lindapanzo's 2010 reading

I'm back for 2010. For 2009, I set a new personal best, 155 books.

For 2010, I am not setting my sites as high. A goal of 125 books sounds about right, which is still more than I read pre-LT and pre-Kindle.

Books I own--4
Books I borrowed--8
Books on Kindle--9

Part 2 is at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/85933

Hi, Linda! I've starred your thread.

Hi, Linda! I've got your thread starred. Looking forward to see what you read this year!

Welcome back!

Found you!

Hi, Linda! I'm going to try to read more classics in 2010 too (maybe 1/month?). I'll be peeking in to see what you are reading.

#6, one per month might be a bit too optimistic for me. Maybe one every other month?

I suspect when all the great new mysteries and nonfiction books are staring me in the face, my willpower may quickly dwindle.

Glad to see you back, Linda!

You know I'll be watching!

Happy New Year, everyone. Hope you have a great year and lots of terrific reading.

I've already finished my first book for 2010, which I'll post about later. A great way to start the 2010 reading year!!

Books Read in January-February

Books Read in January

1. Give a Little by Wendy Smith
2. James Monroe by Gary Hart
3. The Measure of Our Days: A Spiritual Exploration of Illness by Jerome Groopman
4. Fade Away by Harlan Coben
5. Letters to a Young Lawyer by Alan Dershowitz
6. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
7. As They See 'Em: A Fan's Travels in the Land of Umpires by Bruce Weber
8. The Last Blue Mile by Kim Ponders
9. John Quincy Adams by Robert V. Remini
10. Huckleberry Finished by Livia J. Washburn
11. Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton
12. Chasing Moonlight by Brett Friedlander and Robert Reising
13. Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for the American Soul by Karen Abbott
14. Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
15. The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton

Books Read in February

16. Eggs in Purgatory by Laura Childs
17. Saturday Morning Fever by Timothy and Kevin Burke
18. A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit
19. Biblioholism: The Literary Addiction by Tom Raabe
20. Ding Dong Dead by Deb Baker
21. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Book #1
Give a Little: How Your Small Donations Can Transform Our World by Wendy Smith

I'm off to a flying start in my 2010 reading with this wonderful book showing how a small donation to the right organization can make a world of difference in bringing clean water, health benefits, or other lifesaving measures both here and around the world. My favorite charities are my local food bank and also The Libri Foundation (which provides kids books to rural public libraries) but I'm always on the lookout for other worthwhile causes.

During the initial part of the book, Smith explains how a large portion of charitable giving is actually made by Americans in small amounts, such as $10 or $20. For instance, after the 2004 tsunami, 45 percent of the total given (or $2.78 billion) for tsunami efforts was provided by ordinary Americans. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett may get more publicity for donating less, as a total, but the bulk of charitable efforts are made by regular people.

The bulk of the book, however, offers a fascinating look at organizations, often little-known ones, and all the good works they do, along with information about what a small donation can do. I've never heard of such groups as World Bicycle Relief or Potters for Peace (and dozens of others) but they save lives every day.

It's said that charitable giving offers health benefits to the person doing the giving. I think it's possible that reading about good works and places to perhaps donate a small amount might do the same. Excellent book!!

What a great description of a wonderful book!

You are off to a great start!

I have just started reading Push by Sapphire. I am also planning on reading more classics this year specifically more Virginia Woolf and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Love their writings. Look forward to the discussion.

Linda

I'm glad you are on 75! It made it easy to find you. Do I need to hunt for your 101010 thread to be sure I don't miss any good books?

Your first book sounds great and was encouraging to me. I have several charities I make small donations to fairly regularly and this year I was wondering if the little I send made any difference. I will now be assured that my small part actually helps!

Hi Carolyn: Glad you found me. I post the same review here as at 1010. In fact, I'll have more non-challenge books read this year so this thread will be more complete.

My categories at 1010 are fairly similar to last year's.

Are you here? I need to star yours.

>12 lindapanzo:: Well, I guess every little bit does help after all. Good to know in these tough economic times. I want to read more nonfiction this year, and this looks like a good one.

>12 lindapanzo: Linda - A friend of mine is teaching a class on philanthropy to Master's of Business Administration students this semester. She's having them research nonprofits and justify why they should receive money. This book sounds like it would be a great resource for her. Thanks for the review.

Linda

I had trouble getting into the 2010 75 challenge group (my first post was "rejected" twice) but I finally made it and I posted a link at the end of my 2009 75 challenge thread. I'm finally having an afternoon/evening to read and catch up on LT.

#12: Linda, I read a book in a similar vein last year, Banker to the Poor. It was very good and I would recommend it.

I discovered micro-economics through an organization called Kiva. You can check out their website here: www.kiva.org. I love the idea that so little can help so many!

Stasia, I've also contributed to Kiva. If you want to check out the Give a Little book's ideas, without reading it, I think the website is: www.givealittlenow.com

>>12 lindapanzo: - I bump into that book every once in a while but never thought it worth picking up. Your review has changed my mind. It's going on the wishlist!

Side Note - I don't know if you were planning on it, but you should post your review on the book's detail page as well. There is only 1 review there, and it doesn't do the book justice (at least based on your review). I was ready to head over there and thumbs up your review...but it wasn't there:(

Your first book sounds like a winner, and I've added it to my wishlist, even though it's not what I usually read. Thanks for the great review, and I've got you starred!

#21: Thanks for the link!

