Marcia's Marvelous 2010 Thread, Vol. 2

This is my second thread, as Stasia informed me it was time to start a new one. The other was getting rather unwieldy.

My first thread can be found here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/79163

Books 85 And Onward:
Books with an {R} indicate rereads. The message in which the book is reviewed is linked in parentheses, if available.
85. Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition - Daniel Okrent (Msg 17)
86. Insatiable - Meg Cabot (Msg 21)
87. Whiskey Sour - J.A. Konrath (Msg 26)
88. One D.O.A., One on the Way - Mary Robison (Msg 31)
89. Frost Moon - Anthony Francis (Msg 45)
90. Elizabeth Street - Laurie Fabiano (Msg 46)
91. Hard Eight - Janet Evanovich (Msg 47)
92. Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory - David W. Blight (Msg 48)
93. Shotgun Nanny - Nancy Warren (Msg 51)
94. The Brutal Telling - Louise Penny (Msg 56)
95. Illyria - Elizabeth Hand (Msg 59)
96. A Bad Day for Pretty - Sophie Littlefield (Msg 67)
97. Magic Under Glass - Jaclyn Dolamore (Msg 72)
98. Dogs and Goddesses - Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich (Msg 76)
99. Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India - William Dalrymple (Msg 82)
100. Keep Sweet - Michele Dominguez Greene (Msg 83)
101. Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu - J. Maarten Troost (Msg 91)
102. America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines - Gail Collins (Msg 102)
103. Strange Days Indeed: The 1970s: The Golden Age of Paranoia - Francis Wheen (Msg 105)
104. Nineteen Seventy-Four - David Peace (Msg 106)
105. Al Capone Does My Shirts - Gennifer Choldenko (Msg 107)
106. We'll Always Have Parrots - Donna Andrews (Msg 121)
107. I Am Hutterite - Mary-Ann Kirkby (Msg 122)
108. The Queen of Attolia - Megan Whalen Turner (Msg 124)
109. Nineteen Seventy-Seven - David Peace (Msg 125)
110. The Red Pyramid - Rick Riordan (Msg 126)
111. The Prince of Mist - Carlos Ruiz Zafón; translated by Lucia Graves (Msg 127)
112. Daddy-Long-Legs - Jean Webster (Msg 135)
113. Elantris - Brandon Sanderson (Msg 136)
114. Freedom Summer: The Savage Season That Made Mississippi Burn and Made America a Democracy - Bruce Watson (Msg 141)
115. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro (Msg 146)
116. The Shaking Woman or a History of My Nerves - Siri Hustvedt (Msg 160)
117. The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff (Msg 174)
118. Dragon Bones - Patricia Briggs (Msg 175)
119. To the Nines - Janet Evanovich
120. Blameless - Gail Carriger
121. Maybe This Time - Jennifer Crusie
122. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void - Mary Roach
123. The Blessing Way - Tony Hillerman
124. The Elements of Style - William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White
125. The Scalpel and the Silver Bear: The First Navajo Woman Surgeon Combines Medicine and Traditional Healing - Lori Arviso Alvord and Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt
126. Freak Show - James St. James
127. Gone - Michael Grant

Also, in light of the pace I have been reading at this year, I am upping my personal goal from 125 to 150. :)

And here's what I've already read:

Books 1-84
Books with an {R} indicate rereads. The message (on my previous thread) in which the book is reviewed is linked in parentheses, if available

1. Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos - Donna Andrews (Msg 14)
2. Paris: The Secret History - Andrew Hussey (Msg 23)
3. Elsewhere - Gabrielle Zevin (Msg 41)
4. Shakespeare's Counselor - Charlaine Harris (Msg 41)
5. Heat Stroke - Rachel Caine (Msg 62)
6. When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead (Msg 62)
7. The Book of Three - Lloyd Alexander {R} (Msg 62)
8. The Black Cauldron - Lloyd Alexander {R} (Msg 77)
9. Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death - Deborah Blum (Msg 88)
10. Anne of Green Gables - Lucy Maud Montgomery {R} (Msg 88)
11. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins (Msg 95)
12. Assassination Vacation - Sarah Vowell (Msg 95)
13. The Lassa Ward: One Man's Fight Against One of the World's Deadliest Diseases - Ross Donaldson (Msg 95)
14. Evidence - Jonathan Kellerman (Msg 102)
15. A Touch of Dead: The Complete Sookie Stackhouse Stories - Charlaine Harris (Msg 102)
16. Death of a Gossip - M.C. Beaton(Msg 102)
17. Mark of the Demon - Diana Rowland
18. The Wordy Shipmates - Sarah Vowell
19. Indigara - Tanith Lee
20. The Lightning Thief -Rick Riordan
21. Soulless - Gail Carriger
22. The Sea of Monsters - Rick Riordan
23. The Titan's Curse - Rick Riordan
24. The Battle of the Labyrinth - Rick Riordan
25. The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan
26. Prophecy of the Sisters - Michelle Zink
27. Odd Thomas - Dean Koontz
28. Forever Odd - Dean Koontz
29. The Sociopath Next Door - Martha Stout
30. The Cinderella Deal - Jennifer Crusie (Msg 134)
31. Lips Touch: Three Times - Laini Taylor (Msg 134)
32. Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World's Holy Dead - Peter Manseau (Msg 134)
33. The Dirty Secrets Club - Meg Gardiner (Msg 153)
34. Suite Scarlett - Maureen Johnson (Msg 153)
35. Scarlett Fever - Maureen Johnson (Msg 153)
36. Goddess of the Hunt - Tessa Dare (Msg 153)
37. Murder in the Marais -Cara Black (Msg 161)
38. Too Hot to Handle - Nancy Warren (Msg 161)
39. Still Life - Louise Penny (Msg 161)
40. The Ritual Bath - Faye Kellerman (Msg 161)
41. A Fatal Grace - Louise Penny (Msg 161)
42. Voodoo Histories: The Role of the Conspiracy Theory in Shaping Modern History - David Aaronovitch (Msg 180)
43. The Cruelest Month - Louise Penny (Msg 180)
44. Field of Blood - Denise Mina (Msg 180)
45. The Spellmans Strike Again - Lisa Lutz (Msg 180)
46. A Song for Arbonne - Guy Gavriel Kay (Msg 180)
47. Sacred and Profane - Faye Kellerman (Msg 180)
47a. This is America - Roxana Robinson (short story) (Msg 187)
48. The Partly Cloudy Patriot - Sarah Vowell (Msg 187)
49. Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews (Msg 187)
50. Changeless - Gail Carriger (Msg 187)
51. The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York - Deborah Blum
52. The Moonflower Vine - Jetta Carleton
53. Magic Burns - Ilona Andrews
54. Magic Strikes - Ilona Andrews
55. In the Bleak Midwinter - Julia Spencer-Fleming
56. The Children's Book - A.S. Byatt
57. On the Edge - Ilona Andrews
58. Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon - Donna Andrews
59. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
60. A Rule Against Murder - Louise Penny
61. Moon Called - Patricia Briggs
62. Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs
63. Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs
64. Bone Crossed - Patricia Briggs
65. Silver Borne - Patricia Briggs
66. Cry Wolf - Patricia Briggs
67. Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs
68. Swordspoint - Ellen Kushner
69. The Privilege of the Sword - Ellen Kushner
70. Milk and Honey - Faye Kellerman
71. The Thief - Megan Whalen Turner
72. Strings Attached - Nick Nolan
73. Magic Bleeds - Ilona Andrews
74. Dead in the Family - Charlaine Harris
75. The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession - David Grann
76. The Surgeon - Tess Gerritsen
77. I Know I Am, But What Are You? - Samantha Bee
78. The Mark - Jen Nadol (Msg 234)
79. Deception - Jonathan Kellerman (Msg 240
80. Birthmarked - Caragh M. O'Brien (Msg 241)
81. The Passage - Justin Cronin (Msg 245)
82. Something About You - Julie James (Msg 245)
83. She Looks Just Like You: A Memoir of (Nonbiological Lesbian) Motherhood - Amie Klempnauer Miller (Msg 245)
84. A Bad Day for Sorry - Sophie Littlefield (Msg 255)

Found and starred! First one here, I see. :-)

Hi, Roni! You're #1. Yay!

