karenmarie's 75 book challenge for 2010

Another exciting year to look forward to. Glad to be here with such a great group of people.

Here's my Books Off the Shelf Challenge thread too: karenmarie's BOTS challenge

JANUARY

1. Too Many Cooks by Rex Stout 12/31/09 1/2/10 *** A re-read. This one seems pretty dated - lots of bad stereotypes and the use of the n word (this was written in 1937). The mystery was clever and well written but it left me less satisfied than I would have expected. 179 pages.

2. The Hundredth Man by Richard Kerley 1/2/10 1/3/10 *** 1/2 A very good psychological mystery with well written characters and an interesting ending. I like the hero Carson Ryder and his partner Harry Nautilus of the Mobile PD and look forward to other books in the series. 416 pages.

3. The City and The City by China Miéville 1/3/10 1/10/10 *** A strange book that was very hard for me to get into. I read it, and liked it, but the basic premise of the book - that two cities would occupy the same turf, house by house, block by block, and be declared one or the other or crosshatched - shared by both - I found very hard to digest. Mieville does a good job of keeping the characters consistent in their cities, and the Breach looms over it all - a supercop organization to keep people in their own cities. There is a mystery and it gets solved, yet I found the characters curiously two dimensional. The vividness of the book came in trying to imagine "unseeing" and "unhearing" something right in front of you that was of the other city. I really liked the ending and should have seen it coming about 80 pages before the end. 336 pages.

4. The Three Stooges Scrapbook by Jeff Lenburg 01/11/10 01/14/10 *** My October 2009 ER book, finally showing up in January. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Three Stooges and more. What really surprised me was how Moe Howard kept the whole thing together always - Larry was improvident with money and Curley was just screwy. I didn't realize Shemp, Curley and Moe were all brothers. Interesting anecdotes, but alot of repetition among the biographies. Recommended for serious Stooges fans. 288 pages.

5. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell 01/10/10 1/30/10 *** 1/2 review here: Cranford 300 pages.

6. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill 01/14/10 01/22/10 **** review here: Various Haunts 438 pages

7. The Death Collectors by Jack Kerley 1/16/10 1/22/10 *** 1/2 Macabre theme, people who collect objects used by serial killers. A very well done book. Continues the story of Carson Ryder and partner Harry Natilus. We learn more about Carson and his relationship with his mass-murderer brother. 382 pages.

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis 01/22/10 abandoned at page 280 on 1/30/10 Wordy beyond redemption. 280 pages counted.

FEBRUARY

8. The Little Friend by Donna Tartt 2/1/10 02/13/10 *** Here's my review: The Little Friend 555 pages

9. The Conjurer's Bird by Martin Davies 02/13/10 02/18/10 **** 384 pages.

10. The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers 02/21/10 02/25/10 **** super book. 464 pages.

11. Wings of Fire by Charles Todd 02/25/10 02/26/10 ***1/2 The second in a series of mysteries with Inspector Ian Rutledge, traumatized and haunted from his time on the battlefields of WWI. In this outing Ian must resolve whether a double-suicide is actually a suicide and whether an accidental death immediately after is truly accidental. During the way Ian discovers evil across generations. What is most interesting to me about this series of mysteries, so far as I can figure out from the first two, is first that Ian is haunted by Hamish MacLeod, who he ordered shot for disobeying orders, and second that Ian will pursue the truth regardless of where it takes him or how it might harm him personally. I really love his character. 306 pages.

12. Search the Dark by Charles Todd 02/27/10 02/28/10 ***1/2 Third in the Ian Rutledge series. Rutledge is assigned the task of finding the missing but already-dead children of a man accused of murdering his already-dead wife. A WWI vet is at a train station when he is convinced he sees his dead wife and children and runs amok through the village looking for her. A body turns up, but is it his wife's? And why is another woman missing but nobody seems to realize that? A very good mystery, once again, with Rutledge pursuing the truth regardless of the people and obstacles put in his way. Hamish MacLeod, his personal ghost, is actually quite helpful in this one. 310 pages.

MARCH

13. The Pure in Heart by Susan Hill 02/28/10 03/04/10 ***1/2 Less a mystery than a continuation of the development of the lives of Simon Serrailler, his parents, his sister and her family. It was very difficult reading about the kidnap of a child and of the life of a severely handicapped woman, but the characterization is brilliant and our hero, Simon, though flawed, is well worth reading about. 370 pages.

14. Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris 03/04/10 03/05/10 ***1/2 The fourth book of the Harper Connelly series, this one tackles the mystery of Harper's sister Cameron's disappearance. It was a fun good read and finally let us meet Iona and Hank, who adopted Harper and Tolliver's baby sisters. Harper unintentionally discovers that a young woman who was thought to have died of a massive infection really died after giving birth. Who's child was it? And, where was it now? There's a lot of money at stake, and a lot of unsavory characters, most of them belonging to Harper and Tolliver's extended family. 306 pages.

15. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 03/05/10 485 pages.

16. When Blanche Met Brando: The Scandalous Story of "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Sam Staggs. 03/07/10 03/10/10 ***1/2 I am currently obsessed by this movie, and reading about the play, first and subsequent stage productions, and first and subsequent movies is enchanting. The last 50 or so pages were less interesting than the parts about the original stage production and the 1951 movie, but the first part of the book more than makes up for it with general information about Williams, the actors, the staging of the play, and the movie. Good, fun, interesting book. 340 pages.

17. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams 03/10/10 03/11/10 **** The stage play is beautiful to read. I normally don't like to read plays, but after having seen the movie recently and read #16 above, decided to go for it. The movie downplayed or eliminated some of the strengths of the play but I already knew that. It flows smoothly and I'm even more in sympathy with Stanley, amazingly, even though he rapes Blanche. I'm not 100% sure how much is rape and how much is teasing.... that might be one of the play's strengths, that things are not as they seem and can be more than one thing at once. Excellent. 142 pages.

18. Legacy of the Dead by Charles Todd 03/13/10 03/15/10 **** Ah, they just keep getting better and better. This 4th mystery of the Ian Rutledge series has Rutledge searching for a missing woman and trying to save another woman from sacrificing herself to save a friend and a child. The remembrances of the Great War are heart-wrenching. The life evoked in England and Scotland of 1919 is detailed and marvelous to read about. This is a well-written intelligent mystery with a deeply psychological component. 356 pages.

19. The Great Roxhythe by Georgette Heyer 03/15/10 *** Here's my review: The Great Roxhythe 418 pages.

20. Songs My Mother Taught Me by Marlon Brando 03/19/10 03/21/10 **** Brando was a fascinating man on the screen and a fascinating man as he writes about himself in this book. It's brutually honest at the same time coy about his wives and children, highly opinionated about friend and foe alike. He had many things to overcome in his life, mostly related to his parents and his search for love. I read this book avidly and am entranced with Brando. 468 pages.

21. Brando by Patricia Bosworth 03/21/10 03/22/10 *** Some good information, but with such a complex subject, I felt like too much was not covered. She quotes extensively from his autobiography (see #20 above), which I really loved. 216 pages.

22. Mister Roberts by Thomas Heggen 03/22/10 03/23/10 ***1/2 Here's my review: Mister Roberts 221 pages.

23. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown 03/23/10 03/26/10 **1/2 to ** (average to bad) I got The Lost Symbol for $.25 (plus shipping) when I re-joined a bookclub. I could not resist, having read his 4 other books and still having them on my shelves.

This is the first book I’ve read by Dan Brown since joining LT. I’ve read criticism of his style and of the books and basically felt that my original assessment that they were good books overrode what I read about them and him. I was looking forward to this one.

It is, however, extremely irritating to read. Every page and a half is a new chapter. Everything is repeated ad nauseam. If you stop to ask why a character does something, you run smack up against the knowledge that none of the characters are realistic at all. Nobody acts the way these people act.

So if you don’t mind unrealistic characters acting like encyclopedias fluttering about, it’s a good book. If you don’t mind almost hearing the book screech at you with its deux ex machine plot contrivances and don’t mind the book culminating about 30 pages before the actual ending, then go for it.

Otherwise, there are so many other good thrillers out there that this one should just be ignored. 528 pages.

24. A Fearsome Doubt by Charles Todd 03/26/10 03/27/10 ***1/2 Another excellent Ian Rutledge mystery. The ending seemed a tad deux ex machina, but all in all a good book. 295 pages.

25. The Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer 03/27/10 03/28/10 **** Here's my review: The Devil's Cub

26. Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer 03/28/10 03/29/10 **1/2 Here's my review: Cousin Kate 313 pages.

27. The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer 03/29/10 03/30/10 **** 272 pages.

28. Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer 03/30/10 03/31/10 ***1/2 232 pages.

APRIL

29. No Instructions Needed by Robert G. Hewitt 03/12/10 04/02/10 ***1/2 This was my January ER book. Here's my review: No Instructions Needed 183 pages.

30. Midnight Fires by Nancy Means Wright 04/01/10 04/02/10 * OMG. Here's my review: Midnight Fires 80 pages read.

31. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova 04/02/10 04/03/10 ****1/2 Very few books get 4 1/2 stars from me, but I found this book irresistable. It's long, involved, subtle, rich, full of information, and flows like honey. I devoured it. 561 pages.

32. Horns by Joe Hill 04/05/10 04/13/10 ***1/2 Here's my review: Horns 368 pages.

33. Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose 04/01/10

34. Open by Andre Agassi 04/08/10 04/09/10 ***1/2 Loaned to me by a friend at work because he knows how much I like tennis. I have a much better appreciation of what Andre Agassi has accomplished and am more sympathetic to some of the things about him I didn't like or understand. 400 pages.

35. Watchers of Time by Charles Todd 04/10/10 04/16/10 **** 421 pages.

36. The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer 04/17/10 04/18/10 **** A re-read of one of my favorites. Ancila Trent has become a governess to avoid being a burden on her family. Sir Waldo Hawkridge has come to the small village she lives in to evaluate an estate left to him. She's accused of setting her cap at him. A wonderful romance. I particularly like a couple of scenes where Ancila's charge, Tiffany Wield, shows her hysterical and spiteful true colors. 250 pages.

