lindapanzo's 2010 reading--part 2

See my first thread at:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/79040

Books read in March and April:

Books read in March
22. An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor
23. A Catered Birthday Party by Isis Crawford
24. Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
25. Wrigleyville by Peter Golenbock
26. Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke

Books read in April
27. This Book Is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson
28. King of the Hill: A Memoir by A.E. Hotchner
29. The Teaberry Strangler by Laura Childs
30. Unveiled: The Hidden Lives of Nuns by Cheryl L. Reed
31. Died in the Wool by Mary Kruger
32. Down Around Midnight: A Memoir of Crash and Survival by Robert Sabbag
33. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
34. Chicago Television by Daniel Berger and Steve Jajkowski (eds)
35. Trial and Error: The Education of a Courtroom Lawyer by John C. Tucker
36. Becoming Friends: Worship, Justice, and the Practice of Christian Friendship by Paul Wadell
37. The Birth of Modern Politics: Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams and the Election of 1828 by Lynn Parsons
38. Talking About Detective Fiction by P.D. James
39. Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley

Congratulations on reading 22 books thus far! That is quite impressive. Are you feeling better today?

Linda, here's hoping that the flu is gone!

Happy Birthday! I hope your day is special!

Best wishes for a wonderful birthday, Linda! Hope it's filled with lots and lots of giftcards.

Have a wonderful birthday, Linda!

Happy Birthday!

Thanks. I took the day off and it's been a nice, relaxing day. We went out for lunch and then a movie, Cop Out, the new Bruce Willis movie.

Happy happy birthday, Linda. Sounds like you're having a wonderful day!

Book #22
An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor

This is the second book in the Irish country doctors series by Patrick Taylor. These books are set in the early to mid 1960s in Northern Ireland, in a little town called Ballybucklebo.

These are charming books full of little episodes from the lives of an older Irish doctor and his young doctor apprentice.

I know that there are two more books, so far, in this delightful series and I hope to pick up An Irish Country Christmas soon.

An Irish Country Village sounds delightful!

I happened to pick up the Irish Country Christmas as part of my 999 end of year Christmas category...It was a delightful story. I didn't realize until afterward that it's part of a series and I certainly plan to start at the beginning and wallow in these. They are great fuzzy warm cozies...lovable people who just know how to live. Glad you're enjoying them.

My elderly mother absolutely loves this series.

I think An Irish Country Doctor was the first, followed by Village and then Christmas. There's a new one out. I want to say it's An Irish Country Girl, which features Kinky, the housekeeper.

This series sounds like The Mitford books.

#15 Does it? I have thought about trying those. Maybe I will give the first one a shot.

I like the idea of a long-running (non-mystery) series with endearing characters.

My local library has the first two books int he series, so I think I will give it a shot. Thanks for the recommendation, Linda.

#15- good observation. I love the MItford books, and now that you mention it, I got the same warm fuzzy from Patrick Taylor. Must read the rest of the Irish Country series....

On my other thread, 1010, someone compared it to James Herriot so now I've got two other series to look into, once I get caught up on Patrick Taylor's.

#15 : That's what I was thinking too, Linda. It does sound like the Mitford series.

#19 : I loved the James Herriot series too. Read them as a teenager and wanted to move to the Yorkshire Dales and become a vet. Then I did work on a farm for one of my summer holidays and decided that vetting is best left between the pages of a book. :-)

Hi Linda - I just found your new thread. A belated Happy Birthday to you!

And, thank you, for calling my attention to the Irish Country books...I had no idea there was a series of them. Any book similar to James Herriot's books will be a must-read for me. I just love those quiet books with "endearing characters" as you described them.

Book #23
A Catered Birthday Party by Isis Crawford

In honor of my recent birthday, I read this mystery, featuring a pair of sisters who own a catering business somewhere in the northeast. New York? Connecticut? They cater a doggy birthday party for a rich woman and there's a death.

If I sound a bit vague, it's because I thought the book was vague. I couldn't keep the two sleuths--Libby and Bernie--apart, nor could I keep the characters straight. The plot was somewhat muddled, I thought and, except for the sisters' father, a retired cop, I didn't like any of the characters.

You know me. I love mysteries. For almost any reason, I'll continue with a series. This is the 6th book in the series but the first I've read. Probably also my last.

I am inching towards 3,000 books read since June of 1976. I now stand at 2,998.

Next up, I think, will be the new J.D. Robb book.

I want to make Book #3,000 a memorable one so....

Besides family and friends and my love of reading, one constant in my life is my love of the Chicago Cubs and (roughly) 20 visits a year to Wrigley Field. (I went to my first game there in June of 1966.)

For my 3,000th book, I intend to read Wrigleyville, a book by Peter Golenbock about the Cubs and Wrigley Field. It's over 10 years old. I can't believe I missed it!!

#22: Skipping that one!

#23: My copy of the J.D. Robb is on its way and I cannot wait.

Congratulations on book 3000! (and it sounds like it is a dandy, too.)

Who are your all time favorite Cubs, Linda?

One of these days I want to see a game at Wrigley Field, and go to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.

#25: I want to go with you, Darryl! I have never been to either place.

Deal. Maybe Caroline can take us to a Red Sox game, and Linda can take us to Wrigley Field.

I've been to Fenway Park for a Red Sox/White Sox series one year. Stayed at a run-down Howard Johnson's about a block away. Great atmosphere inside and outside of the park.

For the Cubs, this year I've switched from Friday afternoon games to nights/weekends.

I am a big fan of the 1960s Cubs teams. Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Glenn Beckert, Randy Hundley, Don Kessinger. Also loved the not so great teams of the 1970s, with Rick Monday, Steve Swisher etc.

My all-time favorite Cub is the former 3rd baseman and current radio color commentator, Ron Santo. It's a shame that he's not in the Hall of Fame.

My loyalties aren't as strong to specific players in recent years. They seem to come and go too fast. My favorite current Cubs are Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot.

I tried to warn you about the Isis Crawford series. I didn't like it either when I read the first one last year. I love mysteries and especially series, but this was the one series I decided to leave be at one.

I went a few years ago to see an Orioles/ Red Sox game at Fenway.
When are you coming to the Baltimore/DC area for a CUBS or White Sox game? You can stay here and we can go to the game together!

I remember your warning and should have heeded it.

The Cubs are in DC in late August, during the week, so it probably won't be this year. I think Mom and I are going to Vegas around then.

The Nats are here on weekdays in late April, also when I happen to be away, so I won't see them in person at all this year.

I should check out the Sox schedule. My sportsfan friend I travel with is a White Sox fan.

