a memory...

Happy new thread! Hope you have nice trips this summer and then find the right dog for you.

>31 aktakukac: Thanks! I find I'm less excited about conferences than I used to be, but I'm still looking forward to them.

>30 foggidawn: oh, I've done that.

>21 foggidawn: I had a similar reaction to yours when I read it a few years back. One of the other librarians I work with loved it because it was a walk down memory lane for her. I had a lot of trouble getting into it and finally was able to finish it in audio but it was still pretty meh for me.

>33 fuzzi: Good to know I’m not alone!

>34 bell7: Yeah, I suspected that some people would enjoy the nostalgia factor. The author does a great job of evoking that place and time.

>30 foggidawn: I haven't done it yet, Foggi but I can sort of feel it coming on as I am not as clear on series orders as so on as I used to pride myself on being.

Happy New Thread, slightly belatedly.

>36 PaulCranswick: Thanks! I had hoped that LT would save me some of that sort of confusion, but that only works if you think to check your catalog before reading!

(69 books read)



The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary -- Tiffy has got to get out of her ex-boyfriend's apartment, but the only places she can afford on her budget are sketchy, indeed . . . until she runs across an ad for a flat sharing situation. It would be a little weird, as she'd literally be sleeping in a stranger's bed, but since Leon, the owner of the flat in question, works the night shift as a palliative care nurse, they'd never actually be in the flat at the same time. In fact, since Leon's girlfriend Kay sets up the interview with Tiffy, Leon and Tiffy don't actually meet for quite some time, communicating instead through post-it notes left around the house. But when they do meet . . . no, I can't tell you, you'll just have to read it for yourself!

Ahh, this book is so adorable. I stayed up just a tiny bit late to finish it last night. Leon and Tiffy are such genuinely nice characters that their story might have been a little too sweet and easy, except that some more serious elements are introduced by way of secondary characters. A common complaint in books with two narrators is that the voices are too similar, but one could not make that complaint regarding this book -- Tiffy's narration is bubbly and verbose, Leon's is telegraphic and streamlined, and the book's pacing is perfectly balanced between alternating chapters from each viewpoint. It's a feel-good story that leaves the reader with a smile and a happy sigh at the end. I would recommend this book widely, particularly to readers who enjoy this genre.

>38 foggidawn: Oh I'm so happy to see your review of that one. I added it to The List the other week after seeing it somewhere (Booklist maybe? Goodreads email is also possible?) but I feel much better about leaving it on the list when I see a good review from a friend whose taste I trust. :)

Happy Friday!

>38 foggidawn: You got me! That sounds right up my alley.

>39 MickyFine: I thought that review might get you. I enjoyed it a lot, which was great coming after a couple of mediocre reads. Some reviewers don't care for the writing style the author used for Leon's perspective, but it didn't bother me. (And thanks!)

>40 curioussquared: Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

>38 foggidawn: My hold on this one came in the other day, and I am really looking forward to it, especially after your review!

>43 aktakukac: I noticed it had several holds on it at my library system, too -- it must be getting some buzz.

>38 foggidawn: I've been waffling about this one, thinking it might be perfect for me or really really not. Think I'll check it out now!

>45 lycomayflower: Wow, I'm really getting a response on this! If you all hate it, I'll have to go hide under a rock for a while.

>46 foggidawn: Lol. I won't blame you if I don't love it. You're not even the first person who's made me think I want to read it. So I'll lay that blame at that person's feet instead!

>47 lycomayflower: Phew!

Happy new thread!

>49 leahbird: Thanks!

I got hardly any reading done over the weekend -- started two different books, but didn't finish anything (despite those two books being a middle grade novel and a graphic novel -- both presumably quick reads). Saturday was a really fun day, involving a 7-mile kayaking trip, a picnic, and a nice, non-competitive round of mini-golf with a group of staff from my library. Sunday was the parish picnic at my church, so I cooked for both of those events (deviled eggs and banana split cake), and then I came home Sunday afternoon, napped, and then cooked some more, finally trying out a paneer dish that I learned how to make at an Indian cooking class last month. So, it was a good weekend, except for last night, when I woke up from various nightmares every two hours. (I dreamed, twice, that my work bestie quit her job and left without telling any of us. Also, in one of those dreams, our department had been stripped down to concrete and cinder blocks, with theatrical lighting and random freestanding walls built of pallets, like we were about to stage something by Bertolt Brecht.) So, not a good night for sleeping. I'm hoping that tonight will be better. (I checked in with my friend, just in case my subconscious caught something that hadn't been said yet, but no -- like so many things, it's all in my head. Thanks, Anxiety, you're the best.) Here's hoping for some good reading time and better sleep this week!

Ooof, I hate anxiety dreams! A couple months back, I was talking with a cousin about her upcoming wedding and then had a wedding anxiety dream, which is weird because I had only one or two before my wedding. No one told me they'd be like the test anxiety dreams you get long after leaving school. :P Wishing you a much better night tonight.

>51 MickyFine: It was so weird, because I don’t have anything in particular to be anxious about. Just my brain, being weirder than usual.

(70 books read)



Manfried Saves the Day by Caitlin Major — Steve’s a busy cat. His job is going pretty well, but he’s having a hard time striking a good work-life balance. When the pet man shelter that his girlfriend manages is in danger of being sold to a developer, they hatch the plan of entering Steve’s pet Manfried and some of the shelter men in the Manflower Man Show. The prize money would be enough to save the shelter — but can Steve carve out the time to help without missing too many work deadlines? Also, the developer who wants the shelter property has his own shady schemes...

I didn’t like this graphic novel quite as much as the first book: the things that bothered me about that book continued to niggle at me, and in addition I thought the plot was kind of thin. I also wished the characters could be kinder and more understanding toward each other. I think readers who loved the first book and the whole concept of human-size cats owning tiny men will still enjoy this. However, those who, like me, found the first book just okay, can probably skip it.

>52 foggidawn: I don't have anything in particular to be anxious about As if that's ever stopped *my* brain from a good old freak-out. So, yeah, I'm right there with you.

>54 scaifea: Yep. Fortunately, a relaxing evening and a good night's sleep have helped immensely.

I watched the movie Belle yesterday evening -- it came out back in 2013, but somehow I missed it at the time. If you enjoy a good costume drama, I would recommend it.

