Kirconnell 2009

It is a New Year and time for new challenges. Having finished my 2008 challenge I am looking forward to another year of great reading and fun with old friends and (hopefully) new friends. I do think that it isn't how many books you finish, but the enjoyment they bring. The journey is everything, guys! With that said, I am logging my first book of this year's challenge.
1. The Dracula Dossier by James Reese.
This book started a little slow, but soon I was fast turning pages to find out what happens next. It is described as a collection of papers from the estate of Bram Stoker some of which are written in cipher and detail the events of his life in 1888. If that sounds a little tame remember that Jack the Ripper went on his killing spree in 1888. The book is written much as Stoker wrote Dracula with the characters telling the story through letters, diary entries, newspaper articles, etc. An interesting, quick read that left me with a group of books for further reading. Oh, No! My TBR pile is toppling! Look out below! *laughing*

*Few* found ya :) My 2009 thread is here http://www.librarything.com/topic/53587

*puts up wooden beams to support the falling TBR pile*

Almost bought The Dracula Dossier the other day on sale at B&N. Now I'm going to have to go back for it! See ya' round the 50 book challenge.

Good luck with 2009. I too have a TBR pile that keeps growing and growing, and now you've suggested a book to add to it. :)

#2 Hi Caspe! I am so glad that you are here. We are going to have so much fun this year. Thanks for the wooden beams for the TBR pile. Maybe I should start another pile. *Looks around for space to start*

#3 Hi Theaelizabet. Good to see you. I will be looking for your challenge thread for 2009. Maybe I can get some good suggestions. Have you heard about my second TBR pile? Lol.

#4 Hi Readinggeek. I am so glad that you found my thread. Unlike Caspe I am a loss with computer links. I am doing well to log on and add to my library.

I have finished a couple more books for my challenge.
#2. A Spoonful of Poison: An Agatha Raisin Mystery by M. C. Beaton. Oh the touchstones! Beaton also writes under the name of Marion Chesney or is it the other way around? Anyway she is always good for a good, quick read with her cozies. Agatha's involve her detective agency in the Cotswalds of England and her ever traumatic love life.
#3. Aunt Dimity: Snowbound by Nancy Atherton. Another one of my cozy authors. This one is about a transplanted American living in England with her husband, twin boys, a pink stuffed bunny and a ghost. I have to say that I picked this one out of the series because of the beautiful snow on the cover picture. The idea of being snowbound right now is strangely appealing and Lori gets to stay in a Victorian Gothic mansion with all the comforts of home except electricity of course. Awwww.

Kirconnell you need to grow your wizards den look. You just need a big comfy but old wing back chair, and buy a castle to go with your piles of books :)

I was a heartbeat away from putting up shelves in the 2nd bedroom for my growing library, the only thing that stopped me was hubby got involved and was not impressed with the shelves I wanted to get from the hardware store .....Dammit my reading den was foiled LOL

I really like the sound of Spoonful of Poison but I am a sucker for a good cosy. Actually I never know if it is Cosy or Cozie.

Wow, Caspe! That sounds like a great idea! I love wizards. I have always been a sucker for Merlin, Gandalf, and when Harry Potter came along.....well. I don't have a wing back chair or a castle, but I do have a rocker, a fireplace, and bookshelves. It's a start, right? I need a few pictures with wizards, fairies, dragons and such for decor or can you think of something better? There is a spare bedroom that would serve, but I have to move the books out first so that I can build more shelves. At present they are in piles and piles.
Sorry about your reading den *sad face* but you can come to mine anytime.

#4. American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever. The Epidemic That Shaped Our History by Molly Caldwell Crosby. This is pretty self-explanatory, a well written account of the Yellow Fever epidemic that hit Memphis, Tennessee in 1878 and the fight to find the cause that extended into the 20th century. Amazing! She has researched her subject so well that you can readily picture yourself in the times described. Recommended.

#5. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. A book about readers, book clubs, and fans of Jane Austen. At first, I was at a disadvantage since I haven't read any of Austen's books (fans don't throw anything. I have seen the films and I plan to read all her novels as time allows.), but as I started to learn more and more about the members of the club I enjoyed myself more. I really liked Grigg the SF fan who joined the club. He was a blast. You just never know who is going to show up in a book club. Also I added the names of several books to my TBR list. Yes, I have a pile and a list.
I am on vacation this week and since I had a MD appointment in Tyler today I decided to drop by the local bookstores. BAD IDEA! I came home with nine books of my own and a book I bought for my sister's birthday which I fully intend to read also. Woe is me! *hangs head*

#6. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. A truly wonderful book that lives up to its press. It is written about post WWII in the form of letters, diary entries, telegrams and such between a writer in London, England and the inhabitants of the Guernsey Islands. It reminded me a lot of 84 Charing Cross Road. I really enjoyed this bittersweet novel and I am glad that I took the plunge and read it.
#7. Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich. A quick, quirky read to lighten my mood. Funny as usual. Diesel always cracks me up. This time he and Stephanie are chasing a leprachaun wannabe. I put my name on the library list for her newest Between the Numbers book-Plum Spooky. I hope that it comes in soon.

I've had The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on my TBR list for a while now but never got around to buying it. Lately though every review of it I stumble upon is a positive one - so I guess I'm just gonna have to buy me a copy, huh?
Good luck with your challenge!

Hi Girlunderglass and thanks for dropping by. Yes I definitely think the book is worth reading. I am even thinking that like you I need a copy in my own library.
Thanks for the well wishes. I seem to be doing pretty well so far, but time will tell. My sister and I went by the library so that I could return a couple of books and pick up two more. I came home with SEVEN books. So much for good intentions. Lol.

Wow, 7 books already? Are you going to keep up this book-a-day pace all year? I am impressed!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society I have been hearing really good things about.

#7 Me too I would love to have one of those wizard dens with floor to ceiling bookshelves, big comfy chairs and fireplace. Fireplace might be a bit hazardous and hot where I live but I can maybe paint one on the wall LOL

#12 Hi sussabmax. I doubt that the book-a-day will last long. I have been on vacation this week and already the book I am reading is taking longer than the others. It is one of Joanne Fluke's books with recipes and I can't resist copying the cookie recipes off as I go.
#13 Hi Caspe. You might not be able to have a real fireplace, but they have electric hearths now that you put against the wall and plug in. Looks a lot like a real fireplace but no tending the flames and no sound effects (I think).

I love those mysteries - I'm a sucker for the cozy mysteries. I actually use the chocolate chips cookie recipe from her first book Chocolate chip cookie murder.
Diana Mott Davidson's books are similar, recipe's included also.

Hi Sydamy. Yes, I enjoy Davidson's books also and my sister LOVES them. I haven't tried any of her recipes yet, but I have tried some from other books.
#8. Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke. I enjoyed this mystery, but got behind on my reading because I was so busy copying the recipes. I love cookies. This is her 5th Hannah Swensen novel and the first that I have read. It was enjoyable, but I think that I need to go back and read the 1st novel for background.
#9. The Doctor Dines In Prague by Robin Hathaway. A reading recommendation by a library patron I found the characters very likable and quirky and I got a tour of Prague as a perk which was nice.

Thanks, I'm adding that to my ever growing list.

10. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. This book sounded really intriguing when I picked it up at the library and it was, in fact, a good book, but be warned that you need all your patience with it. The tale doesn't truly start until almost 200 pages in. The beginning is mostly background and laying the scene. It takes place in Salem, Massachusetts and involves a family where most of the women have psychic talents. There is a twist at the end that some have found disagreeable, but it seemed ok to me.
11. The Dream Thief by Shana Abe. I really loved this book. It is better (IMHO) than the first book in the series The Smoke Thief. This one actually has a plot and isn't just a tale of the romance of two drakon. Well written, if you lose yourself in her prose you can really believe that her world is real. I am looking forward to reading more of Ms. Abe's work.
Well, my book count has really dropped since the first of the month, but still not too bad. Reading a cozy mystery next.

I do have one of the electric fireplaces and it has a low noise when it is blowing the heat out to heat the room. I don't know if you can just have the flames showing with out the heat blowing. It hasn't been that warm yet for me to try that out.

You are doing a great job on your challenge.

I pretty much agree with you on The Lace Reader. It was a good weekend read, though. As I look out my window to see the snow falling; well, a mystery--or cozy anything--sounds about right!

I have heard a lot of good things about Lace Reader and yours is so far the most balanced. I have it on request at the library so will have to wait and see. Im not sure if I can wait 200 pages though for the story I am easily bored LOL

#19 Thanks, Crazy4reading! I don't know how cold it is in your neck of the woods. Our weather flucuates a great deal. Today it was in the 60's, but tomorrow night it is supposed to be in the 30's. Crazy Texas weather.
#20 I did enjoy The Lace Reader Theaelizabet. It was an interesting concept and I believe that she handled the difficult material well. My cozy is Aunt Dimity: Detective. This one takes place around Easter time so fits my weather and might be a nice break from your snow. I love snow and I often wish that we got more of it here in East Texas, but our winters are getting milder every year.
#21 Thanks Caspe. The first portion of The Lace Reader wasn't exactly boring, but I kept wondering when the real story was going to begin. Thankfully, my sister wanted a review before she read the book so I kept plugging away. *smiling*

Up here in Missouri, 30s is a warm day! Last week, we had highs in the single digits, and lows in the negative numbers. That is a bit colder than usual, though.