37. The Risk of Darkness by Susan Hill 04/18/10 04/19/10 **** Wow! These books are so good. It's almost like one huge book put out in installments because the cases from one overlap into the next. There's some amazing descriptions of a person in a situation that most of us wouldn't be in but that really bring you into their world (I'm being deliberately vague so as to not spoil it). Simon is quite the chauvinistic pig in this one as he searches for what he really wants in life and runs up against obstacles. The secondary characters, typically the family members of the victims or, in this book in particular, a family member of an accused murderer are written with such a depth of feeling and sympathy for their plight that it quite takes my breath away. 472 pages.

38. The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill 04/20/10 04/22/10 **** Here's my review: Vows of Silence 328 pages.

39. Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer 04/22/10 04/23/10 ***1/2 Another enjoyable Heyer romp. 408 pages.

40. The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer 04/24/10 04/25/10 **** I think this is in my top 5 Heyers. Laugh-out loud humor, beautiful dialog, wonderful situations. A joy. 315 pages.

41. The Cruellest Month by Louise Penny 04/25/10 04/28/10 **** 401 pages.

MAY

42. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King 04/28/10 05/03/10 **** 405 pages.

43. A Cold Treachery by Charles Todd 05/04/10 05/05/10 **** Here's my review: A Cold Treachery 400 pages.

44. A Long Shadow by Charles Todd 05/06/10 05/08/10 ***1/2 Rutledge is being hunted and taunted with bullet casings, even when he's sent to the country to discover who shot Constable Hensley in the back with an arrow. Another meticulous case with evidence gathered bit by bit along with some brilliant deduction and intuition by Rutledge. The ending was a tad contrived but still another good part of the series. 354 pages.

45. A False Mirror by Charles Todd 05/08/10 05/09/10 **** Rutledge is called to mediate in a hostage situation. Hostage situations in 1919 are very different than today - he goes into the house and talks with the hostage taker AND the hostages. A man has been beaten and lies unconscious, yet the next night is gone. Part of a cliffside falls into the ocean with an old cottage - was the missing man in it? How do some of the people from his past play a part? How does Hamish react to all this? And, how does Rutledge figure it all out? So good! 384 pages.

46. A Pale Horse by Charles Todd 05/09/10 05/13/10 **1/2 A surprisingly bland tale with too many suspects, too many venues, and not enough about Rutledge. All he does is drive from Yorkshire to Berkshire to London. There's a small bit about his sister Frances, some intriguing hints from Hamish about how he might manifest to Rutledge, and some very good psychological work about a missing man, his suicide wife, and his two daughters; but all in all it's the weakest of the series in my opinion. 360 pages.

47. A Matter of Justice by Charles Todd 05/13/10 05/15/10 **** 330 pages.

48. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell 05/15/10 ***1/2 Musings on the assassination of 3 American Presidents - Lincoln, Grant, and McKinley. Her style alternately appeals and grates - the book is chock full of interesting and well-presented information and her very apparent love of the macabre. We learn a lot about the Presidents and their assassins, a lot about Robert Todd Lincoln who was coincidentally, on the scene of all 3 assassinations, and a lot about Vowell's sister Amy and Amy's son Owen. She has done her homework and clearly loves her subject. What grates is the occasional stand-up comic schtick. As I said after reading her book about Pilgrims, The Wordy Shipmates, there are occasional funny lines that, at least with me, bomb horribly. Ba-da-boom. 258 pages.

49. The French Blue by Robert W. Wise 05/18/10 05/21/10 ****1/2 Review to follow. 567 pages.

50. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler 05/21/10 05/23/10 ***1/2 250 pages.

51. Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson 05/23/10

Audiobooks:

1. When Will There be Good News? by Kate Atkinson 12/14/09 01/11/10 ****
2. Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers 01/27/10 02/02/10 ****1/2 One of my favorite Sayers' books.
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling 02/03/10 02/10/10 ***1/2 I think this will be my fourth or fifth listen. Always good.
4. The Private Patient by P. D. James 02/15/10 03/04/10 *** A private patient checks in to a private clinic to get a scar removed and is murdered. A friend of hers, who is also the cousin of two family members who work there, gets murdered too. There's a child murderer who's now grown up and trying to make her way in the world, a doctor who's breaking up with a lover, the daughter of the previous owner of the manor, and a husband and wife cooking team who live at the manor after she gets fired from her job. Pretty predictable, and P.D. James outdoes herself with high-falutin' preachiness. Glad I got it from the library and just listened to it and didn't invest any money in it.
5. The Diary of Samuel Pepys 03/04/10 03/13/10 **** A most amazing peep (so to speak) about life in London in the 1660s. Plague, the Great Fire, wars, the British Navy, his wife, his lovers, all with the luxury of writing it just for himself with no holds barred. Most poignant was his having to quit the diary because of his eyesight.
6. The Murder Room by P.D. James 03/15/10 03/31/10 *** An interesting mystery but nothing special. Dalgleish and Emma's romance is of more interest and plays out nicely.
7. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James 04/01/10 04/12/10 **** A very interesting novel that "explains" how Jane Austen's first two books were as they were and gave us a glimpse of a true love in her life. I really enjoyed it.
8. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie 04/14/10 04/19/10 **1/2 Hmmm. I liked and disliked this book all at the same time. I don't particularly like books about China except for nonfiction, and this one was just as confusing as most other fiction I read. I simply do not easily grasp Chinese culture, in any manifestation (pre, or post Cultural Revolution) and have a hard time connecting with the characters. The story is clever in its appeal to book lovers, but honestly, it was just mostly depressing. It is translated from the French and there are a few times when it was obvious that it was a translation. Meh.

9. The Case of the Late Pig by Margery Allingham 04/20/10 04/27/10 ** Beautiful language, beautifully read, but ultimately boring. Ho hum.

10. Masters of Atlantis by Charles Portis 05/05/10 05/21/10 * Deer in the headlights reaction - kept listening because I had nothing else to listen to and it had occasional funny moments. Otherwise disturbing, irritating, and ultimately a waste of time.

Welcome back!

Thanks, doc! I couldn't imagine abandoning the 75 book challenge, regardless of how many books I read. Y'all are a bunch of fun.

Glad to see you back, Karen!

Got you starred again, Karen.

Thanks guys!

Ah ha! Karen, spotted. *check*

Starred for another year, Karen!

Karen? Is everything okay, you're not around much. Just feeling a little concerned is all.

Hi Richard -

I've been doing a lot of lurking - there are several things depressing me right now and I've basically crawled into a hole. Plus I fell off a ladder two weeks ago today and my right leg and tail bone STILL hurt a lot. Taking vicodin at night but my sleep's been interrupted.

Thanks for the concern, I really appreciate it.

I've read two books so far in 2010. I'm off to watch some Panthers football with husband and daughter then find a new book to read....

Oh dear, I'm sorry you're not in the best place right now. I hope things clear up for you soon so that you're able to leap out of the hole in a single bound with the biggest grin on your face and a glow in your heart.

Ack ...I'm deathly afraid of ladders ... or rather, falling off ladders, so I'm sorry to hear of your injuries. *sends healing waves for a speedy recovery*

The Hundredth Man sounds interesting ... off to the wishlist it goes.

Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that...only two books...no wonder you're in a funk! Oh, and the pain, of course.

*joins cameling's healing waves*

Here when you need us, dear Karen, don't feel like you're unable to share whatever needs sharing. I know I welcome you to be you, however that looks at any given moment.

*does the wave with richardderus and cameling*

Hope you feel better very soon!

I can wave just as well as they can! lol

I do hope you recover from your injuries and depression soon.

Thanks guys! Normally I can take what Life dishes out pretty easily, but there are just Too Many Things right now that are on my mind. A couple of them will resolve within 2-3 weeks so I anticipate getting my normal peace of mind soon. Last night was a bit better as far as my leg and lower back go - if I can have a little improvement every day it'll soon be better.

cameling - I finished The Hundredth Man and loved it.

I picked up The City and the City by China Mieville last night and it's intriguing.

Well, it's off to read for an hour then start getting ready for work!

Have a great day, dear friends.

Gee, I'd feel alot better knowing you were lying down and resting that lower back of yours. Take it easy there, Karen.

OOO OOO! Is this your first China Mieville? I really want to know what you think of his writing! Post soon! Post soon!!

cameling - actually, being prone aggravates both my back and my leg for some reason. I do better sitting straight up. Even reclining hurts my back. But I would love to just be home feeling sorry for myself and reading.....

Richard, Papa! Yes, yes! My firstest, absolutely numero uno C. Mieville. I actually bought it new from Amazon with a gift certificate last year, read 10 pages, put it down, then picked it up again this week. I'm loving it this time.

I found Perdido Street Station at the Thrift store a while back too. So now it's waiting in the wings, as it were.

I'm still trying to score more Bartle Bull books (China Star, Shanghai Station in particular.)

Hi Karen- Found you! I wasn't sure if you started your new challenge yet! Now I can follow you around! Have you been by my new one, it's in the 75? If not, stop in! You can see my mini-review of The White Rhino Hotel there! You were the inspiration for me to pick up my 1st Bull! Thank you for that!

Found you and starred you!

I may not say much but I am lurking. Almost feel like a stalker.

Thanks Mark and cauterize!

dianestm - lurkers are welcome. I am a serious lurker, too.

First audiobook review of the year. I don't own the book, although I'm going to spend part of a precious gift card or certificate on it because I want to keep it and read it.

When Will There be Good News? by Kate Atkinson 12/14/09 1/14/10 ****

I started thinking about writing a review of this book as soon as I started listening to it; its depth and richness and subtlety were apparent from the beginning.

