Sundays on the Acre, Take 8

It is Richard's fault. That is all I have to say about it.

For the masochists among you, Sundays on the Acre begins here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/78996
http://www.librarything.com/topic/82207
http://www.librarything.com/topic/83662
http://www.librarything.com/topic/84472
http://www.librarything.com/topic/85051
http://www.librarything.com/topic/86242
http://www.librarything.com/topic/86988

For those interested in my wiki, it is here: http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/User:Alcottacre, but I do not really recommend it, as it is boring. All the action takes place on my threads :)

Books Read from My Personal Library in 2010



Pages Read 2010



Memorable Reads for 2010:

Nonfiction
The National Parks: America's Best Idea by Dayton Duncan & Ken Burns
Larry Burrows: Vietnam by Larry Burrows
The Morville Hours by Katherine Swift
Waterlog by Roger Deakin
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Slavery By Another Name by Douglas A. Blackmon
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebekah Skloot
At the Hands of Persons Unknown by Philip Dray

Fiction
Salvation by Sholem Asch
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Britten and Brulightly by Hannah Berry
The Party by Rudolph Von Abele
The Egyptian by Mika Waltari
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
The Straight and Narrow Path by Honor Tracy
Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski
The War of the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa
Winter Rose by Patricia A. McKillip
Silence by Shusaku Endo

Young Adult
Genesis by Bernard Beckett
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
The Four-Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright

A note about my memorable reads: I am not a book critic. My memorable reads list is just that: books that are memorable to me - that for some reason or other resonate with me. I do not review books as many people here do for the simple reason that I am a terrible book reviewer!

first on Stasia's new thread!!!

threatening never to read a new book? right...

ETclose italic

I'm actually very intrigued by your wiki.

#4: Umm, not sure why. It is boring.

I think I'm optimistic that it will somehow reveal to me your secrets so that I too can read 500 books in a year ;)

Stasia- Got you starred, my friend! Looking forward to your weekly reading list!

re #7

I, on the other hand, am not looking forward to your weekly reading list. It's bound to be intimidating and hopelessly long. It's a pain in the neck! ;)

#6: There are no secrets other than one: do not sleep a lot :)

#7: Thanks for stopping by, Mark!

#8: Jenny, my weekly reading list is completely unintimidating this week - lots of young adult reads.

Wow, a new thread, though I'm not actually surprised by it.

A little note to Richard, maybe the bet should be how many threads Stasia will need/end up with this year:)

I'm guessing 100 threads for 2010..conservative estimate...

Wow -- it's hard to keep up with you. I hope you have the chance to read others of the Melendy Quartet -- they are all wonderful. We were on an Elizabeth Enright kick a few years ago and read those, along with Gone-Away Lake, Return to GoneAway and Thimble Summer.

Another thread *rolls eyes*
And I see the "coterie" is already here too!

#11: Good gravy, I hope not!

#12: Unfortunately, the only book my local library has in the Melendy quartet is The Four Story Mistake. I will check to see if they have the other books you mentioned though, Anne. Thanks for the recommendations.

#13: Hey, Piyush! Glad you found me again.

Hey stasia, got your thread starred :-)

#16: Hayley! Nice to see you here.

Wow! Talk about bringing back distant memories. I loved The Four-Story Mistake when I was in fifth grade. I so wanted to live in a house that had a secret room instead of the 1950s ranch I actually lived in. I may have to hunt these books up again. My thoughts are that they are too dated for my Elementary Media Center but, again, I do the weeding. So they might still be on my bookshelves there. I wonder when we can consider a book historical fiction. Can we if it is just a book written as a contemporary of its time that is still around now?

#18: Every fiction book sooner or later is going to be historical fiction. I guess everyone can decide for themselves how they want to define it.

#9

Well that's no use because I'll want to read all of them! Perhaps one week you could just read mysteries, and only 2 of those, so that I don't feel inadequate and also don't need to add anything to my wishlist? That would be great :)

Found and starred!

starred

Decided to spend time this afternoon catching up with Stasia's threads so I will be able to easily find the Sunday List tomorrow. Glad I did, because I had the time to read the very interesting discussion of ebooks on the last thread. My family is strongly encouraging me to get one--they think I haul to many books around with me all the time. I'm wavering but that gave me a lot of information to process and ideas of what to look for. Thanks, all! And thanks to Stasia for providing a nice place to exchange all kind of book information. :-)

Dropped in to say hi. I'm excited there are only 23 posts. There are too many threads I've fallen behind on and all of them seem to have over 100 unread posts. Of course I had to skip your last thread entirely to get caught up with you.

And here you are! Starred you ... just in time for your haul tomorrow.

Almost lost you in transition! Now I'm all set for Sunday morning.

I have decided not to post any books this week in the hope that I can not have 100 threads this year :)

In that case, the thread will be filled in one day with your disappointed fans talking about this strange aberration.

Quote for the day from This Simian World by Clarence Day:

"Books too will be used to slake this unappeasable thirst. They will actually hold books in deep reverence. Books! Bottled chatter! things that some other simian has formerly said. They will dress them in costly bindings, keep them under glass, and take an affecting pride in the number they read. Libraries, - storehouses of books, - will dot their world. The destruction of one will be a crime against civilization. . . It is an offense to be sure, a barbaric offense."

Posted to the Kitchen thread too

For some reason, I had quite a few shorter reads in this week, so the list looks worse than it actually is.

136. Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure by Matthew Algeo - nonfiction; I had fun with Harry and Bess and the author, who retraced their steps, as Harry decides, after leaving the White House, to make a trip to a convention and drives sans Secret Service personnel; recommended

137. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - nonfiction; several people in the group have read and recommended the book, so I am not going to add anything except to say that the book is excellent! Read it!; highly recommended, and on my memorable reads list for the year

138. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik - I read this, along with half of the group I think, for this month's TIOLI Challenge; I thoroughly enjoyed it and was very glad that Novik made Temeraire a personality in the book rather than just a dumb beast; recommended

139. If I Die in a Combat Zone by Tim O'Brien - nonfiction; O'Brien completely conveys what Viet Nam was like for him in just a few words: "There were Viet Cong in that hamlet. And there were babies and children and people who just didn't give a damn in there, too. But Chip and Tom were on the way to Graves Registration in Chu Lai, and they were dead, and it was hard to be filled with pity."; highly recommended

140. One Second After by William R. Forstchen - this is not the best-written apocalyptic story, but it still managed to scare the pants off me; guardedly recommended

141. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde - I really wanted to like this one more than I did; the beginning of the book started well enough, but the book drug for me in the middle section, although I did like the end; guardedly recommended (and yes, I will probably read book 2 when it is published)

142. Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham - graphic novel; Willingham transports Snow White, Prince Charming, the Big Bad Wolf, and various other fairy tale characters into the real world; guardedly recommended Mine

143. Nightbirds on Nantucket by Joan Aiken - juvenile; I really enjoyed Dido in this one as she practices her child psychology and goes up against the big, bad witch; recommended

144. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg - juvenile; thoroughly enjoyable tale of 2 siblings who run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and while there, try to uncover the truth about a statue purported to be sculpted by Michelangelo; recommended

145. The Education of Hyman Kaplan by Leonard Q. Ross aka Leo Rosten - having enjoyed The Joys of Yiddish and Rosten's droll sense of humor, I thought to give him another try; I thoroughly enjoyed this humorous view of a longsuffering ESL teacher and his student H*y*m*a*n K*a*p*l*a*n; recommended