Great review, Linda. I also think you should post it. Off to a good start!

I think I will post it. I have to say it's not the most well-written book but it's got a lot of interesting info and she is definitely passionate about her subject.

I have some idea of what being poor in America involves but that in no way compares to some of these countries where people have to spend half their day walking to get 5 gallons of water.

I almost never post reviews, except when they're ER books. I should make that my New Year's resolution for LT.

Book #2

James Monroe by Gary Hart

The overview biography of our fifth president is part of the American Presidents series. I've now read about a half dozen books in this series and this is one of the better ones, keeping in mind it is what it is, that is, a brief, 150 page overview of a given president.

Monroe was an interesting guy, a transitional president who was also the first "national security president." After being Revolutionary War soldier, the chief negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase, a cabinet member under Madison, Monroe was the president of our westward expansion who, in his annual message to Congress, announced the Monroe Doctrine. (Note to self: read more about the Monroe Doctrine.)

He was molded by Washington, Jefferson, and Adams, which is pretty interesting in itself.

Hart does a good job of getting into Monroe's character--thin-skinned and quick to take offense, not brilliant but a man who did a lot with the intelligence he was given.

My only gripe is that Hart quotes way too much from other Monroe biographers, particularly Harry Ammon and Noble Cunningham. However, I suspect that I got the best of those biographers while saving myself 500+ pages' worth of reading.

Last year, I read quite a few presidential biographies early in the year but nothing during the second half of 2009 but I'm glad to be back to reading presidential biographies, in order. Glad to be moving on to John Quincy Adams. Sometime soon, I will be reading the American Presidents series book about JQA, a book about JQA's post-presidency, and a book about the election of 1828 between JQA and Andrew Jackson.

Hi Linda! I look forward to following your reading this year, especially for great recommendations on books about Chicago.

#26 Just copy and paste the comments you post here - you give all the information that I usually look for in a review. Two down - only 123 more to go!

Book #3

The Measure of Our Days: A Spiritual Exploration of Illness by Jerome Groopman

This book, written by a wise and empathetic Harvard doctor, addresses the spiritual aspects of life-threatening illness by focusing on 8 patients facing cancer, AIDS, and other serious ailments.

Though, in a few instances, I didn't always understand all the medical lingo, I was able to get the gist of it. The author is a terrific writer and I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed his other book a few years ago, How Doctors Think.

Due to its subject matter, I thought it'd be a depressing book and yes, I did shed a few tears while reading it. Overall, though, it was quite uplifting.

Even though I've read 3 books in 3 days, I know I won't keep up this pace now that I'm back to work.

It has been a great start to the reading year though. Next up is Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar book, the third one, I think, Fade Away.

Give a Little... sounds great. I asked for Half the Sky for the same reason. I've read How Doctors Think. Do you think that an atheist like me would like The Measure of our Days?

#32, I think you would. Not all of them turn to God.

#30: Looks good, Linda. I will look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation!

With the Winter Olympics coming up in mid-February, I got to thinking that I'd love to read some mysteries set at the Winter Olympics, or at least involving winter sports.

I asked for suggestions on DorothyL and received several. Any other ideas?

--Death Spiral by Meredith Phillips

--Dead Men Don't Ski by Patricia Moyes

--Going for the Gold by Emma Lathen

--Winter of Secrets by Vicki Delany

--any of the Alina Adams figure skating mysteries (I think there are 5 of them).

Book #4

Fade Away by Harlan Coben

This is the third in Coben's Myron Bolitar series and, so far, probably my favorite one. This time out, the sport is basketball and we learn quite a bit about Myron's past and his basketball background.

I'm liking this series more with each passing book.

Book #5

Letters to a Young Lawyer by Alan Dershowitz

In this little book, famed criminal defense attorney and Harvard Law School professor offers advice to young attorneys. However, his commentary would also be quite interesting to the non-attorney, as well.

Keeping in mind his biases, Dershowitz is a criminal defense lawyer after all, the most interesting parts of the book dealt with ethical issues lawyers face. For example, he talks about the ethical rule whereby a criminal defense lawyer is not obligated to alert the prosecution when he or she becomes aware of something that would help the prosecution but yet, a prosecutor who learns of something that would help the defense is ethically obligated to turn that information over to the defense.

I found his comments on his big cases, such as the OJ case to be of less interest to me.

It appears that this is part of a series of mentoring books, all with the phrase "Letters to a Young..." and I think other titles might be even more interesting.

Lost of good reading! I was glad to see that you liked the American President Series book about James Monroe. I read two of that series and thought one of them was a good introduction (as you felt about Monroe) but felt the other one wasn't as well done. I'm trying to get back into reading the presidential biographies so I'll keep an eye out for that one. I didn't start chronologically so I think I will go back and start with Washington this year. I bought two books about him last year that I need to read.

I may try Harlan Coben. Should they be read in order or can I start anywhere?

I read Going for the Gold many years ago--I don't remember the story but I do remember I liked Latham's series--I read most of the ones that had been published then.

#38, Carolyn, I'm about to start the American Presidents series book about John Quincy Adams. I wouldn't read one of them for Washington, Lincoln, or FDR, but I think they generally work well for the lesser-known presidents or for those where I want a basic intro and maybe one other book.

As for Harlan Coben, I started at the beginning and I've read only three so far. This most recent one talked more about Myron's background but I don't think the order is as important in this series as it is, say, in the Louise Penny books.

Linda

Book #3 sounds wonderful. I'm adding it to the wishlist.