I briefly lived near Fenway Park; the first game I saw there was Sox vx. Sox. And I can't remember whether Boston or Chicago won! I was just so caught up in the experience of finally seeing a game at Fenway!

Congrats on book 3000 -- sounds like you've chosen a winner, I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks. First I've got to read 2,999 and I haven't touched it in two days!!

2,999 books! Incredible! Incredible! Incredible!

#33, thanks, Linda.

I got about a quarter of the way into the J.D. Robb book last night (my 2,999).

This morning, I started into the tremendously long #3,000 book. That one, Wrigleyville: A Magical History Tour of the Chicago Cubs, is quite interesting so far.

I'm not too far into it, still in the 19th century. Interestingly, in the early days of Chicago baseball, in the 1870s, they'd keep a keg of beer and a dipper at third base. When a batter made it to third, he was entitled to take a drink of beer.

LOL.....the beer keg on third base would probably go over well with today's players, but it certainly wouldn't fit the image MLB is trying to spruce up. Maybe if they had beer, they wouldn't need the steroids....just kidding...

Linda and Tina

Years ago Lehigh would have kegs of beer out on the front lawn of the main campus university center building.

Fast forward to the fact that Lehigh ranks very high in a national wide poll of drinking/party schools and now the administration is trying desperately to curtail excessive drinking.

Wow!!! It's amazing and wonderful that you've managed to document and track your reading for several decades... I'm thoroughly impressed, and can only hope to stay as meticulous in my own tracking.

Congratulations on (almost) 3,000 books!!!! What will you do to celebrate?!? Sit and read some more...? ;)

Linda....it's like a no hitter in the bottom of the 7th. I'm not going to jinx you. I'll wait until the big event, but stand by.............

Thanks!! I'm certainly not going to stop, that's for sure.

It's pretty amazing, when I think about it. I started back in the summer of 1976, a month before the Bicentennial, when I was 15. Next year around this time, AARP will have just gotten ahold of me.

I hope to finish 2,999 today or maybe tomorrow and then focus on #3,000.

Some distractions include, lately, more magazine reading. Oh, and I'm probably the last person in the world but I finally discovered Netflix. My first rental, earlier this week, was part 1 of a PBS Chicago history documentary, based on the book, which I want to read soon, called City of the Century by Donald L. Miller.

Oh Linda...you will love Netflix. Our kids give us a subscription every year for Christmas, and we use it to see all those old Britcoms, history channel documentaries, old time TV, and occasionally a new release we don't feel like paying $8-10/head to gosee sitting in a too loud, too uncomfortable theatre full of ringing cellphones, chatty rude people and crying babies. And since we have about the same record of returning movies on time to the rental place as we have of getting library books back on time, this is perfect for us. I think you will really enjoy it.

Tina, I love the idea of getting old TV shows/series and watching them all. Perry Mason. Combat. Newer ones, too.

I've just discovered The Big Bang Theory and would like to go back and see all of those from earlier seasons, too, for instance.

Re-watch all of Ken Burns baseball documentary. See his jazz documentary. Watch all of John Adams.

Plus a few regular movies, of course. Up in the Air should arrive today. I read the Walter Kirn book but would like to see the movie as well.

#41: I love Burns baseball documentary. I almost love his jazz documentary as much. I hope you enjoy them!

Netflix rocks! I'm asking for a Wii for my birthday this summer from the family so we can get into the streaming side of Netflix. Well, that and Wii Tennis. 8^}

Our library just got the Burns baseball documentary on DVD. Must see it again!

Book #2,999
(Book #24 for 2010)

Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb

This is the latest in the long-running futuristic (set in 2060) mystery series featuring Lt. Eve Dallas. This one involves game developers and presents an interesting twist: a locked room mystery.

As always, this book is solid and Robb fans will probably enjoy it. Though sticking to the usual J.D. Robb formula, the book seems just a bit different, somehow. Slower-paced and more introspective, I'd say.

#45: I am still waiting for my copy of that one!

Due to work, I'm unlikely to be reading at all during the next week or two, much less reading LT. I might stop in here once in awhile as it'd make a nice break.

I'm at 40 percent done on Wrigleyville, my book #3,000. It's excellent. I thought I knew Cubs history but I am learning quite a bit.

Linda, I can't believe that you managed to start a new thread 2 weeks ago, and I am just now noticing! Get your work done, and read your book, and when you get back here in a week or two, we'll celebrate your #3000 with you.

I hope work does not bog you down too much (purely for selfish reasons - I want to see your review of Wrigleyville!)

Stasia, I managed to get about 20 mins of reading in today. I'm now about halfway through Wrigleyville and it's tremendous. Filled with lots of entertaining stories about Cubs history, such as the role Al Capone's champagne played in Cubs history.

One drawback is that it's basically an oral history, though much of the info is taken from other sources. The players and others speak in the manner of people at the time so, sometimes, it's hard to follow, particularly in the late 1800s.

Now that I'm up to around 1940, though, it's much smoother sailing.

#50: Wouldn't you know that Wrigleyville is not available at my local library. I am going to have to find a copy - that is definitely a book I would like to own.

Hoping to finish Wrigleyville today for 3,000. While I am thoroughly enjoying it, it's soooo long and I am eager to move on to something else. Maybe a short mystery or something.

Another interesting story from the book. In the late 1940s, I think it was, Cubs manager Frankie Frisch was reading a novel in the dugout, while managing during a game. A player made a bad play, he swore, and then threw the book at the third base coach. Frisch was immediately fired. No word on what book he was reading.

BOOK #3,000

Book #25 for 2010

Wrigleyville: A Magical History Tour of the Chicago Cubs by Peter Golenbock

What a terrific book to read for my 3,000th book!! This interesting oral history of my beloved Chicago Cubs was just the thing for my milestone book. I thought I knew a lot about Cubs history but learned plenty.

I learned about how a Cubs manager got fired for throwing a novel he was reading on the bench during a game at his third base coach. I learned about how Al Capone sent a case of champagne to a dying Cubs executive during the remainder of that exec's lifetime.

Most interesting to me were the stories about the great Cubs players of the late 1960s--Ernie Banks, Don Kessinger, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins, Glenn Beckert, Randy Hundley, and the like.

The downsides: the interesting parts were either the oral interviews or portions taken from player autobiographies, that is, the stories. The author's writing style--the brief parts between the full text quoted stories--was not that great and he made what I think of as an unforgiveable error, totally disregard the 1989 Cubs playoff team and then compounding his mistake, talking about the Cubs 1998 playoff team as the first in 14 years or the first since 1984.

Certainly not the author's fault but this book is from 1999 and is quite dated. Sosa, McGwire, and Clemens were still worshipped as baseball gods, for instance, before the steroids taint.