>54 scaifea: Yup. Last night I had a dream that my wedding band had broken. Sigh...

>56 MickyFine: I’m sorry you are having anxiety dreams, too. I hope you get a better night’s sleep tonight.

>56 MickyFine: Yoicks! I tend not to put my anxiety into my dreams, but it's certainly there, first thing, when I wake up...

>57 foggidawn: It was much better, thanks Foggi. I hope the same was true for you!

>59 MickyFine: Thanks. Last night wasn't as bad as Sunday night was, but it wasn't terrific either.

>60 foggidawn: I blame all the sunlight we get during the summer. Way harder to sleep when it's still light out.

>61 MickyFine: Oh, yes. I find myself waking up as soon as it's light, and really struggling (or completely failing) to get back to sleep.

>62 foggidawn: I use a sleeping mask but if I peek out of it to see if it's light out, my brain will often be like, "Light! Time to be awake!"

>63 MickyFine: I've never tried one of those, though I have thought about it. I toss and turn, so would imagine that, by the time the sun comes up, it would be under my pillows or down around my chin or over one ear or somewhere equally not helpful. I should probably get light-blocking curtains for the bedroom, but I've never seen any that I like the look of.

>64 foggidawn: I toss a lot myself and I find that if I tuck the band under half my hair it a) prevents a weird indent line in my hair and b) stays on pretty well.

>65 MickyFine: I will give it a try, I think. And good tip, about the hair. Mine usually looks like I slept with my finger in an electrical outlet when I wake up -- I sometimes think it's a pity nobody is there to see it, as it defies the rules of physics at times.

>66 foggidawn: I hear you. I usually let my hair air dry overnight when I wash it and there are often bunches of curls that defy gravity.

(71 books read)



Thornbound by Stephanie Burgis -- This novella continues where Snowspelled left off. Cassandra Harwood is intent upon starting a school of magic for girls, but her path will not be an easy one. She expects pushback from the government, but opposition will come from unexpected sources, as well -- and at times, that opposition may be dangerous.

I loved these novellas, and would recommend reading them back to back in order to get the full experience at once. Burgis has other stories set in the same world, and I'm sure I will be tracking those down.

>68 foggidawn: I'll have to look into this series -- it definitely sounds like my kind of thing!

>69 curioussquared: Hope you like them! They have a sort of Regency vibe, but with magic, of course.

>68 foggidawn: Well, I enjoyed Snowspelled so just went and bought this.

(72 books read)



The Good, the Bad, and the Bossy by Caroline Cara -- Bree, Dot, and Malia are actually enjoying their babysitting enterprise, but life is getting busy for all three: Bree has new cat dreams, Dot has science fair ambitions, and Malia has internship dread. How can they keep their babysitting clients and still accomplish all of the things that life is throwing at them? Sub-contract, of course! The problem is, the three sitters that they hire do their jobs a little too well. Brody fits into Bree's family a little better than Bree does, Pigeon proves even more talented at science than Dot, and Sage gets the attention of Malia's long-time crush. Now, the original three need to figure out how to get rid of the new sitters, without losing their clients when they go.

This series continues to be light and fun, if you can suspend your disbelief on some of the more outrageous elements (a 12-year-old with an internship?). I liked the new characters they introduced here, and the plot was fun. I probably won't read more in this series, but I had a galley of this book, so thought I would give it a try. Recommended to readers who enjoyed the first book in the series.

(73 books read)



Click by Kayla Miller -- Olive is the kind of kid who gets along with everyone. She has a group of friends she sits with on the bus, a different group she eats with in the cafeteria, and another group she plays with at recess. What she doesn't have is a specific best friend. And this hasn't been an issue . . . until the fifth grade variety show comes along, and everyone seems to have a group act, except for Olive. She doesn't want to have to ask to be included in someone's group, and she really doesn't want her mom to call her friends' parents and fix things that way. It isn't until a weekend visit with her cool Aunt Molly that something clicks, and Olive realizes what she really wants to do in the variety show.

This delightful graphic novel is another lovely exploration of middle-grade friendship, and the drama that can exist even when things are going well. Recommended to fans of Shannon Hale's Real Friends and other realistic middle-grade graphic novels that focus on friendship.

Happy birthday!!!!!

>71 ronincats: I think that's a pretty safe bet.

>74 norabelle414: Thanks!

Happy birthday, Foggi! I hope it's full of fabulous!

>76 MickyFine: Thanks! I think it's going to be pretty low-key -- having coffee (well, probably tea, but at a coffee shop) with a friend after work, then taking myself out to dinner somewhere, and maybe some shopping. This weekend I have game night on Saturday, and am going to see a play on Sunday. So, pleasant, but not too crazy.

>77 foggidawn: Sounds perfect!

>78 MickyFine: It does, doesn't it? :-) I'm hoping for a fair amount of reading time in the spaces in between.

Happy happy birthday!

Buy lots of books...

>80 fuzzi: Thanks! I bought myself one book yesterday, and I might hit the bookstore tonight. The fact that it's literally my job to "buy lots of books" puts a bit of a damper on personal bookstore visits, partially because it's impossible to turn off the professional portion of my brain ("Okay, yes, bought that, bought that, bought that . .. haven't seen that! ...Wait, it's an activity book. Carry on. Oh, they're featuring that, and I didn't buy very many copies; do they know something I don't?..."), but I'm sure I can find something that I want -- especially if I stay away from the sections I deal with professionally.

>81 foggidawn: My experience in bookstores too, except with adult non-fiction. Which is harder to skip entirely. :/

Happy Birthday!!!!

>75 foggidawn: Oh, it WAS very good, maybe even better than the first! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Happy birthday, foggi, and hope your lowkey lovely plan went smashingly :)

>83 ronincats: Thanks!

>84 ronincats: Yes, I think I liked it better, too — maybe because it brought the story to a satisfying conclusion?

>85 bell7: I’ve had the loveliest evening, chatting with friends and family over phone and text (and in person, at the coffee shop earlier). I didn’t hit the bookstore, because it’s cold and rainy and I was wearing the wrong shoes, but there’s always tomorrow or the weekend. I solidified travel plans for ALA next weekend, and it’s getting late but I indulged in some caffeine, so I may do a little bit of book organization before calling it a night — my stack to add to LT is climbing the wall.