Thanks for your excellent comments.

#6

A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow

This is the first in Stabenow's Kate Shugak series set in the Alaskan bush and what a wonderful debut it is.

The sense of place is terrific. I really felt like I was in the Alaskan wilderness and among the Aleuts. The characterization is excellent as well. These are people I want to read more about. The plot was a bit slow at times, especially early, on but really picked up.

All in all, a terrific debut and a series I'd like to continue reading. Now, I'd also like to try the other Alaskan mystery series, by Sue Henry. The first one there is Murder on the Iditarod Trail.

I like the Kate Shugak series. I hope you continue to enjoy them.

I will forever be grateful to Dana Stabenow for having Kate read Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose in one of the books - and so I discovered and loved it.

The Dana Stabenow has been added to the wish list--but it will be a while before I get it. There is only one copy in the entire Central California library system and it is checked out with 3 more requests waiting for it! It must be good!

I read Angle of Repose when it first came out in paperback--it is what made me a Wallace Stegner fan. I still have that book. Maybe it is time for a reread! I could use it in the BOS challenge because I hauled it from Georgia! :-)

> 41 I read Murder on the Iditarod Trail years ago, but it didn't inspire me to keep reading the series. Though, I have a friend who swears by them.

One year ago today--January 13, 2009--I was at home. Can't remember if it was a snow day or a sick day, but I was home and looking around on the Internet for a website to let me catalog my books.

I found LT.

The past year has been a wonderful year of reading and finding new friends who are as enthusiastic about reading as I am (sometimes even more so). My TBR pile has grown by leaps and bounds and, during the past year, I've read more than ever before.

Thanks for all who've piped in with book suggestions or comments during the past year and those who've become friends. You make this a special place for me!!

Happy Thingaversary!

Oh how wonderful for all of us...you have been such a great commenter, friend, and encourager (is that a word?). Anyway, let's hear it for many more years of linda on the boards.

Happy Thingaversary, Linda! Many more to come!

Lol! I watched that guy dance for waaay too long, tutu! I only joined a few months before you, Linda, and I have to agree--it's been a wonderful year for the addition of great books as well as great new friends.

I'll let Linda tell me when to turn him off...a mere keystroke can make that sucker disappear into cyberspace!!!

Happy Thingaversary, Linda! I'm so glad that you found LT. I can't remember how I found it (maybe a mention in a magazine article), but it's really changed my reading. I'm reading a broader range of stuff and enjoying it more! Plus, I love having so many great people to share it with.

Linda, Happy Thingaversary!
Count me with the people who remember the day they discovered LT and never regretting it ;-)
Anita

Thanks for all the good wishes on my LT Anniversary. What a terrific website and wonderful bunch of people!!

Book #7

As They See 'Em: A Fan's Travels in the Land of Umpires by Bruce Weber

Huge baseball fan that I am, like most people, I don't pay any attention to umpires unless they seriously mess up but, after reading this book, I will pay more attention to them.

Here's a terrific baseball book about all things umpire. A fan, I think he's an NY Times reporter, attended the Jim Evans Umpiring School in Florida, one of two umpiring schools, and also interviewed scores of current and former major league and minor league umpires.

Weber tells it like it is. Indeed, the best parts of the book were of his own experiences in learning to be an umpire and then, actually umpiring, during spring training.

Explaining how umps think--about the game, about the league, and about their fellow umpires--and how their skills and attitudes have changed over the years was quite interesting as was how they dealing with messing up..

The 1999 umpires strike, during which all the umpires quit and most were hired back, got an overabundance of attention in this book and not always in a well-organized fashion, which is why it got 4.5 stars from me, instead of 5 stars.

Reading about the woman ump who was fired not too long ago was interesting. I wish he'd spent more time on her and how she was treated.

Very informative and very interesting. I learned a lot about the game I love. Who knew that the umps yelled "PLAY!!" when the game starts and not "Play Ball"?

I will add my voices to the rest in singing 'Happy Thingaversary!'

Sounds like the Weber book is one I would enjoy, so into the BlackHole it goes.

I rarely ever abandon books once I start them. However, I am this close to abandoning The Last Blue Mile by Kim Ponders. Fifteen percent into it (on my Kindle) and very little is happening in it. I figure I will give it another 5-10 percent.

I love to read fiction and nonfiction about our nation's service academies and, when I saw that there's a novel about the Air Force Academy, I was excited about that.

Besides this, I'm also reading a short bio of John Quincy Adams and also the first Donna Leon mystery Death at La Fenice, both of which are much, much better.

Linda, add my good wishes to those listed above. You are a delight and a wonderful addition to our group of well-read and kind people!

Book #8
The Last Blue Mile by Kim Ponders

This novel about cadets and officers at the Air Force Academy starts out really slowly and could use a lot of editing because the plot drags on far too often.

Even so, I like to read books about America's service academies and, in the end, this one wasn't half bad, once I got into it. Lots of interesting information about surviving as a first year "doolie" as well as behind the scenes-type info about Academy administration.

Overall, not bad for local color and information but the sometimes implausible plot often leaves much to be desired.

Book #9

John Quincy Adams by Robert V. Remini

Before I read this brief bio of President John Quincy Adams (from the American Presidents series), I knew very little about JQA. I read David McCullough's John Adams book last year so I knew of him in connection with his parents but not much more.

To best sum up: not a very good president but one who had a great post-presidency.

