What are you reading in January?

Currently, I'm looking for my book Brisingr.
I'm also in the middle of Blue Bloods: Revelations, and Harry, a History.

I'm also waiting on a couple of B&N orders of Manga books.

It looks like I'm continuing Love and Lies through the new year. We watched a movie so I didn't have time to finish it. I might still finish it tonight, though. I'm no where near ready to sleep.

I must make a list of must-reads today.... right now I'm rereading Gone With The Wind

That's on my list of must reads polly! I've started it once...

I'm currently reading The Rotter's Club. I gave up on The Gathering for a bit. It was like wading through mud.

I'm still reading Love In The Time Of Cholera and The Thirteenth Tale both of which I'm liking so far....

I'm still in the middle of The Book of Lost Things and I'm about 150 pages away from finishing Breaking Dawn.

I've decided to start reading Bridge to Terebithia, Matilda, and Robin Hood.

I am reading Vampire Academy I should be done by this afternoon. I started reading it right at midnight last night!

Kafka on the Shore. As it's Murakami, it's brilliant.

I have read one book from him Norwegian Wood LG...I thought it was ok...and I've read that Norwegian Wood isn't his best work...are the other books by him better??

I've been thinking of trying a Murakami too. Any recommendations for a first book of his to read? Are there any books that should be read before or after others?

I'm hoping to finish Memoir from Antproof case, which I've enjoyed a lot, in the next day or so.

I started reading Tamsin last night because I loved The Last Unicorn (both by Peter S. Beagle). I am not liking this one half as much as I like the Last Unicorn. Maybe it will improve. It hints at things that sound interesting.

I finished my book around 3:30am. Today was the latest I've ever slept in. I think I broke my own record. ;)

Since I have the day off I'm probably going to read Through the Looking Glass and then pick up another book after finishing it, either Deathly Hallows or something else.

I just want to say that only on LT would you have people celebrating the new year by reading. It's wonderful! :)

I'm currently reading Richard Attenborough's Entirely up to you, Darling and I can't praise it highly enough. A great book about a truly remarkable man.

hmmmm...sounds good mark

Re Murakami: I've only read The Wind-up Bird Chronicle and Hard Boiled Wonderland and The End of the World but both are brilliant, in my view.

Murakami is kind of pomo, kind of magical realism, but not really either. His style is unique. It's impressionistic, dreamlike, surreal stuff mixed with the very realistic, almost mundane. If you want your stories to be all tied up in a pretty bow and have everything make conventional sense, look elsewhere.

Resonant, evocative, are more words I would use. Almost as if he uses language to speak directly to parts of us that do not recognise it.

Am currently in the middle of The Cellist of Sarajevo. It is extremely well-written and haunting, and I will be sad to finish it. Still occasionally reading an essay or two from Best Food Writing 2001; I'll eventually finish it (hopefully in 2009!). Not sure what will be next...

Ooh, grk - I've been eyeing The Cellist of Sarajevo for a week or two. Glad you like it. May well pick up a copy with my Chrimbo book tokens...

I have moved on to Midwife of the Blue Ridge.

Working on Without Warning my ER book It's the best book I've received from ER yet.

I have read the first tow Vampire Academy novels Vampire Academy and FrostBite I started Shadow Kiss about an hour ago. Then I will be reading kissed by an angel

Im going to read the 3rd Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Inkdeath.

I watched the movie Twilight. It suckered me into rereading the book.

Missy is bringing me Inkdeath =D

I'm reading Through the Looking Glass today because I couldn't seem to get off the computer yesterday.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I just got back from Nice, France, where I spent New Year's Eve.
On the plane ride from Nice to the States, I read half of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. I'm also reading Graceling, The Necklace and other Tales by Guy de Maupassant, and Alice in Wonderland. However all the books except for The Necklace have to go back to the library tomorrow before I go back to school (and I'll have to read textbooks, which I'll post on here).

I am jealous of you being in Nice!

The street names where I live are named after places in France, so I'm in France everyday. ;)

Hope you had a great and safe trip, wingert! Let me know what you think of Alice in Wonderland? I just finished reading it a few days ago myself. :)

wingert, I hope you like Hunchback. I love Victor Hugo's writing style. I read it after seeing the Disney adaptation.

catbastet will also be happy you're reading Graceling. I should put that on my list.

I finished the entire Vampire Academy series. My reviews will be on my blog later. I am almost finished Kissed By an Angel and I have to say I'm not overly impressed.

I just finished Ender in Exile. It's been a long time since i read a book in 24 hours. Thanks yet again Laia!

It's been suggested that i read The Host next. We shall see.

29 Kerian,
I thought Alice in Wonderland was ok. I couldn't get into it, and once I did, I was confused through parts of it.

30 JP,
I LOVED Notre-Dame de Paris. I love French lit. more than American lit., and have Hugo's Les Miserables in my library and have read it 4 times.

I was reading this morning and was confused over part of Through the Looking Glass. I wondered if Alice had fallen asleep early on without the book letting on about it. It's going on okay now, though.

I have been eagerly waiting for Bloodsucking Fiends to arrive in the mail from PaperBackSwap. It's coming from New York. When I checked the map two days ago, it said it was in Illinois, and when I checked it last night, it said it went backwards a couple states to what I think is Pennsylvania. I understand they just didn't quite know where it was for a bit, but I was so stunned last night! ;)

#19, LadyN - I highly recommend The Cellist in Sarajevo. It was sad yet hopeful, haunting yet beautiful. Galloway's writing was a delight, but it was sparing enough that you didn't get lost entirely in the structure but rather the story.

I am now reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and am already itching to plant a small garden (or at the very least some potted veggies). I wanted to do this last summer but it didn't work out, so I really hope I can this year.

#35, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is on my wishlist -- I'm sure it will give me the gardening bug too, when I start it.

I have the gardening bug without reading it -- I ordered seeds last night, after spending some time drooling over seed catalogs. I'm sure I ordered too many.

Now I want to read The Garden Primer some more. (This has been my favorite gardening book since I was a kid, when I used to read through my mom's copy as if it were a novel.)

But I'm actually doing comfort reading right now -- all rereads, nothing too taxing.

Another one added to the wishlist!

I finally got The Tales of Beedle the Bard and will start reading it today.

I picked up The Nanny Diaries today at the library (in audiobook format) for my commute this week.

I finished reading Kissed by an Angel I was not to thrilled with the first couple of books but the last book was a real improvement.

Finished Richard Attenborough's wonderful autobiography and have now started John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things which was recommended to me by someone who had read my own novel The Magic Lands and said I should give it a try. Really looking forward to it!

I liked beedle's stories.

#35 - thank grk! will def pick up a copy.

I'm reading The Diamond of Drury Lane and have Cat Among the Pigeons all lined up for when I finish it.

43: Polly, I did too! It was so great to "hear" Dumbledore's "voice" again.

#45 tiegster:
You got me. I had to click the links. Those sound like they might be funny. Will you let us know what you think of them? I'm assuming you're enjoying the first book so far to have book two already. :)

I'm this close (imagine fingers 2 cm apart) to finishing Revelations. After I'm finished (which will probably take me 10 minutes tonight), I am going to start Descendants of Darkness 9.

I'm reading Searching for Dragons because I just finished a reread of Dealing with Dragons. I thought "I can just read the first one..." but it just doesn't work that way. I've set a goal to read 50 books this year with at least half being new.

#27 Kerian: Diamond of Drury Lane was definitely entertaining and kept me interested. I thought it was predictable since I figured out the whole thing by the first third of the book, but that's just me...I have to solve it and I can't just read without analyzing everything and drawing my own conclusions ("the effect of education, I suppose" - Fanny Price; Mansfield Park). I read too many mysteries.

I started Cat Among the Pigeons and am liking it as much at the first book.

Conclusion: pretty well written j/ya books.

Feet of Clay and
Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War

Both are very good so far! I finished Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? yesterday, and now I want to rent the movie so I can see all the drama.

I am on a huge reread streak. I just reread the first two books in the Last Apprentice series, then Twilight and just started to reread Goblet of Fire. I am also really wanting to reread The Book Thief, Gone with the Wind, and The Book of Lost Things. I feel a little guilty, looking at my TBR pile, but the guilt is quickly stifled when I am submersed in a wonderful, comforting reread. :)

#42 Mark, I hope you like The Book of Lost Things. It is one of my top 5 favorites easily.

#49 Espy, I have both of those in my TBR pile. I am a sucker for a story about dragons. I'm glad to hear that was a reread for you; it makes me hopeful that I'll like them.

