jadebird's 75 in 2010

Hello, Everybody! I’m trying a category thingy this year in the hopes it might help me get through this large pile of non-fiction and old classics I have piled up. Here are the wowie categories:

1: Expeditions
2: Fantasy
3: History of Anything
4: Instructional
5: Myth, Folklore, Fairytales
6: New-To-Me Author
7: Pre-1960 Fiction
8: Science
9: Science Fiction
10: Vintage Mysteries

Oh, I love your categories!

Thanks, Zoe! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you too! :)

The champagne is chilling already...

I reeeallly like your categories...will be waiting to see what turns up!

Way cool, Muddy21!

Welcome back!

Thanks, drneutron!

I certainly would not want to miss your thread! I look forward to our group this year and learning about all the great books you will read.

Glad to see you with us again for 2010, Ren!

Great categories! Starred :)

Thank you, Whisper1, Stasia, & dk_phoenix! It's raining cats and dogs here in sunny Cal, but a happy first morning of the year to you all!

Great categories...cant wait to see what you read for vintage mysteries and myth,folklore, fairytales :)

Book 1: Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer. (Category 2: Fantasy). This is the 4th book in the ya adventure/fantasy series about kid-criminal genius, Artemis Fowl and his adventures with off-beat fairy-folk. Light and fun. Better than the 3rd book, I think, because Butler is back—in force!

Book 2: THE GOLDEN HOUSE by Sarah Schoonmaker Woods Baker. (Category 7: Pre-1960 Fiction). Written in 1903, I read the free online copy generously offered by PROJECT GUTENBERG. Another LT group was using Swedish Fiction for a January theme (written by a Swedish author or about Sweden in some way), so I prowled around and found this incredibly prolific author that I had never read before. The Golden House is about an Italian boy raised by a devotional Swedish family.

Book 3: The Gardens of Europe edited by Penelope Hobhouse (Category 3: History of Anything). This book should be titled “The Castle Gardens of Europe.” It is not a book about gardening, but a history of landscaping on an imperial scale “…from Scandinavia to Sicily and from Portugal to the Black Sea.” Most of the information is presented in a guidebook format with lovely pictures, but each section introduction is fascinatingly detail-rich.

Book 4: My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett. (Category 5: Myth, Folklore, Fairytales). Lovely and clever, with wonderful art.

Ren, as a child, I love The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, by Selma Lagerlof, a Swedish writer who was the first woman to win the Nobel prize for literature, in 1909. It would also be fantasy and folklore. I have no idea if it would be available--yes, I do, because I just checked it out. Project Gutenberg has it at

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/10935

Read about it on Wikipedia and see if you think you would be interested.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nils_Holgerssons_underbara_resa_genom_Sverige

I may need to pull my copy out one of these days for a re-read.

Oh, thank you very much, roni. I will check it out!

I'm going to look up both My Father's Dragon and The Wonderful Adventures of Nils... both sound interesting!

I received the My Father's Dragon series as a child and it became one of my favorites. I enjoyed all three books, I will have to reread these again soon :)

I had read one of the sequels before, but not the first. So, it was fun to run across it.

Right now I'm reading:
Triplanetary for the group read, Innumeracy, and Frogmouth.

Hi jadebird. I read Innumeracy a while ago when I was taking a statistics course and really enjoyed it. I've just finished Bad Science which you might also enjoy.

Bad Science sounds interesting. I will look for it. Thank you, souloftherose!

After looking the books I have lined up on my tbr, I think I better expand my 1st catagory to...
1: Expeditions and Epic Undertakings

So, I will!

I like that category! I look forward to your reads in that one.

I bought some books today:
The Judas Pair by Jonathan Gash
Thud! by Terry Pratchett and
Vampire Plagues London, 1850 by Sebastian Rook
Yeah!

Found your thread and am starring you so I don't lose it again! Great categories.

#26 Hi, allthesedarnbooks! I'm glad you found me--I don't like being lost! :)

YOu'll enjoy Thud!

#28 My husband already stole it from me! (That's okay; he reads faster than I do and I'm finishing Colfer's The Lost Colony anyway.)

Book 5: Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos (Category 8: Science).
Mathematical illiteracy and its consequences. We are not talking about the calculus here, but the numbers and probabilities we encounter everyday on the web, on the news, in your doctor’s office, in the supermarket. Paulos is witty and convincing. Entertaining read.

Book 6: Frogmouth by William Marshall (Category 6: New-To-Me Author).
Think Pratchett’s Night Watch on the bloody scent of a slash and hack killer in a mythical district of Hong Kong. This book is really different, and not always easy to read, but I liked it.

Book 7: Double Indemnity by James M. Cain (Category 10: Vintage Mysteries).
Wow, this a top flight story! I’ve seen the movie a number of times, and though it is very good, the film version is much simpler (not surprisingly) than Cain’s story. The ending, too, is surprisingly different from the movie.

Book 8: Triplanetary by E.E. Doc Smith (Category 9: Science Fiction).
I’m tackling the Lensmen series as part of a group read. I’m not a big pulp science fiction fan as a rule (I liked Heinlein’s The Star Beast and Glory Road and Haldeman’s The Forever War). Triplanetary was hard rowing until the Nevians showed up; then we were in Flash Gordon Territory and I can deal with that.

#30: I added Innumeracy to the BlackHole when I saw your mention of it on the nonfiction thread.

I am not sure Frogmouth is one I would like, so I think I will pass on it for now.

I read Cain's Double Indemnity a couple of years ago, but since I have never seen the movie, had no idea it differed from the book.

I read Triplanetary this past week for the group read, too. I am told it is the weakest of the books in the series for which I am thankful.

#31 I'm not a big reader of pulp science fiction, myself, but I do try to keep in mind the mood of the era (just post WWII, popular romanticizing of science, changing role of women in American society, blah, blah) in which these exploratory works were written and that many were read in a serialized fashion for a quick comicbook-style thrill (I don't know if that is true for Triplanetary.

Inspired by sgtbigg, I'm going to try and make at least 25 of the books I read this year be books that have been on my shelf, unread, for over a year.
My first two in this catagory:
Double Indemnity and Triplanetary. Only 23 to go!

I found a couple of ya books today:
Sachar's Holes and Anderson's Fever 1793.

I found some books to throw on the pile today:
How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor,
Out of Range by C.J. Box, and
The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald

I read The Egg and I eons ago and am a fan of Box's Joe Pickett series although I have not read that particular title. I really must get back to that series, lol.

I have never heard of How to Steal a Dog, so you will have to let me know how that one is.

#35 I had to get The Egg and I since I have my little flock of bantams. I like them so much, I think I'm going to get some more!

I'm glad to hear that Innumeracy is good. That one's been sitting on my TBR pile for a few years now....

#37 I'm going to try to get to some of those books that have been staring at me for so long, too.

Book 9: The University Library XXIII, 1930 edition (Category 7: Pre-1960 Fiction; Also counts as a book that has been on my shelf, unread, for over a year). A volume in a set of short stories my grandmother gave me. Out of the collection of poems, letters, speeches and novellas, the most memorable reads, for me, were:
A Passage in the Life of John Oakhurst by Bret Harte. What a wonderful short story! I don’t think I’ve ever read any Harte before; I’ve been missing out.
The Snowstorm by Alexander Pushkin. My husband (a retired actor) used to read Pushkin to me when we lived in Alaska. This romantic tale, The Snowstorm, is intelligent, interesting and beautiful.
A Pot of Honey, Music, The Tempest, and Money by George Gissing. I’ve wanted to read Gissing since I read Dreams of a Final Theory because Weinberg said that Gissing is his favorite writer. These little one or two paragraph tidbits were quite appealing.