A terrific book for the stories he relates, in the players/managers/coaches etc own words.

I'm pleased to reach the 3,000 book milestone with such a fitting book. Though I've been keeping tabs since 1976, I've never kept a running total, til LT, so this is the first real milestone I can celebrate. Even more special to do it with LT friends.

Also, interestingly, to reach the milestone during what is probably the single most hectic time of my nearly 25-year professional career.

On to book #3,001.

Holy Wowzers!!! May I be the first to congratulate you on this stunning achievement. Sorry no glitz....but your achievement needs no ornamentation - it stands on its own. When you get to Maine, I'll get you a complimentary Lobstah and some blueberry wine.

Congrats! That's awesome!

Congratulations, Linda! And with such a great book, too.

Congrats, Linda! 3000 books - wow! Even though I'm a Cardinals fan, I'm glad you enjoyed Wrigleyville!

Way to go, Linda! Hopefully the Cubs will be as successful this year.

A very belated happy birthday, Linda -- sorry, just found this thread. *eyes roll* I lost you when you moved...

I wish I'd been keeping track of books read since 1976. I was 14, that was the year we moved to Belgium, and I remember one of my book highlights was Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier; another was The Peacock Spring by Rumer Godden. Both still faves.

I figure I read about 300 books a year, more or less. Not all of them new ones; perhaps a third are re-reads. I don't even want to think about what that implies for my lifetime book total!

btw, Netflix is great... If it's on a US DVD, they have it.

Congratulations on a remarkable reading milestone, Linda!

Congratulations on 3000!

Congratulations! I'm so glad that the book was a great one for you. Do you think it will take another 34 years for the next 3000 books? :-)

That is totally awesome. I hope I live long enough to read 3,000 books!

A totally awesome achievement!
Let's hope that the next 3000 are just as enjoyable!

Taking a break, whew.

Thanks.

Anyway, the next 3,000 should be much faster. When I was in high school, college, and law school, I rarely ever read more than 50 or 60 books in a year.

Since then, I've usually read that many by the 4th of July.

Congratulations, Linda! Hope work settles down a little for you soon.

And I want some of that blueberry wine. Yum!

It's getting there. We have to "explain" all of health care reform, all 2,700 pages+ of it. I'm down to writing my final, albeit 30 page, provision.

Lots of work yet ahead but the intial writing is always the worst part.

TIna,
Is this blueberry wine, your own or just from the locals?
I may have to taste test it next time I'm there before you can give it to others, I wouldn't want them to be disappointed, especially if it is to be a tribute to Linda's achievement. We just cannot have that.

I have never had blueberry wine before but I have to say it sounds like something I'd like. I love blueberries.

One of the MO wineries at the Winefest this year had a blueberry wine they were sampling. It was perfectly wonderful!

>68 lindapanzo:: After you've digested that massive pile of (no, that wouldn't be polite) paper, would you mind giving us the short version of your opinion? The only views I hear come from FOX News, the WSJ, and my very opinionated husband!

Can we all join you in some blueberry wine? All those antioxidants must make it very healthy. I would imagine Maine blueberries are almost as tasty as Michigan blueberries. :-)

Congrats on 3000! That must be a fantastic feeling.

The blueberry wine comes from a local winery Sweet Grass Winery and is made with Maine WILD blueberries which are much much different, and much much tastier than those blue babes you get in most groceries across the country.

The locals also make several other fruit libations that are excellent --especially good over ice cream. Unfortunately, my meds have me restricted to about 3 oz of any alcohol a week, so I choose my tipples carefully. Trust me the Bleujolais is dynamite.

My daughter swears by their Black River gin.....so Ok everybody, they open again in Maine, and they do tastings, so come on up. With enough wine, you'll notice not the black flies.!! LOL

Really having trouble with my link to the winery....let's try again:
Sweet Grass Winery

Congrats on 3,000, Linda!

Odd coincidence, my husband and I just finished a bottle of blueberry wine. Go figure! Maybe we were toasting your milestone without knowing it?? ;)

Still no time to break out the blueberry wine or a beer or something.

However, late at night, I am managing to sneak in a few pages, here and there, of my late-in-arriving ER book, Joanne Fluke's mystery called Apple Turnover Murder.

This series is always a comfort reading for me but I am getting increasingly exasperated by it.

Increasingly exasperated????

#76: Increasingly exasperated does not bode well. Let me guess - the Mike and Norman quandary?

Woo-hoo. I finalized my last write-ups on HCR about 6:45 (45 mins ago) and then grabbed an extra slice of pizza to celebrate.

Still lots more to do but more in the nature of doublechecks.

Yes, increasingly exasperated and not just with the Mike/Norman issue. It is still a mystery series, after all. For me, the author now seems to spend way too much time with the characters and not much time at all with the plot.

Congratulations on getting through the big project! I hope the doublechecks go swiftly and smoothly.

I am sorry to hear about the lack of plot in Apple Turnover Murder. I have all the other books in the series and will probably buy this one too . . .eventually.

The Fluke book is getting better but I thought the first half was a waste of time. I like characters but I'm also reading them because they are mysteries, which implies a murder or at least some sort of crime. Not just a never-ending exchange of cookie recipes.

#81: I am glad to hear it is improving a bit!

There's also the fact that, at stressful times, I think I tend to "blame the book." It's not the book's fault that I wasn't getting home til midnight. Yet, my getting home so late definitely does affect my enjoyment.

#83: I understand that. I am very much of a moody reader and lack of sleep can definitely affect moods!

Linda, glad to hear your big project is over - I'm also hoping for a fast and easy cleanup for you. Of course, with all the backlash about that legislation, there may be changes coming for a while that will continue to keep you busy. (Job security?)

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who "blames the book" when real life interferes with my enjoyment or appreciation of it. It's times like that when I'm glad I'm not in school and am not being forced to read something that I'm not in the mood for. Hopefully, you'll be back to normal soon.

Sandy, far from over. I have written and reviewed everything I'm supposed to. Now I'm one of the "appropriate legal minds" being brought in to review and clarify, and also to help settle disputes when one person argues it says one thing and another says it says something else.

Still, I think I can take Sat off and get together with my sister and her kids.

"appropriate legal minds" sounds impressive! I have to say that it sounds like you really have a fascinating job. I remember one of the most interesting tasks I ever had in a job was reviewing pending state legislation and being asked to make comments and recommendations on them regarding the tax impact each would have on our company. (I worked for a large manufacturer at the time - I was the "state income tax specialist" in the tax department of the largest employer in the state.)