#50 tiegster:
Maybe I'll have to look for it. :)

#52 lefty:
Good for you enjoying your rereads, lefty! I always miss rereading books. :)

Am working on my now-annual HP series re-read (on Prisoner of Azkaban currently) which was on hold for a bit over a week while one of my best friends was in town. I'm also reading The Book of Lost Things and enjoying it quite a bit so far. I recently picked up the four books in the Marked series for fluff reading once school begins (next week), but they'll probably wait until I finish the HPs sometime next month.

I need to calculate my 2008 reads and re-reads; it was my first year ever keeping track and I'm really interested to know my totals!

The Host. Sigh.

*waves to Laia*
Did i tell you how good my last book was? It was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay good.

I'm reading a rather elegant mystery in the Inspector Morse series called The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter. It's my first book by Dexter and I'm enjoying the prose.

Yay, I'm glad you enjoyed it :) MsD, are you done with it yet???

ok I am reading A Whisper of Blood, The Eyre Affair, The Wildflower Quartet, and Uglies

Oh! I hope you like The Eyre Affair! That series is defintely one of my favorites. I swear people are missing out who haven't read it. :)

I finished Kafka on the Shore, which was brilliant, and I'm now reading The Sea of Monsters. It seems downright normal next to the Murakami.

49- Oh, those are really great books! I have a book of short stories by Patricia C. Wrede called Book of Enchantments. They are really good, and the last story has Cimorene in it. It's called "Utensil Strength" and is about a frying pan of doom. It is hilarious!

Right now I am reading The Sonnets, Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris (which is really fun!), and I'm going to start The Tales of Beedle the Bard soon.

#37, foggidawn - I've never tried to grow a garden myself. We had gardens when I was a kid, and I helped pull weeds, but I didn't pay much attention to what all my parents did, so I really don't know where to start...well, beyond the basics of soil, seed, water, sunshine! Would The Garden Primer be a good guide for beginners?

It sounds like it to me!

I finished Cat Among the Pigeons and now I'm really anxious for the next book...I'll have to look up when it's coming out.

Maybe now I'll read My Side of the Mountain since I've never read it; on the other hand...I really need to work on getting moved into my apartment and stop procrastinating.

There's a thread for procrastinators, Tiegster ... if you get around to reading it. ;)

#62 -- I think it would. There are all kinds of beginning gardening books out there, but that one is particularly readable.

#60 LG:
For some reason I had the impression that you'd read more books than that in the Percy Jackson series so far. Did you buy the first one the day we met that we had foggi on the phone?

I'm this close (imagine fingers 1 cm apart) to finishing Descendants of Darkness 10. I'll start the 11th one tonight.

Finished Feet Of Clay, and am now starting Case Histories.

About halfway though Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones absolutely hilarious!

Just added that and Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians; thanks for the tip, readafew!

That's on my TBR pile. I've got to get busy on that. Instead, I've been getting new books to read.

I got to read a couple chapters of Inkdeath today at school. I'm about halfway through Matilda too.

#70 -- I'll definitely need to get started on it as soon as I'm done with my comfort reading.

71,72,74 >It's a very fun read, I was laughing out loud several times last night.

71 > The first one is good but the second is better (so far).

ok, so I made a mistake by going to the Library today lol... I am putting my other reads on hold because I got 12 books from the library and I want to get them back on time so I am going to read them first. I am going to start with Wake by Lisa McMann

#67 YEP! And I loved it, I just haven't read the others yet. The second one is great.

I have to read the next Alcatraz book, too. I love Brandon Sanderson and the first Alcatraz was way fun.

I dig kid lit.

I finished Wake and posted my review. I just started Tantalize but haven't gotten far enough to have an opinion yet.

#78 Bella:
I bought Tantalize in a used bookstore. The seller almost looked upset to see it go though she's read it before. She said it's really good. I need to read that soon.

K, I finished Tantalize a couple minutes ago, my review is posted. I am now going to start Evernight even though I should be going to bed.

I've finished Does My Head Look Big in this? which I would encourage people to read. It is about the experiences of a young Australian Muslim girl who starts to wear the hijab full-time. The most interesting thing I found about the book were the simple explanations the author provided about cultural obligations versus religious obligations.

I've started reading Coraline today which I'm really enjoying. Unfortunately I can only read small books while commuting this week so I can't get into anything too meaty.

I finally finished A Study in Scarlet! And I did work on getting more stuff moved into my apartment so I feel an overall sense of accomplishment. Yay!

I am still having trouble holding a regular book, so I put The Sea of Monsters down half-read and I'm now reading Ending an Ending for the GD group read. (I'm not exactly loving it so far, sorry, Danny, but I'll give it the old college try.)

Well since I haven't been here much I have clearly been reading (and having internet troubles and at rehearsals)

I read and finally reviewed two of my early reviewer books. The Pets by Bragi Olafsson and The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennet. My reviews are here:

http://www.librarything.com/work/3620689/details/38331493

http://www.librarything.com/work/3620689

I also read The Tales of Beedle the Bard which was slim but enjoyable they are quite like old muggle fairy tales.

LG I read a book I think you might like The Box of Delights it is an old 1930s Children's book from England that has been republished by New York Review of Books and the book it reminded me most of is Little, Big it also reminds me of Joan Aiken and Susan Cooper a bit but the way the magical/fairy things happen with no explanation and then return to a sort of normal world in a very poetic way reminded me of Little, Big.

I am now onto another Early Reviewer book Pinocchio which I have actually never read in any form. I am finding it fascinating and very different than the Disneyfied version.

Then I am supposed to do a group read of Lark Rise to Candleford but I am itching to read Where Angels Fear to Tread I am trying to be a good early reviewer in the New Year though.

Oooh, Maren, that DOES sound good. Thanks!

I keep meaning to mention you over on the GD "who do you trust" thread. You are good at reviewing books and steering people towards what they might like.

Thanks LG. I don't know why I haven't joined GD. Perhaps because I can't keep up on the threads I have.

There is a second book by Masefield The Midnight Folk which was also good but not as good as the box of delights. It has more stereotypical witches and no Hearn the Hunter in it but it did have pirates and lost treasure and a bad governess and a talking owl so there are some pluses. If you get The Box of Delights you will have to tell me if you enjoy it.

I gave up keeping up on groups a long time ago. I just pop in when I can. I've just been too busy at work for the interwebs.

Plus, BSG is starting up next week, so I'm a little distracted.

Ah yes, I sympathize with the being too busy. Especially lately. That's right the BSG DVD comes out very soon as well- since I am still a season behind you. We've been switching between Dr. Who and Madmen for our other DVD watching.

I started Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians, which I picked up at the library today. It's fun so far!

#89 Received S4 today! Hubby & I are rewatching S2 right now also.

It's really gone way beyond the obsession stage.

Mad Men is my very favorite show in the whole world. As soon as BSG finishes, I will be counting down the days until it returns.

Also, Damages starts up again tonight. Which is good.

Oops, where's that TV thread again?

Reading the same things. I've mostly been reading Inkdeath and Matilda.

Since Matilda is a little more lighthearted and easy to read compared to Inkdeath, I read it when I can't read for hours. It's hard to pull away from the Ink world once it takes you in.

I finished The Tales of Beedle the Bard! I loved it, but now I want more. Sigh.

I finished Evernight and posted my review.. I have started Undone

Did you read with the book barely cracked open, cat? ;)

Of course! 100 dollar books are not the sorts of things you want to damage. ;)

I just finished Love In The Time Of Cholera and loved it! If anyone has read it and wants to share some thoughts on it you are more than welcome to comment on my profile (pretty please), and I think I'm going to finish The Thirteenth Tale (which it's good so far) and Flashback (which it isn't so much) and may start on Inkspell since so many people around here is reading the Ink series...

I finished reading Through the Looking Glass but am not sure as of yet what I'm going to read next. I'll probably be reading instead of sleeping tonight, though, so I'll know soon enough.

Glad you're enjoying The Thirteeth Tale, Ron! I just ordered a used copy along with a couple of other books tonight. :)

Ok I finished Undone and have to say that it was definatly my favorite that I have read so far! I just picked up Elsewhere I am afraid my sleeping patterns are getting mixed up from ll the reading cause I can never put the book down to go to sleep lol

Bella's on a reading roll for 2009. I can't take a guess yet how many you will read this year. Don't forget to grab some zzzs! :)

I decided that I'm going to start reading Revelations, book three in the Blueblood series, next.

#85 - 87 - Maren and LG

They made The Box of Delights into a tv drama when I was little. A lot of it was filmed in my city, and my brother was in the cathedral choir at the time. Whenever there were scenes with carol singers, or in the cathedral, they used the choir. My parents bought a television that christmas so we could see Daniel in his blink-and-you'll-miss-him tv debut!

Ron, I forget if I've said this already, but I love The Thirteenth Tale. I've read it several times.