Wow! That's one heck of a list gf!

Bad Day for Sorry!! *hits head with heel of hand* I was at the library this morning and couldn't remember the title of the book! I did find The Poisoner's Handbook which I'm looking forward to reading.

Found you and starred you. By the way, LT lists you as sharing the most books with me and I would never want to lose your thread.

Marcia - I'm a little behind, but just wanted to thank you for your review of The Passage. I don't read many vampire books, but your review raised my curiosity. I'm putting The Passage on my TBR list. (Oh, and I'm starring your new thread!)

I am checking in too!

>5 suslyn:, Thanks, Susan! It makes me happy when people admire my lists. I am a compulsive maker of lists and databases... I list all of my books in a color coded database and no one in my RL ever appreciates its beauty.

>6 profilerSR:, I hate that when I forget the title of a book! I've taken to jotting down titles in the notes section of my cell phone so I don't forget. I hope you like The Poisoner's Handbook, Sher! I actually just started reading Whiskey Sour last night on your rec, and so far am really enjoying it!

>7 Whisper1: , Hi, Linda! I never want to lose your thread either... though sometimes it's hard to keep track of you, your threads have started to breed as quickly as Stasia's!

>8 porch_reader:, Hi, Amy! I hope you don't hate The Passage, lol. I want everyone to love it as much as I did, but I know it's been getting mixed reviews. Thanks for the star!

>9 alcottacre:, Hello, Stasia!

============

I've been in a bit of a book funk lately... I keep starting books and then not being able to read for more than 20 or 50 pages before I lose interest and start another one, no matter how good is. I've got like 10 books going at once right now, and who knows when I will finish any of them... Meh.

I hate book funks. Take a day off and do no reading at all - it will help clear your head. Then, maybe choose one of your old comfort reads to get back in the swing of things if none of the books you have started grabs you.

Hopefully, the book funk will end soon.

2nd Quarter Summary:

Books Read: 39
Fiction: 34
Nonfiction: 5
Rereads: 0
YA: 3

Authors: 27
New-to-Me Authors: 16
Female Authors: 22
Male Authors: 5

Best Books, Fiction (Non-Genre): The Children's Book - A.S. Byatt, The Moonflower Vine - Jetta Carleton
Best Books, Genre Fiction: A Song for Arbonne - Guy Gavriel Kay, The Privilege of the Sword - Ellen Kushner, The Passage - Justin Cronin
Best Book, Young Adult - Birthmarked - Caragh M. O'Brien
Best Book, Nonfiction: The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York - Deborah Blum

---------

For my third quarter, I hope to read some more nonfiction, more YA, more male authors, and more "literary," non-genre fiction.

Nice summary, Marcia. I hope to get mine done this weekend.

>13 ronincats:, Thanks, Roni!

Hi Sweetie
I hope you are well and having a great summer.

>15 Whisper1:, Thanks, Linda! I am. Got your lovely note in the mail yesterday. It really made my day! I hope you're feeling okay and having a great summer, too.

85. Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition - Daniel Okrent

This is an extremely readable, interesting, and fascinating history book. It tells the story of Prohibition, from the first dry movements, to the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment, life in the "roaring Twenties", and finally, to the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. While there's plenty of sensational material for Okrent to work with, he never lets gossip or emotion overtake the story, which is interesting enough on its own. He presents people and stories from both the "wet" and the "dry" side with respect. A fascinating read, especially if you've got any interest in American politics... the Temperance movement, whether you agree with their goals or not, was a clear predecessor to every lobbying campaign that was to follow. Fans of clear, concise, and interesting historical nonfiction will enjoy this, as I did. Highly recommended. Four and a half stars.

That sounds like a wonderful book!

#17: My local library has that one! Thanks for the recommendation, Marcia.

>18 Whisper1:, It was wonderful, Linda. Very surprising and engaging!

>19 alcottacre:, You're welcome. I hope you like it, Stasia!

86. Insatiable - Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot brings a fun and unique perspective to the vampire romance trope. This is chick lit with a side of Dracula (there are so many fun references to Stoker's work, that it made me want to reread it soon), tongue-in-cheek, funny, and also action packed. There are some overwritten sexy scenes, but other than that, the book is a clear winner and I very much enjoyed it. Plus it doesn't hurt that Cabot's heroine, Meena, doesn't take crap from anybody, and is, in many of her reactions, the anti-Bella Swann. Plus, she has my favorite dream job, writing for a soap opera! A great summer read. Four stars.

Great recap..I love the breakdowns. And Last Call is going to have to go on the TBR pile. That's an area and period I'd like to know more about.

>22 tututhefirst:, Thanks, Tina! Last Call is great... I was pretty interested in the period, especially after reading The Poisoner's Handbook, which talks about some of the negative side effects of prohibition (people consuming wood alcohol or industrial alcohol with toxic additives and dying).

Can't wait to read Insatiable myself! :)

>24 dk_phoenix:, I hope you like it! For me Meg Cabot + vampires = beach read heaven!

Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans! And I hope my international friends have a great day, too.



87. Whiskey Sour - J.A. Konrath

This is the first in a mystery series starring Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels, Chicago PD detective. Jack is full of one liners, has no love life, gets in brutal bar fights, and suffers from severe insomnia. In short, just the kind of tough-as-nails heroine I like in my crime novels. The mystery itself is okay and the action scenes are heart-pounding. My only problem with the book is that it is very, very grisly, especially the parts that are narrated from the killer's POV. I read a lot of serial killer fiction, and I almost put the book down at several points, saying, "Really? Really? Gross. I can't believe he went there." I'm glad I persevered through to the end, though, because Jack is a great lead. I will definitely be looking for more of this series. Recommended, but not for those who have a weak stomach or delicate sensibilities. Three and a half stars.

Now I've caught up with you! I lost you for a while. You have been very busy on this and your previous thread! I may go back over your posts and add a few titles to my list. The one about Prohibition definitely sounds interesting.

#26: I am thinking that perhaps I had better skip that one.

#26: Good warning!

>27 tymfos:, Hi, Terri! I just caught up with you earlier today, so don't feel bad... we seem to have temporarily lost each other! Last Call, the book about Prohibition, was fabulous.

>28 alcottacre:, Yeah, I don't think it would be your cup of tea, Stasia.

>29 carlym:, Thanks! I wanted to make sure that nobody picked it up because I raved about how cool the heroine is without realizing what they were getting into in regards to the violence.

88. One D.O.A., One on the Way - Mary Robison

This short, dark and lyrical novel stole my heart. Set in post-Katrina New Orleans and narrated by Eve, who is married to Adam (yes, she knows the joke), who is dying from Hepatitis C, and drawn to his identical twin, Saunders, an alcoholic. Eve's job is to find locations for films, a job that was infinitely easier before Katrina ravished New Orleans. Through her eyes, we see the devastation of the city and its people, as well as the dysfunction of the wealthy family she has married into. Eve herself is an unreliable, mysterious narrator, and the people around her are true ciphers, including those she is closest to. Eve's story is interspersed with lists of facts about life in New Orleans after the hurricane, which serve as a stark point of reality against the dreamlike nature of Eve's storytelling. Robison has a gift for spare prose that manages to capture despair and beauty simultaneously, evoking more in a few words than many authors can in hundreds. There is tragedy, here, surely, but also humor and, above all, moments of truth. Highly recommended. Five stars.

