tymfos tries to tackle 75 titles in 2010 -- take four!

Well, I think the last thread was getting a little long. So here we go again!







Here are some links to my various other threads:

My first three threads for this challenge:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/78980
http://www.librarything.com/topic/83758
http://www.librarything.com/topic/88141

My "off the shelf challenge" thread (started 12/1/09):
http://www.librarything.com/topic/78160

My 1010 challenge thread (started 10/1/09):
http://www.librarything.com/topic/74456

My 2009 75 challenge threads:
#1 http://www.librarything.com/topic/69362
#2 http://www.librarything.com/topic/74808

Here is a link (hopefully) to my message in the "introductions" thread:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/79114#1653925

BOOKS COMPLETED -- January
1. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (finished 1/7/10)
2. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (Finished 1/8/10)
3. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (finished 1/9/10)
4a In The Woods, by Robin H. Stevenson (finished 1/11/10)
4b Over My Dead Body by Kate Klise (finished 1/11/10)
5. Scat by Carl Hiaasen (finished 1/13/10)
6. On Hallowed Ground by Robert M. Poole (finished 1/19/10)
7. The Story of My Father, by Sue Miller (read 1/24/10)
8. Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn (read 1/25/10)
9. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin (finished 1/29/10)
10. The Wreck of the Whaleship Essex by Owen Chase (finished 1/31/10)

BOOKS COMPLETED -- February
11. Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. (started 2/3/10; finished 2/4/10)
12. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer (finished 2/13/10).
13. When Michael Calls by John Farris (read 2/18/10)
14. Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay (finished 2/19/10)
15. Strength to Love by The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (finished 2/26/10)
16. He Crashed Me, So I Crashed Him Back by Mark Bechtel (finished 2/28/10)

Books Completed -- March
17.They Call Him Cale by Joe McGinnis (finished 3/10/10)
18 Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin (finished 3/13/10)
19.The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb 15 (finished 3/15/10)
20.The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill (finished 3/15/10)
21. Haunted Deland and the Ghosts of West Volusia County by Dusty Smith (finished 3/22/10)
22.Why Me: A Doctor Looks at the book of Job by Diane M. Komp, M.D. (finished 3/29/10)
23.Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews (finished 3/31/10)

Books Completed -- April
24. The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny. (Finished 4/8/10)
25. Critical Care (Brown) by Theresa Brown
26. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (Finished 4/16/10)
27. Kiss Her Goodbye (Browne) by Robert Gregory Browne (4/17/10)
28. Mockingbird (Erskine) by Elizabeth Erskine (4/19/10)
29. Spirituality and the Autism Spectrum by Abe Isanon (finished 4/25/10)
30. Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson (finished 4/27/10)
31. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (finished 4/30/10)

Books Completed -- May
32. Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (finished 5/1/10)
33. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny (finished 5/4/10)
34. Sumner Island by Michael Cormier (ER edition) (finished 5/9/10)
35. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman (started 5/3/10; finished 5/12/10)
36. The Madness of Mary Lincoln by Jason Emerson (finished 5/13/10)
37. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (finished 5/14/10)
38. Murder With Puffins by Donna Andrews (started 5/11/10; finished 5/21/10)
39. Columbine by Dave Cullen (started 5/14/10; finished 5/22/10)
40. Grace Eventually by Anne Lamott (finished 5/23/10)

Books Completed -- June
41. Just Shy of Harmony by Philip Gulley (started 6/6/10; finished 6/7/10)
42. Four and Twenty Blackbirds (Priest) by Cherie Priest (started 6/7/10; finished 6/9/10)
43. When the Mississippi Ran Backwards by Jay Feldman (started 5/21/10; finished 6/13/10)
44. Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo (finished 6/18/10)
45. American Gothic (Bloch) by Robert Bloch (started 6/18/10; finished 6/20/10)
46 St. Dale by Sharyn McCrumb (started 6/25/10)

Books Started and Under Consideration:
UnChristian by David Kinnaman (started 5/10)
Moby Dick by Herman Mellville -- LT group read (started 1/15/10 abandoned temporarily?)
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy -- LT group read (started 1/15/10 abandoned temporarily?)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (local group read; abandoned temporarily?)
Cemetery of Angels by Noel Hynd
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
Too Easy (DePoy) by Philip DePoy
Jane-Emily (Clapp) by Patricia Clapp
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Found your new thread and starred it! Looking forward to learning about your future reads.

That was fast, Linda! I'm still getting organized here . . .

I've already got another one done:

Book #34:
Title: Sumner Island (Early Reviewers edition; uncorrected proofs)
Author: Michael Cormier
Genre: Ghost Story
Length: 263 pages (ER edition)
Source: LT Early Reviewers program
Dates: Finished 5/9/10
Challenges: 75 challenge; 1010 challenge, "Scary Fiction" category
Notes:

I'm still figuring out what to say about this one. Heck, I'm still figuring out what I think about this one! I rather enjoyed most of it, but it got a little too weird for me near the end, I think. People complain about mixing metaphors . . . I think he mixed too many types of paranormal activity/theories, etc. I must think more, and then write a real review!

(And what was the deal with the moths, anyway????? Yes, moths!)

I am here again!

I think I will skip Sumner Island. It does not sound like my cup of tea at all.

#7 Stasia, I don't think it would be!

#8: Since we both agree, I see no need to look for it :)

I trust your judgment re. books of this nature, and thus if you did not rate Sumner Island highly, then I'll skip this one.

Better luck with your next read.

I don't necessarily like ghost stories but I love the cover on that Sumner Island book.

>6 tymfos: ...moths...? Hmmm

A certain person sent me a package containing a certain book, and my dog's lawyer will be contacting that certain person in connection with an alienation-of-affection suit since the book aforementioned has, over the past six hours, been devoured and exclaimed over to the exclusion of the aforementioned dog's tug-rope, squeeky carrot, and afternoon walk.

I mention this in passing, that the guilty party might prepare her(or him!)self for consequences, without prejudicing my own case....

#10 It wasn't bad, I actually enjoyed it, but . . . maybe some of the stuff struck me as too New Age or something . . . it was sort of a paranormal stew.

#11 The cover IS way cool!

#12 A swarm of paranormal MOTHS!!! (Since this is offered totally out of context, I don't think it counts as a spoiler.)

The party of the first part advises the party of the second part to be careful; devouring books can put words in your mouth! (And ignoring your dog when it needs a walk can lead to carpet puddles!) ;)

hmmmmmm New Age Paranormal eh? lol

One of my pet peeves in bookstores is when books about ghosts are in the New Age section. There's nothing "new" about ghosts. But this book went way beyond ghosts.

It's really hard to say what aspects of the book didn't quite work for me without writing a major spoiler -- which I refuse to do.

Except for the MOTHS . . . . ugh. I still don't get what they had to do with anything.

I so agree!!!!!!!!!!
Sometimes bookstore shelves drive me crazy :P

moths... ick :P

The moths were in the book for the atmosphere obviously :)

Moths are, I admit it, creepy when seen en masse. I'm pretty sure I've only ever seen a herd (? what is the collective noun for moths?) of them once or twice. I guess this person just decided to use them as atmosperic shorthand, but I don't know that I'd be down with that.

You'd have to read the scenes in question to fully appreciate how peculiar this moth thing was. . .

Ah, well. I'm telling myself this is NOT turning out to be a bad day. Compared to people dealing directly with war, pestilence, famine, natural disaster, etc., today is a breeze. . . (actually, it's more like a brisk north wind) but I still feel like it's not the greatest day in the world.

This was supposed to be my wonderful day off from work, when I could accomplish all sorts of things I'd been putting off. I woke up to snow (fortunately, not accumulating); a sick husband; and a son who asked me, just before departing for school, for money for the book fair. (Normally, I would rejoice at this, but the wallet was empty at that precise moment. I managed to scrounge some cash out of a sweater pocket.)

I spent 2 1/2 hours and $90 at the garage for some maintenance on my car -- and finding out that it needs a $300 repair as soon as they can get the parts in. Fortunately, I had Meg Langslow & co. with me ( Murder with Puffins )to keep me company during the wait.

Lots of other little stuff, none of it life-altering, just annoying. Seems I accomplished the minimum possible stuff in the maximum possible time spent. I really can't complain . . . but I think I just did. . . ;)

19 - sorry you are having such a lousy day...bummer...HATE when that happens!

18- I'm sitting here trying not to laugh out loud at the office, imagining what the collective noun for moths might be...
'a moth pack'
'a gaggle of moths'
'moth cloud'?
'school of moths'

I imagine the actual answer won't be near as amusing!

Angela (amwmsw04)

I'm trying to remember what term the author used . . . should go back and look . . . did he call it a swarm? I know that works for bees and some other insects . . . but is kind of boring. How about:
a moth multitude
myriad moths
moth mob

(You can see, I like alliteration!)

Always interesting to see what a group of a particular kind of animal is called.

Such as:
--a battery of barracudas
--a murder of crows
--a committee of vultures
--a group of lemurs

(Seems like they could do better for lemurs.)

I looked up a couple of websites with lots of plurals of animals listed and moths were not included. I'm guessing that since they are solitary creatures there may not be a name for a collection of moths. Therefore, may I suggest that since they always leave some fine material behind that we call them a "dusting of moths"?

#22 Thanks, Linda!!!!

I knew there was some critter where the group designation was a "murder," and it was driving me crazy not remembering which it was. I looked up "murder" in my dictionary, and it did not include that in its definitions.

"Murder of moths" would sound good, wouldn't it? -- much nicer than crows. (I wonder why they call a group of crows a "murder," anyway?)

#23 Dusting . . . humm . . . clever!

Hmmm, isn't there one animal where the group name is different depending on whether they are on the ground or in the air. Eagles maybe?

>24 tymfos:: Murder of crows...I wonder if it has anything to do with the cacophony of noise that erupts when they are after an owl or hawk. I've heard that sound once too often in the past few weeks, and I'd like to murder a few crows next time it happens!

I do like the "dusting of moths" designation.