146. The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer - Terri recommended this one recently and I am glad I gave it a shot - it is a good look at post-Shah Iran "'The war with Iraq . . .has made the most mundane items - eggs, cheese, soap - worthy of celebration. Farnaz cannot reconcile the normalcy of the world around her with the collapse of her own."; recommended

147. The War of the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa - definitely the read of the week - I cannot say enough about this epic - and I do mean epic - book; there are characters galore, but not so many as to be overwhelming and each of them is so well-defined I feel as if I could draw them; I really wish I knew more of Brazilian history because there are probably things in the book that I missed due to my lack of knowledge; highly recommended, and on my memorable reads list for the year

149. Memories of the Future, Volume 1 by Wil Wheaton - I loved Star Trek: The Next Generation, so when Heather (biblioholic29) mentioned this book recently on her thread, I absolutely had to have it; the book is great fun for ST:TNG fans, although I was rather put off by the amount of swearing in it; my favorite parts are the 'Behind the Scenes' memories; recommended for Trekkies everywhere Mine

150. This Simian World by Clarence Day - this week's Writer's Choice book is a humorous essay on why it is a good thing that mankind descended from apes rather than cats (lack of mutual aid and support among other reasons), horse and deer (lack of boldness), buffaloes (lack of brains) etc; guardedly recommended

Sounds like you had a really good week! I've added the Truman book, the Septembers of Shiraz and Rebecca Skloot's book (does anyone NOT love this one? I haven't seen a bad word about it.)

#31: If someone does not love that one, I have not seen their review!

>144 alcottacre: this was one of my fav books growing up -- was this the first time you read this? say 'no' ;->

#33: Yes, it was the first time I read it, but I will say 'No' just because you asked me to :)

Nice list as always ! I rarely red ya or childrens... but some of these look good.
:)

#35: Hey, Kath! I hope you have a nice, restful Sunday. Thanks for stopping by.

Good Morning! Just The war at the end of the world goes to my wishlist. A new week, a new thread, OMG!

#37: Morning, Lynda! Hey, the last thread managed to last almost 2 whole weeks.

Nr 144 goes to my tbr pile this week. Thanks for the tip:) I really liked your quote for this week too. It's quite describing for many of us I guess.

#39: I hope you enjoy the Konigsburg book, Bente. It is a juvenile book - I was somewhat lax in marking them this week. I am going to have to go back and fix that!

>30 alcottacre:: The Education of H*y*m*a*n K*a*p*l*a*n is one of those books that you wonder how it fell out of popularity.

#41: I agree. The humor is not at anyone, if you know what I mean.

>42 alcottacre:: Absolutely!

I'm in good shape. I've read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and I own The War of the End of the World (MVL is my favorite South American author) and The Septembers of Shiraz. Excellent work as always, Stasia!

BTW, I'm about a third of the way through Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by MVL, and it's excellent so far. I would also highly recommend Conversation in the Cathedral and The Feast of the Goat, as I gave five stars to both books.

#44: I think my next MVL is going to be Conversations in the Cathedral, but I will keep Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter in mind. It looks like the local college has it in its library.

Gosh, you're fast! I reviewed Conversation in the Cathedral on LT last year, and I'm sure you know that Rebecca (rebeccanyc) also enjoyed it.

#46: Yes, she did. I am also checking out the book on Brazilian history that she mentioned on your thread.

I see you had a similar reaction to Shades of Grey as I did. However, I'm less sure that I'll read the next installment.

#48: I am a fan of Fforde's Thursday Next series, so I have hope that this series will drawn me in as that one did. If I do not like the next book all that much either, I will not be reading the third one.

#30 I think I've largely escaped this week but only because half your books were already on my wishlist!

I've added The War of the End of the World although I'm a bit wary of trying another epic after Midnight's Children. Did the YA and children's books help balance it out?

#50: The War of the End of the World is not magical realism as Midnight's Children is (although I still have not finished that one yet.) Yes, the young adult and children's books helped balance out War, but I read it over an 11 day period - which for me is a long reading period. The book is dense, but well worth the effort. I have put it on my 'Need to Buy' list because I know I will be re-reading it at some point.

Morning Stasia! It looks like a strong week for you! Henrietta Lacks is on the List. The Tim O' Brien book looks promising.The Things That They Carried is one of the best books I've read in the past decade. I all-ready have 2 others by him sitting in my tbr, might as well add this one to the list. I have never read Mario Vargas Llosa and this one looks fantastic! Good job!

#52: I read The Things They Carried last year and I agree with you - it is a terrific book, although where it is (realistic) fiction, and If I Die in a Combat Zone is nonfiction.

I will be interested in seeing what you think of the Llosa book once you get a chance to read it, Mark. As always, thanks for stopping by the Acre.

It looks like you had a great week, but for once I'm getting out without piling more on the tower. I hope next week is satisfying as well!

I'm glad to see you enjoyed From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I ADORED this book when I was a kid (still do), and really wanted to run away to a cool museum like the kids in the book. Have you read Konigsberg's A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver? It's also a YA/children's book, and it's historical fiction about Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Tim O"Brien is one of my favorites...The Things They Carried & In the Lake of the Woods are both heartbreakers..........
;-}

Glad to see you enjoying From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It was one of my favourites as a child, I haven't read it recently but I'm sure I will re-read it again at some point in my lifetime!

The Immortal Life is already on my wish list but I've added to this list, Fables : Legends, The Septembers of Shiraz, The War of the End of the World and The Education of Hyman Kaplan. They sound too good to pass up.

If I Die in a Combat Zone sounds like a must-read.

The Trekkie within me is gravitating toward Wil Wheaton's book . . .

It look like you had a great week. Mixed-up Files is one of my favorite books ever since I read it to my 5th grade class when it first came out. I keep a copy for rereading and for lending to my students who love good books. The Education of Hyman Kaplan I read years ago and loved it--I think it may be time for a reread!

Fables: Legends was my first forray into graphic novels (and so far my only one!) which I read when I was visiting my Chicago son--he has the entire series but I didn't have time to read the others. I found it intriguing--I love fairy tales and this was an interesting take on them.

Shades of Grey was ordered from the library several months ago--I was #40 something and now I'm #2 on the list so I should get it soon. I hope I like it better than you did!

If I Die in a Combat Zone is already on my wish list--I want to read The Things They Carried first. Have you read Going After Cacciato? It was my first Tim O'Brien and I found it stunning.

The War of the End of the World is going on the wishlist--but it will be a while before I can steel myself to tackle it!

I really had a good time with your llist this week!

ETA I just put in a request for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks but I'm #68 on that list--it may be a while before I see it! :-)

Wow - you've had quite a week. I also enjoyed the Truman book and Septembers of Shiraz and I have such wonderful memories of From the Mixed up Files from when my son read it. I'm currently reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and find it fascinating, too.

I'm adding If I Die in a Combat Zone to my list. It sounds good and I haven't heard of it. I loved The Things They Carried.

Whoo Hoo! I've read several of the books on your list this week. I liked Septembers of Shiraz very well. The Mixed up Files is a favorite from childhood - and a Newbery Award winner too.

Of course, I'm adding - The Immortal Life and The Education of Hyman Kaplan.

Thanks!

Great reading week Stasia! I'm adding The War of the End of the World and The Education of Hyman Kaplan. I also loved the Lacks book. Absolutely fascinating and maddening at the same time.

Add me to the list of people for whom The Mixed Up Files... was a childhood favorite that led to fantasies of living in a museum that continue ot this day. I've been afraid to reread it in case it isn't as good as I've made it, but perhaps I'll give it a go.