(74 books read)



Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh — It’s a tumultuous year for sisters Ginny and Plum, as Ginny agonizes over college applications, their family struggles financially, and Plum forms a secret friendship (or maybe more?) with one of the most unlikely boys she can imagine.

I had heard that this was inspired by Sense and Sensibility, and while there is a practical sister and a high-strung one, a dead father and problems with money, don’t go into this expecting a retelling. That’s not to say it isn’t charming! I thought the relationship between the sisters was particularly well done, and the story revels in classic literature references (Austen, the Brontës, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Rilke, Rossetti, Dickinson...) and a handful of film and classical music grace notes. (They also watch a lot of HGTV, which cracked me up a little every time.) If this sort of family drama is your thing, you’ll love this book.

I had the personal realization, while reading this and drawing comparisons to Sense and Sensibility, that I am basically Marianne Dashwood: I have all the feelings, and a tendency to wallow in them, I’m afraid! As I told a friend, I suppose everyone would rather be Elinor (or, you know, Lizzie Bennett). But my main consolation is that I am not, and never have been, Emma.

But my main consolation is that I am not, and never have been, Emma.

This made me giggle. I'm basically Elinor, the one who's practical to a fault and tends not to overshare feelings. I always wished I had more of Lizzie's wit. Ah well. I too am not Emma :)

Ordinary Girls sounds like fun. (Edited to correct spelling)

>87 foggidawn: If it makes you feel better I'm Catherine Morland. :P

>88 bell7: The friend I was talking with about this revelation often plays the Elinor to my Marianne these days, the poor dear. But I agree, I’d like some of Lizzie’s wit, too.

>89 MickyFine: Oh, but I love Catherine Morland!

>87 foggidawn: Better Emma than Mary Elliot, or just as bad, Elizabeth Elliot. I rather like Emma and find her faults, though not her opportunities to indulge them, quite familiar.

>91 quondame: Truly, I probably should read Emma again and see if I have more patience with her at this point in my life. Your post also reminds me that I should reread Persuasion. So many books, so little time...

>92 foggidawn: It could be because it was the first Austen I've ever read but I've always been fond of Emma. She has her flaws but she's got a good heart in her.

>93 MickyFine: Same! Plus, Cher Horowitz.

>93 MickyFine: I'm sure I'll get to that reread eventually.

>94 norabelle414: This is the part where I admit that *whispers* I've never seen Clueless.

(75 books read)



The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery -- (Here's the review I wrote for an earlier reread of this book:) Valancy Sterling wakes up on the morning of her 29th birthday and realizes that she has nothing to live for. Her life to that point has been one of nearly unendurable monotony: she lives in genteel poverty with her mother and an elderly cousin, looked down on by every member of her extended family because she is an old maid. Her only joy in life is her imaginary "Blue Castle," where she leads a rich fantasy life of adventure and romance. But on this birthday morning, she feels it is time to face reality. One of the ways she does this is by going to see Dr. Trent, a heart specialist, about some pain she has been having. She does this without telling her mother or any of her family, as she dreads the fuss and advice of her family. But Dr. Trent's diagnosis, sent a few days later by mail, turns Valancy's world upside down: she is dying, with perhaps a year to live if she is careful. Valancy is not afraid of death, but she resents the fact that she is dying when she's never really had a chance to live -- so she decides that, for the time she has left, she will do whatever she wants, without worrying about her family's opinions or reactions. She goes to nurse an old school friend who is dying of consumption, even though her friend is the daughter of the town drunk and disgraced for having a child out of wedlock. She befriends the notorious Barney Snaith, a man with a mysterious past and an unconventional present way of life. She buys new clothes, reads whatever she wants, and does whatever she pleases. Her family thinks Valancy has gone mad. And then, Valancy does something even more outrageous: she asks Barney to marry her . . .

I don't know how I could objectively review this book; I've read it more times than I can count. I love the characters, the humor, the descriptions of nature, the wacky plot twists at the end of the book that manage to bring everything together. There's definitely romance -- a sort of sweet, unconventional one -- but the story is less about the romance and more about Valancy coming to terms with what she wants from life and bucking the rather ridiculous conventions of her day. This is my favorite Montgomery novel, and I definitely recommend it!

I know a couple of LT friends have read this recently with more "meh" reactions, so I think perhaps you have to read this at an impressionable age to love it as I do. I will admit that it's a little disconcerting to realize that I am now ten years older than "old maid" Valancy, who is 29 at the start of the book!

>95 foggidawn: Clueless is a guilty pleasure of mine...and I don't like most movies!

>98 fuzzi: I'll put it on my list of things to watch, next time I am in the mood for watching things.

>97 foggidawn: Congrats on 75!!

Hi, foggi.

Congrats on reaching 75!

After hearing enthusiasm from folks in this group, I read Blue Castle. Like you, I really enjoyed it. Among other things, it has a timeless (or is it timely?) message for all of us: if you found out you had a year to live, what would you do differently?

Congratulations on reaching the magic number, Foggi.

>97 foggidawn: I admit when I read it that I giggled at Valancy being an old maid. The times they have been a' changin'... ;)

>100 curioussquared: Thanks! I'm on track for a double, which has been what I've aimed for the past few years.

>101 jnwelch: It is an interesting question to ponder, for sure. I can't say that I would change a lot, though I'd probably make an effort to visit all of my friends who live far away.

>102 MickyFine: Indeed they have.

What a good one for # 75! Congrats on getting to that number!

75 with an L. M. Montgomery book sounds like a winning combination!

>105 aktakukac: and >106 thornton37814: Thanks! It's one of my very favorites.

Congrats on 75, and happy it was a good one for you! I only read Montgomery's Anne books and really should try some of the others.

>108 bell7: If you enjoyed the Anne books, you should certainly read more of hers when you get a chance.

>97 foggidawn:, My best-loved LMM novel! I like your synopsis and had to smile at your being disconcerted at your present age. Here's hoping that feeling wears off so you aren't shocked when you are another 10 years older.

I re-read this before Christmas last year (waiting for the inevitable book-gifts). I revised my review having appreciated even more its wisdom. Carpe Diem indeed! I think I should plan to read this again in 5-years time.

>108 bell7: of all the non-Anne books I've read I loved Jane of Lantern Hill the best.

