Roni 'ncats is back for 2010: Part Three

Welcome to thread number 3. My previous thread may be found at:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/87626







Books read in 2010 (touchstones will be in the messages containing the reviews, * signifies a re-read, # indicates an Off The Shelf book, + is a library book):

September
92. Sylvester: or The Wicked Uncle* by Georgette Heyer (286 pp.)
93. Mouse & Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (354 pp.) (June 2010)
94. Nine Gates by Jane Lindskold (467 pp.) (May 2010)
95. Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui+ by Karen Kingston (166 pp.)
96. Charlie Bone and the Red Knight by Jenny Nimmo (466 pp.) (May 2010
97. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (391 pp.)
98. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (398 pp.)
99. Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos+ by R. L. LaFevers (344 pp.)
100. The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley (253 pp.)
101. D. A. by Connie Willis (76 pp.)
102. Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal (302 pp.)
103. Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco (305 pp.)

August
78. The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (400 pp.)
79. The Masqueraders* by Georgette Heyer (320 pp.)
80. The Talisman Ring* by Georgette Heyer (234 pp.)
81. Regency Buck* by Georgette Heyer (300 pp.)
82. Thresholds by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (243 pp.)
83. Heavy Words Lightly Thrown+ by Chris Roberts (202 pp.)
84 The Foundling* by Georgette Heyer (316 pp.)
85. The Secret Fiend by Shane Peacock (244 pp.)
86. Emily Dickinson is Dead by+ Jane Langton (245 pp.)
87. A Conspiracy of Kings+ by Megan Whalen Turner (316 pp.)
88. Howards End on the Landing by Susan Hill (236 pp.)
89 Sprig Muslin* by Georgette Heyer (222 pp.)
90. Black Sheep* by Georgette Heyer (232 pp.)
91. The Zen of Fish+ by Trevor Corson (327 pp.)

July
62. Lirael* by Garth Nix (324 pp.) group read
63. Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer (199 pp.)
64. Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (325 pp.)
65. The Lives of Christopher Chant* by Diana Wynne Jones (230 pp.)
66. Charmed Life* by Diana Wynne Jones (222 pp.)
67. The Magicians of Caprona* by Diana Wynne Jones (223 pp.)
68. Witch Week* by Diana Wynne Jones (211 pp.)
69. Death in the Air: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Second Case+ by Shane Peacock (264 pp.)
70. Conrad's Fate* by Diana Wynne Jones (375 pp.)
71. The Pinhoe Egg* by Diana Wynne Jones (515 pp.)
72. Abhorsen* by Garth Nix (234 pp.)
73. The Aeneid by Virgil (translation by Robert Fagles) (425 pp.)
74. Magic Bites# by Ilona Andrews (260 pp.)
75. The Thief# by Megan Whalen Turner (219 pp.)
76. The Queen of Attolia# by Megan Whalen Turner (360 pp.)
77. Mixed Magics by Diana Wynne Jones (138 pp.)

June
55. Travels with Herodotus+ by Ryszard Kapuscinski (275 pp.)
56. Song of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy (354 pp.)
57. I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge (75 pp.)
58. Sabriel* by Garth Nix (216 pp.) group read
59. The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff (473 pp.)
60. Eye of the Crow by Shane Peacock (250 pp.)
61. Children of the Lens by E. E. "Doc" Smith (254 pp.)

May
48. Surrender None* by Elizabeth Moon (530 pp.)
49. Second Stage Lensmen* by E. E. (Doc) Smith (271 pp.)
50. The High King*# and The Foundling and other Tales of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander (231 pp.)
51. The Healing Powers of Chocolate by Cal Orey (294 pp.)
52. The Empress of Mars by Kage Baker (303 pp.)
53. The Blue Castle* by L. M. Montgomery (218 pp.)
54. Stopping for a Spell by Diana Wynne Jones (132 pp.)