Book 10: Holes by Louis Sachar (Category 6: New-To-Me Author). YA fiction. If you are wanting to read an award-winner, this one has won them all! And it deserves every blue ribbon. Not fantasy or sf, this little story does have a feel of fable about it. Stanley Yelnats has been charged for a crime he hasn’t committed, and is assigned hard time at boy’s detention center digging holes. His life will never be the same again.

...and you learn a lot about the nutritional value of onions along the way!

Absolutely! And yellow spotted lizards.

Regarding book#10, I believe this is a Newbery award winning book. I really must read it soon. Thanks for your great recommendation!

I liked Holes so much, that I re-read it imediately after finishing it ;-)
Anita

High praise from you Anita because in my mind you are the Queen of YA books!

*blush* Linda, proud to be Queen somewhere ;-)

When I was very young my plan was to marry the crown-prince and thus become Queen. You already know that plan failed LOL

#43 I'm sure the Newberry was one of the many awards listed, Linda.

#44 I agree, Queen Anita, Holes is definitely worth a second read, or more! I put it right on top of my mom's tbr pile. She will love it, too.

Book 11: Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer (category 2: Fantasy). Artemis is aging well. The boy genius must yet again do the impossible and keep humans from ruining what little the fairy species have left of earthly real estate. Butler is in good form, and the rest of the gang is all here. Lots of fun.

#40: I bought that one last year. I really need to get it read. It definitely looks like one I will enjoy.

I'm sure you will like Holes, Stasia; and you could read it in about 2 minutes!

>46 FAMeulstee: Anita! Surely you aren't saying that Frank is not a prince? Maybe not a "crown-prince," but still...

> 50 Terri
Frank is defenitly my Prince Charming :-)

I remember vividly April 1967, I was in Kindergarten and 4 years old, our teacher told us the crown-prince was born. I decided I was going to marry him LOL

#49: Somehow, I think it will take slightly longer than that!

Book 12: How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor (Category 6: New-To-Me Author). YA fiction, not sf or fantasy. Things can’t get much worse for Georgina: her dad has split and she and her younger brother and her hard-working mom have to live in a car. This is not a happy-ever-after book, but it’s not too grim either. It’s reality in straight-forward language. No grand solution to life’s awful problems, but a simple moralistic tale—no matter how bad things are, there is no justification for making someone else miserable (like stealing their dog). BTW, the dog is great.

#53: That one looks interesting. Into the BlackHole it goes!

How to Steal a Dog is short, another 2 minute book for you, Stasia. :)

I sure would like to know where you got your ideas of my speed reading abilities!

Book 13: River Road to China by Milton Osborne (Category 1: Expeditions and Epic Undertakings). Osbourne follows the first official French expedition (1866-1868) that sought to find a river trade route to China via the Mekong River. Extremely interesting material, exquisitely illustrated with the original art of the expedition’s illustrator, Delaporte.

#56 Because I think you are superhuman where reading is concerned!

#57: That one does look interesting. I will have to look for it. Thanks for the recommendation, Ren.

As far as the other - I only wish!

River Road to China: The Search for the Source of the Mekong, 1866-73 wasn't always easy to read (for me, anyway), not dry, but maybe the digressions were distracting. I wanted to know, too, more about the Mekong itself, not just the peoples the explorers encountered on their incredible two-year ordeal. Still, very interesting stuff, and, certainly, a subject I had not read about before.

I have The Road to Oxiana (although Middle East, not Far East) by Byron and Foreign Devils on the Silk Road by Hopkirk set aside to read this year. It sounds like River Road to China will fit in nicely.

Oh, Foreign Devils on the Silk Road, what a great title! I will look for that. Thanks!

Book 14: Raven in Mythology by Samantha Fleming, Originally published as "Murders and Unkindnesses" in "The White Dragon" 1998, (Category 5: Myth, Folklore, Fairytales). Succinct, witty, fact-filled, and entertaining, Ms Fleming discusses the roles Corvids, especially ravens, play in world mythology.

#61: No problem. I am always glad to recommend books - even if I have not read them yet :)

Book 15 : The University Library XIII, 1930 edition (Category 7: Pre-1960 Fiction; Also counts as a book that has been on my shelf, unread, for over a year). A volume in a set of short stories my grandmother gave me. Out of the collection of poems, letters, speeches and novellas, the most memorable reads, for me, were:
The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
P.T. Barnham, Showman by Lyman Abbott and
Dr. Manette’s Manuscript by Charles Dickens

Dear Jadebird: Thanks for the review on Innumeracy. I am a high school teacher (History and not Math) and this is a topic discussed among the teachers often. I will put this on my list of books to read!---Alice

You're welcome, Alice! Hope you find Innumeracy interesting.

Book #13 sounds great. I like your description!

River Road to China (I can't get the touchstone to work with this one) was worth reading, Whisper1. Lots of grim stuff, of course, being a jungle trek--no one emerges unscathed. Also, the author provides in depth information about the cultural history and political situation of the area at the time of the expedition (1866).

River Road to China ? - this looks as if it's probably the right book.

See what I mean? The link doesn't show when you post. Thanks for trying, elkiedee! :)

Book 16: First Lensman by E.E. Doc Smith (Category 9: Science Fiction; Also counts as a book that has been on my shelf, unread, for over a year). Okay, I made it to the end. That’s something I don’t normally do—force myself to read fiction I don’t find interesting. There was nothing in First Lensman as interesting as the Burroughs-esque battle with the Nevians that provided at least some relief from the tedium in Triplanetary. I believe I shan’t read anymore of the series (nose in air as she walks off to browse through the rest of the library).

#71: Yikes! I am in the group read for them all. This does not bode well for me.

I know, I told my husband that I was going to read the whole series because everyone else was and he laughed and said that was stupid because he knows I don't like pulp sf (he likes it very much--been a fan since he was a kid). So, that's my big OUT, and I'm very relieved. Sounds wimpy, though, doesn't it?

#73: Nope, sounds smart to me!

Good, I feel better. :)

I found Papermaking by Jules Heller at a thrift shop. I'm so excited. I make papier mache figurines sometimes and made a little handmade paper when I lived in Alaska; I've been wanting to learn more about papermaking techniques.

Not at all wimpy. For a lot of us, this is a re-read of the series to see if it holds up at all to the memories we have of reading these in our teens, and the jury is still out. I don't think any of us think they are great literature--they were, however, new and exciting and really something when they were first written so many years ago so are definitely interesting from a historical point of view. But if you aren't enjoying them, no need to continue. I haven't moved on yet to First Lensman, but I know there are some big battle scenes yet to come--I just don't remember in what books they occur!

Thanks, roni.

Book 17: May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson (Category 6: New-To-Me Author)
and
Book 18: May Bird Among the Stars by Jodi Lynn Anderson (Category 2: Fantasy).
YA, maybe younger, fantasy. May Bird and her cat, Somber Kitty, bumble about an Oz for the unbreathing, a Disneyland for the dead.

#78: Did you like those two? As someone who is really just starting to get back into the science fiction/fantasy genres in the past year or so, I wonder if I should be reading the YA ones to kind of work my way up to the adult books.

I thought that Ever after and Among the stars were charming and fun. I don't think i'd call them spectacular, though. May Bird meets a lot of strange characters, and learns a lot of life lessons. It could be a good springboard back into fantasy!

I agree with PrincessT the May Bird books are “…charming and fun.” Cotton candy stuff.