Marcia..you have managed to say in prose as spare as that which you praise just enough to make me run to get this one. I love New Orleans, and since our library (not one in the whole darn state) has this one, I may have to break down and buy it...it looks just too good to miss.

>32 tututhefirst:, Aw, thanks. I hope you can find a copy and enjoy it, Tina... It's definitely one of the top books I've read this year!

#31: Sounds wonderful, Marcia! Into the BlackHole it goes.

>34 alcottacre:, I hope you like it, Stasia!

----
I'm suffering from a nasty summer cold. Plus it's 100 degrees outside. Thankfully, we have air conditioning, but the humidity still isn't helping me feel any better. Finished another book, Frost Moon, but probs won't get to reviewing it for a while. :/

Oh I hope you feel better soon. I hate summer colds! I'm with you on books in progress that don't keep my interest. But there are only 7 in the official "stalled" books pile. :) THe others are reshelved, but turned so I know which ones they are. LOL I'm not gonna count them!

Sorry to hear you have a summer cold, Marcia. I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks, Susan and Stasia! I'm feeling a little better today, but still subpar. At least I'm getting a lot of reading done! I finished another book, Elizabeth Street by Laurie Fabiano, which was excellent. Will have reviews of that and Frost Moon at some point when I'm feeling more verbose.

I've visited and also read a lot about New Orleans. I'm adding One D.O.A. One on the Way to the list.

Thumbs up from me for your excellent review.

I hope you continue to feel better.

> 31 I'm adding One D.O.A, One on the Way to my wishlist as well! I also added a thumb for your great review! I hope the cold goes away soon. Summer colds always seem so much worse than winter colds... although I probably say the opposite when I have a winter cold! ;) I think the worst cold is the current kind...no matter what season.

Marcia--Since I lived in NO for 18 years (left way before Katrina though), I have to read One DOA, One on the Way, especially after reading your great review!

>39 Whisper1:-41, Awesome! I'm so glad I could get you all interested in this wonderful book and hope you enjoy it.

----
My summer cold has moved into my chest, and I now have bronchitis, blurggghhh. Finished two more books since I have nothing else to do:
91. Hard Eight
92. Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory

Again, reviews for all will be forthcoming when I'm feeling better.

#42: Having been plagued with bronchitis more times than I care to remember, I can fully sympathize with you, Marcia. I hope you are feeling much better soon!!

>43 alcottacre:, Thanks, Stasia! My doctor gave me meds for the coughing and steroids to help clear my lungs, so I am feeling marginally better today. I still sound like a diseased seal, however.

89. Frost Moon - Anthony Francis

This is an enjoyable debut to a new paranormal series. The heroine, Dakota Frost, is maybe a little bit of a Mary Sue: tall, busty, has a mohawk, is covered in tattoos, she describes herself as intimidating yet is irresistible to every man and woman she meets apparently. The tattoos are totally the best part. Dakota is a tattoo artist, but not just your normal tattoo artist. Her tattoos are magic, and the intricacy of the magic that comes through in the body art is fascinating. The action scenes are exciting but the identity of the serial killer is somewhat predictable. I found quite a few similarities to Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels books, more than just the Atlanta setting. But there are also some original elements, and Dakota's bisexuality is refreshing in the heteronormative world of fantasy heroines. In the end, a promising start to a new urban fantasy series and a quick summer read. Three and a half stars.

90. Elizabeth Street - Laurie Fabiano

I loved this family saga of Italian American immigrants. It opens in Scilla, a small town in Calabria, and follows Giovanna, a smart, capable woman who works as a midwife and her family to New York City. She takes on big business, the mob, and the American dream with bravery and passion. The writing is simple, but the characters shine. Fabiano based this story on her own great-grandmother, and her love shines through in her well-drawn characters. An absorbing and moving read. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and family sagas, or those interested in the turn-of-the-century immigrant experience. Four and a half stars.

91. Hard Eight - Janet Evanovich

It had been a long time since I read a Stephanie Plum book. A couple years, even. It's not that I don't love Stephanie, Grandma Mazur, Lula, Ranger, Morelli, and Co, but I guess I just got burnt out. Anyway, I was sick and needed a good escapist read, so I ordered this on my Kindle. In the eighth book in the series, Stephanie and Morelli are on the outs and Ranger is threatening to cash in on their "deal". Stephanie's parents' next door neighbor, Mabel Markowitz, is about to lose her house because she put it up as collateral for her granddaughter, Evelyn's, custody bond, and now Evelyn and her daughter Annie have disappeared. Stephanie starts to search for Evelyn and Annie and runs afoul of bad guy Eddie Abruzzi. A fun, slightly dark (for Stephanie), read, pretty typical of the series, and just what the doctor ordered. Three and a half stars.

And... I even finally finished this one, which I've been working on since February! All it took in the end was a killer case of bronchitis and 100+ degree weather to settle me down long enough to complete it.



92. Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory - David W. Blight

This is an excellent, and extremely well-documented, history of Reconstruction and the years afterward, and how the ideas of what the Civil War stood for were shaped in those years. I first became interested in this subject after reading Tony Horwitz's Confederates in the Attic last year. I was so amazed by some of the differences between how the Civil War is remembered in the North and in the South, and this book really lets you see how those differences were nourished and evolved. If you follow the news, you may recall a controversy in Virginia earlier this year, when Governor Bob McDonnell issued a statement declaring April "Confederate History Month" and didn't mention slavery at all. To understand how the "Lost Cause" came to be totally separated from what many of us (in the North at least) considered to be the true and lasting cause of the war, slavery, this book is an essential too. It is exhaustively researched and very dense, and ultimately fascinated. For anyone interested in American history, the Civil War and its effects, or the constantly changing view of race in America, I can highly recommend this one, although it may take you a while to read it. Four and a half stars.

#46: Elizabeth Street is already in the BlackHole.

#48: Adding that one.

I would like to hear you cough just so I know what a diseased seal sounds like :)

I am glad to hear that you are feeling better, even if it is just marginally so. Any feeling better is to the good!

>49 alcottacre:, I think you'd like both Elizabeth Street and Race and Reunion, Stasia.

My cough sounds kind of like this: http://youtu.be/5-LIqdjqHts but with more phlegmy-ness and hints of death.

(Note: the picture is for the original edition of the book, which was published as a double book, with another Harlequin novel, Heaven Scent by Jacqueline Diamond, which I did not read. I read this one as part of a bundle of Harlequins on Kindle which you can buy here: Blogger Bundle IX: Dear Author Community Picks.)

93. Shotgun Nanny - Nancy Warren

I loved this sweet, funny little romance. Nancy Warren is by far my favorite author of category romances, and one of my favorite contemporary romance novelists, period. This is possibly my favorite of hers that I've read so far. It's got her usual well-drawn characters, and a few hot sex scenes, which she always makes seem real and organic and related to the characters and the plot, not just gratuitous nookie. There's all the Nancy Warren magic and a touch of Jennifer Crusie style humor. Just a lovely book about Annie, a free spirited woman with commitment issues who meets and falls in love with Mark, an uptight ex-Mountie raising his orphaned niece, Emily. There's also a great German shepherd named Kitsu. This is the kind of heartwarming romance about finding not just love, but the life and family you never knew you dreamed of. Loved it, and you will love it too if romances are your type of thing. Four and half stars.