April
34. Emissaries from the Dead by Adam-Troy Castro (387 pp.)
35. The Willoughbys+ by Lois Lowry (168 pp.)
36. Taran Wanderer* by Lloyd Alexander (138 pp.)
37. Beyond the Deepwoods# by Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell (278 pp.)
38. The Four-Story Mistake+ by Elizabeth Enright (177 pp.)
39. Gray Lensman* by E. E. "Doc" Smith (253 pp.)
40. Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones (292 pp.)
41. The Key to Rondo# by Emily Rodda (342 pp.)
42. Bitter Angels by C. L. Anderson (438 pp.)
43. House of Many Ways* by Diana Wynne Jones (404 pp.)
44. Sheepfarmer's Daughter* by Elizabeth Moon (506 pp.)
45. Divided Allegiance* by Elizabeth Moon (522 pp.)
46. Oath of Gold* by Elizabeth Moon (501 pp.)
47. Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon (471 pp.)

March
23. Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford (299 pp.)
24. Galactic Patrol* by E. E. (Doc) Smith (237 pp.)
25. The Castle of Llyr* by Lloyd Alexander (111 pp.)
26. Cold Comfort Farm# by Stella Gibbons (233 pp.)
27. The Accidental Sorcerer by K. E. Mills (535 pp.)
28. Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (253 pp.)
29. When You Reach Me+ by Rebecca Stead (197 pp.)
30. Superior Saturday by Garth Nix (278 pp.)
31. Lord Sunday by Garth Nix (317 pp.)
32. Bound in Blood by P. C. Hodgell (296 pp.)
33. High Wire (Edgar & Ellen)# by Charles Ogden (189 pp.)

February
12. My Father's Dragon# by Ruth Stiles Gannett (87 pp.)
13. Elmer and the Dragon# by Ruth Stiles Gannett (87 pp.)
14. The Dragons of Blueland# by Ruth Stiles Gannett (88 pp.)
15. Precious Dragon# by Liz Williams (351 pp.)
16. First Lensman* by E. E. "Doc" Smith (252 pp.)
17. The Black Cauldron*# by Lloyd Alexander (127 pp.)
18. HaveMercy# by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett (431 pp.)
19. The Anubis Gates* by Tim Powers (pp.387)
20. The Phantom Tollbooth*+ by Norton Juster (pp. 256)
21. Soulless by Gail Carriger (357 pp.)
22. The Lost Fleet: Dauntless# by Jack Campbell (293 pp.)

January
1. The Riddle-Master of Hed* by Patricia A. McKillip (222 pp.)
2. Heir of Sea and Fire* by Patricia A. McKillip (207 pp.)
3. Harpist in the Wind* by Patricia A. McKillip (257 pp.)
4. Triplanetary* by E. E. "Doc" Smith (240 pp.)
5. The Book of Three* by Lloyd Alexander (129 pp.)
6. Iorich by Steven Brust (319 pp.)
7. The Phantom Lover by Elizabeth Mansfield (250 pp.)
8. The Book of Dragons# by Edith Nesbit (153 pp.)
9. Three Cups of Tea# by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
10. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde (388 pp.)
11. The Sorceress of Karres by Eric Flint and Dave Greer (307 pp.)