I have a friend that has a fireplace that she pushes up to the wall, and then she puts cans of special fuel behind the fake logs, and those are set on fire. They make a nice popping sound like a real fire, and she lights pine-scented incense to make it smell more like a fire. I think I need one of those, although I am not sure where I would put it. When I have available wall space, I like to put bookshelves against it!

12. Aunt Dimity: Detective by Nancy Atherton. A murder in Finch?! Lori sets out to solve the mystery with the vickar's nephew who is visiting from London. A quick, friendly read.

#23 Hi Sussabmax. Your friend's fireplace sounds really interesting, but I sympathize with your approach to build more bookshelves. If my fireplace wasn't already there I would be tempted to replace it with bookshelves too.
13. Kissing Christmas Goodbye by M.C. Beaton. A late arrival at the library (or maybe I just found it late) about Agatha's next attempt for the perfect Christmas celebration. It also introduces her new assistant detective. A quick, fun read.
14. Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara? by Jenny Bond. A book about books. Very interesting, but it doesn't just discuss books it also talks about the lives of the authors and the impetus behind their writing. I thought the the authors made some interesting choices of books to discuss ranging from War and Peace to Hollywood Wives. There is even a section for nonfiction works.
Now for a light read to clear my brain.

15. Splintered Icon by Bill Napier. This is a thriller written along the line of The DaVinci Code without a lot of the ciphers. At first I wasn't terribly impressed. I found the dialogue a bit stilted and the plot unoriginal. It got better after the introduction of Ogilvie's journal, as a young Scotsman gives his view of historical events surrounding the struggle for power between Elizabethan England and Spain. Not my best read of this year, but not as bad as I first expected.
After lurking around the Club Read group I have decided that I need to do more reading of the classics and more reading globally. My list is dismally American/English. I may have to special order books to meet these requirements (given the composition of the nearest lending library), but I am certain that I will be the better for it

As an English teacher I'm always chastising myself for not being more up on the classics. My solution is rather simplistic but quite effective. I've simply decided the classics will always be there, so I'm sure I will some day find time for them. Until then, I'm reading for enjoyment, and no one is going to make me feel guilty about it. (I manage to do that all by myself.)

Hi Readinggeek. Thanks for dropping by. Yes, you are right, some day I will get around to reading the classics and we are usually our own worst enemies in regards to guilt. *smile*
16. The King's Gold by Arturo Perez-Reverte (Spanish author). Touchstones pulled up wrong book. A fun adventure read with a lot of Spanish history thrown in as is usual with Perez-Reverte. I don't enjoy this series as much as his stand alone books. They seem so much more simplistic by comparison, but I have read that they were written for a young adult audience so that may explain a lot. Still they are enjoyable.
I just received a reserve from the library, A Pound of Paper by John Baxter. It is a memoir of the author's ongoing love affair with books. So far it has me wondering about my own book collecting habits. Why do we collect? Is it for the information inside, the perfection on the outside, an investment, or for other reasons entirely? Something to ponder.

Did you read this book in Spanish? I am always looking for good books in Spanish for my daughter to read. She is studying Spanish.
--BJ

Hi Bj. No I read it in English, but it is available in Spanish at least here in Texas it is.

Thanks for the info. It sounds like a good one for her.
--BJ

17. Lost River: A Valentin St. Cyr Mystery by David Fulmer (American author). A good read in spite of the fact that I figured out "who done it" in the early chapters. In this novel the emphasis is on the journey. How St. Cyr tracks down the killer and his relationships with those involved. Combine this with Fulmer's deliciously atmospheric writing regarding 1913 New Orleans and I was hooked. I was unfamiliar with this author and picked up the book for its dreamy cover and the author blurb about winning a Shamus award. I doubt that it will be the last I read by Mr. Fulmer.

Oooo I hate when that happens. Not to toot my own horn here but it happens far to often for me. Not because I pick up the clues but because they are usually so obvious. For me a good test of a book is after I have worked it out, if I still dont care and have to keep reading then it is a good book.

Hi Caspe. Yes, I was a little disappointed since I hoped to keep the suspense a little longer, but I just kept reading and lo and behold it came out ok. *smile*
18. A Pound of Paper by John Baxter (Australian author). I whizzed through this tell-all memoir about a book addict (sound familiar, guys?) He talks about his book searches in several countries, relationships with different authors and other book collectors. Over all it wasn't bad, but I have read better books on books.

19. The Queen Jade by Yxta Maya Murray (Mexican/American author). Fluff. There is no other way to describe this book. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy reading it. I mean everyone needs a little fluff in their lives, but the writing wasn't great, the plot was predictable, the characters were forgetable and cliched and I found myself laughing at the wrong times in the story. Am I being too harsh? Maybe it's just the mood I'm in. Anyway another book she wrote, The Conquest won the Whiting award so I guess that I'll give her another try.

20. The Quiet Girl: A Novel by Peter Hoeg (Danish author) translated from the Danish by Nadia Christensen. I found the writing style in this book to be quite unusual. I never knew if the author was pulling my leg or not. There was an unreal quality about it like watching the story through mist or fog. Basically the plot included a group of missing children with psychic abilities, a strange order of nuns and a circus clown. It flucuates between the real, the unreal, and memories. I am doing a poor job of describing this book, but then I still don't quite understand all of it myself. I guess that I need more time to mull it over.
Still one more down on the challenge and a non-American writer also.

"there was an unreal quality about it like watching the story through mist of fog"
Yep, I read Smilla's Sense of Snow this year by the same author, and had the exact same feeling. I don't know if The Quiet Girl was also set in Denmark, but the whole cold snowy feeling of Copenhagen definitely added to the mystery as well. Made it even more surreal. (Especially when compared to the really bad imitation of winter we have here in Greece) Not that it needed the snow to be surreal - the author's style certainly made it so by itself.

Sounds interesting. Not sure if it is my kind of thing. But perhaps I am anti "difficult" reads at the moment after reading two in January that left me cold really.

>37 girlunderglass: Hi Girlunderglass. That is it exactly...surreal. I just couldn't find the right word. I am not sure if I like his style or not. It left me feeling very strange. I may try Smilla's Sense of Snow before I give up on this author.

>38 Caspettee: Hi Caspe. I am not sure if I like this style or not myself, but I am willing to give it one more try because his writing is very beautiful at times. Nice pun on a winter theme..."left me cold". *chuckles*

21. The King's Gold:An Old World Novel of Adventure by Yxta Maya Murray (Mexican/American author). This is the second in the Red Lion series by this author. I found this book much better than The Queen Jade. She seems to have a better handle on her characters and weaves her quirky sense of humor into the story with more control. It is indeed an old-fashioned adventure novel which is amusing, but still very much taken from early adventurers like Indiana Jones, etc. An enjoyable short read and a nice change from Hoeg's surrealistic novel.

I am doing a poor job of describing this book, but then I still don't quite understand all of it myself. I guess that I need more time to mull it over.
Good luck with that. I'm still scratching my head over The Quiet Girl a year-and-a-half later. :) (I liked it, though.)

Hi Medellia12. Yeah, still scratching here, too.

22. The Masada Scroll by Paul Block and Robert Vaughan (American authors). I picked this one up at the library because it looked interesting and seemed to be about archaeology (which fascinates me). It turned out to be surprisingly good. A thriller in the manner of The DaVinci Code without the ciphers and relating a possible tale based on the existence of an unknown apostolic gospel of the first century. The writing was easy to read and the action kept the story moving.

I am in awe (and a bit jealous) at the number of books you've already finished this year. Keep up the good work.

Awwww, Readinggeek, now you are making me blush. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

You are blitzing along. Already up to 22! I am still in single digits. Though for some reason it has been really busy lately and I have not been able to read as much as I would like. Like today I have spent it cleaning (and doing my Wii exercises), oh and internet LOL. I seriously have to knuckle down and do some reading. My Borrowed TBR pile is rapidly growing (thanks to a mother feeding the habit) and my library pile is getting out of control to the point I am worried I wont read them in my allotted time. I stopped ordering library books so that should at least settle that side down a bit for awhile.

Hi Caspe. With all your responsibilities it is no wonder that you have little time to relax and settle into a book. I, on the other hand, mostly just work and with only myself to look after, the housework is minimal.
I know what you mean about the TBR pile and the library. I think that Benjamin Franklin was seduced by an evil genius when he devised the lending library. Lol.

The comments here make me want to stop everything and read The Quiet Girl! I hope you will post more as your feelings about it come into focus. You're really clicking along, kirconnell, and with some really great books.