I finished Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians. It was a lot of fun! Completely different from the other Brandon Sanderson book I've read, Elantris (which I also enjoyed).

Hmm, silly touchstones.

Ms. Bella, I almost picked up Elsewhere today! I went withThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao instead. I just finished Paper Towns, which (as anything I have read from John Green) was hilarious. If you haven't read Looking for Alaska you NEED to.

I went to Target to get.... ummm... something (I can't remember now) and they had book shelves for $27!!! I bough two and in one monumental moment where the cosmos aligned, I solved my book overpopulation problem!!!! I'm a new woman!! I can actually see my books!

I finished Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones last night and I thought it was better than the first one. Had me laughing out loud almost every chapter. I'll put a review later today. Haven't decided on my next read, told someone I'd read a manuscript for them so that will probably be next.

why are you ignoring me, read? I just said: NEWSHELVESNEWSHELVESNEWSHELVES!!!! *does happy wiggle*

Since school just started, I began to read some of my textbooks, which include: The AP Guide to Photojournalism, Communicating for Results, Mass Media in a Changing World, Managing Human Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organizations, and La Civilisation francaise en evolution I (The Evolution of French Civilization).
I have The Great Picture Hunt 2 on order at the bookstore, but it hasn't arrived yet. And I'm waiting for my new French dictionary, the Petit Robert.

SUGE: AWESOME NEW SHELVES!!!! I AM JEALOUS!!!! ;)

Readafew, I'm glad to hear the second of the series is even better than the first! I wishlisted it and the first one on paperbackswap, but there is a waiting list for both. I will be impatiently waiting.

nwing: Sorry for the textbooks. No matter how interesting (indeed, if they are), they can never top things you're reading purely for fun. :/

I'm back to my rereading. I'll finish GoF and then probably reread the Hollow Kingdom series. Hopefully soon I'll get Book of Lost Things and Book Thief back from the people who are borrowing them so I can reread those too.

edited to fix incorrect touchstone

105: Congratulations on your new shelves suge. Are they the cheap-o ones that come in 3-shelf or 5-shelf varieties? I have 3 of the 5-shelf ones and they're a bit precarious, but they hold a lot of books.

Just finished Foundling last night; excellent story! I'm looking forward to starting the second in the series.

Am also still working on The Book of Lost Things, and will start GoF soon, as well.

Thanks, Lefty I am estatic!

Bib, they are the absolutely cheap, five shelf, tape it to the wall cuz it might fall and rain books on your head, no tool needed, cardboard and woodchip faux wood variety. but they are very spacious. It really was a good find. I accidentaly broke one of boards during assembly, its a well known fact that I am a bit of the Mcgiver type. I can assemble anything.

We have the same shelves then! None of mine are built quite right, but they all stand up and hold books, and really, what else do they need to do?

not fall?

Mare is going to try and convince me that bungee cords across the fronts of our shelves are "postmodern" or "industrial chic" or something... The joys of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in earthquake country...

I thought I covered that with 'stand up', but it's probably best to have that separately.

Oh, and in the interest of not completely hijacking this thread:

I'm a little over halfway done with my lunchtime read (which is why it takes so long) The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Anne of Cleves has shown up, so we're on the back stretch. I'm also reading an electronic ARC called Jumble Pie which I'm enjoying and thinking I'll have to get the authors published stuff and during rehearsals I'm reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which I read nearly all of last year on project gutenberg, but then switched jobs and it took forever to find it in a store, so I'm starting over with it.

Nah, it's not hijacking. You need something to put your January book reads on. ;)

I loved the TV version of The Box of Delights! Truly magical with some great performances. If only every adaptation could capture the spirit of the book so well.

#103 suge:
Congrats on your new shelves! One of my bookshelves is from Target, too, but bib's and yours sound nicer. Mine is low and is basically two bookshelves joined together, each with four rows of shelves. It's annoying because it takes up a lot of space for being that wide while also being low to the ground. There's so much wall-space that could easily be filled with books.

#113 laia:
My newest bookshelf isn't to the ceiling, but it's very large, heavy, and tilting even though nothing is on it yet. I've been trying to think of what to use to prevent it from falling on me in an earthquake. Tell Mar thanks for her idea! Will you share any other ideas you guys come up with? Some bookshelves can be mounted to the wall, but I don't think it would help for this particular bookcase.

I was actually able to sleep last night (yey!) so I didn't start reading Revelations till this morning. So far, so good.

I'm starting the year with Alan Moore's Watchmen. I've been on a bit of a graphic novel binge lately and I've heard tons of good things about Moore, plus I really wanted to read it before the movie comes out. So far I'm quasi-impressed. :)

Suge, I just put it on my TBR list to get from the library. I will get it next trip! Congrats on your new book shelves!!!

K, I remembered to sleep lol. But not until after I finished Elsewhere I think I am now going to read Tithe Plus being unempployed I have a lot of time one my hands, expecially now that I don't have a car and nothing is in walking distance.

I finished Matilda today. Still working on Inkdeath.

I went and bought The Tales of Beedle the Bard and finished it. I loved the stories.

foggi: Thanks for the confirmation on the gardening book. I'm starting to get really inspired about at least trying my hand with some tomatoes and peppers!

Ron & K: The Thirteenth Tale was one of my top 5 reads for 2007, and I'm contemplating rereading it sometime this year. Enjoy!

suge: Yay for new bookshelves!! I just shared your find with my hubby, who is now debating the worthiness of a run to Target to see if we can nab some on sale too. We have reached the point of new shelves or purging (*shutter*)...

I'm still enjoying Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Have started listening to Through a Glass, Darkly by Donna Leon while walking on my lunch break; so far, so good.

I envy those who have The Tales of Beddle the Bard...one of my friends bought it for me in Miami but she's coming back this weekend...sooo I have to wait until I can read it :(...

Does anyone have a copy of Melissa de la Cruz's Revelations? I was wondering if anyone could tell me what's on page 197. The entire right side of that page in my copy is completely missing! :(

I just flipped through the book and it seems this is the only page with a problem. I could probably take it back to Borders but the page is the start of a new chapter and so the text doesn't start until halfway down the page anyways. I would be happy enough slipping a paper into my book with the missing words. I think I'm going to skip it for now because I'm at a point where I can't stand to stop reading. Blasted book. I would still love to find out what it says.

ETA: I missed a page. 200 is the same way.

I'm confused. The page itself is blank? Or is it ripped out? And are you sure it isn't supposed to look like that?

Each of the two pages are there but half-blank. I'm positive it's not supposed to look like that. I've just finished reading it.

page 197
page 200

You should definitely take it back. Borders can send back damaged books and get their money back.

Their money, or my money? ;)

I think it would be good for me to call to let them know about it, but I think I'll just keep my copy. I can always look inside another copy to write the missing parts down myself. I feel like it would be silly for me to return a book once it's read. It will be quite a while before I'll reread it. There's also the guilt factor. The missing parts aren't very significant. Now if this were a Harry Potter book, I would be at Borders right away!

#127 -- Both. Borders will give your money back (or get you a replacement) and they will get their money back from the publisher. Don't feel guilty!

hey, you can't return it! Once you have read the words, it's used! It has eyewear! The pages are eyeworn!

JK. Kerian, what foggi and bib have said. I suspect that Borders might even have another copy or two on hand. What is someone wants to borrow your copy, or you want to list it on Bookmooch?

True. I was hoping to go there this weekend. I guess I'll just bring this and my receipt with me.

(Eyeworn! You're hilarious, MrA. :)

#116 Mark - Yay! Someone else saw it! I have very happy memeories of it, as not only did I see my big bruv on tv(although looking at it now, he would only have been little himself!), but we also finally had a tv!!

Just realised I haven't updated my reading...

Finished The Rotters' Club on the 5th, and am now reading..............

Persuasion!! Finally I try some Austen. As I posted on the gift pile thread (?), my friend gave me a beautiful Austen bow set for Christmas.
I didn't realise I'd started with her last one until after I'd begun, so I think I'll continue the set in reverse order. Might be interesting.

(And before this goes on the rumour thread, I do NOT intend on reading them backwards....!!)

#128/129: Thanks for explaining! I'm glad you've decided to take it back K!

I'm about 300 pages into Inkdeath. I love it =D

hehe... I like the eyeworn comment MrA=)

132- You can read her books any way you want, LadyN. Since they're stand alone novels and not a series, you won't really have any problems. I started with Pride and Prejudice, and then just read whichever of her books I found next. Reading the books backwards, however, might make them hard to understand. ;)

135- LOL!

I finished Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris, which was very funny! I'm now trying to decide if I want to read Snow (a retelling of Snow White), or Sunlight and Shadow (a retelling of The Magic Flute). I picked up both at our new library.