I don't know whether to be jealous or not. I was reading all that you have been through and thinking that I'd can't remember if I was ever in that position (I seem to remember being what we called a Subject Matter Expert) but it's been nearly 5 years since I retired and I can't seem to put myself back into that mode.

Take it as a complement and be proud of your accomplishments. Definitely take Saturday off!

Book #26

Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke
(Early Reviewers book)

This is the latest in a long-running cozy series featuring a small town Minnesota cookie maker. I have absolutely loved this series but this one doesn't live up to the usual standards, I feel.

In this one, Fluke places far too much emphasis on cookie talk and cookie recipes and the mystery seems almost like an afterthought.

I have thought, for quite some time, that the author needs to shake up this series and now, the potential for that is in place. (I won't spoil by providing details.)

Isn't it fun being an appropriate legal mind? A guy I've dated occasionally is one of those in connection with finance/securities law -- hilarious.

I've actually read the whole health reform bill, as well as the Dodd bill re finance, and it has left me wondering if the democratic process as practiced here really is the best of all the bad options!! Blech. My take on health reform? We're going to cover several million more people at vastly increased costs. Not a good outcome. (But then, I'm in favor of a single-payer plan, however it's administered, as the only fair and equitable option. And yes, I've lived and paid taxes in that kind of regime, as well as spending 14 of the last 16 years in the US, both having corporate paid healthcare and paying my own way. The one thing that could make this better is to set up the insurance exchanges today, so that they are functioning smoothly before the mandate kicks in in a few years. At it stands today, I would be legally required to purchase the ONLY policy available to me at a price that is 25% of my gross income. Making a return to Canada look better by the day.

I don't mind being the appropriate legal mind (this means that I spend hours trying to decipher the fine points when nobody else can) but I don't like doing interviews. Hoping someone else does those.

Still, I am looking forward to reading regular books again, even if only in the evenings.

Next up, I think, is Dave Jamieson's new book, Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession.

Darn -- that means I can't call you for a quote? Actually, this gave me an idea for next week's Wall Street column that I must write -- so thanks...

And I'm looking forward to the answer to the question of how baseball cards did become an obsession! I'm not sure I'm fascinated enough to read a book about it, but now the question has been posed, I admit my curiosity is getting the better of me...

I'm getting back into the reading routine. My current read is This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All which, despite its title, is actually about modern day librarians and not necessarily about books.

There's even a mention of LT!!!

#93: I have that one on hold at the local library. I cannot wait to see what you think of it.

Librarians are my heroes so I'm enjoying it so far. I'd be interested to hear what librarians think of it, too. (I have to check with my research librarian friend downstairs.)

I suspect that, after reading this, I will never look at librarians in the same way again.

#95: I suspect that, after reading this, I will never look at librarians in the same way again.

I think that is a cool thing!

This book is overdue.....is now on hold at the local library...I want to find out what it is we do do..LOL

Well, you defend the privacy of my library records against the Patriot Act and I thank you for that. (I recall being suspected of criminal activity at the Toronto airport one time because I had a bunch of "crime books" aka mysteries in my bag and I did not like it.)

You also go out to protests and other mass gatherings and provide "on the scene" info.

I actually got into the Soviet Union in 1979 despite having a spy thriller in my carry on bag. Happily, there were no give-away words in the jacket description or cover illustration...

I did have a lot more problems getting back into the US with a passport with a Syrian visa in it after 9/11. Until my new kitten found it and chewed it up, so that I had to get a new one! :-)

#92 I saw this on the new books list at the library - I'm looking forward to your comments about it.

I want to get into King of the Hill but I'm really enjoying the librarian book. Will probably finish the librarian book.

I've read only 5 books all month and had been hoping to finish the librarian book today but that's looking doubtful.

Oh well, April is bound to be better, reading wise.

#98 Seriously, being a mystery fan makes one suspect at airports? They must have a lot of suspects, as there are a LOT of people carrying mystery books around! They are probably the most popular genre at our library.

#102 I recall that I had several, maybe 3 or 4. Maybe I fit their profile?

Now, I would just bring my Kindle. No need for them to know I have dozens of mystery books on it.

Book #27
This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson

Despite its title, this is a book about librarians and not really about books. I enjoyed this look at the modern librarian's many roles, a book that punctures many myths about what it is that librarians do. After reading it, I won't look at librarians again.

That said, it's certainly not a perfect book. At times, the writing seems haphazard and breathless. I would like to have seen more discussion on some topics, such as the librarians who defended patron records against investigation under the Patriot Act, and less discussion on others, such as that on the virtual library, Second Life. That discussion seemed endless and, until I see it, really can't visualize it.

Even so, I would highly recommend this book and will be curious to hear what others, librarians and nonlibrarians alike, think of this gem.

#104: I am hoping to get my hands on a copy soon.

Stasia, I think you'd enjoy it. It's a quick read.

So many books to choose from for my next one. TIOLI or non-TIOLI, hmmm. Definitely something else to get me back on track for the 1010 challenge, that's for sure.

#106 TIOLI challenge got too complicated for my tired old brain. "Take it or leave it," -- I left it! :)

Book #28
King of the Hill: A Memoir by A.E. Hotchner

This interesting memoir of a young boy growing up in a "hotel" in Depression era St Louis was a selection of the Missouri Readers group. I'd never heard of this author before but I'm glad this book was chosen.

Through a series of episodes, the author learned about both the good and the bad in life and was left to fend for himself in some unbelievable situations (for a 12-year old). Job losses, illnesses, people being "locked out" of their hotel room homes, the sad litany continued but yet, there was always hope. Lesson learned: no matter how bad things seem, someone's always got it worse.

My borrowed volume contains the second part of Hotchner's memoir and I hope to read that part soon, too.

Definitely recommended!!

#108 An important lesson to keep in mind - glad you liked the book.

#108: Having seen several good reviews of that book, I am keen to get my hands on a copy. It looks like my local library has it too, so that is good news for me.

I'm trailing behind on the Missouri Readers group, but finished The Moonflower Vine a few minutes ago. All I can say is a BIG thanks for recommending this book. I'll see if my library has a copy of King of the Hill: A Memoir.

Happy Easter, everyone!!

Except for yesterday, our long run of beautiful spring weather continues again today. It's a nice day to be outside.

Happy Easter to you too, Linda!

--> 107

"Take it or leave it," -- I left it! :)

:(

Book #29

The Teaberry Strangler by Laura Childs

I absolutely love the teashop mystery series written by Laura Childs and this latest installment in the long-running Charleston, SC series does not disappoint. The mysteries themselves are engaging and I love the characters, including teashop owner, Theodosia, her employees Drayton and Haley, and even her dog, Earl Grey.