Some of the best fantasy ever (I think) has been written by Barbara Hambly, her Dog Wizard trilogy, Stranger at the Wedding, Those Who Hunt the Night, and Bride of the Rat God. And if you haven’t read any the Broketail (Bazil Broketail) books, those are first rate.

Hambly's writing has changed a great deal. I had to put Renfield aside unfinished and the Benjamin January series is much darker, steamier, and character heavy than those books I mentioned above.

Hambly's writing has always been dark, but I agree that I find her later writing less accessible. She used to be a must-buy author and she no longer is. That said, I really like the Those Who Hunt the Night duology and the Unschooled Wizard series a lot, despite the high body counts, which is saying something!

The Unschooled Wizard series didn't really grab me, but I've read Bride of the Rat God, Those Who Hunt the Night and Walking With the Dead so many times I can't count. Hambly's Darwath books are very good, too The Walls of Air, etc., in fact, those are my husband's favorites.

Oh, and I like the way you put that, roni, "...less accessible."

I have read both of the Those Who Hunt the Night books and I own Renfield but have never read it. I have also read the first of the Benjamin January books which I liked. I have never heard of The Unschooled Wizard series, so I will have to look for that one.

Book 19: A Tour of the Calculus by David Berlinski. I had a love/hate thing going with this book. When I read the preface, I was pretty certain I wasn’t going to like the book, but when I started to read the book I was delighted with the author’s gushing and poetic enthusiasm for the subject and, most especially, the creators of the calculus. Then somewhere in the middle it seemed too much like a textbook, and then Berlinski swung around again to a tremendously satisfying, even eloquent conclusion. I’m glad I read it.

#86: I think I will give that one a pass since I know absolutely nothing of calculus.

#87 I think A Tour of the Calculus is supposed to be for the popular, general audience, not for mathematicians in particular. Certainly, long sections are historical in nature and quite entertaining.

Book 20: Newton's Cannon by J. Gregory Keyes (Category 2: Fantasy). First in the Empire of Unreason series. I picked this up on drneutron’s recommendation from last year. Fantastic idea—an alternate reality where Newton and other developers of the calculus are more working alchemists than mathematicians. There is a ruthlessness to all the characters, villains and heroes alike, that I wasn’t really comfortable with; perhaps that is what Keyes intended.

Book 21: The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene (Category 10: Vintage Mysteries).
Just happened to run across a copy.

Book 22: A Calculus of Angels by J. Gregory Keyes (Category 2: Fantasy). Second in the Empire of Unreason series.

Book 23: The University Library IX 1930 edition (Category 7: Pre-1960 Fiction; Also counts as a book that has been on my shelf, unread, for over a year). A volume in a set of short stories my grandmother gave me. Out of the collection of poems, letters, speeches and novellas, the most memorable reads, for me, were:
On a Piece of Chalk (a Lecture to the Working Men of Norwich, England) by Thomas Huxley
Referred by the Author (from Tales from a Rolltop Desk) by Christopher Morley
The Death of Oliver Bécaille by Émile Zola.

Book 24: London 1850 Vampire Plagues I by Sebastian Rook (Category 2: Fantasy). YA, first in a trilogy. Polished writing, fast, entertaining read, interesting twist on the vampire theme, extremely likable characters.

Book 25: Which Witch by Eva Ibbotson (Category 2: Fantasy). YA, humorous fantasy with a bit of a fairytale format, clever and witty. Oh, I really liked this book!

January Tally (25 books, 6 that have been on my shelf unread for over a year).

1: Expeditions and Epic Undertakings
River Road to China by Milton Osborne

2: Fantasy
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer
Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer
May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson
May Bird Among the Stars by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Newton's Cannon by J. Gregory Keyes
A Calculus of Angels by J. Gregory Keyes
Vampire Plagues London 1850 by Sebastian Rook
Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson

3: History of Anything
The Gardens of Europe by Penelope Hobhouse

4: Instructional
A Tour of the Calculus by David Berlinski

5: Myth, Folklore, Fairytales
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Raven in Mythology by Samantha Fleming

6: Post-1960 Fiction (not in another category)
Frogmouth by William Marshall
Holes by Louis Sachar
How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor

7: Pre-1960 Fiction (not in another category)
THE GOLDEN HOUSE by MRS. WOODS BAKER
The University Library IX by various authors
The University Library XIII by various authors
The University Library XXIII by various authors

8: Science
Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos

9: Science Fiction
Triplanetary by E.E. Doc Smith
First Lensman by E.E. Doc Smith

10: Vintage Mysteries
Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene

Ooh, I just read Which Witch? and few months ago on the insistence of my eleven-year-old cousin and I thought it was a lot of fun. She has good taste, that cousin.

Nice summary, Ren!

#91 Lot of fun is right! :)

#92 Thank you, Stasia.

#89 - Newton's Cannon has been on my tbr pile for a long time, I'll need to move it closer to the top I think.

#89 - the premise is really interesting, I read the first few of the series, although it didn't grip me as much as it did my brother. Maybe if I read it now I'd be able to concentrate on it. Um, it's been a while, is Benjamin Franklin one of the protagonists?

Yep, young Ben features prominently in both Newton's Cannon and Calculus of Angels. I've not yet started the 3rd book, Empire of Unreason.

Ibbotson's juveniles are always so much fun. I think Dial-a-Ghost is my favorite. I pulled Which Witch off my shelf to see if I could remember the plot, but it's been long enough I don't really recall it. However, you also inspired me to pull out My Father's Dragon and its sequels, Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland, which had been given me by a friend a number of years ago and remain unread. That will be a good (and quick) three for my Off the Shelf challenge!

Aha, then it is the series I remember! I think one needs to have a few reasoning braincells with which to appreciate the series, and I just didn't have those back then :)

#94 I hope you like Newton's Cannon sgtbigg. The historical aspects (tweaking?) might especially intrigue you.

#97 Way cool, roni!

#98 I won't say the Empire of Unreason will turn out to be my favorite fantasy series, PrincessT. The cold, self-centeredness to so many of the characters, combined with their ineptitude despite supposedly being brilliant, lends the work (at least the first two books) an air of depression I might not want to revisit. But the concept is interesting and compelling.

Book 26: Dope by Sax Rohmer (Category 10: Vintage Mysteries). A Rohmer I hadn’t read, I believe one of his most famous non-Fu Manchu stories. Great stuff. An exposé, Sax style, of opium use among the English elite in the early 1900s.

Book 27: Mossflower by Brian Jaques (Category 2: Fantasy). Re-read. Lots of fun.

Book 28: A Treasury of Modern Asian Stories, 1961 Mentor collection edited by D.L. Milton and W. Clifford (Category 6: Post-1960 Fiction; Also counts as a book that has been on my shelf, unread, for over a year). Best of the selection:
The Conversation by Hsiao Chien
A Country Boy Quits School by Lao Hsiang
A Little Incident by Lu Hsun
The Nonrevolutionaries by Yu-Wol Ching-Nyon
The Death of the Knife-Thrower’s Wife by Shiga Naoya
The Spider’s Thread by Ryanosuke Akutagawa
Gates of Hell by Ryanosuke Akutagawa

Book 29: Wycliffe and Death in Stanley Street by W.J. Burley (Category 10: Vintage Mysteries). Very entertaining, kind of like Maigret in an English 1974 setting. I will look for more in this series.

Looks like some nice recent reads, Ren. The Burley book and A Treasury of Modern Asian Stories especially stick out to me. Thanks for the recommendations!

Nice thing about the Burley, Stasia, is that, if you like them, he wrote a bizillion of them!

I checked my local library, Ren, and they have several (although not a 'bizillion'), so I am going to give them a try.

