SqueakyChu's - 75 Books Challenge for 2009

Hmm...

I'm thinking of switching from the 50 Book Challenge to the 75 Books Challenge for 2009. That would mean changing horses midstream. Since I've been avidly trying to get 81 books into the 999 Challenge, this group seems like a better fit for me. It's the end of March, and I'm up to 20 books read.

*ETA: My defection is now complete!*

**ETA once again**: If you like ECLECTIC, this list is it! Even *I* never know what book I'll be reading next. :)




***********************************
FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR COMMENTS AT ANY TIME!
************************************

My 75 Books Challenge for 2009:
...includes at least one local author!

1. The Girl on the Fridge - Etgar Keret
2. When The Emperor Was Divine - Julie Otsuka - Reading Group Orange January
3. The Master of Go - Yasunari Kawabata - Reading Globally Japan theme
4. Crow Lake - Mary Lawson - Reading Group Canada theme
5. The Woman Who Can't Forget - Jill Price

6. Recipes from America's Small Farms - Joanne Lamb Hayes
7. Friendly Fire - A.B. Yehoshua
8. Rat - Andrzej Zaniewski
9. Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter - J. Nozipo Maraire - Reading Globally Africa theme
10. Playing for Pizza - John Grisham

11. The Girls - Lori Lansens
12. Nervous Conditions - Tsitsi Dangarembga - Reading Globally Africa theme - What's in a Name Challenge 2
13. The Moldavian Pimp - Edgardo Cozarinsky - Reading Globally Argentina theme - What's in a Name Challenge 2
14. Death at the Old Hotel - Con Lehane - BookCrossing bookray - Local Author - What's in a Name Challenge 2
15. Outcasts United - John St. Warren - Early Reviewer

16. Maple Sugarin' in Vermont: A Sweet History - Betty Ann Lockhart - BookCrossing bookray
17. Loon - Jack McLean - Early Reviewer
18. The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson
19. Going Gray - Anne Kreamer
20. Goat: A Memoir - Brad Land

21. Electroboy - Andy Behrman
22. The Tennis Partner - Abraham Verghese - Global Author Challenge
23. Touch and Go - Eugene Stein
24. The Big Year - Mark Obmascik
25. Fatal Light - Richard Currey - Early Reviewer

26. The Wasp Eater - William Lychack
27. Among Other Things, I've Taken Up Smoking - Aoibheann Sweeney
28. Frida's Bed - Slavenka Drakulic - Global Author Challenge
29. Bird by Bird - Ann Lamott - Dewey Decimal Challenge
30. Joy Comes in the Morning - Jonathan Rosen - What's in a Name Challenge 2

31. What the Deaf-Mute Heard - G.D. Gearino - What's in a Name Challenge 2
32. My Latest Grievance - Elinor Lipman
33. Secret Son - Laila Lalami - Early Reviewer
34. Counting Coup - G.D. Gearino
35. The Soloist - Mark Salzman - Reading Globally Arts theme

36. Tongue: A Novel - Kyung-Ran Jo - Early Reviewer
37. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegetable Gardening - Bowman, Daria Brown
38. Olive Kitteridge - Elizabeth Strout - Early Reviewer
39. Scream Queens of the Dead Sea - Gilad Elbom
40. The Longest Trip Home - John Grogan

41. Sorry - Gail Jones - Orange July
42. American Rust - Philipp Meyer
43. Diet for a New America - John Robbins
44. The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff - CURRENT READ
45. The Yiddish Policemen's Union - Michael Chabon - Reading Globally Polar theme

46. A Field Guide to Buying Organic - Luddene Perry - CURRENT READ
47. (See last post - I moved to a new thread)
48.
49.
50.

Curious about my categories? Check out how they are arranged on my 999 Challenge.

Come to the dark side...um... I mean...the 75 book group!

Welcome to the 75 group, SqueakyChu. I'm looking forward to seeing what you are reading. But beware! We talk a lot over here! :-)

ETA Thanks! You posted it while I was writing!

I talk a lot as well so I should feel right at home here. I just realized that, in other groups, I probably speak more to members of this group than those of the 50 Book Challenge so that there are already many people here with whom I'm already familiar.

I figure that the worst thing that could happen is that I won't read 75 books this year! I'll deal with it.

Thanks so much for the warm welcome...to the dark side! :)

Welcome to the group! I was in the 50 Book Challenge group last year, and I've found that I like the atmosphere here much more.

I was wondering where everyone went!! Now I know...

Hi Squeaky! Welcome

*waves back*

Thanks!

Welcome, Squeaky!

Thanks for the welcome. It's good to be here.

Just for an opener. Has anyone read Electroboy by Andy Berman which I'm reading now?

I picked it up at a book sale (an Obama fundraiser, no less) thinking I'd give it away at a bookfair for Bookcrossing, but it intrigued me too much to part with it before reading it - so I'm very much into it now. It's an odd, but very readable, book about the author's manic life. I'm about half-way through, and I'll tell you more after I'm finished.

Welcome Squeaky--I've met you at reading globally.

Haven't read Electroboy, but your reading so far this year looks interesting.

Hi arubabookwoman,

I'm really an eclectic reader. There's no telling what kind of book I'll read next. I just love the Globally Reading group. It's really stretched me into places I haven't been so far. Now I'm trying to figure out what book to read for the slavery theme but can't seem to put my finger on a book that I think I'd like.

I just finished reading Douglas, Frederick: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas this week and thought it was very good. If you click on the title it will take you to the LT page; my review is posted there if you are interested.

Welcome SqueakyChu

We are a well-read, friendly bunch. Be prepared to add many books to your to be read pile.

I'll be checking your thread periodically to see what you are reading.

I hope you like it here.

--> 14

For the Reading Globally slavery theme, I really want to stick to fiction. I think I have it might have it narrowed down now to Sweetsmoke, Property, or Song Yet Sung. If I can find another insteresting, but more obscure novel, I might try something else.

--> 15

Thanks, Whisper1. I really don't need any help adding to my TBR pile. I need more help thinning it out. LOL!

I feel right at home already.

Welcome to the group SqueakyChu!

I hope you find a lot more books with us that you just feel compelled to add to your TBR pile :)

Good to see you here, SqueakyChu!

From our conversations I thought that you were already a 75er...

Thanks for the greetings, alcottacre and kidzdoc.

I didn't know that so many 50ers from last year had moved to the 75 group! I *really did* keep wondering where everyone that I knew from before was.

--> 19

kd, somehow I got attracted to all of the absolutely fabulous (so off the beaten track!) books you had listed on Club Read 2009 that lead me to starring your thread. Another thing that had me interested in your particular thread was that it was actual interesting, intelligent *conversation* between people and not just a list of "Oh, I read this..." and someone else saying, "Yeah. That was a good book." :)

Hey Madeline - Are you tracking your reading here or in Club Read? Are you giving up the 999 Challenge? I'm finding it hard to keep up. This is the second year in a row I've tried a challenge & felt - after the initial enthusiasm - that I just couldn't keep up.

I hate duplicating and tracking in more than one place. The redundancy is mind-numbing!! :(

I'm using the 999 Challenge *just* to list my books in categories and linking some to a review as I don't review all my reads. This will take me a minute to do with each book. At the end of the year, I'll do the cross-posts to see if I can get all the categories filled. I think I missed the 888 challenge by one or two books!

Just a note here to say that the most time-consuming and thoughtful of my posts will be the actual book reviews that go on the work pages of LT.

I'm going to be making comments (one paragraph probably) specifically to each book as I complete it on the 75 Books Challenge for 2009 (as I used to do on the 50 Book Challenge).

I'm going to use Club Read 2009 as a diary of sorts (I decided this today) to reflect on the reads I've done over the past few weeks. I'll try to do it monthly or so. It seems a nice place to talk about what's on my mind regarding books and as well as a great place to go off on tangents that may or may not be book-related.

That was the long answer! The simple answer is that I'm going to be tracking my books here on the 75 Books Challenge for 2009.

oh my Squeaky I hadn't even noticed your new thread - I kept checking the old one!! Glad to have you here! *starring*

It's great to be here. I didn't even know you were here until I arrived and found you. :)

*looks around in a daze*

Howdy do, Ms. Chu...see you have crossed the Rubicon too. (Didn't mean to make all of that rhyme.) Just read down your list of titles and haven't read a single one of them, so I think you're going to be dangerous.

haven't read a single one of them, so I think you're going to be dangerous.

Hehe! I really do like to read lesser known books and get terribly excited when they turn out to be terrific. It's like finding treasure. I also like to hype books of lesser known authors who I feel can write up a storm. I hope some of my highly rated books make their way onto your TBR pile!

21. Electroboy - Andy Behrman

This is a book I picked up quite by accident at an Obama fundraiser in which I was offered to fill a bag of books for $1 (ETA: ...or was it $5?). Of course, I couldn't resist! I kept eyeing this book even after I thought of releasing it through Bookcrossing because it looked so interesting. When I did succumb to reading it, I couldn't put it down. The story is of the author's living with bipolar disorder, with most of the book being about his manic behavior which led to loss of money, criminal activity in the art world, and eventual incarceration. As with anyone who shares such a personal story, I am truly grateful as I think it helps others, both individuals and families of stricken individuals, feel less alone. Andy's is a fascinating story to read as he hustles his way through life but eventually must deal with his problem. It's a sad story and becomes even more frightening when electroshock therapy is introduced as a possibility for his treatment. Read the book, learn about bipolar disorder, and be attentive to the psychological needs of others. It's time well spent.

Rating - 4 stars

message 20, I agree with you. I've looked through posts on other groups and I didn't find the intelligent witty banter or depth of caring that I find on the 75 challenge group.

message 27, I like your well written review re. this book. $1 for a bag of books and a gem that you found amid it all. Now that is a great find!

--> 28

Plus, Obama won the election!! Now *that* was great (at least IMHO).

Now that I'm thinking back, I wonder if I didn't really pay $5 for that bag of books? Hmm? I don't remember for sure. All I remember is that I could not let that opportunity pass as the fundraiser was closing down for the day, and I had the opportunity to choose whatever books I wanted that I could stuff into one grocery bag. Most of the books I chose that day ended up being given away for free at the BookCrossing Booth of the Annual Random House Book Fair (see photo below - and, no, I'm not in that picture) at Carroll Community College in Westminster, Maryland, the earlier part of this month.

just popping in to say: welcome!

Thanks, FAMeulstee. It's nice to be here.

22. The Tennis Partner - Abraham Verghese



This is a gorgeous and sad memoir about the friendship of the author, a physician, and one of his medical students, an Australian who had the opportunity of becoming a tennis professional. Through the game of tennis, their friendship flourishes but there's always a sense that something's wrong. As the story evolves, we find out exactly what that is and are not too happy about it. The writing style of the author is intelligent and beautiful. Now I know why others so high praise his work, making me determined to find and read other books he has written.

Rating - 5 stars

SqueakyChu
This is an author who is mentioned often on the 75 challenge group threads. I have his books on my tbr list and appreciate your comments.

I put the other two books by Verghese on order at my local library today. I can't wait to get them. I'm #27 in the queue for My Own Country and #138 (!) in the queue for Cutting for Stone. I might have to wait a while before I see either of them. :)

Just got "Cutting for Stone" out of the library and am looking forward to reading it next week (two others to finish first).

Come back and let me know what you think of Cutting for Stone. Others here at LT have just loved it, some calling it their best read of the year so far.

I have Verghese's My Own Country out of the library now and will be reading it in upcoming weeks. Based on all the comments throughout LT about his work, I expect it to be excellent!