In fact, of all current mystery series, this one is probably my favorite, along with the Louise Penny series and the Carolyn Hart series featuring Annie Laurance Darling. I'd highly recommend the Laura Childs teashop mysteries to mystery fans who enjoy reading series with amateur sleuths. Great stuff here.

#115: I will have to get hold of that one soon. I own the majority of the rest of the series because I like them too.

#107 Terri, when I started on TIOLI, I wasn't sure I'd like it, but it's been growing on me, Every month, I enjoy seeing what challenges are issued and also like to come up with my own.

#116, Stasia, the next one in the series will be called Scones & Bones. I'm assuming this will be her 2011 teashop release. Next up in the scrapbooking series is Fiber & Brimstone, though I still need to read the most recent in that series, Tragic Magic.

The next in her Cackleberry Club series is Bedeviled Eggs, though I still need to read Eggs Benedict Arnold. If I'm remembering correctly, Stasia, I don't think you liked this series.

I love the teashop series but also like her other two, as well, though obviously not as much as the teashop books.

#117: No, I did not care for the Cackleberry Club series, so I will pass on that one, but I do have several of the books in the scrapbooking series too, so I will look for the latest one there. Thanks for the upcoming titles list, Linda.

#112 Hope your Easter was also a nice one, Linda. In a delightful change of pace, it was stormy here both Friday and this morning, leaving the entire weekend to be sunny and warm.

#114, 117 Nothing against TIOLI, really. I didn't mean to offend anyone. It's just that I feel my reading is getting much too regimented, is getting to be WORK, too many challenges, too many discussion groups and group reads that I'm committed to reading for. I just don't need one more thing to pressure me to read something that I might not want to read at the moment. I still believe that, at least some of the time, reading should be fun. And, lately, a lot of it isn't feeling like fun. TIOLI just isn't for me right now. It just felt like one more thing to try and figure out how to wiggle my reading into. My brain is out of wiggle room.

--> 120

My brain is out of wiggle room.

:)

You did the right thing. I really meant what I said. Take it or leave it. Perhaps another time, you'll find something there that attracts you.

TIOLI was created specifically to *not* pressure people into reading what they don't feel like reading. I was getting the same feeling that you're getting now. I made TIOLI so that people could enter books, withdraw their entries, change their challenges...and, yes, even drop out!

Please still drop by the TIOLI thread to talk to us. We still want to hear from you!!

OK, Madeline! I'll try to drop by sometime.

(I am SOOOO behind on so many of the threads! LOL)

Book #30

Unveiled: The Hidden Lives of Nuns by Cheryl L. Reed

As a product of Catholic schools, I thought I knew nuns. Nuns are teachers and sometimes, they work in hospitals, don't they? Well, as I learned in this absolutely fascinating book, I was wrong.

There are conservative nuns, progressive nuns, even radical nuns. In fact, some call nuns the first feminists. Many nuns wear habits and many do not. Some are active and pursue occupations while others are contemplative.

Interestingly, one order of nuns, the Daughters of St Paul (aka the Paulines), specializes in running bookstores and a publishing house, as part of its communications mission. I wish the author had talked to them as part of the 300+ nuns she spoke to.

Despite the title, this isn't some sort of expose but rather, a book that shows that nuns are real people with their own thoughts, feelings, inability to juggle work and life etc. In high school, especially, I learned this to some extent but this book really reinforced that for me.

I thought the author inserted her own views on religion a tad too much but, for me, this wasn't enough to diminish the book.

This interesting and informative book will likely be on my list of favorites for 2010.

I'll have to add that one to my list, Linda. When I was in high school, one of my friends (whose parents moved out of state right before our junior year) made arrangements to live at the local convent our senior year to finish at the same school. So I spent a lot of time hanging around there, and really, they were just ordinary people (it was quite an eye-opener). I'm sure I can do a pretty good job of resisting her views on religion if I need to!

It wasn't so much her views as her doubts or questions.

I remember playing tennis on our high school tennis courts with my mother. The women on the next court weren't very good and kept hitting the ball onto our court but they were having a great time. My mother was getting exasperated and finally said something.

As a 16-year old kid, I finally said "Mom, meet our new principal Sister so and so." Oh and my Latin teacher, my biology teacher and my English teacher for next year." Oops.

As the product of 16 years of catholic schools, all with nuns (except grad school at CUA) I'm definitely going to be on the lookout for this one. To use a cliche, some of my best friends are nuns (our class president joined the order on graduation day and went on to become secretary for the USCB conference). My college was also the order's motherhouse and novitiate, so we got the know them from the day they stepped through the door as postulants. Many are still ardently involved in our alumnae assoc. So I'm off to find this one pronto. Thanks Linda.

Sixteen years for me, too, Tina, though my college had few nuns. All but law school (my private law school where I ended up going offered me a better scholarship than either Marquette or DePaul).

Reading this prompted me to go onto the BVM website and look up a few of my high school nuns and I just sent an email off to my old Latin teacher. (One of our nuns is Bob Newhart's sister.)

I mentioned this book to my most religious friend (her cousin is a Benedictine nun) and we had a great chat about it. Benedictines take vows of stability, among others, and not the usual vows.

The bookstore order of nuns runs a bookstore on Michigan Ave in Chicago, which I will check out the next time I'm in the Loop.

Hmmm, I wonder if my grade school PCJs (a small West Virginia order) have a website, too.

I remember reading that book a while ago; I had become very curious about the quest for purpose in life, generally, and the ways in which religious faith can lead one to act in extraordinarily principled ways, a curiosity spawned, I think, by the lives of many of the Maryknoll nuns working with the poor in places like El Salvador. Religion can appeal to both the best and worst human instincts -- certainly, among nuns are some extraordinary people who are able to put the highest principles of service, community, love for the stranger, above self-interest that binds most of us. Even if I had religious faith, I'm not sure I would be a strong enough person to manage that...

This discussion sent me scurrying to the Sisters of St. Joseph website. I'm not Roman Catholic, but I attended (part-time for several years) a college operated by that order. I became quite fond of some of the sisters -- especially Sister Mary Jordan, who had previously taught high school in the South Bronx.

And then there was the one of the deans I encountered at the end of my time there, whose name I choose not to remember . . . if I had met her earlier in my time there, I might have left sooner! Being a part-timer, I missed an announcement about something which everyone was supposed to know. She made it clear that we part-time commuter students were really much more bother than we were worth!

Nuns are are like people everywhere -- some great, some not so great, a few positively awful.

I'm Polish American, and though I've never been to Poland myself, I grew up hearing stories about Poland from my Busia and other older relatives. I can't imagine what they're going through today over there. It's beyond comprehension that so many political, military, and other leaders from one country could die all at once. I'm having a hard time taking it in.