#50: Maybe you could hire yourself out to do special effects for movies?

#51: I have a favorite category romance author too, Cara Colter. I guess I will give Nancy Warren a try!

Ugh, bronchitis is NASTY! Hope you are feeling much better today!

Marcia
roni is right! bronchitis is nasty. I imagine you are very tired. I hope you can rest.

I'm adding Elizabeth Street to the tbr pile. This sounds like a great book.

>52 alcottacre:, Hmm, special effects could be a good idea! As it is, I have perfected the art of barking in harmony with my dog. I've never read anything by Cara Colter. I will have to check out the category racks next time I'm at the library and see if they have anything by her! I like categories because they're so short and the good ones get right to the point without too much extraneous romance nonsense, but it's always hard to find good ones, especially because I get scared off by all the secret babies and tycoon's virgin mistresses.

>53 ronincats:, It is nasty! Thanks, Roni, I'm feeling a little better. Today's my last day of antibiotics and steroids, so I'm hoping it'll clear up totally by tomorrow.

>54 Whisper1:, Aw, how adorable! Makes me wish I had a kitty, though I'm sure my dog wouldn't agree. Thanks, Linda. I am resting quite a bit (even more than usual), sleeping like 16 hours a day, lol. I think you will really enjoy Elizabeth Street. I would send you my copy, but I read it on the Kindle.

94. The Brutal Telling - Louise Penny

This is the fifth mystery in Penny's Three Pines/Inspecteur Gamache series. It's also, IMHO, the best yet, as well as the most emotionally wrenching, for reasons that I cannot go into without giving away spoilers. In Penny's hands, what could be a simple story is an emotional and intellectual tour de force. There are very few mystery writers who write with her level of skill, a level that takes this book past the usual cozy mystery fare and places it on par with so-called "literary fiction." Highly recommended, but make sure you read the rest of the series in order first, otherwise the impact might not be as delightfully devastating. Five stars.

#56: Yeah, Marcia is firmly on the Three Pines bus!

Yep! Three Pines is lovely. :D

95. Illyria - Elizabeth Hand

This is a short, lyrical young adult novel by one of my all time favorite authors, Elizabeth Hand. A beautifully written, neo-gothic story of young and forbidden love, with a tinge of fantasy (which Hand does the best), this book is narrated by teenage Maddy Tierney, the descendant of a famous acting clan. Maddy is in love with her first cousin, Rogan, and if that bothers you, you should skip this one. One day, while spending some time together, the two see a magical toy theater in the attic of and old family mansion. The two of them star in a high school production of the Tempest, as well, but the plot is less the point than the beautiful, aching prose that Hand excels at. Highly recommended, with the aforementioned caveat of the cousin thing. Five stars.

Another one of your recommended readings added to the list....

Thanks for your great review!

#59: Went to add that one to the BlackHole and discovered it was already there. Now I just have to track down a copy . . .

#61 I read it earlier this year, so you may have noted the title after my positive review. It's available in the UK from PS Publishing... um, looks like the paperback edition has sold out - the only one left is the signed hardback here. Anyway, it's unlikely to be stocked in UK libraries.

#62: Thanks, Ian! I live in the States, so I shall check this side of the Atlantic first and see if I can locate it here first though.

You're in luck then. It's just been published by Viking - see here - so I expect it'll be in the library system soon, if it's not already.

#64: It is not available at my local library, but I did find several copies through ABE so I went ahead and ordered one. Thanks for the spur!

>60 Whisper1:-65, I hope you like Illyria, Linda and Stasia! Elizabeth Hand is one of my all time favorite authors. I will probably reread my favorite book of hers, Waking the Moon sometime this summer if I can find my copy. I read it pretty much every year.

Hi, Ian. I'm glad you liked it, too! I'll have to see if I can track down your thread.

I got Illyria at my local library here in the US... I didn't even know Hand had a new book, let alone a YA one, so it was a super pleasant surprise. I took it home and devoured it in one sitting.

96. A Bad Day for Pretty - Sophie Littlefield

This is the second book (after A Bad Day for Sorry) starring Stella Hardesty, the 50-something avenger of wronged women. In this adventure, Stella has just started to recover from the events of the first book, when a tornado blows into Prosper, bringing it with it her love interest, Sherriff Goat Jones's, ex, and a mummified dead body at the local fairgrounds. What follows is, in turns, heart-stopping action, dark humor, and further fun with Stella, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite tough girls. Less violent and more funny than the first book, this is a winner. Four stars.

Haven't read Stella's earlier adventures, but I sure enjoyed this one, and agree- she is going to become one of my favorite "tough gals". I love it when they're closer to my age, then those sleek, buffed bimbos...

>68 tututhefirst:, I'm 25, so I'm not close to age in Stella, but it's my goal to be closer to her in spirit than the "sleek, buffed bimbos" you speak of. ;)

Finally caught up with you, Marcia! I don't know how I lost track of you for so long.

You've done some great reading -- and a lot of it -- and written some very compelling comments.

(BTW, I'm adding a bunch to my Wishlist, from this and your previous thread. ;)

ETA to add: I love the way you insert the message number for comments into your lists of books! I haven't noticed anyone else doing that. I'd ask if I may borrow the idea for my threads, but I don't suppose I'm organized enough to carry it off on a regular basis . . .

>70 tymfos:, Hey, Terri! Don't worry, I've lost track of you at some point, too, I'm sure. This group is so big, sometimes I lose track of people!

I'm glad you've found some good recs, and that you find linking to the message useful. I find it really helps me, too, keep track of my own thread. If you do have the inclination to do something similar, feel free. :D

97. Magic Under Glass - Jaclyn Dolamore

This is a lovely little young fantasy/romance. Nimira is a "trouser girl," an immigrant singing in the music hall, when she is approached by Mr. Parry, a handsome, wealthy young sorceror. She goes with him to his country estate, Vestenveld, where he pays her to sing while his automaton performs. There are lots of secrets at Vestenveld, however, not the least of which is the automaton himself. This is a magical story, with plenty of gothic atmosphere. The end leaves it open for a sequel, which I very much look forward to reading. Four stars.

#72: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I am just waiting for the local library to get a copy. Glad to see you enjoyed it, Marcia.

I thought Magic Under Glass was an adorable story as well. I wasn't so keen on the abrupt ending... but I'm eager for the next installment!

>73 alcottacre:, I think you'll enjoy it, Stasia! Have you read Patricia C. Wrede's Mairelon the Magician and its sequels? It kind of reminds me of that, which is good, as I loved those.

>74 dk_phoenix:, I agree, the ending was kind of abrupt. I was like, OMG, I must read what happens next and then I saw that the sequel doesn't come out until 2011. I can't wait!

98. Dogs and Goddesses - Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich

This was an enjoyable read for me. I had previously read The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, which Crusie and Stuart co-wrote with Eileen Dreyer, and I found that one to be a big disappointment. As much as I love Crusie and Stuart on their own, that effort just fell flat, and as a result I was reluctant to pick up this one. I was a the library yesterday, though, and saw it on the rack, and I thought, "I could use some good summer reading," so I decided to give it a try. I didn't regret it. I read the 388-page book in pretty much one sitting. The plot is complex, as there are three different sets of couples, a renegade ancient Mesopotamian goddess, and a wide variety of (talking!) dogs. There are some very funny lines, and it's worth a read, in my opinion, for the dogs alone. The romances are sweet, and unlike in The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, it never feels disjointed. The authors' voices blend well together, so much so, in fact, that it can be hard at times to tell the heroines apart, especially the younger two, Daisy and Abby. The first few chapters are slow going, but after that it's a wild, kooky, screwball ride of strange religion, talking dogs, and steamy romance. Recommended for a fun summer read. Three and a half stars.