Books entering my house (adopted):
January
1. Iorich by Steven Brust (Borders, 33% off coupon) READ
2. Powers by Ursula LeGuin (Borders, $3.99/hardback)
3. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde (Amazon) READ
4. The Sorceress of Karres by Eric Flint and Dave Greer (Amazon) READ
5. The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia (Amazon)
6. The Phantom Lover by Elizabeth Mansfield (BookMooch) READ
7. The Healing Powers of Chocolate by Cal Orey (ER book) READ
February
8. Blackout by Connie Willis (Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore)
9. Except the Queen by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder (Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore)
10. Soulless by Gail Carriger (Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore) READ
11. Lamentation by Ken Scholes (Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore)
12. The Accidental Sorcerer by K. E. Mills (Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore) READ
13. The Domino Men by Jonathan Barnes (BookMooch)
14. Murder of a Real Bad Boy by Denise Swanson (PaperBackSwap)
15. Murder of a Botoxed Blonde by Denise Swanson (PaperBackSwap)
16. Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford (Borders 25% off coupon) READ
March
17. Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (ER) READ
18. Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon (Amazon) READ
19. Superior Saturday by Garth Nix (Amazon) READ
20. Lord Sunday by Garth Nix (Amazon) READ
21. Bound in Blood by P. C. Hodgell (Amazon) READ
22. Witches Incorporated by K. E. Mills (Borders 40% coupon)
23. Emissaries from the Dead by Adam-Troy Castro (Mysterious Galaxy) READ
24. Bitter Angels by C. L. Anderson (Mysterious Galaxy) READ
25. Changeless by Gail Carriger (Amazon)
26. A Wizard of Mars by Diane Duane (Amazon) READ

April
27. Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynn Jones (Amazon) READ
28. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (PBS) (read library copy last year, got this one to keep)
29. California Home Landscaping by Roger Holmes and Lance Walheim. (Books Are Fun)

May
30. Nine Gates by Jane Lindskold (Borders--33% off coupon)
31. Charlie Bone and the Red Knight by Jenny Nimmo (Borders--33% off coupon)
32. The Empress of Mars by Kage Baker (Amazon) READ
33. Smart but Scattered by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
34. That Crumpled Paper was Due Last Week by Ana Homayoun
35. Stopping for a Spell by Diana Wynne Jones (PBS) READ
36. Storm From the Shadows by David Weber (Borders--$5 borders cash)
37. The Joy of the Snow by Elizabeth Goudge
38. I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge (these two ordered used from SCOTLAND!) READ

June
39. The Secret Fiend by Shane Peacock (ER)
40. Still Life by Louise Penny (BookMooch)
41. Airborn by Kenneth Oppel (PBS)
42. Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer (Amazon) READ
43. Mouse & Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Borders- 33% off coupon)
44. The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff (Borders) READ
45. Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher (PaperBackSwap)

July
46. Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Signed subscription)READ
47. The Shadow Pavilion by Liz Williams (Mysterious Galaxy)
48. The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker (MG)
49. The Gospel of the Knife by Will Shetterly (MG)
50. Black Ships by Jo Graham (PBS)

August
51. Thresholds by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (Amazon) READ
52. Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer (Borders 33% off coupon) Replacement copy
53. Alien Earth by Megan Lindholm (BookMooch)

September
54. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Borders 33% off coupon)
55. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Borders sale)
56. The Postman by David Brin (PBS-replacement copy for October read)
57. Blameless by Gail Carriger (B&N gift card)
58. Grand Central Arena by Ryk Spoor (B&N gift card)
59. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (PBS)
60. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (gift)
61-83 Books acquired for free from Glenda (fellow LT and BMer)
Anderson, Poul All One Universe
Bear, Greg Anvil of Stars
Bear, Greg Blood Music
Bear, Greg Eon
Bear, Greg Eternity
Bear, Greg Legacy
Bear, Greg Moving Mars
Bear, Greg The Force of God
Donaldson, Stephen R. A Man Rides Through
Donaldson, Stephen R. The Mirror of Her Dreams
Leiber, Fritz Swords' Masters
Leiber, Fritz The Knight and Knave of Swords
Miller, Walter M. JR. Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman
Sheffield, Charles Proteus Manifest
Silverberg, Robert Lord Prestimion
Silverberg, Robert Sorcerers of Majipoor
Silverberg, Robert The Mountains of Majipoor
Simak, Clifford Mastodonia
Simak, Clifford Thefellowship of the Talisman
Zelazny, Roger A Night in the Lonesome October
Zelazny, Roger Doorways in the Sand
Zelazny, Roger The Chronicles of Amber Vol I
Zelazny, Roger TheChronicles of Amber Vol II
84. D. A. by Connie Willis (gift from David--tapestry100)
85. Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer (raffle prize from Austenprose)
86. Georgette Heyer's Regency World by Jennifer Kloester (Borders-33% coupon)

Book #65 The Lives of Christopher Chant* by Diana Wynne Jones (230 pp.)