Book 30 Bugs in the System by May R. Berenbaum (Category 8: Science, also counts as a On my shelf unread for over a year). Excellently written account of insect life as it intersects, with human history.
Book 31 Journey by Guy Billout (Category 6: Post-1960 Fiction). Graphic novel, really a story without words. Wonderful art.
Book 32 The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (Category 2: Fantasy). Ronincat’s recommendation (thank you). Lots of fun. Well-developed alternate reality, thoughtful, humorous, intelligent. I wish the dodo had figured into the story a bit more…

I'm glad you enjoyed The Eyre Affair! Regarding the dodo--this is only the first book in a series. Plonk!

ETA er, or was that Plock!

Yeah, I got my copy of The Anubis Gates! I feel so with it.

See you on the Steampunk thread!

Woo-hoo!

I found some Babar had to read…

Book 33: The Story of Babar and Babar Visits Another Planet by Laurent de Brunhoff (Category 5: Myth, Folklore, Fairytales). I’ve always been into de Brunhoff’s art.

Book 34: The Happy Lion by Louise Fatio & Roger Duvoisin (Category 5: Myth, Folklore, Fairytales). Nice little story. Spiffy lion.

Book 35: Tarzan the Terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Category 7: Pre-1960 Fiction). My favorite of the Tarzan series. You get prehistoric monsters, tailed people, and a resourceful spear-wielding Jane!

Book 36: The Ship by Bjorn Landstrom (Category 3: History of Anything). Oversized Doubleday production with large exquisitely detailed drawings by the author. Traces the history of shipbuilding techniques from primitive dugouts to the icebreakers of the 1950's. The book was published in 1961. Fascinating.

#110: I do not think I have ever read anything by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Is Tarzan the Terrible a good place to start?

The Landstrom book looks very good. I will see if I can find it. Thanks for the recommendation, Ren.

Tarzan the Terrible is the eighth in the Tarzan series. If you want to try some Burroughs, I'd start with Tarzan of the Apes, The Land That Time Forgot, At the Earth's Core or A Princess of Mars. The last two are the start of his Pellucidar and Barsoom/John Carter series, respectively.

As with Dracula and Frankenstein, you'll probably notice that (to quote a recent thread) nobody in Hollywood appears to have read a Tarzan book before they made a movie of it. 8^}

#112: Well, as I have never seen a Tarzan film either, I guess I do not need to worry about them at this point.

Thanks for the recommendations, Jim. I will see what my local library has.

That's good advice from drneutron; if you've not read any Tarzan, best start with the first one. Burroughs was so prolific. He also has a Venus series and a Moon series (which I do not care for). The Pellucidar books are great, and Tarzan figures into one of those stories (Tarzan at the Earth's Core). The Martian Tales are great, too. In fact, I am re-reading A Fighting Man of Mars (my favorite) right now. Burroughs also wrote westerns and other adventure stories. The Mucker is a wonderful adventure story.

Thanks, Apolline! Here's my test results:

#114: I am looking to see how many of the titles mentioned are available at the local library. Thanks for your input too, Ren.

Book 37: Sibley's Birding Basics by David Allen Sibley (Category 4: Instructional). Not really what I was hoping for, but I’ve been birding for a long time. However, for someone new to birding, probably a terrific resource. Very attractive format.

Book 38: Added a big batch of comics to my collection. These were the best of the pile, all highly readable with great art.
Angel Revelations (Marvel Comics), 5 issue story. 2008 creation.
Thor #438 through #441 (Marvel Comics), The Thor Wars storyline featuring Beta Ray Bill!
Master of Kung Fu (Marvel Comics) #45 & #96. Higher quality replacements of books already in my collection. Classic MKF.
Hellboy The Third Watch (Dark Horse). Great undersea adventure with Hellboy on his own.
Spectacular Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) #17 featuring The Angel.
Invaders (Marvel Comics) #18 & #25. Namor and pals battle the Nazis.

Book 39: Dynamite Cargo by Fred Herman (Category 3: History of Anything). Riveting autobiographical account of a merchant marine aboard a freighter conveying arms to Russia during WWII.

#117: Dynamite Cargo looks like one I would really like. Thanks for the recommendation, Ren. I will look for that one.

#118 My husband is reading Dynamite Cargo now.

I think it would appeal to your penchant for the maritime story, Stasia. There are even a few shipwrecks. :)

Book 40: Minnie and Moo and the Potato from Planet X by Denys Cazet (Category 5: Myth, Folklore, Fairytales). Short kid’s book, but what terrific, amusing art! And the story is so clever and appealing, I had to make a mention of it.

Book 41: Making Breads with Home-grown Yeasts & Home-ground Grains by Phyllis Hobson (Category 4: Instructional). Wonderful little book, easy to understand with great recipes. I’ve been making my own whole-grain bread for awhile, but I would like to try making my own flour, too. Hobson takes quite a bit of the mystery out of using starters, which I appreciated.

Book 42: Papermaking by Jules Heller (Category 4: Instructional). Light-hearted, but substantial presentation of papermaking history and techniques. Big oversized book with lots of pictures to augment the historical and instructional sections.

Book 43: A Fighting Man of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Category 9: Science Fiction). My favorite of Burroughs’ Martian books. You get it all in this one: green warriors, white apes, backward Barsoomian kingdoms, super weapons, invisible ships, mad scientists, and beautiful Tavia, who can not only pilot a flyer, but fight with sword, shoulder-to-shoulder, beside the man that she loves.

WOW, you have read 43 books. That is quite impressive.

I agree with Stasia, Dynamite Cargo looks very interesting.

Hi, Whisper1,

Dynamite Cargo is an older book (my copy is the 2nd printing, 1943), not lengthy, probably published as a propaganda piece to make people aware of what the Merchant Marines were contributing to the war effort. Happily, what comes across is the unvarnished account of an individual caught up in an epic and dangerous situation.

There is a used bookstore not far from my office. They specialize in older books. I'll try to hunt this one down.

Good idea. I found my copy in a junkstore.

I'm putting a copy of House of Brick on the LibrayThing Member Giveaway. FYI.

I found an old copy of Rickshaw Boy by Lau Shaw to put on the stack. Right now I'm working on a History of Mathematics (jumbo), The Frail Sea by Wesley Marx, and Room for a Body. The Ghost Map and The Anubis Gates are in the wings...

#126: I have The Ghost Map in the BlackHole. It will be interesting to see what you think of it, Ren.

My husband read and recommended The Ghost Map; he's quite the history buff.

I found a first edition hardback in a dustjacket of Robert Heinlein's The Star Beast. Everything else is on hold for this fun re-read!

#129: I do not think I have ever read that one by Heinlein. I will have to see if my local library has it.

The Star Beast is one of my favorite Heinlein juveniles!

My husband, a terrific Heinlein fan, says R.H. called them his Boy Scout books.

#132: I did a re-read of Have Spacesuit, Will Travel last year and still enjoyed it. I can see your husband's point, though.

Unfortunately, my local library does not have a copy of The Star Beast.

“Boy Scout” books was not meant in a disparaging way. Personally, they are my favorite Heinlein stories: Glory Road and The Star Beast.

Ah, but Between Planets was my first, and thus always holds a special place in my heart. And the other one besides the two you mention, Ren, is The Door into Summer because I love the cat so much.

You know, roni, I've not read either of those Heinlein stories. I thank I shall have to now. Thanks!

>135 ronincats:: My first cat was named Pete in honor...

So cool.

I need to locate my copy of Door into Summer. It has probably been 30 years since I read it.

My husband has a copy (he is a big Heinlein fan), so I'm good.