Hi Theaelizabet. Thanks for dropping by. I will post more as I try to figure out my feelings about The Quiet Girl. I have been lucky to have had so much reading time lately.

23. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque translated from the German by A.W. Wheen. I was totally blown away by this book! It is written in a very simple narrative style much as you would expect if you received a letter from a friend, but it illuminates WWI (my grandfather's war) in a way that I have never experienced before despite all my reading in history. It is told from the point of view of a young German soldier which is also new to me since most of my reading has been from English, American, and French authors. I don't know if this is Remarque's personal experiences, but it feels so real that it must be someone's. He writes in the preface:

"This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed by the war."

And that is exactly what it does. I would recommend that everyone read this book.

24. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers (English author).
I'm in love! I didn't believe it could happen! The guy is Lord Peter Wimsey who is the protaganist of this book. He is educated, wealthy, cultured, funny, probably attractive, polite, and best of all a reader. I don't know how I have missed him all these years. In this novel he is encouraged by a friend to investigate the death of an elderly club member. He does so in wonderful style. The writing is excellent, the plot superb. I will be reading more by Ms. Sayers.

Hey kirconnell, I love Lord Peter Wimsey, too. I don't believe I've yet read this one. Just wait 'til you get to The Nine Tailors.

Theaelizabet! I didn't know that you were a mystery fan! Well, I wanted Lord Peter for myself, but since he is a confirmed bachelor I guess that we can share him. *chuckles*

Hi, Kirconnell!
I loved your review of All Quiet on the Western Front. I have been wanting to read that one for a while. I also like Sayers, but haven't read her books in a while. Now I want to again. So I guess really, I am enjoying all your reviews. :) Have a great day!
--BJ

Hi Billiejean. Good to hear from you. I'm glad that you are enjoying my "review" although I think of them more as blurbs about my reading experiences. I'm in awe of some of the wonderful reviews that I read on your and other LTers threads.
You really should read AQOTWF, but remember Lord Wimsey belongs to me and Theaelizabet if you should stray back to Sayers. LOL.

Hmm, I was thinking about picking up some Sayers books on your rec here, but now I feel warned off! ;-)

Oh, no! I didn't mean it sussabmax. Please do get some Sayers. I know that you will enjoy them and well, we can share Peter too. *smiling*

Oh, that's a relief. Of course, it takes away one thing that was supposed to keep me from buying so many books....

I need more bookshelves. Again. :-D

Two great reviews I will have to see if my library has them.

Opps gonna cut this short my kitty Comet has just come and snuggled up to me purring. She is so cute LOL

25. The March: A Novel by E.L. Doctorow. Well, it had to happen sooner or later, I really didn't like this book. I know that he is supposed to be a world-class writer, but he missed on this one IMHO. There is a multitude of characters (I've heard that's his style) which I had great difficulty keeping separated, but then I discovered that it didn't matter because I wasn't interested in any of them. They had no depth, no authenticity. They were just puppets against the backdrop of the American Civil War. Most of them weren't even likable. Furthermore, he spent a great deal of time having his characters spout what I suppose is his own philosophical rhetoric. I might be overreacting, but I honestly felt like hurling this book into the trashcan a few times (which I didn't do because it belongs to the library). I am willing to give him another try, but I really had high hopes for this one since it was praised so much in the press. There are many much better novels about the War that didn't get the hype this one did. Too bad.

26. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris. This is my first try with Sookie Stackhouse and I was very pleasantly surprised. I like a little paranormal adventure sometimes ( I loved Dracula), but I was afraid that this series might be too much like the currently popular authors in this genre. Sookie is a telepathic waitress living in Bon Temps, Louisiana who has become involved with the local supernatural population. No world masterpiece, but a little romance, thrills, and laughter. Just what I needed after the fiasco of Doctorow's The March.

I actually dont really like the Sookie Stackhouse series,s he just annoys me and I cant stand the main love affair whats his face the dracular. I read a couple of the books and the only one i can say I truely enjoyed is the one where what his face isnt in it! I gave up after about the 4th book. At least they were quick and easy reads.

It really puts me off a book if I cant engage with the characters. I usually put it down and not bother if it is annoying me to much.

You had a good run there for awhile you were bound to his a dud eventually :)

Yes, you are right. I was due for a dud. Most of the books this year have been ok to great. Sorry that you didn't enjoy the Stackhouse series. It might have helped that I am from the South too and can sort of relate to the people and area she writes about. As I said they're really just light entertainment and I certainly needed some after The March. Thanks for the tea and sympathy. *smile*

I think it is just me :) My mum loves the series. Apparently I seem to dislike most "popular" series/authors. Dont like Dan Brown not keen on Stephanie Myer, same with Sookie hmmmm maybe its pathological LOL though to be fair I read Sookie before she was "famous"

OH wait love Harry Potter so maybe there is hope for me yet :)

27. Armor of God by Paul Block and Robert Vaughan (wrong touchstone popped up). This sequel to The Masada Scroll was not as good as the first book imho. It still flowed well, but the material seemed a bid tedious and repetitive.
28. The Maine Massacre by Janwillem Van de Wetering (Dutch author). A mystery about a Dutch policeman who comes to help his sister settle her husband's estate and winds up in the middle of a murder investigation. Very nicely done and gives a view of America from the Dutch perspective.
29. The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris. (Again the touchstones are faulty.) I received this as an ARC from Bookbrowse and I was very impressed. A first novel it is a good book...a VERY good book. It tells the story of a British reporter who travels to Sierra Leone to cover the war there and falls in love with an aid worker at a children's facility. From the first page I was drawn into Danny's world and its secrets. I never saw the conclusion coming (a novelty for me). It's a love story, a thriller, a mystery, and a powerful commentary on the turbulent times that we live in and the people who survive those times. I will be anxiously awaiting another book from Mr. Harris and hope that it will arrive soon. Highly recommended.
30. Married in Seattle by Debbie Macomber. A light read to break up the tension. Two novellas about romance in Seattle. An old man who arranges a marriage for his granddaughter and a daughter who seeks a new husband for her mother through the romance ads. I couldn't decide which was funnier, but both were very refreshing. Macomber has a talent for expressing women's emotions and relationships to a tee.
31. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. Tuesday I had a tooth prepped for a crown and picked up this book while recuperating. I didn't feel like anything heavy and this was a perfect antidote for the aching in my jaw. It distracted me with its charming mix of genres ranging from romance to mystery to paranormal fantasy with a little horror thrown in for good measure.
Now I have gone adventuring with Dirk Pitt in Greenland on my break at work, to England with Lord Peter Wimsey at home to solve a mystery in a churchyard, and flitting around the world with the HRT in Christopher Whitcomb's Black while commuting to work. The fun just keeps coming!

Probably shouldnt discuss in library thing but what is bookbrowse?

You have got heaps read. Hope your tooth is ok now.

Yes, my tooth is feeling much better now, but on the 18th of this month I get to return for the permanent crown. I am hoping that won't be too bad. I always make sure that a dental appointment is on my day off just in case. *winks*
I don't think that they would mind me discussing bookbrowse. It is an online reader service that reviews recently released books (try saying that ten times fast. lol) and makes recommendations. They also publish a list of books coming out the next month. I look to them for good reads, but also browse on my own for my favorite authors and LT recommendations. Once a month they provide ARCs to subscribers.

*edited to correct my atrocious typing*

32. The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers. Theaelizabet, I couldn't resist picking this up when I saw it at the library and you are absolutely right....it was terrific. I can just imagine how much fun Sayers had writing it as she played with the sounds of language. I even laughed out loud in pure delight a couple of times.
Now I am off to Egypt withe Naguid Mahfouz.

33. The Thief and the Dogs: A Novel by Naguib Mahfouz (Egyptian author). A small, quickly read jewel. Amazing that he wrote so much while holding down a full-time job. This book uses stream of consciousness to tell the story of a thief recently released from jail who believes that he has been betrayed by his wife and his friends.

34. Treasure by Clive Cussler. Although I usually enjoy Cussler's adventures I was disappointed in this one. It seemed like he had too many irons in the fire for the plot and it could have been 200 pages shorter and been a better book. Almost too corny to be fun.

35. Black: A Novel by Christopher Whitcomb. Games, games, and more games. Political and all those in between. Whitcomb, with his history as an agent in the FBI, speaks with authority, but sometimes the knowledge of this other world palls. Maybe I shouldn't have listened to this one while reading Cussler's Treasure which also involved terrorists and conspiracy theories. All in all not a bad book. I guess that it was just a bad time for the reader to explore it.
The weather here for the last three days has been cold and rainy. Almost continuous rain. It makes a good setting for Cecelia Holland's book set in Northern England, Greenland, and Norway during the Viking period. More on that later....only a few more pages to go.
I have also started on a new project of reading the classics with the help of Mortimer J. Adler, Susan Wise Bauer, and Clifton Fadiman. This will not interrupt my current reading, but hopefully supplement it....although at a slower pace. As Francis Bacon said:
"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested."
So here's to a hearty digestion! Anyone who would like to join me is more than welcome since reading partners are a plus.

