SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER ROOT - Progress Thread

The Fountain I chose this time is dedicated to the God Neptune, however, while doing the research, I found that there are numerous Fountains of Neptune and I couldn't choose just one, so I'm sharing them all.

ROME






The basin of the Fontana del Nettuno, (without the sculptures), was designed in 1574 by Giacomo Della Porta. It was sponsored by pope Gregory XIII. The lower part of the basin consists of white marble and the upper part of the local stone from Pietrasanta. For the next 300 years, the fountain survived without statues.

Nineteenth-century infrastructure developments reduced dependence on urban fountains for drinking and washing purposes but increased their visual and political importance, especially following the creation of the Italian state with Rome as its capital after 1870. The fountain as it exists today was finally completed in 1878 by Antonio della Bitta, who added the sculpture of Neptune fighting with an octopus, and Gregorio Zappalà, who created the other sculptures, based on the mythological theme of the "Nereids with Cupids and walruses".

BOLOGNA





The fountain, also known as "The Giant" is located exactly in the ancient center of the city, at the intersection of the 2 main roads in the city in Roman times.

The four lactating mermaids (or nereids) are depicted as riding dolphins while expressing milk from their breasts. The entire sculpture was created in bronze and stone in the years 1563 to 1567 by Flemish-born sculptor Giambologna.

It has been the center of some controversy from the very beginning because of its sexually explicit imagery ... the nude Neptune and the nude lactating mermaids expressing milk from their breasts.

Nonetheless, it says something that a public artwork commissioned by a cardinal of the church has been able to deliver shock-value for almost 450 years.

FLORENCE







In 1559, Cosimo I de' Medici held a competition to select an artist to build a fountain of Neptune. The fountain was commissioned both in celebration of Cosimo's gift of clean water to the city and to celebrate the marriage of Francesco de' Medici I to the Grand Duchess Joanna of Austria.

The Fountain of Neptune consists of many different parts; aside from the giant Neptune atop a shell-shaped horse-drawn chariot, the fountain also has Tritons, Satyrs, two young women with Putti, two young men with dolphins, and Fauns. Neptune's features were modeled after Cosimo I de' Medici, which was appropriate parallel due to Cosimo's recent victory over Pisa, giving Florence safe access to the Mediterranean for trade. Ammannati's Neptune was unique because of its incredibly large scale and even though there were several Neptune fountains around Italy at the time, none of them had Neptune atop a horse-drawn chariot. Because the fountain's scale was so large, it forced Ammannati to make some innovative choices when constructing his giant Neptune. Two of the horses were white marble, but the other two were made of mischio, a marble discovered near the Duke's excavation site in Seravezza. This new marble was a type of breccia and had a variety of colors including red, yellow and purple. Due to the brittle quality of mischio the columns of stone broke in transit, creating delays in the fountain's completion. Ammannati was finally able to carve the remainder of the horse and complete the fountain in 1574.

NAPLES





The Fountain of Neptune is a monumental fountain, located in Municipio square, in Naples, Italy. The fountain until the end of 2014 was located across the street of via Medina across from the church of Santa Maria Incoronata, Naples and a few doors south of the church complex of Pieta di Turchini. Now the fountain is located in front of the Town hill building, its location changed due to the construction of the new underground station.

The fountain originally stood near the Arsenal in the port. In 1629, it was transported to Largo di Palazzo, near the Royal Palace of Naples, but since it hindered the festivals held in the plaza there, the fountain was again moved to Borgo Santa Lucia, near Castel dell'Ovo. There, more statues, these by Fanzago were added. In 1638, it was again moved, this time to Largo delle Corregge, today Via Medina. During the revolt of Masaniello in 1647, the statue was damaged. Further damage occurred during the sacking of Naples in 1672 by the Viceroy Pedro Antonio de Aragón. In 1675, it underwent restoration and was moved to the Molo Grande.

This migratory fountain has continued to move through Naples: in 1886, it was dismantled, to reappear two years later in the Piazza Plaza della Borsa, where it stood till 2000, when it was returned to Via Medina to allow for work on the Naples Metro.

SO, WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE - Rome, Bologna, Florence, or Naples?

any suggestions for next year's theme?

Here are the members and their goals so far.
Remember if your name doesn't appear, check to make sure you are a member.