My day was also not great.. hurt all over, cold, rain ( thus the hurt all over) .
My morning was overflowing with bodily emissions not my own, and a very sick screaming child. ( No.. she did not get sent home) A sub who ... works very hard but just refuses to do things as we have done them all year... thus creating havoc.
It was just a long long exhausting day :P

Doncha hate it when someone asks for something as they walk out the door.. ? sigh.
Well.. tomorrow is another day.. the child who was sick today is scheduled for surgery tomorrow... :(

Aha, it's geese. They are a gaggle or a flock. In the air, they are a skein, team, or wedge. In the water, they are a plump.

Actually, my favorite has to be a conspiracy of ravens.

Lemurs got robbed! And I think "dusting" has it, though I'm amused at the mental image of a "moth mob".

Seems to me someone back there in the mists of time was overthinking the whole geese thing.

I was trying to do something cutesy with moths: a neon of moths, a candle of moths . . . something having to do with light, since they are so attracted to it.

Hubby is still sick, so neither of us slept well last night. It's very cheering to log onto LT after getting my son off to school and see so many posts on my thread!

>27 Donna828: Yeah, Donna, there have been a few occasions when I've wanted to murder some crows!

>28 mckait: Kath, so sorry you had such a lousy day. And that poor kid!

>29 lindapanzo: "Conspiriacy of ravens" is a good one, Linda. I think I'm partial to the "committee of vultures," though. (I've know a few vulture-like committees in my lifetime!)

>30 richardderus: Seems to me someone back there in the mists of time was overthinking the whole geese thing.
LOL, Richard! Definitely! Talk about an identiy crisis!

>31 alcottacre: Those are nice. Or maybe "a flicker of moths" or "a beam of moths" would work, Stasia?

30- I'm with Richard all the way on this one. Dusting of moths is the best, but moth mob is my favorite.
And how do geese get multiple plural words when other animals don't? Unfair. They should share some with the lemurs.

This is so entertaining...

I think that moths do indeed hang out in large groups - or at least they do here in Southeastern Massachusetts. For the last four or so autumns - along about late November, early December, I always come home to swarms (gaggles, gangs or whatever) of them rising up out of the dead leaves, stuck to the side of the garage and the house and poised on the storm door just waiting for me to open it so they can try to get inside. Wonder if they display that behavior in other parts of the world.

#33 Animal group names are interesting. I bet that there's a book out there somewhere about how they got their names. If there isn't, someone ought to write one.

35- Great idea!

19>>
Not to take away from the moths but just to give you a laugh on a bad day,

One of my favorite quotes from a book I read was.....

"Lord, you know there are many things you have given me for which I am grateful. Today is not one of them."

Hope today s better.

:) Hi Terri

That sick child has a firm grip on my heart..
I was pretty worried..
We didn't hear from the family about the surgery..
hopefully tomorrow..
I am sure they had other things to think about....

All was quiet today, half day for the kids..
no drama..

Terri you angeldevil you, I repost my notice here for your benefit:

"I reviewed the one-word-titled Zeitoun for our May "Take It or Leave It" challenge, and thanks to tymfos who sent me her copy; I read it, and I am a thrilled, excited supporter of the book. Please, read soonest and buy a copy. There aren't even 700 copies of it on LT -- and there ARE tens of thousands of copies of Twilight.

This simply shouldn't be."

#33 The geese do seem to be hogging things a bit, huh?
And "Moth Mob" kind of fits the one scene in the book.

#34 I find moths gathering trying to get into the house (if the lights are on inside) at certain times -- not often, but sometimes.

#35, 36 I think I see my next research project . . .

#37 Thanks so much for the laugh!

#38 Glad you had a quiet day, and I hope you have good news about the sick child's surgery soon!

#39 Richard, thanks for the re-post here, and you're welcome for the book, and I'm glad you were as impressed by Zeitoun as I was!

I recently got an e-mail from Borders about pre-ordering new releases, and it appears that Zeitoun is coming out in paperback edition soon.

Book #35:
Title: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
Author: Anne Fadiman
Genre: Non-fiction
Length: 288 pages plus source notes, bibliography, index, and readers' guide
Source: Loan from member of local book discussion group
Dates: Finished 5/12/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge; 1010 Challenge, "20th Century USA" category
Notes:

I believe I owe Darryl (kidzdoc) thanks for first bringing this book to my attention -- though I've heard positive comments about it from many folks here on LT.

This is an excellent account and analysis of the collision of two cultures. And it is a sad tale, indeed.

Lia is the child of Hmong refugees living in Merced, California. When she begins having seizures, her parents take her to the local hospital's emergency room. Soon Lia is a "regular," one of the hospital's most challenging cases of chronic illess. The language barrier is difficult. The cultural barriers are even more daunting. The Hmong view illness in spiritual terms. Modern American medicine has a very different approach. Neither side understands what the other is thinking or feeling or where they are coming from.

Lia's parents speak no English. They can't read a thermometer or the labels of her medications. They are also fearful of the medicine and what it might do to her spirit. Doctors treating Lia constantly break Hmong taboos and behave in ways that Lia's family misunderstand. It seems that no one tries to understand what Lia's family believes.

The resut, predictably, is a disaster.

Fadiman looks at the story from all points of view, trying to see what (if anything) might have changed the course of events toward a happier outcome. There are sympathetic people on both sides of the divide (though there a few real bigots, too).

She also looks at the broader issues of the Hmong experiences helping the CIA in the "Quiet War" in Laos and their plight when the Americans pulled out; their ordeal as refugees, and how their resettlement in America was mishandled.

Fadiman does a great job giving the reader the "big picture." And it is a story very much worth telling, and told in a compelling style.

Book # 36:
Title: The Madness of Mary Lincoln
Author: Jason Emerson
Genre: Non-fiction
Length: 190 pages (including appendices) plus notes, bibliography, and index
Source: Local public library
Dates: 5/12/10 through 5/13/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge; 1010 challenge, category "Blue & Gray" (It could also go into "interesting people," but the fascination with Mrs. Lincoln begins with her role as First Lady during the Civil War, I believe.)
Notes:

Mary, the wife/widow of Abraham Lincoln, is a fascinating figure in history. In 1875, she was found insane by a jury and sent to a mental hospital. The controversy over this forced institutionalization echoes through the years. Was Mary the vicitm of a money-hungry son who wanted to put her away for his own reasons? Or was Robert T. Lincoln a concerned son genuinely seeking the well-being of his mentally-ill mother? It's pretty clear where author Jason Emerson stands on the issue.

This book draws upon recently-discovered copies of some of Mary's long-lost correspondence, as well as other documentation regarding Mary's state of mind and the actions taken by her son to have her committed. The long-lost correspondence was actually tracked down by the author himself during the research of this book.

Emerson tells Mary's story, glossing briefly over her early years, with increasing focus during her time in the White House and the aftermath of her husband's assasination. The greatest depth is reserved for the time period leading up to and following her 1875 trial.

The appendices include the text of the newly-discovered letters and an analysis by a modern psychiatrist of Mary's symptoms as evidenced in the sources available. There are also extensive notes and a bibliography and an index.

The book is well-researched and adequately written. There were a few places where the notes seemed a little murky. For instance, in one place Mary was quoted as saying something with no footnote for a source given; then statements by others suggesting she did NOT say it were mentioned, with citations. Also, Emerson has a habit of dropping little bombshells at the ends of many chapters -- sort of like the "cliff hangers" in movie serials of old -- that do tend to make one want to keep reading. Example: they seemed relatively unconcerned by her behavior. That is, until they found her gun. (End of chapter 7) A little tacky, but effective.

Please post your review of book #35 so that I can give it a thumbs up.

What an excellent description!

I own a copy of The Madness of Mary Lincoln. I simply need to find it.

Madam! Your reviews are unposted on the works's reviews pages! This is gross negligence, and I believe a violation of the "Friends" function which requires the ability to thumbs-up friends's reviews. (Tim said so in a post somewhere, I'm sure of it.)

I look forward to your earliest rectification of this oversight.

I thought I'd actually finish writing/editing them before I actually posted them on the works page ;)

. . . but I guess they're OK the way they are . . . :)

I shall post with haste and appreciate any thumbs which arrive.

THANKS!

ETA to add: Reviews posted on works pages!

#41: I am glad you liked that one. Anne Fadiman is one of my favorite writers. That was the first of her books that I ever read.

#42: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I guess I better bump it up.

Thumbs up on the reviews from me!

I have not read that one, but I have read about Mary and the other Lincolns in the past.. ( before they became Vampire Hunters ?)

Suonds good..

Child mom didn't call. Teacher in our room refused to call and told me not to..
I asked the nurse to call... That little girl is in our room for hours every day, and I think it is appropriate that we care that she came through okay. Sometimes they don't. It is a rare year that we do not lose a child somewhere in the school...she is okay.. thank goodness, despite the fact that there were some.... complications..

Will be at school monday...

Terr- Loved both reviews! Good job!

Kath- I don't think Mary knew about Abe's vampire pastime!

Terri...both reviews are Hot Ones on today's home page! Congratulations!

Great review of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. I'd like to see that book made required reading for all docs in training. It was a favorite a year or so ago for me also.

Thumbs up on both your reviews Terri. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is going on the pile.

Great reviews, Terri! I agree with Mac, this book should be required reading for all doctors (and nurses and physician assistants) in training. Whenever I'm on the teaching service (with medical students, residents, and physician assistant students) on hospital rounds I do mention this book, and several of us would like to see it included as a required read for the rotation (Inpatient Pediatrics). Fortunately, a good number of them, including both of the medical students that were on my team for a week last month, have already read the book.

Congratulations on the Hot Review, Terri!

Aw shucks, guys . . . *blush*

I agree, too, that this books should definitely be required reading for docs in training.

This being a short work day for me, I had some time for reading and am about 90+ pages into my next NF read, Columbine by Dave Cullen. I had to stop for a while. It got too intense for me. The book is excellent, and oh so heartbreaking. It makes me want to get down on my knees and pray, Lord, never let it happen here -- never again, ANYWHERE, please. It sent me scurrying to what was going to be my bedtime devotional reading, hours early.