Congrats!

>110 SandyAMcPherson: It's certainly well-beloved; I know several people who count it as their favorite.

>111 fuzzi: That's my second-favorite. :-)

>112 drneutron: Thanks! And, see you soon!

This weekend I'll be at the American Library Association Annual Conference. I'll probably still check in here periodically, and I'll be sure to post about my book haul after the fact. (My goal is a manageable number of books, as I will have to schlep them through the Metro on my way home, but we'll see how that goes.)

>113 foggidawn: is Blue Castle your favorite?

BTW, do they not have shipping available? Or perhaps closer to the Metro there's a UPS-type store?

When a bunch of trains for my dh (he's big into model railroading) in Minnesota the retailer boxed them up and mailed them to us so we wouldn't have to schlep them with us.

Congratulations on reaching 75, Foggi!

I have some books like that, mostly books that I owned when I was young. Probably would rate them much lower at first read now, but back then they made a forever lasting impression.

>114 fuzzi: Yes, The Blue Castle is my favorite. And yes, they usually set up a post office in the exhibit hall, but the lines are often long. Plus, I don’t really want to pay for shipping. The knowledge that I have to carry out what I pick up should help deter me from picking up way more that I will ever read... I hope.

>115 FAMeulstee: It’s still a great book, but as adults we have more basis for comparison, and perhaps a little more emotional distance from what we read.

Safe travels and have so much fun!!

(76 books read)



The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren — When everyone at the wedding reception succumbs to food poisoning except for maid of honor Olive and best man Ethan, the bride and groom encourage them to take the non-refundable, non-transferable honeymoon trip. The problem: Ethan and Olive can’t stand each other, and for the duration of the trip, they’re going to have to pretend to be newlyweds...

If you enjoy a hate-to-love romance, this is a cute one. I felt that some parts of the plot stretched credulity, but not enough to put me off the story entirely.

(77 books read)



The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah -- Leni's father, feeling bitter and alienated after his return from Vietnam, moves his family to some land he inherits in Alaska. The wild beauty of the place captivates Leni, but the harsh and unforgiving aspects of northern life prove difficult for their family to overcome, especially because they brought all of their troubles with them to their new home.

This was a powerful melodrama, painting a sweeping picture of the Alaskan landscape and way of life, as well as believable, flawed characters. I enjoyed it, though found myself not entirely satisfied with the ending. I thought it was too good to be believed. I think the breaking point for me was when Matthew stood up out of the wheelchair. I could believe that his mind had healed enough to recognize her, but I think, realistically, he would have lost that leg. They could still have had a happy ending, but I think the one she wrote, complete with more babies in the epilogue, was a little too rosy. If you're intrigued by Alaska, or stories in general with family drama and elements of wilderness survival, give this one a try. It's not a book I would normally pick out, but I read it for my library's book club and enjoyed it.

>119 foggidawn: I think I agree with you on pretty much all accounts on this one! In my review from February I wrote that it could have been "taken down a notch" at the end, lol, which I think sums it up.

>120 curioussquared: Hah! Exactly.

(78 books read)



Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey -- Annie loves '90s romantic comedies. With both of her parents gone, she cherishes the memories she has of watching rom-coms with her mother, and of hearing about their perfect romance. And, of course, she dreams of meeting her own romantic hero. She's pretty sure that hero is not Drew Danforth, the actor who is starring in a romantic comedy being filmed right in Annie's Columbus neighborhood. Annie thinks Drew is arrogant and isn't taking the film seriously. When she gets a job as a production assistant on the set, she starts to get to know him a little better -- but, just like in the best romantic comedies, the course of true love isn't about to run smoothly.

This is the second hate-to-love romance that I've read this month, and it needs to be the last one for a while, because I apparently have a low tolerance for that trope. I got really frustrated with Annie, who kept leaping to the worst possible conclusions about Drew, who was only ever nice to her. I'd recommend this to readers who love both rom-coms and characters who go from hate to love over the course of the story -- if either of those is not your jam, you can pass on this one.

Well, I'm back from ALA. My haul this year was restrained in comparison to previous years -- I picked up only 12 books.



The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Jean Horwitz
In the Hall with the Knife by Dana Peterfreund
Ember and the Ice Dragons by Heather Fawcett
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell
My Jasper June by Laurel Snyder
Angel Mage by Garth Nix
Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly
Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy
Words on Fire by Jennifer Nielsen
Thief Knot by Kate Milford
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

Glad you made it back in one piece from the conference. :)

I am totally coveting Angel Mage and Dear Sweet Pea. That's a nice stack of books :)

>124 MickyFine: Thanks!

>125 curioussquared: I went for quality, rather than quantity, this time. :-) Actually, I don't know why my haul is smaller than usual -- a variety of factors, I imagine.

(79 books read)



A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata -- A Japanese-American family is expatriated to Japan after WWII. I really enjoyed this audiobook; the production values were excellent. I'm writing a longer review of the book elsewhere, so that's all you get here, but if you've enjoyed Kadohata's other works, you will probably like this one, too.

(80 books read)



Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy -- When Sweet Pea's eccentric old neighbor Miss Flora Mae goes on vacation, she leaves Sweet Pea in charge of handling her mail -- a very important task, since Miss Flora Mae is the town's advice columnist. Sweet Pea can't help peeking at some of the letters, but when she finds on from her ex-best-friend, she realizes she has a chance to exact revenge for the mean treatment she's experienced over the past year since her friend dumped her.

This is a fun read, very much in line with Murphy's YA novels, but focused more on middle-grade concerns. Sweet Pea is a great character, as are her parents and friends. If you enjoy realistic middle-grade fiction, don't miss this one!

(81 books read)



Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron -- Life's not going so great for Brody: his family is in financial difficulties, the neighborhood mean girls have picked him as their favorite target, and he'll never be as smart or important or appreciated as his genius brother James. One day, when the mean girls have kidnapped his beloved cat, he's unexpectedly rescued by a boy with enormous blue papier-mâché wings, Nico, who invites Brody to come to a specific place at a very specific time. Intrigued, Brody shows up, half expecting that he's been the butt of yet another unkind joke -- but then Nico and his friends arrive, and together they step through a door into another world. Everland is a place of pure wish-fulfillment, where nobody can get hurt and everybody can be whoever they want to be. However, as time goes on, Brody learns that the doors that lead to Everland from different parts of their world are disappearing. Before their door disappears, Brody and Nico must make a choice. Nico is determined to stay in Everland, but can Brody leave behind his family and real-world friends?