The Polish President was supposed to come here to Chicago later this month. Unbelievable and so sudden and unexpected, too.

Making it even more surreal is the link to Katyn -- the ghost of a massacre haunting us to this day. The only Polish politician I've ever met in my life appears to be one of the few survivors -- Sikorski.
Trying to find an update on CNN but no luck. *eyes roll* All I could get is Nancy Grace, babbling about that murdered child, which is tragic but old.

#130: I was completely surprised when I saw the news. I thought it was SOP that separate planes, vehicles whatever would be used so that the officialdom of the country would not all die at the same time.

#130 My husband is half Polish -- his maternal grandparents were from Poland -- so it hits home here, too. How awful!

#131 Trying to find an update on CNN but no luck. *eyes roll*

This is the latest I could find on CNN.com:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/04/10/poland.president.plane.crash/index.ht...

#132 I'm amazed, too, that they would fly so many officials of a country on the same plane.

The Chicago area is the home to more Polish people than anywhere else, outside of Warsaw. Almost 1 million Poles and Polish Americans live here so this hits close to home. My old church in the city is the center of Chicago Polonia. Last night, probably the first 15 minutes of the local news focused on the crash and the aftermath, particularly here. The Polish President was supposed to be here next month for Polish Constitution Day.

A Polish sculptor from here was among those killed. He did a sculpture at our cemetery honoring the Polish officers who were killed at Katyn, including his father. The sculptor's daughter from Mt Prospect, IL said that he'd planned to take the train to the ceremony yesterday but was honored to be asked to fly with the Polish President.

His daughter said that the night before he died was the happiest day of his life. Now this.

Book #31
Died in the Wool by Mary Kruger

I really enjoyed this first-in-a-series cozy mystery featuring Ari, the owner of a Massachusetts knitting shop called Ariadne's Web. Besides introducing likable characters I want to meet again, Kruger also wrote an above-average puzzler that had me guessing until the end.

Yes, it also had a lot of the typical cozy elements but, in this one, they really worked. I've already picked up the next one in the series.

#135: Well, I had no luck with the local library on that one, so I will just look elsewhere. I do like my cozies :)

I started my copy yesterday and am having a hard time getting my other stuff done. I want to get back to it.

The Bad Book Affair by Ian Sansom

This is the rare exception--I started it and disliked it so much that I didn't read beyond about page 80.

I absolutely love mysteries and I never ever stop reading a book before I finish it. This so-called "mystery" was an exception. I hated it from the start and kept thinking it was a waste of time for me.

It is the fourth book in the mobile library series so someone must like these. I don't. The only good news is that it was an ER book so at least I didn't waste my money, just my time.

Well, that's one for me to avoid! Thanks for the warning!

#138: Hah! I made it 5 pages more than you did before I gave up, lol. I hated it too.

Stasia, if it were any other book, I'd probably quietly put it aside, mentioning it here and on 1010 maybe. I certainly would not do a review but, because it's an ER book, I felt I had to.

I think you and I are the two one star reviewers.

If I stop reading, it's usually at about 50 pages so I went a bit further with this one.

I don't mind a book where nothing much happens if I like the characters (for instance, the new Joanne Fluke).

#141: If I stop reading, it's usually at about 50 pages so I went a bit further with this one.

I did the same thing and for the same reason, I am sure - just because it was an ER book. There is, however, a limit to how long I will put up with a poorly written book, and that one managed to surpass it. No regrets on my part at all on putting that one down.

Book #32
Down Around Midnight: A Memoir of Crash and Survival by Robert Sabbag

I had mixed feelings about this book, which focuses on the crash of a small commuter plane on Cape Cod in 1979 that killed the pilot and left 8 passengers (including the author) and the co-pilot injured.

I like to read books about disasters and thought I was in for a great one when the opening chapter vividly described the crash itself. However, the bulk of the book discusses why/how the author, after nearly 30 years, finally started looking into it, contacting his fellow passengers etc. In his low 30s at the time, Sabbag was by far the oldest passenger; most of the others were in college or even younger.

I guess I'd recommend it, sort of. The author tends to wander off into irrelevancies. When he truly focuses on the crash and its aftermath, the book is not half bad.

That one is on my list, Linda. Based on your review, I think I'll leave it on the list, but be in no particular hurry to read it.

#143: Ditto what Terri said.

Book #33

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

This is an amazing book, sort of a mystery, featuring a 15-year old autistic boy who is a mathematical genius. In his own unique, eye-opening way, Christopher investigates the death of a neighbor's dog, among other things.

I wouldn't say it's a great book but it does present a totally different perspective on life.

Curious Incident is one of my favorites. It's one that stays with you. I'm not sure if it's a great book either, but it made me happy.

I think so, too. In the first part, I thought it was weird but then I really found myself rooting for him, hoping he could do what he sets out to do.

It got me to thinking about how we phrase things and how our terminology doesn't mean what it appears to.

It's a thought-provoking book that will stay with me, I'm sure.

#147: Those are pretty much my thoughts on the book too, Donna.

There are a few students diagnosed with autism in the school where I work. They all have different levels of ability, but none as high as in this book. It is interesting, however, to see the world through their eyes and it helps (a little) to understand them better. There is another book written from the viewpoint of a boy with Asperger's, Marcelo in the Real World.

Book #34

Chicago Television by Daniel Berger and Steve Jajkowski (eds)

If names like Fahey Flynn, Ray Rayner, P.J. Hoff, or Jorie Lueloff ring a bell with you, you'd probably enjoy this book. These are among the many famous, at least locally, Chicago TV personalities chronicled in this short book. Even if you have no memories of Jack Brickhouse saying "hey-hey" when a Cubs player hit a homer, you might still enjoy this quick read.

As a lifelong Chicago area resident, I appreciated this often cursory look back at the greats of Chicago television history. Of particular interest were the sections dealing with old favorite shows from when I was a kid, such as Ray Rayner, Frazier Thomas and the Garfield Goose show, Bozo's Circus, and Kiddie-a-go-go.

I also enjoyed the sections about Chicago newscasters, which brought back memories of my brief meeting such greats as John Drury, John Calloway, and Joel Daly.

Yes, as with every book in this Arcadia Publishing series, there are a lot of pictures but many are incomparable, such as the one of the great WGN meteorologist, Tom Skilling, back in his early years on channel 9 in 1978.

One thing I did not know: the first sportscaster to interview a sitting president, live, was the Cubs Lead Off Man show guy, Vince Lloyd (who was later the Cubs radio voice, along with Lou Boudreau), who interviewed JFK on the show in 1961.

If you're from Chicagoland, this is a real walk down memory lane.