#47 Kath, glad to hear that the girl from your class is OK!

Finished my devotional book, and I think it is worth a mention . . .

Book #37:
Title: Blue Like Jazz
Author: Donald Miller
Genre: Non-fiction/Spirituality
Length: 242 pages
Source: Purchased at library sale during vacation, August 2009
Dates: finished 5/14/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge; Books off the Shelf challenge; 1010 Challenge, "Matter of Faiith" category
Notes:

I bought this book on a whim, used, for $1. I liked the title. I liked the cover. I liked the description of the author (in one of the blurbs) as "Anne Lamott with testosterone." And I loved the author's note:
I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes.
After that I liked jazz music.
Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.
I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened.

This book is a bit uneven in quality. Some of these autobiographical essays were less than impressive to me. But others stopped me in my tracks. This is a book with which many Conservative Christians might be uncomfortable. Miller has his complaints about the church, and about the way many Christians view faith and interact with those around them -- especially those who are different from them. He has no use for empty ritual (though its clear that not all ritual is empty to him), or being judgmental of others, or of the kind of morality that is almost obsessed with sexual behavior.

He does acknowledge the reality of what traditional theology calls "original sin" -- the fact that all people, and the world, are broken and need fixing (the need for salvation). He zeroes in on the sins of self-righteousness and self-centeredness, and the primacy of the commandment to LOVE. In this, I believe he is a faithful follower of Jesus.

He has problems with religion, with Christianity (as an institution), with "religious people," but loves and has faith in Jesus and invites the reader to love Him, too. He does all this with an honesty about his own failings and shortcomings that is refreshing. He gave me some things to think about, so I consider the time spent in reading this book worthwhile.

He has no use for empty ritual (though its clear that not all ritual is empty to him), or being judgmental of others, or of the kind of morality that is almost obsessed with sexual behavior.

And don't forget hair. God seems to have a *thing* about hair.

But in all...a Christian it would pay back an anti-Christian like me to learn from. Wishlisted with thanks!

#55: I really liked Blue Like Jazz, conservative that I am. I need to re-read that one. Thanks for the review, Terri!

BTW - I understand exactly what you mean about Columbine.

*Bumps Blue Like Jazz higher up the wishlist.*

Thanks for that review, Terri.

I'm not sure why I've resisted reading Blue Like Jazz... I think I read a bad review some time ago and didn't figure on exploring it for myself (this was some eight or nine years ago when it was released, I think). Reading your review is definitely urging me to pick up the copy in my church library... it sounds like his views are something I can stand behind with confidence.

Busy, busy weekend. Little time for reading, no time for LT. I'm WAAAAY behind on the threads! Saturday was beautiful, got lots of yardwork done. Sunday was cooler and a bit grayer, but still OK.

Today is very gray and very wet, with more of the same coming tomorrow.

A member of our book discussion group has offered to loan me the book Still Alice. That's one that has been near the top of my wishlist for a while!

#56 Richard, you never cease to surprise me. Are you serious about wishlisting Blue like Jazz? I'm not quite sure what you'll make of this book, but I'm sure you'd like this writer better than a lot of Christian writers out there. (For one thing, he doesn't have an attitude about hair...) Maybe I can be persuaded to part with my copy. . .

#56, 57, 58, 59 I found the book somewhat uneven, as I said. Some of the essays just left me going, "huh?" But some were delightful. I'd call his writing style kind of, uh, quirky.

I just really loved Miller's focus on love, mercy, and acceptance; and his understanding of human brokenness (including his own). And I felt a lot of his critiques of the Church were valid -- especially regarding some of the more conservative branches. (I say some, not all, because I do know some good Conservative Christian folk.)

In my comments, I may be reading some things into his writing that he didn't overtly say. My religious background is somewhat different from his, but lets just say I almost felt like I knew some of the folks he was writing about . . . ;)

Ah, the Phillies are absolutely clobbering the Pirates this evening! Howard just hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 8th to make the score 12-2. My son the Pirate fan has retreated to his room, abandoning the telecast in disgust. As for me, former Philadelphian that I am, I am quite content . . . :)

#60: I think you will really like Still Alice, Terri. I cannot wait to see what you think of it.

>60 tymfos: Terri, I require of myself that I remain in some significant dialogue with points of view that I don't like. I don't want to harden into an angry, deaf old man, set like cement in my certainties. (In other words, I don't want to be my father or my mother.)

Hey...I even read a Dave Eggers book! And that, let me tell you, was a MAJOR effort. I hated loathed despised detested abominated and generally wasn't fond of the previous two books of his that I read. This book, Zeitoun, which A Certain Person gave to me, was excellent and I am the richer for having read it.

As for knowing good conservative Christians...love the sinner, hate the sin, right?

#63 Terri, I require of myself that I remain in some significant dialogue with points of view that I don't like. I don't want to harden into an angry, deaf old man, set like cement in my certainties.

I applaud that attitude!

Hallelujah! The PA primary (and the special election to see who will finish the late Jack Murtha's congressional term) is OVER. Maybe we'll get a short break from the flood of negative campaign ads for a few days before they gear up for the General Election!

***Question of the day: why is it that if I forget to take a book to the doctor's office, I have to wait forever; but if I'm ready with a book that I'm eager to read, they call me in immediately????***

ETA to clarify a sentence about the special election

#64: Answer to your question of the day - it is one of the mysteries of the universe :)

#65 Sherlock Spider, is adorable, Stasia!

#66: He is tracking down the mysteries of the universe just for you, Terri :)

Ah-hahahaha, I *hate* spiders, but that one is ridiculously cute!

Terri
There are politics galore here in Bethlehem, PA. The powers that be voted to allow a Sands casino here, located where old, rusted Bethlehem Steel structures once blighted the land. The deal was that the casino would kick back thousands of tax dollars each day. Many did not want the casino, fearing it would prey on people who are all ready hurting financially.

#55 I started Blue Like Jazz last night and I'm about a quarter of the way through it. Amazing book. I don't like preachy-type religious books but this one really resonates with me. I like the idea of nonreligious thoughts on Christianity.

I have to agree that some of the essays are uneven. "I am the problem" really hit home with me, though, as is the Reed College essay.

#68 I normally don't like spiders, either, but that one is exceptional . . . ;)

#69 I remember visiting Gettysburg at the height of the debate when a casino was being proposed for the area . . . a different kind of "civil war," with neighbors displaying signs in their yards for opposing viewpoints -- dueling websites . . . very polarizing. (I was very glad to hear that they decided not to have the casino there. That ground is just too sacred to US memory.) Good luck to you folks in Bethlehem in dealing with all that!

#70 "I am the problem" hit home here, too. We are all very good at deciding what "other" people should do about the world's problems . . . rarely do we fully (or even partially) recognize our own roles.

INSOMNIA!

Since I can't sleep, I may as well post the two books I managed to finish today.

Book #38
Title: Murder With Puffins
Author: Donna Andrews
Genre: Cozy mystery
Length: 290 pages
Source: gifted from a "book friend" in Texas (!)
Dates: finished 5/21/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge
Notes: Meg Langslow mystery #2

This was the perfect book for waiting room reading. Over the past couple of weeks, I've spent a lot of time in the auto dealership's waiting room while a car problem was diagnosed and repaired. This book was entertaining enough to keep me happy during my waiting; light enough for me to follow despite Dr. Phil and Judge Judy blaring on the wating room TV; delightfully humorous, but not so overly funny that I drew stares by falling out of my chair laughing.

Meg Langslow and company are stranded on an island overcrowded with bird watchers during a hurricane. And, of course, someone turns up dead -- someone just about everyone on the island had a reason for hating.

A fun read! (Thanks, Stasia!)

Glad you enjoyed it, Terri!

Book #39:
Title: Columbine
Author: Dave Cullen
Genre: Non-fiction
Length: 358 pages text plus timeline, acknowledgments, notes, bibliography, and index
Source: purchased at Waldenbooks, Fall 2009
Dates: finished 5/22/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge; 1010 Challenge, 20th Century USA category; Books off the Shelf Challenge
Notes: Recently won an Edgar award (2010 Fact Crime)

This was a heavy one. Marvelously researched and well-written, it dispels many of the myths which abound about the school killings near Littleton, Colorado at a school whose name -- for too many people -- has become synonymous with the carnage which happened there on April 20, 1999.

Everyone wants to believe that two young men snapped and went on a rampage because they were bullied as outcasts. The truth is much, much scarier.

An excellent book.

ETA to correct finish reading date (since I finished after midnight . . .)

#74: That one was one of my 'memorable reads' from last year. A truly excellent book about something I pray never happens again.

In addition to having the Meg Langslow mystery with me at the dealership, I had another book in tow -- an inter-library loan which arrived at the library just as my work day there was ending, and which will be my next non-fiction read.

I ordered When the Mississippi Ran Backwards so I could discuss it with the Missouri Readers group. I had planned to start it after finishing Columbine, but having it with me while waiting, I couldn't help but crack the cover and take a look.

Unlike the mystery, it required a little more concentration than the waiting room environment permitted, so I put it aside after about 30 pages. But it looks very interesting!

Stasia, I think our local book discussion group is leaning toward using Columbine as one of our selections this fall. I suggested it, and I'm donating my copy to the library so people will have access to it.

I need to read When the Mississippi Ran Backwards. It sounds like my cup of tea!

That is cool about you donating Columbine to the library, Terri. I am sure they will welcome the addition.

#78 From what I've read so far, I do think When the Mississippi Ran Backwards would, indeed, be your cup of tea! Pretty fascinating so far, and I haven't even gotten to the first earthquake yet!

#79: It looks like I can get a copy through the local college library, but it is going to have to wait a while. I am trying to trim down my library holdings at the moment (I am down to 87), because I want to spend the summer concentrating on my books.

I am currently reading The Siege by Helen Dunmore. Have you read that one? It is very good.

I have not read that. It looks interesting . . .

Well, I'm off to post Columbine to my two other challenge threads, and then maybe I'll try (again) to get to sleep. . .

Good luck with the sleeping, Terri!