I loved this gritty, bittersweet fantasy. In general, I'm a fan of books that play with the tropes of portal fantasy, as this one does. Brody's hardships felt legitimate, and it was hard to guess what decision he would make in the end (or whether the choice would be taken out of his hands by the disappearance of the door -- I was anxious that he would convince Nico to return, but that they would not be able to do so because the door disappeared while they were still in Everland). If you enjoy this sort of fantasy, this one is highly recommended.

(82 books read)



Attachments by Rainbow Rowell -- It's 1999, and the company Lincoln works for is wary of giving their employees the freedom of Internet and email. That's where Lincoln comes in. He probably wouldn't have taken the "Internet Security" job if he had known from the start that it would mean reading people's personal emails. Take, for instance, the constant stream of banter between Jennifer and Beth. Lincoln knows he should send them a form notice about not using the internal email system for personal business, but the stuff they're chatting about is so innocuous . . . and he finds that he kind of looks forward to reading their exchanges. In fact, he finds that he genuinely likes both women -- particularly Beth. But how can he ever admit to her that he became interested by reading her personal email?

I just loved this story. Lincoln, with his geekiness and awkwardness, and his sense of being adrift in the world, is such a great character; I just wanted to pat him on the back and tell him it would be okay. I also loved the plotting; I really couldn't tell if Lincoln and Beth would ever get together, or whether this would just be some kind of sad learning experience for Lincoln. Plus, Jennifer and Beth's friendship is a real highlight of the book for me. All in all, a fantastic read, and a perennial favorite.

>130 foggidawn: I love this one! I read it every couple of years -- it's just such a satisfying comfort read.

>130 foggidawn: Sounds like a light-hearted Chick Lit type of BB. I need a stock of those now and again...

I loved Attachments!

>130 foggidawn: I am super fond of that one. I think it ranks after Fangirl as my favourite of her novels, even with its rough spots.

>130 foggidawn: BB Sounds like a book I might like when I need a lighter read.

>131 curioussquared: I've read it three times now, I think -- it's just right for a comfort read.

>132 SandyAMcPherson: Yep, it serves that purpose well.

>133 compskibook: Me too!

>134 MickyFine: Same. I relate to Cath in Fangirl so strongly, but Attachments is right next in line. (I'm also amused that I keep having to correct the touchstone, as LT wants to link to some booklet about Kitchenaid attachments!)

>135 FAMeulstee: Hope you can get a copy, and that you enjoy it!

(83 books read)



Whispers by Robin Jones Gunn -- Teri Moreno goes to Hawaii to visit her sister -- and, hopefully, to find romance as well. When she arrives, she finds that she has the attention of three men: Mark, a soft-spoken marine biologist, Gordon, a zany Australian, and Scott, an intriguing friend from her past. As her relationship with Scott heats up, Teri tries to push aside her doubts (and her friends' concerns) about Scott not sharing Teri's faith. Eventually it becomes obvious to Teri that she and Scott are looking for different things in a relationship, and Teri's eyes are opened to other possibilities.

Gunn's inspirational romances are better-written than most, with believable characters and engaging plot twists. I think this is one of the strongest entries in the series, and each book stands alone, though characters from the other books do tend to pop up in each other's stories. I have a real fondness for Teri's eventual love interest, and the Hawaiian setting is portrayed with affection. If you enjoy inspirational romance, this one is worth a try. The whole series is a comfort read for me, but on this reread I'm just hitting my favorites and skipping the ones that I find less appealing.

>137 foggidawn: Well, I'm always pleased to try a well-written inspirational romance so that's a BB. Might use it later this year to get me in the mood for my trip to Maui next January. :)

>138 MickyFine: I think it would serve that purpose admirably.

Nice job keeping it to a manageable haul from ALA! I didn't realize Ruta Sepetys was coming out with a new book, so I'll have to keep an eye out in the teen section for that. I too got a copy of Angel Mage and am looking forward to starting it soonish... Attachments will have to go on the TBR list. I've really enjoyed the Rainbow Rowell books I've read.

>140 bell7: Thanks! Yes, I was excited to get my hands on the new Sepetys book. And I hope you enjoy Attachments!

(84 books read)



Echoes by Robin Jones Gunn — Lauren, reeling from a broken engagement, strikes up an accidental friendship with a man on the Internet (this story takes place in the early days, when online dating wasn’t a thing). Should she meet him, or will he turn out to be a predator?

When I was younger, this was my favorite entry in this series, and maybe it still is. Lauren is probably the character I most identify with, anxious and bookish as she is. This time through I found myself a little annoyed with certain choices she makes, and I could see the weak points in the writing and plotting (the last part of the book relies on a major coincidence, and for the first time in many rereads, I found myself bothered by how unlikely the whole scenario was). Still a good book, enjoyable if you like inspirational romance and have enjoyed others by this author.

>142 foggidawn: I found myself bothered by how unlikely the whole scenario was...

I have become wary of myself, during re-reads (if that makes sense!).
I said in another thread that I re-read April Lady, after several years not re-reading much of Heyer's Regency romances.
April Lady felt flawed for similar reasons that you expressed about the Lauren character in Echoes (which I haven't read). I feel a little disappointed which is utterly silly, because one re-evaluation does not negate the other Heyer novels that I still love!

>143 SandyAMcPherson: Dangers of rereading, I suppose. And yet I’ll probably reread this series again in the future, when I’m in need of light and comforting reads.

(85 books read)



Sunsets by Robin Jones Gunn — Alissa has had some bad experiences with men, so she’s not looking to start a relationship with anyone. Particularly not her obnoxious new neighbor Brad. However, as she works through her own issues, and as she and Brad keep getting thrown together, she can’t escape the fact that she’s attracted to him. Does he feel the same?

As I’ve mentioned in other reviews, the enemies-to-lovers trope doesn’t always work for me, but in this case there’s enough going on that it doesn’t bother me much. Brad’s kind of a jerk, to be honest, but not enough of one to make me root against him and Alissa ending up together. Recommended if you’re already a fan of this author or this series, but I probably wouldn’t say this was a great starting point. Fans of Gunn’s teen books may remember Alissa from the Christy Miller series.