I was riding home the other evening on the DC Metro while finishing up The Tennis Partner. Near the end of the book was one part that started to make me cry. I had to subtly wipe away the tears and slip the book into my bag so I wouldn't look ridiculous crying on the train. I finished up the book when I got home. :)

Never mind, though. I think that if a book or movie stimulates me to cry real tears, I've become involved enough in the story to declare it a success. I can't wait to hear what others think of this book if they have a chance to read it.

An interesting thing about Dr. Verghese...

There was one review on Amazon (and I do take all Amazon reviews with a grain of salt) that gives a review of The Tennis Partner. It describes the author as just the kind of person I imagine him to be from reading his book. It's the review dated October 11, 2000 by "A Customer". Take a peek at it.

#39: Thanks for the link, SqueakyChu. I will look for The Tennis Partner as well as Verghese's other works once I am done with My Own Country.

--> 40

I'll be interested ot hear what you think of both books.

#41: I checked, SC, but my local library does not have The Tennis Partner in yet, so it may be a while before I can get my hands on it. I hope it is soon!

I've added The Tennis Partner to my Bookmooch wishlist. It sounds excellent!

I hope you like The Tennis Partner as much as I did!

Reluctantly, I gave up on Lost City Radio which I really wanted to like. I just didn't like the author's fractured writing style and never found an easy flow within that story. I tossed the book after 60 pages or so in favor of The Big Year, a book about birdwatching. I do, indeed, like to read about very different things! :)

#44: I am adding The Big Year to the Continent. I read all over the place, too!

Ha! I found you! Makes no difference to me where you call "home," SqueakyChu. I just hope you keep visiting and talking to us 50-Bookers! **she says sobbing quietly**

--> 46

Haha! I didn't defect on purpose. What I found was that the 75-ers talk more so I transferred Challenges because I love to talk. :)

In addition, I found that people I knew from the 50 Book Challenge were not there any more, and I found later them on the 75 Books Challenge!

--> 45

Have you ever been a birder? If so, there is another birdwatching book which is actually a biography that I really enoyed. It's called To See Every Bird on Earth: A Father, a Son, and a Lifelong Obsession by Dan Koeppel. The story is kind of sad because it talks about how birds were the author's father's life and the son a bit of a second thought. It makes one wonder about people who are so obsessive about a hobby (like we are about books, I guess) and how that affects others.

. I read all over the place, too!

That's why I hate series books. Too much of the same thing. The most books I've ever read in a series were three by John Burdette who wrote Bangkok 8. The first book was great, the second, good, the third was "meh. He hasn't written any more yet, I don't think, but I'm done with reading his books unless he writes a new one that gets super reviews.

#48: No, I have never been a birder, although the subject is of interest to me. I will look for the Koeppel book that you have mentioned.

I read series books, but rarely with any regularity. I skip around a ton, so I do not get bored with the series. The only book of Burdette's I have read was The Last Six Million Seconds and I really liked it.

I looked up The Last Six Million Seconds and think I'll pass on it.

If you get a chance, though, pick up a copy of Bangkok 8, the book for which John Burdette is most well known. I usually don't read detective mysteries, but I really like that book. The characters are wonderful, the setting is exotic, and the story has enough twists to keep it suspenseful throughout.

#50: Will do!

I did have a copy of Bangkok 8 circulating at one time as a BookCrossing bookray. Here's what I and other bookray participants wrote about it.

It looks very good, SqueakyChu!

23. Touch and Go - Eugene Stein



You'll probably scratch your heads when I tell you how I chose this book. I liked the cover, I've always liked short stories, and I liked that Stein is a family name for me! I'm pretty sure few people have ever heard of this author. Okay. So I found the book at my used book store over a year ago, and it's been sitting on my shelf. I took it to work just in case I forgot to bring my current read with me - which I did, in fact, forget. So, by default, I started this book at lunch two days ago and finished it before I got home from work tonight. It's a quick and engaging read.

I ended up really liking most of the stories. There were only two that did not appeal to me, but, oddly enough, one of those was a story ("The Triumph of the Prague Workers' Council") especially enjoyed by others (per Amazon's reviews). My favorite story was one called "The Grandma Golem" which was like a cross between Sholom Aleichem and Stephen King. No kidding! This is one I'd rather not explain and have you read directly. My second favorite story was one called "Hard Bargains" about a young white female Jewish reporter who ended up in a black ghetto while trying to fight off racial stereotyping. I found this story really believable and somewhat sad. I thought all of the stories were different enough and well enough written to keep me interested. They each were kind of funny, a little pathetic, and most had an interesting twist.

Rating - 4 stars

P.S. Just for fun, I posted my copy of this book to LT's Member Giveaways! If you're interested in reading it, go request it within the next two weeks.

ETA: I don't see it posted yet (4/17/09) and am not sure when it will show up. I suppose the books are queued?

I must say you have me curious, Madeline, about the story that is a cross between Sholom Aleichem and Stephen King!

Hehe! The reason I said that is because "The Grandma Golem" is a story about a family with very Yiddish-sounding names (Hanna-Botya, Rokhl, etc.), but then becomes very Stephen King-ish towards the end. In fact, the end of it reminds me of a particular story by Stephen King in his book Everything's Eventual. Both are pretty gruesome, but the way each is written, one can see black humor in them if not taken literally.

The book's on Member Giveaway. What fun to see who'll win it!

I asked for a review only because I've been the only one to review it so far. :)

24. The Big Year - Mark Obmascik



This book is probably best for birders as they're an unusual type of person. This book is about three birders who are in pursuit of setting the record for seeing the greatest number of bird species in North America for the year of 1998. If you're not into birds, you probably won't understand the complete obsessiveness of this hobby. If you do, you'll be utterly amazed by the lengths these three birders go through in order to try to win this competition. It's an interesting book that will leave you tired just from reading about these birders' trips!

Rating - 4 stars

25. Fatal Light - Richard Currey



Uh oh! I really wanted to like this Early Reviewer book more than I did. Perhaps I was a little bit colored by having just recently read another excellent book about the Viet Nam war. This book was a 20th anniversary re-issue. It's fiction, but very much based on fact, about a young man who was drafted as a medic during the Viet Nam War. The story is told in short vignettes which were notable in how they painted a brilliant picture of that war but annoying in that they didn't allow for me to become fully immersed in the story. The parts of this book I actually liked the best were the beginning and end where the narrator talks about his relationship to his parents, girl-friend, and, most importantly, his grandfather.

Rating 3.5 stars

26. The Wasp Eater - William Lychack



Oooh! This is the kind of book I love! I knew nothing about it before I read it. I chose it at Daedalus Books just from the cover art and the briefest of looks at the blurb. It was a creepy kind of family story. What happens is that couple with a ten-year-old son separate after the wife finds out her husband has been sleeping with another woman. The dad is not ready to give up his relationship with his son so he sneaks up to the son's window at night to vist. This has the boy confused. The entire story plays out with the strange relationship between the members of this family - father, mother, son, and one female cousin. It was an unnerving tale that I could not put down. I had this feeling that something terrible was about to happen with each turn of the page. The end of the story was unexpected. The quiet prose was mesmerizing. All in all it is a very, very sad story told so well.

Rating - 4.5 stars

Some interesting recent reads, Madeline. I think I will add all of them to the Continent. Thanks for the reviews!

I picked Wasp Eater for the very same reasons you did. I remember the details that you mentioned, but not the end. I'm going to have to go back and take a peek at it again.

aww I didn't know your name all this time! Madeline is such a beautiful one :)
Happy to see you've enjoyed your last book!

My greatest joy in reading is picking an obscure book, loving it, and getting to share it. I might just post The Wasp Eater to Member Giveaways after my other post is taken. I get such wonderful free books from the Early Reviewers program that I think this is more or less like a trade. Of course, my books are all BookCrossing registered! :)

By the way, I just joined the Reviews Reviewed group after reading a few of my own "stuffy" reviews on my profile. I really want to do a better job of getting others to read books I love. I'm having a hard time expressing what I want to say about a book although I know what I want to say as I read each book. Isn't that weird?

--> 62

SPOILER for the Wasp Eater:

You might not remember the end because *nothing* untoward happened. I was totally surprised because I expected something terrible to happen. The book ends quietly and sadly. I thought the way the story was told was so beautiful.

Madeline...

"twelve little girls in two straight lines...

:)

>60 SqueakyChu:, That book sounds great. i love creepy family stories. And how fantastic is Daedalus books? I have never made it up to the store from NVA, but I generally flip out and binge when I get a new catalog. Who can resist $4 books? Right now I am dangerously close to spending way too much purchasing from the new children's book catalog.

I love the two Daedalus bookstores because they have the kinds of books I really like (trade paperbacks by lesser known authors, but a most interesting selction). If you don't mind a remainder mark (which most of the books don't have anyway), it's probably worth a trip up to either Columbia (southest of Baltimore and closer to you) or Towson (north of Baltimore) to look at their selection. They have a nice selection of books that make nice gifts as well.

I once gave a coffee book and a Starbucks gift card to a friend of mine as a birthday gift. She thought that was great. If Daedalus would be closer to where I live, I'd be there more often. As it is, I'm usually at the Friends of the Library bookstore at least every week or two (where trade paperbacks usually cost $2).

Have you ever heard of Yesterday's Rose thrift shop (near to you in Virginia)? Thay have a fabulous bag sale (I only buy books there) once a month in which you can buy a bag of books for only $5. You need to check their calendar in May to see when the next book sale will be held. They even provide the grocery bag. They have many books that are just so-so, but for $5, you can surely find some books you'd want to read. Their selection of books is surprisingly large for a thrift store.

>67 SqueakyChu:, I have never heard of it, but I am rushing to check it out (online only, my car is away...) right now. Thanks for the tip-off! This could prove very dangerous.

I verify that it's dangerous. I sometimes come down to get bags of books for Bookcrossing. The next sale day will not be until May. The calendar that's posted now is only for April, so check back when they post the next calendar.

27. Among Other Things, I've Taken Up Smoking - Aoibheann Sweeney



Here's another book I chose because of an interesting-looking cover. You have to admit it's really cool! That says a lot about cover art. Fortunately, it also turned out to be a good story. It's of a young girl who lives on a tiny island in Maine with her father, a former New Yorker, who is writing a new translation of Ovid's Metamorphosis. The girl's mother is no longer alive. The girl's father is stern and preoccupied, making the girl's life rather lonely despite the interest a fisherman takes in seeing that she gets to school off the island.

This is a book about loneliness, alienation, sexual choices, and parent-child relationships. There were a few things I liked a bit less about this book, but on the whole, I found its mood of melancholy just carried me along so that, by the time I finished it, I thought it had been a most enjoyable read.

Rating - 3.5 stars

As soon as I started reading your review, I thought I've read this book, but I was confused because I knew I had never seen that cover before. It's definitely more dramatic and memorable than the original one on the paperback I bought only last year. The book felt a little bit like two stories in one, but it came together well enough in the end as I remember. I liked it OK, but it wasn't particularly memorable. I think it will be appreciated more by readers who may be going through some of the same choices.

I thought Among Other Things, I've Taken Up Smoking was an out-of-the way book that I was surprised to find in your library (as most of my books do, it seems!)

I liked the first part of the book (the part where Miranda was living with her father in Maine) far better than I liked the part where she was living in New York. I found the characters of Robert and Walter (the two who provided her a place to live) particularly annoying.

Come to think of it, I didn't like any of the characters except for Miranda and her father. To me, the author could have written the book about just those two characters on the island on which they lived, and that would have been fine. I like the way Miranda was described. To me, she was a very interesting character. I put my full review here. I probably should start posting links to my reviews here as well.