Terri, ditto what Stasia said.... Columbine very memorable. I talked to a librarian about donating books that they will shelve. No definitive answers yet.. but that was my plan too. I loaned it to my sister first....

AND I ordered When the Mississippi Ran Backwards , a few days ago and plan to send it to my son when I finish reading it.

Terri- I'm way behind on reading Columbine. Last summer I was reading The Hour I First Believed, while others were immersed in the Cullen book, I wasn't quite ready to return to this subject matter. I've requested it now, so it looks like I will be getting to it finally!

I am eager to read When the Mississippi Ran Backwards but, staying on a top floor of a St Louis hotel right now, I am trying to think positive thoughts about the New Madrid fault line. (I always have worries about tornadoes while I am at Busch Stadium but with sunny and hot, no worries there, this time.)

I finished Blue Like Jazz on the train ride down here yesterday and enjoyed it. Most, but not all, of the essays resonated with me.

Terri.. please visit my thread for update on my library..
sigh

> 74 I'm glad that you "enjoyed" Columbine. I kept my copy, but donating it to your library is a wonderful idea.

#84 Mark, did you like The Hour I First Believed? I've looked at that one several times in bookstores, but couldn't make up my mind.

#85 I think I would wait until I got off the top floor of the hotel in St. Louis before I'd read that book, too.

#86 Kath, I'll be right over!

#87 It just seems logical for me. I don't think I'd read it again; it's not something I'd need to "refer" to; and several folks in our book group are very interested in it.

Horrible, miserable day so far.

I thought I'd escape to LT threads for a while, but just made the day worse.

I guess I'm just too damn opinionated.

Think I'll find a good book and hide for a while.

>89 tymfos: *there, there, pat, pat*

It won't seem so bad in the morning. Have a big, buttery lobster for dinner and send the menfolk to McD's.

Uh-oh, what happened? Hope tomorrow's better!

By the way, I loved Columbine too. Did you see Cullen's author chat thread? It was a great conversation.

mmmmmmmmm lobster....

*90, 92 Lobster! I wish! . . .

#91 Just one of those days.

Did not see that author thread. Hmmm . . .

Hope you get some sleep tonight! (not that I mind the company in the middle of the wee hours)

Thanks for the hugs, Stasia! The teddy bears are cute.:)

That graphic is appropriate in a way you might not have intended, as I tend to be a moody BEAR when I don't get enough sleep! ;)

Don't we all?

You have got to look for the thread for Cullen. It was the best author chat thread I have seen.

Morning Terri- Hope you have a better day today! And yes, I really enjoyed The Hour I First Believed. It's a big sprawling book but most of it works very well. Are you a fan of Wally Lamb?

I have The Hour I First Believed. on the shelf next to me..
waiting.. lol

I am a Lamb fan.....

#97 I shall seek the Cullen author thread!

*98 Today is going much, much better.

*98, 99 I don't think I've read Lamb; he is not in my library, except for the wishlist.
I guess I'd better go seek the missing Lamb!
Hey! County Library has that book! Woo, hoo!

Columbine has been on my radar for awhile; I'm bumping it up the list. Glad today is better!

#97 I visited the thread from Cullen's author chat. That really was fascinating!

I enjoyed the way he interacted with us..he was very pleasant and likable..

Book #40:
Title: Grace (Eventually):Thoughts on Faith
Author: Anne Lamott
Genre: Non-fiction memoir/essays
Length: 253 pages
Source: purchased on vacation at bookstore in Saranac Lake, NY in 2008
Dates: finished 5/23/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge; 1010 Challenge ("A Matter of Faith" category); Books off the Shelf Challenge

Ah, Anne Lamott. I love her spunk, her honesty, idealism, and faith. Sometimes her political rants/snipes drive me a little crazy, even in those cases when I agree with her. I found more snipes than outright rants in this book. Since her biggest rant in this book involved protesting the closing of an entire city's library system, I could hardly fault her this time.

How could I not appreciate someone who helped organize a massive emergency read-in to protest the closing of libraries?

Anne's non-fiction writings are always slices of life, filled with children, pets, friends and neighbors, nature, everyday problems, and humor. She never tries to make herself look too good. She always seems to pull some sort of spiritual lesson from her struggles. She offers simple words of wisdom in a complex world:

On protesting the closing of libraries:
We came together because we started out as children who were saved by stories, stories read to us at night when we were little, stories we read by ourselves, in which we could get lost and thereby found.

On confiding/confessing to a friend:
. . . as I told her my bleak and embarassing story, it felt like dirty clothes. I'd been trying to wash and dry it inside myself, in my embarrassed mind, which doesn't really make much sense, laundry-wise. When you hang things outside, they get air, warmth, light; and you see that even with the stains and frayed collar, the garment has kept you covered and warm for a long time.

And this:
The best way to change the world is to change your mind, which often requires feeding yourself. It makes for biochemical peace. It's almost like a prayer to be needy, to eat, to taste, to be filled, building up instead of tearing down."

It's sentiments like these that make me enjoy Anne Lamott's writing.

I'm going to look seriously for one of Anne Lamott's books these days... she's one of those authors I keep intending to read, but for some reason, haven't done it yet! Grace (Eventually) sounds like one I'd enjoy... maybe I'll start there!

#104: I enjoy Lamott's books too, Terri. Glad to see she has another fan.

I read Operating Instructions when it came out, as part of my grieving for my dead son (he died 15 years before the book came out, but I'm a slowpoke). Her apercus are so sharp and so funny that even when they made me want to cry myself to sleep, they cheered me up.

Go Annie! Go Annie! Keep making us think while we laugh!

'Snipes' is a good word for what Lamott does - I like it! I enjoy her books, even if I don't always agree. I haven't read any of her fiction yet, though. I will always read her non-fiction books when they come out - whatever the subject!

Found You! And love your review of Grace (Eventually)...i own all three books of this "trilogy"-Traveling Mercies & Plan B are the first two...have read them but not this one...yet...I love her spunk and her "steel-eyed" Idealism..this lady does not suffer fools gladly, neither does she condemn out-of-hand..I only read one of her novels, Crooked Little Heart..which i think you might enjoy!

#105 Faith, I hope you try one of her books, and like what you find!

#106 Glad you like her too, Stasia! She is one of a kind.

#107 I need to read Operating Instructions.
(And, Richard, there is absolutely no timetable for grieving a dead child!)

#108 I haven't read her fiction, either, Angela. Someday I will try one.

#109 Jude, I read Traveling Mercies first -- a gift from a friend -- and absolutely loved it. I have Plan B on the TBR shelf! ("Steel-eyed idealism" -- great description!)

Ah, what a weekend. It's always nice to spend time with family.

Now everyone's gone. Life is more or less back to normal.

I am SOOOO far behind on LT threads that I may never catch up, despite a few (brief) visits to LT during the weekend. And I haven't done any reading since Thursday.

#111: I expect you to get caught up on my thread TODAY! lol

Glad you are back Terri!

Well, I did get caught up on the thread you were on before the weekend . . . ahem.

But then, there's that new thread with 143 posts . . .

*walks away mumbling*

Before the weekend does not count!

Oh, I've been awarded yet another LT Early Reviewer book! This makes one per month every month since last October! I guess I'm on a roll.

I'll be getting Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo, second in the Kate Burkholder series. I'm contemplating trying to get my hands on the first volume in the series, Sworn to Silence (it's been on my wishlist since November) before I receive and read this one.

ETA because I got the name of my ER and the previous volume in the series mixed up -- I had to correct that!

Same here, Terri. I need to sit down and read them.

I just got one about toys from the 1950s. I think it'll be a fun read.

Toys from the 1950's, Linda? That really does sound like fun! :)

I've managed to keep up with reading and reviewing my LT ER books so far. I've had some that were good reads, a couple that were really excellent.

But right now I'm in kind of a reading funk. I've got half a dozen books started, and am not in the mood for any of them (though I'd better finish the ILL before it has to go back . . .)

I'm thinking of scrapping (for the time being) one or two of the books I've started and finding something that suits my mood . . . whatever that is . . . ????

The toy book is called Little Big World: Collecting Louis Marx and the American Fifties by Jeffrey Hammond. The Louis Marx name meant nothing to me but when I started looking at the toys, I owned quite a few of these.

One of their toys, for instance, was the "rock 'em, sock 'em robots."

Lately, my ER books have been duds, though I'm holding out hope for the ones I've yet to review.

I was promptly sucked in by Breathless, how do you feel about Koontz?

#119 Hi, Kath! Hmm . . . I've only read a few Koontz, but I enjoyed the ones I read.

Let's see, I read The Face last year from BDB's Halloween list, and I really got into it. . . gave it 4 stars. I think the first one of his that I read was By the Light of the Moon, which attracted me because one of the main characters has autism -- I gave that one 4 1/2 stars. Those are the only ones I have listed in "My Library" ("read but not owned") but I may have read another one or two that I can't quite recall, way back before I kept track.

Maybe I'll try Breathless, since our public library has it. (We almost always get the Koontz novels.)

If you read it, let me know if you like it :)

Terri
I can relate to your statement about being behind on the threads. I"m barely treading water here. I hope to have a chunk of time today to devote to the posts.

I'm reading your thread this morning. And, as always, I'm coming away with books to add. By the Light of the Moon, Linda's recommendation of Little Big World: Collecting Louis Marx and the American Fifties, and Richard's because of description of Operating Instructions, this one goes on the pile as well.

Happy Sunday morning to you.

ditto on being behind! I thought I would have more time .. but I am so busy in the house... :P

Just read your pre-review comments on Sumner Island. I, too, received an LT Early Reviewer copy...but mine has been hiding under the couch for a while...Jeekers, I hope it's not too overwrought/overwritten.....I was going to start it today.. I think I'll choose a Back-Up book..just-in-case...

#121 Kath, I'll probably take a while to get to it, I am buried in books that I've started. And someone at church just handed me another book to explore, from a series I'd never seen.

#122, 123 Happy Sunday Evening to you, Linda! Hi again, Kath! I am so far behind on the threads, I'll never catch up. . .just can't find a chunk of time anywhere. Barely time to check in here on my own thread!