Ameise1 8 / 10 ★★ 80.0%
AnishaInkspill BLANK / 55 #VALUE!
AstroKnight BLANK / 12 #VALUE!
atozgrl 18 / 25 ★ 72.0%
benitastarnd 53 / 75 ★ 70.7%
Bookbrained 47 60 ★★ 78.3%
brakketh BLANK / 29 #VALUE!
Caramellunacy 5 / 25 20.0%
Carmenere 22 / 25 ★★★ 88.0%
Cecilturtle 41 / 75 54.7%
clue 37 / 35 105.7%
Coach_of_Alva 32 / 40 ★★ 80.0%
connie53 49 / 36 136.1%
crazy4reading 16 / 25 64.0%
curioussquared 45 / 58 ★★ 77.6%
CurrerBell 26 / 48 54.2%
cyderry 45 / 72 62.5%
deep220 19 / 25 ★★ 76.0%
detailmuse 26 / 40 65.0%
DisassemblyOfReason 33 / 75 44.0%
EGBERTINA 143 / 25 572.0%
Familyhistorian 43 / 65 66.2%
floremolla 10 / 40 25.0%
fuzzi 8 / 20 40.0%
HelenBaker 41 / 48 ★★★ 85.4%
Henrik_Madsen 30 / 50 60.0%
humouress 9 / 25 36.0%
Jackie_K 35 / 48 ★ 72.9%
jlaforte BLANK / 52 #VALUE!
kac522 59 / 75 ★★ 78.7%
karenmarie BLANK / 10 #VALUE!
Kyler_Marie 26 / 60 43.3%
KWharton BLANK / 12 #VALUE!
Lealeab BLANK / 14 #VALUE!
lindapanzo 66 / 84 ★★ 78.6%
madhatter22 30 / 40 ★★ 75.0%
majkia 72 / 70 102.9%
martencat 14 / 18 ★★ 77.8%
MissWatson 73 / 100 ★ 73.0%
Nonconformisto 22 / 15 146.7%
nebula21 4 / 5 ★★ 80.0%
nvblue BLANK / 50 #VALUE!
QuestingA 23 / 50 46.0%
rabbitprincess 38 / 50 ★★ 76.0%
Rebeki 25 / 30 ★★★ 83.3%
ritacate 30 / 15 200.0%
Robertgreaves 59 / 72 ★★ 81.9%
sallylou61 17 / 24 ★ 70.8%
si 13 / 35 37.1%
torontoc 14 / 30 46.7%
twogreys 10 / 24 41.7%
wandaly 18 / 25 ★ 72.0%
weemanda BLANK / 20 #VALUE!

here are those who have met their goals - ritacate, Nonconformisto, and EGBERTINA were joined by majkia, connie53, and clue!




The goal for the end of OCTOBER is 1,808!

Go dig those ROOTS!

On both my laptop and my work desktop the first photo from Florence isn't showing.

>4 Robertgreaves: All the photos are showing up for me.

Who knew Neptune was so popular in Italy??!!

As to themes, maybe interesting "city skylines" from around the world, with a short profile of that city.

Cheese. It was the runner-up last year for a theme.

I have really enjoyed the fountain theme. Whoever suggested it - it was a good idea.

>1 cyderry: I definitely have to go with Rome. That octopus looks like one amazing creature!

Also, I'm really partial to birds as a theme.

>1 cyderry: I would also say that the one in Rome is my favorite. (And I'm not having any trouble seeing the photos.)

>7 Cecilturtle: Ooooh, I like the idea of birds. Hadn't thought of that. Good suggestion!

Reporting ROOT # 50 for the year, # 1 for September

Stormgloed by Karen Swan

Own ticker updated.

I like the bird theme too

Reporting ROOT # 51 for the year, # 2 for September

Nachtgoud by Karen Swan

Own ticker updated.

I've just added ROOT #1 for September (#36 for the year) to my own ticker.

Reporting ROOT # 52 and 53 for the year, # 3 and 4 for September

Writing All Wrongs by Ellery Adams
Poisoned Prose by Ellery Adams

Own ticker updated.

Reporting in after my vacation. Those fountains are fabulous, Chèli.

Reporting ROOT # 54 for the year, # 5 for September

The Vampire Knitting Club by Nancy Warren

Own ticker updated.

I've just added ROOT #2 for September (#37 for the year to date) to my own ticker.

I think parks from around the world would be a possible theme.

Reporting ROOT # 55 for the year, # 6 for September

Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams

Own ticker updated.

I would enjoy having cheeses for next year's theme. >2 cyderry:

I'm still behind on my September ROOTs reviews but so far I've added 7 ROOTs for September.