Now I'm reading Post Office by Charles Bukowski.

*runs off singing "I've got a book that you don't have..."* :)

I liked the first part of the book (the part where Miranda was living with her father in Maine) far better than I liked the part where she was living in New York. I found the characters of Robert and Walter (the two who provided her a place to live) particularly annoying. I know! Maybe if this book had been written 25 years ago, but I didn't get what the big deal was about those characters or the second half of the book. I liked the first part of the book as well, plus Possible Spoiler Alertthe resolution between father and friend which was obvious to me from early on.

LOL! Always happy to be associated with you and your library. I'll have to go check out Post Office. *skips off singing "I'm going on a 'bonnie-run,' tra-la-la-la..."* :-))

Yeah! Let's rewrite that book and leave out the whole New York city part.

SPOILER AHEAD! I'd get rid of all the other characters, somehow have her find out the truth about her dad in a different way, then let her come home to love and appreciate him. We could create other characters of our own. I also wanted to know more about Mr. Blackwell, the fisherman, as well as Arthur, the founder of the institute. There were so many more parts of that novel to be explored. *Sigh*

*skips off singing "I'm going on a 'bonnie-run,' tra-la-la-la..."*

LOL!

28. Frida's Bed - Slavenka Drakulic



I found this book in the library. Although I really should be getting through my household TBR list, I couldn't resist this book. I find the life of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo fascinating in all of its bizarreness. This book stands out in that it uses descriptions of the artist's paintings themselves to illustrate (so to speak) parts of Kahlo's life. I had great fun, at intervals, running to my computer and looking up each picture. My full review is here.

Rating - 4

29. Bird by Bird - Ann Lamott



I enjoyed this book so much. It is laugh out loud funny and has great general advice for beginning or returning writers. The book makes no bones about the fact that most of what is written is not good enough to be published, but it does suggest that everyone who wants to write should be encouraged to do so. My full review is here.

Rating - 4 stars

---------------------------------

Here's a great post script to this book. I have a friend (a physical therapist) at work who has been dabbling at writing for a few years. She's just an amateur, but I find her writing beautiful. She had submitted some essays (about Jewish themes) to magazines and newspapers and had a few published. She even won an essay contest and got a free trip to Israel. Recently she told me one of her essays was chosen to be published in a book. I got a hardback copy of the book and brought it in to work for her to sign. She was so thrilled. We had some good laughs over that but I'm so proud of what she has done. I am in awe of writers in general.

On another note, a Bookcrossing friend from Virginia (who is actually a published author) told me that her son got a letter to President Obama published in a new Random House book. I'm going to get that book and have her son autograph it as well.

My literary talent? Well, once I had two sentences published on the *back* of a book (a marketing device). I guess I can rightfully be called a blurber. Come to think of it, I'm now going to put my name down as a blurber for that book.

*runs off to do that*

I remember Bird by Bird being such a good book--I wonder what writers think about it?

You are very quick on the draw! I never even got to post my description yet. Ha!! :D

#76: I enjoyed Bird by Bird when I read it several years ago. Glad you enjoyed it as well. Lamott has a very good sense of humor.

>75 SqueakyChu: If the story of this exceptional woman intrigued you, you will like Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera, a book I enjoyed very much. Her life story has more drama and spectacle than any novel can possibly conjure up.

The movie Frida (2002) with Salma Hayek in the lead role was well-done and is an accurate chronicle of her life. You might want to check that out, too.

I've read 4 of Drakulic's books, but not the above. If you like her writing based on true-to-life stories, I strongly recommend S. (or As If I'm Not There as it has been published for US market), a deeply disturbing novel about Muslim women who were raped during the Balkan wars in the 1990s. It's Drakulic's acknowledged best work.

wow, Squeaky.. a real "blurber"...how cool is that?!?!

What is the book?

what do you know - a blurber among us! Congratulations! :)

Not just a "blurber" but a "Rockville Maryland Blurber," a rare but beautiful "bird!" :-)

Love that cover on Bird-By-Bird! That, and your review, makes me want to read the book again! **flies off, all a twitter**

Bird by Bird was excellent! I agree with all of you...:)

--> 80

Thanks for the recommendation, deebee1. I'll look for that book about Frida Kahlo.

I've already seen the movie Frida which was very good.

I was reading Frida's Bed in part also to check out the writing of Slavenka Drakulic because I do have another book of hers (yet unread) here at home. It's not the book you mentioned though. I'll keep the one you recommended in mind as well.

--> 81

The book is Teach Yourself Visually HTML by Ruth Maran.

Yeah. I was very excited when I realized that my only two published sentences (ever!) made me into an LT blurber. :)

OH-MY-GOSH! I have that book! As soon as I go home, I'm going to rush to read the back cover. And maybe I should read the book too?! ;-)

Does that mean I'm famous?!!!!!!!!!!! :O

Hola SqueakyChu

I've found you here at the 75! Nice to see you again. lol

I've added two more books to the TBR list while reading through your thread.

I think it means you are famous! I might have to buy the book, because your thoughts are on it! That must have been seriously exciting....

--> 89

Hehe! Now that I'm here, I'm seriously doubting if I'll finish 75 books. Anyway, I'd better not be jumpin' all over the place, or I won't even be able to find my own posts! :)

Which books did you add?

--> 90

It was really fun to be asked. I had to sign a faxed contract to the publisher for those two sentences.

It's actually a wonderful (and easy-to-use) book which I still frequently use as a reference. I really think it's the easiest book to use in learning HTML.

I added The Tennis Partner and Frida's Bed. I've been seeing a lot of posts about Verghese books around LT and I'm interested in learning more about Frida Kahlo. I read a book a couple of years ago that she was a side character in. I can't remember the name anymore.

I'm sure I'll consider jumping to the 75 Challenge next year. I read more threads in here. I'd have to make it a half challenge for me: 37.5 books.

-->93 chrine:, Or you could share a challenge, like sharing a dessert! ;-)

--> 93

You'll like both of those books. Glad you're looking for them. I'm also going to be reading more books by Verghese and Drakulic.

Come on over now. I defected from the 50-ers midstream. Do the Half Challenge as you described. It sounds original and fun to me! I miss some of the 50-ers people but thought more people I did know were doing the 75 books challenge.

--> 94

Bonnie! What a brilliant idea!! Two (or more) people sign up for a challenge and do it together. ...or even a team challenge (e.g. The Mason-Dixon Challenge, The East Coast-West Coast Challenge, etc.).

Come on over now. I defected from the 50-ers midstream.

Squeaky-Madeline-Chu! I hope you felt the same chill/dread you felt whenever your mom addressed you with your full name! You can not have her! We 50-ers are holding on tight! Chrine, you look so nice today...Would you like some more tea?

Actually, that does sound fun, doesn't it? I like the idea of a dialogue within the thread, and then your friends stopping by to join the discussion. Hmmm...

--> 93

chrine, grab Bonnie and pull her along. Dont...I repeat...DON"T let go until you get here!!

--> 94 I could share a 75 Challenge with someone, if I had any takers. I don't know how sharing a thread would work though. Or if we'd each keep our own threads and name them with both our names. We could have individual tickers and a combined books ticker. It could work.

--> 95 The Half Challenge sounds tempting to me too. I've read 14 books of my 50 so I could make 37.5. I'd feel bad abandoning the poor 50 Book Challenge though.

--> 96 Bonnie is in Seattle and I'm in Charleston so we'd be an East-West Challenge if we shared. But we could not share! Bonnie has already completed her 50 Books! Which means...

-->99 SqueakyChu: Bonnie is herself ready to come to the 75 Challenge since she is on her way to 75 already.

Bonnie ~~ You know you want to go over to the dark side! =)

squeaky.. I di go to look at the book on Amazon..
I have been trying to learn a bit of HTML for a long time..
I manage the absolute minimal bit.. and so I think I would benefit from the book.. and easy is good.. lol I need easy!
eta
I clicked the button that will send it on its way to me :)

:)

--> 100

Bonnie ~~ You know you want to go over to the dark side! =)

LOL!

--> 101

OMG! My marketing blurb worked!! That's hilarious.

You'll love the book, though. After you get started with it, tell me what you think of it. I always recommend it for people who want to learn HTML easily.

If it seems too complicated at first, just use the index to take you to the page for which you want to learn to do just one thing.

I now just use the book as a reference since I no longer work on web pages. It does help to have a web page on which to practice. We have a small business website which I set up after my son started it and left it incomplete. I had to learn to do it to get that website up and running. Alternatively, I could have paid someone else to do it. I didn't really care to do that so I taught myself how to do it with this book. At that time,I had to keep looking in my daughter's room to see where my book went. She was teaching herself how to build a website at that same exact time and kept on taking my book. :(

The LT rating for this book is 4.5. Of course, one of those "5" rating is mine. :)

#100: Chrine, I would be willing to share some of my reads with you, if you decide to come over to 'the dark side.'

Squeak, you need to write the publisher....
maybe you can become a regular..

Now that I know you are a "pro" I might have to ask you for advice if I get stuck.. lol

I doubt I will ever get beyond the very basics.. but I actually had another HTML book on my list... just never got it.. always chose other things.. so now I have a personal reference and how could I not click buy with one click?

lol

Squeak, you need to write the publisher....
maybe you can become a regular..

Except that was the very last HTML book I needed. It had what I needed to know and I chose not to progress any farther.

More recently, websites are more complicated so that individuals who do not know HTML either choose to learn it more comprehensively or choose a paid web site designer.

I'm certainly not a pro. That's why I keep the book handy...to look up what I forget!

More recently, websites are more complicated so that individuals who do not know HTML either choose to learn it more comprehensively or choose a paid web site designer.

or you can just build one with Blogger or Wordpress, or other such sites that have it all coded already - like in an e-mail - and you just have to click on "I" to make italics, you don't have to introduce any kind of code. :)

Hey to all the 50-ers hanging out on this thread - don't sweat the numbers, no one here really cares about reaching 75 books! It is just about chatting and sharing great reads, so join if you like - the more, the merrier!

Darn it, Madeline! I had a different "Teach Yourself Visually" Book. :-(

#107, thanks for the references to web-building sites.

I do like the name Madeline :)

--> 107

That's true, gug. I left that out the fact that you can use programs that build web sites as well.

--> 108

Well, you could actually join both groups ... and perhaps win one challenge while failing a second one. :D

--> 109

I found that there were several versions of that book. All were not written by the same author, either. Weird!

--> 110

I never liked the name Madeline until I got a bit older. Now I like it because it's a bit different. It doesn't have good nicknames, though. I never liked Maddy, but for a while I used to go by Madd (with the double "d"s).

--> 116

I used to love that book when I was little. Too many years ago...

alcottacre ~~ I read your thread. I know how many books you read! lol How kind of you to offer to share though.

Cait ~~ Thanks!

SqueakyChu ~~ I love the name Madeline too. I've now been on LT long enough that I'm starting to pick up people's names. For example, bonniebooks' name is Bonnie.

-->113 SqueakyChu: I have no problem not finishing the challenge. I probably wouldn't finish the 50 Book Challenge either. I might, just might, finish a Half Challenge.

I'm currently in slightly past the middle of a somewhat long 500 page books so I can be indecisive for a few more days.

I just had a 100 book challenge go very much awry. I'll tell you about it in a minute, but my point (and the bottom line) is that the challenges (to me anyway) are much more in the doing and not necessarily so much in the finishing. There is nothing to win. This is not a pass-fail examination. It's just to see how close you can come or if you can make it and perhaps have some wonderful conversations with fellow LTers in the meantime.