I've added One Second After. I'm attracted to post-apocalyptic fiction right now.

>64 nancyewhite: Nancy, my first exposure to the book was in 4th grade when our teacher read it aloud in class. I read it for myself about 20 years later and still loved it. Hope you find the same thing.

Stasia

Yet another incredible reading week for you. When I return home from my Ohio trip, I'll be sure to add many of your recent reads. For now, I'm adding my affirmation of Tim O'Brien's books.

And, like others, I really enjoyed The Mixed Up Files.

Congratulations on more wonderful books, thus ensuring that our tbr piles will never, never dwindle.

I loved Shades of Grey even though I know most people prefer the Thursday next books. And my fave Llosa book (though I haven't read Conversation in the Cathedral remains The Real Life of Alejandro Mayta, which, IMO, should be better-known than it is. The Septembers of Shiraz is here on my TBR stack, and Henrietta Skloot will come on BookSwim, so I'm all set! :-D

I will say that I was wondering what had happened to the weekly update and then realized, aha, YET ANOTHER new thread...

#54: Sorry I could not add to your tower this week, Luxx. Maybe next week!

#55: I always wanted to get locked into the library when I was a kid, not a museum (although I still wonder how I thought I was going to get all the books read in a single night, lol.) I have not read the book you mentioned Carly, but I will look for it. Thanks for the recommendation!

#56: I have not read In the Lake of the Woods yet. I will try to get to it soon. Thanks for the mention, Jude!

#57: I thoroughly enjoyed it and wish I had read it as a child! Thanks for dropping by, Jenny.

#58: Wow! I got you good this week, Caroline. I hope you like them all.

#59: Terri, If I Die in a Combat Zone is very good, if emotionally difficult, reading. O'Brien pulls no punches. It is raw and gritty, much as I imagine Vietnam was. If you do read the Wheaton book, beware the language. There is more bad language in that one than in O'Brien's book I think.

#60: I am glad you had a good time with this week's list, Carolyn. Somehow, I managed to get a little bit of everything in - not sure how that happened. I have not yet read Going after Cacciato yet, but it is in the BlackHole.

#61: I hope you like If I Die in a Combat Zone although 'like' is probably not the right word. Thanks for stopping in this week, Joanne.

#62: Oh, good! You are adding a couple. I was worried there for a sec, Jenn :)

#63: Bonnie, you are right about the Lacks book - maddening is a good word for it as is fascinating. I hope you enjoy the two from this week you chose.

#64: I hope you give the Konigsburg book a go, Nancy. If nothing else, read it to Jack. I will be interested in seeing what you think of One Second After.

#66: Nobody's TBR piles ever dwindle around this group!

#67: Glad you are all set, Suzanne. I will look for the Llosa book you mentioned. Thanks for the recommendation.

I'm adding If I Die in Combat Zone, One Second After and The War at the End of the World. I own The War at the End of the World, so will probably read it first. The Mixed Up Files was one of my kids' favorite books, so I've read it several times (not for a long while though).

#72: Deborah, I will be interested in your take on The War of the End of the World. Have you read any others by Llosa?

Finally caught up on 1 and a half threads. Great reads this week. Going to add you book of the week - The War of the End of the World, to the TBR mountain.

#74: I hope you like it, Diane!

Quote for the day from The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig:

" 'Who is Kierkegaard, whom X knows about and of whom we know nothing?' The next day we stormed into the library to look up the books of this time-obscured Danish philosopher, for it was a mark of inferiority not to know some exotic thing that was familiar to someone else. We had a passion to be the first to discover the latest, the newest, the most extravagant, the unusual, which had not yet been dwelt upon at length . . ."

I think we do the same thing with books here on LT.

Posted to the Kitchen thread too

#76: I think you're quite right about that:)

I predict Stasia will end up with 36 threads this year - 8 per quarter plus 4 extra ones as her fanclub grows.

I loved The Mixed Up Files too. A friend camped overnight at the British Museum with her 8 year old son and lots of other kids and parents last weekend (as part of some organised event).

Morning Stasia! Beautiful quote!

#77: Glad you liked that, Bente.

#78: Well, 36 seems more reasonable that Linda's guess of 100, Luci.

#79: Morning, Mark! Thanks for stopping in so early.

Well, not too much damage done this week, as most of the books I'm interested in are already on the TBR longlist. I've added The War of the End of the World, though, it sounds really good!

Hmm...touchstones aren't happy with me today.

#81: Hello, Mary. Thanks for dropping by.

Touchstones seem to be particularly touchy today. The quote I did in #76 - when I did it here the Touchstone did not appear correctly, but when I did it for the Kitchen, the Touchstone was OK. No idea what is going on with them.

Hallo Stasia, just dropping by!

Hey, Fliss! Thanks for stopping in.

Somehow, I think I missed a thread or two (scratching her head).

Anyway, I loved the Harry and Bess Truman on vacation book.

I've already got The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks book on my list so I think I can get by, unscathed, this week, except for adding an opposites attract book.

#85: I would not worry overmuch about missing a thread or two. You have enough on your plate right now.

#85: Its not hard to miss a thread or two here, they seem to grow by extremes each time I log in and try to catch up.

#85 Yep, I'm hoping the library at work will add The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks to their shelves when it comes out over here... I've had itchy fingers for it ever since Darryl mentioned it, now every review I read makes me irritated that I can't get hold of it yet...

#87 Yep!

#88: Hmm...is there a reverse equivalent of The Book Depository, i.e. a bookseller who will ship books from the US to Europe for free?

#89 Probably, if I searched around a bit for it, I could find a copy, but I confess, if I'm going to buy it, I'd rather have it in paperback, so I'm going to wait for it to reach the library (if that makes sense?!). Thankfully, the publication date isn't too far off and I've got plenty to be getting on with in the meantime... Definitely a case of eyes bigger than brain...

Hehe, kan jo slet ikke følge med.. :-)

hmm sorry. :-(

Hehe, can´t follow you.. :-)

#91/92: I understand! I have trouble following me too.

It´s impressive. :-)

:-D Kan du forstå Dansk? :-D

I wish I did speak Danish!

multiple language is over rated.. :-) I understand you too.. :-)

I will respectfully disagree with you about multiple languages. I think a person can never know too much, including languages.

I Was kidding.. :-)
Actually i am tending evening school to leran japanese.. :-)

I agree that it is wonderful to know multiple languages. I need to work more on the one extra that I know some of.
--BJ

Quote for the day from Stone's Fall by Iain Pears:

"You have been educated, I know. Books to you are commonplace, something you take for granted. But for me such books were like a weary traveller in the desert finding an oasis. I was fascinated, excited, thrilled. I had stepped into another world, full of extraordinary things and people. . .Books taught me of friendship and loyalty, of betrayal and how to suspect others. . . taught me to dream, of worlds and people and lives that I had never thought existed."

Books do all that and more for me!

Posted to the Kitchen thread too

Shades of Grey and The War of the End of the World are already on my reading radar. I love E L Konigsburg's books and have read most of them. I have Stone's Fall on my tbr as well.
A great reading week for you, I seem to be reading less and less at the moment.

Thanks for stopping by, Kerry!

Another great quote, Stasia!
--BJ

#104: Glad you liked it, BJ.

I want to read 500 books in one year - how the heck do you do that and here you are commenting on my seven ;)

Stasia, are you well?
This is the first time that I log to LT and find only one unread message in your thread. What's this world coming to?

Stasia

I appreciate these wonderful quotes you find and post!