#124 Jude, it really wasn't too bad a read. I just had to sort of suspend disbelief at some points, especially the end.

Terri...Suspending disbelief has been a great part of my life..this book won't be a problem...thanks for your reply..

;-)

I've decided I need to get reading again, as I've done almost no reading over the past two weeks.

I need to do something radical to jump-start my reading.

I think I may (at least temporarily) abandon some of the books I've started -- particularly the group reads. I'm just getting bogged down with the sense that I SHOULD read them, but want to read other things.

So, for the moment, on to "other things."

#127: One thing I know about books, Terri, is that they will sit patiently waiting for you when you get a chance to get back to them!

#128 My thoughts exactly!!! :)

I decided to keep reading When the Mississippi Ran Backwards as my non-fiction read, since it's an Inter-Library Loan and I want to finish it before it has to go back; I'm also reading UnChristian as my faith-related book; and a church member loaned me a sweet little Christian fiction book called Just Shy of Harmony that I'm rather enjoying as my fiction read.

One of those days at work when, at times, I was multi-tasking so many things, I'm sure I lost track of some vital task along the way (which will probably occur to me at about, say, midnight).

Got home just before my son who, bless his heart, headed straight to his room for some down time. He seems to need more of that as the school year winds down and the focus starts to shift away from the academic and becomes more social -- which takes more effort for him than the schoolwork.

I actually finished the novel I started yesterday.

Book #41:
Title: Just Shy of Harmony
Author: Philip Gulley
Genre: Christian Fiction
Length: 255 pages
Source: loaned to me by a church member
Dates: started 6/6/10; finished 6/7/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge
Notes: Book #2 in the Harmony Novels series

At church, one of the members asked if I'd ever read anything from the Harmony series. I'd never even heard of it! So I wound up bringing home a book. Turns out it is #2 in the series, but I decided to try it while I had it and see if I liked it, before seeking out #1.

This book covers a year in the life of a congregation in Harmony, Indiana. (It says it's in Indiana on the book cover; I don't remember seeing the state mentioned anywhere in the book.) In this installment of the Harmony saga, Sam Gardner is becoming discouraged in his second year of ministry there. His congregation is entrenched in its ways, and those ways aren't always very mission-oriented. His frustration takes a toll on his faith as he grapples with various issues facing the people of his congregation.

I'm not sure what to say about this book. On the one hand, it's an easy, lightweight read. On the other, it gave me some things to think about. Harmony, Indiana is populated with rather exaggerated versions of the folks we often encounter in churches -- the kind, the self-righteous, the selfish, the generous, the zealous, the well-meaning, the power-hungry, the afflicted, the faithful, etc. I recognized many of them from my own life (though, thankfully, we haven't had to deal with many of the really unpleasant ones lately; and the ones we've dealt with recently have been on the periphery of our church ministry, or had only mild cases of the negative traits.)

As I said, the characters -- a few of them really odd birds -- are a bit exaggerated. And the time-span of the narrative makes for some gaps. But the story is told with humor (sometimes zany) and and honesty -- even the difficult people have their good points (hard as they are to see sometimes) and the good people have their bad points. Gulley does a good job of capturing some of the nuances of small-town life, both good and bad. And there are a few surprises along the way to shake up attitudes a bit. But the book is not "preachy," in my opinion.

This book is certainly not great literature, but I enjoyed it. I may take another trip to Harmony in the near future. I might especially recommend it for those who have been stung by experiences with church people who didn't always behave in what would be considered a "Christian" manner -- and I suspect that's most of us (at one time or another) who have been active in church.

#130 Your description of this book, and even the cover illustration, reminded me very much of Jan Karon's Mitford series, which I read some of a few years back, and also enjoyed. Do you know them? Similar sounding depiction of small town church life with the minister as the central character.

#131 I'm familiar with the Mitford series, but have not actually read them. The person who loaned me the book has read some of them, and compared this book to the Mitford books -- only, as a sort of "off the wall" Mitford!

I really should try those some time, too.

Now, for my next fiction book, I'm moving about as far from Harmony as can be -- beginning Cherie Priest's Eden Moore Southern Gothic series with Four and Twenty Blackbirds.

My reading is nothing if not eclectic! ;)

>130 tymfos:: Not great literature...

Yup, I've been to Harmony, too. It may not be a fast-paced New York City kind of read, but it's a pretty pleasant place to while away a summer afternoon as I recall. I can't even tell you the name of the Gulley book I read yet I remember the warm fuzzy feeling I got from it. Much like the Patrick Taylor books I suspect. I'll be finishing up the audio version of An Irish Country Doctor later this week when I take a little road trip upstate.

#130: I have not read any of Gulley's Harmony books, but I have read his Hometown Tales, which is more of a devotional book.

#133: I cannot wait to see what you think of that one. I have the entire series, but have not read them yet.

#134 Thanks for stopping by, Donna! I look forward to your comments on An Irish Country Doctor. Hope you enjoy your road trip!

#135 re: Four and Twenty Blackbirds (Priest): so far, so good, as the fact that I'm already well over halfway through it attests. I like the Eden Moore character (and her Aunt Lulu!), and I think Priest does a good job of creating atmosphere -- just enough detail, but not laying it on too thick, if you know what I mean. Atmosphere is (almost) everything in a Southern Gothic!

A big part of the premise involves past lives (no spoiler -- referenced in the first chapter). Reincarnation isn't part of my worldview, but this is well-written enough that I don't mind "suspending disbelief" (I'm using that phrase a lot lately) and just going with the story -- which has lots of other kinds of old-fashioned creepiness.

#136: I suspend disbelief a lot when I read, so I can deal with that.

As I am a believer in reincarnation.... I may have to take a look..

#138 From what I've read so far, I believe you would LOVE these books, Kath!!!! Creepy, but not heavy-handed horror. Nice atmosphere, some interesting characters. A "mystery" that unravels slowly, as Eden puts the pieces of her (rather convoluted) family/spiritual history together. I can't quite grasp the compexity of her family tree, but then neither can she, so that's just part of the ambiance.

Heavens, my first LThingaversary slipped by last Thursday without me noticing!

Of course, when I signed up I was looking at LT as a way to (finally) make an orderly catalog of my books. It took a while to really get into other aspects of the site. I've had a lot of fun here in the past year and encountered some very nice people!

Congrats on your Thingaversary, Terri!!

I also signed up to catalog my books but was quickly befriended by Cheli. Now I spend far, far more time chatting on LT than I ever have using its cataloging features.

Happy Thingaversary! I signed up for the same reason, three years ago, but only discovered the groups in Feb this year. I certainly agree that there are some lovely people on here, and for me it has been a very welcome addition to have all these conversations about books and other things on here.

Happy Thingaversary, Terri.

Happy Thingaversary, Terri!!

Thanks for the Thingaversary greetings, Linda, Genny, calm, and Stasia!

It's been a good year -- I've discovered some good people and good books here!

Added it to my maybe list :)

Happy Thingaversary, Terri ... you've been a wonderful Thingafriend, and you've helped me discover some good books.

I think you would like the Mittford series, Terri ... give them a shot.

I often focus on dark melancholy books, but I love the Harmony series. They are nice, gentle, heartwarming and, yes, a little weird without being saccharine. I'm sure I learned about the series on LT, but it was before I started noting who recommended things.

I think the first was my favorite, but that may just be because it was the first one I read. I think of reading the Mitford series, but it seems like it might trigger my sweetness meter too much. Maybe someday.

I too, think you would like the Mittford series, Terri .. My sister talked me into reading them..

The were nice.. REALLY nice.. and only too saccharine now and then... so Nanc you might like them in the right mood, too.

I also read the Left Behind series years ago.. at my BIL's uging.
I did not finish them. They were just not my cuppa...
Mitford didn't trigger anything like that one did.. I liked the vet! lol

I got a book delivery today (gasp, the shock) and in it was The Lumby Lines, recommended by Tina/tututhefirst. Delivery time 3p, and now I'm about 80pp in. Read this one, Mitfordian/Harmonyite lovers, it's just about the most fun I've had with my clothes on in ages!

#146 MAYBE?????!!!! ;) Four and Twenty Blackbirds, I mean.

# 147 Thanks, Caroline!

#148 heartwarming and, yes, a little weird without being saccharine
Nancy, I think it was the "little weird" that kept it from being saccharine!

#149 Kath, I'm with Nancy -- fear that Mitford would "trigger my sweetness meter too much." (Love that!)
Left Behind never appealed to me at all -- I never even tried it.

#150 You like it that much, Richard??? Hmmm . . . . nah . . . maybe?? Are you sure it's not too sweet? Oh, not another one for my poor List . . . NO, no . . .

This one was hard to put down, even on a couple of busy days . . .

Book #42:
Title: Four and Twenty Blackbirds (Priest)
Author: Cherie Priest
Genre: Southern Gothic
Length: 285 pages
Source: purchased this year from Bookcloseouts.com
Dates: started 6/7/10; finished 6/9/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge
Notes: Book #1, Eden Moore series

If I hadn't read it in one of the blurbs, I would never guess that this is Cherie Priest's first novel. It's atmospheric, intense, creepy, and imaginative. The characters are flawed but likeable -- except for the ones the reader isn't supposed to like, who are mainly nasty, dense, wacko, or pure evil.

Eden Moore has been seeing ghosts since childhood. Not every ghost in the neighborhood, but three ghosts -- three sisters -- who have some mysterious bearing on Eden's past life (lives?) and future. She sees someone else, too -- a crazy fellow with murderous intent who is very much alive. As she matures, she becomes curious -- about her long-dead mother, about the ghosts who follow her, about the crazy man who wants to kill her, about the mystery of her life. Her search for answers will take her to some very spooky places, pit her against powers of darkness, and place her in grave peril -- but it just may save her life and her kin's lives, too. If she can survive . . .

ETA to try to fix touchstone, which went wacky when I edited to fix the boldface . . . and now isn't working unless I put in the author's name, too.

Late to the party again. Happy Thingaversary Terri.

I finish one wonderful novel, and I'm swept off into another great read.