Anyway, I'd been doing a book collection which I had called the Aspenwood 100 Challenge. Aspenwood is an assisted living facility in Silver Spring, Maryland. I'd been working with their librarian in an effort to replace older books in poor condition with newer hardbacks, some in large type. Most of the newer books I obtained either free or at low cost. I'd reached 85% of my goal (had replaced 85 books of my goal of 100) when I learned that the librarian of the facility had suddenly passed away. She was so dear, and I was very sad to learn that news. I've been in touch with the new person who's taking over the library. He says there's no room now for more newer books. Bottom line: end of my challenge. A loss? Hardly. There are 85 books in the Aspenwood Library that were not there last year that current residents are (hopefully) reading and enjoying.

Aww, Madeline, that's so sad to hear. But you did a lovely thing donating all those books.

#118: What chrine said!

what a bittersweet story!

Oh my... how sad Madeline :(

But as you say, not a failure, and what a wonderful thing to do!

All of the books I donated to the "Aspenwood 100" were registered at Bookcrossing. So who knows? Perhaps one day I'll hear back from the books themselves - although maybe not.

The librarian was great. She and I used to mull over the books I brought - she trying to decide which books to take and I trying to convince her which ones were good. She also kept on trying to figure out why I was doing this. It had been a sudden thought on my part after seeing the content of their library and having access to so many books myself. In all, it had been a win-win situation. Fun for me; books for them.

The library at Aspenwood...
The books are along the opposite wall, not pictured.

That must have felt so good to know that you're putting some good books into the residents' and their visitors' hands. I felt so sad to hear that the new person in charge thought there was no more room for new books! I bet he isn't a reader! This reminds me of my son's first grade teacher. There were literally NO books in his classroom, beyond a few old 'readers' that he had inherited from the previous teacher that were kept stored in an out-of-the-way corner. A fellow parent and I brought in hundreds of new books every few weeks, using our own library cards, but then we got totally out of control. We completely rearranged his classroom over Christmas break-- with his permission, but he was stunned. But the truly horrible climax to this story is that a couple of years later this teacher who couldn't be bothered to make sure he had books in his own classroom became the school librarian! "Oh, the humanity!" :-((

Oh, no! The librarian?! That's terrible.

I can so see myself doing just what you did. That's how I got involved with a charitable organization a few years ago. I thought their bookshelves looked messy so I volunteered to come each week to unpack book donations and arrange them nicely on their bookshelves. That ended when the charity decided to stop taking books. I decided at that time to move on to something else. Who knows what I'll find to do next?

Luckily, Aspenwood's loss is going to be someone else's gain!

Most likely they will be given away for free at the next fair our Bookcrossing group does. I don't ever wild release hardback books.

30. Joy Comes in the Morning - Jonathan Rosen



I feel like such a traitor. This is a book that turned out to be about the imperfections of a female Reform rabbi. I have no problems with an imperfect person. I just don't like books with annoying characters. The odd thing is that the book begins with an elderly man who is a most intersting character. By the end of the first few chapters, he became basically a non-entity in this story, and I was stuck for the rest of the book (a thickish trade paperback in small print) with two characters I disliked immensely.

I don't get it. Everyone else seems to have loved this book. I feel particularly bad becasue the author of this book is the editorial director of Nextbook, a prestigious Jewish literary association. My full review is here. *Sigh*

Rating - 2 stars

Congratulations on your outreach and the wonderful thing you did in helping the folk at Aspenwood!

Aw! Thank you, Whisper1, but, as the old saying goes, "The pleasure was mine". I had so much fun with it and am so sorry it's no longer happening.

31. What the Deaf-Mute Heard - G.D. Gearino



I found this book in a used bookstore (Book Bank) in Alexandria, Vriginia. I was intrigued by the title, and, after just a few minutes of browsing it pages, the book captured my attention. The author G.D. Gearino took me back in time to 1940. He told the story of Sammy Ayers, a child abandoned in Barrington, Georgia, on an intercity bus and found by stationmaster Jenkins who then kept and raised him. When found, the child seemed neither able to talk nor hear, and soon people came to accept this of him. Two of the most colorful characters who had a large impact on Sammy' s life were a black man who befriended him and a preacher who had a history of taunting him. It was interesting to watch the story of these characters develop within the context of time and place. Very good story-telling!

Here's my full review

Rating -- 4 stars

#132: I saw the Hallmark production of this book several years ago, but never read the book. I will have to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation, Madeline.

wow... that looks good... really good!

After reading this book, I was surprised to learn that it had been made into a made-for-TV movie. I didn't think the author was that well known. I discovered that he has written two other books. I'll be looking around for those now.

When I read a book like this one with such vivid characters, I almost hate to see it made into a film because I like the way my imagination casts the characters better.

I saw that movie too. I spent a couple years learning ASL, so I'm always interested in reading about deaf experiences.

Because I am hard of hearing, it probably would not be a bad idea for me to learn ASL myself.

32. My Latest Grievance - Elinor Lipman



This is the first book I've ever read by this prolific author, and it has has turned out to be a resounding success. I'm often not amused by supposedly humorous writing, but My Latest Grievance is utterly hilarious. Much of the charm of this novel also goes to the BBC Audiobook narrator Mia Barron who does each character's voice perfectly in harmony with their individual personalities. The funniest character of the book is clueless Laura Lee French who comes to Dewing College for a job as a housemother but seems to intrude in the lives of others in a most adverse way. Her ex-husband David Hatch, David's current wife Aviva, and their sixteen-year-old daughter Fredericka play interference in an attempt to lessen the ruckus caused by Miss French. The author's very tight and smart writing makes this book superb and a delight to read.

Rating - 4.5 stars

Oh, Squeakychu! You're in trouble now. ;-) If you liked that one, you're going to be head-over-hills in love with Inn at Lake Devine!

Should I read the book ... or try to get the CD? The audio on My Latest Grievance was *amazingly* well done. I'm guessing you've already read it. You've just *got* to hear the voice that the narrator does for Laura Lee French. OMG, was it ever that character!!

ETA: I just found it on BookMooch and mooched it!

I recommend Lipman's Then She Found Me as well. I am adding My Latest Grievance to the Continent.

Oh, the hours I spent learning ASL! I was going to be an interpreter, and I was doing well, but decided to become a teacher instead.

Re: listening to an audio of Lipman's books, I don't know, because I like to read my books--mostly to control the pace and also because I get more absorbed in the book. I would imagine that all her books would be great fun to listen to. Did you see the one that was made into a movie? The one with Bette Midler? (Is that how you spell her name?) By the way, I was thinking about you today as I was reading The Yiddish Policemen's Union. I'm really enjoying it, but there are times when I could use a translator! ;-)

That was the one that was made into a movie, alcottacre! Did you see it?

No, I did not. I read the book long before the movie was made.

--> 142

I've never known anything about Elinor Lipman or her work before. This was an entirely new discovery for me. I've avoided her books prior to now thinking they were a form of chick lit. I guess it was my prejudice against the book titles and the cover art.

Lipman's writing is so good. The humor is smart rather than slapstick. I really did enjoy the book so much. The writing reminded me of that of Marisha Pessl in Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Have you read that book? That's a book that no one feels neutral about. Either you love it or hate it. I loved it.

Just post the Yiddish you need. I'll do the translation. Alternatively, you can probably find a good Yiddish-English glossary online. Hehe! I used a Scottish-English online glossary when I was reading Trainspotting by Irvine Welch. Come to think of it, I even needed an English-English dictionary back when a made a short trip to London. :D

I really liked Special Topics--so much so that I recommended it for my book group. I loved all the literary and popular references/asides. I'm not as smart, witty, or well-read as the main character, but my brain works like that, so her way of talking and thinking sounded extremely smart, but normal to me.

Yeah. That's the way Fredericka sounded to me as well in My Latest Grievance. They could have been friends had they not been in different books. :)

LOL! I LIKE that idea of characters from two different books becoming friends. BTW, I really liked the main character, Meyer Landsman, in The Yiddish Policemen's Union even though I normally have no patience for main characters who are down and out alcoholics. It was a good book, the kind that you can read, and enjoy, again even though you know the ending.

I can't believe it! You have a book that I don't have. :)

I'll have to look for The Yiddish Policemen's Union as it was also recommended by a friend of mine.

#148 & 149 That was such a cool read and not just because it was set in Alaska!

Okay, you two. It's now on my wishlist.

#150
If you like books set in Alaska, have a look at Tide, Feather, Snow and Not One Drop. I loved both of them!

I just picked up The Yiddish Policemen's Union in audio. Do you think that the story will work OK in audio? I haven't started it yet, I just hope the narrator can pronounce Yiddish words correctly.

I also read my first Elinor Lipman this year and also enjoyed it quite a lot! Glad to see you had the same experience!

I received the html book...it is a beautiful book.
There are great color pictures in there..

I wonder if I will learn anything, or if my brain cells are too old and feeble to pick it up?

only two blurbs on back.. the one that must be yours is cute.. lol

--> 154

Which one did you read?

I already mooched The Inn at Lake Devine. I want to know if I should get another Lipman book as well. It's always fun to try to read what others here are reading, at least within a reasonable time period.

--> 155

Well, since the second one was by a man (Steve), the first one (Rockville, Maryland) was mine! :D

I'm still laughing. I guess my "marketing" blurb worked!!!

If there's anything with which I can help you, let me know. I don't do web pages much anymore, but I can always ask my daughter for advice. No kidding! She's now 22 years old and graduated from college this past December. I can't believe that book was published nine years ago. Time flies...

I'm getting sooooo tired of trying to read books that don't keep my interest. I've tossed two of them within the last week.

The first was The Crime of Writing by Haim Lapid. I jus could not understand where this bookw as going. I don't like to "work" at reading a book. Reading is for pleasure! This was disappointing to me because the author is Isaeli. I was excited about finding an Israeli novel in my used book store. Oh, well.

The second book was Post Office by Charles Bukowski, one of the "beat" authors of the 70's. I started reading it in honor of kidzdoc who was recently in City Lights Book Store in San Francisco. I'd never read anything by Charles Bukowski before and was glad to start it. Then I got sidetracked into other more interesting books. Now I don't want to finish it. I'll probably keep it and read it another time.

I was thinking. It seems that the writing of the "beats" from the 70's is no longer the avante-garde writing it used to be. Some of it seems rather stale now that the field of writing and the topics in it are so wide open. Any thoughts on this?

>156 SqueakyChu:, Isabelle's Bed was my favorite for a long time, but it was also the first Lipman--and it's story line was a bit more similar to mine.

Edited to make it clear that it was my first, not the first...

-->159 bonniebooks:

Okay, I'm gonna go grab that one. I saw it on BookMooch. See ya later...

*runs off to mooch*

33. Secret Son - Laila Lalami



Uh oh! I see that everyone else has given this book a lower rating than I have. However, I did enjoy the experience of reading this book. This is an Early Reviewer book about a Moroccan university student who lives with his mother in a very poor neighbood in Casablanca. He wants to know more about what happened to his father and fantasizes a better life for himself. There were some parts of the story in which I said to myself, "Whoa! How did that happen? And so fast?", at the time thinking that I must have missed something as the action took quite a broad jump forward. I think that this was perhaps just the author's style of not going into too much detail regarding the development of each character and just letting the story move along rather quickly.