The story roams among several characters, from their earliest childhoods up through the present. It takes place in the British Isles. The main characters are Joanna Hunter, Reggie, Louise, and Jackson. Joanna Hunter is a doctor, mother of “the baby” and married Neil, a somewhat puzzling and insensitive man. Reggie’s 16 years old, a pert and enchanting girl-woman, who is a mother’s helper to “Dr Hunter” and surviving on her own. Louise is a policewoman, a Detective Inspector, just realizing how unhappy she is in her marriage. Jackson Brody is newly married, wealthy, but with a burning desire to find out if an ex-girlfriend’s child is his or another man’s.

The action begins with Joanna’s childhood, one of three children, daughter of an artist mother and a father who’s a published author. We immediately learn of the tragic murder of Joanna’s mother, sister, and infant brother, and how it has colored her life.

Jackson is on a train, going back to London, after taking a hair clipping from his ex-girlfriend’s son’s hair, to get tested for a DNA match.

Reggie works for Doctor Hunter and is tutored by an elderly unmarried woman.

Louise is worried about a woman and her three children whose ex-husband might show up at any moment to kill them all, and Joanna Hunter, who might be the focus of the soon-to-be-released murderer of her mother and siblings.

If I was just reading this review, I’d probably say, “So what?”

The plot starts out very simply, but soon expands dramatically. For a while there are so many characters that it seems you might be overwhelmed, but as the focus narrows among the characters it becomes easy to follow them, even as their paths start merging.

Their stories overlap and it’s pleasing to see some things from multiple points of view, all of which reflect the natures of the characters and bring a smile to your face.

Their stories also combine in wonderful ways, with authentic voices. The dialog is superb, and the musings of the characters, the asides, the things they think as they are reacting to the things that happen to them and to their own inner turmoils are accurate in a way that validates the whole book. Every action, every digression, every subplot, and every additional character join to make this a cohesive story of loss and strength and re-building your life each time you get knocked down.

I listened to this book on audiobook, with an excellent reader named Ellen Archer. I’m going to either immediately listen to it again or get the book and read it. It’s that good.

Nice review, Karen. I've already got this on my TBR so I'm going to move it up the line.

Tempting...very tempting...must...resist....

*defeated sigh*

Hi Karen- Good review! I've read the 1st 2 Jackson Brody books and really enjoyed them. I need to find time to get to this one!

Great review Karen....this one's been on my TBR list, and I have identified that I can get it from the library --I often find like you, that when I listen to a really good one, I'll go buy it to have to re-read, so I'm really looking forward to it.

BTW: You should post your review so we can thumb it!

Thanks guys!

tututhefirst - I'm one of those strange folks who only put books in my catalog that I actually own.... I started to put it in yesterday as a place holder for when I get the book, but took it back out to keep my philosophy/catalog intact.

I'm trying to figure out which Damon Runyon book to get (I'm in the middle of a Guys and Dolls phase because daughter's high school is putting it on in March and daughter is playing trombone in the pit) and depending on which book I get, I'll have to split Good News and Damon Runyon between two cards.

Nice problem to have, by the way.

>23 karenmarie:: I enjoyed your recap of this captivating book. I must admit to being a little in love with the character of Jackson Brody. He seems so genuine. This isn't my typical kind of book, but I have enjoyed all three in this series and Atkinson's equally good (but different) Behind the Scenes at the Museum.

Hi Donna828 - I am embarrassed to admit that I didn't connect Case Histories with this book.... I guess it's not good but I sort of keep audio books and book books separate mentally. Sheesh. I loved Case Histories. I never assume books are part of series but I should do a bit of research, I guess.

I think Jackson Brodie's quite wonderful too... a genuinely good person.

I've got Behind The Scenes and One Good Turn coming via BookMooch.

In the meantime, I found The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill at the Thrift Store yesterday. I've wanted it for a long time, and even though I'm reading Cranford for my bookclub in February, just had to open it yesterday. No willpower at all.

#25: Resistance is futile, richard .... give in and get the book already. You know you want to.

I agree, Richard - you do this to other people all the time, so just give in gracefully. :)

We're here at the beach, saying good-bye to our 2 houses on the water, one little house on the second row, and a townhouse on the marsh side..... bad timing to build, bad economy, bad Katrina, bad f***ing partner who bailed on us. They will all probably be foreclosed within 2 months. Ah, well, what's seven or so years of bad credit?

We're actually having a pretty good time eating good seafood, hanging out, watching old Office episodes, and listening to the waves crash on the beach.

So as I was preparing to come to the beach for 3 days I had to bring extra books of course.... and in the car I just had to also start The Death Collectors by Jack Kerley, the sequel to The Hundredth Man. So far very good, lightweight, just right for the beach. 16-year old daughter was driving (has her permit), husband was riding shotgun, so I got to hang out in the back reading. Heaven.

Well, it's off to more Office, more hanging with family, and reading myself to sleep to the sound of the waves at Topsail Island, NC.

I'm sorry about your houses, Karen. *big hug* Going to sleep to the sound of waves crashing on the beach ...... *sigh .... looking out my window and seeing large dripping icicles and snow on my backyard*

I'm envious of anyone who can read in a car. I can read on planes and trains, but I turn as green as Kermit if I even try to read maps in a moving car.

Sorry to hear about your troubles, Karen!

Thanks, cameling and alcottacre. This too, shall pass.

The only time I ever got carsick from reading was while in the Appalachian Mountains driving to Boone NC. I was in the back seat and our fearless driver wanted to take the 'scenic route' - i.e., not the interestate. Twisty, windy, up and down. I never actually got sick sick, but I got very queasy and had to stop reading.

This morning I woke up to rain rain rain. Drank coffee, read book. We're going to have a lazy day. I actually just heard thunder! The surf is wild, birds rushing by the windows out of control in the wind.

There is a bookstore here, Quartermoon Books, that we might venture out to visit today if things ease up a bit.

Oh, I just found your thread and I'm so sorry to be late in sending good wishes and gentle hugs to you. It is diheartening when bad things happen to such a nice person.

>32 karenmarie: It's just rotten that you're in this situation. I can't abide the idea that someone, for want of money, is going to suffer a preventable loss.

{{{Karen}}}

I keep looking for that big lottery win...help would be on its way. *frustrated sigh*

Thanks Whisper1 and Richard - hugs are greatly appreciated. Lottery winnings would be appreciated too. :)

What's really amusing about one of the houses is that we found someone to buy it on a short sale - they would offer the bank fair market value and the bank was supposed to take that to get rid of the "toxic asset" and forgive us the difference.

Well, the bank wanted us to take a $50K note, no interest, for 25 years. That was doable although understandably it didn't thrill us. Then, only after my husband asked a few more questions, did they say that they would report a loss on the 1099C that we would receive, which would count as taxable income for us - $293K worth. That would translate into about $100K of TAXES due, so we declined and are now letting them foreclose. So now they have lost the cash from the short sale and have an asset at the beach that is definitely going to be worth something eventually, but not until the market rebounds. We hope they don't come after us. But better them than the IRS.

Yes we got into it, yes we realized the risk, but everybody - banks, insurance companies, real estate companies with good reputations, winked at the risk. You have no idea how banks courted us during the bubble era at Topsail.

Blech.

I am sorry that you have such a hard time Karen.
Anita

>38 karenmarie: And now *everyone's* tax dollars bail out the perpetrators of this massive idiocy, not the sufferers, *and* they have the **nerve** to balk at being regulated to prevent it from happening again!

*fumes*

#39 thanks, FAMeulstee. It's been a long time building, but the end, ugly as it is, is in sight.

#40 Richard - I think I saw/heard something about Obama wanting to charge the recipients of the bailout $$ fees to be paid over 10 years.... that would help somewhat but wouldn't get rid of the arrogance, hubris, and screw-the-public-full-speed-ahead attitude all the banks seem to have.

The whole thing really stinks! So, so sorry for what you're going through, Karen!

Thanks, tymfos.

I finally finished The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill. Excellent book, four stars, the first of four! I'm a BookMooch mission to get the rest. Here's my review: Various Haunts

Now to continue with Cranford for my February bookclub meeting.

#44: I have The Various Haunts of Men patiently waiting on my nightstand to get to this year. I am going to have to bump it up with that review. Nice one, Karen!

Arrrghhh...... thumbed your review, Karen .... and had to add that one onto my wish list too.... *sigh* another series

I so enjoyed reading Cranford and when Masterpiece Theater was screening it this month, I had to make sure I watched it. I thought it was pretty well done.

*laahleelaah*
Nothing to add, nothing to add, I own these already

*laahleelaah*

I'd say I was sorry cameling, but this was such a good book that I don't feel too bad encouraging you to read it by my positive rating and review.

Well, richard, neener neener to you too! :)

Well, I've never regretted picking up anything you've recommended so far, so I look forward to getting to this series.... now to check if my library has them.

January has been a slow month because of the Australian Open. I'm a serious Roger Federer fan, and have watched almost every match of the tournament. This has meant spending all evening watching matches and getting up at 3:30 a.m. to watch matches, as I did this morning to watch the final.

He won, beating Andy Murray in 3 sets. I'm totally thrilled.

However, it put a serious crimp in my reading. Plus I abandoned one book after about 280 pages, Doomsday Book by Connie Willis because it got pretty boring pretty quick. I persevered, though until I finally realized that I was halfway through and it wasn't going anywhere in a meaningful way. I had the same problem with her book Passages about near-death experiences but had more patience. I've got too many good books waiting right now to flounder around with one that is mediocre at best.

Hi Karen, always nice to make a new friend :-) I have your thread starred and have been following your reading so thought I should delurk..

ETA: As a Brit I was rooting for Murray in the tennis although Federer is a fantastic player. Never mind, we're used to losing..

I was thrilled to watch Federer win his match against Murray too. I felt sorry for Murray, but he's young and his day in the sun will come. But I'm also now even more thrilled that the Aus Open is over and I can once again get some decent sleep.