I brought home some books today to add to my tbr stack:
Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep, Beyond the Burning Lands by John Christopher, and Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde.

AND I planted potatoes! Very exciting. :)

Two classic YA books and a Fforde--plus potatoes? Life is good!

Absolutely!

Chick Pics! We got 12 of these little bantam chicks; they are a week old today.

Cute chicks! We got a couple of bantam chicks but they turned out to be roosters so we had to give them to a friend in the country. We have 6 hens on the side of our house now and getting 3-4 eggs per day. (Two of the hens are older.)

That reminds me - I have to pick up feed for them on the way home!

Cute!

Book 44: The Warlord of the Air by Michael Moorcock (Category 9: Science Fiction--Steampunk). Read on drneutron’s recommendation. I am a fan of Moorcock’s original Elric of Melnibone series, but I hadn’t read this book. Enjoyed it very much. Looking forward to finding The Land Leviathan.

Book 45: The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein (Category 9: Science Fiction). Super great story. Tight, intelligent writing. It had been so long since I had first read it, it might as well have been the first time.

Book 46: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (Category 2: Fantasy).
Re-read. My favorite of the Potter books. Just happened to run across it, so…

Book 47: The Last Apprentice Curse of the Bane by Joseph Delaney (Category 2: Fantasy). Second of the Last Apprentice series. A much longer, more complicated story than the first one (Revenge of the Witch), but still engrossing, and Delaney pulls it all together for a neat, satisfying ending.

#147: I just got a copy of The Warlord of the Air a couple of weeks ago. I need to bump it up on the stack.

The Star Beast is already in the BlackHole. I just read HP & TPofA, which is also my favorite of the HP books too, very recently. I read the Last Apprentice series last year. I liked it, but not as much as I like the Ranger's Apprentice series.

That's interesting, Stasia. I haven't run across the Ranger's Apprentice series, yet. Last week I picked up Tulku by Peter Dickinson (new-to-me-author) and Snake Agent by Liz Williams (someone on LT recommended it).

I'm thinking of starting The Marvelous Land of Oz, (my husband just bought me a copy of the Judy Garland Wizard of Oz movie) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (my mom and I are working through the movies.

Boy, I'm wired tonight. One of my little hens is really sick and Tom & I are trying to doctor her. Tough stuff. Hope for the best.

#149: Sorry to hear about your hen. My sister is a homesteader in East Texas, raising and breeding goats, but she has all manner of other animals as well, so I know secondhand how the fight goes for the animals' lives.

You will have to let me know how the Dickinson book is. I have not read any of his or Liz Williams either for that matter.

I love The Wizard of Oz. It is my all-time favorite movie.

It was cool; mom, dad and I watched it tonight together. Dad was funny because he didn't remember parts of it--not because he's senile, but I bet he hasn't watched since I was a little kid, many, many decades ago.

Oh, the other book I got was Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I've heard nothing but great stuff about his books.

About Little Red, my sick hen, thank you for your kind thoughts. It will be a couple of days before we see how it all works out.

I have Sanderson's Elantris around my house somewhere to read. Once I eventually get it read, I am going to start the Mistborn series.

What kind of hens do you have? My sister has several different types of chickens, including some of the heirlooms, although I do not know all the varieties myself.

BTW: My sister's blog is here: http://queenacresonline.blogspot.com if you are interested.

>149 jadebird: I hope you enjoy Tulku. I haven't read that one, but Peter Dickinson was one of my favourite authors in childhood - I particularly enjoyed the Dancing Bear and The Blue Hawk, also the Changes trilogy( The Weathermonger etc). I have in the last few years caught up his more recent works - they vary greatly in setting and subject but are nearly always interesting and thought provoking. I especially recommend Eva about a girl whose brain is transplanted into a chimpanzee's body after a horrendous accident, and The Kin, written for younger children, about early humans in Africa just after the development of language.

I always enjoy Dickinson's books as well--the Changes trilogy was one of my favorites, and his newer duo, The Ropemaker and Angel Isle. I haven't read Tulku though.

The Star Beast is one of my favorite RAH juveniles--it is well done, isn't it?

I'm the one who recommended Snake Agent, so I will be quite interested in your reaction to the book.

#152 Stasia, Little Red appears to be better. We will cross our fingers. We have bantams: Cochins, Sebrights, Wyandottes, D'Uccles, Quail Antwerp, and Silkies. I know it sounds like a lot, but we only have 1 to 4 of each kind.

#153 Wow, gennyt, I guess I've been missing out not reading Peter Dickinson before. What wonderful titles: The Dancing Bear and The Blue Hawk!

#154 Thanks, roni, I thought maybe it was you. Have you read any of E.V. Cunningham's works? I just picked up a couple. My mom really liked them: The Case of the Angry Actress and The Wabash Factor.

#155: I am glad Little Red appears to be better, Ren.

>155 jadebird: Yes I think he is well worth discovering. He also writes adult crime mysteries, though I've never got into those.

His son John Dickinson has followed in his footsteps and now has five books published also, and it looks as if he will have a similarly wide range (medieval fantasy trilogy, 18th century historical spy story set in Germany, and now a SF story called WE (touchstone not working) just published. I like his work too, though John is a good friend of mine so I guess I am biassed there. I was very excited when I first got to know him and realised who his father was, since he had been such a childhood favourite! John was already writing then but not yet published, so it has been interesting to see him gradually getting into print himself.

Genny

Wow, I’ve been rudely out of touch. Sorry everybody.

#156 Stasia, Little Red is zipping around as if nothing had ever been wrong and all of our new chicks are so perky they are a delight to see.

#157 That is such a special story, Genny. And encouraging.

#158: Terrific! I am glad to hear Little Red is doing well.

Book 48: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (Category 2: Fantasy). Fun re-read. I liked it better the second time.
Book 49: The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers (Category 2: Fantasy). Powers is always so original. Very entertaining.
Book 50: Tulku by Peter Dickinson (Category 6: Post-1960 Fiction). I think the moral was religious tolerance. Interesting story.
Book 51: The Case of the Crying Swallow by Erle Stanley Gardner (Category 10: Vintage Mysteries). I love Gardner’s Perry Mason stories.
Book 52: The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson (Category 2: Fantasy). Fairy tale adventure. Lovely writer.
Book 53: Irish Myths and Legends by Lady Gregory (Category 5: Myth, Folklore, Fairytales). Very bloody and quite confusing.

You have been busy, Ren!

Nice one line summary reviews. Tulku is one of the few of Peter Dickinson's I've not yet read.

Thanks for stooping by, Stasia and Gen!

I'm reading Wyndham's Day of the Triffids and Ghost Map by Steven Johnson at the moment.

#163: Ghost Map has been in the BlackHole for a while now. I look forward to seeing what you think of it, Ren.

Been meaning to read Day of the Triffids since the recent BBC TV version of it - thanks for reminding me.

I found Macbeth presented as a graphic novel. It is the complete text of Shakespeare's play. Art by Von, published in 1982. Tres cool.

#164 The Ghost Map is very well written, but I can only take the intense squalor of 1854 London and the horrifying cholera epidemic in small doses.

#165 Do read Day of the Triffids, Genny. It is a fascinating account of how a few humans deal with a post-apocalyptic world--man-eating plants just juice it up a bit.

I saw Day of the Triffids at the used bookstore yesterday and snapped it up for $1. Can't wait to get to it .... although for now, it's just going on my large TBR Tower with all the other acquired but as yet unread books.

#166 I will certainly do so - don't have a copy yet and trying not to buy too many more as i've been overdoing it, so maybe it's time for a trip to the library...