#106: Not sleeping a lot is the key to everything :)

#107: I am just fine, Manuel. I appreciate your concern. I think the world is toodling on just nicely without worrying about my thread, lol.

#108: Thanks, Linda.

*gasp* I lost you and, now that I've found you, I'm 109 posts behind.

I am so dead. How many other threads have I lost? *angst*

#110: For a dead guy, you are doing pretty well, Richard.

>111 alcottacre: My knees are horribly painful tonight so I'm up prowling LT looking for all the folks I've lost. It's slightly depressing. I've been involved in so much here at home, with drama drama drama and lots of people to feed. So I spend less time here having fun. So I end up losing people I want to stay in touch with, and that's just not right!

I finished Leviathan for the second time, and my goodness gracious! Color me impressed! I think this Westerfield man could become a must-buy author for me. Creative, original thinking plus sly, subtle wit equals one good read. Thank you thank you thank you again!

#112: I am so glad you enjoyed it!

Richard/Stasia
I checked the reviews and tags for Leviathan.. Can you please tell me the definition of "steampunk?"

tiptoes through......................

Hi Stasia! I got the poll posted for the Group Read! I ran out of time last night, after setting up my new thread. I know, excuses, excuses!! May the best book win!

Linda - I know, I'm not Richard or Stasia, but I can answer your question...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk - it's Wikipedia, but their definition is a good general one.

#117: Thanks Jenn, that is exactly where I would have directed Linda.

#116: Heading over there now to vote Mark. Thanks for posting the poll.

Thanks Jenn...

I never heard of this term before. That is one of the best things about LT, ie all the acquired knowledge.

Well, I could say I acquired it here - but apparently my 11 yr old boy has a treasure trove of vocabulary unknown to his parents. I asked my husband awhile ago if he knew what Steampunk was, and my son said "duh mom, like The Time Machine and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." We both just looked at him. I'm guessing that's going to become a fairly normal conversation around here.

In the past 2 days I have read Silence by Shusaku Endo, detailing Japanese torture and persecution of Christians, The Periodic Table by Primo Levi, with its Holocaust stories (although not every story in the book is of that nature), and am now finishing up At the Hands of Persons Unknown by Philip Dray, with its mind-blowing details of lynchings in the US - and I keep thinking to myself, why?

We have a forum in this group that, despite our differences, works for all (at least I hope it does.) I would really like to know why people cannot find a common ground as we have done here.

So someone tell me why?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j6IBdHW_rY

Edited to correct Touchstone

Quote for the day from Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show by Frank Delaney:

"When she died, an old lady, I was with her. I wept salt tears, and helped to carry her coffin to her grave. She bequeathed me all her books, and from time to time I find her lovely wide handwriting in the margin of something, always a thoughtful note, always inquiring, always seeking to expand knowledge, never judgmental."

Gives me pause to think that writing in books might now be such a bad thing.

Posted to the Kitchen too

>122 alcottacre:: Wow, you're reading some really sad/serious books, Stasia. I know, after reading Strength in What Remains thought a lot about that question too. That people were so willing to hack up their neighbors--women and children, along with the men, and in the tens to hundreds of thousands--is mind-blowing to me. I get so sick/discouraged with all the vitriol spewed here in the US, but at least we aren't killing each other (for the most part) for political reasons.

I had never heard of Galbraith or seen that video of him singing; it was really beautiful and made me cry, of course.

I am glad you enjoyed the video, Bonnie.

I know that 'Why?' is an academic question and will never be satisfactorily answered, but I still ask it.

#120 I agree

#123.. I read that one, Stasia, and that quote reminded me of my great grandmother. She wrote her thoughts everywhere.. bits of newspaper, margins of books, the backs of shopping lists.. and in journals where she would tuck some of the above.

#126: I am reading the book based on your recommendation, Kath. I am halfway through it now and really liking it. Thanks!

> 123 I have my dad's library now, and he was a firm believer in writing in books. He read only non-fiction (except for two fiction books) and I love reading his thoughts. He also used notes to cross-reference info within the book and with other books. I absolutely cannot discard any book in which he wrote, no matter how tattered. I even have old, outdated maps with his writing, planning our vacations!

128. I understand that. I still have my great grandmothers diaries and tatters.. and even though they are faded and difficult to read, and in some cases simply falling apart.. I keep them.

#122 It's human nature to ask the question. Just as, I fear, it's human nature to view other humans as being less than human. There's a good and thought provoking book by the wonderful Ryszard Kapuscinski called The Other in which he examines this tendency. Why is it that when people are different or think differently from us, we find a way to see them as lesser or not deserving of the same consideration we give ourselves or those who are 'like' us? (Why the touchstone for this book doesn't work is beyond me...)

As for LT, we're a self-selected group, one for whom books and ideas and the sharing of them -- what unites us -- is more important than what may divide us (politics, religion, age, gender, geography, etc.) There are plenty of other places on the net that are home to some deeply scary people who I believe are very able to carry out atrocities of all kinds at the drop of a hat. Anyone who reads widely and deeply, as most of us here do, is, I believe, less likely to believe that their view of the world is the only one, that others who don't recognize that are somehow less than human, and that violence is permissible in pursuing their conversion/removal from the scene.

Well put, Charlotte.

>122 alcottacre: & 130: I agree with Suzanne that readers, in general, probably have a little more tolerance for other world views. But, even here, just check out some of the forums based upon politics or religion and things get a bit tenser. I find the 75er group is, by and large, remarkably tolerant.

I agree that this is one of the more tolerant places on the 'net. Heck, even on LT. I think that since the group grew up sharing books, not general discussion so some of the things that may divide us became less important than the books. Plus, the personal sharing tends to make us friends instead of debating opponents.

#132 I know exactly what you mean about the LT groups based on politics and religion. Even those whose beliefs largely match my own are too tense for me. I'd love to have a friendly discussion about those topics, but so many people seem to only want to argue - even with those on the same "side". Blech - who needs that? This group is far and away my favorite.

#130: I found a copy of The Other available through ABEBooks and ordered a copy. Thanks for the recommendation, Suzanne. (No Touchstone?!)

#132/133/134: I am decidedly glad we have a tolerant group here. I guess some people just have to argue no matter what and their opinions are the only valid ones. I do not care for people like that myself.

Happy Easter Sunday everyone!

This week's reads:

151. The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl - I read this for March's TIOLI challenge and overall, was disappointed in the book; I did not think Pearl achieved the atmosphere he was aiming for and I spotted the bad guy way too easily; not recommended

152. Paper Towns by John Green - young adult; John Green has a real talent for capturing the voice of young adults and proves it once again in this book, which although I did like, I liked less than I did Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines; highly recommended

153. One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni - another book read for March's TIOLI challenge and rather a 'meh' read for me; I rather liked the premise, but just felt like it was not pulled off well and I absolutely hated the ending; not recommended

154. Europe's Last Summer by David Fromkin - nonfiction; this book was an excellent introduction to the underlying causes of WWI, especially chapte 7 that goes country-by-country, day-by-day into the events leading up to the beginning of the way; highly recommended

155. Past Reason Hated by Peter Robinson - the 5th book in Robinson's Inspector Banks series was better than the 4th one IMHO, but still not as good as the first several to my mind; guardedly recommended

156. Gertruda's Oath by Ram Oren - nonfiction; the true story of one woman's efforts to save her Jewish employers only son during WWII; highly recommended

157. Stone's Fall by Iain Pears - another TIOLI book, I rather enjoyed this story of a journalist's search about the truth of an industrialist's death and the possibility of his having an illegitimate child; highly recommended Mine

158. Winter Rose by Patricia McKillip - another TIOLI book, and one I absolutely loved; the story of Rios and her sister Laurel and their love for a mysterious stranger who comes to claim his inheritance; highly recommended, and on my memorable reads list for the year Mine

159. Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett - OK, so I gave Pratchett another shot, and I did like this one much more than The Colour of Magic but I am not sure that is saying much; I have one more home from the library yet to read (Guards! Guards!), so I will see how that one goes; guardedly recommended

OK, that wraps up through the end of March. 52 Nonfiction, 107 Fiction

Happy Easter to you too, Stasia! Have you hidden the Easter eggs yet?