Remini certainly didn't think much of how JQA was raised, with constant criticism of John and Abigail Adams' childraising. The focus, rightly, is on JQA's presidency with quite a bit about his time afterwards. For my reading about the presidents, this represents a big step forward for me, into a new historical period.

This book makes me want to read more about JQA. For its size, it's a very good bio.

Linda
Many thanks for recommending the Measure of Our Days. I started reading this book this morning and it was hard to put down..but, alas, I had to go to work. I will finish it in the next few days. It is excellent!

Catching up!

I really enjoyed Death at La Fenice last year. I have the second one but haven''t had a chance to start it yet.

Thanks for the info about the Brat Farrar read--I'm planning on joining. It should be fun and not too taxing.

I'm hoping my library has As They See 'Em: because I think that would be one I'd really enjoy--I do watch the umpires! :-D

Belated congratulations on your first Thingaversary! I celebrated my second on New Year's Eve last month. It only gets better. :-)

Thanks, Carolyn. I'm glad to see that you'll be reading the Josephine Tey book, too. I need to make a list of the ones I haven't read and then make it a point to get to all of them.

Book #10

Huckleberry Finished by Livia J. Washburn

This is the second book in Washburn's Delilah Dickinson Literary Tour mysteries and it's a solid cozy. Not the greatest mystery ever and somewhat predictable but certainly entertaining enough.

The amateur sleuth, Delilah Dickinson, owns a travel agency in Atlanta that books literary tours. The first in the series, Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead which involved Gone with the Wind, was also enjoyable.

This second mystery is set on a Mississippi River riverboat traveling between St Louis and Hannibal, MO and features, of course, Mark Twain.

A fun quick read. I still prefer her fresh-baked mystery series (the first one was A Peach of a Murder but this series sort of holds me til a new Fresh Baked book comes out.

#63: Well, my local library does not have any of Washburn's books, which is probably just as well, since I really do not need to start another series, do I?

None of them? That's too bad. They're both pretty good though I do prefer the baking ones. The baking ones are in pb and I borrowed this newest one from the library in hc.

Over time, I think the literary tour one has more potential. She can do a lot of interesting things with that one. The baking one might get old fast.

Nope, none of them. I agree with you - the literary tour one does sound like it has more potential. One of these days I will track them down.

Book #11

Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton

This 26th book in the long-running Hamish MacBeth series opens with Hamish at the altar, getting married. The opening scene ends with the key part, where the minister pauses and says: "if anyone knows of any reason why these two shouldn't get married, speak now or forever hold your peace."

This opening scene sets the tone for the entire book, which is as much a romance in an oddbal Hamish MacBeth sort of way, as it is a mystery.

This is one of the more memorable books in the series and probably one of my favorites in the series.

If you love the Scottish constable from Lochdubh, you'll probably love this book. If you haven't read a Hamish MacBeth in awhile, it might be time to come back.

You can't miss this one!! Loved it!!

#67: OK, you have convinced me to go read that one :)

>63 lindapanzo: - OK, I really don't need another series, but the Literary Tour mysteries sound very interesting! Huckleberry Finished sounds like it would be right up my alley. I was a tour guide in Hannibal, MO during the summers when I was in college. Do you think that I need to read the first one in the series to enjoy that one?

I love Hamish MacBeth. I want to pop right over to Scotland and marry him myself.

#67 This was waiting for me at the library when I stopped by there yesterday. Glad to hear it's a good one!

I love Hamish MacBeth. I want to pop right over to Scotland and marry him myself.

I haven't met the guy, myself, but now I think I want to!

Sorry, ladies, you'll have to get in line---we've been secretly engaged since I found Hamis 2 years ago.

You all need to go out and read the Hamish MacBeth book so I can talk about it with someone. I am bursting at the seams here.

#69, I think you can easily read Huckleberry Finished without reading the first one. I read the first one and totally forgot about it.

#74 Ok, you twisted my arm. Hubby is in Dallas for a couple of days on business, which (of course) means that I will stay up too late reading. I'll easily be able to finish this book before he comes home. To the top of the pile it goes!

#75, for me, having invested so much time at work on that one big topic, this book proved to be a welcome distraction for me last night. Not sure what I'll do with all of my free time.

Now, I think I might start Sin in the Second City. I've been meaning to read this one for a long time.

I'll be interested in your thoughts if you read Sin in the Second City. I'm always on the lookout for books about Chicago.

I rad Sin in the Second City back in 2008. I checked and found my comments:

This isn't a great book, but it did hold my interest. The tale of Chicago's brothels and the Everleigh sisters is a fascinating story and one I had not known until joining LT and noting this book was one mentioned by others. It is well written and researched. My only disappointment is that it seemed to fade in the end and it seemed to bog down with petty details. Other than that, though, it is worth reading.

#78, thanks for the review of Sin in the Second City.

#77, in my 1010 challenge this year, I've got probably 15 to 20 books on Chicago listed. I read 9 last year in the 999 challenge, too.

Linda, I'm learning a lot of fascinating facts about early 20th century Chicago and what life was like. In many ways, this is more interesting than the main focus of Sin in the Second City. For instance, the women would dab gasoline, instead of perfume.

In another instance, in a case involving a man who was robbed while walking down the street in the red light district, the judge said something to the effect of "anyone venturing into that area deserves whatever they get."

I believe I've mentioned here, or on my 75 in 2009 thread, that I've been keeping track of books I've read going back to 1976.