#51 souloftherose - I'm sorry that Murray lost for my Scots and British friends AND of course for Andy himself. He cried just like Roger cried last year, although Roger cried for himself and I think Andy cried for feeling like he let GBR down. Of course looking at his mother he might have been crying because he anticipated having to face her after the match. I'm sure she's a nice lady, but gads! she must put the pressure on.

#52 cameling - I think Andy will win some. Right now, though, only if Roger's sick, getting married, or having babies. Otherwise, except Nadal, who's now out again with his right knee, Roger's mostly invincible. He's 28, though, and his time in the sun is going to end sooner than later.

I've started reading The Little Friend by Donna Tartt. So far so good.

I dithered around with Guys and Dolls and One Good Turn, but neither felt right. We'll see if I'm able to get going with Little Friend.

I read Tartt's The Secret History several years ago and really liked it. I am interested in your take on The Little Friend once you have a chance to finish it.

I hate book funks, even minor ones, don't you?

Hi early morning owl! I have The Secret History, too.

Yes, I really dislike even a two-day funk. It makes me edgy. Plus then I've got to put all the books I looked at back on the right shelf - I use tags to identify where all my books are. Right now I've got 7 books to shelve/re-shelve.

Well, my eyelids are drooping and I'm yawning - a good sign that I might be able to get back to sleep. Plus my feet are freezing. If I can't get back to sleep, I'll sit with the kitties in the living room and read for a while.

My feet being freezing would keep me from sleeping for sure!

Ha! I slept from 3 to 6:30. It's nice to be able to face the day not totally exhausted.

I put the heating pad down by my feet to warm them up. Works great.

Good for you! I am glad you got some rest.

>50 karenmarie: Karen, I am just not impressed by Connie Willis at all. I liked ONE of her books, Inside Job, and found the others tedious to intolerable. I guess even a stopped clock is right twice a day. I won't pick up any more of her books, though!

Happy un-funking...only good reading mojo for February! *whammy*

Hey Richard! I'm done with Willis. Too tedious for words.

There are too many good authors out there to waste my time.

So far the Donna Tartt book is shaping up nicely.

Tartt has The Touch, doesn't she? I like her stuff to read, but somehow she's never made an entree onto my shelves. Odd, that.

Well, I'm only 42 pages into reading her, but so far I like what I'm reading. I didn't get that far in One Good Turn, and I absolutely adore Kate Atkinson.

As with everything, it's all timing.

BookMooch and the Thrift Store were my main modes of acquisition. It's actually a lot of fun because there's a sense of accomplishment if I can mooch or find one of my wishlisted books. Simple pleasures, etc.

I am going to squirrel away about $50 to use at the Friends of the Library sale in March, though. I've already got the day off work. We're not actualy so broke that I can't just spend it, but squirreling it away, $5 and $10 at a time, is also satisfying.

BTW - I just checked out Tartt on Amazon and see that she has been the narrator on True Grit by Charles Portis. Not that I'll ever listen to it, but it's interesting.

Have you read True Grit? I loved that book. I wonder now what kind of reading she gives of it. Drat! Now I have to check it out! Stop that, Karen!

I sent my 2010 new-bought-books budget to Haiti relief so no new books for me. I'm confining myself to used ones from garage sales and the Salvation Armani and the like.

I just changed my message a tad.... you're quick to respond.

I wish we were in the same state, sitting down at a cafe somewhere drinking something exotic and having great conversations about books.

I did read True Grit and also saw the John Wayne movie. I loathe and despise Marion as a rule, but I did like him as Rooster Cogburn. I've also read Portis' Norwood but can't remember a single thing about it.

You're a better man than I am, Charlie Brown, for sending your money to Haiti. I'm going to send something via Red Cross soon, just haven't done it yet. Give yourself huge pats on the back.

Yeah, it's the perfect cafe afternoon here, too! Gray clouds, chill...ideal for a caffe mocha (bitter chocolate, espresso, and mounds of whipped cream) with a linzer torte. *drool*

Years ago, I read The Beggar's Cup...wonderful book...and the portrait it painted, in a few deft strokes, of Wayne still makes me chortle. Eric Blau, the author, knew Wayne, and was Most Unkind about him. Hehehe.

I couldn't bear to think of indulging myself in brand-new books that I'll read while comfortably ensconced in a warm, snug house, Scotch on the side table, dinner in the oven, when thousands of people can't get clean water to drink and lose legs to preventable infections because the doctors can't get supplies. It hurts me in tender places. It's only a grand, but it still helps me sleep at night.

I just finished and wrote a review of The Little Friend by Donna Tartt. Here it is: The Little Friend I gave it 3 stars. I suspect I might up it to 3 1/2 if I really think about it, but the ending was so abrupt!

I'm off to start The Conjurer's Bird by Martin Davies for my March bookclub meeting.

That's a good review of The Little Friend Karen. I think I'll give the book itself a miss though, it sounds a bit too bleak for me at the moment.

Great review of The Little Friend - thanks. I never quite 'got' The Secret History and am thus unconvinced about Tartt - The Little Friend sounds like a book that will frustrate me!
I hope you enjoy The Conjurer's Bird - I read it a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it.

Chloe

Thanks souloftherose and cjwallace. It's funny - sometimes even the best book possible resists reviewing. This one just cried out for a quick review.

I think it's a combination of bleak and hilarious, souloftherose - the story's funny and interesting yet the Ratliffs' lives are bleak and Harriet's is in a funk. There were definitely some laugh out loud moments and some nods of rightness at her scenes and characterizations.

I must admit it took me to about page 520 or so to figure out who the Little Friend was.....

I'm about 30 pages into The Conjurer's Bird and loving it so far.

I read The Conjurer's Bird several years ago and loved it as well. I am glad you are enjoying it thus far, Karen.

#71 alcottacre - I thought it was fantastic! I loved the plot and the historical information and the ending.

I also just finished The Anubis Gates for the 75 Book Challenge Steampunk thread. Can't wait to discuss it March 1st.

Now I'm off to start the second book of the Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd, Wings of Fire.

#72: I am glad you liked it. If you have an urge to learn more about Joseph Banks, I can recommend Patrick O'Brien's biography of him.

I had a fun couple of days reading two books in the Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd.

Wings of Fire 02/25/10 02/26/10 ***1/2 The second in a series of mysteries with Inspector Ian Rutledge, traumatized and haunted from his time on the battlefields of WWI. In this outing Ian must resolve whether a supposed doublesuicide is truly a double suicide and whether an accidental death immediately after is truly accidental. During the way Ian discovers evil across generations. What is most interesting to me about this series of mysteries, so far as I can figure out from the first two, is first that Ian is haunted by Hamish MacLeod, who he ordered shot for disobeying orders in the trenches of WWI, and second that Ian will pursue the truth regardless of where it takes him or how it might harm him personally. I really love his character.

Search the Dark 02/27/10 02/28/10 ***1/2 Third in the Ian Rutledge series. Rutledge is assigned the task of finding the missing but already-dead children of a man accused of murdering his already-dead wife. A WWI vet is at a train station when he is convinced he sees his dead wife and children and runs amok through the village looking for her. A body turns up, but is it his wife's? And why is another woman missing but nobody seems to realize that? A very good mystery, once again, with Rutledge pursuing the truth regardless of the people and obstacles put in his way. Hamish MacLeod, his personal ghost, is actually quite helpful in this one.

Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris 03/04/10 03/05/10 ***1/2 The fourth book of the Harper Connelly series, this one tackles the mystery of Harper's sister Cameron's disappearance. It was a fun good read and finally let us meet Iona and Hank, who adopted Harper and Tolliver's baby sisters. Harper unintentionally discovers that a young woman who was thought to have died of a massive infection really died after giving birth. Who's child was it? And, where was it now? There's a lot of money at stake, and a lot of unsavory characters, most of them belonging to Harper and Tolliver's extended family. 306 pages.

The Private Patient by P. D. James 02/15/10 03/04/10 *** Audiobook. A private patient checks in to a private clinic to get a scar removed and is murdered. A friend of hers, who is also the cousin of two family members who work there, gets murdered too. There's a child murderer who's now grown up and trying to make her way in the world, a doctor who's breaking up with a lover, the daughter of the previous owner of the manor, and a husband and wife cooking team who live at the manor after she gets fired from her job. Pretty predictable, and P.D. James outdoes herself with high-falutin' preachiness. Glad I got it from the library and just listened to it and didn't invest any money in it.

OK, you've convinced me! I've been hearing so much about Charles Todd's books, and your comments here finally did it. I just added the first three Ian Rutledge mystery series books to my TBR wishlist. And our library has them all!

The Charles Todd books sound interesting but my library only has the later books in the series. Do they need to be read in order?

#76 tymfos - Hope you like them! I love the time period - WWI and 1920s England - and I think the writing is wonderful.

#77 souloftherose - hmm. I'd say yes, simply because Rutledge's relationship with Hamish changes between books.

I've been bookmooching them and patiently acquiring them in order. Thanks to your question, I checked out my library to see which ones I had. I didn't think I had Legacy of the Dead, but I do, so I'll be reading the fourth one soon. The fifth one, Watchers of Time, is still to be bookmooched or found at the thrift store. Then I'll be able to enjoy 6 and 7, which are on my shelves, but will need 8-10 before reading 11 and then acquiring 12.

I don't usually worry about reading in order, but this series seems to call out for it.

#78 Well, if they turned up on bookmooch before I'm sure they'll turn up again at some point. I have to keep reminding myself that my TBR pile could probably keep me going for the rest of the year even if I didn't keep losing control in the library!

They will. With BookMooch you just have to be patient.

I don't even get books at the library anymore - I figure since they'll be past due and I'll owe lots of money on them (being as unorganized as I am about returning books in a timely manner), I might as well buy them, used if possible, BookMooch even better possible.