I think I will have to pass on that one. I know who Tom Skilling is, and have heard of Jack Brickhouse, but that it about it.

I don't blame you, Stasia. I think my mother would enjoy leafing through the pictures but even my about-to-turn 43-year-old sister (in 10 minutes) might think this is before her time.

I am older than your sister by 5 years (and 10 minutes), but just not familiar enough with Chicago to give the book a go.

Which would put you about one year younger than I am.

This was a brief interlude, til I could get back to my book about the training of a courtroom lawyer. Trial and Error: The Education of a Courtroom Lawyer by John C. Tucker. Good but a bit intense at times.

I hate courtroom books, so I suspect I will be passing on that one, too.

After that, I might move on to a nice baseball book, though probably one of the new intriguing ones. The Roger Maris bio or maybe the one about Willie Mays, perhaps.

Not sure. I'm trying to get all of my 1010 categories to at least two books each. I think this Chicago book did it for Chicago and the courtroom book would do so for my law category. I think the religion category might be the only one in need of a boost to two right now.

Two more TIOLI books left to read this month. Originally, I had 10 or so but decided, as usual, that this number was too high so I cut back. I've got How Lincoln Learned to Read and English Country House Murders yet to finish for this month.

April is shaping up to be my best reading month since January.

#157: I have How Lincoln Learned to Read in the BlackHole already - my local library does not have it yet, but I recently got a copy of English Country House Murders from PBS, so I will be interested in seeing what you think of it.

I think I have something like 15 books on the TIOLI challenge this month. I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed at the moment.

I'd have about 15 TIOLIs, too, if I'd kept them all in.

How Lincoln Learned to Read is an ER book for me so that one is a priority. Hopefully, I will like it more than The Bad Book Affair, my previous ER book.

I would like anything more than The Bad Book Affair!

Book #35

Trial and Error: The Education of a Courtroom Lawyer by John C. Tucker

This is a somewhat interesting book about how a rookie lawyer at a major Chicago law firm in the late 1950s ended up being one of the top litigators. Along the way, the reader is treated to a ringside seat on many key trials with both local and national significance. Of particular interest were the two cases Tucker argued before the U.S. Supreme Court.

That said, despite the book's obvious interest to me, I think the author sometimes got bogged down in providing too many details. Also, his legal heyday was the 1960s and 1970s and, while interesting, things are a bit dated. For instance, not many firms would allow its attorneys the chance to do so much pro bono work.

If this is an interesting topic to you, as it was to me, you might enjoy this book.

#161: As I suspected, I will be skipping that one.

Book #36

Becoming Friends: Worship, Justice, and the Practice of Christian Friendship by Paul Wadell

Despite its relatively slim size, this book by a religious studies professor at my small liberal arts college is chock full of thought-provoking information on the nature and meaning of friendship--both friendship with God and friendship with other people. Wadell talks in depth about the qualities of friendship, including forgiveness, and also discusses the views of Thomas Aquinas and a 12th century monk (I think) named Allred.

The book he cites by Allred is one I want to get and read for the 1010 challenge. It's called Spirtual Friendship.

#163: I am going to look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Linda.

Book #37
The Birth of Modern Politics: Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and the Election of 1828 by Lynn Parsons

This is an interesting look at what is often called the first modern presidential election campaign, the 1828 election between incumbent John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.

I'm reading presidential bios in order and this, I believed, would be a good way to move on from John Quincy Adams to Andrew Jackson and, in that, this book succeeded. Even so, there was far too much discussion of events leading up to the election ofr 1828 and less than optimal coverage of the time immediately before, during, and after the election. In those days, elections were not yet held on a single day.

If you're interested in the subject, this is not a bad book. I now intend to read another JQA book--this one about his post-presidency. Mr Adams's Last Crusade by Joseph Wheelan before I move on to Andrew Jackson.

I'm plugging along on the presidential parade, and am now ready to plunge into Monroe. I read Jackson out of order ( I had American Lion:Andrew Jackson in the White House as an early review) so #37 looks like it will be a good one to help me remember. I also like the idea of the JQA book. I've come to the conclusion that the President's challenge is going to be a life long one for me as there is no way I'm going to be able to read all the ancillary stuff I want to delve into and still get to Obama by the next election.

But thanks for the good leads

You're welcome, Tina. My intermediate goal is to get up through Lincoln (Buchanan?) this year and then, in whatever category challenge I do next year, devote some time to both Lincoln and the Civil War.

I'm thinking I'll read the other JQA book, the H.W. Brands book about Andrew Jackson, and then the American Presidents series about Martin Van Buren soon. Then put the presidents aside for awhile and then get back to whoever is after MVB (William Henry Harrison?) in a few months.

Have you seen the History channel series re. The American Presidents. If not, I highly recommend it.

http://www.amazon.com/History-Channel-Presents-Presidents/dp/B0007VY3ZK

I bought it from Amazon...great price.

Thanks, Linda. I'll have to see if netflix has it. I just signed up and my family laughs because I've gotten mostly documentaries so far. I'd also like to see the Jazz documentary and re-watch the Ken Burns Baseball. Oh, and isn't there a John Adams series as well.

#169 Let them laugh! It seems like the documentaries are an excellent reason to subscribe to netflix - you can get new releases anywhere, but it's hard to find some of the less popular but well-made films and documentaries. Although, our local library has a pretty good selection of DVDs. That is where I got the John Adams HBO mini-series, and it IS excellent.

Well....what else would one use Netflix for except documentaries, and old TV (especially BRIT COM) series. I think in the past year, we only gotten 2 movies---the rest are TV shows. We love it! Best gift the kids ever gave us.

I'm reading the P.D. James essay/book about mystery fiction right now. It's called Talking About Detective Fiction.

Be forewarned: if you read it, be sure to keep a pen and pad of paper nearby. I've already ordered all of the Father Brown short stories from G.K. Chesterton (for a song, on Kindle). I see that The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins is a Kindle freebie and will get that, as well as an Edgar Allan Poe collection. I'm only 25 percent into the P.D. James book so I imagine the list will get much longer.

#172 I've seen that book at the library and lots of comments about it here. You've finally wore me down and managed to convince me to add it to the list.

James also refers, often, to another book I own about mystery fiction by Julian Symons. I actually saw his book on my shelf, though I am blanking on the name right now.

I just finished that one - review is on my thread- and I've found I'm really picking up on different things in detective fiction now. I also came away with a list of follow on reading about a foot long.

#175 That's what I've been afraid of - the main reason I've resisted getting the book.

Oooh, oooh, I just read how a modern mystery author uses mystery author Josephine Tey as a key character in her book.