I now realize that I'm about to reach a milestone. I now stand at 2,986 books read since then. At this rate, I should hit 3,000 in late Feb/early March.

I will have to make #3,000 a good one!!

Good for you - amazing!

Congratulations on reading so many books! What a milestone.

And, please check my review of The Measure of Our Days: A Spiritual Exploration of Illness because you are mentioned.

Thanks again for pointing me to this excellent book.

regarding Sin in the Second City, I forgot those tidbits! I do remember admiring the fortitude and business acumen of the Everleigh sisters

#81: Congratulations on approaching the 3000 book milestone! That is a wonderful achievement!

Thanks, Stasia. For you, that's about 6 years' worth but for me, almost 35 years.

I have to admit that, while I was in college and law school (graduated in 1985), I never read more than about 35-40 books a year so the number is skewed. Since I started working full-time, it's been at least 100 books or so every year.

Congratulations on the upcoming milestone, Linda!

I'm suire #3000 will be either a mystery or baseball related!

Maybe it should be a baseball mystery?

Wow, what a milestone! I wish I had kept track of what I read from long ago. You were a forward thinker!

A forward thinker whose junior year high school English teaching nun assigned "keep track of the books you read this summer" as our homework. I haven't stopped since.

The very first "recorded" book was Alive by Piers Paul Read, the story about the Andes plane crash survivors who survived via cannibalism.

Cheli, good idea. I do have a mystery that touches on baseball--Saturday Night Dead by Richard Rosen. Or maybe Hardball by Paretsky.

Or maybe a book about the Cubs.

Hmmmm...

#89 I read that book - required reading for sophomore English. I can't say I enjoyed it, but I've certainly never forgotten it!

Linda

Amen to teachers who had a positive impact on our lives. My fifth grade teacher encouraged me to read and made a concerted effort to ask me what I thought about the books I finished. hummmmmmmmm, I wonder if I can track him down and say thank you!

I just became aware of where my 4th grade through 8th grade English teacher is now working. I really need to send her an email to tell her how much she impacted my life.

(I'd heard about my 4th grade through 8th grade math teacher's death and was able to tell her daughter, by email, what her mom meant but it was too late to tell her directly.)

Book #12

Chasing Moonlight by Brett Friedlander and Robert Reising

My all-time favorite movie is the baseball movie, Field of Dreams, and one of the more intriguing characters in the movie was Archie (Moonlight) Graham, the man who got to play in one major league game but never got to bat but then later went on to a long career as a doctor in a small Minnesota town.

This short, but interesting, book is the real story behind Moonlight Graham's fascinating life. In reality, Graham played two innings of major league ball, not one, and split his time between medical school and baseball. Unlike in the movie, Doc had a lengthy minor league career, mostly in Scranton, PA.

For anyone who's ever come close to a dream, but never quite achieved it, Graham's is an interesting life. Both the baseball and the medical parts were quite interesting.

#94: Rats. I was hoping my local library would have that one.

Stasia, I read a lot of obscure books, don't I?

Once I get past my current reads (Sin in the Second City and Death at La Fenice) and the Feb Missouri Readers selection, I intend to get to a lot of those "everyone's read them but me" kinds of books, including Jar City, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and The Devil in the White City, possibly.

Linda
I had no idea that the movie Field of Dreams was based on an actual person!!!

Neat!

Linda, it was the character who got to bat once against the old-time players but then stepped off the field into the current world to save the daughter who was choking on the hot dog.

The basics were correct but some details were modified slightly. This was the Burt Lancaster role, his last one ever.

Interestingly, the real life Doctor Archie (Moonlight) Graham did groundbreaking research into childrens' blood pressure. He was one of the first to find that kids do, in fact, suffer from high blood pressure.

You may have helped me when I play Trivial Pursuit. I can never beat my husband...Perhaps these facts might be on a trivial pursuit card...

thanks!

#99 Linda, if your luck is like mine, that question will be on the Trivial Pursuit card that he has to answer, not you, and he'll never believe that you knew the answer before you looked!

Book #13

Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott

The subtitle: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for the American Soul pretty much says it all. This book talks primarily about the Everleigh Club, an upscale brothel in Chicago from 1900 to 1911. It was run by two sisters, Ada and Minna Everleigh, and counted among its clientele most of the rich and famous in the city and elsewhere, including John Barrymore, Theodore Dreiser, and many others.

Mobster, such as Big Jim Colosimo, and politicians such as Bathhouse John Coughlin and Hinky Dink Kenna, are colorfully portrayed.

Besides the interesting facts about Chicago's red light district, the Levee, the most interesting parts of the book involved early 20th century Chicago. I'm fascinated by Chicago history so I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The sinners in this book were more interesting to read about than the saints, the various people and groups that tried to close down the brothels.

During the story, once the Everleigh Club was closed, the book seemed to fizzle out. Overall, very good book though this is one book that was better early.

Great review. And, congratulations on reading 13 books this month!

Linda, ithanks. It's been so gloomy in Chicagoland lately that it seems like there's not much to do except read.

I'll probably read about two more this month, I'd estimate. I usually do start the year fast and then slow down once the baseball (regular) season rolls around.

I checked my 2009 reading list for January and discovered I read more books that month than the other months of the year.

Good luck with your next books.

As mentioned elsewhere, I've been keeping tabs on my reading since 1976. Last year, when I joined LT, I think I initially added all of my books by year but later started tagging based on year and month.

It would be interesting to look at the tags.