Hristos a inviat!

Glad you loved Winter Rose. While my beautiful off-size paperback has a beautiful cover and is pristine condition, it is an oft-read book. I like the strange little world she takes us to. :)

Reads since April 1:

160. The Hellfire Conspiracy by Will Thomas - I am really enjoying this mystery series, which I learned of through Jim, who did a review of this one here; recommended

161. The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig - nonfiction; Zweig's nontraditional autobiography reads as an homage to the cultural and literary history of Vienna prior to the world wars, especially the first part of the book, which I felt was the strongest; highly recommended

162. Silence by Shusako Endo - this book is very thought-provoking: the story of a priest who goes to Japan to locate another priest who had disappeared some 20 years earlier, only to have found him apostasized and the Japanese actively working to wipe out Christianity and in so doing, force the priest to choose between his humanity and his faith; highly recommended and on my memorable reads list for the year

163. The Periodic Table by Primo Levi - TIOLI for April; Levi takes the periodic table of elements and creates short stories using them as analogies (he even made chemistry sound wonderful to me, a feat in itself); my favorites in the book were 'Iron' and 'Mercury'; recommended

164. The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay - when I started this book I thought it was going to be straight fantasy, but it read more like historical fiction to me and once I got my head around that, I really enjoyed it - especially part 3; highly recommended Mine

165. At the Hands of Persons Unknown by Philip Dray - nonfiction; this is the 3rd of Dray's books that I have read and they are all very good; Dray takes his subject matter and makes it accessible to the lay reader and I think that is especially important in a work such as this one on the horrific crime of lynching; I learned a lot from this book - I had no idea lynching was as prevalent as it was, nor that it had ever been practiced in the North; this book is not for the faint-of-heart because the descriptions of what was done to the victims is not easy to read (I had to skip some of them, I just could not take it); highly recommended, and on my memorable reads list for the year

166. The Information Officer by Mark Mills - this book was another disappointment for me - I prefer Mills' The Savage Garden and would recommend it over this one; not recommended

#137: Nope, Bonnie, still at work!

#138: I am trying to get a copy of the follow up book, Solstice Wood. Have you read it yet, Susan?

The Shusako Endo sounds good. I have been reading a section every so often in The Periodic Table. I find it a very interesting mix of this and that in portraying parts of his life and experiences.

#141: I will be interested in seeing what you think of the Endo book, VG. Thanks for stopping by my thread!

I thought you'd had a slow reading week until I saw your April reads in msg 139!

It's a shame about The Last Dickens, the idea sounded really interesting.

Winter Rose has been on my wishlist for a while and I really should get round to ordering a copy from the library.

Glad The Wee Free Men was a bit of an improvement. You know us crazy Pratchett fans will all still love you if you decide you don't like the books right?

Silence and The Periodic Table have both gone on the wishlist. And I'm going to try and read The Lions of Al-Rassan this month which will be my first Guy Gavriel Kay. I've heard lots of good things about him.

#143: Heather, I have not read The Lions of Al-Rassan yet. Prior to The Last Light of the Sun, the only one of Kay's books that I read was Tigana, which I loved. I will be interested in seeing what you think of 'Lions.'

I hope you enjoy the books you chose from this week's lists!

I guess some people just have to argue no matter what and their opinions are the only valid ones. I do not care for people like that myself.

I could not agree more. I work with two like that..

interesting list this week.. as always...

#145: I work with two like that

I grew up with one like that - my father.

Thanks for the comment about my list, Kath, and dropping by.

>136 alcottacre:: Well, we'll see how Guards!, Guards! goes for you, if you decide to go through with it. However, if you haven't been caught by either of the Pratchetts so far, odds are he's just not your type of thing. Even though there other sub-series, I certainly wouldn't push past a third if it doesn't grab you and we'll just chalk it up to a recommendation that didn't work out. In fact, if you decide not to even do the third, no one's going to say you didn't give it shot. Not everything is for everyone.

I'm glad you liked Last Light of the Sun, however. About it reading as historical fiction: it certainly does. Many...in fact, most...of his books are that way. If you try The Lions of Al-Rassan, you're going to be in the Spain of the Reconquista; A Song for Arbonne will put you in medieval France; the Sarantium books in Constantinople; etc. Word is that his forthcoming book, Under Heaven, is ancient China.

Edit: typos

#147: I definitely need to get my hands on more of Kay's books based on how much I have enjoyed the first two that I have read. Thanks for the recommendations, Tad.

Silence makes my wish list, and I'll read The World of Yesterday in the next month or two. I'm glad to hear that it was a worthwhile read, which I suspected it would be, despite the horrific review by Michael Hoffman in The London Review of Books earlier this year.

Are you planning to read more books by Zweig this year?

#149: Darryl, I bought Chess Story with the gift card I received from the girls for my birthday, but other than that one, probably not. The problem being getting my hands on the books. My local libraries just do not have them, other than Beware of Pity, which I may sneak in this year if I have a chance. Have you read it yet?

I bought Beware of Pity in London last year, but haven't read it yet. I'm participating in the Author Theme Reads group's Zweig-fest this year, so I'll definitely read it, The World of Yesterday and The Post-Office Girl this year, at a minimum.

#151: I look forward to seeing what you think of Beware of Pity and The World of Yesterday. The Post-Office Girl is already in the BlackHole.

I haven't read Europe's Last Summer, but if the topic of the causes of World War I interests you, I can highly recommend two books by the inimitable Barbara Tuchman: The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914 and The Guns of August about the beginning of the war itself.

I read The Periodic Table years ago but remember finding it fascinating and moving.

I have The World of Yesterday but haven't read it yet. Will have to move it up on the pile.

Glad (?) that you also didn't like The Information Officer that much.

#153: I have read both The Proud Tower and The Guns of August, but it has been several years. I may re-read them in future, but probably not this year.

I will be interested in seeing what you think of The World of Yesterday when you get around to it, Rebecca.

#130 - I agree. The problem is, to address issues of how to live together on the planet, someone has to talk about things like politics, economics, use of resources, and then we're off an snarling again . . .

#136 & 139

I read your first list Stasia and thought, I need to read that new McKillip. I usually like her writing and the worlds she creates. Whew! only one thing to add to my list, and it will be a quick read. And then I hit the rest of your list . . .

Silence and The periodic table are both going in the blck hole. They both sound excellent, and I suspect will take a little longer.

Glad you liked Wee Free Men better. But it sounds like Pratchet is just not your thing, which is fine.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Stasia! I've heard mostly positive about Stone's Fall, so it's on the list.
Never read Zweig but plan on it, a friend is sending me Chess Story. Silence sounds terrific and too bad about The Information Officer which is waiting in my tbr!

Like you I wasn't as taken with Paper Towns as much as Green's earlier two books though it was good enough. I have The Periodic Table on my bookshelves but still haven't read it.
Regarding Prachett, I'm a newbie to his work so still not sure if I'm going to be a fan. I listened to The Colour of Magic and thought it was quite fun and I've got Mort on my tbr pile which I hope to read soon. Have you read Good Omens?