I have a book by Clifton Fadiman called The Lifetime Reading Plan. Is that the book you are using? What classic are you going to read first? There are several reading groups for classics going on now. (You probably already know about them.) Anyway, I like to read classics. Good luck with your reading and have a great weekend!
--BJ

Hi Bj. Yes, that is the book I have too. I plan to read Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. I have never been able to get through it before (can you believe it), but I am going to try again.
I have seen some reading groups for classics, but none on this book yet.

36. The Soul Thief by Cecelia Holland. A novel of Ireland and England during the Viking period. It combines history, magic and a love story. Some of her characters don't ring quite true here, but she uses an interesting writing technique of describing an object or place in a way that leaves me feeling oddly as if it is familiar and yet strange.
37. The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber. The first novel in her Blossom Street series. I picked this because it is about a knitting shop and I love to knit. A touching story told by 4 different women. Macomber is difficult to beat for a sentimental read (even if I sometimes know how it will turn out). Enjoyable.

Ooo Soul Thief sounds promising.

Here is the Don Quixote group read in the 75 book challenge group:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/54318

I hope this works. I have not had much luck with these lately.
--BJ
Edited to fix it.

Thanks BJ for the link to the Don Quixote group. I will check it out.

Hi Caspe. Yes, The Soul Thief was pretty good. I think there is a sequel too, but I don't know the name of the book.

38. Silk by Alessandro Baricco translated from the Italian by Guido Waldman (Italian author). A very small book (less than 100 pages). It tells the story of a Frenchman who travels to Japan for silk worm eggs and meets a Japanese woman with Occidental eyes. It was very popular in Italy and obviously more complicated than its size would seem. It's written in a very spare language and seems to be following the Japanese style of less is beautiful. An interesting book.

39. Called Out of Darkness: A spiritual Confession by Anne Rice. This is Rice's answer to the many questions raised when she ceased writing about supernatural creatures and began her novels on the life of Christ. In the first chapters all the lushness of her literary style is apparent and from her short autobiographical sketches I began to see where this writing style came from. The middle chapters seem a little muddled as if she is having difficulty saying what she wants as she wants to say it, but the final chapters are as clear as cut glass. They outline her decision to return to the Catholic Church and to write her novels of Jesus. Worth the effort.

I do believe that I may dispense with touchstones in the future. It is so frustrating when they come up wrong and I am unable to fix them!

Wow I didnt know Anne Rice now wrote Christian novels. Did not see that one coming :)

I sometimes dont use the touchstones for that reason. It drives me bonkers if it is wrong so I'd rather not have them at all.

Yes, the touchstones can be very annoying and I'm not really sure how many people use them. Enough I guess.
Anne Rice stopped writing her supernatural books in 2007, I think. She has since written in addition to Called Out of Darkness, Jesus Christ: Out of Egypt and Jesus Christ: The Road to Cana. I haven't read the last two, but since the library has them I may give them a try. I really like the way she writes. It is so lush and sensual. I am curious to see if she does this with the new books.

40. A Cat on Jingle Bell Rock by Lydia Adamson. I decided on a little guilty pleasure for now. This small, simple mystery about an out of work actress in Manhatten filled that urge satisfactorily. The Sustenance House, a charitable organization which caters to the homeless has suddenly lost their yearly benefactor to the tune of $81,000.00. So Alice is asked to try to find the mysterious donor. Mind candy and just in time.
I finished this one last night. Now on to England to follow Richard Burton on his adventures in The Devil Drives: A Life of Sir Richard Burton. It should be fun. I love biographies. (Not mind candy, but another guilty pleasure. So shoot me.)

Thanks for the Anne Rice review. I will check it out for sure! :)
--BJ

BJ, you are welcome.

41. The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve. Another excellent novel by Shreve. This one alternates two stories. One is the tale of a poet, his wife and their disintegrating marriage. The second is the telling of a historical murder of two women on the island of Smuttynose which is included in the North Atlantic shoal islands off the coast of Maine. I found the story of the murders the most interesting (typical for me) and mostly tolerated the intervals between.

42. Queen of Dragons by Shana Abe. I thought this last novel in the series a bit repititious and not as enjoyable as The Smoke Thief. Each succeeding novel seems a bit weaker than the preceeding one so, despite the fact that I enjoy the idea of the drakon, I will probably not read more of this series. However, the chapter where Kimber destroys the villain's lair in his dragon form was quite nice and I did like Rhys and found him most amusing in his cameos.

I know exactly what you mean about the touchstones. My OCD really kicks into high gear when they're wrong. (Of course, my OCD causes me lots of problems.)

As always, I'm impressed by your reading rate. I was thrilled when I finished one book in one day, but that's small potatoes compared to your record. Keep up the good work.

Wow you are doing so well. I wish I could read that fast. Alas while I inherited my parents love of books I did not inherit their speed reading.

>Hi RG. Yes the touchstones kick off more than OCD in me, but we won't get into that. Thanks for the complement. I am sure that your life is much busier than mine is which accounts for books read. Aren't you in university?
>Hi Caspe. Thanks. As I told RG it isn't that I speed read I think that I just have more time to read than you guys(translation: I have no life, lol) and I read at all the down time that I have (like when I have to wait in offices and such).

43. Homicide in Hardcover: A Bibliophile Mystery by Kate Carlisle. A nice start to a new series by a Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier award winner. It seems to be a mixture of mystery and chick lit and is relatively easy to get into. Some of the characters are interesting, but at times it got a little "cutesy" for me with all the references relating to hippism and New Age. Still there are some fascinating details about bookbinding scattered through the book.
44. The Devil Drives by Fawn Brodie. A psychological biography of Sir Richard Burton, one of the foremost explorers, writers, and linguists of the Victorian period. I have read Captain Sir by Rice and this is a different take on Burton. She has researched deeply, but sometimes takes leaps of faith in her psychological opinions. Example: "If a man turns to disguise as a way of life, it suggests a savage dissatisfaction with himself." Still her subject is fascinating and her research seems sound. Burton's strongest point was his gift for anthropology and ethnology and in that he soared beyond his contemporaries. He spoke and read 40 languages and dialects. His acceptance and curiosity about other cultures and their practices placed him in trouble periodically, but as Brodie demonstrates his real "god" was Truth. The book includes many photos of Burton and others of his time which only add to the story. Did you know that he had a personal library of 8,000 books! My kind of man!

I went by the library today just to return the books I had finished and pick up a book I reserved that had come in. I walked out with 5 books and 1 audiobook. So much for good intentions of working on my TBR stack! I couldn't resist though since they had gotten in all these new books that I have been lusting over in the bookstore. At least I didn't ruin my budget by buying all those books. *smile*

Nope, I'm not in school. I just teach at one.

You can't use lack of a life as an excuse for your reading rate. I also have no life, but don't manage to put away the books like you do.

I still envy your local library. Of course, if I had a resource like that I wouldn't get anything done.

Hi RG.
Yes, we have a wonderful local library for a town of less than 15,000 people. They try really hard to provide good books. There are still a few that I have to order for myself, but that is ok.
Well, maybe I do read sort of fast.
Today I went to B&N to pick up a book that I special ordered for my sister and came out with 6 for me that I found on the bargain tables. Bad, Velma, bad! It seems that I just can't go into the bookstores or library without coming out with something. *heavy sighs*

45. Hood:The King Raven Trilogy: Book One by Stephen R. Lawhead.
Finished this one today. Imagine Robin Hood as a Welshman instead of in the forests of Sherwood. Lawhead makes a good argument for the change and has researched Celtic lore and myth thoroughly. Some violence which made me shudder a bit, but I tried to remember that those times were different from our own in some ways. A twist on the tale of Robin Hood that I really enjoyed. You could actually feel like you were in this great primeval forest with Robin and his followers. I will be picking up Tuck: The King Raven Trilogy and Scarlet: The King Raven Trilogy as soon as I can.
The weather here is very windy with gusts up to 25 mph. Sounds fearsome, but then I am safe at home and that feels good.
Now, I am off to Scotland for a wee visit to my favorite policeman, Hamish McBeth in Beaton's newest book, Death of a Witch.

Hi, Velma!
Trips to bookstores are both loads of fun and very dangerous (financially)! I am overdue for a trip myself! Have a great day!
--BJ

Hi BJ. Thanks for dropping by. Yes, bookstores play havoc with my budget. I really should have more self-control at my age.
Today I went to the library and returned two books and picked up two books and one audiobook. Wow! That really isn't such bad work there.

46. Death of a Witch by M.C. Beaton. The 25th tale of Hamish Macbeth's adventures. Fun as usual. What I enjoy most in this series is imaging myself in the highlands of Scotland. A quick read. Now I am off to New Jersey to check up on Stephanie Plum in Plum Spooky.

47. Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich. Another fun episode in Stephanie Plum's hectic life. Evanovich is guaranteed to make me smile. I am also fondest of Diesel among Stephanie's hot guys. Morelli is too serious, Ranger reminds me too much of a former boyfriend, but Diesel is just fun and funny. Now back to Texas hill country to visit China Bayles in Pecan Springs with Chile Death.

I wish Evanovich would make her mind up about the whole triangle between morelli, Ranger, and Stephanie. I am just a little over it all and couldn't care less anymore who she ends up with. I have not read Plum Spooky but it is on Mt TBR...will get there one day.

Yes, Caspe, I'm with you. I don't really care who she ends up with or if she ends up with anyone. I just enjoy the crazy plots, eccentric characters and the way she always gets into trouble. It makes my bad days seem tame in comparison. The really bad thing in the books is the focus on food. Makes me hungry every time.

48. Chile Death by Susan Wittig Albert. Great book. China has many troubles on her mind including McQuaid's recent injury which has left him with limited use of his legs. Then the sudden death of a judge at the local chili festival sets off a search for the killer. Albert writes a tight mystery, but one of her true talents is her ability to give an authentic feel of Texas in her writing. Her books feel like home to me.
Now, I'm off. I leave tonight with Henry Wolfe to South America for an adventure in the Amazon jungle in 1929 courtesy of Travis Thrasher in Out of the Devil's Mouth. See ya!

Another book by Susan Wittig Albert! I have to read one. I got one of her books from amazon, but haven't started it yet. Have a great day!
--BJ

Hi BJ. Yes, I love Albert's China Bayle series. I also like her other series based on Beatrice Potter. It's a hoot.

49. Fit at 50 and Beyond by Michael Gloth, M.D. An ARC I received in the Early Reviewers program. I have never reviewed a book like this before, but I found it to be for the most part very complete and helpful. Aimed at the 50 and over age group as opposed to being for mid-twenties and thirties, Gloth provides balanced nutrional guides, exercises, information on current research, and even recipes. I haven't tried any of the recipes, but they sound very tasty. Review to follow.

50. And here it is....the last book in the challenge, but hopefully not in the year. Summer of Pearls by Mike Blakely. Marvelous book. I can't recommend it enough. It is a Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn type of book about a 14 year old boy's summer in Port Caddo, Texas in 1874. The author uses historical references to fresh water pearl rushes of the 19th century to create this bittersweet, coming of age novel. There is also a mystery, but that is a minor thing compared to the wonderful tale of Ben's passage from boyhood into manhood. Highly recommended.

51. Out of the Devil's Mouth by Travis Thrasher. This book was a disappointment. It had so much potential, but became just a tired cliche of adventure stories told often times before. Nothing truly original. The characters themselves are shallow and poor shadows of previously done characters. It could have been so much more.

Hmm, at over 50 with less than 1/3 of the year gone...does that mean you are going to shoot for 150 now?

Congratulations on reaching 50 books!!!
--BJ

Congratulations that is wonderful. Wow this is not even a contest this year, I must have been asleep when the whistle blew LOL

Congrats on reaching the big 5-0. (Normally, people don't like to hear that.)

>95 sussabmax: No, I don't think that I will increase my goal. The whole idea in the beginning wasn't to increase the number of books that I was reading. I was just curious how many I had read in a year.

>96 billiejean: thanks so much, BJ.

>97 Caspettee: thanks, Caspe. I think that you were just busy. Who says it has to be a contest anyway. xxoo

>98 readinggeek: Thanks RG. This kind of 50 is ok I think.

52. Six Sacred Stones by Matthew Reilly (Australian author). Wow! Reilly said that he wanted to write a big, outrageous trilogy full of people doing extraordinary things in order to affect big issues. He did this. At over 500 pages and with seldom a quiet moment this book rolled itself out. Unfortunately, I got the second in the trilogy so now I guess that I will have to find the first and wait for the third. By the way, if you have a boyfriend or husband or brother who reads this is a great guy book. Lots of action and techi toys.

Edited to correct my mind slip.

Looks like a good one to me! :)
--BJ

Yeah, I do a combination of a goal and just writing books down--I have a goal, but I don't care (much) if I meet it or not. I find it fun to compare my pace to a goal, so I do check it occasionally, but if I don't make the goal, I don't find it a big deal. I didn't set any kind of a goal until I had kept track of how many books I had read for a couple of years, either.

Six Sacred Stones sounds like fun! I will have to search out that series, I think.

I have read all of Mathew Reilly's other books just not this series. Have got to dig them out of my move book boxes and read them. They are all great action packed brain candy AND he is Aussie!

Not only are they a good "boys" read but a great read for those who dont really like reading. Hubby is not a huge reader but he devoured Mathew Reillys stuff.

>101 billiejean: I think that you will find it fun, BJ.

>102 sussabmax: That sounds just like me, Sussabmax. It's the journey mostly not always the end result.

>103 Caspettee: Happy digging, Caspe. I forgot that part about him being Aussie. Another point in his favor.

53. Into Africa by Martin Dugard. A nice mix of history and adventure in one book. Since these two genre are among my guilty pleasures you can imagine how thrilled I was. What was especially nice was that Dugard's journalistic skills made the book (if not exactly a page-turner) a quick read. He didn't romantasize the expeditions, just the facts, ms, but they were still exciting. I loved this book and would recommend it for history and adventure fans.

54. The Shaman's Bones by James D. Doss. A loan from my sister since I have been so depressed about Tony Hillerman's death (no more Navajo stories, wahhhhh). Doss has been compared to Hillerman, but I found him to be quite different. Oh, they both write mysteries about Native Americans, but their styles aren't alike at all. Still I really liked Doss and I will be reading the rest in the series to catch up. He writes a mystery with supernatural flavor featuring the Ute nation. Really good.

55. Tightrope by Deanie Francis Mills. A thrill a minute suspense about a woman who goes to prison to protect her daughter from her pedophilic ex-husband and becomes involved in an FBI investigation of a company with dirty dealings. Very good.

56. The Conquest by Yxta Maya Murray. Not bad. Murray alternates the real time story of an antique book restorer with the tale of an Aztec maiden in 15th century Europe. At times I was entranced by Murray's pure romance with language (much as I am with Anne Rice, Ray Bradbury, and Umberto Eco) and at others I was frustrated with her tendency to play fast and loose with history. As a history major I find this to be very annoying. There are traces of magical realism in the book which takes some getting used to by a realist such as myself, but it isn't too distracting. All in all, it proved to be a love/hate relationship ending on the up side.
Looks like I am on a winning streak here. Three great reads in a row and one good. Now on to 15th century England and the War of the Roses with The Princes in the Tower by Elizabeth Jenkins. My most recent adjustment in my reading plan has been to alternate fiction and nonfiction books. That way I hope to have a more balanced reading experience. It seems to be working so far. The only glitch has been in audiobooks. The library stocks mostly fiction in the recorded book selections and I only use unabridged books so my choices for nonfiction aren't so good. Oh well, at least the work commute time isn't wasted.

57. The Princes in the Tower by Elizabeth Jenkins. Pure history. It really begins long before the princes entered the tower...even before they were born. It starts with Edward III and spirals through the complex history of English power politics involving the kings. Jenkins seeks to explain why she believes that Richard III felt he had to eliminate the sons of his brother Edward IV. She makes no attempt to exonerate Richard from the crime since she obviously believes that he ordered it. Well researched and convincing material.
Now for a little mystery and magic in a book sent to me by a fellow LTer, Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen.

58. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. A charming, magical book, something a little bit different. Not great literature, but a comforting book for difficult times. Sweet, but not sacchrine-like. I look forward to her new book The Sugar Queen which luckily the library has.

Now for my next nonfiction I am stepping over to Oxford, England to learn a little more about Tolkien.

Good review Garden Spells sounds right up my alley.

I found The Princes in the Tower quite a shocking read. I thought it unbelievable that something like that could possibly happen. It was a very good book and I read it so long ago that I had forgotten all about it until your review which made me want to go back and reread books of that era. A very interesting time in the history of old Britannia.

>109 Caspettee: I think that you would like it, Caspe. I have already loaned it to a friend at work and I am waiting for her opinion.

>110 rainpebble: Welcome, Nannybebette. Yes, it was shocking wasn't it? Jenkins approached the story in such a matter-of-fact manner seemed to make it even more shocking for me. I love British history and read a great deal of it. Let me know if you have any recommendations. I would be grateful to receive them.

59. The Testament by John Grisham. I listed this book as a thriller when I first received it, but now I shall reclassify it as a novel. Not that it doesn't have thriller aspects....there is the adventure into the heart of Brazil and Bolivia searching for an heiress, but there is a lot more. There are legal procedurals which is interesting and a story of recovery, faith, forgiveness, and greed. A discussion of the morals of our times. It made me want to read Grisham's book The Painted House which I have been told is also quite different from his other work. Perhaps Grisham is expanding beyond his genre into true literature.