Now that I've finished Sin in the Second City, I hoping to finish Donna Leon's Death at La Fenice soon and also start the book for the Missouri Readers group, Jetta Carleton's The Moonflower Vine.

Chasing Moonlight is on my list, but I think it will be a while before I get to it. Only one library in the state ILL system has it!

that's 2 books with Moon in the title .. is this a new category?

I didn't even notice that, Cheli, but you're right. Thanks for pointing it out.

I need to keep track of these somewhere.

Book #14

Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon

So many people have praised the Donna Leon mysteries and urged me to read them. I'm glad I finally took them up on their suggestion.

This is the first in the Italian mystery series featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti and it's an absolutely terrific debut mystery. In fact, it's probably one of the best debut mysteries I've ever read (and I've read plenty of them).

This one involves the death of an orchestra conductor at an opera hall in Venice.

Very highly recommended!!

#109: I enjoyed that one when I read it last year and am hoping to get to more of the series this year. I am glad to see you enjoyed it, Linda.

14 Books! You are amazing! Donna Leon goes to the wishlist. I love a good mystery and they really are hard to come by.

I've read about 6 or 7 of Donna Leon's fabulous series, and still haven't gotten around to the 1st one. It's very high on my TBR pile however, and I've promised myself it will be the next mystery I read ( after I finish the 10 in the queue).

My husband has also gotten hooked, so we're having a good time pretending to be Guido and Paola....

I was able to obtain a copy of Death at La Fenice for .10 at my local library sale table! I hope to read it soon. I trust your judgment and if you say it is very highly recommended then I believe you!

Oh boy. I hope it lives up to my billing. The pressure is enormous. What if you hate it?

I do have to say that there was something I did not like about it, which is why I gave it 4.5 stars, not 5 stars. Can't say what it is though.

#113 I started the Donna Leon series last year and am thoroughly enjoying it. It took me until the 2nd book to be sure, though. I'm curious what Linda P didn't like about the first book, but for me it was just a matter of settling in to a new character and a new author. I think you'll like it, but give the series a 2nd chance in any case.

Sandy, I'll send you a note about it. It's one of my mystery fiction pet peeves. Overall, though, more of an annoyance and not something that really detracted from my enjoyment.

I like Guido's family. In that first book, I love when the family is playing Monopoly and the wife cheats and the anti-capitalist son turns into one for a moment.

#116 I think Guido's family is the best part of all 3 books I've finished so far.

Book #15
The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton

Though I'd never heard of this "timeless American classic" before, thanks to the Missouri Readers group, I picked it up and read it. I'm glad I did as it deserves every bit of praise, and more.

I tend to prefer plot-driven books with fairly well-drawn characters secondary so, during the first part of the book, I wasn't very happy. The book about a family on a western Missouri farm during the first half of the 20th century is told at a slow pace. I griped that there was no plot but suddenly realized that there was plot and I just hadn't realized it.

The characters--a farmer/schoolteacher and his wife and their daughters--are extremely well drawn. Each section is told from the point of view of one of the characters but the events often don't overlap. The whole family seems quite ordinary but, like any family, there are secrets and there's more going on than appears on the surface.

This is a haunting, unforgettable book and it's likely to be one of my favorite fictional works of the year. It is an American masterpiece from a "one-hit wonder" author.

>118 lindapanzo: - Nice review, Linda! I liked your point about the plot. It really does become more apparent in the second half of the book, as more threads are revealed. And I thought the ending was quite good.

Another thing I liked in The Moonflower Vine was how my opinions of the characters were constantly changing. For instance, I didn't care for the father much but then started to like him more.

#120 I agree - by the 2nd half of the book, I think he was my favorite character.

Another fan of series mysteries. I like Dana Stabenow and Donna Leon a lot, or what I've read, I've read 4 Stabenows and 2 Leons I think, I own at least the first 13 of the Shugak series and 12 of Leon's books and there are more in both, so I've some catching up to do.

No reading or even LT browsing for me tonight. I am watching election returns. (Primary here in IL today).

I am a political junkie and live for these days.

Well, enjoy your election coverage this evening - hopefully all the right people will win!

Truly amazing. I've lived here all my life and I've never seen state races so close. Some of them are 100s of votes apart, out of almost a million votes cast.

I could stay up all night but I don't think we'll know for awhile.

My guys did surprisingly well.

too bad only about 25% of our fellow Illinoisans bothered to vote at all.

Linda, I must say that after the Massachusetts election, politics got much more interesting to me. I always look at the long view in politics. If "my guys" don't win this election, the "other guys" are bound to mess up sooner or later and it will be "our" turn again. I can't imagine a more thankless role than a political one right now with the fickleness of the American public.

#126-127, I was a political science major in college. I love this stuff. These days, though, I can't imagine why anyone would go into politics.

I don't think these IL candidates were the best we could do. For the first time ever, I pretty much had to hold my nose when I voted. When I say "my guys" did well, that's a relative term, sort of worse and worser candidates. Happy that "worse" won and not "worser."

I think our governors' races are going to provide a lot of entertainment for quite some time. Really remarkable--I've never seen anything like this in 30+ years of voting here.

Book #16

Eggs in Purgatory by Laura Childs

This is the first in the "other" series from cozy mystery author Laura Childs, who is best known for her tea shop mysteries.

This one features the Cackleberry Club, a small midwestern diner/tea shop/bookstore/knitting shop/bakery (sounds like my kind of place!!) run by three women, old friends who have, one way or other, lost their husbands. The main sleuth, Suzanne, is recently widowed.