#75: I have not read Mairelon the Magician yet, although I own it. One of these days . . .

>78 allthesedarnbooks:, Ha, I know the feeling. I have so many books sitting on my shelves, waiting to be read.

#78: I actually own the omnibus that has both of the Mairelon books in it. When I typed message 77, it was sitting less than 2 feet away from me on the floor :)

For some reason, I cannot correct my mental pronunciation of that name away from MaryEllen. It happened when I read the books and I've never been able to shake it even though I know I'm wrong. :-)

>79 alcottacre:-80, See, Stasia? How can you resist the lure of MaryEllen the Magician? Which would be a totally awesome, and totally different book, lol.

99. Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India - William Dalrymple

This is a fascinating look at the lives of nine different people living religious lives on the Indian subcontinent. Dalrymple adds just enough background about the varying religions and sects to help the reader, while mostly allowing his subjects to speak for themselves, in their own words. The stories include those of a Jainist nun, a wandering Baul singer, a female Sufi mystic, a "skull eater", and a Brahmin maker of idols. The result is an absorbing look at modern religious diversity, in the footsteps of traditions that date back centuries. Highly recommended for those interested in history, religions, and India, or for spiritual seekers of any stripe. Four and a half stars.

100. Keep Sweet - Michele Dominguez Greene

This short, harrowing young adult novel tells the story of Alva Jane, a fourteen-year-old girl living in a Fundamentalist Mormon community. The story is familiar to anyone who's previously read on the subject, and while the pages turn quickly, as you worry for Alva's safety and sanity, the overall experience leaves something to be desired. Alva's voice is inconsistent; sometimes she seems to know nothing about the "Gentile" outside world, at other times she explains her religion and community as if from an outsider's perspective. There's a lot of exposition, and a lot of clunky dialogue. And although this book is marketed as young adult, there's a brutal, graphic rape scene of Alva by a much older man that would make me hesitate recommending this to all but the most mature teenagers. I can only recommend this if you're really interested in the FLDS and want to read whatever you can on the subject. For the casual reader, I'd say skip it. Two and a half stars.

#99 sounds really interesting, Marcia! Onto the wishlist it goes!

I found it interesting that book number 99 contain nine in the title!

I'm adding it to my tbr pile...

Congratulations on hitting 100 books for the year, Marcia! Too bad book 100 was not a better one for you.

Congrats on 100 books! That's really too bad about Keep Sweet... was it entirely necessary to include a violent rape scene? Probably not. Ugh. That's very disappointing.

>84 ronincats:, It was great! I hope you enjoy it, Roni!

>85 Whisper1:, I hadn't even noticed that, Linda... How interesting! That's why some people believe in numerology, lol... the numbers know all!

>86 alcottacre:, Thanks, Stasia! I think 101 will be quite a different (and more pleasant) beast. So far, so good!

>87 dk_phoenix:, Thank you! I was disappointed in Keep Sweet, too. A lot of the reviewers on LT really liked it, however. As far as the violent rape scene goes, I understand what the author was trying to do (and it was only one of several fairly graphic scenes of violence against the narrator and other women in the community) in showing the brutality of the community, however, I just felt it was out of place in a book marketed at teenagers. The fact that it was against a child didn't help.

Congratulations on reaching 100 books, Marcia! Sorry that it was such a distasteful read, though.

Thanks, Darryl! 99 more than made up for it, though, and I think 101 will, as well. :D

101. Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu - J. Maarten Troost

I enjoyed this memoir of an American living abroad in the South Pacific, although not as much as his first book, The Sex Lives of Cannibals which I loved. There are some laugh out loud moments, some great tales of culture shock, and some awesome descriptions of the wrath of nature. A fun escapist read, although at times I wasn't happy with the author's attitude towards the Fijians and Ni-Vanuatu. Three and a half stars.

I still have to read The Sex Lives of Cannibals. Then maybe I can get to that one!

>92 alcottacre:, The Sex Lives of Cannibals is, IMO, a much better book, and absolutely hilarious. This was was good, but that one is fun on a stick. :D

#93: Good to know! Hmm, I wonder if I can fit The Sex Lives of Cannibals into a TIOLI challenge for the month. . .

Agreed that The Sex Lives of Cannibals is much better, and a truly funny book. Have you read Lost on Planet China? I have it but haven't read it yet.

>95 carlym:, Same here! I too, have but haven't read Lost on Planet China, although I've heard mixed reviews of it. My friend who's living in China right now really hated it, but some other people who haven't actually been to China loved it.

Sex Lives of Cannibals is available on audio - it's going onto my MP3 to go on the trip to Calif next month. Sounds like a hoot!!

I was able to fit The Sex Lives of Cannibals into one of the TIOLI challenges for this month (a nonfiction book about a place you do not live), so I am giving it a shot!

Hi There! I'm thinking of you and hoping all is well.

Lost on Planet China isn't quite the same book as the other two. Sex Lives of Cannibals was hysterical; Getting Stoned with Savages was funny; Lost on Planet China is really just a travelogue. There are flashes of his humor but he seems more interested in describing the country and making a few political points. I moderately enjoyed it, but I really wish he had stuck to his earlier style.

>97 tututhefirst:, I think it'll be great to listen to on a trip, Tina!

>98 alcottacre:, Oooh, I haven't done any TIOLI challenges so far, but that sounds like a good one! I'll have to consider it..

>99 Whisper1:, Hey, Linda! I'm okay. I hope you're doing well after your cortisone shots! That graphic is adorable.

>100 TadAD:, Thanks for the info, Tad. I will read it anyway, but it's good to know what I'm going to be getting.

102. America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines - Gail Collins

I loved this book! It's an excellent, readable overview of the history of women in the United States. Because of the breadth of the subject, sometimes there wasn't enough information about certain women or subjects to satisfy my curiosity, but overall, this is a great and comprehensive book. There are numerous inspiring stories of famous and not-so-famous women. I recommend this for history fans and women everywhere, and it's a great place to start if you're interested in women's studies. Four and a half stars.

#102: Since I qualify as both a history fan and a woman, that book sounds like a natural for me. Thanks for the recommendation, Marcia.

>102 allthesedarnbooks:, You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Stasia.

103. Strange Days Indeed: The 1970s: The Golden Age of Paranoia - Francis Wheen

This is an interesting, if somewhat uneven, book. It looks at the 1970s with the purpose of demonstrating that it was a weird and wild, extremely paranoid decade. I wasn't alive in the '70s, so I can't say how accurate Wheen's description is. However, I can say, that, being of a younger generation, I felt like a lot of his points went over my head. He spends a lot of time recollecting his specific experiences and expecting the reader to remember, too, which severely limits his audience. The book isn't constructed in any sort of linear fashion, so if you're expecting a straightforward, timeline style history, you're out of luck. There are some interesting parts, especially the bits about Nixon, Mao, and various dictators. A lot of time is spent on the UK's situation, which makes sense as Wheen is British, but a lot of the minutiae of British politics can be lost on the American reader (at least if the American reader is me). The germ of Wheen's idea (that the paranoia of the '70s lingers today) is interesting, as are a lot of the stories that are brought up as asides. But the book is a bit of a mess and doesn't live up to its potential. I am glad, though, that I read it right before David Peace's Nineteen Seventy-Four, because otherwise I would have missed a lot of the time period. I can't really recommend this book overall. Two and a half stars.