#155: Sorry about having to split the lists like that, Ardene, and fooling you. Unfortunately, LT does not seem to like my long weekly posts and it was being particularly annoying this morning. I hope you enjoy the books you chose off this week's lists.

#156: Happy Easter, Mark! I hope you enjoy Stone's Fall and perhaps you will enjoy The Information Officer more than I did. Silence is terrific and definitely worth the read, although it is not an easy one.

#157: I think at this point I am not going to be a Pratchett fan, although I am still trying lol. I have read Good Omens and thought it OK, but probably would not go out of my way to re-read it.

It's a shame about The Last Dickens; I have that in the TBR pile, along with The Dante Club and The Poe Shadow. I picked them up second-hand, though, so at least if any or all of them are not great I shan't feel that I'm too out of pocket. I've got Drood in the TBR as well, so I'll be interested to see how they compare.

Shame also about The Information Officer - I really liked The Savage Garden, so it's a pity it doesn't hold up to that standard.

I'm glad you liked The Wee Free Men more than The Colour of Magic, even if we're not going to convert you into a Pratchett fan.

Stone's Fall and The Periodic Table look interesting and I've put them on the wishlist.

#159: Caty, Drood is good, but long - I think overlong. I think Simmons pulls off the atmosphere that Pearl was going for so much better though. I will be interested in seeing what you think once you have had a chance to read them both.

Good morning!
I read The Periodic Table a number of years ago- I 'm glad that you liked it.
I read Chess by Zweig and have been on the look out for more of his books. I am putting The World of Yesterday on my TBR list!
Thanks.

#161: Good morning, Cyrel. I hope you enjoy The World of Yesterday. Darryl (kidzdoc) and Rebecca (rebeccanyc) have both been reading Zweig's books, so you might want to check out their threads for further recommendations.

Well, you got me this week. I've added the first books in both the Inspector Banks and the Barker & Llewellyn series to the wishlist. Also, Winter Rose and Silence, although my library doesn't have that one, so I'm not sure how soon I'll get to it. I passed up Periodic Table, but only because the library doesn't have it, either, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to get it on ILL and have to rush through it in only 7 days. I might change my mind about it later, though.

I've already read Stone's Fall, and also enjoyed it very much. Information Officer was an ER book for me, and something of a disappointment. Glad to hear his other book is better, and have added The Savage Garden to the wishlist.

Like you, I haven't been bitten by the Disc World bug. My husband and sons love it, and I would like to love it, too. Colour of Magic was a slog and I didn't finish it. I also tried The Last Continent but that one didn't work for me either. Based on comments on LT (mostly from CatyM's threads, I think), I'm going to try Guards, Guards, and if that one doesn't entice me, I'm giving up. So, I'm going to be very interested in what you think of that book.

#163: About time I got you instead of the other way around like it normally is :)

I see you did not put all your eggs in one basket this morning, Stasiabunny. Very sneaky.

I've added Winter Rose to my wishlist. Thanks.

One other thing that I didn't care for in The Last Dickens was being taken to India a few times. It really was not vital to the storyline and, for me, broke the spell. Happy Easter : =

#165: Not very sneaky - just LT being a pain this AM.

I hope you enjoy Winter Rose.

As far as The Last Dickens goes, I actually wish the sections in India had been expanded. I would have liked to learn more about Frank Dickens and think if those parts had been longer, they might not have chopped the storyline up the way they ended up doing.

Nothing here for me this week Stasia. I am on the hunt for Zweig books:)

#167: Sorry nothing appealed this week - although The World of Yesterday is Zweig's. Is it on your hunt list, Bonnie?

I have an ARC of One Amazing Thing that's been shelf-bound for a while... haven't read it...but..Mistress of Spices and Sister of my Heart I loved!!

Stone's Fall....languishing ARC....but i loved Instance of the Fingerpost

I am not really "up" on new titles...but the Older ones i probably own....popular authors, etc...

thanks for a haven of smart books, you
;-}

#169: I have An Instance of the Fingerpost to read hear somewhere, Jude. I am hoping to get to it over the summer.

Thanks for dropping by!

So great to see so much talk about Zweig here. I only first heard of him last year, and have been reading everything I can find of his. I think quite a few of the novellas are being reprinted, because suddenly my library has some whereas it didn't last year. I can recommend The Post Office Girl and Twenty Four Hours in the Life of a Woman as well as the others mentioned above. But I think his autobiography, The World of Yesterday, is the best thing of his I have read so far.

I have The Royal Game and Other Stories of his on the shelf for my 195 Challenge. Maybe I should move it up. I've been reading a lot of short stories lately anyway.

Great reads as usual Stasia
I just had Silence in my hands (I was cleaning the bookcases in the livingroom), so I might get to it someday.
I liked Paper Towns as much as Looking for Alaska and An abundance of Katherines a little less, to each his own, we both like John Green ;-)

Hi Stasia, nice list today. Winter Rose, Europe's last summer, Paper Towns, The Periodic Table and The Last Night of the Sun all goes to my tbr pile. Thanx!:)

Happy Easter!

Glad you liked Winter Rose, Stasia. I really enjoyed it when I read it a couple of years ago. Last Light of the Sun might be the only Kay I haven't read - it sounds like I need to get to it. The Periodic Table sounds like it has an interesting format, maybe my library will have it, I've been meaning to read something by Levi anyway.

I didn't like The Last Dickens when I read it last year at all either. I haven't read One Amazing Thing although I've read other books by Divakaruni which I've liked. Guess I'll give this one a miss.

Wish listed Winter Rose from your list this week.

*skipping in glee that I managed to escape with just one book for a change*

Both Europe's Last Summer and The Last Dickens are on my 1010 Challenge list, so I'll be getting to them. I did like The Information Officer, so I'm happy that the other two books (which I got via PBS but haven't read yet) will be better. Should I replace The Last Dickens with Pearl's Dante book??

What an interesting reading week you've had, Stasia and I've jotted down a couple of titles to look into. Glad I don't need to think about The Information Officer anymore and I was also underwhelmed by One Amazing Thing along with its meh ending.

Stasia

58 posts on your thread since I last checked! And, seeing your list of this week, it is no wonder we all flock here.

Once again, you had a wonderful week of reading!

Happy Easter, Stasia.

#171: Janet, you can blame all the Zweig talk on Rebecca and Darryl for the most part. They have gotten the whole group going on him, I think. I already had Post Office Girl in the BlackHole, but I am adding your recommendation as well. Thanks!

#172: Tad, I will be interested in seeing what you think of that one. I do not have it in the BlackHole (yet).

#173: Yes, even though I did not like Paper Towns as much as the others, I am still firmly a Green fan! Let me know when you decide to read Silence. I would be interested in seeing your take on it, Anita.

#174: Wow, Bente! You went to town on this week's list, didn't you? I hope you enjoy your picks.

#175: Abigail, I think you will like Last Light of the Sun if you are a Kay fan. I liked Tigana more, but LLotS is still very good. Do get to something by Primo Levi soon - he is definitely worth the read. Thanks for stopping by!

#176: Caroline, maybe I will get you better next week :)

#177: Suz, I have not read The Dante Club yet, so I cannot compare it to The Last Dickens. Maybe check the ratings here on LT to help you make a decision? I will be interested in seeing what you think of Europe's Last Summer.

#178: Hey, Joanne. Thanks for stopping in. Glad I could help add to your TBR mountain.