Marcia, Heather and humouress all recently read this, I believe, and awakened in me the hunger to do a re-read. Of course, there are 6 books involving the Chrestomanci, and now I will need to reread them all, sandwiched in between the group reads. How delightful!

I really cannot have read this one that many times--I remembered virtually nothing. The next I am going to read, Charmed Life, was the first I ever read of Jones, and I remember it well and know I've read it at least three or four times. This is set about 25 years earlier and deals with how Chant became the Chrestomanci. Simply a fun, imaginative children's fantasy romp, and very enjoyable.

Found you! And brought my own cake...



#2 I have really been enjoying my DWJ reads lately. Glad your reread didn't disappoint.

Did I beat Stasia?

I have never read any Diana Wynne Jones, but that sounds pretty entertaining. Maybe I should give her a go.

DWJ is on my to-read list too.

Wow, a third thread already! How do you do it, friend Roni? Teach us your waaaaayyysss! (Imagine that last sentence said in a bleaty sheep voice. Why, I don't know.)

Ooo, pineapple upside-down cake! With fake cherries 'n' everything!

I haven't read any DWJ recently, but I would dearly love to do a reread, so that's a good idea! It's a matter of tracking down my copies, however. I might do Witch Week rather than Charmed Lives, however, as that is my all time favorite. Got your new thread starred!

Thanks, Marcia. I'm planning to move on to Witch Week after Charmed Life.

Loved the cake, Heather! Yum!

I think Charmed Life was my first of hers, also, though it may have been The Spellcoats.

Hey, Roni! Just checking in on your new digs - thanks for the cake :)

Book #66 Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones (222 pp.)

This was the first written book in the Chrestomanci series, and the first of the series I read, whether the first Jones ever or not. Like Tad, Spellcoats may have been my first, but I'll never know now. This book can be read first or second, although reading it in this order, I was delighted to realize who Milly is in this book! I think this book is more cohesive as a story than the earlier chronological book above, which was created as backstory to this. I loved Cat then and now as well, and find him a more sympathetic character than Christopher. Ahead to Witch Week!

*waves*

Roni, you've inspired me to dig out the DWJ book (The Magicians of Caprona) that I bought a couple of years ago and never quite read. It's next on my TBR pile.

>14 archerygirl: Great! I looked and actually I'm going to read that one next, before Witch Week, which I reread last year and remember pretty well. Then on to Conrad's Fate and The Pinhoe Egg to complete the series. Let me know when you are ready to start!

Then maybe to the So You Want to Be a Wizard rereads...

Roni: Go here!

No reading tonight. I went to the Mysterious Galaxy and listened to Samuel R. Delany talk about writing. And he signed my copy of Neveryona (Bantam 1985), because the other 3 of his are older Ace paperbacks and up in the attic.

And of course, since I was IN a bookstore, I had to pick up some new books:
The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker, the first of her fantasy series
The Shadow Pavilion by Liz Williams, book 4 of her Inspector Chen series out in paperback already--big surprise!
The Gospel of the Knife by Will Shetterly, of which I know nothing except that Shetterly is always an interesting writer.

Well, of course you had to buy books while you were in the bookstore :) Looks like you picked up some good ones!

#17 Sounds like an interesting haul!

Glad you are enjoying your DWJ reads! I think she is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors.

Book # 67 The Magicians of Caprona by Diana Wynne Jones (263 pp.)

This is a lovely farcical take-off of Romeo and Juliet, lots of fun.

Book #68 Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones (211 pp.)

Each of the Chrestomanci books is completely different in style and content except for the presence of Chrestomanci at the denouement and that of magic. This one is set in a boarding school and captures perfectly the interaction and personalities of the students.