104. Nineteen Seventy-Four - David Peace

This book, the first in Peace's "Red Riding Hood Quartet," is an excellent, dark, and twisted noir novel. Set in northern England in 1974, it is an example of crime writing at its grittiest. This book is not for everyone; the world that it depicts is gruesome, filled with violence against children and women, and corruption at every level of society. The plot is suspenseful, filled with action and tension. The narrator, Ed Dunford, is an unsympathetic but impeccably realized antihero. The book is a true nail biter, and a picture of a bleak society filled with unspeakable crimes. Sad, horrifying, and unputdownable: if you can handle the darkness, I recommend it. Four and a half stars.

105. Al Capone Does My Shirts - Gennifer Choldenko

This is a beautifully written children's book set in 1935 on Alcatraz Island. Twelve-year-old Moose has moved onto the island with his parents and his autistic (although the word didn't exist back then) sister Natalie. The setting is great, Moose is an engaging character, and the relationship between Moose and Natalie is pitch perfect. I loved this book. Highly recommended for fans of kid lit. Five stars.

I read Nineteen Seventy-four earlier this year and agree with your review. Do you plan to read the later books in the series? I think I'm going to read them.

Marcia

I agree with you regarding Al Capone Does My Shirts. I really liked this one!

>108 arubabookwoman:, Hey, arubabookwoman! I definitely want to read the rest the rest of the series, too. I downloaded the sample for Nineteen Seventy-Seven for my Kindle, but I'm trying to resist buying it until I finish a few more books I already have.

>109 Whisper1:, Me, too, Linda! I don't know if I would've read Al Capone Does My Shirts without your rec. Thank you! Have you read the sequel, Al Capone Shines My Shoes? I definitely want to read it sometime soon.

I didn't know there was a sequel...Another book added per your recommendation.

I am adding Nineteen Seventy-Four to the BlackHole to join Al Capone Does My Shirts which is already there. Thanks for the recommendation, Marcia!

OOOO...I really enjoy Gail Collins' writing, so America's Women is defintely going on the TBR pile. I've seen it buzzed several times and can't wait

>111 Whisper1:, I hope you enjoy it, Linda! I can't wait to read more about Moose and Natalie and their friends.

>112 alcottacre:, You're welcome. I hope you like Nineteen Seventy-Four, Stasia! Warning, though, it's very, very dark and gruesome.

>113 tututhefirst:, I'm a big fan of Gail Collins, as well, Tina! I hope you like America's Women. I found it to really be a fascinating and easy read. I had a hard time putting it down, which isn't always true of even the best history books. I hope to get to When Everything Changed sometime soon.

I agree wholeheartedly re: Al Capone Does My Shirts, and plan to read Al Capone Shines My Shoes sometime soon.

Nineteen-Seventy-Four sounds interesting . . .

Hey, Marcia, wossup? Are you having a relaxing summer, or too busy to read?

>115 tymfos:, Hey, Terri! Glad to see another fan of Al Capone Does My Shirts! :) As far as Nineteen Seventy-Four goes, it is, indeed, interesting, and unlike anything else I've read. And very, very disturbing. Gave me nightmares, but I still read the next book in the quartet and will read the rest, lol.

>116 ronincats:, Hey, Roni! How are you? I just got back from vacation late last night, so I've been reading, just not posting. I have about 5 reviews I wanna put up today, and then after that I plan on attempting to catch up on threads. And catalog new acquisitions, unpack, work out, and read, of course. :)

Nice review of Al Capone, Marcia. That book has caught my eye several times. I'll have to read it soon.

Hope you are getting caught up from vacation! I'm doing that myself.

>118 porch_reader:, Thanks, Amy! It's a good one. I'm recovering from vacation slowly... traveling really drains me!

I hope you get rested soon from your vacation, Marcia. Welcome back!

106. We'll Always Have Parrots - Donna Andrews

Another fun, madcap adventure in the Meg Langslow bird-themed mystery series. This one takes place at a fan convention for a cult TV show, and prominently parrots, monkey, a tiger, and, of course, Spike. Loads of laughs and a decent mystery that I figured out a lot sooner than Meg. Three and a half stars.

107. I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman's Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage - Mary-Ann Kirkby

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's a glimpse into a fascinating religion and culture that I had previously never heard of. On the other hand, it's just not that well-written.

The Hutterites are an Anabaptist sect (Mennonites and Amish are different Anabaptist traditions). They live communally, adhere to a strict religious lifestyle, and speak a German dialect. I had never read anything about the Hutterites before, and Kirkby's book succeeded in sparking my interest in the culture. I would definitely be interested in reading more about the subject.

The book has its flaws, however. The many characters, members of her extended family and community, were not distinguished enough for me to always remember each one specifically. A lot of them also have more than one name, which got confusing. I would often pause and ask, "Wait. Who is it that again?" More importantly, Kirkby's prose is convoluted and clunky. There are times when she goes into far too much detail; other times where she seems to skip over important ideas altogether. The parts of the book where she writes about her family history, or her parents' or other relatives' experiences, are particularly weak. At times it reads like a high school essay. The parts, especially in the second half of the book, where she describes her own life, and the pleasures of Hutterite living, as well as the loss she felt when her family left the community, are much stronger and compelling.

This book was originally self-published, and at times it feels like it. In spite of the mediocrity of the prose, the book is well worth a read if you are interested in Anabaptists, varying religious communities, or details of a simple, country life. Three stars.

>120 alcottacre:, Thanks Stasia! I had a great time in Cape May, and I am slowly but surely settling back in at home. It's good to be back! :)

108. The Queen of Attolia - Megan Whalen Turner

This is the second book in Megan Whalen Turner's Attolia series, after The Thief, which I read earlier this year and loved, though I don't think I actually got around to reviewing it. This one is just as good as the first, although darker. The politics, the action, the characterization, and the romance are all top notch. Highly recommended, and I hope to read the next book, The King of Attolia, soon. Four and a half stars.

109. Nineteen Seventy-Seven - David Peace

This is the second book in Peace' Red Riding Hood Quartet. It is just as grim and well-written as the first one. Although there are two narrators here, Jack Whitehead and Bobby Fraser, their voices are very similar (and like Nineteen Seventy-Four's Eddie Dunford), that I sometimes had trouble telling them apart. That was my only real problem with Peace's writing, however, as this book only seems to improve on the gory poetry of the first. The violence, corruption, and horror is almost mind numbing, and Peace's unique stream-of-consciousness ramblings, where the comma splices come like bullets and the obscenity pools like piles of blood, contributes to a sense of unreality, despite the realistic details of the setting. It's a nightmare that you can't wake up from, because if you put the book down, you will still be thinking about it, wondering what is truth and what is a dream. A brutal, beautifully styled noir, where there are no real answers (although I'm hoping we may get some by the end of the quartet), no heroes, and no rest for the wicked (the good don't exist). I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. It's like watching a train wreck, where you can't look away, and some perverted part of you doesn't want to. Four and a half stars.

110. The Red Pyramid - Rick Riordan

This excellent novel is the first in a new series by Rick Riordan, author of the fabulous Percy Jackson books. I absolutely loved it! Jackson has a real gift for creating young characters who, despite having amazing abilities and being placed in unlikely situations, are very real. In this case, the book is narrated by Carter Kane and his sister, Sadie. Their father, Julius Kane, is an acclaimed Egyptologist, and after he disappears, they discover that they have more links to the magical world of ancient Egypt than they ever would've imagined. Gods, magicians, resourceful kids, and a baboon named Khufu--- what more could you ask for? I can't wait until the next book comes out! (It's scheduled for spring 2011... How shall I stand the wait?) Lots of fun and highly recommended. Five stars.