I am reading short and quick books, 9 ROOTs so far.

I've added my 3rd ROOT for September, #38 for the year, to my own ticker.

Reporting ROOT # 56 for the year, # 7 for September

Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams

Own ticker updated

#24 can't update.

I have completed though.

I have finished 11 ROOTs this month and now stand at 85/100.

I have 7 ROOTs for this month. I won't finish another one today so that is my total for September. No ticker's updated. I seem to be stuck on 7 ROOTs per month. At this rate I am not sure I will meet my goal for this year.

Here is the breakdown for the month.
3 Nonfiction - A Week at the Airport by Alain De Botton
Uncommon Carriers by John McPhee
Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson
2 Fiction - Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley
Mapp & Lucia by E. F. Benson
2 Recorded Fiction - Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers
Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

I'm counting 6 ROOTs for this month! It doesn't look likely that I'll reach my goal this year, but I've made a good dent in the pile!

Here is my report for September 2025:

UpROOTED books:
ROOTless books: 9
Added to the treebook TBR shelves: 3

The ROOTs were:

The Eagle of the Ninth Chronicles by Rosemary Sutcliff
Islander by Patrick Barkham
Poststructuralism: A Very Short Introduction by Catherine Belsey
How To Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood
Murder at the Black Cat Cafe by Seishi Yokomizo

ROOTs in YTD: 66 (49% of books this year have been ROOTs)

Personal ticker updated

I finished 2 ROOTs this month, for a total of 20 so far this year. I was hoping to finish one more, a reread of Huckleberry Finn, but unfortunately that won't happen today. My personal ticker has been updated.

>27 Robertgreaves:
the Eagle of the Ninth Chronicles are very well done. I read the first one many years ago and finally got around to reading the other two a few years ago. I should read more books by Rosemary Sutcliff but ...

>29 benitastrnad: So many books, so little time

I managed to post about 10 ROOTs that I read in September although I read more which I plan to add in October.

That's my first ROOT for October (#39 for the year to date) added to my own ticker.

I've added a few ROOTs for September/ October. I'm up to 13 (miscounted) 14 now; only my ticker updated.

ROOT #2 for October (#40 for the year) added to my own ticker only.

I finally caught up with posting my ROOTs! I'm now at 59 out of 65.

TARGET ACHIEVED 72/72

ROOTS read:

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
The Island of Adventure by Enid Blyton
Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction by Samir Okasha
Harbour Street by Ann Cleeves
Voices of the Dead by Ambrose Parry
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

(49% of books this year have been ROOTs)

Personal ticker updated

I will continue contributing any more ROOTs this year to the group total

>36 Robertgreaves: Congratulations! Good ROOTing.

>36 Robertgreaves: Congrats!

>36 Robertgreaves: Congratulations, Robert!

I'm currently reading The Iliad.

I set my ticker for 2025 at four—but honestly, I would not be surprised if I'm reading this epic for the rest of the year! I'm extremely busy with my job at the moment (first year teaching), and I'm trying to "study" The Iliad instead of skimming its surface.

Thank you >37 humouress:, >38 MissWatson:, >39 Cecilturtle:

Reporting ROOT # 57 for the year, # 1 for October

Murder in the Secret Garden by Ellery Adams

Own ticker updated

Reporting ROOT # 58 for the year, # 2 for October

Vuurstrijd by Marcel Groenewegen

Own ticker updated

I've added ROOT #3 for October (#41 for the year) to my own ticker.

ROOT #4 for Oct (#42 for the year) now added to my own ticker.

Reporting ROOT # 59 for the year, # 3 for October

Dochters van Cane River by Lalita Tademy

Own ticker updated

>36 Robertgreaves: Congrats!

Thank you, Chèli

I have read 5 ROOTs in October so far and now have 10 more to go to reach my goal.

My first two books in October weren't ROOT's so I can't report them here. I did finish a very good book on the art of reading. This one was Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch. It was a very good book about the benefits of reading and talking about books. I was glad I finally got this one out of the ROOT pile.

I've done my roots, the image link for the ticker tape wasn't working and lost count but still going and hoping to finish a few more books by the end of the year.

for next time is it ok to use emojis / tickertape?

I just think I'd find it easier to add an emoji for every book count, and also it won't matter if the link works or not.

ROOT #5 for the year (#43 for the year) added to my own ticker.

Reporting my second ROOT for October (and 15th for the year). Only 10 more to go!

My own ticker updated.