I've got 226 books on my wishlist. I look two or three times a day to see if things have popped in there that I can mooch. I just scored Olive Kitteridge over 200 people who had it on wishlist. And then, of course, new books of interest sometimes just happen to be available. I just scored A Streetcar Named Desire that way - I'm on a Marlon Brando kick right now. I've got two Brando biographies owed me on BookMooch. I did have to buy another book - When Blanche met Brando by Sam Staggs and am on about page 80 or so - it's fantastic.

Ah, wishlist checking can be so addictive. I'm trying not to check it at the moment (not all that successfully) as I have so many books unread. Will look forward to hearing your thoughts on your new acquisitions!

I see we both scored Midnight Fires: A Mystery with Mary Wollstonecraft by Nancy Means Wright from ER will be curious to see what we think about it.I made a comment on the author's facebook page and she PM'ed me and told me congrats and hopes I enjoy it!

I'm of two minds about BookMooch. I like the principle. I am (absurdly) nervous about sending my pampered dear bookie-wooks off into the possibly sadistic, cover-bending, dog-earing *pause to hyperventilate* bathtub-dropping wilds of the Moochiverse.

Nonsense, I know, but I can't help myself wondering where the darlings will go. I prefer the AngelMooching here on LT. Someone knows I'll love something, sends it to me, I send it on, I find something I *know* someone will love, send it to them, you get the drift.

But I don't tend to read new books after buying them, but after checking them out of the liberry, so a lot of the stuff people *really* want I don't got. Another reason not to use BookMooch, I guess.

And like Karen really cares! Sorry, I'll go mumble in the corner of my own thread. *smooch* for being patient.

#92 susiesharp - I was surprised to get a book this month since I got one last month No Instructions Needed by Robert G. Hewitt. Not complaining, for sure. It sounds good and I'm looking forward to getting it. The Wollstonecraft book, that is. I already received NIN.

#93 Hey Richard!

Not all the books I put on BookMooch are 'darlings'. I guess you have to consider what types of books I put up on Bookmooch.

1. Duplicates. Less than when I started Cataloging my books on LT, but sometimes my neighbor Louise gives me books to read and do with what I will and I already have a copy.

2. Books I find at the thrift store or Habitat for Humanity store that I know are heavily wishliested or that I don't think I own but I do. Most recent example: 36 Views of Mount Fuji. I read it 10 years ago, didn't remember that I had it on my shelves, and found it at the Habitat store for $.50. Upon arriving at home, realized I had it and put it on BookMooch. It's sitting here packed up and ready to ship to a woman in Oceanside, CA.

3. Books that become uninteresting, books that I've "outgrown", although that doesn't usually mean childrens' books. Like right now I'm seriously considering putting up the Marjorie M. Liu books on BookMooch.

These reasons are part of my list of why to keep books in general:

Will I ever read or re-read it?
Does this book contribute to a well-rounded library?
Will my daughter want or need this book in the short term (high school or college) or when my library eventually goes to her?
Does this book have sentimental value?
Does this book have intrinisic value?

I have over 3400 books in my house (well, more, but I haven't cataloged my husband's 300 or so SF books). I've discovered that some books just need to belong to other people.

I'm afraid I really disliked Charles Todd's first Inspector Rutledge book, and am unlikely to try any more. They're written by a mother and son duo under his name, I believe. I met him at a convention a few years ago, and was rather embarrassed because he was asking us all what we thought of his books.

3400 books in your house. Amen! Now, I am off the hook. I will simply tell my partner that you have this many books and thus when he quibbles about my hundreds, perhaps it will provide perspective...

I am envious...greenly so.

#85 elkiedee - I loaned the first Charles Todd to a friend at work and he didn't paricularly like it either. I realize that haunted policemen in Britain in the 1920s may not be everybody's cup of tea.

#86 Whisper1 - just checked out your profile page and I love your pictures!

LibraryThing has been a serious contributor to my increase of books. I can't count the books entered in 2008 because I was still cataloging (it took me from Oct 07 to Jun 08 to catalog my books), but in 2009 I entered 550 books into LT. And that was trying to cut back! But the Thrift Store, Habitatat for Humanity Store, BookMooch, and the Friends of the Library sales in March and September did me in.

I love my books. I love looking at them, holding them, reading them, remembering ones I've read with fondness.

Two nights ago my 16-year old daughter was trying to remember a book of mine that she'd started 2 years ago and didn't finish. It's Six of One by Rita Mae Brown. All she could remember was the girl's name "Nickel". We figured out which book it was, I checked my most recent download to identify what shelf it was on, and she's carted it back upstairs to read.

Having books for my daughter is one of my favorite things about having a well-rounded library.

#87: I love my books. I love looking at them, holding them, reading them, remembering ones I've read with fondness.

I do too. I sometimes stand in my library just looking at them.

Ahh! I am home when I am here! In reply to 87 and 88.

Ohhh, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who stares at their bookshelves...

I don't have to look at shelves. I have six or seven books in bed with me at all times, in all stages of read-ness; plus the dozens next to the bed. I don't feel secure unless there are books within reach at all times.

Yea Richard! So very well said. I give that statement a strong thumbs up!

I used to be able to read three or four books at once, but now I'm down to one or two - one fiction and one non-fiction at the most.

When Blanche Met Brando: The Scandalous Story of "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Sam Staggs. 03/07/10 03/10/10 ***1/2 I am currently obsessed by this movie, and reading about the play, first and subsequent stage productions, and first and subsequent movies is enchanting. The last 50 or so pages were less interesting than the parts about the original stage production and the 1951 movie, but the first part of the book more than makes up for it with general information about Williams, the actors, the staging of the play, and the movie. Good, fun, interesting book. 340 pages.

I'm now actually reading the play. I despise reading plays, so this makes a statement about my level of obsession.

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams 03/10/10 03/11/10 **** The stage play is beautiful to read. I normally don't like to read plays, but after having seen the movie recently and read #16 above, decided to go for it. The movie downplayed or eliminated some of the strengths of the play but I already knew that. It flows smoothly and I'm even more in sympathy with Stanley, amazingly, even though he rapes Blanche. I'm not 100% sure how much is rape and how much is teasing.... that might be one of the play's strengths, that things are not as they seem and can be more than one thing at once. Excellent. 142 pages.

Legacy of the Dead by Charles Todd 03/13/10 03/15/10 **** Ah, they just keep getting better and better. This 4th mystery of the Ian Rutledge series has Rutledge searching for a missing woman and trying to save another woman from sacrificing herself to save a friend and a child. The remembrances of the Great War are heart-wrenching. The life evoked in England and Scotland of 1919 is detailed and marvelous to read about. This is a well-written intelligent mystery with a deeply psychological component.

The Great Roxhythe by Georgette Heyer *** Here's my review: The Great Roxhythe

I'm about 130 pages into Songs My Mother Taught Me by Marlon Brando. Wonderful so far.

#96: Nice review, Karen. I will look for that one.

I have to look into the Rutledge series. Sounds very tempting. Thanks for the recommendation, Karen

#97 thanks, alcottacre! I think this a book that has to "ripen" so to speak. I keep thinking about it.

I've finished Songs My Mother Taught Me AND Marlon Brando by Patricia Bosworth and now, for comic relief, I'm reading Mister Roberts by Thomas Heggen. I absolutely adore the movie with Jack Lemmon, William Powell, James Cagney, and Henry Fonda and am finding the book quite amusing and wonderful.

Go, cameling! I hope you enjoy them.

Mister Roberts by Thomas Heggen 03/22/10 03/23/10 ***1/2 Here's my review: Mister Roberts

#100: Nice review, Karen. I will look for that one.

Didn't they make a movie of Mister Roberts? I seem to remember watching a movie by this name, and it was a comedy, I think.

It starred Henry Fonda as Mister Roberts with Jimmy Cagney and Jack Lemmon and it was hysterically funny for the most part. I had no idea that it was originally a book.

I worked on a ship under a captain that was from a federal academy I won't besmirch here. Once he made me so mad I made a comment that he shouldn't leave his potted palm on the bridge wing. I don't think he got the allusion to the movie. It had a scene where Mr. Roberts threw the captain's palm over the side which made the captain irate and tickled the crew to no end. And, no, I didn't do it.

Yes, that's right .... I remember it being funny .... I'll have to get on Netflix to see if I can get a copy to watch again.

Fluff time!

I got The Lost Symbol for $.25 (plus shipping) when I re-joined a bookclub. I could not resist, having read his 4 other books and still having them on my shelves.

This one is the first book I’ve read by Dan Brown since joining LT. I’ve read criticism of his style and of the books and basically felt that my original assessment that they were good books overrode what I read about them and him. I was looking forward to this one.

It is, however, extremely irritating to read. Every page and a half is a new chapter. Everything is repeated ad nauseam. If you stop to ask why a character does something, you run smack up against the knowledge that none of the characters are realistic at all. Nobody acts the way these people act.

So if you don’t mind unrealistic characters acting like encyclopedias fluttering about, it’s a good book. If you don’t mind almost hearing the book screech at you with its deux ex machine plot contrivances and don’t mind the book culminating about 30 pages before the actual ending, then go for it.

Otherwise, there are so many other good thrillers out there that this one should just be ignored.

It’s going on BookMooch very soon.

I think I will be ignoring that one. Thanks for the review and nonrecommendation, Karen :)

I'm not a fan of Dan Brown but someone donated The Lost Symbol to the library it has sat on the shelf for over a month and noone has checked it out!Glad I didn't pay money for it!

#89: I was just thinking the same thing after reading the last 30 or so posts. People who stare happily at their bookshelves, people who accidentally buy books they already own, people who check BookMooch several times a day ... my kind of people. :)

Sorry that you didn't enjoy The Lost Symbol - I liked his Da Vinci Code and sort of liked Angels and Demons except that I wished I had read it prior to DVC or that I had left more time in between before reading it. I started reading The Lost Symbol but gave up after 120 pages because it irritated the heck out of me.

Hope your next read is a better one for you.

Hi madhatter22 - books, books books. We are easy to please, aren't we?