#179: Thanks, Linda.

#180: Happy Easter to you too, Ren!

I have so enjoyed catching up on this thread and reading about how well we all get along. I agree!

I believe that part of the reason that so many people can't have a decent conversation about (religion, politics, etc.) is that we make it personal. I have deeply held beliefs, and for the most part, they won't change as a result of talking to people, so it doesn't need to be so personal. However, an important part of getting to know people is understanding what they believe and why. If you're too busy thinking of ways to prove they are wrong, you'll never find out who they are.

16 books this week Stasia? Sigh.

#184: If you're too busy thinking of ways to prove they are wrong, you'll never find out who they are.

Well put.

Was it 16 this week? You know, until I actually do my weekly wrap up I just do not consider how many books I read that week. All I really care about is whether they were good or not, lol.

>184 nittnut:, I think also the problem is that for a great # of people, their deeply held beliefs are more vital than getting along with others who may not share them. We need to recognize that just as others may not sway us, we may not sway them -- and just acknowledge that cooperation in those things that we do share is what is needed. In other words, pragmatism, vs idealism.

Well, a few of those were already on the wishlist, and a few didn't interest me, so I got away with only adding 2! Phew.

#187: Congratulations on escaping lightly, Marcia :)

Quote for the day from In this House of Brede by Rumer Godden:

"I wish I knew when I was going to die," ninety-six-year-old Dame Frances Anne often said. "I wish I knew."

"Why, Dame?"

"Then I should know what to read next."

I love that thinking!

Posted to the Kitchen too.

I love reading your weekly posts, and always find things to add to my ever-increasing lists of possibilities for the next good read. This week, I'm particularly excited about The Periodic Table! I've been teaching high school chemistry this year, and it will be so interesting to see it brought into a literary context!

I echo 190:ALK982--I so enjoy your posts, Stasia. I just requested Winter Rose by ILL (my library doesn't have it, although they have many books by the author). Have a great week!

Karen O.

p.s. I requested The Periodic Table also -- looks very interesting.

#190: I am glad you enjoy the weekly posts, Alexandra. Sometimes I worry that I am saying too much or not enough or if I am just babbling :) I hope you get a chance to read The Periodic Table, although I must caution you that the majority of the stories are only loosely connected to chemistry.

#191: Karen, it is always nice to see you here. I hope you enjoy both Winter Rose (absolutely beautiful prose images in that one) and The Periodic Table.

Winter Rose is already on the list, and you've got me with The Periodic Table. It sounds great.

#186 I agree - pragmatism is definitely the better way - as long as you can identify a common goal. As a conservative in a family absolutely littered with liberals and even the occasional socialist, pragmatism is a way of life for me. I love them all, and that means more to me than arguing over the details. Sometimes they even listen to me. (:

#193: Looks to me like you got off pretty lightly, Jenn!

Love the quote this week, Stasia! I am currently reading Paper Towns and like it very much as well. I actually think I am enjoying it as much as his other two and look forward to more by him.

#195: I am glad that you liked the quote! I just put them out there as things in books strike me.

Green just writes his young adults well, doesn't he?

#189 I loved that book!

#197: I am halfway through it, Kath, and really enjoying it. Godden is just pitch perfect.

I loved In This House of Brede, Stasia... I'm not at all religious, but I discovered that in my HS library and promptly went out and read others of hers that I could find. My faves are The Peacock Spring, China Court, Greengage Summer, The Dark Horse, Thursday's Children and Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy. She's one of those authors that is so eclectic and idiosyncratic she tends to be overlooked too much. Still, the one thing that makes me feel warm & fuzzy about Demi Moore is that she named her daughter after Rumer Godden.

#199: In This House of Brede is the first of Godden's books that I have ever read, but it is definitely not going to be the last. Thanks for your recommendations, Suz.

I have only read that one.. I mean to read more, but......

Vigorously seconding The Greengage Summer as a strong candidate for your next Rumer Godden read, Stasia.

I haven't read anything by Godden yet ... will have to look out for her. Thanks for the list of her titles, Suz.

Stasia, Stasia, Stasia.....

I turn my back for one week and you have a new thread and it's #1 in the Hot Topics. How am I ever going to keep up with you?

#204: How am I ever going to keep up with you?

I have no idea. I cannot keep up with me half the time. It is a full-time job.

>197 mckait:, 198, 199, I've had In This House of Brede on my wishlist ever since Kath wrote how much she enjoyed it last year. I'm glad to hear that Godden's other books are good as well!

I am glad to hear it too, Anne..

I will read more of hers ..someday. At least I hope to.

Wow, Stasia, you always have such intriguing and discussion-provoking lists. I added a couple here, but I'm feeling pretty good about whittling down the infinite TBR list over on TIOLI, especially those that I read and then mooch or otherwise dispose of. An eReader is starting to look good, but only from a view of saving physical space.

Re: The Last Dickens, I found it pretty disappointing, although I thought the atmosphere was a bit better constructed than you did. The whole plot line just seemed to be very contrived and far-fetched. The background on Dickens himself was well-researched and accurate, though. I read and absolutely loved The Dante Club, but I think was predispositioned to like it, since I'm a born New Englander and spent much of my youth poring over the American authors involved in that story. By the way, have you read American Bloomsbury? If not, then don't bother; it's really weak in drawing conclusions from little or no factual basis.

Re: Pratchett: Now this man is a puzzle to me. I tried a couple of the DiscWorld books and they left me just yawning, but I loved (and laughed the whole way through) The Wee Free Men. I'm always on the lookout for books to bring a smile to my face.

Re: In This House of Brede, I thought it was a great book. The ending to the convent's financial problems was kind of a deus ex machina, but that fit in well with the entire religious plotline. Rumer Godden was mentioned here and there in Women of the Raj, which is a fascinating look at British women in colonial India. I'm looking forward to more of her books...someday.

And...books have a way of making the reader more broad-minded or willing to listen to and be friends with a much wider group of people, don't you think?

#208: Yes, I have read American Bloomsbury, Gail. I think Lewis Menand's The Metaphysical Club is better, so you might give that one a try.

I am still working on Pratchett. I have a couple more home from the library, so I will see how I do with those, but I really did like The Wee Free Men better than The Colour of Magic - perhaps there is hope yet!

I was worried about reading In this House of Brede. I am not Catholic - born and raised Baptist - so I am unfamiliar with the Catholic liturgy and church practices, but I have not found that my lack of knowledge has in any way impacted my fondness for the book.

Yes, I agree with your last comment. So much of what I am reading about the Civil Rights movement and the periods before it, immediately after the Civil War and following, points to the fact that a lot of what happened in post-Civil War America could have been prevented by educating people. I think the same is true today - Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools are two books touting the same idea: educate people and they will learn to appreciate differences rather than fighting wars over them.

Quote for the day from The Philosopher's Diet by Richard A. Watson:

"You can read a book anywhere, anytime, alone. It is a matter between you and the author. I don't say that a book might not become your master, but you are free to read it over and over again. You can get on top of a book and either agree with it, or break its back.

Reading opens new worlds. John Stuart Mill thought that if only the masses would learn to read, they would change the world. It did not turn out to be quite that simple, but reading how is the first step."

Posted to the Kitchen too

Shusako Endo is one of my favorite Japanese authors. I've had Silence on the shelf for years, planning to get to it this year in my "Oldies" category in the 1010 challenge. Sooner rather than later I hope.

I read The Greengage Summer as a teenager, and have fond memories of it. I would like to read it again someday. Earlier this year I read Godden's memoir of her early years in India, A Time To Dance, No Time to Weep, which although I had some problems with, I really enjoyed.