I much enjoyed the local color which made me feel as if I were in an exotic setting, even hearing Arabic and French spoken. It might have been better had I understood more of those two languages. For this reason, I think a glossary at the end of the book would have helped. This was a good story, though, which kept me interested through the end. Would I read another book by the same author? I would. I hope that her future books will also be set in Morocco, a novel setting for my reads (pun intended!).

full review

Rating - 4 stars

34. Counting Coup - G.D. Gearino



Don't let the odd cover art fool you. The worst thing about this book is, now that I've read it, I don't have any more of his books here at home to read. :( What a good author! I liked this book even better than his previous one (See post #132 above).

Counting Coup takes place in the grit of the South and deals with a newspaper journalist whose family is a bit off, but who takes pride in his way with words. Unfortunately, while at work for a newspaper, he chooses to lightly pass off a call from a woman pleading for help from an abusive husband. This incident has unforseen and negative consequences on his future. Here's my full review.

Rating - 4 1/2 stars

155: I'm a little late in replying but the one I read by Lipman is called The Way Men Act...it was pretty entertaining and very easy to read - I quite enjoyed it!

Just dropping by to say that I'm currently reading a book you might find interesting The Wind of the Khazars by Marek Halter. I'll finish it this evening and will post comments on my thread.

#162: I am adding both of Gearino's books to the Continent. Thanks for the recommendations, Madeline.

--> 163

I'll look for The Way Men Act. Thanks for the suggestion, gug.

-->164 avatiakh:

I'm not all that into historical fiction, but The Wind of the Khazars looks interesting. I'll wait to hear your comments before I start looking for that book, though.

--> 165

Stasia, if you get a chance to read any book by G.D. Gearino, come back quickly and tell me what you think. Not many people on LT have his books, but I was intrigued by this author's writing. Gearino's story-telling style is similar to that of Pete Dexter and Steve Yarbrough. I don't usually like reading books about the American south, but some writers do such a good job of story-telling that I am captivated. Gearino is such an author.

Wow, Madeline! LT says with great certainty that I have zero chance of liking Counting Coup. That's weird because I like Pete Dexter and your review makes it sound good too. I'll have to give it a try just to be perverse--take that LT! :-)

Hmm. It says I will probably like Counting Coup. I liked it very much, so I think you'll like it as well. I'm still looking for this author's other two books. I'm sure I'll like those as well.

Hey squeaky... I am late getting back here.. I have been away.
Thanks for the offer. I will remember it :)

Secret Sonsounded familiar, but I don't see it on my shelves. I do have it somewhere, just unread. One of these days, I imagine I will run across it...

Hi Squeaky Chu, I started reading Frida's Bed last night, which is wonderful so far. Fortunately I gave my mother a copy of the catalogue from the Kahlo exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera, which has plates of the works mentioned in the book. I wish that I had knew about and read this book before I went to the Kahlo exhibit, but I'll certainly read the catalogue/biography either this week, or after I return to Atlanta later this month (as I also have a copy at home). I'll submit a review later today or tomorrow.

Actually, I think it's cool any way you do it. Now that you're familiar with the paintings, when you go back to see them again online as you read this book, they'll look familiar. Each time you see the paintings in the future, you'll be able to find more and more things in them. It's a multimedia experience!!

I just finished reading and reviewing Frida's Bed, which I loved (4-1/2 stars). I definitely agree that it was better to see the exhibit and then read Frida's Bed, so it worked out perfectly. Thanks again for recommending this book!

35. The Soloist - Mark Salzman



I found this book so sad. It's the story Renne Sundenheim, a child musical prodigy who loved playing the cello but was forced into an abnormal childhood by parents, mostly his mom, who pushed him to avoid children his age and learn cello by practicing 6 hours a day and studying with a known German cellist. As an adult, Renne no longer is able to perform because he loses his ability to distinguish the pitch of his sounds. Therefore he becomes a music teacher. This music teacher receives a summons to court and suddenly finds himself as a juror on a murder trial. We see how his personality and his music affect his thoughts throughout and after the trial.

I thought this was a slow-moving but intense and beautiful story. Here is my full review.

Rating - 4.5 stars

So, Madeline, which of my books are you going to read next?! ;-)

#173: Another good one for me to look for! Thanks for the review and recommendation, Madeline.

--> 174

Uh! Oh! You shouldn't have asked that question! Nowe I'm going to look at your "To Read" list before choosing books!! ;)

In the meantime, now it's a book you probably don't have as it's Tongue: A Novel which is an Early Reviewer book I just received this past week.

--> 7

You still have more room on your "To Read" pile?! That's hard to believe. :)

--> 176

Another first! I've never had red abuse flags on any of my threads before...

#179: Trust me, you did not miss anything by having the comment flagged and deleted.

36. Tongue: A Novel by Kyung-Ran Jo



Here's my review of this Early Reviewer book. This is the the author's first book published in English. It became an immediate bestseller when it first came out in South Korea.

Oh, my! That’s what I have to say after reading Kyung-Ran Jo’s first novel to be translated from Korean into English. I’m ready for more. This is the story of a young woman who thinks her life is perfect. She and her boyfriend are living together. He’s an architect; she’s a cooking instructor. Their new home, which he designed, is also the home of her cooking school. Only one problem. He leaves her, but she does not want to let him go. He leaves his dog with her, though.

Several words of warning here. Don’t read this book if you are sensitive to cruelty to animals. Don’t read this book if a preponderance of food and cooking terms and descriptions would bog you down. I happen to like to read about food so this novel was right up my alley. The blurb on the book compares the author’s writing to that of Haruki Murakami. I don’t think that is the case. The author seems more like a cross between the two female Japanese authors, Banana Yoshimoto and Natsuo Kirino.

There is something very appealing about this story. It’s great psychological drama which dissects the thoughts and feelings of the loser in a broken love relationship. There is also a feeling that something sinister will happen, but it’s not until the very end that all becomes clear. The only thing I'll say is that I’ve never quite read such an ending as the one presented to me by this novel.

Rating - 4 stars

I’ve never quite read such an ending as the one presented to me by this novel.

Oooh! Intriguing!

...and that's all I'll tell you. :D

#181 - "Tongue" sounds fascinating. You have genuinely piqued my interest. Thank you :)

#181 diito for me, your review has hooked me in plus I love Korean food so thats a bonus.

Can't wait for all of you to read this book and talk to me about it! It will be published at the end of June.

Pass the kimchee, please?

P.S. Isn't the cover art of this book attention-grabbing?! (...which is what I don't like about Kindles. No cover art.)

Ooh...can't resist, must add to Wish List...

LOL! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on *this* book, kidzdoc. It's different. :)

BTW, Daryl, your name popped up into the top ten people (you're #7) with libraries which most closely match my own. Do you think it's because we keep reading each other's new discoveries? :) You passed bonniebooks, who just dropped to #10. When I did "weighted", I found kiwidoc as #8. I didn't recognize any names from "recent', perhaps because those are all newbies.

I think that may be part of the reason, SqueakyChu, but I think it's also because we have similar interests in books. Let's see...oddly enough, your library isn't even on my list! That's weird. CityLightsBooks is #1, which isn't a surprise. Christopher (cwc790411) from Club Read (#5), lriley (#16) and kiwidoc (#17) are the only friends who are in my top 25, which is also surprising, as I would have thought that akeela, rebeccanyc, FlossieT, and you would have been much higher on my list.

I'm not sure when I'll get to Tongue: A Novel; I've acquired a TON of books over the past couple of months!

I'm not on bonniebooks' list either so obviously the algorithm doesn't figure out the stats both ways. I always think it's fun, though, when there are names I recognize there, particularly since LT has over 700,00 members!

Would anyone like to mooch Tongue: A Novel from me via BookMooch? If so, please let me know, and I'll post it and reserve it for you.

Boo hoo! I don't like dropping down in popularity, Madeline, but kidzdoc is a deserving opponent for sure! He's probably on everyone's list as he's reading and reviewing so many good books--who could possibly keep up? I'll bow gracefully out of that race! :-)

Regarding Tongue: How about a direct trade? I've gotta have some books you want! I'm going to add a category into my "collections" that includes books I'm willing to trade. Look for it in a couple of days.

--> 192

The numbers keep changing from day to day. I don't really understand that algorithm. Today you're #6 and kidzdoc is #10.

I'll just send Tongue: A Novel to you. No need for a trade. I've got other books I'll list on BookMooch. Send me your mailing address on a private message.

Why not join BookMooch? It's an easy way to trade, plus if wishlist books come up, you get an email and an option to mooch them. All it costs is postage. To join the site is free. Tim Spalding is a big supporter of Bookmooch.

Bonnie, a request...

Perhaps in lieu of a trade you could send Tongue: a novel on to bookoholic13 when you're done reading it. That LT member lives in California so it would only be US shipping via media mail. I'd much appreciate it. You'll need to get that mailing address directly from bookaholic13.

Madeline, I just added my cookbooks to my library so maybe that's the reason for the change? Thanks for just offering to just send me Tongue--you're so sweet! You can send it to bookaholic13 if she really wants it too. I've got a ton of books to read anyway. What's US shipping via media mail? I'm going to have to look that up. Is it a lot cheaper?

I thought about BookMooch, but then someone was complaining about waiting for over 6 mos. for a book that had been supposedly sent to her and the rules about that just sounded potentially disappointing. Plus, it brought up memories of when I was a member of a babysitting club where we got points for babysitting and guess who got left with a lot of worthless points when the club fell apart?

I do have lots of cookbooks. That might be it indeed.

To ship Tongue: A Novel to biblioholic13 would cost less than $3.00. The rule is simply no enclosures other than a packing slip, and it has to be a book. That's it. If it weighs less than 14 ounces, you can drop it in any mailbox. You must label the outside of the package media mail.

I can ship the G.D. Gearino book and Tongue: a Novel to you at the same time. I just got back from a BookCrossing Meet-Up. I also stopped at the used bookstore on the way home. I'm truly at no loss for things to read. :)

After the Meet-up we went for a walk. This was in Bethesda, Maryland.



Pictured BC in DC members: SqueakyChu, crrcookie, KateKinTail, melydia

BookMooch is fine. If a person takes too long to send a book, you have the option to cancel at any time. I've done that a couple of time with no problems.

I did babysitting club, too. I still have some great friends from back in those days. I really can't remember problems with points then, nor have I had problems with points on BookMooch. All in all, I think BookMooch s a very fair system. The only issue that I have is that often I can't find books to mooch that I like. That's okay, though. I just wait until something interesting shows up.

37. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegetable Gardening - Daria Brown Bowman



I don't have too much to say about this book. I took it out of the library because it was a new vegetable gardening book. It seemed too sketchy, giving too little information about too many topics. There are much better vegetable gardening books out there for the new gardener.

I tossed aside French Lessons by Alice Kaplan. Halfway through the book I realized that I had gotten nothing out of it so I just posted it on BookMooch to move it out of my library.

I hope your next read is better for you Madeline. Sounds like you have had a couple of duds in a row.

Too bad about the Vegetable Gardening book. I thought it would be highly appropriate for me.

I should be good now. I won the Early Reviewer book Olive Kitteridge from the May Bonus Batch and am really enjoying it so far.

I read it last year and thought it very good. Happy reading!

I can't wait to hear your thought's on Olive Kitteridge, I read it a few months ago, and really wasn't all that thrilled. Slow and depressing, with not very many likable characters, but that's just one girls opinion. I mean it did win the Pulitzer so there must be something to it.

I'll also be waiting to hear your thoughts on Olive Kitteridge. I got it for my mom for Mother's Day and she just finished it and loaned it to me. She liked it - especially the chapters that focused more on Olive.

I'm about a quarter finished, and I do like it. I think Olive is a feisty, kind of funny character. She makes me laugh. I'm waiting to see if she softens up any throughout the rest of the book.