#167 & #168 I'd been looking for copy of Day of the Triffids at one of the used bookstores where I have trade credit. Finally, it turned up!

Book 54: Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King (Category 5: Myth, Folklore, Fairytales). Illustrated novel. A year in the life of a ruthless monster. Grim and graphic. Great art. Heads up for those that care: the story is written in the present tense.

Book 55: The Irish by Kevin Osborn (Category 3: History of Anything). One of those tiny hardbacks you have to read with a magnifying glass. Interesting and entertaining overview of Irish history and lore. Lovely art.

Book 56: The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (Category 9: Science Fiction). Great book. More a study of human nature as a few struggle to survive in a shattered civilization than a nonstop battle against triffids, but the triffids are definitely a menace to be reckoned with!

Book 57: The Lost Lake by L.N. Lavolle (Category 7: Pre-1960 Fiction). Set in France, this is a ya adventure tale about two cousins trying to save a wetland from exploitation. Sometimes the forest animals were too Bambi-esque for my tastes, but that might be blamed on the translation or on the prevailing attitudes of the time (the book was written in 1959, I think). I applaud the author’s conservation theme.

170: I have a copy of The Day of the Triffids that I need to get to. Maybe over the summer . . .

Book 58: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (Category 2: Fantasy). This epic series is even better the second time around.

Book 59: Macbeth by Shakespeare and art by Von (Category 6: Post-1960 Fiction). This is the complete play done as a graphic novel. Pretty darn effective. I liked it. 1960 category because of when it was published (1982).

Book 60: The Frail Sea by Wesley Marx (Category 4: Instructional). This was such an interesting book, part history, part discussion of man’s use and abuse, legislating and parceling out of the marine environment. The copy I read was a 1971 edition; I think Marx has a more up-to-date version. I would like to read that, too.

Book 61: My Cat's Not Fat; He's Just Big-Boned by Nicole Hollander (Category 6: Post-1960 Fiction). Cartoon strip style paperback. Some priceless comedy. A must-read, I’m sure, for cat aficionados.

Book 62: Butterflies by Diana Ajjan (Category 4: Instructional). Another miniature hardback with beautiful art. Interesting overview of the natural history of butterflies.

Book 63: Arcata by Jessie Faulkner (Category 3: History of Anything). I thought I knew just about everything about this lovely seaside city where I have lived off-on-on many years, but not so! Lodes of historical pictures.

Book 64: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (Category 2: Fantasy). Alas for dear Dumbledore and pity for Snape…

#172: The Frail Sea looks interesting. I will have to see if I can locate copy. Thanks for the recommendation, Ren.

#173 I think you would really like The Frail Sea, Stasia (especially with your penchant for the aquatic).

I just watched some Hamish Macbeth mysteries, found them amusing and then, coincidentally found Death of a Macho Man by M.C. Beaton. So, that has gone towards the top of the stack. Currently, I'm working on A History of Mathematics, The Travels of Marco Polo (edited by Komaroff), and Snake Agent.

#174: I have the first of the Hamish Macbeth DVDs on its way to me from Netflix. I hope I like them too.

I will be interested in seeing what you think of A History of Mathematics. I have a math nerd lurking inside me (and a History nerd, and a Physics nerd . . .)

Boyer's A History of Mathematics (so far) is great. It really is a history of math, not just mathematicians.

And for the lurking physics nerd... I'm reading The Matter Myth. Wow, I'm really getting into that book. Very exciting stuff!

#176: I am going to have to look for them both!

Book 65: The Shadow of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer (Category 7: Pre-1960 Fiction). Fu tries to save the world by thwarting Communist control of a power more terrible than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Unfortunately, the powers in control of the post-WW2 world do not understand. Only the unique insight of Sir Denis Nayland Smith can save the day. Sax at his best.

#178: I love the pre-1960 fiction that you post, Ren. I hope you keep the category forever :)

Thanks, Stasia.

Here's another vintage masterpiece:

Book 66: The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron (Category 9: Science Fiction). First-rate can-do feel-good adventure story about two boys, a good hen, and a mysterious man named Mr. Bass and how, together, they built a space ship to fly to an uncharted planet to save the gentle people there. Excellent.

#180: My local library has the Cameron book! Woot!

So cool! It is a special tale.

Book 67: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling (Category 2: Fantasy). As explained in the author’s introduction of this charming little book, part of the proceeds from the sales of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them go towards the support of various charities for children. What a nice idea. Basically, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a brief bestiary; a nice little bonbon for Potter fans.

Book 68; The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson (Category 3: History of Anything; Also counts as a book that has been on my shelf, unread, for over a year). It is 1854 London and the last of the great cholera epidemics; 2.5 million people are packed like sardines in squalid tins in the congested city, living out every day of their lives surrounded by indescribable filth and disease, doctored by men who still believe that miasma is the vector for contagion. This is the world that Johnson explores in his book, The Ghost Map. It is a fascinating and compelling account, dominated by the efforts of the brilliant doctor, John Snow, to discover the source of the devastating sickness.
Interestingly, Johnson includes an epilogue discussing trends, pros and cons, of current urban centers.

#184: I have had that one in the BlackHole for a while now. Time to bump it up!

The Ghost Map reads quickly, with not quite as much repetition as seems the current mode in non-fiction writing.

#186: Thanks for the additional input, Ren!

Six months into 2010, here’s my book tally:

Category 1: YA Fantasy
Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
May Bird Among the Stars by Jodi Lynn Anderson
May Bird by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Mossflower by Brian Jaques
The Last Apprentice Curse of the Bane by Joseph Delaney
The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson
Vampire Plagues London 1850 by Sebastian Rook
Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson
The Scarecrow and His Servant by Philip Pullman

Category 2: Fantasy
A Calculus of Angels by J. Gregory Keyes
Newton's Cannon by J. Gregory Keyes
Snake Agent by Liz Williams
The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Category 3: History of Anything
Arcata by Jessie Faulkner
Dynamite Cargo by Fred Herman
River Road to China by Milton Osborne
The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson
The Irish by Kevin Osborn
The Ship by Bjorn Landstrom

Category 4: Hobbies
Butterflies by Diana Ajjan
Making Breads with Home-grown Yeasts & Home-ground Grains by Phyllis Hobson
Organic Gardening in Cold Climates by Sandra Perrin
Papermaking by Jules Heller
Sibley's Birding Basics by David Allen Sibley
The New Age Herbalist by Richard Mabey

Category 5: Myth, Folklore, Fairytales
Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King
Irish Myths and Legends by Lady Gregory
Minnie and Moo and the Potato from Planet X by Denys Cazet
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Raven in Mythology by Samantha Fleming
The Happy Lion by Louise Fatio & Roger Duvoisin
The Story of Babar and Babar Visits Another Planet by Laurent de Brunhoff

Category 6: Fiction
A Treasury of Modern Asian Stories by Milton & Clifford editors
Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep
Frogmouth by William Marshall
Holes by Louis Sachar
How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor
Journey by Guy Billout
Macbeth by Shakespeare and Von (1982)
My Cat's Not Fat; He's Just Big-Boned by Nicole Hollander
Tulku by Peter Dickinson

Category 7: Vintage Fiction (Pre-1960)
Clear For Action! By Stephen W. Meader
Tarzan the Terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Golden House by Mrs. Woods Baker
The Lost Lake by L.N. Lavolle
The Shadow of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer
The University Library IX
The University Library XIII
The University Library XXIII

Category 8: Science
A Tour of the Calculus by David Berlinski
Bugs n the System by May R. Berenbaum
Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos
The Frail Sea by Wesley Marx

Category 9: Science Fiction
A Fighting Man of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
First Lensman by E.E. Doc Smith
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein
The Warlord of the Air by Michael Moorcock
The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron
Triplanetary by E.E. Doc Smith

Category 10: Mysteries
Death of a Macho Man by M.C. Beaton
Dope by Sax Rohmer
Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
The Case of the Crying Swallow by Erle Stanley Gardner
The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene
Wycliffe and Death in Stanley Street W.J. Burley

Nice going, Ren!