I decided that, prior to reading my LT Early Reviewer book Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo, I wanted to read the first book in that series, Sworn to Silence. It arrived through ILL today, and when I finished Four and Twenty Blackbirds, I couldn't resist starting it . . . just taking a peek . . .

Oh, my! A real winner so far, though not for the fainthearted. Very detailed description of crime scene / body; but also great characterizations, and a gift for conveying emotion . . . the scene where the police have to inform the family conveys the pain of the family AND the officers who have to break the news very effectively . . . When's the last time I cried reading a murder mystery?

I'm also sort of enjoying When the Mississippi Ran Backwards, only I wish he'd get to the durn EARTHQUAKES . . . enough background already!!!

#153 Hi, Bonnie! Thanks! (Late? Hey, I was late to my party, so I sure can't complain!)

Drat, the Flyers lost.

I'm not a big hockey fan -- but being originally from the Philadelphia area, I was hoping . . .

Yahooooo. The Hawks won!! First Cup since I was a month and a half old.

Now we can work on getting a World Series win for the Cubs.

#157: Now we can work on getting a World Series win for the Cubs.

I am with you there, Linda!!

Hi, Linda & Stasia!

Diverse opinions welcome here! ;)

Congrats on your Hawks, Linda.

>152 tymfos: I read Boneshaker earlier this year but wasn't sure if I could read Four and Twenty Blackbirds - given the right mood I don't mind Gothic/creepy, but don't like horror. Your review makes it sound good, though, I think I'll keep it in mind for an October read.

If the Red Sox are out, I'll root for the Cubs along with you guys. :)

Edited for clarity

Thanks. Very exciting. Fireworks in my otherwise quiet suburban neighborhood. Cars honking.

I should add that, back in the 70s, I LOVED the Steelers. A grade school classmate's brother played on the Super Bowl teams. #23, Mike Wagner.

I've now seen my beloved Blackhawks and my beloved Packers win championships. Now it's the Cubs' turn.

Linda.. I paid a HUGE amount of money ( for me ) to get a Mike Wagner shirt for one of my sons.. he was a fave in our house..

Terri... Back in the days when I had a teeny tbr, I would read anything I could get my hands on... which is why i gave LEft Behind a shot. ick. I went back to the ketchup bottle ...

Four and Twenty Blackbirds...Southern Gothic is lifeblood to me...vis a vis Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner

"nasty, dense, wacko, or pure evil" is no problem for me....except for people who claim to be otherwise...lots of them do, where i live.

I liked your review of the book. will scope it out

#160 I really wouldn't call it horror, though I've seen that term applied to it. There is a series of violent events near the end of the story, but it wasn't gratuitous gore. Nothing happened that terrified me, though quite a few scenes creeped me out.

#161 I imagine it's happy bedlam, Linda. Hope it didn't get out of hand, like some celebrations do.

If not the Phillies, it would make me very happy to see a Cubs World Championship. (I'm not typing straight tonight -- that almost came out "Cups Word Champinship. Go figure.)

#162 Hi, Kath. (Ketchup bottle? I prefer reading cereal boxes myself.)

#163 Thanks for stopping by, Jude!

I was in Ollie's today and saw two interesting books. I didn't get them, because I wanted to check:
1. What kind of reviews / comments they'd received
2. Whether our library or the county library had them.

The answers were:
1. Excellent reviews
2. Not at area libraries.

Drat! I should have bought them! I hope they are still there when I go back!

FYI, the books were
1. Dred Scott's Revenge: A Legal History of Race and Freedom in America by Andrew P. Napolitano, and
2. Sons of Mississippi: A Story of Race and Its Legacy by Paul Hendrickson.

(If anyone here has read them or knows of them, comments are welcome.)

Thanks for the great review of Four and Twenty Blackbirds. I bought this book in my last round of the bookcloseouts.com sale. Now, I need to read it!

Oh, my...Ollies, is just like TJ Max or Marshalls, if you see something you like, you need to grab it cause the inventory changes all the time.

One of my favorite Friday night things to do is to visit a local Ollies store. The inventory is all over the place, haphazzardly place in piles and boxes. It takes hours to dig through it all, but it is time well spent.

If the books are not there when you go back, let me know and I'll check the Ollie's store here in PA. It will give me a reason to visit there again.....

#166 Thanks for the offer, Linda! I may have a decent chance of still snagging the books if I go back soon, as there were multiple copies of each, stashed in multiple places in the book section. And I have two Ollies that I know of within a reasonable drive.

TWO Ollie's stores? Oh, how wonderful!

#167 One (in PA) is about an hour north of where I live; one (in MD) is about 40-45 minutes southeast (that's the one near the the bowling center where my league bowls).

Either is a reasonable drive according to the logistics of rural life.

OK, I am jealous because Texas does not have Ollie's - at least not that I know of. On the other hand, my wallet is probably just as glad we don't.

#170 I'm sure your wallet is better off!

Hmmm. . . . just received a surprise package from an LT'er . . . looks like a book . . . nice book . . . very nice book . . . :)

Fortunately, the mail carrier handed it to me -- this is the time of year (the kids are out of school and getting bored already) when items sometimes disappear from porches and unlocked cars in this neighborhood. :(

Once, kids went around taking items from one car/yard and depositing them in another, just for the heck of it. I'm not sure if some things ever found their way back to their rightful homes . . . *sigh*

Apart from my GPS unit, what's an Ollie?

#171 I'm talking about Ollie's Bargain Outlet, a deep-discount chain in the mid-Atlantic states. They have a huge (though rather disorganized) book section in their stores.

http://www.olliesbargainoutlet.com/

Book #43:
Title: When the Mississippi Ran Backwards
Author: Jay Feldman
Genre: Non-fiction
Length: 241 pages, plus endnotes & index
Source: Inter-Library Loan
Dates: started 5/21/10; finished 6/13/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge. 1010 Challenge (Disaster category)
Notes: Read to temporarily join the Missouri readers for their group read of this book

I shall refrain from posting my comments on this until tomorrow, when the group read discussion officially starts!

My next non-fiction book is David M. Jordan's Winfield Scott Hancock: A Soldier's Life. My husband read this several years ago, and says that he found it quite good. So good that when I got it out to read and asked him about it, he grabbed it and started reading to me . . . and continued reviewing it to himself . . . and I haven't got my hands back on it yet. :) So it must really be good!!!

It will count toward all three of my challenges!

I'm still furiously reading When the Mississippi Ran Backwards. It doesn't seem like it should be mid-June already. I've been way too busy for "the good ol' summertime," although, as my 8-y-o granddaughter pointed out to me this week end, summer doesn't officially start until next week. Maybe then I can relax. Wish I had an Ollie's to go to...sounds like my kind of place.

Donna
Don't you just love it when our grand children appear smarter than we are.

This year has gone so quickly! I agree, Donna; it is hard to believe that it's mid-June already!

Hi, Linda! Thanks for dropping by!

We had to drive into Pittsburgh today for a doctor's appointment with my son's specialist from Allegheny General. The drive there wasn't bad, but the drive home (on the early fringes of rush hour) had its white-knuckle moments. There were work areas on the PA Turnpike where the speed limit was lowered to 40 mph. I try to stay close to the speed limit. But, honestly, everyone else was going so fast, I thought I was going to get run over!

I refuse to drive in pittsburgh. If for some reason I have to get lost there, I take the bus to do it. I know that you don't hae that luxury though..

Terri

It sounds like my experiences driving through Columbus Ohio during rush hour...four-six lanes of fast moving crazy traffic and if I'm not in the right lane, I'm lost somewhere in never land.

I hope your son is ok...

#178 Actually, I didn't have any problems driving IN Pittsburgh yesterday (though I have in the past!) It was only the scofflaws flying on the Turnpike on the way back that drove me crazy!

#179 Oh, the "stuck in the wrong lane headed for the hinterlands" scenario! Been there, done that! (Fortunately, not yesterday, though!)
Linda, my son is fine. It was a routine check with a wonderful specialist he sees periodically regarding his autism.

The University Women's book sale was a bit of a disappointment for me. Of course, I had to work until 2 p.m., and had errands to run on the way, so I didn't start shopping until almost 4 p.m. So lots of folks beat me to the good ones, I think! I saw one couple wheeling handcarts loaded down with six big cartons of books leaving the sale. (My kind of folks!)

I also had my son with me, and though I had him happily parked on a nearby mall bench with some things he enjoys to keep him busy (he has no patience for shopping with me!), I didn't want to force him to wait too long. So I couldn't be as thorough as I would have liked. (I was getting whiplash from looking over to check on him, then back at the books, then back at him . . . though I knew he wouldn't wander, or explode, or anything . . .)

I came away with only three books:
Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose -- what a great name for a writer, Prose! -- was on my wish list.
Rebels in Blue by Peter F. Stevens, about a married southern couple who fought in the Civil War -- on both sides (long story) -- just sounded fascinating.
Masterpieces of Terror and the Supernatural edited by Marvin Kaye, was a pure impulse buy for $1.

To console myself, I got us Aunt Anne's pretzels for a snack, then went to Ollies and located and bought the two books I was looking at last week (yes, they were still there!):
Dred Scott's Revenge: A Legal History of Race and Freedom in America by Andrew P. Napolitano
Sons of Mississippi: A Story of Race and its Legacy by Paul Hendrickson
#166 Linda, sorry, I can't provide you with an excuse to go to Ollie's this week!

Terri

I confess that I did go to Ollie's yesterday to look for the books you wanted. Alas, they did not have them. Actually, they didn't have much. I was disappointed.

#181: I have been meaning to read Reading Like a Writer for a while now. I will be interested in seeing what you think of that one, Terri.

I think you'll like Reading Like a Writer. That one really changed my reading a lot. I have read two of Prose's fiction works and had drastically different reactions. But the one you bought is a gem.

>180 tymfos: We take Rt. 79 when we head to NC to visit our son and several times we've missed the cutoff and failed to stay to the right and ended up in downtown Pittsburgh. Yikes!!! One time it took us an HOUR to get back where we started.

I can't believe your AAUW used book sale was such a bust. The one here is always phenomenal.