I liked the setting, the concept, and the characters but thought the plot was a bit skimpy. Even so, I have high hopes for this series and hope to read further, including the second one, Eggs Benedict Arnold.

I still prefer the tea shop series but like this one more than the scrapbooking series. Lots of fun for cozy fans.

#129: I am a fan of the tea shop series, so I will give that one a shot. Thanks for the mention, Linda.

Book #17

Saturday Morning Fever: Growing Up with Cartoon Culture by Timothy & Kevin Burke

I guess I was due to read a dud at some point and this one was it. Though some reviewers of this look at Saturday morning kids' shows in the 1970s/1980s called it hilarious, I'd just call it dull.

Between their griping about government regulators and kids' show critics and discussing obscure TV shows in a dull way, I found little to like in this book. Whereas I wanted to hear about Rocky & Bullwinkle and other shows I liked, the authors claimed that these are "reviewed better elsewhere." I should've looked elsewhere instead of wasting my time with this one.

Someone born between 1964 and 1969 (when the authors were born) might like this one more than I did (I'm just bit older than that).

#131: OK, skipping that one! Hope the next one is better for you, Linda.

I slept right through the (rare) northern Illinois earthquake this morning. The 4 a.m. quake was centered in the western suburbs, not far from my sister's house. It woke them up, including one of the two kids. The dog was barking and the house was rattling.

We in the northern suburbs did get way more snow than they did, though. We got 14 inches, they got 6 inches.

In Chicagoland, snow amounts (and temperatures) vary substantially based on whether you live north, west, or south, and whether you live near the lake or far away from it.

Glad you're safe. Just found a new culinary cozy mysteries series for you by Josi S. Kilpack. The first one is titled Lemon Tart, then English Trifle, and Devil's Food Cake. I may have to look at this series for my Full Course meal dessert.

I'll take the Lemon Tart and English Trifle. Everyone else can have the Devil's Food Cake. I will definitely be looking for that series. Thanks for the mention, Cheli - even if you did mean it for Linda :)

I'll have to look for the Kilpack mysteries. Thanks, Cheli.

I'm enjoying a nice relaxing day of reading at home. I'm now about halfway through A Paradise Built in Hell though I might try to read more of my ER scofflaw book.

My husband is fixing me a grilled cheese sandwich while we sit here reading and watching the snow continue to fall. I think I am definitely ready for the Winter Olympics to start!

#137: I think I am definitely ready for the Winter Olympics to start!

Possibly in your own front yard!

They just showed Vancouver on the weather channel. It looks like spring. The cherry blossoms and flowers are out.

Book #18

A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit

This book is subtitled "the extraordinary communities that arise in disaster" which pretty much says it all. Taking a sociological approach, looking at peoples' responses to major disasters, rather than focusing on official responses, Solnit talks about how, in most disasters, survivors tend to band together and act as a community, in an altrustic way, almost a utopia. This is contrary to popular perception (and disaster movies) which shows that people typically become mobs of looters, or murder and rape and pillage weaker survivors.

Though survivors rarely panic, elites (including governments and other "official responders" such as the military or police), Solnit says, often do react badly in what she calls elite panic. She cites the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the Katrina response as two key instances of "elite panic."

Solnit looks at a number of disasters--the S.F. earthquake, the Halifax explosion during World War 1, the London blitz, and, more recently, 9/11 and Katrina. The chapters on Katrina were most heartrending.

Between disasters, Solnit's interludes address various philosophical, sociological, and related issues, such as mutual aid. The quality of these were more uneven, though I absolutely loved the chapters on the disasters themselves and their aftermaths.

I think this book could end up being one of my favorites of the year though I admit that it might not be for everyone. If you're a firm believer in law and order or trust the government, this book might not be for you. Solnit gets a bit preachy at times but overall, this is a tremendous book.

#140: I already have that one in the BlackHole. Nice review, Linda!

#140, agree with you on this one. I raved about it on Amazon last fall. She's an intriguing writer.

It's a particularly interesting book to read post-Haiti...

#140 Very nice review, Linda. Have you posted it? (never mind - I found it - thumbs up from me!) And very convincing - I think I'm going to add this book to the wishlist even though it's not my usual thing at all.

Sandy, yes I did. In fact, I think this is my first ever "hot review." The first one I've ever seen, anyway.

One gripe I've seen is that it is more of a sociological study and not a true disaster book. She spends less time on the disasters themselves and more time on how people reacted to it.

However, I plan to read more about the Halifax explosion (that one has been sitting on my shelf for a few years) and also about the London blitz.

Congratulations on your hot review listed on today's home page!

#144 Congratulations on your first hot review, then! It kind of makes you smile, doesn't it?

I saw that same comment in several of the reviews I read - more of a sociological study. I guess I'm not sure what a "true disaster book" entails, but it seems that the study of how people react in a disaster situation would be more interesting than a tally of damage sustained and lives lost.

A true disaster book lays out a background on the location, goes into exquisite detail on what happened possibly minute by minute and then how people reacted. How it could've been avoided is also key as is what changes it wrought.

Done well, these are excellent but way too many are just factual discussions with little other point.

Grrr, the movie, One for the Money, based on the Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich, is now in development. I would've liked to have seen Sandra Bullock as Stephanie Plum.

Looks like it was going to be Reese Witherspoon in the lead but she's now been replaced with Katherine Heigl, as far as I can tell. Still early.