What I'm not sure about, though, is that all the chapters are about different people. I have such a hard time remembering characters that I get confused if a book introduces too many of them.

I like Strout's writing. I'd read Amy and Isabelle a while back and enjoyed that book.

--> 202

Susan, I usually dislike many books that win prizes, but I don't usually dislike Pulitzer prize winners. The Orange Prize is an especially bad one for me. Also, the National Book Award is not particuarly good for me.

It's a good thing I don't sit on the committees that choose prize winners. Those would become like a deadlocked juries with me on them. :)

So far, I'd rate this book as a 4 star (subject to change, of course).

--> 303

Just curious. What made you select Olive Kitteridge as a Mother's Day gift?

After Olive Kitteridge won the Pulitzer, my mom mentioned that she'd like to read it, so I got it for her for Mother's Day (along with The Girls from Ames and The Third Chapter). I didn't know much about it, but had read a few good reviews from LTers.

Yeah, everyone here seemed to like it a lot.

I was very excited to start reading it, as the 'Will I like it?' meter claimed -
LibraryThing thinks you will love Olive Kitteridge: Fiction (certainty: high), and the arrow was as far to the right as it goes. The highest I've had for any book. Maybe my expectations were too high. I mean, what could live up to that?

I think you might be right about me and Pulitzers, I'm hit and miss with them. I hated Confederacy of Dunces - I really do not get that book or why people love it. I could not see the fuss over Middlesex, it was meh. But Gilead and The Road I liked. Oh well.

I have a question. What exactly is BookCrossing? I have heard it mentioned before on other threads. Just curious. Thanks!! Happy Reading.

--> 208

Susan, I'm now halfway through Olive Kitteridge. It's still a solid 4 stars. It's not my favorite book, but it's fun to read. Again, its vast cast of characters is driving me nuts!!

Middlesex was meh for me, too. I loved The Road very, very much. Gilead is somewhere around my house. I haven't read it yet.

--> 209

BookCrossing is a book-tracking site. What BookCrossers do is register their books online with an ID number so that they can be tracked wherever they go.

Here's my BookCrossing profile.

Membership is free so check it out. There's a very active group in Audubon, Pennsylvania, that's coming down to Maryland to have joint Meet-Up with the DC area group in a week and a half. We're all going to meet at The Book Thing in Baltimore, then go out to lunch together. If you want to join us, Monica, just message me.

Okay. I have looked at that site before. I am leery of joining for some reason or I should say of parting with books. I am going to really look it over and think about joining. Nice profile Squeaky.

Only part with the book you don't like!! Keep the ones you do. :)

That is my problem I like most of the books I have read right now. The one book I don't like I don't even think I should share it with anyone else because it is horribly written. I will look into joining BookCrossing over the next couple of days. I may take the time to join this week end and then go from there.

I take it you don't belong to BookMooch either. That's even more dangerous. The more books you give away (that takes the cost of postage, though), the more books you get (free) in return.

I label my books with a BookCrossing label and then give them away either on BookMooch, to friends, or on LT as Member Giveaways. I can do this because I have literally hundreds of books in my house that I still have yet to read. For evry book I give away, I have that much more space in my house. :)

What's the book you don't like?

I have not joined BookMooch either. I have looked at that one too. I did join BookCrossing but I haven't done anything yet. I guess I will need to buy the membership to get started just not sure when that will be.

I only have over 500 books that I own and I am not ready to give away any of the books just yet. I may decide to get rid of books that I have duplicates of first.

The book I don't like is Peter Carrot Top in Search of the 8th Key by Yolanda Jackson (the touchstone does not work for that title.) The book was terribly written and the mistakes were atrocious. I just can't give that to any one because as some one else said after I let them look at it, 'That isn't even a book.' I have worked in our local school district and I felt like I was reading stuff written by kids in elementary school but worse. There are only 2 reviews and mine is the honest one.

Okay that is enough about that book.

For BookCrossing, you don't need to buy a membership. It's free.

I joined up with a paid membership because I do lots of stuff with my local BookCrossing group, and the paid membership gives me benefits when using the website.

For a new user, I think it's best to learn about BookCrossing as a free site first. If you find you like it, then you can always support the site at a later time when you know how it can benefit you.

--> 216

Yeah. You're right. I don't think anyone wants Peter Carrot Top! Well, the second review was written by the author, it seems. As a BookCrosser, though, you could register that book and wild release it in a public place for anyone else to pick up and read.

My first wild release was a book I hated. It was Last Orders by Graham Swift. I released it at a local shopping center, and it was picked up by another Bookcrosser who read the release alert (these are available by email to bookcrossers). That was back in 2004. Now, it's five years later, we're both members of the DC area BookCrossing club called BC in DC, and we get together in person from time to time at our book club meet-ups.

Here's the journal entry of that book:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1277001

florafloraflora still hasn't read it!!

I thought you had to buy the labels and stuff to be able to send the books or release the books in the wild or what ever way it is done. I did join with the free one for now. I am going to try and look around the site more to get my bearings on how to do things.

I may think about doing that with Peter Carrot Top. I don't really want it on my shelf and yet I don't want to destroy the book either.

Nah! You can make your own labels. I do.

Alternatively, you can find labels designed by others (Check out Bookcrossing, labels on Google).

Here's an example:
http://www.geocities.com/saffista/

Click on the link that says
Big labels with BCID spaces for the inside cover (3 1/3x4) (PDF)

Just remember to use clear packing tape to affix the label. It keeps the label clean, easy to read, and permanently in the book.

Here's an example of the one I designed and use:

--------------------------

(BookCrossing logo here)
Hello!
Thank you for picking up
this traveling book which was
originally registered
by SqueakyChu of Rockville,
Maryland, USA.

Visit www.bookcrossing.com
and enter the BCID number to
record you have this book:

__(BCID number goes here)__

It’s free, and you may remain
anonymous. Then read the book,
journal it, and pass it along
for someone else to enjoy!

---------------------------------

By the way, the labels that Bookcrossing sells are really nice and worth the money. I do buy those, but usually use them for very special books (like my bookrays, for example). My point is that Bookcrossing is a free site to join, and people should only be spending their money there after they know what it is they want and what it is they'll be getting out of it.

I am a "winged" member of BookCrossing. That means I pay a yearly fee to Bookcrossing. I do this voluntarily because I've found Bookcrossing and LibraryThing both to be my very favorites hobbies of the past few years, crazy bibliophile that I am. :)

This link will lead you to tons of labels:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/7/5547049/58

Wow I did not know that. Thanks for the link to the labels. I will print them when I get ink for my printer and then I may just see what books I have more then one of and set those free. I have never found a book with a label inside it. I will have to get out more then I have been. lol...

Thanks so much for all of your help and information about BookCrossing.

I have never found a book with a label inside it.

You may find this fun then. Sign up for Release Alerts in the area in which you live:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/releasealerts

Thanks for that link too. I added some places close to me and I will have to see what happens. Some books were released a few days and weeks ago. I will have to check these places out and see if I find any books from now on.

>186 SqueakyChu:, "(...which is what I don't like about Kindles. No cover art.)"

You know, I completely love my Kindle and wouldn't trade it for the world. I now prefer to read on that if the book is available in that format. BUT....I completely agree. I feel the loss of cover art acutely, especially when cataloging here. It is silly, but true.

How do you use your Kindle? Do read it at home? On the Metro train? Can you take it to the beach or not?

For my husband, it would be good because he could probably increase the contrast and type size. Is that possible? How much do they cost now? What made you decide to buy one?

I know. So many questions! :)

--> 226

I feel the loss of cover art acutely, especially when cataloging here. It is silly, but true.

I don't think the loss of cover art is silly at all. To me, it is as much a part of the book's identity (I read trade paperbacks) as the story itself. I very much dislike when publishers change a book's original cover art. I also truly despise when they put the movie characters (actors and actresses) on covers of books which have movie tie-ins.

Wow that is alot of questions. Good questions.

I figured out how to make my own labels for BC. I am going to pick up some labels at work that we aren't able to use with our printer and see if I can use them at home. I will let you know how I make out. Thanks again for all your help with BC!!

228 > I agree about the covers being changed because of a movie tie in. I sometimes feel that when I buy the book with the actors and actresses on it that I am not getting the original book.

>228 SqueakyChu: and 230 - I too hate movie-tie in covers and avoid them like the plague.

Re the Kindle itself:

I use it anywhere I remember to bring it, but mostly at home, since I am forced to drive to work (no metro access near my office). You can make it safe for the bathtub simply by slipping it into a ziploc bag - it is still really easy to turn the pages when its in the bag. The Kindle is not backlit - it is not like a computer screen - so it requires a booklight to read in the dark. However, that also means that it is really easy to read when it is sunny because you don't have glare/fading problems.

One of the best things for me about the Kindle is that it is really easy to mark portions of text and pull them onto the computer - just hook up the Kindle to any computer using the USB/power cable that comes with it - to use in reviews. So much easier than carrying around post-it notes, highlighters, etc.

You can increase the type size. I am not sure about increasing the contrast, since there is no internal light source. Right now there are two Kindles - one is a larger size that is supposedly better for reading newspaper and magazine subscriptions - I have the smaller one & have never tried to read a paper or magazine on it. Currently the small is about $350 and the larger is about $490.

I didn't actually decide to buy it - it was a gift from my dear boyfriend, who knows that I travel a lot and always agonize about my reading material. I usually end up bringing a full bag of books of various types and levels of difficulty, "just in case". Then I spend the whole time complaining about how heavy the crap is and usually I end up liking the first book I start reading on the trip and only read one. So he thought - wouldn't it be great if she could carry a ridiculous number of books with her and not worry about space and weight. I didn't actually think I would keep it when I first got it, but I fell in love with it and now prefer to read on it. I still buy a ton of paper books, since some of the more obscure things I read - especially a lot of Middle Eastern lit - is not on Kindle. But I love the instant gratification of Kindle - you can download books anywhere that you can get a cell phone connection. You can either buy through the website or through the device itself. Every ebook also has a free sample that you can download first, to see if you like it enough to keep reading. This hasn't completely prevented me from buying some clunkers, but it helps. Most of the books are around 9.99. Some are more, some are less. There are a ridiculous number of free books - mostly copyright-lapsed classics - on Amazon's site and a lot of users have started listmania lists of other free Kindle books. Also, you can put Project Gutenberg free ebooks onto the Kindle. So I really feel like I've saved a lot of $$ and space not buying lots of paperbacks of classics. Of course, if there is a specific edition or translation that I really want, I will still go for that over a free but random edition.

Some of the downsides include the fact that it is harder - if not totally impossible - to share the book or pass it along once you've finished it. Even within my own house, where my bf and I both have a Kindle, our Kindles are tied to separate Amazon accounts (part of my ridiculous insistence on keeping my Amazon recommendations as targeted to me as possible - we read really different things), so if there is a book that one of us buys and the other wants to read, we actually have to physically trade Kindles to accomplish that. (One of the many reasons I haven't gotten to White Tiger yet is that its sitting on the bf's Kindle and we're both in the middle of other books and don't want to give up our Kindles right now.) Also, I have lost a lot of my ability to pass along great books to friends and parents. Now I feel like kind of a jerk telling them - "I read this great book but I can't lend it to you because I only own it on Kindle...."

But I guess that is a small tradeoff - I do really wish Amazon would make it easier to link up Kindle accounts so that you could share with a person in the same household without putting both Kindles on the same Amazon account, but I am sure there are weird copyright issues or concerns.