Hi foggi, I am getting caught up here, and have been hit so many times I think I need triage. You got me with The Flatshare, The Blue Castle (already on my list but nudged up), Click (I think I got it in my last library order), Dear Sweet Pea, and Attachments (I think it's funny that the touchstone first goes to a book about KitchenAid attachments... that unputdownable bestseller). I enjoyed the Austen discussion also. All the online quizzes I've taken say I'm Anne Elliot, and I'll take it:) Emma is my favorite, though. She is so infuriating, but she grows a lot, and there's something about the story that gets me in just the right spot.

>146 AMQS: I also got the same KitchenAid touchstone when I was mentioning Attachments! I thought it was just me.

I hope you get a kick out of Rainbow Rowell's book. It was also a BB for me. I'd have never dreamt in a lifetime of picking up a book by an author with such a name! But I got to say, I'm hooked already and only 74 pages into it. Initially, I was pretty lukewarm with the alternating chapters of e-mail-style conversations because I couldn't get a handle on the Beth and Jennifer characters. But as I progress, it is smoothing out.

She's a great writer, with marvellous turns of words. I've driven The Man crazy this afternoon with my frequent interruptions to read him a paragraph or a few sentences. I even evoked a few chuckles and some enjoyment, so that is high praise, let me assure you!

>146 AMQS: Hope you enjoy all of those BBs -- goodness knows I get enough of them from your thread! ;-)

>147 SandyAMcPherson: Hey, those of us born in a certain era can't do much about the names our hippie parents bestowed upon us! Glad you're enjoying the book.

>148 foggidawn:, I'm laughing my head off: those of us born in a certain era can't do much about the names our hippie parents bestowed upon us!

I think Rainbow as more of a 'new age' name; but what do I know?! I'm of that hippie era as a parent myself!
(However, I gave my kids very conventional names, which they now declare are old-fashioned and no one names their kids that anymore).

>2 foggidawn: I like your idea of breaking down your reading into manageable categories. That might work for me, though I admit I am scattered regarding my reading habits.

>149 SandyAMcPherson: Who knows!

>150 Whisper1: My own reading is pretty scattered; I just listed off some types of books that I enjoy so people who like the same will know what to look for. As for my modest reading challenge, I haven't done anything about it lately, so we'll see if I can finish it off before the end of the year.

>151 foggidawn: Better to be scattered than virtually without progress, Foggy!

Have a wonderful weekend.

(86 books read)



Clouds by Robin Jones Gunn -- Shelly had the perfect teenage romance with Jonathan, the boy next door, but when she left to pursue her dreams of becoming a flight attendant, all of their sweet dreams fell apart. When a chance encounter brings them back together, will they be able to reconnect as adults?

This is a pleasant inspirational romance, and though it's part of the Glenbrooke series, this one stands alone pretty well and would be a fine entry point into the series. Shelly and Jonathan are not my favorite couple in the series, but that's personal preference more than anything else, and I do enjoy their story, particularly the part that takes place in Germany. Recommended to fans of the genre.

(87 books read)



The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley -- When Harry's father dies, she is sent from her home (an England-like country) to a colonial army outpost on the outskirts of Daria where her brother is stationed. She actually kind of loves the desert and the hills beyond, but they make her feel restless, as well. When the king of the free hillfolk appears at the fort one day, little does Harry know that her entire life is about to change...

I've loved this book since I was a teenager, though not as much as I love the prequel, The Hero and the Crown. Harry's journey is written with such a deft hand, and the setting is so beautifully realized, that reading it makes me feel as if I've been there, and I'm always reluctant to leave. If you haven't read these two books, they can be read in any order, and I highly recommend both.

(88 books read)



Camp by Kayla Miller -- Olive and her friend Willow are off to summer camp, and Olive is super excited about all of the fun activities to try and the new friends she will make. Willow is a bit more apprehensive, and when they arrive at camp, she becomes clingy and controlling, wanting Olive to do everything with her. Can their friendship survive two weeks of this tug-of-war?

This sequel to Click stands fine on its own and can be read independently of the other book. It's another great, realistic exploration of the kind of friendship issues that a normal, outgoing kid might face, without buying into the common tropes of bullies and mean girls and friends growing apart at puberty. It's also a fun summer camp story that embraces all of the positive experiences camp can offer, but doesn't really touch on any of the inconveniences (so it's a very different sort of summer camp story than, for instance, Vera Brosgol's Be Prepared). Kids who enjoy Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale will eat this up.

(89 books read)

Creakers by Tom Fletcher -- Reviewing this elsewhere, just including it in my count here.

>152 PaulCranswick: Thanks for dropping by, Paul! I hope you get back into the swing of things soon.

I did have a rather lovely long weekend -- went to visit my parents, and my brother and sister-in-law were also there because it was my nephew's first birthday. We had a nice little party for him, and lots of pleasant family time together: worked a puzzle, watched a movie, went out for pizza and ice cream. I also picked a couple quarts of blueberries and helped put the chickens in at night, and spent a lot of time petting Sasha, Lexie, Buddy, and Harvey, the family dogs.

>155 foggidawn:, I'm really intrigued by Camp. Would it suit a very advanced reader in Grade 3?
My granddaughter is reading at about the 10 to 12 year-old level and I'm looking for a summer reading gift.

>158 SandyAMcPherson: Yes, I think it would be perfect for that age and reading level.

(90 books read)



Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan -- When she realizes that she has no nearby friends, shy introvert Jessica Pan decides to take a year and do stereotypically extroverted things to push herself out of her comfort zone: public speaking, solo travel, hosting a dinner party, talking to strangers. She is met with both stunning successes and cringeworthy failures (and sometimes, cringeworthy successes).

I enjoyed this memoir, which was written in a funny, engaging style. I'm maybe not quite as shy as Pan, but I'm definitely as introverted. While the book didn't leave me with any urges to do stand-up comedy or ask stupid questions of strangers on the street, I did appreciate some of Pan's insights on loneliness, and how to get past shallow conversation to deep talk. Some of Pan's experiments felt repetitive (public speaking and improv and stand-up) but I enjoyed reading about them, nonetheless. Recommended if you like the sort of memoir where someone does something differently for a year, or if you are an introvert who enjoys reading about introversion and are interested in this type of experiment.