Oops; missed one. Third for October, 16th for the year. 9 more - will I make it?...

>51 AnishaInkspill: I'm starting to hate that ticker site. Especially on my laptop it just flickers through different pages without stopping so I can't update my tickers. Refreshing the page and even logging out does nothing.

I've resorted to using emojis for things that only I track.

>54 humouress: I have found that copying the link and then changing to a different browser or to a private window helps, though not every time.

>55 Robertgreaves: Thanks, I'll give it a go.

>54 humouress: that's what mines does but on a desktop - showing the image here (using html) no longer works - it used to but now it's just a symbol, like what you get when it can't find the image / the link no longer exists.

>55 Robertgreaves: tried it another browser, it was the same, the tickertape link I had just defaults to the homepage, that's the page I initiallally set this up. I'm guessing it's been removed / the link no longer works for me.

so I was thinking for next time maybe have the option to use tickertape or emojis

>51 AnishaInkspill: what is your total now?

>58 cyderry: I've completed the 55 roots. My goal was 55.

And I am still new to this, I'm not sure if I've done more counts.

I'm having a good month this month! (thanks to my holiday!) That's ROOT #6 for October (#44 for the year) added to my own ticker. Hopeful I'll get another one finished by the end of the month.

I just wanted to let you know that I have achieved my ROOT goal of 10 out of 10 books.

>61 Ameise1: Congratulations!

>61 Ameise1: Bravo!

>61 Ameise1: Congrats. Well done.

>61 Ameise1: Congrats!

Congrats, Barbara!

Reporting ROOT # 60 for the year, # 3 for October

Murder in the Reading Room by Ellery Adams

Own ticker updated

>62 humouress: >63 Cecilturtle: >64 Robertgreaves: >65 MissWatson: >66 connie53: Thank you all very much.

15 for the year and first ROOT for Oct- I have been away from LT for a while

Here is my report for October 2025:

UpROOTED books: 6 + 3 extra ROOTs
ROOTless books: 10
Added to the treebook TBR shelves: 13

The extra ROOTs were:

The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross (DNF)
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

ROOTs in YTD: 75 (48% of books this year have been ROOTs)

Personal ticker updated

This month was a good one for me with 9 ROOTs. Alas that will not get me much closer to my goal of 75, but I'm happy I've read some of my deep ROOTs dating back from almost 20 years ago.

I had a good month for ROOTing for a change. I read 6 ROOTs in October for a total of 26 for the year, one more than my ROOTing goal of 25 for the year. The ROOTs read this month are

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Gigi by Colette
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
John Huston by Scott Hammen

My personal ticker has been updated.

I've added ROOT #7 for October (#45 for the year, just 3 short of my goal) to my own ticker.

I had a good month of reading with 10 books. However, only 8 of them were ROOTs. Two were books that were published this year.

My ROOTS for October are 8.
Nonfiction: Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch
Fiction: Lucia's Progress by E. F. Benson
Lily: A Love Story by Cindy Bonner
Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Prey on Patmos by Jeffrey Siger
Recorded Books: Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Morning Star by Pierce Brown

I read a total of 5 ROOTs for October and I'm now at 59 out of a goal of 65. Congrats to everyone who has reached their ROOTs goal already!!!

Sorry, everyone, busy Halloween and still recovering.
Will get to numbers tomorrow.

LAST THREAD FOR THE YEAR IS FINALLY UP!

My apologies for falling down on the job. 😒😞

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375153#

>76 cyderry: You're doing great, Chèli! It's a job and a half to get it all tabulated and organised. I certainly appreciate it and I know I'm not the only one!

>77 Cecilturtle: Dito that!

read 55/55 roots now, I have now updated my page https://www.librarything.com/topic/367480#n8994723 and added a continuing tally at the bottom of some posts.

my ticker link doesn't work but the books I read in Oct are

Electra
The Greek Epic Cycle and its Ancient Reception: A Companion
The Tasting Menu: A Short Story

>76 cyderry: if it's any consolarion I also fell behind in updating my page and inbetween my ticker link stopped working, anyway it's taken a few months but I've finally updated and caught up.

I think I have got the hang of this now and will be more prepared next year.

Beginning work on 2026 ROOT. There were 2 suggestions for themes - Birds or Cheese.

Would like to know which you all prefer. If we choose BIRDS we could concentrate on endangered species or just all birds. If we did CHEESE we could exchange recipes that include the Cheese of the Month.

I will set up for voting. Please vote only for one.

wrong place, sorry