Perhaps Grisham is expanding beyond his genre into true literature

ooh, bold statement. :)

>112 girlunderglass: Hi, GUG. Lol, maybe a bit extreme, but the style of this book took me very much by surprise compared to others of his that I have read. I did enjoy it though I semi-predicted the end.

It's interesting that some of the mainstream authors venture into more literary territory (at least I'd say it's true). I haven't read those books by Grisham, though I've heard similar remarks on both from family, but I'm willing to speak to both David Baldacci and Stephen King who put out plenty of formulaic mainstream work, but then occasionally surprise me with a book you'd easily found taught in an English class. (In fact, when I pass out a list of book choices to my contemp. lit. class for their final project, Baldacci and King are both on it.) I think my argument on this is that you make your money and your name writing one thing, but then when you have the time, maybe you can take more effort to do something that wouldn't be necessarily as "sellable" without your reputation. Anyhow, there's my 2 cents--it's something I'm more and more fascinated by.

>114 whitewavedarling: Yes, that sounds right whitewavedarling. I have heard of King being used in English classes, but which Baldacci book do you recommend to your students? Do you just let them pick any one that they like?

Ok, where were you guys when I needed you? I went to B&N this morning to pick up a book that I ordered as a birthday gift for a friend and walked out with 5 more books for myself. There probably would have been more in my basket except that I had an appointment an hour later and didn't have the time to shop much. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP CURB THIS BUYING! Oh well, they are great books anyway. Come on over and we can check them out. I will make tacos and margaritas.

This won't help curb the buying :) but the literary works I recommend for both are Wish You Well by Baldacci, which is a beautiful book, as well as The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and Lisey's Story by King. I've been so busy with school that I'm a ways behind on reading their new work, but all these are wonderful. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon really isn't horror either, in case anyone reading this is generally skittish of King.

A big help you are, whitewavedarling, adding to my TBR pile. *giggling while stacking more books to teetering pile* However, B&N loves me. They start smiling the minute I enter the door, next thing you know they will be calling me by name.

60. Moon Medicine by Mike Blakely. Have you ever read a Western fantasy? I thought that I'd picked up a regular Western when I got Moon Medicine, but it definitely has some fantasy elements to it. The narrator and hero of the book seems to be some kind of superman, but I overlooked that and really loved the book. Blakely throws in a lot of authentic Western info and the background of his story in in the Plains of Texas. How could I resist that! I wondered after reading Summer of Pearls if he could write another as good and he succeeded. He doesn't write the same story twice, but every one so far has been a winner.

hanging my head in shame, I admit:
all of the people at my local used bookstore know me by name, as does the main coffee guy at the local B&N....

Are y'all saying there are actually people out there who can walk into bookstores and walk out (gulp and gasp) emptyhanded? I've heard of these people existing, but I've never seen one in the wild.

Not possible!
--BJ

Dont believe it. Its those nut job conspiracy theorists. The same ones who say Santa Claus doesnt exist.

>118 whitewavedarling: It's ok, Whitewavedarling (big hug). We are in the same boat.

>119 readinggeek: Yes, I have heard of those folks too, but none exist in my crowd.

>120 billiejean: Yes, BJ, sad to say there are even some people (swallowing hard and gasping) who never go into bookstores or libraries.

>121 Caspettee: Caspe, I know people who claim that they don't read. Horrors!

For me and all who are interested I am a bit late updating my list of books read so here goes.
61. I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven. I first heard about this book while traveling to Colorado. It was in a rack of audiobooks for rent in a convenience store we stopped at. The blip on the back sounded interesting and I have been meaning to read it ever since. I am glad that I did. It is a simple story of a young, dying priest who is sent to minister to an Indian tribe in remote British Columbia. The tales of his failures and successes among them is most touching and sweet.

62. Big Bone Lick: the Cradle of American Paleontology by Stanley Hedeen. A short book, merely a beginning to the story of one of the largest depositories of fossil bones in America. It is located in Kentucky at the site of a historical salt lick. It was visited by many famous figures and where many original fossils of extinct animals were found. This book is short and easy to read (for paleontology) and only whets your appetite for more about the site.

Continuing.
63. The Shaman Sings by James D. Doss. Book one in my newest series find. I am growing very fond of Doss's Ute tales although, unlike my sister who is fond of Charlie Moon, my favorite character is the shaman, Daisy. I find her original and interesting. In this book there is another mystery to solve (the murder and disappearance of a little girl's parents), some serious mysticism, and tribal lore.

64. Umbrella Man by Doug Swanson. I can't seem to make the touchstones correct for this one. A visit back in history to the JFK assassination and another conspiracy theory. This one involves a second "umbrella man" and revolves around a supposedly lost film. A fun, fast ride.

And more.
65. Storm Front: Book One of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. This book is great! I wasn't too sure what to expect, but the books really are different from the TV series (which I liked) and better in my opinion. This is urban grittiness mixed with magic both black and white. Harry is conflicted, funny, and talented. My kind of guy. He would definitely make for an interesting date. I am hooked on the series now.

And again.
66. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. A good book, but not her best in my opinion. I liked Year of Wonders much better. In this one she uses the device of flashbacks to earlier periods in history to explain various articles found in an ancient haggadah. A clever device, but I thought that Vreeland used it more skillfully and with better effect in Girl in Hyacinth Blue. Still it's worth a read.

I seem to only be getting one book per message here. I don't know why. Am I too longwinded?
67. Goliad: The Other Alamo by William R. Bradle. A little Texas history to flavor the mix. I've heard of Goliad (what Texan hasn't), but I wasn't familiar with the whole story. Bradle does an excellent job of telling the tale of the Texas Revolution in all its stages. He includes the mistakes, the glory, and the pure luck of a band of adventurers who created a new republic.

68. Cat Under the Mistletoe by Lydia Adamson. A charming little mystery about an out of work actress who sidelines as a catsitter. Not too seasonal (good since I am reading it in May), but amusing. At the beginning of each chapter are lovely pen and ink drawings of cats in all their most endearing aspects. I would buy the book for these drawings.

I am now moving on to Rome with The Spartacus War, to Vermont with The Double Bind, and to the era of WWII with Grace. Quite a lot of variety there, don't you think

re: message #123
book # 61
There is a sequel to I Heard the Owl Call My Name called Again Calls the Owl which is lovely as well. You might check it out one day when you are wanting something wee and comforting.
I have been enjoying your thread and reading choices.
Have a good day.
N/B

>128 rainpebble: Hi Nannybebette! Nice of you to drop by. I didn't know that there was a sequel. I'll look for it. I am glad that you are enjoying my jottings. Do you have a reading list somewhere? I'd love to follow your thread. I bet that I'd get some great ideas.

Hi, Kirconnell!
You have read so many books since the last time I popped by. I am putting both I Heard the Owl Call My Name and Goliad: The Other Alamo on my wishlist! My grandparents used to live in Goliad and I have been there many times. You know the flag with the arm and sword? They had that painted on their water tower. It is a real nice town. I haven't been there since my grandpa passed away and my grandma moved near Austin. They have a beautiful mission there and I think that maybe we went to Mass there once. Also, there was an artist from there and I have a couple of his prints. What was his name? He also had a gallery in Georgetown, TX, where I used to live before moving to Tulsa. Thanks for all the memories! :) Have a wonderful day!
--BJ

#123 Wow flash back to high school english there with I heard an Owl Call My Name. I remember studying that book and I found it interesting (despite being taught in a dry english class). I believe there is a movie somewhere as well.

#125 Welcome to the dark side. I told you would like it here. Now you can officially join us Harry Dresden fans *sigh* he is my fictional boyfriend in every way possible LOL

>131 billiejean: Hi BJ. I had no idea that you knew Goliad so well. The book made me anxious to take a trip to that area this summer. It would be nice to see San Antonio again and I've never been to Goliad.

>132 Caspettee: Hi Caspe. I didn't know that they made a movie of I Heard an Owl Call My Name. I will have to look for it and hope that it is as good as the book. I have been exploring movies more lately through Netflix (a lovely company) and I am currently watching Jewel in the Crown. It is a miniseries produced by the Granada Company of Canada who did the Sherlock Holmes series and it is wonderful. Old news reels about World War II and fabulous, exotic views of India and England. It makes me want to visit them both. Looks like I am making a travel itinerary what with my plans for Goliad, India, and England.
Ah, yes, Harry. What a guy! I am sorry that I waited so long to start the series. Thanks for the welcome to the dark side. It is exciting over here although I look over my shoulder a lot. Any other suggestions on authors, Caspe?

Good morning.
My list of "reads so far" are at the top of my threads. I hang out mainly on the 50 book challenge but do post to the other 2 as well. I kind of moved along as my numbers climbed but my preference is to hang here. I really like all the people on this thread. They are well read, have excellent reviews and recommendations, are witty with a lot of B.S., are very smart with the exception of Brain Flakes who is "smart-assed"!~! But anyway just check the top of my thread for my list. I do not have my TBR books listed. We would need a whole other LT for that.
Will chat with you later.
N/B

I have been thinking about netflix lately, but I am not sure how it works. Overall, do you like it? How many movies a month do you get? Are the dvds ok in that cardboard sleeve?
--BJ

Well if you are going as far as India make sure you swing past North Australia :)

>134 rainpebble: Hi N/B. Thanks for the info. I found your threads and will be dropping by from time to time to check in on you. I haven't had time to read all the threads, but I am impressed with your reading choices and consumption of books. I agree about the TBR and wishlist books, there are so many. Sigh.