I had been hearing about this book here and there, but it was @MickyFine whose review convinced me to pick it up sooner rather than later, so thanks!

>160 foggidawn: Sorry I'm Late sounds like a potential BB for me. While I'm not strongly introverted, I do shy away from parties and large gatherings, sometimes becoming quite a loner.

I looked up this book on the work page and the reviews. It seems to display rather strangely, with no author listed and saying only 1 review, when there are actually 5 (https://www.librarything.com/work/23091458/reviews).
Just nit-picking, on my part...

>160 foggidawn: Yay! I'm glad you liked it. I also appreciated her thoughts on getting to deep talk and I've been trying them a bit with mixed results. :)

>161 SandyAMcPherson: That is strange. Maybe LT hasn't updated those stats lately.

>162 MickyFine: Yeah, I haven't tried her strategies yet, but I probably will.

Hi foggi - Ooh, The Blue Sword! I read that one some years ago and really enjoyed it. I was just dinged by Micky's review of Sorry I'm Late.

>164 AMQS: The Blue Sword is such a good book! I reread it every so often, when I am in the mood. And Micky's review of Sorry I'm Late was quite compelling, wasn't it?

I missed it when it was published. I was 12 in 1982, but it never crossed my radar until I read a discussion of characters who make readers swoon and Corlath mentioned a few times :)

Micky's review was great - I look forward to the book!

>165 foggidawn: and >166 AMQS: *blushes* Thanks friends!

>166 AMQS: Hmm... Corlath is one of McKinley's best heroes. And that scene at the end always does make my heart go pit-pat just a bit.

>167 MickyFine: You're welcome!

So, last night I went with a friend to see the musical Come From Away, and it was delightful. It's quite a feat, to write a charming and heartwarming play about one of the worst disasters in recent history (though, of course, the play is really about the response of ordinary people to a peripheral event, so the tragedy itself is at a little bit of a remove). I've been listening to the music on and off ever since I bought the tickets (a few months ago), so I knew I would love that part, but it was also great to see how they staged the show, and how everything comes together. Each actor is playing multiple characters, but it was amazing how clearly they were able to differentiate between them by just minor changes to costume elements. It's another show with minimal set and no breaks for scene changes, just the actors themselves moving chairs and tables around while the audience is focused on another area of the stage. I feel like this is a trend in theatre lately. It's also a fairly short show, clocking in at under two hours, no intermission. (Since we had to work the next morning, we were pretty glad about this.) One of my observations was that this is going to be a fantastic show for community theatre, once the rights are available, since there's such versatility in the casting and since the costumes and set can be fairly basic. All in all, a highly enjoyable show -- if you get the chance to see it, I would recommend it!

>168 foggidawn: just the actors themselves moving chairs and tables around while the audience is focused on another area of the stage. I feel like this is a trend in theatre lately.
Definitely a trend, I've seen a lot of that lately too.

>169 norabelle414: Hamilton is the obvious example, and its popularity may have contributed, but I feel like I've seen it used elsewhere, too.

>168 foggidawn: Jealous. I wanted to see it when it toured through my city earlier this year but didn't manage to get tickets. However, I am going to see Waitress in November, which I'm very excited about.

>171 MickyFine: Yay Waitress!

>172 norabelle414: I love Sara Bareilles so I've listened to the soundtrack tons, even before I had tickets to the show. *big grin*

>171 MickyFine: Ooh, that is exciting! I'd like to see that one someday.

>172 norabelle414: Ditto!

>173 MickyFine: I haven't listened to the soundtrack yet; I should do that.

Oh, Come From Away was in Denver last fall an I was not able to go. I really, really wanted to, and hope it comes back. Glad you enjoyed it so much!

>175 AMQS: I hope you get to see it sometime.

(91 books read)



The Fault in Our Stars by John Green — Teenage cancer patients Hazel and Augustus meet, fall in love, and encounter suffering.

This is a reread for book club; it will be interesting to see what they make of it, since this group of adults doesn’t usually read YA. I enjoyed the reread; I had forgotten how snarky Hazel is, and how quotable the writing is.

>155 foggidawn: this reminded me of the Amy and Laura books by Marilyn Sachs, which are imo overlooked gems. Laura's Luck is about going to Summer camp, and is the second in the series.

>177 foggidawn: Yes, I think that was one of John Greens best books. I bought my own copy right after reading it from the library.
Looking forward to the comments from your bookclub.

>177 foggidawn: I'll be interested to see how your non-YA reading book club reacts. :)

>179 FAMeulstee: and >180 MickyFine: The book club meets Tuesday; if they have any interesting observations I’ll be sure to post them here.

(92 books read)



Blubber by Judy Blume — When the mean girl in Jill’s class targets another girl, nicknaming her “Blubber” and playing all kinds of mean pranks, Jill goes along with it, but what will happen when things go too far?

Man, children can be little monsters. Blume captures that in this book; she doesn’t pull any punches (and neither do some of the characters). Protagonist Jill isn’t particularly likable, but she’s a great study of how one can be drawn into bullying behavior even without specific negative intentions. I noted with interest all of the changes in the sorts of freedoms kids had at the time the book was written as compared to now. I’m not sure what modern-day kids would make of this story. I thought I had read it long ago, but maybe I missed this one? (I read it this time because I needed a quick book by an author with the same initials as my best friend to complete my summer reading bingo card.) I don’t know if I’d recommend it to kids, but I can see it being useful in an anti-bullying discussion, maybe paired with a more recent text.

(93 books read)



Waterfalls by Robin Jones Gunn -- Here's my review from a prior reread: Blond and bubbly Meredith Graham has one weakness: movie stars. When she meets mysterious "Jay" at a friend's home, she's struck by how much he resembles one of her favorite celebrity crushes, Jacob Wilde. When she inadvertently discovers that Jay and Jacob are one and the same, she can't help exclaiming -- and drawing a crowd of his fans -- before she realizes that he was attempting to enjoy a bit of anonymity. Meredith fears that she has alienated Jacob for good, but circumstances continue to throw the two together in a variety of wacky scenarios. When Meredith gets the chance to dip her toe into the world of film making and collaborate with Jacob on a project, she struggles with learning to control her emotions, while wondering if he will ever open up and express his.