#181 It will probably take me a while to actually get around to reading it, Stasia. We shall see . . .

#184 Glad to hear that you liked it!

#185 Bonnie, I think I might have had a better experience with the book sale if I could have gotten there earlier. The local news showed some clips of the crowds there early on in the day. I suspect they picked the place clean before I even got there!

INSOMNIA! And I think my most recent novel is at least partly to blame. It took me a while to get into it because real life kept getting in the way, but tonight I started reading and couldn't stop (even though I was tired) until I finished the book after 2:30 a.m. Then I was wide awake!

#187: What is it that you were reading that is keeping you up, Terri?

This is the book that kept me up so late reading!

Book #44:
Title:Sworn to Silence
Author: Linda Castillo
Genre: Mystery fiction
Length: 321 pages
Source: Inter-Library Loan
Dates: finished 6/18/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge.
Notes: #1 in Kate Burkholder series (I've been awarded book #2 in the series through the LT Early Reviewer program, and wanted to read #1 first.)

Kate Burkholder is, in the words of another character in the book, "a gun-toting, cursing, former Amish female chief of police" in the small town of Painters Mill, Ohio. The peace of picture-perfect Painters Mills, in the heart of Ohio Amish country, is shattered by the discovery of a mutilated body. The crime is all too much like a series of murders which occurred 16 years ago. Kate has her own reasons for suspecting a copycat, rather than the original murderer.

Kate has a dark secret: a secret that drove her from her Amish family and faith years before, a secret which compromises her ablity to deal with this crime, threatens her career, and may ultimately place her in grave danger. How she deals with her secret is a moral, ethical, and practical dilemma of the first order.

This book is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. The descriptions of the crimes, the crime scenes and bodies, are vivid and gruesome. Castillo makes it abundantly clear that there is a monster at work here, a sadistic sociopath who derives pleasure from making women suffer horribly, and that knowledge adds to the suspense of wondering what will happen next and if/when the killer will ultimately be stopped.

But there's much more to the story than grisly crime. Castillo has created some wonderful characters, beginning with Kate herself (who is marvelously complex) and including a realistic supporting cast. She's also captured some of the atmosphere and politics of small-town America.

This book was grisly at times, but a suspenseful page-turner in the first degree.

ETA to end bold and insert cover

#189: I already have that one in the BlackHole, so I will try to remember not to read it when I am supposed to be sleeping!

#190 I think that would be a good idea!

I am going to try (again) to get some sleep now . . .

> 189 Fantastic comments! I don't really need to start another mystery series, but you have really jumpstarted my interest in this one! I seem to be on a mystery/thriller roll this summer anyway, so I may as well give in to the urge!!

#189 Yet another mystery series to start. Thanks, I think.

*grumbles agreement to #193*

grisly Amish are neaarly as much fun as shenanigans at the vatican!
sounds good.

*trying hard to ignore yet another interesting sounding series...*

Ditto.

#189 I don't really need to start another mystery series
#193 Yet another mystery series
#194 *grumbles agreement to #193*
#196 *trying hard to ignore yet another interesting sounding series...*
#197 Ditto

Do I detect a theme here???? ;0)

One good thing about this series: the new one that's coming out this summer is only #2 in the series, so we're not far behind! And I promise to read and review it RIGHT AWAY when I get my ER copy, to see how Castillo follows up this first one!

I must say, it's been a while since I've felt this strongly compelled to stay up and finish a book when I felt I could & should be going to sleep.

I was impressed with the author's ability to effectively convey emotion, such as the scenes where Kate had to notify families of the murder victims.

Thanks for stopping by, Sher, Linda, Richard, Kath, Genny and Bonnie!

#195 grisly Amish are neaarly as much fun as shenanigans at the vatican!
LOL, Kath!

For my next fiction book, I decided I needed something short that has been on my shelf long enough to qualify for my Books off the Shelf Challenge. So I've started American Gothic (Bloch), by Robert Bloch -- the author of Psycho (Bloch). YES, that Psycho. He seems to have a thing about accommodations where people check in and don't get to check out.

So far, it's reasonably suspenseful. I like the setting -- 1893 Chicago, during the World's Fair, which is quite interesting. Supposedly it is loosely based on a series of real murders that actually took place there during the 1893 World's Fair.

(Linda, you're our Chicago expert -- do you know anything about those?)

ETA to add Oh, I see, this is based on the murders that are written about in Erik Larson's non-fiction Devil in the White City! Naturally, since I'm editing, the touchstones have gone wonky and won't reset, so I have to add the author's name to them to get them right, which looks stupid!

I was going to say that it sounds like Devil in the White City. I really need to read that one sometime soon and then take the Chicago History Museum tour.

Devil in the White City is very good!

Good! It's on Mac's Halloween list.

#202 Ooh, I hadn't recalled that, Jim! Then it's definitely one that I will want to read in October!

Book #45:
Title: American Gothic (Bloch)
Author: Robert Bloch
Genre: Historical fiction / suspense
Length: 221 pages
Source: Library book sale, purchased for 25 cents!
Dates: started 6/18/10; finished 6/20/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge; Books off the Shelf Challenge

The author of this book, Robert Bloch, also wrote the novel Psycho (Bloch), (in)famously adapted by Alfred Hitchcock into a movie blockbuster. Here he brings us another tale of lodgings where the guests check in but don't live to check out. This time, the tale is loosely based on a true story, that of convicted serial killer Herman W. Mudgett AKA H. H. Holmes, who built a rooming-house "castle" during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, complete with secret passages and some sinister facilities in the basement -- subject of Erik Larson's non-fiction book Devil in the White City -- which I now must read, of course!

I initially wasn't all that impressed with this book. I liked the setting and the historical details about the Chicago World's Fair. But the writing struck me as slightly pedestrian compared to some of the more literary writers I've been reading lately, even in genre fiction. The plot developed slowly, albeit with a good bit of atmosphere. But by the end, the suspense had built to the point where I was becoming quite anxious about how it would all turn out for our protagonists. It became quite un-put-down-able (if such a word were to exist) in the final chapters. I find it very difficult to rate.

#204 Well for value for money at least, at 25 cents, I guess you should rate it fairly high! Glad it got to be gripping at the end.

I loved Devil in the White City!!! Must read American Gothic also!

I found Sworn to Silence at the library, so I hope to get to it in the next couple of weeks!

#205 Yes, Genny, it was definitely a great value!

#206 I hope you find Sworn to Silence as gripping as I did, Sher.

#204: I am with Sher - I loved Devil in the White City, so now I have to read American Gothic too.

Edited to correct Touchstones.

Devil in the White City is on the Halloween list!

#209 I'm looking forward to it!

Halloween list?

Halloween list?

For October 2010 reading. Message #2 on this thread:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/89731#1931281

catching up....... sorta *waves*

#212 Thanks, Terri. Who knew?

So we read it around Halloween? I think that would work out ok for me as it'll probably take me close to all year to finish my 1010 categories, of which Chicago is just a part.

Well, thanks tymfos for the pimp action on the Halloween thread. For those of you who don't know, the list is a starting point; not everyone gets through every book. But I start a thread about September 15 and carry it through the witching hour on Halloween where everyone comments and posts reviews and suggests other good books. I try to pick a wide range of titles to get everyone's interest. It was a big hit last year with everyone. Come join us.

#213 Hi, Kath! *waving back atcha* I know all about the "sort of" catching up! I cannot keep up . . .

#214who knew?
Now you do!

#215 Thanks for expounding upon that, blackdogbooks! I didn't have time for much explanation when I posted the link.

Greetings from the Greater Charlotte NC area! I promised my son a trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame if he kept his grades up the last marking period, and he actually brought a couple of those grades up! Hubby couldn't make the trip -- he's back home in PA teaching Vacation Bible School and other duties -- but I've made the drive to the Charlotte vicinity, where it's even hotter than at home. Our first "tourist stop" was a visit to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC -- we love trains -- and when we left there, it was 99 degrees, according to the car thermometer. Yikes! Thank heavens I got the car AC fixed!

I'm having trouble sleeping, partly from over-tiredness with all the driving, partly from heartburn because I ate way too much dinner. All-you-can-eat buffet is just too tempting at Golden Corral!

In honor of the trip to the Hall of Fame, I am doing a re-read of St. Dale by Sharyn McCrumb. I am enjoying it immensely -- a clever, tender, insightful book which illuminates how people view, relate to, and mourn the death of their heroes.

I bought a little GE booklight, which allows me to read in the hotel room without disturbing the kiddo's sleep, and it even serves as a portable nightlight when I need to find an anatacid or get a glass of water, etc, in the night -- and since it's an LED light, it draws little power and the batteries will last a long time!

Have a great trip! Those booklights are the best. :)

Hi Terri,

Hope you're having a great time in spite of the heartburn. I've got to get to Devil in the White City which I have sitting on my shelf, waiting patiently.

coming out of lurk-mode to wave hello ..... *swings lurk cape and resumes lurk-mode*

#218 Thanks, Angela! I don't know how I ever traveled without a book light!

#219 Thanks, Bonnie! Our library has Devil in the White City. I think I'll do it with the Halloween list reading in October!

#220 Hello, lurking Caroline!

Today was even hotter than yesterday. When we came out of the NASCAR Hall of Fame around 4:30 p.m., the car thermometer read 99 F in the UNDERGROUND level of the parking garage. On the freeway, stuck in traffic going back to the hotel, it got up to 105 F. I'm told that this is unusual for June in Charlotte ("This is August weather," the lady at the HofF said, shaking her head.)

With all the heat and humidity, it's not surprising that we got caught in a thunderstorm when we went to dinner.

So far on this trip, I've only purchased ONE book. I bought it in the gift shop of the NC Transportation Museum. It's an autographed copy of a book about the Fresnel lens from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which was removed during the Civil War so the Yankees couldn't use the lighthouse if/when they captured it, and was lost for like a century or something, (I need to read the book to get the details . . .) It's called The Lost Light by Kevin P. Duffus.

I hope you have a lovely vacation.

I've added Sworn To Silence to the tbr pile.