>135 billiejean: Hi BJ. I think that you would like Netflix. I wasn't sure about for myself since I am more of a bookworm than a movie freak, but I have enjoyed it immensely. I get 3 movies at a time. How many you get in a month depends on how fast you watch the movies you have. As soon as you return one they mail out the next selection on your list. I have always received the dvds in fine condition, but my sister got one that was broken in transit once. She emailed the company (there is a place for this one the website) and they told her to throw the broken disc away and she received another copy the next day, no charge. They also have a very wide selection of movies, documentaries, foreign films, TV series, etc. They have a promo of one month free so that you can try it risk free. I am very glad that I got it.

>I will, Caspe. If you haven't been to India maybe we can make it a twosome? Sounds like great fun to me.

69. The Spartacus War by Barry Strauss. A lively retelling of the slave revolt led by Spartacus. He was a Thracian auxillary in the Roman army who somehow became crosswise with the powers that be and wound up as a gladiator. Most everyone knows the bare bones of the story, but Strauss goes into greater depth detailing the battles, Italian topography, Roman, Thracian, Celtic, and German warrior philosophies and techniques. He gives an extended bibliography for those who wish to read beyond this book. Unfortunately, there were only maps on the inside flaps and since this was a library book those were obscured by the tape holding the dust jacket. A good read overall though.

70. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian. This book blew me away. It starts off interestingly enough with a social worker assisting in a homeless shelter. She suffered a severe assault approximately 7 years before and is still mending psychologically, but doing ok. Suddenly, the death of one of the men at the shelter brings her into contact with his former life as a photographer and memories of her own as well. The pace quickens and intensifies as the book reaches its end into a shocking conclusion. No, I won't tell you what. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, but it took me totally unawares. Recommended.

#137 I have not been to India myself. A meet up would be cool. Wether it is here or there.

The Spartacus War sounds good. is it an Historical fiction? or is it non-fiction?

>139 Caspettee: Yes, a meet up would be super cool.
The Spartacus War is nonfiction.

71. A Ghost of a Chance: A Sheriff Dan Rhodes Mystery by Bill Crider. I finished this audiobook today. An amusing little mystery which kept me entertained during my work commute, but not exceptional.

72. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher. This is the second in the Harry Dresden series. Interesting and entertaining with lots of magic and malice this time involving all flavors of werewolves, but not as good as the first book in my opinion.

Where are you hanging out these days, Kirconnell? When you finally do post again, you're going to be in the triple digits!!!!

Yes, where are you? We are missing you here...did you start a new thread?

Ok, I'm back after a long break and I want to thank everyone that noticed I was gone. *smiling widely* (I wish that I could do those cute picture things, but it's beyond me.) The last month or so has been very busy for me, but I continued reading whenever I could. Therefore, I will start off slow because I am soooooo behind recording.

73. Grace by Jane Roberts Wood. A library loan, I wasn't sure that I would like this one, but it was set in Texas so...what the heck. It turned out to be pretty good for the commute to work. It relates the lives of several members of a small Texas town during the second World War. The loves, losses, vanity, and sweetness of small town life where everyone lives in each other's pocket. Satisfying ending.

74. Solitude by Robert Kull. Kull has obviously been seeking wisdom and peace in a number of ways in his life, but this book was his theses for a doctorate from a university in Canada. His study of the effects of wilderness on solitude in the individual sent him to the Patagonian wilderness. There he stayed as a hermit with only limited contact to the outside world for a year. Imagine a cross between Walden and The Mosquito Coast. (He even has a website of the experience which was interesting). The book alternates between excerpts of his almost daily journal entries and chapters where he attempts to define the experience. I loved the journal, but found the other chapters difficult at times. Overall, the book was worth the time that it took to read it. He deserved the degree he earned.

Oh, to anyone interested, I'm culling books from my library in the interest of shelf space and to share my enjoyment of good books. With this in mind, I have become a moocher on Book Mooch so check out what I have available (see Velma Fitzgerald). Maybe you will find a jewel that you have been looking for.

Welcome back! Solitude sounds interesting. What is the website?

Hi, Sussabmax. Thanks for the warm welcome. Sorry, I can't remember the website. It was listed on the book cover so next time I go to the library I will get it for you! *big smiles*

75. Austin City Blue by Jan Grape. A police procedural mystery involving an Austin, Texas female officer. Balancing her job, a comatose spouse in a nursing home, and a friend of her father who thinks his wife plans to have him killed keeps this policewoman more than busy. Lots of twists and red herrings.

76. The Merchant of Vengeance by
Simon Hawke. A fun romp in Elizabethan England with Symington Smythe and his good friend William Shakespeare. Lots of puns on the play The Merchant of Venice. Good plot and amusing characters.

Hi Velma;
I would love to be able to write little bits like you do. There is a guy on here who does it really well also. You both give the gist of the book in few words and sell it just like that! I am so wordy, I make myself ill sometimes!~!
Anyhoo---Austin City Blue sounds like a very busy book. I am afraid my head would be spinning whilst reading, but nonetheless, onto the TBR listing it goes!~! It sounds fun and totally not like something I normally read. So you are dragging me out of my box.
Thanx for the review; clear, concise and very well done.
belva

Hey welcome back. I must confess I havent been around much either of late. We got a new camera which we have been out playing with AND I have been diligently working on Mt TBR

You still managed to read more while you were swamped than I did!! And I can't say I had anything very pressing to do. How disturbing is that?

Glad to have you back, KC. Now everything seems right with the world again.

You guys are so great! I've missed you.

>148 rainpebble: Nannybebette, you are so kind and generous, as usual. My comments aren't much more than blurbs to remind me of the book, but you make them sound so special. I guess that it is like wanting straight hair when you have curly, I always wished that I could write the comprehensive, in depth reviews that you write. I suppose that I am afraid to ruin the book for someone else and, at heart, I am also a woman of few words. Thank you for your note. It was high praise indeed.

>Hi Caspe. I hope that you got some good pics with that camera. Remember to show some on here. You have probably scaled Mt TBR by the time I write this. Good to hear from you.

>Hi RG. Of course, you had something pressing....it's SUMMERTIME! For young and old that is a special time of year with many pressing needs...swimming, hanging out at the beach, travel, etc. I can't wait to hear about what you've been doing and reading. *hugs*

77. Byzantium by Steven R. Lawhead. A whopper of a book it tallyed in at over 700 pages. The reader travels from Ireland to Byzantium and back again. The book chronicles the fictional adventures of a group of monks who go to Medieval Byzantium to deliver a handcrafted Bible of enormous worth to the emperor. Lots of action and history covered. I wasn't sure that I would make it through, but I persevered and am now glad that I did.

78. Mad Lucas by Richard Whitmore. The sad, true story of a Victorian nobleman who descends into madness and becomes a hermit. Well illustrated with well researched documentation. Ah, but for the grace of God go I. Such a tragedy for the man and his family.

79. The Big Heat by William P. McGivern. This is classic noir fiction. A big city policeman searchs for reasons behind the suicide of another police officer. But is it suicide? His sometime lover says no. Gangsters, secrets, and a surprise ending. I really enjoyed this one.

80. The Treasure Keeper by Shana Abe. The big 8-0. Too bad it wasn't a better book. My friend loaned me this one because we had been reading the series together. Ms Abe should have stopped at three. Not that it doesn't have its good points because the author has a real talent for setting a mood, but it just can't match the initial book. IMHO her books have been uneven in quality...and she plans on writing another. Oh, poor me. I know Brandi will want me to read it too.

Now, gang, I think that I will go do a little reading. I went to the library and brought home 6 possibles. More later.

#151 I might have scaled Mt TBR if I hadnt gone berserk buying books AND only last night I bough 4 more from Amazon (I justified it by telling myself I cant get them here in Oz).

Poor, baby. I know just how you feel. *big hug*

I know you feel my pain LOL

Kc;
I ordered Austin City Blue this morning and cannot wait until it arrives. I hope I am not in the middle of anything other than the group reads when it does because I want to dive right in and hit that roller coaster!~!
belva

>156 Caspettee: Of course, I do, Caspe, and I'm about to feel it again soon. I got a 15% off coupon from B&N that I am about use.

>157 rainpebble: Hi Belva. I hope that you enjoy the book. Don't forget to use your seatbelt.

Now, on to work recording books read:
81. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris. The second book of the series leads Sookie to Dallas where the Undead are becoming very dead. There are missing vampires and the local Undead want to use her psychic abilities to discover if there is a traitor in their midst. Pretty good. Not as funny as some of the other books.