135: hahaha I LOVE XKCD!

Yay, more nerds! :-D

cat, have you read The Book of Lost Things? There are several fairy tales referenced throughout, and the seven dwarves are my favorite characters so far... It makes me wish for a full retelling of the Snow White story with them instead of the originals :)

#135: Giggle!

139- We took it out of the library, so it should be on the shelf. At least, I hope it is. If we lost it, I will be very put out.

You know it has a tendency of wandering off.

#135 hahahaha. That made my day.

#132 LadyN:
Hi, LadyN! I'm so glad you're trying Austen's books! I hope you like them! :)

RE Revelations,
Thank you for everyone's help! I appreciate it. :)

#135 laia:
ROFL! How many times do you see someone reading what looks like will be an entire book in a bookstore?! I'm so glad someone decided to make a cartoon about it! Thanks for sharing! :)

I'm going to read The Book of Lost Things next. I took it with me to work today though it turned out that I didn't have any time to read it there. Still, it didn't get lost, either, which is a very good thing. I'm happy I get to spend the weekend reading it only at home so there will be less places to lose it in. ;)

I just finished Inkdeath (Missy I'll give it to Mike to take back to you). I loved itt =D

Um, LT hated my HTML.

So, let's try this again-ish.

I was browsing threads and came across one for the 1001 books to read before you die where someone was asking about the shorter books/quicker reads on the list. I was feeling a little despairing because the books I've chosen to kick off the year are super awesome, but also either very dense or quite long. So, I grabbed The Little Prince so I could dash off a quick read. I am kicking myself for never reading it before now, particularly since I've owned a copy in French for about 15 years. What a beautiful story... I know it will stay with me always.

I'm glad you loved it, Laia! It is wonderful. Often when it is read in a French class no one appreciates what a beautiful story it is because they are all struggling with translation, which I think is a shame because I would bet not many people pick it up in English or read it on their own later. Good choice, Laia -- and at least you read it now and not another 15 years later.

I liked it when I read it in French. I'm better at reading French though than speaking it, so I didn't really have much a problem. I have recently been thinking of rereading it, but I think I want to be pretentious and reread it in French, which means doing some hunting around.

I have a copy in French. Every now and then I pick it up and try to read it, but I'm not used to reading a book in French so sometimes I don't know what the words are (and I don't have a French to English dictionary at home).

101 LadyN how wonderful. I understood it was a British classic. I wonder if the film version is available here anywhere.

Oh Le Petit Prince is lovely isn't it?

I finished my friend's book, The Risky Way Home, which was good for a romance drama, just hard to start. I guess I have no sympathy for shallow characters.

I also read Knucklehead, which is a children's autobiography about author Jon Scieszka's childhood. Anyone with boys, I highly recommend it, it was very funny in a boy humor way.

Guess I'd better start The Book of Lost Things before it's due back at the library!

I'm about halfway through The Book of Lost Things. It's great so far!

I finished City of Ember last night and really liked it. After hearing from others, I am not sure if I will read the sequel. The characters may just have to live happily ever after in my mind.

After hearing about it here, I am reading Harry, A History. So far, so good.

Your Momma Thinks Square Roots Are Vegetables by Bill Amend

Hey, I've been busy...so you know...I've resorted to comics...and there's nothing wrong with that.

I think I'm gonna agree with you compski. Some books are better left without a sequel.

I finished Tithe and am reading Valiant but I am not sure if i like the second one. I really want to go and get Ironside tomorrow becuase that one picks up where the first on leaves off...

I am reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle like grkmwk. I only have about 100 pages to go!

I started Marked and Goblet of Fire, and am still working on The Book of Lost Things. With the new shelves, I've created an actual physical "To Be Read" area for the first time. I didn't put *all* of the books I've not read from my library on the TBR shelves, but I did put the ones I intend to try and read "soon," whatever that may mean. It's so happymaking!

155: Teig, I love Foxtrot! I got Think iFruity and Death by Field Trip for Christmas. Comics rock!

It's like a free bookstore, isn't it?

I've started the Spire by William Golding.

Lots of Book of Lost Things readers! :D

Laia, I am jealous! I want to reorganize my books, but it seems futile right now since we're theoretically moving in the next few months.

I brought The Wizard Heir and Shadow Kiss with me, but do you know what I'm reading right now?
That's right. Fruits Basket Ultimate Edition 3. "Why," you ask? Because I had this great idea to stop at Barnes & Noble on the way to my conference, and they didn't have book 5, which is the next book on my list. So what do I spy? Volumes 5 & 6 in one book, cheaper than they would be by themselves.
Yes, I have stooped to nonsense books, so I don't have to think so while I read. We all need easy books sometimes. I promise, that when I'm finished with this one, I'll pick up a book that I have to think about some. I just picked up The Classroom of Choice, which is the perfect book for my action research project. I'll read that next. I'm pretty excited about spying it on the table.

I need to get a copy of Book of Lost Things. There are so many people reading it lately and I want to read it.

#154 -- if you want a synopsis of what happens in the sequel I'm willing to give it to you. I think that it was nice to see what happened to the people after the first story, but it felt like she tried to make an epilogue into a whole nother book by adding in really stupid stuff. Like I said in chat the other night: I really wish I'd never read the sequel.

Today I was bored, so I finished Talking to Dragons and both started and finished Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones. I think I'm going to borrow the copy of Paper Towns that Foggi brought back from the library next.

I bought and read Beedle the Bard today. I love the Dumbledore parts.

I gave up on that Danny Birt book (sorry, it's just boring) and I'm now reading Phineas Finn. I just love Trollope to pieces.

Facebook is eating my brain, too.

Ok, I need to make a rule that I don't start anything by either Markus Zusak or John Green right before I go to bed. I started read Paper Towns at about midnight, and I finished it roughly 15 minutes ago. It is absolutely fantastic! I kept wanting to read more, and there was really no time I could put the book down! If this book isn't a Printz Honor Book at the very least the judges need to be taken out and shot.

If you've liked anything else by Green, drop whatever you are reading right now and pick up this book. (That includes you, Suge!)

I've just put it on hold at the library, Espy.

#157 Bella:
I remember liking one of the first two more than the other, too, I just can't remember which one. Ironside gets better, though.

#159 laia:
Have you read any books from The Uglies series by chance? ;)

I finished The Book of Lost Things yesterday. It's so good! I won't spoil, though.

K, noooooooo - should I? Classes start this week, so funtimes reading will be cut down, so maybe I shouldn't.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, yeah right.

Wellll, I wondered because you said happymaking. I couldn't recall where I read that term right away, but that series is it. That's the only reason why I asked. I think book one delivers fantastic messages and is definitely worth reading somtime, this week or some other time. :)

Well my manic reading phase is still going, and I've managed to read The Magic Thief. It was definitely a fun read, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the Septimus Heap series. It's not exactly like it but it has a similar feel to it.

I picked up Evil Genius and Beyond the Deepwoods from the library today since I've never read either, and I'm trying to get a bunch of new reads out of the way now, so that I'm struggling reaching my 50 books by the end of the year I can just reread stuff.

I stand by what I said very early this morning, though: If you liked anything by John Green you should definitely drop whatever you're doing and pick up Paper Towns. Just saying...

Espy, I just got the call today that Looking for Alaska is waiting for me at the library, and I just added Paper Towns to my queue. Of course, given that the estimated wait for Paper Towns is 97 days, I should have plenty of time to finish Looking for Alaska first!

If I can ever get off LT ;o), I'll hopefully finish Animal, Vegetable, Miracle tonight or tomorrow, then it'll be onto Silent in the Sanctuary, the second in a new mystery series by Deanna Raybourn.

Looking for Alaska is in my TBR pile.

...

I'm going to start reading Bloodsucking Fiends. It arrived over the weekend, and if it turns out I really like the book, well I already have book two thanks to my mistake of buying that one first. ;)

Why does this book never touchstone for me?

165 Espy: I do love your synopsi, especially for Brisingr: In Which Warrior Boy and Dragon Girl do a lot of Pointless Things.

Well, my fun reading time is going to be considerable cut down. Classes started today and I have a feeling, after looking at my syllabi(?) that I am going to spend a lot of time with my nose stuck in GO! With Microsoft Office 2007 Introductory and Culture and Values: Survey of the Humanities, Vol. 2 But at least I am trying to look forward to my Arts, Music and Literature course... it seems like the Prof. seems to favor are over the music and literature. But I am continuing (slowly) with Valiant which I am not liking very much...yet

Glad people are liking/have liked Book of Lost Things - I won't say anything spoilery, but I thought it was a really unique book. :)

I finished Watchmen and though I liked it a lot it suffered from being overhyped by people who told me it was the best graphic novel ever. Good? yes. Well written, well drawn? yes. Cool premise with a good story? definitely! Best graphic novel ever? meh.