So, now that I've finished sounding like a walking advert.... Hope all this info was helpful. I know there are other ereaders out there, but I know nothing about them. There is a thread in ClubRead 2009 specifically about ereaders though, if this has not sated your desire to hear about them! ;)

--> 229

I don't even bother with real labels. I just use regular printing paper, print four labels to a page, cut them out with a scissors that makes a fancy edge, and attach them to the inside of the book cover, attaching each label with clear packing tape. This turns out to be cheap, efficient, as attractive as I can make it, and extremely difficult to remove without damaging the book (exactly what I want). :)

232> I will have to try that too. I will try using a label template and just print it on regular paper and see what happens. Thanks.

--> 231

Wow! Thanks for sharing all of that information. It reminds me of when I pack for the beach. In my carry-on bag (which I put on the floor of our car), most of the room is taken up with books. Somehow, I think I would miss the real books if I didn't have them with me.

I'd never be able to Bookcross a book again if my books were on Kindle. Since I share most of my books, it doesn't sound like a good fit for me. I can see eventually getting one for my husband (I think after the prices come down a bit) because he likes large type books so much more than regular type books.

To got to work, I take the DC Metro from the Twinbrook station to Van Ness/UDC. It's a 20 minute ride and very pleasant witha book to read. I look around at all the other passengers. Mostly everyone is reading something! Either magazines, schoolwork, newspapers, Kindles or books. I *always* try to peek at the titles of books that are read by others. This week, I spied one man reading Smoke and Mirrors (good choice!) by Neil Gaiman. Of course, I have no idea what the Kindle owners are reading.

>234 SqueakyChu: - "Of course, I have no idea what the Kindle owners are reading."

It is funny that you mention that because that's actually one additional thing that I kind of dislike about the Kindle. I think it was the NY Times that did an article on this element of the Kindle - if everyone were reading from a Kindle, you would completely miss out on the sort of randomness of seeing someone in public reading your favorite book or an obscure book that you thought only you had heard of and that sense of recognition and friendliness that those sorts of "encounters" create.

In my own house, I now find that my bf and I are less aware of the other is reading because we both read a lot of stuff on Kindle. Before it was easy - just look. Now we have to TALK about it. :)

Maybe you could tape a picture (print it from LibraryThing) with the cover art from your book(s) on the outside of your Kindles while you read them. That would be kind of funny if people did that on the Metro. :D

I'd like to add my thanks for the Kindle info, Fanny. When I first heard about it, I thought I HAD to have one - but I thought I would have to pay for every ebook I put on it - didn't know you could put the free books from gutenberg on there. I always agonize when I travel and end up bringing too many books. Sounds like it would be great for me. I'll probably get one when the prices go down.
Has anyone had any experiences with other e-book readers - similar to Kindle?
Also, how long does the Kindle's battery last?
I love the ziploc bag idea, by the way. :D

Angela

I am glad to know that I am not the only one who hates movie tie-in covers!

Wow all that info on Kindles is making me ponder getting one. I would just like one so that I wouldn't be lugging around so many books when we go places. It would free up so much space in the car for other things.

I do love seeing what other people are reading by looking at the cover of the book. I may see a book I have thought about reading and then I could ask them what they thought about it. Stuff like that.

Thanks for all the info.

To avoid further hijacking Madeline's threat with talk of Kindles, etc, here is a link to one place where people were discussing various ereaders:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/57944

Also, a couple Kindle groups:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/amazonskindle
http://www.librarything.com/groups/kindlereaders

Just chiming in to say that I too, dislike Movie tie-in covers...

I just can't see myself ever getting a kindle. If for some reason one would be given to me.. ( and believe me, that will never happen) I would use it, I am sure, but I would never abandon my "real" books.

Kath
I agree with you. I find such great solace in sitting in a comfortable chair in my little room, surrounded by books, cup of tea in hand, reading something very interesting. A kindle just isn't something I'm interested in at this point in my life. I have so many fond memories of libraries, the smell, the look of the polished, wide plank floors, the soft sounds, the deep window sills......

--> 240

In no way are you highjacking my thread because I wanted to know what you thought of Kindles. I really value what you said. Thanks for the links, though, because they explore Kindle ownership in more depth. I'm really curious to see if Kindles take over reading real books.

There is one other reason I am not too eager to use a Kindle myself. It seems that everything we do nowadays has to be "plugged in" or electronic. I'm not sure that's the way to go, at least for me.

>243 SqueakyChu:, "It seems that everything we do nowadays has to be "plugged in" or electronic." One interesting point I've heard brought up on this issue is the idea of format obsolescence. Electronic media becomes inaccessible so quickly - how many of us have an old floppy disk (either an actual "floppy" one or a hard one) that contains documents we can no longer access because computers no longer support the format or even come with a disc drive anymore? By contrast, paper books - although by no means indestructible - maintain their accessibility with no outside accessories. What happens if the Kindle is a spectacular failure over the long term? Or gets upgraded in a way that makes "first-generation" Kindle books incompatible? Does one lose all one's ebooks or have to buy them again?

Also, I wonder about passing things down to future generations. It is silly, perhaps, but I have crummy old books from my parents that I treasure because they are relics of another time and place, when my parents were other people. Imagine a time when a two-volume edition of The Brothers Karamazov could be had for 95 cents. I've since upgraded to a fancy new translation (still paperbound, since the edition I want is not on Kindle) for quite a lot more money & this is the edition I will read when I get around to it, but the 1960s Penguin classics edition with miniscule print, an "old-style" translation, and my mother's maiden name written in the inside cover in her meticulous cursive handwriting is the one that I will never relinquish. In the event I have children, am I really going to pass along an obsolete hand-held computer filled with ebooks to them? And if I did, would they even be able to read the contents?

Also, the start-up cost is so high! Hundreds of dollars just for the ability to read some books. The cover for the Kindle itself costs about fifty dollars. For fifty dollars, I can buy 25 used trade paperback books at my used bookstore. That will provide me with 6 months of reading alone.

Another issue is that, because of certain proprietary rights, books on Kindle cannot be shared (unless you are willing to loan your Kindle to someone else). That may be okay if you live in the same houshold, but, with the books I loan to friends, I may or may not ever get them back (I don't hold my breath over this as my rule is not to loan something which I don't want lost or destroyed). Generally I'm pretty generous about loaning and giving books away. I wouldn't be to happy about loaning out a Kindle.

The Kindle is being upgraded all the time. I saw an article in today's Washington Post about a new Kindle. It's an interesting article. Take a look at it. I think you're absolutely right about format obsolescence.

Also, I wonder about passing things down to future generations.

Yeah. And how does an author do a book-signing on a Kindle?

In the event I have children, am I really going to pass along an obsolete hand-held computer filled with ebooks to them?

You will - if it's an antique by that time and they can get good money for it by selling it to a collectibles freak! :)

My thoughts: Enjoy the Kindle, but still collect books!

I agree with essentially all of the "anti-Kindle" commentary. Also, I'm concerned that increased popularity of the e-book readers will be the death knell for many bookstores, similar to the demise of music stores (e.g. Tower Records and Virgin Megastores) after iTunes, etc.

Sadly, I think it's the demise of standing bookstores (indies and chains) anyway. Not just because of Kindle and other e-book readers but also because of online discounted book sales (Amazon being the most prominent online store), smaller highly discounted used book stores, Friends of the Library used book stores, and on-line book trading sites. Full price book stores simply cannot complete despite their often better quality of books.

In the DC area last year, Olsson's fell. That group of bookstores had been prominent in the DC area for 36 years. It's really sad. Read the article attached to my link. :(

38. Olive Kitteridge - Elizabeth Strout



I'll be honest. I was a little less than enthusiastic over this book which won the Pulitzer Prize. Olive Kitteridge is a wonderful main character. Feisty and negative, she is a memorable individual. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the side stories as much. The device of including Olive in each of the stories was clever, but it didn't improve the readability of the book. My reading of this book slowed considerably the farther into it that I got. I would have much preferred this book to have been two novels, one with Olive Kitteridge's story and the other a book of short stories (even with Olive as the centerpiece). I think the high point of this novel is the description of Olive's relationships with her husband and son. Both are different, but each is moving.

Overall I think Strout's writing is very beautiful. She describes people and settings in an engaging way. I just thought that there was too much in this book for one novel. In the past I read Amy and Isabel, another of Strout's works, which I found that to be an excellent read.
My full review of Olive Kitteridge is posted here.

Rating - 3 stars

39. Scream Queens of the Dead Sea - Gilad Elbom



First of all, I have to say thanks to bookaholic13 for not only supplying me with this book through BookMooch but also for sharing her thoughts with me about it. It seems that we both thought the same of the book only gave it totally different star ratings. :)

This book was really fun for me to read, but it did have some parts that were off the wall or too tedious to work my way through. However, the other 80% of the book was excellent. To read this book, it helps if you are somewhat familiar with contemporary Israeli culture. The story is basically a novelized (and probably somewhat fantasized) version of the author's life. In the book, the protagonist Gilad is an assistant nurse in a mental hospital, a devotee of heavy metal bands, and an aspiring student of lingistics. These disparate areas all tie very well together, believe it or not. Despite the book's few faults, this seems to be quite an auspicious debut for a new novelist.

My full review is here.

Rating - 4 stars

That's a great title! Looking forward to your thoughts.

That's a great title!

I thought the same thing!

Yes, people. It indeed is a great title! Bookaholic13 gave it an extra star for the title alone. Ha!

Hey, Squeaky! I should have just copied your comments about Olive Kitteridge onto my thread. I felt much the same way about the book (surprise! surprise!) but you said it so much better. :-) Happy reading!

Bonnie, wasn't Olive Kitteridge a bit disappointing -after knowing it was a Pulitzer Prize winner? I expect Pulitzer Prize winners to fully engage my interest. I saw someone on the Metro reading it today and wanted to ask her about it, but I didn't - or I would have missed my stop!

By the way, I ride the DC Metro Red Line which was the site of a catastrophic train wreck yesterday resulting in fatalities (I'm not sure how many). Fortunately for me, I wasn't working yesterday nor do I ride in the direction where the wreck occurred. It makes me very sad because I just started riding the train to work and think DC's Metro system is wonderful. (I guess now it's not *that* wonderful). The trains do speed, and I must admit I'm always a teeny bit worried about a crash. I guess I have reason to be worried.

It was eerie this morning. I was sitting on the Red Line (reading my ARC of American Rust) while watching many other passengers on the train reading the Express newspaper about the Metro crash. Very weird! It would have made an odd photograph.

Oh, Madeline! I'm glad I didn't know to worry about you when I read about the crash! One of the pitfalls of having new friends from all over the country. I can imagine that every one is going through the same questioning that you are. Hopefully, everyone is that much more on their toes. And the alternative can be just as "dangerous" huh?

So, you're reading American Rust? I got/read that "ages" ago. (So we're still mirroring each other's reading somewhat.) Are you just getting around to it, or did they send out more ARC's? I actually haven't been that thrilled with the 3 ARC's I got (shows I'm much more crabby and less grateful than you are!) and don't really want to do reviews, so stopped even looking at the monthly offerings. Sure would have loved to have gotten an advanced copy of The Help though, so should maybe start looking at them again.

I'm going to be reading Yesterday's Weather by Anne Enright for my bookgroup, so will probably read The Gathering at the same time.

I wanted the Early Reviewer of American Rust but didn't win it. ResQGeek, a fellow Bookcrosser, won it on the Amazon Vine program - so he had to read and review it. Now we're circulating the book among BC in DC, my local BookCrossing club.

Guess what I'm doing with Scream Queens of the Dead Sea? I'm sending it out as a Bookcrossing Bookray. It will be going first to Baltimore, then to South Africa, and who knows where else! The book was different and interesting enough for me not to want to just release it.