I'm half way through The Magicians of Caprona. Wasn't too sure about it for the first five pages, then I got caught up and now I'm madly reading every time I have five minutes spare. I'm loving it - I suspect that I'll be hunting down everything DWJ now :-)

I haven't come out of lurk mode for awhile since I confess that DWJ is not my cup of tea. I've really tried only the one about the cats - *Something with Moon* - and I was able to let it go to a more deserving owner at pbs. On the other hand, you say it's time for a little Heyer, Roni, and Venetia just arrived from pbs. Let me finish my Margaret Maron, and I'm on it!
(On the other hand, I was take by the only Liz Williams I tried, and I think I have another one on said other hand.)

Peggy, are you sure you aren't confusing Diana Wynne Jones with Diane Duane and her Book of Night with Moon cat wizard series? May I suggest you give DWJ another try, maybe with The Dark Lord of Derkholm?

I've been hit or miss with the Liz Williams books I've read, but I do really like her Inspector Chen series starting with Snake Agent--I think she's found a setting that really works for her.

I saw you had two of my favorite Heyers on your best of list, The Grand Sophy and The Unknown Ajax. Bath Tangle is cute but not top tier.

Thank you for the correction; you're absolutely right, Roni. So now, another author to discover. I'm whimpering with a great big smile! We're agreed about *BT*. I had started The Black Moth, but I believe that it's going to have to wait while I read Venetia.

I wish I had known about DWJ when I was young because she would have been a favorite, but better late than never, right?
A while back, I picked up a book that had both The Pinhoe Egg and Conrad's Fate for $1.99 at a discount bookstore just because I had heard so many positive things about DWJ on here, but it probably sat on my TBR shelf for a year and a half before I came across the rest of the Chrestimanci books on bookmooch. I finally got them all and read them all in the same week and LOVED them. Now I'm making a friend of mine read them :)

#23: I just wish my local library would get those Liz Williams books! The only book of hers that it has is Nine Layers of Sky.

Book #69 Death in the Air by Shane Peacock (264 pp.)

Being the second case of the boy Sherlock Holmes. This book is not quite as dark as the first was, but in it Sherlock continues to find life hard and his gifts unrewarded. The story was interesting and carried one along.
Spoiler alert!!

I have trouble, however, with the "thick as thieves" rationale for a key plot culmination--surely the others would have realized that it was either death now or death later, either way. And it's hard to believe that, even though there was an alternative way to publicize the crime that bypassed Sherlock, the capture of the gang was not necessarily linked to his actions.

Book #70 Conrad's Fate* by Diana Wynne Jones (375 pp.)

I read this book when it first came out, without rereading the earlier books, and that was a big mistake. Chronologically, it takes place between The Lives of Christopher Chant and Charmed Life, and is the only book, so far at least, to take us back into the lives of Christopher and Millie to any degree. Seen through Conrad's eyes in first person, there are numerous subplots careening through the scenery, and it is a fascinating romp as usual.

Roni, out of curiosity, what would you suggest as a starting point for a DWJ newbie? Howl's Moving Castle, perhaps?

That is a favorite of many people. My very favorite is one of her newer ones, The Dark Lord of Derkholm, and you have read enough regular fantasy to appreciate it. I'd also recommend Charmed Life.

You'd suggest reading The Chronicles of Christomanci in publication order, then?

Book #71 The Pinhoe Egg* by Diana Wynne Jones (515 pp.)

This one is even better as a re-read. Like Conrad's Fate, I'd only read this once before, right when it came out, and appreciate it even more this time, after reading all the others in sequence. This one occurs shortly after Charmed Life, and has all the characters from that book along with a whole new set in the countryside around the Castle. Lots of fun, very nicely done!!!

ETA and imagine my regret when I realize I do NOT have a copy of Mixed Magics: Four Tales of Chrestomanci. Fortunately, the local library has it. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, I will not be able to get it until Tuesday.

I am obviously just going to have to start collecting all of the DWJ books I can get my hands on! I have already read through the limited selection my local library has.