I'm reading three books - A Marvelous Work and A Wonder, Cross Creek, and Withering Heights. All for my 999 challenge. I'm not enjoying Cross Creek very much - but I'm not very far in. I may give it up.

I'm reading A Countess Below Stairs, and I love it! So far, it's both funny and touching. I'm about halfway through, and expe t that I'll finish it tonight, in spite of having housework and stuff that I should be doing instead! ;-)

I gave up on Valiant There were a few parts of it I wasn't comfortable with... I won't put them here because I don't want to spoil anything for the next person who reads it. But I am going to start The otherworldlies Tonight after I take a nap...

I checked your blog, bella, and Valiant is the one I liked least of the series.

I'm not that far into Bloodsucking Fiends. You know how some people felt Twilight was played up into being something so great that it took away from the book when they read it? I'm slightly (sorry!) wondering if that's the case with this book. Still, I'm not that far into it as I said. Most books pickup later on.

179- I've seen that book before! Maybe I'll take it out next time I see it.

#182 -- Cat, I think you would like it. I'm almost done with it! I'm buying a copy for my mother, because I'm pretty sure she will love it.

Love The Countess Below Stairs.

I'll be reading The Tales of Beedle the Bard Just got it in the mail this week. Then I'll be moving on to Hero of the Ages by Brandon Sanderson.

I finished my ER book today. It was Silence by Christopher Brookhouse (evidently there are no touchstones for the book yet). It wasn't that great. Oh well. At least it was free =)

mindy, I have yet to hear one truly awesome response to an ER book. Certainly the ones I've gotten have been mediocre at best.

187 > I've had 2 I thought were pretty good, the last one I thought was REALLY good Without Warning.

I finished GoF! Again! ;)

I have started my reread of The Hollow Kingdom. I had forgotten how very much I love that series! Twilight fans should read it. I think some things feel similar even though they are very different books. And Kate is a much stronger main character than Bella.

Also I picked up Paper Towns from the library today, so I'll start that in the next day or so. :)

And the wishlist or TBR pile grows, depending on if PBS or BM have a copy available right now. ;) Thanks for the reading suggestion, lefty! LT thinks I will love that book.

gah I should've gotten Hollow Kingdom when I went to the library. I just got back home and I got Throne of Jade and The Book of Lost Things. I need to make a list of books I want to read.

I finished Sunlight and Shadow which I really liked! It was a good retelling.

191- Be careful. Once you start the list it will never stop. ;)

If only I didn't have to go to school and I could just read for a living.

I liked Sunlight and Shadow too. The other one I really loved was Midnight Pearls and Before Midnight.

Im reading The Year of Secret the Assignments and its really good!!!!:)) so romantical!!

I finished The Book of Lost Things which I thought was wonderfully written. Not sure what I'm going to pick up next, we have about 100 books out from the library.

Just finished The Shack. I had no idea what I was getting into with that one. Pretty thought-provoking. I think I need something lighter for my next read.

#193 mindy:
I don't have to go to school but the dream doesn't become real that easily. Not unless you go to school. ;)

I just finished reading Bloodsucking Fiends, which did get much better. I may or may not read You Suck next. I'm still deciding.

My mother wants to borrow my book to read next which I think is funny because it's not her sort of book at all. She's mainly a non fiction reader. It will be interesting to see what she makes of it. I think this will be her first vampire book.

The trapped cat in another room would like to add a message: "Meow!" Off go to rescue her.

I finished Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale, but I didn't really care for it. Now Espy thinks I should read Paper Towns, but I'm not sure I'm in the mood for John Green.

I'm still reading Persuasion, but thought I'd let you all know, (especially since I know there are lots of Austen fans in HE), that I'm loving it. :-)

JP, I am glad you liked Lost Things!!!

Sunlight and Shadow is now high on my TBR list. LT thinks I will love it.

I finished The Hollow Kingdom (again). :) I love that book. I hope you do read it, K!

Next up is Paper Towns, Close Kin (Hollow Kingdom #2), and Rich Like Them (my ER book).

Just finished The Book of Lost Things, am still on my HP re-read (GoF), and will probably start The Book Thief for school this week.

I just finished The Book of Lost Things tonight. I'm probably going to start Throne of Jade tonight or tomorrow. I haven't decided yet.

But I don't have school tomorrow so I have plenty of time to read =)

This lirruping hobble-de-hoy chap is reading Jude the Obscure by Hardy.

I think I'm going to return to the His Dark Materials trilogy. I read The Golden Compass around this time last year. On to the next one!

It makes me feel so good so many people are reading and loving Book of Lost Things! It was one of my favorites last year.

I've finished both Beyond the Deepwoods and Evil Genius since my last post. I thought BtDW was ok, but it felt like the writer was sticking too close to archetypes for my tastes.

Evil Genius was better for me. I liked the characters and the pacing was pretty good too.

But, alas, I have no idea what I'm going to read next as that was the last of my curren checkouts from the library. I don't think I'm going to read any more of The Edge Chronicles, but maybe I'll pick up genius squad. Of the numerous other books that Foggi book-talked a few months ago which I did not finish before returning to the library.

I just read Savvy. It was solidly good, but it didn't blow me out of the water like some others I've read lately. It keeps cropping up on mock-Newbery lists, so I thought I'd better read it for myself. (I have several possible award-winners that I'll be hustling to read during the next ten days, before the announcements that happen a week from Monday.)

Next up, I think I will read Paper Towns. So there, Espy. I do listen to you . . . sometimes. ;-)

Prof wants Baghdad Burning read in its entirety by next week (Thurs), so I guess that's the end of my school break being made excruciatingly official. Will stick with GoF before bed...

I finished The Green Man, an anthology, last night. Now I have a few new authors to try!

I'm reading a bit of everything this month. Um.. most notable so far was a John Sanford novel called Heat Lightning. Pretty good story if you like that kind of novel. 8)

#210 cmbohn:
If you liked The Green Man you may also want to try The Faery Reel or The Coyote Road. The same two women edited those books as well. All are anthologies. :)

I'm reading Christopher Moore's second vampire book, You Suck.

I just finished my early reviewer book Pinocchio

my review is here http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=Marensr

I also read The Serial Garden which are splendid magical childrens stories. I guess I also reviewed it. I think Joan Aiken is one of those splendid writers who is neglected and I think a lot of folks here would love this book or her Wolves Chronicles.

I finished Snow yesterday. I'm thinking I might read Coraline next since I picked it up at the library.

I just finished The Tales Of Beedle The Bard finally... I received it yesterday.... and I'm currently reading Inkspell...

I finished Paper Towns -- it was good, but not great. It's starting to feel like John Green has a very small set of characters to draw from. I have a hard time keeping his main guys separate, and the girls are always MPDGs.

Then I read Rapunzel's Revenge, which I quite liked. It's a graphic novel retelling of Rapunzel, kinda fairy-tale meets wild west.

After that, I read Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things. Again, good but not phenomenal. It's another potential award winner, though, so another to cross off my list before next weekend!

I am (happy jp?) ;)Inkdeath. Its so nice and cheerie and just me feel like running through a field of flowers. >:p~~~~~

216- I liked Rapunzel's Revenge too, foggi. :)

>#217: I liked the earlier version.

"I AM INKDEATH - THE DEATH OF INKS!"

LOL! I read that earlier too, MrA. I thought she could relate really well to the book. I...I understand this! I love Inkdeath! I AM Inkdeath! :o)

ETA to turn off italics.

Currently reading Take Me There by Susan Collanti *great writer by the by*

Umm...man i feel like a newbie...what's up with the inkdeath thing *yes I've read the book*

It has to do with MrsG editing post #217 and ruining a perfectly good typo. :o)

Fine then I will fix my fixing of my typo.

I'm reading Peony in Love and though I normally like Lisa See's work, irony as a plot device made the first half pretty hard to get through. I'm just past halfway and it's getting better... we'll see how it ends...

#223- Much better! Very happy now! Kerian knows how much I enjoy the typos in the threads. I used one of her typos to compose a poem. I will be entering that poem in a contest soon. :o)

I'm reading Dealing with Dragons. I'm not sure whether to count it as a reread or not. It's been so long since I read it, I don't remember much of it.

#223 MrsG:
JP does like our typos! I used the wrong form of a word for what JP is particularly thinking of. I believe I was accused of spelling it that was on purpose as a joke by her or MrA. ;)

#225 jp:
I'm so glad I wrote that typo! I can't express enough how outstanding and beautiful your poem is, and that isn't just the case for this one. You write wonderfully. I wish I could write poems half as well as you! I think this poem deserves something and wish you good luck. :)

I haven't had much time to read but managed to finish You Suck this morning. I'm still contemplating what to read next. One of the books I've never read is Wuthering Heights and as of this morning I had been considering that as the next book I will read.