Hi cameling - I read the whole thing, which amazes me. I admit that I skimmed the last 30 or so pages though. No more Dan Brown for me.

I am reading another good book. I love Charles Todd - see above. I thought I needed the 6th book, A Fearsome Doubt. I went to the Library Sale Thursday and even though I knew I had it, I bought A Matter of Justice to put up on BookMooch. I found the copy I already had, looked around on the shelves just for the heck of it, and there it was - A Fearsome Doubt!! I need the next one after that, and the last 3. So I'm happy ensconced in Britain after WWI again with Ian Rutledge and his ever-present ghost Hamish.

I plowed through A Fearsome Doubt. It is the weakest of the first 6 in my opinion, but still heads above most other series. I thought the ending a bit contrived.

I needed a comfort read yesterday, so pulled out a tried-and-true favorite, The Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer. I wrote a review of it based on yesterday's reading: The Devil's Cub

I've started Cousin Kate, also by Heyer. I think it's the only Heyer romance on my shelves that I've never read - I got it in December. Exciting to have a new Heyer!

I know now why I waited so long to join these groups - because your wishlist grows ever longer, stretching away into infinity, with no hope of ever catching up ever again. The China Mieville sounds intriguing, and I could do with a good dose of honey, it's meant to be good for you. Well, one thing I can do to remedy is go and look at your BookMooch wishlist straight away and see if i can help out!

Hi captainsflat - yes wishlists grow as a function of time across LibraryThing. You find friends and start appreciating their comments about books then start thinking you'd like to read the books they read.

Sigh.

My wishlist is pretty big, but I have LOTS of points to spend...... The only books that I require the specific ISBN# fpr are the Harry Potter books - I'm trying to collect the hardcover Bloomsbury editions. (I have the hardcover Scholastics and all the audiobooks). Of course I found out the hard way that there are two series of covers for them - the "children's" covers and the "adult" covers. So now I have 2 children's and one adult. Which probably means that I'll need to collect both.

>113 karenmarie: I tremble before such fandom, Karen. Truly I do.

Fandom of you, dear Richard, or of Harry Potter?

Being a fan of you doesn't require explanation, I suppose, but here goes: Cute-i-tude, eclectic reader, smarts, devotion to Stella, good recipes (I've snagged the toast/w chutney recipe off of ..mckait's...? thread), general fun person.... ya got it all.

Harry Potter - fan since I opened the first book to read to my then-7 year old. So much so that I've listened to the books three times and read them twice. I know, I know.

I meant Harry Potter, but I adore the description of moi l'incomparable!

*smooch*

edited/close bold...it got to be a bit much...

*smooch* back!

Speaking of toast/chutney recipe: I put it together on Sunday, and my son and I ate almost all of them ourselves. Seems no one else in my family likes curry (once again, proof that I was secretly adopted). So yummy that I'm doing it again for a Trivia Night next week!

>118 tloeffler: Oh good! I am always pleased to hear that one of my favorites went down well!

This is intriguing...what is this toast/chutney thing? We have bucket loads of mango chutney hanging around, would this help us to use it up? Where do I find it?

>116 richardderus:, Alas I have no Bloomsbury Potters. (hey, that's a nice phrase!). I do have more than enough Voss, but I will have to dig out a copy without a torn cover! I;m afraid that is all I recognized in my quick search. So any edition would do for Voss?

#120 captainsflat - our dear Richard occasionally shares lovely recipes with us. I was intrigued with the recipe and will make it for my bookclub meeting (whenver that is - we're meeting tomorrow to pick books and locales for the next year).

Richard, I'm taking the liberty of re-posting it here:

Richard's Yummy Toast with Chutney (my title, don't know what Richards's is)

Buy a loaf of cheap white bread.
Trim off all crusts.
Melt a stick of butter. Stir in two tablespoons of curry powder and one teaspoon mustard powder. DON'T use prepared mustard! Then add Worcestershire sauce or Pickapeppa sauce until it's a darkish color.
Grate a pound of really sharp cheddar.
Spread the bread with the buttery glop, sprinkle some cheese in the middle, and roll the bread from one corner to the opposite corner (start with the corner of bread pointing towards you, in a diamond shape).
Shove a toothpick into the roll, put it on a baking sheet, lather rinse repeat until the whole sheet's covered.

Bake really hot. Edges should be brown. Take it out when the toast is toasty. Cool to taste (I like it a little warmer than the room) and serve with a bowl of chutney. Prepare to fend off marriage proposals and lascivious propositions.

I don't understand the Voss reference, captainsflat. ?

I've just finished Open by Andre Agassi. ***1/2 Loaned to me by a friend at work because he knows how much I like tennis. I have a much better appreciation of what Andre Agassi has accomplished and am more sympathetic to some of the things about him I didn't like or understand.

A quick, informative, and fun read, even when Agassi is baring his soul and you are hurting for him.

Back to Horns by Joe Hill - another great read. I'm on a roll!

Can't wait to read more of your thoughts on Horns!

Hi tymfos: Just finished it about an hour ago. Here's my review: Horns

Bottom line, I really liked it. Lots of violence, though.

Karen- Good review on Horns! I have it on audio!

Thanks, Mark!

I have loved both of Joe Hill's novels and didn't care for his short story book 20th Century Ghosts.

As long as he keeps writing novels, I'll keep buying them!

Oh, I can't resist. I've put Horns on my list.

I loved Heart Shaped Box, and I even liked a lot of the short stories in 20th Century Ghosts. The premise of this book sounds, on the surface, hokey -- who can believe, someone with horns? -- but I've already experienced how Hill can make me suspend disbelief and buy into some really strange stories.

These posts about Joe Hill have inspired my to dust off the copy of Heart Shaped Box sitting on my shelf and finally read it this year.

Oh, I hope you like it madhatter22! I thought it very well done. It just builds and builds. Let me know what you think.

I frequently get spooked reading late at night at home. But Heart Shaped Box is the only book I've read in recent memory which gave me chills reading in broad daylight in a busy library reading room!

Hi Karen, I really liked your review of Horns. I read it a month or so ago and loved it. I also loved Heart-Shaped Box and although I have 20th Century Ghosts on the shelf, I haven't read it yet.

tymfos - I was also a little freaked out by Heart-Shaped Box. I remember my husband went out of town for a few days while I was reading it and I couldn't pick it up again until he got home.

Thanks, coppers!

I remember Heart-Shaped Box giving me the willies, but not that it kept me from sleeping or reading it when alone.

I only found out after reading it that Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. So now I've read a couple of King's books - Bag of Bones, Duma Key, Dreamcatchers. I've mooched quite a few more and they're sitting patiently on my shelves waiting for the right time.

I'm even more excited to read Heart Shaped Box hearing how many people were freaked out by it! I love a great scary story, but I haven't found many horror authors who don't disappoint in some way. (Even Stephen King, who's a favorite and who I've read almost all of, often blows his endings.)

Speaking of, have you read Pet Sematary Karenmarie? King once said that he wanted to write a book that was so scary people couldn't finish it, and I think that book came closest of all of his. I remember coming to a place in the book that shocked me so bad I threw the book across the room as if it were suddenly covered in spiders!
The next day I was home alone reading it and got too scared to be in the house by myself even though it was broad daylight (and I was about 20 at the time). I was home recovering from having all 4 wisdom teeth extracted, in pain and in my pajamas, but I had to go sit in the front yard until my mom and sister came home.
I've read other books that really freaked me out (The Shining is another great example of King's) but never anything that affected me like that.

I read The Shiningwhen I was in college. I came back after vacation early and was the only person in the dorm.

I can't read any more...I have to read more...I can't read any more...I can't stop reading...STOP READING, STUPID!

I laid awake for hours after I finally managed to close the book staring in the dark.

LOL ... you've just described my experience with The Shining too, mamzel ... except I wasn't in the dorm, I was alone at home and my parents were away for the weekend. I ended up waking up a friend and asking him to talk to me on the phone until it got light because I was too scared to close my eyes and try to go to sleep.

Shauna- I have to agree with you about Pet Sematary being King's most disturbing book. I'm not sure I've ever been that creeped out by any book. It's been over 25 years since I read it and it can still make my skin crawl thinking about it! BTW, huge fan of The Shining too!
Karen- I started the audio of Horns today, my 1st Joe Hill and I am very impressed. At times he reminds me of his father but no question he has his own dark style!

Wow! Lots of (scared) votes for Pet Semetary and The Shining. I just found both on Bookmooch and they should be coming my way soon. I love Bookmooch!

The thing is, we don't have curtains or drapes on our bedroom windows (live in the country, at the end of a cul-de-sac, 300 feet from the road) so at night it is DARK outside. I've sometimes had to go back out to the living room and find my husband 'cuz I get so scared reading things. It sounds like I'll be doing that with both of these.

I've read The Shining -- loved it -- but never got to Pet Semetary. I think I'll have to correct that oversight . . .

I certainly remember The Shining probably because I've seen the movie a couple of times in the last few years. I don't seem to remember much about Pet Semetary though, except that it was pretty disturbing.

I just finished Watchers of Time, another in the Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd. Excellent. This mother/son team really knows how to write an interesting mystery.

The basic premise of them all is that Ian Rutledge, back from The War (WWI), traumatized, shell-shocked, but back, is a threat to his supervisor Chief Superintendent Bowles. Bowles uses every excuse to send him out of London on supposedly obscure and meaningless cases to keep him from doing well in London. However, each case, so far, has had Rutledge find the true facts and solve one or more mysteries.

One thing I particularly like is that, just as in real life, things happen after the "end of the story." In this case, the murderer has confessed yet the ending is in a car. All of he hulabaloo of the confession, arrest, publicity, and confrontation with Bowles are left to the imagination. All the things that happen to the people in the book are left open. We may or may not hear about any of them again, but I really enjoy thinking about them continuing their lives on the paths promised or on new paths.