>31 ncgraham: Yes, I would recommend publication order. Personally.

You're definitely on a DWJ run here.

#31 There's also a suggested reading order from Diana Wynne Jones herself on wikipedia which I've been following which seems to work quite well.

I think I actually like Howl's Moving Castle least out of all the DWJ books I've read. That still makes it a really good book though. I still need to read The Dark Lord of Derkholm but I'm going to finish the Chrestomanci books first. Just Mixed Magics: Four Tales of Chrestomanci and The Pinhoe Egg to go!

#33 That's pretty much what I'm doing as well as borrowing from the library. I think these are definitely books I would like to own and reread.

Roni
Last year I read many Roald Dahl books in consecutive order. It looks like you are doing the same with DWJ. It is a fun journey eh?

hi Roni
I enjoyed my Diana Wynne Jones reads so much last year!
I read the books in Dutch, sadly they are not all available in translation (yet)...

Yes, Linda, much fun!

Book #72 Abhorsen* by Garth Nix (234 pp.)

The third book of the trilogy, reread for the group read this summer, ends on a highly satisfying note after much adversity. More comments on the group read page.

Book #73 The Aeneid translated by Robert Fagles (425 pp.)

This book is due tomorrow at the library, and I've already renewed it once so can't again, so I went ahead and finished this ahead of the group read. I had never read it, and although I'm no longer excited about epic battles as I was in my youth when I read the Odyssey and the Iliad, Fagles' language is beautiful, and I'm glad to be able to say, at long last, I have read it.

#39: I am way behind on that one, but I will get it finished eventually. I am glad to know it is a good end to the series.

#40: I read that one many years ago and am glad to say I never have to read it again. I did not care for it overmuch.

I think I should read the Aeneid again, and Beowulf.

>40 ronincats:, I really enjoyed the Fagles' translation of The Aeneid, as well. I still haven't read The Odyssey, however. I am woefully behind on my classics.

Book #74 Magic Bites# by Ilona Andrews (260 pp.)

Well, here's my first Book Off the Shelf in two months--about time, huh? Typical urban fantasy, with pack of were shape changers and pack of vampires and mortals and death, lots of blood and death, along with the smart-mouth female loner who tracks down them that does wrong. Still, within genre, the characters are less plastic than some, and our protagonist does NOT go to bed with anybody in this book. So, above average for its type, but still pretty much brain candy.

#44: I tried that one when it first came out and did not much care for it, so I never went on with the rest of the series.

I hope you like your next BOTS better :)

>44 ronincats:: That series definitely had the feeling of "me, too!" I tried a couple just to make sure, but I'm not buying any more of them.

#40 I think I would need to feel more adventurous than I do currently to try reading something like The Aenid but I am very impressed by everyone who is currently reading it!

#44 Might be one to pick up from the library when I'm in the mood rather than buying.

Book # 75 The Thief# by Megan Whalen Turner (219 pp.)

This series has been sitting on my shelf for the better part of a year (yes, it's a Book Off The Shelf) and when I needed to choose a book for #75, I decided it was time, after all the positive reviews it has generated. And I concur. It was an enjoyable fantasy quest story with a nice twist at the end, and I liked it a lot. Now I need to read the other two here off the shelf.

Congratulations on 75 books, Roni!

Just dropping by to return your visit...I really need to re-read The Aeneid, but couldn't swing it this time due to my other group reads. The last time I read it was in 8th grade, and I don't remember that much about it.

Congratulations on 75, Roni! You go girl!

Yay, I'm glad you enjoyed The Thief! Yes, by all means read the three others. They're excellent too (although each is very different from the others).

Congrats!

75 Books! Awesome! I'm ten books behind you...huff....puff. Oh well, I'm glad this isn't a race. I'm eating a lot of dust these days.

Haha, and here I am, proud to have finished my little 33 books already! Ah well, I read more every year. One of these years I'll make it to 75 too!