I'm re-reading Lolita, but I'm having to take breaks because the subject matter is so horrifying. I'm trying to get through Lolita so I can finish Reading Lolita in Tehran.

225> Nice. Im glad to have made you happy.

Finished Silent in the Sanctuary early this morning, and am not yet sure what's up next. I've got several books out from the library, at least one of which I probably won't be able to renew (blanking on title at the moment...), so it'll likely be that one.

#227: I read Reading Lolita in Tehran a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn't a fast read (at least for me), but engaging and thought provoking. I have not read Lolita, primarily because the subject matter is sickening, but as a former lit major, I feel compelled to do so eventually.

I read Sabriel, and I really don't know how I feel about it. While I was in the middle of it I was totally engrossed, but now I just don't know. I ended up giving it 3 1/2 stars because I don't think I'll ever reread, but I'm not sad that I read it.

Next up will probably be Science Fair, but I'm not positive about that.

#229 If you are a lit major you will love the writing in Lolita. I wish he had written about someone who loves bunnies.

I lied. I read Fruits Baskets 7-11 over the past week.

I was just commenting to myself the other day "I wish the next Princess Diaries book would come out." Actually, I've made that comment since I finished the last book Princess Mia. I'm emotionaly involved because of that book. This is the series I picked up to read some nonsense fluff stuff. By the time I got to Princess Mia I was so into the books. So when I browsed through B. Dalton's (Barnes & Noble discount store), what do I see? Nothing other than Forever Princess! The last book in the series. So I've began that book.
I also picked up Fruits Basket volume 15-17, because I am waiting for 12-14 to arrive at my house.

Thanks for the recommendation, Kerian.

I finished The Graveyard Book and Chalice this week. I'm ready to start Barchester Towers next. And I'm still listening to Fer de Lance. I didn't realize until last night that it was the first Nero Wolfe book. I'm enjoying it mildly, but not riveted.

Hero of the Ages by Brandon Sanderson good start lots of action.

You're welcome, cmbohn.

I'm rereading Eats, Shoots and Leaves.

That's a fun one, K :)

Yes! So many people I know in RL have already heard the joke on the back cover but I still get a kick out of it. I bet half the people I know who've heard it have never actually read this book. There's so much more to it and other great things to be read inside!

One of my co-workers saw me with this book yesterday and had a book recommendation. I am shooting myself for not writing it down. I'll have to ask her what it was another day. She had given me the idea that it was supposed to be a fun read as well. I will share what it is here when I find out the title. :)

Lynn Truss has a whole Treasury - it may be something from that. I have a slew of books in my library along those lines; maybe you should browse and see if anything sparks your memory! I took this opportunity to do some tagging - you should be able to find them under "on words" in my tags...

Edited to close my tag...

I have a little book that sounds similar called Between You and I: A Little Book of Bad English. I love it. Now I'll have to read Eats, Shoots, and Leaves too.

Thank you, laia! It doesn't look like any of those are what she named but those do look like very interesting books! I've heard of some of them. Laia! You're killing my wishlist, or rather, you know what I mean. ;)

lefty, "I" vs. "me" is one of my BIGGEST PET PEEVES. And there's such an easy way to remember it, that I don't understand why people persist in using the incorrect word. Drives me BATTY, particularly because there are times when the correct word sounds WRONG because of common misuse. GAHHHH!!!!!

I've just bookmooched it, lefty. :)

Laia, I know! That's one of the worst to me too, which is why the book title caught my eye. I was like, Oh come on, on a book cover?! Then I realized it was on purpose and I laughed. And bought the book.

K, I just did for yours too! Great minds think alike.

I might have to pick that one up for my collection; I've got Woe is I already, but one can never have too many books about proper grammar!

I found one of yours on BM, too, laia.

Heh! I'm actually waiting for a grammar book order for my son. Our much used copy of Nitty Gritty Grammar needed replacement, and I realized they wrote a second book, so I'm getting both.

I have just begun "In the Bleak Midwinter" so far pretty good

I'm not feeling so hot, so I'm 'comfort reading.' I read Some Die Eloquent again and now I'm going to reread The Listening Eye. Nothing like an old mystery to make me feel better.

I've now finished Persuasion and wondering what to move on to. Another Austen? Or maybe break it up with something completely different?

I really feel like going to Waterstones to spend some chriatmas tokens, but today is the one day I have no time to go. Hrmph.

I started I am the Messenger last night. So far so good. I was surprised since I really couldn't get into the book thief

Messenger is quite different than Book Thief, Bella. Vastly different, in fact. I'm glad you're enjoying it!

I actually like I am the Messenger better than The Book Thief, though both are very good.

Both books are so different from each other and so different for anything else out there. I was enthralled with both and loved both!

Same here, Compski!

I got my ER book, Connecticut Baseball, today. I will start it tonight. I'm also finishing my audio version of the Da Vinci Code. I have audio books on my computer, iPod, and as CDS, so I listen to them randomly. I'm also reading my textbooks.

I read The Book Thief a few weeks ago and loved it. I have not read I am the Messenger.

I have read The Book Thief but not I am the Messenger.
Should I add it to my TBR pile?

Started A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron, and am only sort of enjoying it. However, as I'm more than halfway finished and it's going quickly, I'm going to persevere. I'm also listening to Through a Glass, Darkly by Donna Leon, so perhaps I'm just on mystery overload.

For the first read of 2009, my women's Bible study is reading Choosing Rest: Cultivating a Sunday Heart in a Monday World by Sally Breedlove. So far I'm enjoying it, although I have already realized I don't give myself enough opportunities for rest!

Me would say you should add I Am the Messenger to your TBR pile, but me am just a huge fan of Zusak. Me have yet to read one of his books that me did not like.

Wow, that is really annoying. I will henceforth never switch me and I again! Also, I need to get a copy of Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. I started reading it while I was working as a writing tutor during college, but I was never able to finish it due to lack of time. I remember it was really good, although it was more about British grammar than American grammar.

THAT is why Jar Jar was so annoying, me think. :-P

Finished The Subtle Knife and have moved on to The Other Queen and The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Had to go and buy books today.
I've not been home for two days you see, and I'd finished my book so would have had nothing to read on the train on the way home and I couldn't be expected to not read could I?

So I went to Waterstones with my gift tokens and bought The Cellist of Sarajevo, Dark Fire and The Secret Life of Bees. 3 for 2 :-)

Hope you like The Secret Life of Bees, LadyN! I love that book.

I'll let you know!

#260: Had you read the The Subtle Knife before?, missy. I love His Dark Materials Series and the three of them are in my favorite books ever...

#261: LadyN thanks for adding yet another book to the books I may have to get...Please let me know what you thought of The secret life of bees when you finish it to see if it's worth getting it....

I'll be sure to keep you posted, Ron.

Thanks LadyN...:D

I started The Lightning Thief today. I was mad though because I went to the library and remembered there was a book that began with a "C" that I wanted to read and it was a girl's name. But after I left the library and I was home I remembered it was Coraline.

I started Coraline yesterday, and I'm about half-way through now. I really like it so far! Very creepy.

ETA: I'm sorry you forgot it, mindy! Maybe next time.

#264, I hadn't read The Subtle Knife before. I really enjoyed it. I have the last in the trilogy here too and am looking forward to reading it as well!

I read the first two 39 Clues books, just so I would know what my son is reading. They are actually very good! They are full of historical facts, world travel, ciphering. It also has a hero my son can identify with--his age and with asthma, but he's running all over the world with his big sister trying to find clues and avoid their crazy psycho relatives. The first book and the series outline were written by Rick Riordan.

I was actually going to start reading Coraline soon, myself. I dislike reading only nonfiction. It's nice to take a break from it to read something fictional and an easy read would be nice right now. My brain hurts from this ear problem I have going on.

I've been trying to find some new books to read. Right now (to keep me busy) I'm reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid #3, Harry potter #7, and Inkheart.

JP, good to know you enjoyed 39 Clues! I've been considering reading those for a while, but wasn't sure if I would like them. Your description sounds better than what I've read about them. You should get paid! ;)

Cat, yay! Another Coraline fan to jump on the bandwagon!

Myself, I have not read anything all day! :( I am sooo close to finished with my latest quilt, so I've been spending free time with that. But I am working on The Magic Lands and Rich Like Them lately.