#211: I will be interested in seeing what you think of Silence when you get a chance to read it, Deborah.

#205 I have no idea. I cannot keep up with me half the time. It is a full-time job.

Hee-hee. I don't know how you do it.

Stasia, there are cheap copies of at least 2 of the Insp. Chen mysteries by Qiu Xiaolong over at the BookCloseouts.com $1.99 sale -- in case you hadn't discovered them yet!

>200 alcottacre:: In This House of Brede is the first of Godden's books that I have ever read, but it is definitely not going to be the last

I think we've talked before that I love Godden and read at least one of hers a year. I think the worst I've come away from one of them is merely enjoying Cromartie vs. the God Shiva. This year I picked up Black Narcissus at a second hand shop...appropriately, attached to a convent!!!...to try.

Tad, yes, I tried re-reading Cromartie vs the God Shiva and couldn't manage it. Though I won't relinquish my copy. The other of her books I found slight was Pippa Passes. But China Court is an overlooked gem, IMO.

>216 Chatterbox:: I'll put that on the list of ones to try, then, Suzanne. Thanks.

#214: I am being very good and STAYING AWAY from the Bookcloseouts sale. I am not supposed to be buying any books this year and I was very bad after I got my new job and then my birthday happened, so I have to be VERY GOOD the rest of the year. (OK, so I am not holding my breath about that last part!)

#215: Yes, I remember your fondness for Godden, Tad. I have plenty of suggestions to begin my reading through Godden, but it sounds as if Cromartie vs. the God Shiva can wait for a while.

Hi, Stasia!
I am adding Winter Rose to my wishlist. The Primo Levi book is already there. I have heard here and there about McKillip and need to check her out. Still enjoying your quotes of the day. :)
--BJ

#219: Thanks BJ. I am glad to know you are enjoying them.

I am refusing to look at anything that might tempt me. Okay, I did go to bookcloseouts for 2 minutes yesterday evening. But I was too weary to see anything appealing....thank goodness.

This might be a silly question, but is the bookcloseout.com for US only?

I was thinking the same thing, so I looked. It isn't just for US, but the shipping charges overseas are very high. I wanted to order 5 books, and the fee was $30, so I decided not worth it!

#222: Bente, it is not a silly question. I could not find out on the Bookcloseouts website whether or not they ship overseas, but they do have an overseas customer service phone number: 905-680-6834. You might try that or just go shopping on the website and see if you can get your order shipped directly to you. If not, let me know - you can have the books shipped to me and I will ship them to you.

In This House of Brede has already gone on the wishlist and it's not even Sunday yet..

#225: Cool! Anything to add to the size of everyone else's BlackHoles :)

You got me with that one, too.
--BJ

I can't see anyone regretting adding Brede :)

#205 "I have no idea. I cannot keep up with me half the time. It is a full-time job."

You made me think of a magnet my 93 yr old Grandma has on her fridge. It says:

I have gone to meet myself. If I should return before I get back, hold me here, so I can find out where I've been.

#229: I need to steal Grandma's magnet :)

>229 nittnut: I had a really wacky aunt. My dad went to visit and she said, "I'm so glad you didn't come last week! I've been out of my body for a year and would have missed your visit!"

#223 & 224: Thank you both and thank you Stasia for your offer to send me my books for me. You are such a kind and sweet person:) I had just a quick look on the page, but decided to stay away. Best for the economy I guess.

#231: Wouldn't want to miss a visit;) I think we all need a healthy doze of wackness no and again, though of course I don't want people to be sick or anything.

#232: No problem! If something similar comes up again and you are interested, let me know if the seller cannot ship directly to you and I will take care of it.

Thank you! You are definitely an angel:)

Nope, just a Stasia :)

well I'd lean toward Apolline's view having been a recipient of your gracious ministrations! btw, the link is fixed. thx for the info.

Thanks for fixing the link. I will check it out.

Rumer Godden wrote quite a few kids books - several about dolls and toys - The Dolls House, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower and one about a Romany girl, The Diddakoi. I also liked her YA books, The Greengage Summer and The Peacock Spring. My sister's nabbed a couple of my Godden books. A future rereading project for me.

Janet, I think a lot of bookcloseouts books are listed on Amazon. To London, we'd have to pay £2.75 each for postage. I ordered a couple of US hardback books (not available in paperback) that way the other day for about £5 each including shipping. Packages of 1 book will fit through my letterbox, usually, which is a distinct advantage, as it's such a hassle getting packages back from the post office, otherwise.

#238 - Thanks. That sounds a lot better than the $6 per book it looked like bookcloseout.com would have charged for shipping. I'll try amazon.

#239: Janet, you might also check The Book Depository (www.bookdepository.com), which offers free worldwide shipping. Most of their prices are competitive with Amazon's.

#240, And very often their prices are better; I usually check both before I buy.

#240 Thanks, Stasia.

Stasia,

I have caught up, could you slow down so I can stay that way?

I've missed 109 posts, so this discussion may have taken place already. If I'm jumping in too late, I apologize...

I'm glad you enjoyed Wee Free Men a bit more than The Color of Magic. Pratchett's YA novels can be a lot of fun, and I remember enjoying Wee Free Men and Maurice and his Amazing Educated Rodents. Guards! Guards! is one of my partner's favorite Discworld novels, and I hope you enjoy it as well! If not, well, I think you've given Pratchett a fair shot. ;) Happy reading!

#242: You are very welcome, Janet!

#243: All I can say is I will try, Cheli :)

#244: Luxx! Happy to see you again. I have Guards! Guards! and the second book of the Tiffany Aching series (whose name escapes me right now) home from the library right now. If I do not do any better with those, then I am giving up on Pratchett and deciding he is just not an author for me.

Soon time to start thread nine...I stand by my prediction....

Linda speaks sooth, Stasia...nine, nine, nine! And don't you even DARE to say Nein to our nine!

Ein, zwei, drei . . .NEIN!!

*pthbbt*

(a heartily blown razzberry at you, madam)

I like blueberries better.

New thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/88858

I shall bake them, with a file, into the pie that I shall splat into your unsuspecting face when I drive through Sherman.

Why do I need a file?

BTW - if you are driving through Sherman, I expect to see you!!

A bailbondsbeing DOESN'T need a file, ever?! Another myth exploded, then.

And I shall sneak into Sherman unannounced. Ha ha. Warn the girls not to open the door to dashing older gentlemen in gray Buicks, or I cannot be held responsible for the results.

I shall contact my friends in the sheriff's office and tell them dashing older gentlemen in gray Buicks are to be pulled over forthwith until the culprit is discovered :)

If they do it for you, I sense a multitude of lawsuits among the Buick owners of Texas....

Since I do not own anything, it seems futile to sue me :)

Besides older, dashing gentlemen might be flattered by the attention!

From SHERIFFS?! Not unless you got some Pamela Anderson-y deputies up there. And I **seriously** doubt that.

LOL!

ye gods this is a busy thread...

ye gods this is a busy thread

It's a semi-obsolete thread now. Stasia started a new one yesterday.

*gestures frantically to link in message 250* Don't lose her!

For those who missed the link to the new thread, here you go: http://www.librarything.com/topic/88858

You put my 13 books to shame. I wish I could read that fast but I just can't. this is a long thred wow. That is crazy.

#262: Thanks for visiting. I realize that not everyone reads at the same rate, but I still think 13 books is very good! As far as the craziness of the thread, that is pretty much par for the course with me :)