I picked up the first one in that series by Nicola Upson called An Expert in Murder.

Not to mention that maybe I will finally read some Edmund Crispin, probably The Moving Toyshop. Have to check on Trent's Last Case--that one sounds familiar. I've definitely read all the Cyril Hare books. Need to read the Michael Innes books in the Appleby series.

I LOVE the golden age of mysteries!!!

Golden Age of Mysteries?????

When was that?

Sounds like it was roughly betw. end of WW1 and the start of WW2.

I tried some of those last year for the Classics and I didn't like them.

Sorry, had to run off to a meeting...

They are typically shorter than modern mysteries and they also seemed to focus more on plot and on ingenious clues, murder methods etc, and far less emphasis on character.

More like an Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh.

Yes...P.D. James cites Golden Age as between WWI AND II, and lists Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham as great examples.

I like Agatha and Sir Arthur, but not Hamitt, never tried Marsh.

#183: Cheli, you might want to check out this group here on LT: http://www.librarything.com/groups/oldmysterydetectivec

>183 cyderry:, I suspect you'd enjoy Ngaio Marsh, then. I find Allingham's style a bit precious. Michael Innes is postwar, but also kinda fits into that genre. (Marsh also wrote postwar). The New Sonia Wayward is one of Innes's that I enjoyed. And do try Dorothy Sayers. Jill Paton Walsh wrote two sequels to the Lord Peter Wimsey series, as outlined by Sayers but never written (or summat like that), both of which I enjoyed.

Book #38

Talking About Detective Fiction by P.D. James

This is a tremendous essay, by one of the world's leading practitioners of mystery writing, on the mystery novel, from its early days to the present. Her focus is on the "Golden Age" of the mystery, from roughly World War 1 to World War 2, with an emphasis on British mystery authors.

If you read this, be prepared to add dozens of books to your TBR.

#186: I am still hoping to get my hands on that one some day :)

Okay everybody,

is this a conspiracy? Suzanne, are you now in cahoots with Linda and Stasia to make the mushroom cloud of books at my house explode to encompass the entire neighborhood around me? I have one small room that I am trying (unsuccessfully I might add) to make my personal library, but you all keep adding to my wishlist and TBRs. Soon I will have to put an addition on or break down a wall to enlarge it. (I don't think hubbie would like that.) Please, Please.....stop.

**They'll never listen, thank God.**

#188: Did you say something, Cheli? I missed it.

Ok...I'm telling tales out of school, but Cheli has a huge house, and all she has to do is consign her bear collection to a big playpen someplace, and then she can use all those shelves for books......

trust me, when this happens, I'll invite you all to the Vatican for my ordination.

Tina, you tattletale! I will never give up my bears.. I will have to find another place for books before that happens. Stinker!

#191: I completely understand about not giving up your bears - my mother has a teddy bear collection of over 300, I think.

>186 lindapanzo:: Linda, I am going to buy this book next time my most generous family bestows a book gift card on me. Mother's Day? Are you listening, my children?

I'm not a big mystery fan, but I do like P.D. James and want to get back to reading her books. She is my role model for aging!

It's fun to read the sister talk here. I guess bears trump books at Cheli's house! Maybe the books and bears would look cute together?

>192 alcottacre:: Wow, Stasia, that's a lot of bears! I still have the Steiff Teddy Bear I got as a child in Germany.

#193: She actually has a separate room in her house where all the bears live :)

#193 I hope you enjoy it, Donna.

It IS fun to hear the Cheli/Tina sister talk. My sister is an LT lurker. Maybe that will change now that she bought a Kindle.

My first vacation read is Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley. Really enjoying it.

After a none-too-popular president has his first two Supreme Court nominees shot down, he nominates a TV judge, sort of a Judge Judy-type woman. Can't wait to see what happens.

supreme courtship---Linda you are in for a treat... I howled with laughter over this one.

>193 Donna828: Steiff animals were my favorite. I can remember a black scottie dog puppet my uncle gave me. When I was a teen my brother gave me a white Persian cat curled up with her nose in her tail.

As my bear collection has grown, my sweet hubbie put built-in shelves for them to sit on. I think Tina believes that they would be better served to be used for books. But my bears (92 at last count) needed a home. My books can roam all over just like my bears!

Donna - Yes, Bears trump books at my house mainly because books can be finished, and then you can move on to another but bears no matter how old are always special.

Put them all together in a big room -- and call it the li-bear-y.

*ducks and makes hasty exit*

#200 lol :-)

#200--I love it !! We could give every bear his/her own book to hold! Hold on Cheli, I'm acomin'!

Linda, Are you going to allow this to continue?

#203 Linda's not here - she's on vacation in Wisconsin or someplace, so there's no help for you from that quarter. Tina, you'll get Cheli all fixed up, right? Maybe take some pictures?

What am I supposed to fix? Yes, in Green Bay, WI. Yesterday, I had lunch with one of my college roommates (not the one from Nashville who, surprisingly, I see more often) and then we drove around our college campus.

I think I owned a teddy bear and read a mystery about teddy bears but that's as close as I come to a li-bear-y.

#205 That's very neat that you keep in touch with your old roommates. The last I heard from my college roommate about 5 years ago, she was divorcing her husband and moving to Omaha to be with some guy that she met online. No names, no forwarding address, no nothing. I can't even send her a Christmas card anymore! I was married to my next roommate, so there's no losing track of him! Hope you're having a relaxing vacation - after a hectic winter at work, you've earned it.

Book #39

Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley

At times clever, at times hilarious, Supreme Courtship is never dull when a less-than-popular president nominates a Judge Judy-type TV judge to fill a Supreme Court vacancy. Just when the reader thinks the book can't get any better, the author one-ups himself.

Definitely an enjoyable read, even if you don't like politics.

Supreme Courtship is already on my TBR list, I'll need to move it up closer to the top.

I don't collect bears, but I do have a doll collection. My partner accepts both obsessions. The dolls cost more than the books though and thus I don't have as many.

#207: Adding Supreme Courtship to the BlackHole. I have passed it by in the past because I thought it was going to be a bunch of courtroom stuff, but it sounds like the laughs are worth it and that the book is not strictly courtroom.

#207 Like Stasia, I was also skeptical when you first mentioned this one, thinking it would be another book of technical legal stuff. But, you've convinced me to give it a try.

In fact, at the Supreme Court, the other justices are always tossing out Latin phrases and Pepper, the Judge Judy type who did go to law school, is always looking befuddled.

She acts like I would--these terms are vaguely familiar but she just can't quite remember.

Actually, the book skewers politicians more than anything.

sounds like a fun read!

Time to start a new thread.

It is located at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/90076&newpost=1#lastmsg