Very nice lists and accomplished reading! And even better is that we really are only five months into the year (well, five months and a few days).

Karen O.

You're right, klobrien2, this is just the start of the 6th month, but I was in the mood to fiddle with the book lists! I changed some categories, too, because they didn't seem to be descriptive of what I was reading. I've managed to read 9 books so far this year that have been waiting in my shelf for over a year to be read, by me, for the first time.

That's great, jadebird! It's a real accomplishment! And a great example to me, of the double-stacked bookshelves.

Karen O.

I read The Ghost Map last year and loved it. I'm a big fan of microbiology/disease epidemics and The Ghost Map is one of my favorites. :)

I thought The Ghost Map was really good, too!

These are some of the used books I got in a $5.00 a bag sale last Wednesday!
The Man With Bogart’s Face by Andrew J. Fenady
Murder In the Queen’s Arms by Aaron J. Elkins
Two Davy Jones Below by Carola Dunn
The Owl Service by Alan Garner
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Nice! I hope you enjoy Howl's Moving Castle. I thought it was great fun!

Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep. A young man must leave China and join his father and uncle in California working as virtually a slave laborer to help build the railroad.

Organic Gardening in Cold Climates by Sandra Perrin. Succinct and informative.

Death of a Macho Man by M.C. Beaton. A Hamish Macbeth mystery. Quick and entertaining read, set in the Highlands, of course!

Snake Agent by Liz Williams. A Detective Inspector Chen novel. The Locus review just about covers it: “This exotic amalgam of police procedural, SF, comic fantasy, and horror is a delight from start to finish.” Williams takes us on a real ride with this one. Besides Chen, the demon Seneschal Zhu Irzh is a terrific character. I can’t wait to read another one in this series.

Snake Agent sounds intriguing!

ditto what Genny said!

Hello and Happy Sunday to you!

Thank you!

Snake Agent was quite a good read. There is a lot going on in this exotic fantasy; I didn't know how Williams was going to be able to pull all the threads together for the ending, but she did, and a whiz bang satisfying ending too!

I have had Snake Agent in the BlackHole for a while now. One of these days I will get hold of a copy.

I think ronincats' thread is where I heard of Snake Agent first. I thought it was just a mystery; I didn't know it had the whole alternate Orient, Chinese Hells thingy going for it, too. Really interesting and fun.

I probably saw it first on Roni's thread too. Unfortunately, it is one of the books that my local library does not have.

Added some comics to my collection, all entertaining reads with great cover art:
Alpha Flight #121 (Marvel Comics) guest starring Spider-Man. Cover art Broderick Patterson.
Avengers #363 (Marvel Comics) “Dissension”
Batman Legends of the Dark Night #6 (DC) “Gothic”
Classic X-Men #2 (Marvel Comics)
Defenders #60 (Marvel Comics) “Day of the Demons”
Fantastic Four Annual #21 60 (Marvel Comics) “The Evolutionary War”
Incredible Hulk #288 (Marvel Comics)
Journey Into Mystery featuring Hannibal King Vampire Detective #520 (Marvel Comics)
Marvel Presents: Bloodstone #2 (Marvel Comics)
Nexus #2, #3 (Capital Comics)
Savage Dragon #21 (Image)
Savage Dragon Vs the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2 and Vanguard #0 (Image)
Skrull Kill Krew #4 (Marvel Comics) “Four War”
Thor #418 (Marvel) with Hercules. “Fear Kills”
Thor #421 (Marvel) “The Black Galaxy Saga”
Nova #5 (Marvel) “Evil is the Earth-Shaker.” Bronze age comic “The Man Called Nova,” not Jean Grey of X-Men fame.

Went on a nostalgic reading binge:
The Bungalow Mystery, The Mystery at Lilac Inn, The Secret of Shadow Ranch, The Secret of Red Gate Farm all by Carolyn Keene. It’s surprising how well these vintage stories hold up, and, with the current trend of dummying down the cozy mystery, how refreshingly intelligent they seem.

The New Age Herbalist by Richard Mabey. A beautiful book, covering many aspects of raising herbs, using herbs, and herb lore.

And two real treasures:
Clear For Action! by Stephen W. Meader. Great story about two young men who go to sea just on the eve of the American Revolution. Excellently written nearly nonstop nautical action.

The Scarecrow and His Servant by Philip Pullman. This is the most satisfying of Pullman’s works I’ve encountered yet (I’ve read most of the Sally Lockheart series, and the epic trilogy His Dark Materials. The Scarecrow and His Servant is a pleasing satire with a Don Quixote feel, and a lovely tale of adventure and friendship.

I will look for The New Age Herbalist. I have been interested in herbs for years now and would dearly love to have my own herb garden. Thanks for the mention of that one, Ren.

I will also look for Clear For Action! It looks right up my alley.

I had a book by Richard Mabey as a child, when I started to get interested in wild flowers. I think it was Food for Free, all about gathering food from the hedgerows etc, and how to make Nettle Soup! (which I did once, with the Girl Guides).

Sorry to be unresponsive, but I’ve been off on the river teaching canoeing.

I think you would be pleased with The New Age Herbalist, Stasia. The full color glossary of herbs is really impressive. I’m fascinated with herbs and herblore. We cook with the rosemary, sage, thyme (I’m breaking into a Paul Simon tune, here), cilantro, dill and (I love it!) basil. Sometimes we add nasturtium flowers & leaves to salads.

We had, Food for Free in our house, too, gennyt. I remember really being interested in the book just because it was a fascinating idea. When I lived in Alaska, I discovered many of the same type of book, written with more of a “how to survive if you get lost in the Alaskan rainforest” theme, I think, than in just having free salad.

I checked and the local library does not have The New Age Herbalist unfortunately. I am hoping I can get it through ILL though.

I hope you had a great time canoeing. It has been years since I have done any.

There are a lot of nice herb books out there; I bet your library has something nice, Stasia.

I've been canoeing "professionally" since 1977--it's my family's business: Canoe West . You should get back in a boat!

I would probably drown - no wait, to fat to drown. I would probably keel over from exhaustion before we made it a mile down the river.

I do love being on the water though and miss it terribly. I used to both canoe and swim long distance, but it has been 30+ years now.

We're lazy paddlers. It's all about watching the birds, enjoying the scenery, and swishing around with style in your canoe. I hit the big 5-O this year, and dad, who runs the river rat show, is over 70. He's written a book, too: Canoer's Guide to the Wild and Scenic Middle Klamath River . It's a crack-up because we see people all the time on the Klamath who have bought the book and recognize him from the picture on the cover. They say: "You're the guy...!" Just like he was a celebrity. I guess he is in a way.

The birdwatching I could definitely do as well as enjoying the scenery. We have a bird refuge not far from where I live and I love to go hiking there and watch the birds.

I have no idea where the Klamath River is. Let's just say geography is not my strong point. Is it in California?

Yep, from the headwaters in Oregon, the Klamath runs across the northwest corner of the tippy top of California. Birds love the Klamath.

And if you are hiking, you are in enough physical condition to be canoeing. I'm cutting you no slack. :)

Now all you have to do is move California closer to Texas :)

I have made the trip from Texas to California - it took 24 hours just to get across Texas!