82. The Bloody Shirt by Stephen Budiansky. When I bought this one I thought that it was a Civil War history, but then realized that it was Reconstruction. This book horrified me with its stories of abuse to both black and white citizens. A few times I almost stopped listening (audiobook), but I felt if they could live through it I could continue to listen. A testimony to how far we have come in Civil Rights and how far we have to go.

83. Houses of Stone by Barbara Michaels. If you are familiar with Barbara Michaels aka Elizabeth Peters then you know that she is a good storyteller. Nothing unique here though, just old-fashioned gothic mystery with a little romance thrown in. Good for light reading, beaches, and rainy days. A professor tries to track down the author of a 19th century manuscript in Virginia and finds spooky goings on in a small town.

84. The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell by Lilian Jackson Braun. Another cat who cozy. I really love these when I am feeling down or smothered with responsibilities. Pickax is celebrating its 150th aniversary with deadly results. A vacation in the town north of everywhere is never boring.

Ok. I missed a couple of days posting because my back bothered me so much Tuesday (old injury) and Wednesday my sister and I went to see HP #6 and shopping. Yes, we went to the bookstore, but I only came out with two new books. I picked up two on the bargain table at the library, and received one through the mail. And yes The Half-Blood Prince was awesome. You should all go see it.

85. Sex and the Single Vampire by Katie MacAlister. This is a reprint of a book that I read a number of years ago. I didn't realize it at first, but when I did I decided to go ahead and finish it because it was so funny. In the beginning there was a summoner (she spoke to ghosts). When she discovers a terribly wounded ghost in the basement of a London house she does her best to send him on to his reward. The only problem is that he insists that he isn't a ghost. It just gets funnier from there. I really enjoyed this book and so have all my friends.

86. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. This is a fantastic book. I had to break up my reading of it though because it is so intense. Listed as a novel it parallels the author's life as an escaped prisoner from Australian and his travels to India where he decides to stay. I never knew what was real and what was fiction, but it didn't matter. I loved the book, the characters and the way that it made me think. Recommended.

87. Dust and Shadows by Lyndsay Faye. A very entertaining book about Sherlock Holmes's attempt to solve the Ripper Murders in London. The author says that she has been a fan of Sherlock Holmes since she was a child and it shows. I found her characterization of Holmes very comfortable unlike some others I have read. A decent plot which I can't reveal much of in fear of spoilers. Good weekend read.

Well, Librarything has decided to go wonkers on me and wouldn't let me post without starting another message. So here goes.

88. The Novice's Tale by Margaret Frazer. The first book in a very satisfying Medieval mystery series. Realistic, likable characters, challenging plot, and a fluid writing style. Probable not a reread, but certainly I will read more in the series. In this one a saintly novice is confronted by her aunt who threatens to remove the girl from the convent and marry her off. Unfortunately, the aunt and others around her mysteriously begin to die and the prime suspect is the novice.

89. the Illustrous Dead by Stephen Talty. An extremely well written account of Napoleon Bonaparte's disastorous Russian Campaign of 1812 where he lost most of his army to weather, famine, fatigue, and disease. Talty contends that a much larger portion of the army died from typhus than is commonly agreed upon. Very good and readable for the lay person.

90. Now You See Her by Cecilia Tishy. An entertaining mystery involving a cold case and a psychic. After her divorce Regina tries to get on with her life by relocating to a townhouse in Boston's Back Bay that her aunt left her. She uses her psychic abilities to assist a detective with freeing a possibly innocent man from prison. Not exceptional, but ok.

91. A Mystery of Errors by Simon Hawke. The first book in Hawke's Tuck and Shakespeare series. Here Tuck meets William Shakespeare in an inn outside London and they decide to travel together to join the Queen's players. A chance meeting involves Tuck in a devious nobleman's scheme to deceive a merchant's daughter. Well done. Lots of laughs and puns and a devilish plot.

And here it is...the last book. I am now caught up posting my reading since my hiatus.
92. Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin. The third in the series about the physcian Adelia who aids King Henry II of England with solving mysterious deaths. Here Henry sends her to Glastonbury to determine if two skeletons found buried there are the remains of Arthur and Guinivere. Enjoyable.

Gosh your getting close to triple digits. Im still struggling around 30 some where ( I seem to have lost count)

Don't worry Caspe. The most important thing is that you are enjoying yourself. *hugs*

93. Lord of the Dead by Tom Holland. An older book. Holland introduces Lord Byron as a newly created vampire. This book shows the darker side of vampirism with references to worldwide folktales. Not terribly original, but very atmospheric. The feel of gothic horror is present in spades in this book. Enjoyable read. Great for a stormy night.

That last one sounds right up my alley.

Hope your back is doing better, and you're right about HP #6. It's well worth the price of admission.

hi Readinggeek. I enjoyed this book. I had read it many years ago and couldn't remember much about it. I decided to give it a review and I don't regret it.

I'm thinking about going to see HP#6 again on my days off. Popcorn, Coke and a new Harry Potter film. What better way to relax (except reading maybe).

94. Gomorrah:A Personal Journey into the Violent Empire of Naples' Organized Crime System by Roberto Saviano. He saw his first dead body when he was 13. This wasn't unusual considering that Roberto Saviano grew up in Naples the home of one of the most powerful and brutal crime organizations in Italy...the Camorra. What is unusual is that he had the courage to publish this book detailing the history, methods and wars that raged throughout the region while he was growing up despite the risk to himself. I found the book to be a passionate and shocking disclosure of a crime group that doesn't stop with their involvement in military arms and narcotics. They are involved in projects and businesses that affect every individual around the globe. Businesses such as fashion, agriculture, restaurants and toxic waste disposal. Their casual disdain for human life could result in reprecussions of enormous impact.
My only complaint against the book was its meandering style which with more cohesiveness could have left a more powerful message.

95. Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow by James Rollins. James Rollins's first excursion into children's books is a mixed success. While the storyline is as wild as one would expect from Rollins with a mixture of fantasy and science the plot is relatively ordinary. Where he succeeds is his creation of an endearing, well portrayed hero in Jake Ransom and two strong female characters. Despite others reaction I found this book enjoyable and look forward to the future volumes.

96. Gold of Kings by Davis Bunn. I actually enjoyed this Early Reviewer book about the search for the treasures of Herod's second Temple of Jerusalem. I found the hero, Harry Bennett, to be very likeable and well developed. The only problem that I have with the story is the romantic relationship....it just doesn't work. No sparks and about as interesting as leftovers. Harry needs a new girlfriend. An intellectual thriller that would make a good beach read.

97. Kingdom of Lies by N. Lee Wood. I really loved this tale of murder, conspiracies, and convoluted family trees based in Georgian England. Ah, what a tangled web we weave... when a Leeds policeman is called to the site of a drowning most assume that it is death by misadventure, but the victim's American friend is convinced that it is murder and enlists the policeman to help her find the guilty party. I got this from Blackstone Audio at the fire sale price of $5.00 for a 12 tape set. It was so good that I looked forward to driving 60 miles to and from work just so that I could hear the story.

98. The Shaman's Game by James Doss. Another in the Ute reservation series. Although he has been compared to Tony Hillerman I find Doss writes a much richer and more complex story mixed with Native American ethnology and mysticism. In this one the shaman, Daisy, attempts to discover who is witching the Sun Dancers across the Ute reservation. A story with a twist that many won't see coming.

99. Persona non Grata by Ruth Downie. An early reviewer book this is the third in the Medicus series. A well written mystery set in Roman Gaul with good attention to history. Gaius is summoned home on a family emergency, but no one seems to know who wrote the letter. The family is facing eviction due to losing a law suit and then the man that is suing them falls dead in their house.

100. Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson. My 100th book for the year! *doing happy dance* My friend Millie loaned me this one (she has a thing about vampires). It was ok, but not really my cup of tea. Too much like the undead shopaholic. Lots of hokey jokes that just didn't work and a poor plot with cardboard characters. Unlikely that I will read any more in this series.

Congratulations on hitting the big 100!~!
Well done and look how much reading time you have left before year's end?
belva

Congrats, KC. You're my hero. *falls to knees and chants "I'm not worthy"* Keep up the good work.

>#s 174, 175:
My goodness Velma, you're so excited about hitting 100 that the cat got your tongue? hee hee
belva

glitter-graphics.com

Hi Belva. I was soooo frustrated last night! I kept posting and all my messages disappeared!!!!
Well, what I tried to say (before the system went floozy) was that I don't hold a candle to you. You must be in the 300's by now.

< Hi RG. Thanks. I'm really surprised that I got this far so quickly.

Nah, nowhere near. You have me all mixed up with alcottacre. Now there is your reader!~!
But regarding your statement about last night; I thought it was my new computer going tits up on me like the old one did. Sorry for your frustration but it's good to know it was the system and not just me. And is it my imagination or are posts and threads taking longer to load here on LT?
Hope you are having a good day there.
belva

Where are you, KC? I miss reading your take on things, including the books.