This cute, funny inspirational romance is a welcome addition to the Glenbrooke series, drawing together two characters who have appeared in previous volumes. While it's not necessary for readers to have read the earlier books, prior knowledge of the series can only add to the reader's enjoyment. Gunn's writing is a cut above other inspirational romances, though this is not her strongest work.

I'm probably done rereading this series for now, as I have a whole stack of new library books just waiting for me, plus a friend coming to stay next week.

>182 foggidawn:, Re Blubber Wow, hadn't thought of that book in years.

My elder liked it because she was inflicted with mean brats much of grade school. Not fat or anything, just because. As you say, Man, children can be little monsters. I think she related to the whole aspect of grade-school dynamics that JB wrote about.

My younger daughter read it but I don't think she liked it and certainly passed it up as a potential read for her Grade-schooler entering "those" years. Peer pressure, it's a nasty, difficult era from which to emerge whole and happy.

>184 SandyAMcPherson: Having dealt with lots of nastiness (though, fortunately, not as much physical torment) at that age, I can sympathize with that. I may have avoided this book as a child because it would have hit too close to home, or maybe I just never had access to it, but I don’t remember reading it. I certainly dealt with (or endured, rather) my share of “mean brats!”

>185 foggidawn: {{{ Foggi }}}
You're safe here!

>186 SandyAMcPherson: Aw, thanks! It’s been a long time ago, but it’s funny how things can rankle, isn’t it?

So, life update: I heard recently from a college friend who’s going through a really terrible year. Divorce, depression, losing his job, losing housing... I’ve been pretty worried for him, and when he posted that he wasn’t sure where he could go, I offered my spare room. I meant it, completely, but I’m a long way from where he is now, so I didn’t entirely expect him to take me up on the offer. Reader, he moves in next week. I’m so glad to be able to offer this concrete help, but it’s going to be a big adjustment for both of us — or, as I told a mutual friend, I expect it to be super awkward and as weird as heck at times.

This shouldn’t affect my participation here, except that I may occasionally refer to my ... I’m still working on what to call him. “Roommate” sounds very college dormitory, “housemate” doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue, and since he’s living here (at least for a while) “guest” isn’t quite accurate. There’s nothing romantic in the arrangement, so I can foresee a lot of explaining in our future (“No, Mom, he’s not my boyfriend...”). Anyhow, that’s what’s up with me!

>187 foggidawn: Oh wow, good luck with such big changes! I live in a somewhat unusual living situation where the people who own the house rent out their extra rooms to people, and it's not easy to find language to describe all that, either. For lack of better terms, I call the people who own the house my landlords and the people who use the rooms my housemates. It neither trips off the tongue, as you say, or feels completely accurate.

>187 foggidawn: Lodger

>187 foggidawn: Good luck with the "associate houseperson". I think you're brave to take this on.
I guess 'boarder' doesn't work, either. I totally agree that 'roommate' is college dorm stuff.

>188 bell7: Yeah, housemate is probably what I’ll end up saying when I need that precise language.

>189 quondame: I love how British that makes it sound!

>190 SandyAMcPherson: I laughed aloud at “associate houseperson.” Thanks!

Oh, I forgot to report on book club! The whole group enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars, but we still had a good discussion (sometimes, when everybody in a book club likes a book, it's a lot of head-nodding and not much quality talk, but that wasn't the case with this group). We talked about one frequent criticism of the book, which is that real teenagers don't talk that way, but we agree that it's aspirational in a sense (real teenagers would like to talk that way, and some can pull it off in certain situations for certain lengths of time). We talked a lot about the different characters and their relationships to each other -- being an adult group, there was lots of interest in the parents of the main characters, how they were portrayed and how they interacted with their children. We all admired the writing, but one reader found it a little too slick and polished, if I'm understanding her criticism. The group probably won't read YA often, but didn't mind delving in this time around.

>187 foggidawn: I hear people use "housemate" a lot; I think you'll get used to it once you start to say it / hear it often.

>193 norabelle414: Yeah, I'm sure. The whole situation is just a little ... heh ... unorthodox. (There's a double pun there, if you knew the two of us: he's a Reform Jew, I'm an Eastern Orthodox Christian.)

Wishing you all the luck with getting your housemate settled and figuring out new life patterns with his arrival.

Glad book club went well and the discussion was robust. What's up next for your group?

>195 MickyFine: Thanks! The next book club pick is Carnegie's Maid, which I haven't started yet.

>192 foggidawn: Thanks for your report. I understand the comment of "a little too slick and polished", I feel many books these days are over edited.

>130 foggidawn: I have read Attachments as I did need a lighter read. For me it was good enough, I liked Eleanor & Park better.

>197 FAMeulstee: Yeah, there's that, and also perhaps she thought the author was a little too pleased with his own wit? As to Rainbow Rowell, I liked Eleanor and Park very much, but not quite as much as Fangirl or Attachments.

>198 foggidawn: someone recommended The Blue Sword...was it you?

I saw it at my local used book store this afternoon...and it followed me home.

>199 fuzzi: "Everyone" who chatters about The Blue Sword seems to recommend it. That's the title I filled in to the question What's one one book you love to give as a gift.

It is one of my most very fave books. If someone hadn't given that novel to my daughter when she was starting to read YA, I would never have stumbled across Robin McKinley. I hope you enjoy the story!

>199 fuzzi: I did reread and recommend it recently, as did @humouress and maybe @ronincats ? Lots of love for that book around here; hope you like it!

>200 SandyAMcPherson: Good answer! I haven’t done those questions yet, though I’ve seen them making the rounds.

Stopping by to wish you a wonderful Sunday, Foggy.

>202 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

Well, my housemate is all moved in and we are adjusting to the new normal. I told a friend we're in the excessively polite phase at the moment, which is not a bad place to be; we may stay there indefinitely. I finished one book (The Rosie Result -- review to follow) and DNF'd another over the weekend. The DNF was My Ideal Boyfriend is a Croissant, and I didn't get far enough into it to write an actual review -- just far enough to realize that I really hated the main character and all of the secondary characters that had thus far made an appearance, so I quit.

FYI, I've started a new thread -- see you over there!