I've been giving out some books on LT's Member Giveaway, but I'm not so happy with that. I guess the reason is that I don't know the people who are winning my books. I've given out four books on Member Giveaways so far. I think BookCrossing and BookMooch are far more fun for book sharing.

Of the ARCs I've received from LT, most are okay. They've been in the 3-4 star range. There have been very few that I thought were outstanding. I think my favorite ER book so far was Loon: A Marine Story by Jack McLean.

I have to admit when I read about the DC Metro crash I did think about you and wondered if you were on the train or even if you do take the DC Metro. I am glad to see that you didn't work when the accident happened.

Happy reading!!

I started taking the train after I damaged my car in the too-tight garage in which I was allowed to park at work in DC. I'm never taking my car into that garage again. I actually enjoy taking the Metro to work.

Congrats on your "HOT" review for "Scream" Queens.
belva


glitter-graphics.com

Umm, do you happen to have her phone number?

She looks like a "screamer", doesn't she?
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

p.s. let me know when you are ready for her to go away S/C and I will delete the post for you.
belva

I think your picture is a riot, nannybebette! Leave it there!!

I was so excited to have hot review (even if it is only #10 of 10) and a picture posted by you, nannybebette, a many-time hot reviewer.

*thinking* - - - Now how do I get other LTers to sign up for my bookray of that book? Biblioholic only gave it 2 1/2 stars. :(

--> 262

She doesn't look as if she's from the Dead Sea, though!

SqueakyChu;
Too true, too true! She doesn't look like she is from
the Dead Sea. But she looks like she could bring The Dead Sea to life!~! And she does look like she could be the "Queen of Scream"!~!.
Tad wants her number and he got a HOT REVIEW also for "The Purity Myth".
Whoo Hoo!~!~!
belva

Tad wants her number and he got a HOT REVIEW also for "The Purity Myth".

LOL!!

Back in the old days (and don't ask how long ago), I actually went to a disco at the Dead Sea where my friend and I met this guy we called "The Dead Sea Suave". Those days are over for me, but I'm sure there's still a lot of partying going on around the Dead Sea. It's not *that* dead. :)

Now "that" is funny!~! I had no idea the Dead
Sea was a "party palace". "The Dead Sea Suave". LOL
Sounds like some one we need to introduce to the "Queen of Scream".
Hey Squeak, we could take that one on the road.
"The Dead Sea Suave meets the Queen of Scream".
Sounds like a night of wrestling or sumpin'. LOL
Hey, you don't think we are being blasphemous, do you? Cuz I certainly don't want to burn over the Scream Queen.

We would have liked to pass "The Dead Sea Suave" along to someone else. Too back the Queen of Scream wasn't there back then. :)

>263 SqueakyChu:: What is a bookray?

A bookray is a travelling book that people sign up in advance to receive. It ends with the last person to receive it, that person doing what he or she then wants with the book at the end. Here's an example.

I run my bookrays through BookCrossing, which is free to join, and allows participants to journal when they receive a book, their thoughts after reading it, and their notes when they release the book to the next participant.

Basically, a bookray tracks one copy of a book. My profile at Bookcrossing lists all the bookrays that I run. All of my bookrays travel internationally. I am currently running 21 bookrays.

I'm tossing American Rust. It's too boring to finish. There's too much talking (or thinking thoughts) and not enough action. I'm moving on to something else.

40. The Longest Trip Home - John Grogan



If you liked Marley and Me by this author, here is another book to please you. This one is not about a dog. It's about the author, Catholicism, his childhood, Catholicism, his family, Catholicism... Well, you get the picture. Like Marley and Me, this book will have you laughing and crying. It's a story of the author and how, beneath everything, his family was full of love and support for one another. Here's my full review.

Rating - 4 stars.

glitter-graphics.com

How bout Chu?
belva

I have seen that book by John Grogan and actually thought about buying it. I don't think I did but who knows I could have and forgotten that I did. Now I think I may just go looking for it.

Nice graphic belva..

Classy, huh?

Yes, very Classy. Did you make it?

Nope, stole it, just like I do all of 'em.
I so wish I was talented that way though.
Good morning.

I would say you borrowed it more then stole it. Once it is posted on the web some where it is up for grabs. Good morning to you too.

Yes, I guess that is true.
Was just reading where you aren't quite
sure if you bought the book or not--I was
terrible that way before LT. It has helped
my feeble brain so much.

Yes it has helped me except at the spur of the moment when I don't feel like checking to see if I have the book listed.

In case you can't find Grogan's book at your home, Monica, try the library. I listened to the audio version which had been read by the author. It was fun to listen to him tell his own story. I wasn't sure I'd like that book, but, by its end, it had me charmed.

*picking up American Rust again because I can't decide what else to read so I may as well finish it.* Maybe it gets better...

41. American Rust - Philipp Meyer



Okay. You know a book is not going to get a favorable review if I decide to not read it and then decide to finish it because I feel I must.

BTW, this is not something I do often. In this case, I did it because the book is a a debut novel and was previously an LT Early Reviewer. In my case, the book was from a BookCrosser who received and reviewed it as part of the Amazon Vine program.

What I could not believe, however, were the incredible number of highly favorable reviews this book received, even with one LT reviewer mentioning that it is fodder for a Pulitzer prize. Come on!!

I don't doubt the author has talent. Was it just that I was reading an uncorrected and unedited proof? For the author's sake, I hope so!

Here's my full review.

Rating - 2 stars

I'm excited. I just might complete this challenge!

I have to add...I like the cover art on American Rust. It's eye-catching!

I too like the cover art on American Rust. I actually wanted to read that book when I had first seen it. I don't usually read reviews of books before I decided to read them because I don't want to go in with a preconceived opinion of the book. Now I am not sure since you felt like you had to finish it.

I think you will finish this challenge. Now I just have to spend more time reading so I can finish my challenges.

--> 285

Definitely read American Rust. Most people loved it. That's what I can't understand. One LT reviewer (Iriley) even thought of this book as Pulitzer prize material. I'd love to hear what you think of it. It has a pretty high LT star rating (3.69). The author is not only a debut author but an LT author as well. Those attributes kind of make it a "must read" as well. Know that I would read a second novel by this author if one came about.

In addition, I read the Advance Reader's Copy. Perhaps something happened to improve the book in its transition into a finished product. I really do consider ARCs raw material, and my impressions of them might be raw as well.

Know, too, that different books appeal to different people. What I might not like about a book could be just up your alley. Rermember, if you find you don't like it, you can stop reading it as well.

I will definitely look for it. I just don't know when I will be able to read it.

I very rarely stop reading a book because I don't like it. I read a book that I had to force myself to finish because I felt like I had to do the review since it was from a author on here and she had given it away on the Member Giveaway program.

Thanks for the recommendation.

kidz I'm new to this and don't know how to add a book to my wish list can you help me?

Hello, didymus79, and welcome to LibraryThing!

To add a book to your wishlist
1. Go to the AddBooks page -
http://www.librarything.com/addbooks
2. Enter your book title.
3. Click on a link (on the right side of the page)
4. Click on "edit book" (far right)
5. Where it says "Collections", click on "Show All".
6. Check the collection called "Wishlist".
7. Scroll up the the green check and click "save".

7. If wishlist is not there, Click "edit collections"
8. Click on "wishlist".
9. Click on "Include in collections".
10. Click on "active".
11. Click on "save".
12. Click on "show all".
13. Click on "wishlist".
14. Scroll up to the little green check and click "save".

42. Diet for a New America - John Robbins



I was so disappointed with this book. I started out really into everything that John Robbins was saying. However, by the end of the book, I felt as if he were a marketeer for vegetarianism as he suggested that a vegetarian life style would cure all the problems of the world. Come on!! I feel as if I should pull this book out of my CSA bookbox, but probably will not as it is a food classic at this point. Here's my full review.

Rating - 2 stars

I'm reading The Yiddish Policemen's Union now but am finding it a little kooky. :( I'm not sure whether to continue on with it or not.

Squeakeeee! Keep reading! Remember, I wanted to talk to you about it after you're done.

Edited to add: You're supposed to know that I was pleading--as in "Please, oh please...keep reading--not demanding.

Okay. I read a bit more. Seems kind of dry, though. :(

Oh, I'm with Bonnie on this one. Try to keep at it, or find the audiobook and listen. It was one of my faves this year. I have heard other who couldn't get into it but really really, try, it is that good.

I will finish that book. I will finish that book. I will finish... :)

ETA: I will only finish that book because Michael Chabon is a cutie!

I can't find The Yiddish Policemen's Union on audio, but I'm now listening to The 19th Wife which in just fabulous! The only problem is, now that I take the Metro to work, I need a real book, not an audio book for my trips backs and forth to work. TYPU is a heavy hardback. :(

BTW, later on, you all will need to help me with an i-pod. I'm new to those. My daughter sold me her old one (which actually had been her brother's) and bought a new one. I just ordered a battery for it and am waiting for it to arrive.

Please please persevere with The Yiddish Policemen's Union, it will grow on you I'm sure - I ended up loving it, though the beginning was a bit of a slog.
Goodluck with your iPod - I have found it to be a really nifty little device. I love listening to podcasts and audiobooks.

I will finish The Yiddish Policemen's Union. That book has quite a cheering squad on this thread alone!

Madeline, I just bought The 19th Wife yesterday! This is getting eerie--but fun!

Do we have a psychic connection or what? There is defnitely some heavy karma going on here.

It's interesting to watch the weighted statistics of who here at LT has the same books as I do. Of the people I know (in an online sort of way), you always come out on top. This week you are #11. Others I know are torontoc (#12), kidzdoc (#16), bookoholic13 (#17), and alphaorder (#20). At least, I "know" all of these people enough to share online forum comments and private messages with them.

As Tim would say, here at LT you can "find people with eerily similar tastes. " :D

The funny thing is that I usually always choose my books to read at random. I look at all my options and go for the one that I think I'm most in the mood for reading at the time. This goes for themed reads as well. It's usually only after. I read something that I'll go back to see who else has read it.

Since I was asked to pass this along to friends at LT, I thought I'd post it here in my thread. Feel free to respond or not - as you'd like. I received (with permission) the following research request:

---------------

Hi Madeline,

I'm Marta, a Dutch student Information Science. I'm writing my thesis about LibraryThing.com and I'm spreading an interview for members of the community. I saw you on a fan group and thought maybe you would like to answer a couple of questions about your personal Librarything experience. I also hope you can send this invitation to more friends who use Librarything.com!

1. How long are you a member?
2. Where did you find Librarything?
3. Which motivation drove you when you subscribed?
4. You have your own library on Librarything. Why do you think it’s important for you to put all your books online?
5. Librarything.com is also a social network. Do you like and use the social applications in it?
6. What do you think it is the most usefull in Librarything?
7. If you have to browse books or to look for a specific book, or if you just feel like reading and look for a book would you prefere looking at Librarything.com or something else (like f.i. bookstores, books review at the “real” library)? Why?
8. Do you use tags, reviews, rates and suggestions to try to understand what kind of book is a book you’re looking at on LT? If you do, how?
9. Have you ever discovered an author or a title you really love through LT?
10. Have you ever got in touch with an author through LT?
11. If you could improve Librarything, what would you change?

Thanks in advance for helping me with my research!

Have a nice day

Marta

private comment posted by martaco at 9:33 am (EST) on Jul 11, 2009

Reply directly to the message box on martaco's profile. Thanks!

---------------

...and with this post I am moving to a new thread.