Oh! Will we get to see a picture, lefty? :)

I did write a mini review lefty. I was using #270 to gather my thoughts about it. :o) I wouldn't call it a literary masterpiece, but for a 12 year old reluctant reader, it works. And as a homeschooling mom, I appreciate knowledge where ever I find it.

K, of course! Hopefully over the weekend I'll finish and get pictures to share.

JP, thoughts well-gathered! Fun facts in in a fun story are, well, fun! Somehow the summary I read when the first book was released made it sound boring or too run-of-the-mill or something. Now it's on my TBR list. (LT thinks I'll like it, so if I don't it won't be all your fault.) ;)

LOL! I checked, it said I would like it too! It's a good quick read, lots of action. I only slowed down in one section where the page numbers became a coded message.

If you liked Coraline, you would like The Thief of Always by Clive Barker. It has the same creepy cool feeling. I really liked it.

And my son is after me to read the second 39 Clues, One False Note.

It is good cmbohn. I want my daughter to read the second book before she goes to Venice. Of course, that means she needs to read the first book.

I read The Secret Life of Bees as an advance read copy and thought it was just okay. I think it was another case of being overpromoted to me and it just didn't live up to it. I worked in a bookstore the year it came out and hundreds of people raved about it, so I hope all of you have a better experience than I did.

LadyN, hope you enjoy The Cellist of Sarajevo. I was very impressed!

I liked Life of Bees, Compski, but I had never heard of it before I read it. That tends to help. Hype is a dangerous thing.

I've just ordered Thief of Always from paperbackswap.

Let us know what you think after you finish it!

I'm enjoying Bees so far, but it hasn't bowled me over as yet. That said, I'm not far enough in yet.

Looking forward to a good day's reading tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be on to the Cellist of Sarajevo soon. Looking forward to that one too - thanks to grk for the recommedation a while back which encouraged me to buy it. :-)

Just finished In the Bleak Midwinter and loved it, Currently reading Cat on thier graves and am quite engrossed

Just finished The Lightning Thief and I loved it!

finished Cat on their Graves and now need to go to the library for something new

I'm going to start Crispin: The Cross of Lead today probably.

I haven't finished I am the Mesenger yet, but I forgot it yesterday and started reading 'Salems Lot by Stephen King (it won't touchtone) and I really like it so far. I am going to try finishing I am the Messenger tonight because it is due back at the library tomorrow and I hae renewing books when I know someone has a hold on it for when it comes back. I feel bad. LOL

Update! I finished I am the Messenger and loved it! I am now ust readin 'Salems Lot

I just finished by December ER book, Connecticut Baseball; the review will be up shortly.

Finished A Flaw in the Blood a little while ago, and while it certainly got more enjoyable toward the end, I wasn't overly impressed.

I'm now taking a break from both reading and listening to mystery (still working on Through a Glass, Darkly while walking), and am starting Waiter Rant.

So I finished Crispin: The Cross of Lead in one sitting. On to Crispin: At the Edge of the World =)

I've only read the first Crispin book. Are the others as good?

I finished Barchester Towers - 4 stars - and now I'm reading An American Childhood. It's all right, but I'm not loving it. Has anyone here read it? Does it get better? my friend loves it. Maybe I'm just missing something. Oh, and I'm reading Life's Handicap. The first story was funny, but that's as far as I've gotten. It's all set in colonial India.

Okay I bought a book called Potter springs. I don't know what its like yet

Well let's see what I'm on now:
*I've made my way up to Fruits Basket 15
*I've read another 100 pages in Brisingr (go me!). Remember my goal is to read this by the end of January.
*I'm beginning to read Inkheart. I found 2 copies of this one on my TBR shelf, and gave one to a friend. Our goal is to read it by Friday so we can go see the movie together.
*I've read several other books this month as well.
*I'm beginning The Classroom of Choice for my action research project.

I've been slack on reading this month because of the work I've been doing on a knitting project, but with my lunchtime book (The Six Wives of Henry VIII) which I've been working on since the beginning of December I'm finally up to Katherine Parr, which means I have less than 100 pages to go. I'm hoping to finish it by Friday.

Yay, Bib is knitting!!

So far the second Crispin book is pretty good. I didn't get to read it too long though because I had to go to my next class.

I'm working on OotP, and will be starting either Herland or The Temple of My Familiar soon for school. Stone Butch Blues will get a re-read over the next couple of weeks for my other class, as well. I also started No More Dead Dogs, but don't know when I'll pick it up again; depends on if Harry's angst makes me want to throw OotP across the room instead of it being my "light, fluffy, alternative-to-school-reading' book :)

I've been getting a lot of reading done lately! I finished Coraline, which I loved (especially the cat)! I also finished The sonnets, and yesterday I read both The 39 Clues and One False Note. I really enjoyed both of those! I love puzzles.

ETA: Hmm, One False Note is having trouble touchstoning. Let's see if it works now.

I'm glad to hear you liked Coraline! And I agree, Cat -- cat was great! ;)

I have to read Escape from Slavery by Francis Bok.

I've been having trouble reading but I think it was a bad combination of nonfiction without a fiction book on the side, and not being well. I'm going to go back to Eats, Shoots and Leaves and try picking up Coraline.

I'm reading something that begins with Potters-------

Pottery Barn?.... It can't be Harry potter coz it begins with the Dursleys....

I thought Pottery Barn went out of business, so I hope I'm not disappointing you, polly. ;)

no its potter's Stream I think

pottery barn went out of busness? awwww!

A store my business sold maybe two plus years ago went out of business so I was checking all our brand's old and current store branches. That's when I came across Pottery Barn. (Never connect to us, but all the information was jumbled together in the same web pages.)

Pottery Barn on the East Coast seems to be alive and well, so don't worry Polly!

In addition to Waiter Rant - interesting, but not quite as funny as I'd hoped - and Through a Glass, Darkly, I am also reading The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy, which a friend sent to me. Although I'm only 50 pages in, I've laughed out loud multiple times, and have also learned some stuff that the more reference-type pregnancy guides don't touch upon (well, at least not in depth or with real-life examples), so I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of this book. Between this and Sheri Lynch's Hello, My Name is Mommy, I think I'll be able to maintain a good balance of serious and humorous pregnancy/new mommy reading!

I'm halfway through my Early Reviewer, I may just finish it with the snow day. Of course, now I'll be behind on my lunchtime book.

#300 - I think I read my first Avi book in fourth or fifth grade (I won't mention how loooong ago that was....) and he remains one of my all time favorite authors!

#305 - I've heard so many good things about Eats, Shoots and Leaves that I might have to add it to my nonfiction TBR list for this year.

Right now I'm reading a political book about legislature on science and stem cells that's actually really intriguing but next up is a YA title that I'm unfamiliar with that someone loaned me but looks cute called Shakespeare's Secret.

Yesterday on the plane I read an ARC of Bloodhound. *gloats, somewhat unbecomingly* It's very good. I won't give away any spoilers, so don't worry.

Then, yesterday evening I read 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows, which was all right, if you liked the original series. I thought the title was a bit misleading, though, as the characters in the Traveling Pants series are mentioned, but don't really come into play at all.

Now I've started A Kiss in Time, which is still too new to touchstone, apparently. It's another fairy tale retelling by the author of Beastly.

Does 3 Willows follow Lena's sister? Or is it all new characters?

I just finished Coraline. I understand now why so many found it creepy. I liked it. The button eyes kept making me think of a different series that cat read when she was younger called Mennyms. But cat said Mennyms isn't creepy. They just look creepy. :o)

Back to Dealing with Dragons.

#315 -- Foggi says it mentions Lena's sister, but it follows new characters.

I tried really hard to decide whether I wanted to read Bloodhound or Heroes of the Valley and Heroes finally won out (partially because Foggi has yet to read it). So I'll be working on that while we suffe this spat of inclement weather. I also need to read and review my ER book, but I just can't motivate myself to do so...

I am still reading 'Salems Lot. I think I might read another Stephen King book next with a YA on the side... i think Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Desperation are going to be my next choices...

#317 - I think we'd get something very odd if we combined those: The Desperate Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? Sisterhood of Traveling Desperation? Sisterhood of the Desperate Pants?

Or maybe I've just had too much coffee today.... ;)

#313 el:
I did really enjoy it the first time around! This time is only because I've spent more than a week on it after being sick. I have a short attention span for reading books, I guess. Over a week is too long for me.

#315 jp:
I'm taking Coraline to work!

#318 el:
KIK! :)

Hey guys!!

Sorry, haven't been active in quite awhile, but getting back into the swing of things for January.

Fables-I haven't read any since the first two in 2007, but read volumes 3-11 this month.

The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death Out of all the books I’ve read so far this month, it is the only one that didn’t bowl me over. It was a fun read, but not one I would immediately run on here or to other friends and say, “ZOMG, you have to read this NOW!”