Inspector Rutledge and Hamish are an intriguing pair. I admire Rutledge and appreciate Hamish's quirks and anguish. I also admire the way Charles Todd has set the extremely accurate stage of 1919 England in all its richness.

Drat you! Curse you! Maledictions upon your house! I DO NOT WANT another mystery series to follow, you fiend! And now that I know this one exists, I MUST HAVE IT!

*mutters sulphrous imprecations as he goes off to wishlist*

I'd say I'm sorry but I think you'll really like the series. The first Rutledge is A Test of Wills. Have fun!!!

I wanted to read them in order and did so until the last two, getting Watchers of Time Charles Todd and A Fearsome Doubt confused. However, I don't seem the worse for it and just need to locate the next one - I have it, but even though I have a location system of tags, can't seem to find it. I've probably got about 15 books misshelved out of 3389 so things are mostly good on the book search effort, but I can't find book 7, A Cold Treachery. It says it's on shelf S13 (sunroom, column 1, row 3), but I've looked 3 times. Sigh. I'm going to find it. It's just a matter of when.

So I've started The Crow Road by Iain Banks. And am still reading The Lace Reader but might put it down, and am reading Undaunted Courage but haven't picked it up in a week.

I've also got another excellent series I'm enjoying. (Should I mention it or not? I don't want to incur further wrath and imprecations, much less maledictions on my house). Well, anyway, of the no-name series I've read the first two and have the next two. Good stuff.

Or as my daughter says, and everybody seems to be saying these days, "It's all good."

OK, let's have it . . . the name of the other excellent series, that is.

So many of my library patrons -- with similar reading tastes to my own -- love the Ian Rutledge series, I have to try it sooner or later.

There have been a few patrons who didn't like them, but their reading tastes in general rarely match mine.

So many books, so little time . . . *sigh*

Hey tymfos:

Okay, the other series is the Simon Serrailler series by Susan Hill.

The Various Haunts of Men
The Pure in Heart
The Risk of Darkness
The Vows of Silence

Like I've said, I've read the first two and have the last two in my hot little hands.

#144 Good, that one's already on my radar! (*whew!*)

#145, aw tymfos - if you want I've got serveral other series I like......

By the way, there's a fifth out in May: Shadows in the Street.

I read the first, The Various Haunts of Men, and quickly bought the next two in the series.

I've been planning on trying the Charles Todd series. My library has the first on order so I'm waiting for it to come in. I'm assuming they should be read in order?

coppers - I very rarely read series in order but have tried with this one. I switched 5 and 6 unintentionally but it didn't seem to hurt.

If you can, this series does better in order simply because the relationship between Rutledge and Hamish makes more sense moving forward in time and Rutledge's show recovering mental health (shell-shocked WWI veteran) is part of the narrative.

Thanks, doc - I didn't realize a new one was on the horizon. Amazon shows it being released in September - ?

Since I can't find A Cold Treachery on my shelves (drat! double drat!) I'm going to do the best thing to find it - buy it again. Then I'll have one copy I can put up on bookmooch.

After re-reading another Georgette Heyer (WHY doesn't her touchstone ever work?) this weekend, I'm about halfway through the third Simon Serrailler, The Risk of Darkness. It's highly satisfactory so far. I stayed up til 11 last night reading it, even knowing I had to get up at 4 this morning to work on Band Boosters Treasurer stuff for our meeting tonight.

Well I finished The Risk of Darkness in two days, sacrificing sleep and reading at lunch time at work.

Here's what I wrote up above (I might polish it a bit later): The Risk of Darkness by Susan Hill04/18/10 04/19/10 **** Wow! These books are so good. It's almost like one huge book put out in installments because the cases from one overlap into the next. There's some amazing descriptions of a person in a situation that most of us wouldn't be in but that really bring you into their world (I'm being deliberately vague so as to not spoil it). Simon is quite the chauvinistic pig in this one as he searches for what he really wants in life and runs up against obstacles. The secondary characters, typically the family members of the victims or, in this book in particular, a family member of an accused murderer are written with such a depth of feeling and sympathy for their plight that it quite takes my breath away.

I also just finished listening to Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. Here's what I thought of it: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie 04/14/10 04/19/10 **1/2 Hmmm. I liked and disliked this book all at the same time. I don't particularly like fiction about China, and this one was just as confusing and depressing as most other fiction I read. I simply do not easily grasp Chinese culture, in any manifestation (pre, or post Cultural Revolution) and have a hard time connecting with the characters. The story is clever in its appeal to book lovers, but honestly, it was just mostly blah. It is translated from the French and there are a few times when it was obvious that it was a translation. Meh.

I'm thinkin' I won't recommend any Chinese stuff to Karen....

#152 Richard - your perspicacity is much admired. :)

*blush* Shuckins, Miss Karen ma'am, I jes' like foller the hints.

#151 I'm so pleased you liked The Risk of Darkness :-) :-)

My library has a copy of The Various Haunts of Men so I will look out for it next time I go - thank you for the recommendation!

#155 souloftherose -my angel! Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy the series.

I just finished and reviewed The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill. 04/20/10 04/22/10 ****

The Vows of Silence

Now I have to wait until the next one, Shadows in the Street is actually published. Boo, hiss.

Hi Karen - Just a suggestion while you wait - have you read Ann Cleeves' Shetland Island books? I didn't see them in our list of shared books. They're very good.

No, coppers - I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the tip.

I thought I had read Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer but don't remember the story, so may not have ever read it. Regardless, it's an enjoyable Heyer romp (thank you, Richard, for the nudge!).

It is good but by no means superior to my favorites (These Old Shades, Devil's Cub, Faro's Daughter, The Talisman Ring, The Nonesuch, The Quiet Gentleman, The Toll-gate, etc.)

Hester Theale, the heroine, is only present for part of the book as her romantic interest, Sir Gareth Ludlow, chases all over the countryside trying to keep a young lady out of trouble. Sir Gareth plays uncle most of the time, but is quietly falling in love with Hester. There are some amusing scenes and some nice dialogue but it isn't quite as .... scintillating.... as some of Heyer's other books.

Now I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of A Cold Treachery, the 7th in the Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd.

In the meantime, I think I'll start Venetia.

Edited to add: I started The Unknown Ajax instead. I'd forgotten how good this one is.

Just finished the 7th book in the Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd, A Cold Treachery.

Here's my review: A Cold Treachery

Excellent book! A wonderful series. I'm off to start the 8th book - A Long Shadow.

Oh, I must get around to trying the Rutledge series! I know our public library has most of them.

You must, tymfos! If you like British mysteries, just after WWI, psychological mysteries, or ghosts, these are right up your alley.

They are on my list also. I just need to get the first one and START on them! They sound right up my alley.

#163 Ghosts, too? That settles it! :)

A Pale Horse by Charles Todd 05/09/10 05/13/10 **1/2 A surprisingly bland tale with too many suspects, too many venues, and not enough about Rutledge. All he does is drive from Yorkshire to Berkshire to London. There's a small bit about his sister Frances, some intriguing hints from Hamish about how he might manifest to Rutledge, and some very good psychological work about a missing man, his suicide wife, and his two daughters; but all in all it's the weakest of the series in my opinion.

>166 karenmarie: Uh oh. Maybe I shouldn't read A Test of Wills if this is gonna peter out....

Richard dear! The next one, A Matter of Justice, which I just finished this morning, is a 3 1/2 star-er on my scale. (very good). One more to go, The Red Door, which I don't have and somehow have to acquire, then I'll be waiting for new books.

And the more I think of it, the more I like the psychological aspects of the husband-wife-daughters in A Pale Horse.

I'm going to start Transmission for my bookclub, which sounds weird. Sigh.

>168 karenmarie: Okay...I'm in. And Transmission sounds unlike your sort of book, so I assume that someone else picked it. The book circle is reading Amos Oz next...Elsewhere, Perhaps...not my first choice, either.

Kira picked it - 70-years old, quirky, Wiccan, divorced mother of 2. She has pottery wine glasses if that says anything (I dislike drinking wine out of something I can't see the wine in).

Her book choice last year was This is not Civilization by Robert Rosenberg which I abandoned with glee after about 60 or pages. I had fun trashing it at the meeting, but most people liked it.

I actually picked up Transmission but diverted to Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell. I'll carry Transmission around and see if I can get motivated.

But I won't get much reading done before late tonight - today's a busy day - power-washing the back porch (40' x 6') and the decking, watching 1 hour and 10 minutes of the men's final in Madrid (Roger, my boy, vs. Rafa of the ugly checked shorts) then off to volunteer 2 hours to earn money for my daughter for a Marching Band trip to Ohio in the fall. Once home again (and learning whether Roger won on clay or Rafa prevailed like he's expected to) we'll have a little barbequeue then find a movie to watch.

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell 05/15/10 ***1/2 Musings on the assassination of 3 American Presidents - Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley. Her style alternately appeals and grates - the book is chock full of interesting and well-presented information and her very apparent love of the macabre. We learn a lot about the Presidents and their assassins, a lot about Robert Todd Lincoln who was, coincidentally, on the scene of all 3 assassinations, and a lot about Vowell's sister Amy and Amy's son Owen. She has done her homework and clearly loves her subject. What grates is the occasional stand-up comic schtick. As I said after reading her book about Pilgrims, The Wordy Shipmates, there are occasional funny lines that, at least with me, bomb horribly. Ba-da-boom.

Edited to fix the glaring error of saying Grant was assassinated. It was Garfield. Thanks, tloeffler.

Karen- This was my first Vowell book and one of my first audiobooks, read by her and I really enjoyed it. She was funny and knew her stuff!

Hi Mark:

The good parts and research outweigh the comic failures. I'll keep reading her books. Have you read The Wordy Shipmates? I really liked it a lot and prefer it of the two I've now read.

Transmission is getting trumped by The French Blue, a book sent to me by the author, Richard W. Wise. Can't wait to get started.