None of those actresses fits my idea of what Stephanie Plum looks like!

I'd choose Renee Zellweger to play Stephanie.

> 148 I had a conversation with a colleague about 5 years ago, and we decided we would like Sandra Bullock to play Stephanie Plum!

My sister, the LT lurker, bears a striking resemblence to Sandra Bullock, at least facially.

Sometimes, when we notice people looking at her and wondering about it, we will say things like "c'mon, Sandy, let's go."

As for casting, Queen Latifah has to be Lula.

Absolutely ...sandra Bullock and Queen L

I'm kind of stumped about Morelli though. Not sure.

And who will be Grandma Mazur? If they can't get Stasia, who wants to be her so badly...

#155: I will stand for no one else being Grandma Mazur other than me!!

Stasia, do not leave us behind when you become famous. Certainly, if you play the role of Granny Mazur, there will be many sequels. You will become very rich. You will become obsessed with movies instead of books and you will sit on the luxurious sofa, cigarette holder in hand, face uplifted Greta Garbo fashion, and when interviewed you will say "Oh, yes, in a former life, tsk, tsk, tsk, I had quite a following of crazy book pepole."

#157: Somehow, I do not ever envision living without books. There probably would be many sequels, lol, because I will be a great Grandma Mazur, but all the proceeds would go to buying all the books I have never been able to lay my hands on before, and so, I would be poor all over again :)

I know that this is sacrilege to replace Stasia in the part of Grandma Mazur - but I think if anyone can do it - Olympia Dukakis could.

But who for Ranger - I'm thinking somebody like the Rock.

#159: I refuse to be replaced and I've got a .357 Magnum to back me up!

OK, I'm afraid. Very afraid. Actually, make that very, VERY afraid. Let's not forget she's from Texas...

Betty White for Grandma Mazur. I bet she could rustle up a whole bunch of fans, in light of her 100K+ Betty White for SNL host FB page.

In honor of the passing of Dick Francis today, I need to rummage around and find (then read) one of his books.

Another author I've enjoyed but would often forget about.

Book #19

Biblioholism: The Literary Addiction by Tom Raabe

This humorous little volume looks at every type of book addiction, from mere readaholics, like me, to those who eat their books or bury their books or whatever.

Lots of fun for anyone who loves to read. This was also a great book to look through during lulls during the Winter Olympics.

Reading has come to a standstill. Too sick to read, sadly.

I can watch the Oly's but can't focus on books.

Sorry to hear you are so unwell, Linda. I hope you feel better soon!

Thanks, Stasia. Family and friends keep re-infecting each other, apparently.

Thankfully, I had both flu shots so I'm probably better off.

I cannot take flu shots, so I am very wary at this time of year. I do hope you and yours get well soon and stop passing the bug back and forth.

I was too sick to read a couple weeks ago, and I sympathize. It's terrible!! Get well soon...

I'll try to read an extra book while you recover. Can you count a book that I read?

#169 Thanks. I was sick a few weeks ago, too. That was a chest cold. This is more of a head cold or sinusy thing. I dozed off during figure skating last night but did wake up again in time to see those last two Americans perform.

#170--Maybe if you read it to me?

Hope you're feeling better today, Linda. I trust that these claims of illness aren't just an elaborate ruse to stay home from work and watch the Olympics! ;-) Did you see the American women lose to Japan in curling? And Finland beat China in women's hockey 2-1, the closest game I've seen so far.

Thanks, Sandy. I was up in the middle of the night but my tiredness won out and I went back to sleep.

Except for my snow day last week and the Presidents' Day holiday on Monday, no days off due to sickness.

I read a bit this morning over coffee so that's an improvement.

Glad to see you are at least having a measure of improvement, Linda. I hope it keeps up!

Hope you feel better!

Book #20

Ding Dong Dead by Deb Baker

This is the fourth book in Deb Bakers cozy mystery series featuring doll collectors in Phoenix, AZ. Her other series, which I prefer just a bit, is her Yooper series (set in the UP of Michigan). Interestingly, the main sleuth in the Arizona doll collectors series, Gretchen, always calls her Aunt Gertie, the main sleuth in the Yooper series.

I enjoy these. They are typical cozies but fun, nonetheless. I read this one in little spurts during lulls while watching the Olympics and probably did not do it justice. It's pretty good.

Another series for me to watch for. Thanks (I think), Linda :)

Book #21

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Woo-hoo, I've finally finished the ER book that's been hanging over my head!!

This is a first novel about the developing, but unexpected, friendship/love between two English villagers, Major (retired) Ernest Pettigrew and Mrs. Jasmina Ali, a Pakistani shopkeeper. After their spouses died somewhat earlier, both are alone and Pettigrew’s brother recently passed away.

The characters are well-developed but the plot is somewhat skimpy. In fact, during the first half or so of the book, though I liked the characters somewhat, I thought it to be one of the dullest books I’ve ever read. This book takes forever to get going but once it does, it’s terrific.

Right about halfway through the book, I was totally drawn into the village life and these wonderful characters. As others have said, I, too, did not want this book to end.

Though overwritten, it’s romantic and intelligent. I’d like to read more from this author, though I do wish she’d get the book going more quickly, next time.

With two cold-like illnesses and a lot of Olympics watching, I did not read a whole lot in February, finishing only 6 books. This gives me a total of 21 read so far in 2010.

On to March with a new thread. Part 2 is up and running at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/85933