111. The Prince of Mist - Carlos Ruiz Zafón; translated by Lucia Graves

This eerie little young adult book has some of the same magical intensity as Ruiz Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind, which I loved. The prose is sparer and less lush, but it works as a book aimed at a younger audience. There are some genuinely creepy happenings, and the setting, in an unnamed town by the sea, is superb. A lovely mix of fantasy and a classic coming of age story. Recommended. Four stars.

______________

And with that, I am all caught up! (Until I finish my next book, lol.) Now I just need to catch up on your threads....

I'm definitely skipping the Peace books--I can't tolerate gore and violence! I'm waiting for The Red Pyramid to either come into the library system or come out in paperback, and I just read the first 3 Attolia books in the last month, enjoying them mightily. I have the 4th from the library and will get to it soon.

Doesn't it feel good to be all caught up!

I love the Attolia books too, Marcia. I also loved The Red Pyramid, which had just about everything you could ask for in a juvenile adventure story as far as I am concerned. I am glad you enjoyed that one.

I already have The Prince of Mist in the BlackHole. I am just waiting for the library to get it!

I haven't read any of Riordan's books myself, but my daughter loves the Percy Jackson ones. I've just picked up a copy of The Red Pyramid, signed by Riordan, to give her for her birthday in September. She'll be 16, so I was worried she'd be a bit old for it, but I see here that proper grownups are reading it and liking, so I am reassured!

>128 ronincats:, Yes, the Peace books are extremely gory and violent, so it would be best for you to avoid them. :) The Red Pyramid is great! I'm hoping to find The King of Attolia next time I go to the library, if not I will buy it on my Kindle.

>129 alcottacre:, The Red Pyramid is fabulous, Stasia! I just loved it. I hope you enjoy The Prince of Mist when you get ahold of it!

>130 JanetinLondon:, Ooh, I'm 25 and I never consider myself a "proper grown up..." How exciting! Lol. I think she will love it; IMHO, it's even better and more exciting than the Percy Jackson books.

I've added three books to the Wishlist from your thread. Frost Moon, America's Women and Nineteen Seventy-Four look great. I love that they are so different from one another, but appeal to both of us.

Marcia

I'm running in place trying to keep up with all your fabulous reads!

Welcome back from vacation!

>132 nancyewhite:, That's awesome! Before I came on LT, I thought nobody read the same variety of books that I did... but now I find that there are so many of you who are interested in the same eclectic genres and topics that I am! :)

>133 Whisper1:, Thanks, Linda! It's good to be home. I'm going back to community college next week (just taking one class as I build up my strength/health), so I'm going to try and get some good reading done before Tues. :)

112. Daddy Long Legs - Jean Webster

What a delightful little book! Another one I never would have read if not for hearing about it on LibraryThing. This is the story of Jerusha "Judy" Abbot, an orphan raised in an asylum, who is sent to college by an anonymous benefactor. One of his conditions is that she write him letter detailing his progress, which he will never respond to. The book consists of these letters, addressed to "Daddy-Long-Legs." The result is a sweet, funny tale of a young girl experiencing the wonders of an education, a portrait of life at a women's college in the early twentieth century, and a nice little romance. A lovely, light, old fashioned story, recommended for fans of L.M. Montgomery and Louisa May Alcott. Four stars.

113. Elantris - Brandon Sanderson

Elantris is a well-written, absorbing, one-volume epic fantasy. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Sanderson's Warbreaker, which I read last year, but Elantris was his first novel, and it's really quite good as such. The characters are distinct and multi-faceted, the cultures not too cliched, and while the magic system is a bit tedious to understand, the overall story arc is well-planned and somewhat surprising. Perhaps some editing could have been done, but the majority of the text is necessary, and the length isn't overwhelming. Recommended for fantasy fans. Three and a half stars.

#135: I enjoyed both that one and the sequel, Dear Enemy, when I read them earlier in the year. I am glad you liked it, Marcia.

#136: I own that one. One of these days I will get it read!

>137 alcottacre:, I'm hoping to read Dear Enemy sometime soon, Stasia! I'm saving it for after school starts, when I get stressed out, as a pleasant anecdote.

I hope you enjoy Elantris when you eventually read it! Sanderson is a great fantasy author. I want to read the Mistborn trilogy next.

#138: I would think that the Webster books are perfect reading for stressful times, Marcia, so I can understand why you are waiting on reading Dear Enemy.

As far as Elantris goes, I have to locate my copy before I can give it a read!

Here's a quiz, thanks to Stasia. Answered using books I have read this year. :)

1. A book with a "profession" in its title. Examples might include: The Book Thief, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Historian

Shakespeare's Counselor
The Thief
The Surgeon
Shotgun Nanny
The Queen of Attolia

2. A book with a "time of day" in its title. Examples might include: Twilight, Four Past Midnight, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Hmmm... nothing really fits, unless you count "day" itself, ie. A Bad Day for Sorry

3. A book with a "relative" in its title. Examples might include: Eight Cousins, My Father's Dragon, The Daughter of Time

Prophecy of the Sisters
Daddy Long Legs

4. A book with a "body part" in its title. Examples might include: The Bluest Eye, Bag of Bones, The Heart of Darkness

Lips Touch: Three Times
Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World's Holy Dead
Field of Blood

5. A book with a "building" in its title. Examples might include: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Little House on the Prairie, The Looming Tower

The Red Pyramid

6. A book with a "medical condition" in its title. Examples might include: Insomnia, Coma, The Plague

The Lassa Ward: One Man's Fight Against One of the World's Deadliest Diseases
Scarlett Fever

With this book, I have now read as many books (114) this year as I did in the entirety of 2009. Huzzah!



114. Freedom Summer: The Savage Season That Made Mississippi Burn and Made America a Democracy - Bruce Watson

This is a good book on a very interesting topic. Watson chronicles the summer of 1964, "Freedom Summer," when hundreds of (mostly white) college students journeyed to Mississippi to join up with local black civil rights workers, in an effort to change Mississippi's Jim Crow voting laws. They were met with distrust, hatred, violence of all stripes, and even murder, from the local whites. This is an important, engrossing story. I'm not always sure about Watson's tone, as he has a flare for the melodramatic, and the truth is dramatic enough, especially as told in quotes from those who were there, without extra rhetorical flourishes. The organization of his narrative is sometimes jumbled, as well. While those few stylistic problems keep the book from being "perfect," it is nonetheless a great read, chronicling a time that seems impossibly far away, but was only half a century away from today. Recommended. Four stars.

Congratulations on reaching last year's reading total!! You are really moving this year.

>142 ronincats:, Thanks, Roni! I've been kind of at loose ends this year, so I've had a lot more time to read (plus I've cut way back on the TV). Things might slow down a bit as the semester starts next week, but as I'm only easing back into things with one class, hopefully I can still keep up a good pace, if not quite what I've had going. :)

Nice review of Freedom Summer, Marcia; I'll have to look for this soon.

>144 kidzdoc:, Thanks, Darryl! I'd be interested to see what you think of it. I had a hard time putting my finger on what it was, exactly, in his writing style that kept it from being a five star read, when the content was so compelling, so I'm glad the review wasn't totally incomprehensible in that respect.

115. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

This book took my breath away. I don't want to say too much, as I believe it's better going into the book not knowing what it's about, but it starts out with Kathy, a young woman, reminiscing about her childhood at Hailsham, an idyllic boarding school, and her relationship with Ruth and Tommy, two other students. What is different about Hailsham and the children there is revealed naturally, and the book is a slow burn of carefully measured prose and tense, heartbreaking subtlety. Like all great literature, it works on many levels: psychological suspense, speculative fiction, and even allegory. This is a book to be treasured. Highly recommended. Five stars.

I have to get to this book soon; I've been putting it off for way too long. Thanks for the nice review and reminder, Marcia!