Did you drive? That is some roadtrip. We did that marathon when we moved to Albuquerque some years ago with two parrots and a cat.

I was on tour with a choir, so we went by bus. Yes, it was some road trip - the air conditioner on the bus broke down in Death Valley of all places. Not a fun time at all!

The canoeing with birdwatching sounds great. And I love the idea of a roadtrip with two parrots and a cat - sounds like the makings of a good story...

Hi, Genny,

Just got in off the river. Beautiful day, saw bald eagles, osprey, orioles, swallows, sandpipers, and two otters!

And yes, it was a memorable roadtrip, especially when I got lost in Durango when it seemed like it was at least 102 degrees in the shade!

Haven't been reading much. Finished Lord Kelvin's Machine by James P. Blaylock. Steampunk. I really liked it. I've never read Blaylock before. Our hero, physicist/engineer St. Ives pits himself against the insidious genius Ignacio Narbondo. Original and fascinating story with a riveting time travel climax.

#218: That one sounds right up my alley! I will have to look for it. Thanks for the recommendation, Ren.

Adding Lord Kelvin's Machine to the tbr pile.

I hope you guys like it. I guess Blaylock has written a number of books featuring St. Ives. I'm on the lookout for another.

#217..
What a delightful description of your day. While vacationing in Yellowstone Nat'l Park last year, we saw eagles..It was such an incredible experience.

We are lucky here in Siskiyou County, CA to enjoy a abundant raptor ensemble, happily including both Golden and Bald Eagles. We saw another bald on our canoe trip today, and saw a new nest. For our clients, the eagle sightings this week on the Klamath Ruver were firsts for them.

The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight by Jack Prelutsky & Arnold Lobel. Appealing macabre poems with great art. Here’s a sample:

The Mummy
In the darkness of a sepulcher
beneath the shifting sands,
the mummy stirs within its sheath
of rotten linen bands.
Inside its stone sarcophagus
beneath the pyramid
it moves its cloth-enshrouded hands
and pushes back the lid…

Diamonds are Forever by Ian Fleming. 007 goes head to head with American mobs. Gloves are off. Action-adventure written for an intelligent audience.

Comics:
Avengers #323 (Marvel Comics). “Ground Zero!” The Avengers and alpha Flight are in way over their heads when Shaman turns his medicine bag inside out, scattering the super heroes in separate deadly dimensions (part 4 of 6). Constant suspense, nice art.
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs #2 (Topps Comics). “Man-Eater!” Interesting Road Warrior type idea, but disappointingly soapy. Cool art on the dinos.
Amazing Adventures #11 (Marvel Comics). Reprint of the Original X-Men golden age comics. You get the Sub-Mariner and the Scarlet Witch, too!
Amazing Spider-Man #245 (Marvel Comics). "Sacrifice Play!" The is the 4th appearance of the super villain Hobgoblin. Great cover art!

First day off from the river in what seems like weeks. Zipped up to Ashland and found Delaney’s Night of the Soul Stealer, 3rd in the Last apprentice series, Across the Wall by Garth Nix, and Island of Aunts by Eva Ibbotson. Still reading Life Is So Good, The Matter Myth, The Mystery of the Laughing Shadow, and A History of Mathematics when I get the chance.

#225: Welcome back from the river, Ren! Nice haul you got, too!

Hi, Stasia. Reading has been put on the back burner because of my schedule, but when I get really tired that's when I like ya the best; so I'm glad I found some good ones at the used book store.

Thanks for checking in on my thread. :)

I hate when RL interferes with reading, so I hear you! Good books just cannot be replaced, can they?

Oh, and we are thinking of calling this season The Summer of Eagles. Every single day on the water we see more than one eagle, usually balds, but some goldens, mature and immature, extremely tolerent of the canoes, flying right overhead or just sitting and watching us from the trees on shore.

That is terrific! I would love to be birdwatching along with you. I am by no means any kind of serious birder, but I do enjoy watching birds.

#228 Our messages overlapped, Stasia! Absolutely, when I am burnt out I do not want to experiment with my reading. I don't want anything shockingly graphic or grotesque. Give me nice clean writing with an engaging plot--heaven!

#231: This past week or so I have been doing pretty much BC reads because that was where my comfort level was at that particular time. Books offer such a wide variety of experiences to readers - some times it is just a matter of the right book at the right time.

#230
As a canoeing guide/instructor (not to sound callous), watching the birds and animals, identifying the riparian plants, peering down into the watery world going on beneath your canoe, wondering about the physics of currents and wind is what keeps me on the river. I spend so much time waiting for my customers’ canoes (I am usually a safety boat) and there is so much sameness in the progress of beginner canoeist to novice canoeist, that nature is the main attraction, to me, and is what, truly gets me through the summer.

#233: I do not think your post sounds callous at all, Ren. I think in any job you have to find something new and/or different to keep you going! You are very lucky that your job is in nature because you can never be bored with that :)

#232
You are so right. That's why I keep my favorites around for re-reads. Sometimes you just need a sure thing.

Nighty-night, I'm off to bed 'cause it's early to rise for the river!

#235: Night, Ren. Thanks for the chat!

229: Sounds wonderful! *envious*

Eagles are wonderful. I wish you all could see them. The group we started canoeing with today said that that was one of their goals for the trip, to see an eagle.

Okay, we were skunked today eagle-wise. We saw one on the shuttle, but zip on the run. Lots of osprey, though. :)

I finished The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet today and enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation of that one.

Too bad about the eagles today. Maybe tomorrow.

I'm so glad you liked The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet. I think it is a special book. I'm getting into my The Mystery of the Laughing Shadow. It is a book in the series Alfred HItchcock and the Three Investigators. Like Nancy Drew, but with younger heroes.

I remember reading some of the Alfred Hitchcock books when I was younger, but not that particular series. I will have to see if my local library has any of them.

>240 alcottacre:: I haven't thought of that book in years; I loved it when I was a kid. Cameron's books seem to have faded away into a bit of obscurity.

I read five of them (can't remember that was the entire series or not). Loved The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet and Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet. A Mystery for Mr. Bass and Mr. Bass's Planetoid were fun. However, I remember thinking Time and Mr. Bass was just a bit odd.

I had no idea there were more Mushroom Planet books. Spiff. Thanks, TadAD.

>244 jadebird:: You're welcome. :-)

Hi, love hearing about your 'summer of eagles' and hope you are getting some enjoyable reading done when not out on the river.

Hi, Genny, I’m happy to report that the eagles are still being very cooperative, flying right overhead as we are paddling down the river and then sitting majestically (and photogenically) in ponderosa pines as we drift by. There are lots of green-backed herons this year, too, and (one of my favorite birds) belted kingfishers.

Currently I’m reading Charlotte MacLeod’s Mystery of the White Knight and The Matter Myth, and I’m thinking of trying An Instance of the Fingerpost. I’m prepping to teach math at our local college starting next month, so that is cutting into my reading time, too. Oh, well…

#247: I will be interested in seeing what you think of An Instance of the Fingerpost which has been sitting at my house unread since it came out :(

>247 jadebird:: I never read that Charlotte MacLeod. I think I hit most of her Peter Shandy, Sarah Kelling and Madoc Rhys stories, but I never heard of that one. Which pen name did she use for it?

#247 I really enjoyed Instance of the Fingerpost - read it more or less when it first came out but wouldn't mind reading again some day. Hope you like it.

Hi, everyone. May we adjourn to the next thread… jadebird’s 2nd thread
(Pick you up there, Tad & Genny).