On the other hand, Fables and the following books have left me floored.

Thirteen Reasons Why
Generation Dead
Vampire Academy
FrostBite
Shadow Kiss
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
The Body of Christopher Creed

Right now, reading Wake and loving it. Up next are Living Dead Girl, Dead is the New Black, and Impossible.

I’m on vacation after retail holiday hell and soo relaxed with my books! ;)

I've done it again!!!

Finished The Secret Life of Bees on my way to work, but didn't bring a replacement book with me... Now feeling at a bit of a loss.

Part of my brain is saying "Go buy a new book on your lunch hour", while the other part of my brain is saying "No! You have too many books at home waiting to be read, and anyway, you already promised yourself you're going to the gym at lunchtime."

Hrmph.

By the way, for those of you who wanted to know what I thought of it, I am about to write my review of Bees.

I thought it was lovely, and very moving. Review up shortly.

I finished my ER The History of Now yesterday and I loved it! You can read my review here or on my blog.

Just read you review bib - sounds like a fascinating book. I'll definitely keep my eye out for it. Will it be published over here I wonder?

Good question. It's not due out until March. If you can't get it there, let me know and I'll be happy to send you a copy.

Wow, thanks!

I have finished my ER book, Rich Like Them but haven't reviewed it quite yet. I'm still thinking. That doesn't mean it was bad; I liked it much more than I expected.

Still reading The Magic Lands and I'm starting Crocodile on the Sandbank soon.

I'm reading a book called What is the What and it's a fictionalized biography of a refugee from Sudan's civil war. It's pretty heavy subject material, but it's very well written and quite captivating. Lots of people recommended it to me over the past few years so I'm glad I've finally picked it up but it might take me a while to get through.

I have to find something to read.

I am three pages from finishing Salem's Lot and I am going to start reading Desperation this afternoon

I started The Princess and the Bear, (sequel to The Princess and the Hound, too new to touchstone, apparently). I wasn't loving it, so I went back to Alcatraz Versus The Scrivener's Bones, which I had started and then forgotten before my conference. I'm really getting in to it now, so should finish it this evening.

I also read After Tupac and D Foster yesterday, since it won a Newbery honor and I had it on hand. I enjoyed it -- it was not as edgy as I was expecting, and since i wasn't in the mood for edgy, that was probably good.

Tonight after work I'll be starting The Lies of Locke Lamora I've been hearing lots of good things about it and it was one of my SantaThing books from Reading_fox.

Ms Bella, have you read other Steven King? I'm picky about horror (very picky, actually - it takes a lot to get me to even consider reading it), but The Shining was probably one of the best books I've ever read. I also really enjoyed Lost Boys by Orson Scott Card; sufficiently creepy without being overly gory.

El, if you're loathe to read non-fiction (like me!), do pick up Eats, Shoots and Leaves - it's like cheating because it's such a fun book :)

I have SO MANY BOOKS to read!!! I'm really enjoying my OotP reread, but my TBR shelves keep growing, and I feel guilty for rereading anything. Reading is supposed to be fun, not anxiety-making! LoL

#332 - I used to hate nonfiction but now I'm much more of a fan. I like dramatic history nonfiction (1776, Devil in the White City) and I love well written biographies and autobiographies. What is the What is neat though because it's essentially a biography, but the author decided to write it as a novel in order to organize the events and happenings in order to make a good story out of it (I think it's also to avoid sticky James Frey type situations). Mostly it's just the subject matter - civil war, genocide, refugee struggles - that makes it so difficult to read. But I've heard tons of good things about Eats, Shoots and Leaves so it's on my TBR for later this year! (I looked for it on my recent library trip, but it was all checked out!)

#333 - I liked Washington's Crossing even better that 1776.

I read some more of my book for AP Comp. It's really good so far! But of course it's also slightly depressing since it's about slavery =/

Yey, I just finished reading a book! I was having reader's block.

Coraline was great! I'm passing the book on to a couple family members for before we see the movie. I'm still reading Eats, Shoots and leaves so I'm not going to starting another book until Sunday. It's going to be a long week next week. I foresee a lot of reading.

All this Book of Lost Things talk has made me start rereading it. :)

K, yay for finishing/liking Coraline! :D

KIK! How many times have you read it, lefty? :)

I only started Coraline today, really. ;) I only read a couple pages on the bus yesterday when the obnoxious people sitting behind me started making awful comments about my book and then about me when it become clear to them that I was listening. I put my book away and sadly found my ipod had died so I had to suffer through it.

*Looking slightly guilty* Umm, only 3 or 4 times.

You do really love that book!

I think I've read The Eyre Affair five times. That, books 1-5 in the Harry Potter series, The Golden Compass, and Pride and Prejudice are the books I've read the most. And of course there's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. ;)

It's true! I do love it!

When I was just starting to read on my own I read The Rooster Who Refused to Crow like 10 times a day every day. Sometimes I'll pull it out again. It's still one of my favorite picture books. And of course I've read HP loads of times! I've read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea several times too. For some reason those are the ones that are sticking out the most to me right now.

I love Beauty - Robin McKinley and reread that one a lot.

Laia- I have read The Shining But not since I was 13 so I have to reread it soon. But I haven't read many of his books yet, but if you look at my library you'll notice i own quite a few lol... I have been on a YA reading kick lately.... But I did start Desperation tonight and I have to say I would recommend it. It isn't overy gory but it is sufficently creepy! I am only a couple of chapters in and I don't want to put it down. I am afraid that I might be up extra late tonight!

Ummm I'm probably going to read.......I still don't know yet.

I only have a chapter left in Throne of Jade but I have to work and I really want to finish it!
I'm almost finished with Crispin: At the Edge of the World as well.
I'm thinking about rereading The Book of Lost Things as well because I read it so quickly I'm sure I missed some things.

I finished Fruits Basket volumes 16-21, and have made it to page 566 of Brisingr. I'm getting closer! Let's see if I can finish it tonight!

mindy- I hope you are enjoying Throne of Jade. I liked it a lot. I still have to get through the rest of that series. My husband just picked up Victory of Eagles at the library. He and my son have read everything else in the Temeraire series.

oops. Spellcheck failed me.

I just finished The Spellman Files, which I liked, and now I'm reading The Language Instinct.

Oh, Mindy & JP, I just love that series! Now you're making me want to reread those!

*waves to Kirby* I feel like I haven't seen you lately! Hi! Still going on Brisingr ... it's the last day of January, but I won't count it against you if you finish it this weekend. Close enough. ;)

lefty, I'm starting to wonder if I should just look through your library whenever I need something to read!

JP, KIK! I hope you do! I like my books. :)

ETA: If you'd find good stuff in my library, perhaps that means I should be looking through yours!

I finished Brisingr at 1:30 my time this morning. Technically it was Feb. 1st when I finished it, but I was still running on Jan. 30th.

Huzzah, Kirby! Do you feel accomplished? (Or disappointed for spending so much time on it?)

I've just finished my Book of Lost Things reread. I still love it. *happy, contented sigh*

Nicely done, Kirby. What did you think? I haven't read that one and I'm not really planning on it, as I got a little tired of Eldest.

Edited for spelling and because after I posted that I read on another thread your views on Brisingr.

I'm still debating on whether I want to read Brisingr. I don't feel like reading a slow book.

As I posted in the Brisingr thread, I'm very disappointed. Big waste of time for me. He could have condensed that and written the 4th book together. And I thought that it was supposed to be a trilogy? Now it's a cycle. Very disappointing.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/56673&newpost=1#lastmsg

New thread for Feb.

Kirby, I completely agree that book 3 could have been much shorter and put book 4 into it. I don't like when an author tells us this will be a ____ book series, and then makes more. Don't tell me how many and I don't care, but stick to what you said.

I know! I completely understand if the book had taken a turn that wasn't expected, and needed to be made into 2 books. This book does not seem like the case.

I disagree with you. I thought that the third book was way ahead of his other two books in writing ability. The was actually some good character development in Brisingr, something that I felt the first two books were severely lacking. I have to give Paolini major props for actually making me like Roran this time around because I found that the only way I could reread the second book was by skipping his parts. The book flowed a lot better than the second one, for me. Even though we were still jumping between different characters, the plot felt more cohesive.

I wish he had stuck with a trilogy, but I don't blame him for not condensing down Brisingr, he's had trouble condensing in all three of his books. I really think that about half of Eldest was fluff that could have been condensed.

Anyway, I don't mean to be a misanthrope, but I really do disagree. This was the first book of his that I read where I didn't feel like I was reading something a 13-year-old had written. I still consider the series a trilogy, but that is mainly because I hate Eldest so much...

And now to let this thread die...