It was my first Ishiguro, and I was wonderfully surprised. For some reason, I had never thought that he would be an author I would like. I don't know why; it just was one of those ideas that got stuck in my head. Boy, was I wrong! I hope to read Remains of the Day next. :)

#141: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Marcia.

#146: That was also my first Ishiguro. I am currently reading and enjoying his An Artist of the Floating World. I think I have found a new favorite author thanks to LT.

I thought you would like Freedom Summer, Stasia! I know you've read other books about the civil rights movement.

Ooh, An Artist of the Floating World looks great. Isn't it amazing the new authors and books you discover through LT?

Another quiz from Stasia, using books I've read this year.

In school I was: Forever Odd

People might be surprised I’m: Insatiable

I will never be: The Sociopath Next Door

My fantasy job is: The Lightning Thief

At the end of a long day I need: Whiskey Sour

I hate it when: Magic Bites

Wish I had: Nine Lives

My family reunions are: Strange Days Indeed

At a party you’d find me with: The Devil and Sherlock Holmes

I’ve never been to: Elizabeth Street

A happy day includes: Dogs and Goddesses

Motto I live by: I Know I Am, But What Are You?

On my bucket list: Getting Stoned With Savages

In my next life, I want to be: Goddess of the Hunt

I finished An Artist of the Floating World, Marcia, and would recommend it. I hope you have a chance to try it!

Thanks, Stasia! I hope to get to it sometime soon. I will probably read The Remains of the Day first, as I already have that one on the shelf. :)

My book club read Never Let Me Go, and we were all surprised as well. It seems like he writes all sorts of books.

#153: I have The Remains of the Day hanging around my house somewhere. I am hoping to get to it before the end of the year - if I can find where I put it!

>146 allthesedarnbooks: Ishiguro is a (fairly) new favorite of mine too--I highly recommend The Remains Of The Day, I thought it was even better than Never Let Me Go!

I think Never Let Me Go is a stellar book. If The Remains of the Day is even better, then I need to move it up some notches.

Catching up on your thread... wow you've read a lot of great books lately! Elantris, The Red Pyramid, Queen of Attolia... lots to like here. :) I see you also read the Hutterite book. I also found it interesting but at the same time, slow and awkward at times.

>154 carlym:, Cool. Never Let Me Go is one of those books I wish I had read in either a book club or class so I could have a discussion aloud. As a result, I gave it to my mom as soon as I was done. So far she says she likes it, which is much better than the last book I forced upon her, The Children's Book which she absolutely hated!

>155 alcottacre:, I understand, Stasia. I spent about 3 hours the other day looking for one of my copies of Anne of Avonlea (I have at least 3), and couldn't find any of them.

>156 LibraryLover23:, Awesome! I'm so excited to get to Remains of the Day. I will probably read it sometime in September if all goes according to plan. :)

>157 Whisper1:, My thoughts exactly, Linda!

>158 dk_phoenix:, Thanks! They were all pretty enjoyable. I'm glad you agree with me on the I Am Hutterite. It was almost like the author needed a) more creative writing classes, b) a better editor, c) a ghost writer, or all three.

116. The Shaking Woman or A History of My Nerves - Siri Hustvedt

This was an interesting and thoughtful book, if not exactly what I expected. The title lead me to believe that it would be more of a personal memoir of illness, while, although Hustvedt talks about her life and her shaking incidents somewhat, it focuses more on the history of "hysteria" and the biological vs. psychological views of the human brain. If you are interested in learning about neurology, the history of psychology, and philosophical discussions on the soul, then you will enjoy this book, as I did. At times it could be quite dry and esoteric, but it left me with a lot to think about, and even though I would've enjoyed a more personal narrative, the questions raised by this little tome have stuck with me for the last week and I keep finding myself coming back to them again and again. It's the kind of book I wish I owned, instead of borrowed from the library, so I could highlight and take notes and come back to it again and again. Ah, well, maybe when it comes out in paperback. Recommended for intellectual searchers and anyone who has an illness that may, or may not be, "psychosomatic". Four stars.

#159: Somehow I think a book should just wave its little hands in the air and shout 'Read me!' when you are looking for it!

#161: I don't like this idea. The cacophony of noise that would greet me (and definitely you, Stasia) whenever we entered a bookstore or library would be deafening!

Your quiz answers were very funny!

>161 alcottacre:-62, Yes, and then the books that are sitting on your shelves would be nagging you to read them whenever you buy a new book or get them from the library... *shudders* I feel guilty just thinking about it.

>163 sibylline:, Thanks!

Hi Marcia

I'm way behind on the threads and thus I'm trying to spend some time tonight making a dent.

Thinking of you and sending hugs.

>165 Whisper1:, I understand, Linda! I am trying to do the same thing, lol. I am thinking of you as well, and I hope your pain is a little better. *hugs*

#162: You have a point, Darryl, although I was thinking more along the lines of the book we were particularly looking for yelling at us so we could find it!

Hey, folks! *waves* I've been rather busy this last week or two. I started back at school, and even though I'm only taking one class, it's still somewhat tiring for me physically. I've managed to get a little pleasure reading done, however, and have finished the following books:

117. The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff
118. Dragon Bones - Patricia Briggs
119. To the Nines - Janet Evanovich

Mostly fluff, lol, but I have to supplement my studying with some fun. I will try and post some thoughts/reviews of those three later this weekend, but I have a paper I need to at least start writing first.

Hope you guys are all doing well!

Hey, Marcia! Sorry to hear that school is taking it out of you already. I hope things improve for you as the semester goes along.

Hi Marcia! I somehow lost track of you for most of the summer! Now that I've found you again, though, I've added to my wishlist considerably. I hope you start feeling better soon!

Thanks, guys. I am feeling a little bit better, but still not quite up to par, and still busy. I did manage to finish a few more books in my spare time, however.

120. Blameless - Gail Carriger
121. Maybe This Time - Jennifer Crusie
122. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void - Mary Roach

I don't know if I will have reviews of these and the last ones anytime soon, but hopefully I will eventually.

I am especially interested in seeing what you thought of the Mary Roach book, Marcia.

I hope you continue to improve! Take care of yourself.

>172 alcottacre:, Stasia- I quite enjoyed Packing For Mars, but I'm a big Mary Roach fan in general. I'd say it's probably my favorite of hers since Stiff, and has a lot of really fascinating information in it. Definitely recommend it!

And now I shall attempt to catch up on some reviews/comments, since I have some free time today...



117. The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff

I enjoyed this book very much. Don't let the fact that it's recently been made into a Lifetime movie deter you... it's actually quite good! It tells the parallel stories of Jordan, a "lost boy," whose mother, the 19th wife, has been accused of murdering his father and Ann Eliza Young, a century earlier, the 19th wife of Mormon prophet Brigham Young. Recommended for fans of historical fiction and anyone fascinated (as I am) by polygamy. Four stars.

118. Dragon Bones - Patricia Briggs

This is a well-written, traditional fantasy by one of my favorite authors, Patricia Briggs. The well-drawn characters and plot separate it from the run-of-the-mill fantasy books with dragons in them. Recommended for fans of the genre. Four stars.

#174: I tried reading that one and just could not get into it. I will have to try it again one of these days.

#175: I had not heard of that one by Briggs. I will see if the local library has it. Thanks for the recommendation, Marcia.

Happy Thanksgiving, Marcia! I hope all is well with you.

I hope everything is okay, Marcia!

I, too, hope you are well, Marcia!

Merry Christmas, Marcia! I hope you'll come back to us one of these days :)

Me, too. Happy New Year!

Marcia

I'm concerned and hope you are feeling ok.