Stay cool....

#222 Thanks, Linda, but it's just about over. This is just a little trip, a mini-vacation, so to speak, to see the Hall of Fame as promised to my son. Tomorrow we'll be headed back toward home.

We'll be getting away again -- with hubby included -- hopefully later in the summer for more of a real vacation.

Hope you like Sworn to Silence.

Safe travels, Terri!

I wish I were there with you.. that is where my daughter lives...
And it sure can get hot.. but enjoy anyway.

What a great reward for getting good grades! Cool mom, too.

*retroactive envy*

I'm adding Sworn to Silence and American Gothic. I hope you're having a blast!

HOME!

#224 Thanks for the safe travels wishes!

#225 It's really a cool area . . . I mean a hot area with lots of cool stuff to do!

#226 Aw, shucks! Actually, I was happy to go, too. As I acknowledge on my profile page, I really am a bit of a racing fan.

#227 Hope you enjoy them! And we did have a good time, despite the heat.

I gather the "official" high for Charlotte Wednesday was "only" 98 degrees -- enough, according to Weather.com, to tie the record for the day. They take those readings at the airport, I think . . . I wasn't at the airport . . .

It was a very good trip, all in all. And I was kind to my son -- I didn't drag him to any used bookstores like I usually do when I travel!

Welcome Back!

Glad to see you back safe and sound, Terri!

Thanks, Linda & Stasia!

As usual...late to the par-tay...but i figured i'd repay the favor

Sworn To Silence is already on THE LIST..and I'll add American Gothic toot-sweet

Speaking of kids taking items from one car/yard and depositing them in another...that's what the "little darlings" do in the local grocery store..with items in your cart..if you turn your back for a second..I've nearly throttled several children for the offense..but jail time wouldn't suit me at all!

;-}

#232 that's what the "little darlings" do in the local grocery store..with items in your cart..

Oh, great, Jude!
Amazing the things kids think of to keep themselves entertained . . . grrrrr!

I seem to have come home to . . . well, a very noisy neighborhood.

The neighbors across the back alley have apparently decided to re-do their back yard. I awoke this morning to the sound of jackhammers, tearing apart their pool decking.

The neighbor across the street in front of us has, maybe decided to fight fire with fire? He's pulled out every power tool in his toolshed to use today -- mowers, weed-whackers, hedge trimmers . . .

Thank heavens I worked at the library this morning and got a bit of a break from all the din.

Closing the windows muffles the racket, but then we lose the lovely breeze that has arrived for the first time in about a week . . .

*wanders off to look for ear muffs*

Oh, you poor dear - I wouldn't wish noisy neighbors on anyone. I hope you enjoy your peace at the library!

It's normally relatively quiet here, Luxx. This is quite unusual.

I finally closed the kitchen windows (facing the back alley) because I couldn't hear myself think.

Book #46:
Title: St. Dale
Author: Sharyn McCrumb
Genre: fiction
Length: 311 pages
Source: Purchased used at The Book Barn, Niantic, CT
Dates: started 6/20/10; finished 6/25/10
Challenges: 75 Challenge; Books off the Shelf Challenge; 1010 Challenge, "Start Your Engines" category
Notes: re-read, in honor of first visit to NASCAR Hall of Fame

OK, laugh at me. I just love this sweet, tender, insightful look at a bunch of "pilgrims" on a Dale Earnhardt memorial tour, a year and a half after his death. Sharyn McCrumb indicates in her "author's note" that she wanted to write a book about the phenomena of "secular sainthood" -- the way people idolize certain heroes in life and even more in untimely death (can you say "Elvis?") and the impact it has on their lives. She found the perfect subject in writing about a bunch of Earnhardt fans touring race tracks in the southeast.

We see the tour from a wide variety of perspectives -- that of "true blue" fans; a pair of newlyweds married in the infield at Bristol Motor Speedway; a clergyman, new to NASCAR and more comfortable touring medieval pilgrimage sites, accompanying a sick child on a "last wish" trip; a NASCAR-disdaining judge "dragged" along by her fanatic sister; a southern aristocratic lady NASCAR fan; a man who "inherited" the tour ticket from the father he never met; and the tour guide, a jaded ex-racer who wants back into the sport and who didn't really like Dale all that much.

I love how she takes all those assorted, clashing, jumbled up perspectives, this unlikely band of pilgrims, and weaves a yarn that eventually has them all pulling together in a crisis.

I love that it's written so that a newbie to NASCAR can understand it, but I also love the little "insider" references. (I caught more of them this time through).

OK, so the end is a little hokey -- maybe cornier than Kansas in July -- but that's OK with me.

OK, why am I supposed to be laughing at you?

I guess you're not supposed to. I'm just afraid someone will.

I'm used to people picking on me for being such a NASCAR fan.

If anyone laughs at you, let me know and I will attack them with my baseball bat :)

(in case you did not know, I am a huge baseball fan)

#240 I noticed that; so am I!

Come to think of it, I like baseball stories that might be considered corny by some. Have you ever seen the movie "The Natural" with Robert Redford? It's based on a story by Bernard Malamud, but this is one case where I liked the movie better.

#241: 'The Natural' is one of my husband's favorite movies, so I have seen it multiple times. I enjoy it as well. Kerry (my husband) has actually read the book - it is one of only 2 that he has read in our 22 years of married life.

232: jdthloue and the parents of these chidren who are running amok.. did they just drop them off to hang out at the grocery, or are they ( as is typical ) these days, ignoring the little darlings? ( why do I ask when I know the answer...)

I am doing shockingly little reading.. other things keeping me busy just now.

Okay, since no one else will, *I'll* make fun of you for being a NASCAR fan.

What's the sport here? Floor it and turn left. Big woo.

Okay. I'm done.

lol rd. That made me laugh...

I don't get watching sports.. ANY sports. If you are not actually playing sports.. what is the point of watching.. I feel the same about those shows where you watch people play poker..

*shrugs*

Heaven knows I do things that others don't understand... so..

#245 I don't get watching sports.. ANY sports. If you are not actually playing sports.. what is the point of watching.

I think it has a lot to do with sense of community, belonging, common interest, pulling together. Plus, it's more fun for those playing to have someone watching -- just like a writer wants to have someone read what they write, musicians want someone to hear their music, etc.

Why do we get on this website and "talk" about reading? Why don't we just shut up and read??? (Actually, I've asked myself that a few times . . . ;)

#244

From St. Dale, by Sharyn McCrumb:

“But it isn’t really a sport, is it? Just a bunch of cars going around in a circle for three hours.”

“Yes,” said Harley. “Yes, it is.” He tapped her little green notebook. “And writing isn’t very hard, either, is it? Just juggling those same old twenty-six letters over and over again in various combinations.”

.....Thinking it over later, Harley supposed that he could have found a more diplomatic answer to the woman’s tiresome display of ignorance. Maybe . . . he should have asked Alan Kulwicki, who had an engineering degree, what technical explanation you ought to give to people who didn’t realize that the “simplicity” of the sport was merely their own incomprehension, just as – to the uninitiated – opera was noise and modern art a paint spill. The difference was that people felt embarrassed about not understanding music or art, but they seemed almost smug about being ignorant on the subject of motor sports. Stupidity as a status symbol. He never did understand it, but it had long ago ceased to surprise him.

#246: I know in the case of my husband and myself, it is definitely common interest. We are both huge baseball fans and enjoy football as well, so we discuss the plays and players as we are watching, just like I discuss books here on LT with 'book fans.'

#246: I couldn't have said it better, Terri. I find sports enjoyable to watch, but it's even better to watch it with friends or family. I watched the US-Ghana World Cup match with friends yesterday, and attended an Atlanta Braves baseball game with a couple of colleagues from work, and all had a wonderful time at both events. I love watching football games with my father whenever I go home, it's a great way to relax and chat about sports or other topics, and many of the best memories I have of childhood involved attending sports events in NYC (Yankees and Mets baseball games and Knicks basketball games).

#249 Hi, Darryl!

My husband and I enjoy our "rivalries" tremendously. He's a Mets fan, I'm a Phillies fan. (His Dad is a Yankees fan.) He's a Giants fan, I'm an Eagles fan. He's a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fan, I'm a Tony Stewart fan.

Then there are some common fandoms -- our whole household follows the Steelers and the Pirates and Pitt and Penn State football & basketball. It gives us something fun to talk and kid about and watch together. We have outiings together to stadiums and race tracks and places like the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which my son enjoyed tremendously.

Okay, I'll admit I'm not a big sports fan -- unless I know someone on the team. There's a local middle school girl's basketball team that we follow (in fact, we bought their uniforms!) and, of course, the various teams that my granddaughters are on. But I do get the whole concept. Maybe I just don't have the right friends and family to watch sports with?

Terri, I loved your analogy upthread relating the circling cars to juggling the 26 letters of the alphabet. Great quote.

Now, the real reason for delurking...
Question for Stasia: What is the other book your husband has read in the past 22 years?

Maybe I just don't have the right friends and family to watch sports with?

You may have a point, Donna. I grew up with a mother who loved to follow sports, and who imparted that love to me. I think, emotionally, I connect a lot of my enjoyment of sports with memories of good times with Mom (who's now gone). When the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, I was thinking of her a lot, wishing she was here. I think their first championship in 1980 was one of the high points of Mom's life.

It was natural to find a partner who also enjoys sports, having shared many good times with his Dad watching sporting events. And for us to raise a son who has absorbed all that from us and shares it with us.

Now, the real reason for delurking...
Question for Stasia: What is the other book your husband has read in the past 22 years?

Yes, yes, Donna, good question!!!

Enquiring minds want to know, Stasia!

My family attended Financial Peace University together and the man who holds the seminars, Dave Ramsey, wrote a book that goes with the course. That is the only other book that Kerry has read in our 22 years together.

#253 Sounds like a worthwhile read to me!

#254: Definitely!

New thread time, Terri?

I had hoped to last to the end of the month but, alas . . .

I have to leave for work now. I'll start up a new one when I get home.

Promise? lol

Absolutely, Stasia!

You are all cordially invited to my new thread space:

http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=93832