>171 karenmarie:: I know what you mean about the "stand-up comic" lines. She can be very funny, but sometimes it seems like she's trying too hard to be. (It's especially noticeable when you listen to her read her pieces. You can sometimes hear this tone in her voice that says "I have a joke coming ... almost here ... ok, now laugh!") I also agree though that her knowledge of and enthusiasm for her always-interesting subject matter outweighs any failed jokes or bad comic timing.

Karen

Somehow I missed your thread. I'm glad I found it again.

I am systematically going through my tbr list and noted that there are quite a few recommendations noted from your library.

Assination Vacation is one of the books that has been on the tbr list for awhile. Now, after reading your comments, I'll move it up some notches.

All good wishes,

Linda

Hmm... I can't quite imagine that there could be anything to joke about on the subject of the assassination of presidents.

Was Grant assassinated? I'm confused.

I have Assassination Vacation next in my MP3 player. I'm anxious to get to it (although less anxious than I was before I read your review....).

>>176 cameling:: One of my all-time favorite essays:
http://articles.sfgate.com/1997-08-08/entertainment/17754075_1_joke-funny-alzhei... (there's a link there to page 2)

Definitely jokes to be had in Sarah Vowell's subject. Whether you find them funny or not is another question. :)

#171 re: Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell 05/15/10 ***1/2 Musings on the assassination of 3 American Presidents - Lincoln, Grant, and McKinley.

#177 Was Grant assassinated? I'm confused.

I'm with you, Terri! I'm only aware of one President Grant; the former Civil War general and hero served his two full term as President (1869-1877) and died of throat cancer in 1885, shortly after completing his memoir (which is worth reading, by the way). I've actually been to the site where he died in New York state. (I was on vacation, but didn't see any signs of assasination!)

No no, I messed up. It was Garfield. I don't know where my brain was. Thanks for catching it, tloeffler and tymfos.

#180 I wondered, after I posted #179, whether you meant Garfield. Easy mistake -- both start with G . . . I've made worse mistakes, by far! :)

Anyway, you gave me an opportunity to recommend Grant's memoir, which achieved both critical and commercial success after his death. When you consider how terribly ill he was when he was writing, it was an especially amazing accomplishemt on his part. As I recall, it was Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) who encouraged him to write it and was the original publisher.

>180 karenmarie: I wouldn't have bothered, but I couldn't for the life of me remember who the other one should have been! Garfield wouldn't materialize. I feel better about myself now!

Hi Karen! :)

Angela (amwmsw04)

tymfos and tloeffler - you keep me honest! Thanks.

And, there you are Angela! Thanks sooooo much for the Louise Penny book A Rule Against Murder. I can't wait to get it.

I'm reading a wonderful historical fiction called The French Blue by LT author Richard W. Wise. He was giving away copies on the group Hobnob with Authors, and he kindly gave me one! I'm about 2/3 of the way through - devouring it. It's a novel about Jean-Baptiste Tavernier and his travels as a gem merchant in the 17th century, although that's putting it at its driest. It's fascinating and reads like a dream.

After that I'm supposed to read Transmission for bookclub but may just dip into A Rule Against Murder instead.

Karen, you are on Official Notice that the voodoo dolly with your engrams imprinted in it is perilously close to use. The needles are hottin' up in the foxglove water as we speak.

Charles Todd's Inspector Rutledge is fabulous, amazing, and I know about him because of YOU.

Prepare your husband for the single life. Say farewell to your daughter. Resign yourself to not dandling grandchildren on your knee.

The French Blue looks very good, Karen. I cannot wait to see what you think of it when you are finished.

Ouch! Hot needles! Digitalis on the way!

I'm so glad you like Rutledge, Richard. The series probably isn't for everybody, but it doesn't surprise me at all that you see the fabulous-ness and amazing-ness, my dear friend. There are lots and lots of them. So far only one has been meh, and even that one had some great psychological stuff about a man, his wife, and two daughters.

One of the things I really like about the series is that driving took longer, phone calls weren't an assumption, people didn't necessarily have electricity, and those technological realities are part of what make the mysteries authentic to the time period. Plus the devastation, both physical and psychological, that were caused by the War. I must get that last book.....

Hi alcottacre! 20 pages to go and I'm stuck at work actually having to work. (well, except for this quick jaunt into LT!) I should be able to finish it at lunch time.

I missed your original post about the Charles Todd books, but Richard's comment piqued my interest. My wishlist suddenly seems to be full of mysteries!

>187 karenmarie: Don't forget, dear Karen, that the world of today makes it possible for you to torment me and cause The Divine Miss intense economic distress with these books. That's part of the charm and appeal of escaping to the past, isn't it...no RL troubles to port along, just a luxurious bath in the chilly North Sea of Rutledge's mind.

Hey...have you been casting these in your mind, like I have? I'd lovelovelove to see a Mystery! series of them...David Tennant (Dr. Who) as Hamish, Nathaniel Parker (Inspector Lynley) as Mark the pilot, John Barrowman (Capt. Jack Harkness of "Torchwood") as Rutledge...think of the fun it would be to see a *proper* production of the characters in their stories!

I gave up on trying to just come across a used copy of the first Ian Rutledge book (although I did find a few others in the series) so I finally ordered it from Amazon last week. It should arrive early next week - yea!

Hey Richard - I actually never cast books in my mind, and since I'm a TV illiterate (except for Jeopardy, Antiques Roadshow, and old series on DVD), I'm not up on the latest hunks.

However, thank goodness for the internet!

David Tennant would work as Hamish although I pictured him more square jawed.

Nathaniel Parker would definitely work as Mark the pilot.

But, no no and no! John Barrowman is definitely not Rutledge. Barrowman's features are too ... strong... not aesthetic enough. He's too bulky. We recently watched Easy Virtue, and I like Ben Barnes. He's about 30 years old, which is right for Rutledge.

I really hope you like it, coppers.

Ahem..."I just reviewed a wonderful mystery that was introduced to me by the horrible Karen/karenmarie, may she be afflicted with boils, called A Test of Wills. It's in my thread, post #178, and it's only fair that others get caught in the net of this fascinating series character Ian Rutledge...or does his shell-shock-symptom voice, Hamish MacLeod, count as a character too...hmmm"

Oh, okay, I think Barnes is a real up-and-comer in the acting world just now. How can I get someone to make this into a BBC/PBS series....

So glad you liked A Test of Wills. Just think, there are 11 more in the series! I've read the first 11. I think I'll buy The Red Door instead of waiting to try to mooch it.

As to turning it into a series, all it would take is $$ and influence. I have neither, what about you?

If you like historical fiction, and/or like the 17th Century, gemstones, travel to exotic places, or Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, you'll love The French Blue, the story of Tavernier as he travels all over the Middle East and India in the 1600s. I still have my review to write, but I have to say that it is a stunner of a book - beautifully written, a combination of historical fact and conjecture. It has illustrations from the time period and is just a luscious read. I want to do the review justice so will continue to mull it over for a while.

In the meantime, and as a counterbalance, I'm reading The Jane Austen Book club. Have you ever gotten rid of a book (in this case a year and a half ago) then decided you MUST have it? That's what happened to me after we watched the movie on Mother's Day. I mooched and got the book and am thoroughly enjoying it. I may even break out my Easton Press copies of Jane Austen's novels in celebration.

And Transmission continues unread. I may not get it read by early June, when the bookclub meets. Sigh.

XO, horrible Karen/karenmarie.

Sadly, Horrible Karen, I have neither sufficient money nor exertable influence to bring Ian Rutledge to the screen. It's going to make a small ache for me every time I pick up one of the ten or so (!) I have yet to read.

The French Blue sounds Fabulous! Anything about blue diamonds makes me quiver. I saw a Science Channel show on them, predicting that when we learn to grow the right shapes and sizes of the perfect conductor/insulator blue diamonds, the effects on the electronics we use every day will be as radical as the Internet was. Cannot WAIT!!

Ah well, maybe somebody has the money and influence to make the series come alive with taste, intelligence, and elan. (without the accent, I'm afraid).

I think you should try to get hold of The French Blue. Yes, another recommendation by HK.

I finished The Jane Austen Book Club. Have you ever read a book and enjoyed it so much that you read it too quickly? I think it's even better than I feel it is, but will probably need to re-read it to get all the subtleties and richness out of it. Excellent book.

I picked up Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson and it's an exuberant and wonderful read so far.

Masters of Atlantis by Charles Portis 05/05/10 05/21/10 * Deer in the headlights reaction - kept listening because I had nothing else to listen to and it had occasional funny moments. Otherwise disturbing, irritating, and ultimately a waste of time. Scary, actually. I remember liking True Grit but this one is dreadful.

Morning Karen! Just swinging by to say hi! Glad you are enjoying this early Kate Atkinson book! I have not read this one but do love the Jackson Brodie series. Any word on when the next one will come out?

I liked Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Karen, and hope you continue to do so. I still need to get to her Case Histories one of these days!

Happy Sunday to you Karen

I'm adding The French Blue to my tbr pile.

*sulphrous mutters*

Blast and damn, I've Amazonned The French Blue, and the VISA bill will arrive at Horrible Karen's door in 21 days.

HI Mark! I don't know know anything about new books from Atkinson but am REALLY enjoying Behind the Scenes.

Hi Alcottacre - you read soooo many books that I'm sure Case Histories will come to the top of stack soon.

Hi Whisper1 - good. It's a great book.

Richard DEAR - I'll make sure I'm away from home when the mail comes that day! I didn't know Amazonned was a verb. Cool. AND, I do hope you enjoy The French Blue. Quiver away, although the Blue doesn't make itself known until pretty far along in the book. But the stuff leading up to it is also quiver-worthy and "cherce".

I've just now "Amazonned" The Red Door, the 12th Ian Rutledge book. You've inspired me, Richard.

This is exciting! I need a new thread and appreciate all the kind folks who've stopped by.

karenmarie's 75 book challenge for 2010 - chapter 2

Karenmarie,

Thanks for your wonderful review of my book. Here is the correct link: The French Blue.