Well, it's summer vacation, you know--lots of reading time.

Book #76 The Queen of Attolia# by Megan Whalen Turner (360 pp.)

Yes, just as good as the previous one. Kept reading it until supper was late and my husband was upset--didn't want to lay it down!

Congrats on reaching 75...76. I should read these ones as well, I have The Thief lying around here somewhere.

Congratulations on reaching 75!

Congrats on reaching 75!

Thank you, all!

Book #77 Mixed Magics by Diana Wynne Jones

4 stories featuring Chrestomanci make up this book. They are not connected directly, but several feature characters from the other books.

Way to go!!

Yay! You reached 75! Congrats!

Congrats on reaching 75, Roni! I read The Thief earlier this year and loved it. I need to get to The Queen of Attolia soon!

and our protagonist does NOT go to bed with anybody in this book

Is that allowed?!

Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed The Thief and The Queen of Attolia. That is one of my favorite series and go-to comfort reads. Congrats on reaching 75! :)

Congratulations on reading 75 (well now 77) books! The Megan Whalen Turner books are also on my looong wishlist!

>48 ronincats: & 60: I've never heard of those. Are they YA or adult?

July Summary

62. Lirael* by Garth Nix (324 pp.) group read
63. Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer (199 pp.)
64. Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (325 pp.)
65. The Lives of Christopher Chant* by Diana Wynne Jones (230 pp.)
66. Charmed Life* by Diana Wynne Jones (222 pp.)
67. The Magicians of Caprona* by Diana Wynne Jones (223 pp.)
68. Witch Week* by Diana Wynne Jones (211 pp.)
69. Death in the Air: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Second Case+ by Shane Peacock (264 pp.)
70. Conrad's Fate* by Diana Wynne Jones (375 pp.)
71. The Pinhoe Egg* by Diana Wynne Jones (515 pp.)
72. Abhorsen* by Garth Nix (234 pp.)
73. The Aeneid by Virgil (translation by Robert Fagles) (425 pp.)
74. Magic Bites# by Ilona Andrews (260 pp.)
75. The Thief# by Megan Whalen Turner (219 pp.)
76. The Queen of Attolia# by Megan Whalen Turner (360 pp.)
77. Mixed Magics by Diana Wynne Jones (138 pp.)

A high of 16 books this month, as befits summer vacation! Several group reads, the start of a new series, and a comfort read run-through of all of DWJ's Chrestomanci books account for the lion's share.

1 classic
1 YA mystery
13 fantasy
1 science fiction

8 books never read before, 6 rereads
3 books off the shelf

I really enjoyed the re-read for the group read of the Abhorsen Trilogy, and enjoyed starting The Thief series.

Forgot to summarize the books acquired in July:

46. Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Signed subscription)
47. The Shadow Pavilion by Liz Williams (Mysterious Galaxy)
48. The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker (MG)
49. The Gospel of the Knife by Will Shetterly (MG)
50. Black Ships by Jo Graham (PBS)

1 of these read already (Saltation)--it's SF, but the rest are fantasy. Of the 8 new books read this month, 3 were library, so I only broke even with books in my house read vs. coming in.

Forgot to summarize the books acquired in July:

46. Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Signed subscription)
47. The Shadow Pavilion by Liz Williams (Mysterious Galaxy)
48. The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker (MG)
49. The Gospel of the Knife by Will Shetterly (MG)
50. Black Ships by Jo Graham (PBS)

1 of these read already (Saltation)--it's SF, but the rest are fantasy. Of the 8 new books read this month, 3 were library, so I only broke even with books in my house read vs. coming in.

On the other hand, if I hadn't gotten those books from the library, I probably would have bought them and thus had 8 books coming it and so still broken even.

Congrats!

Nice summaries! I've heard a lot about Jo Graham recently but I haven't read anything of hers so I will be interested to hear what you think of Black Ships.

Book #78 The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (400 pp.)

Another enjoyable story in this series! One always worries with a series that the next book won't live up to those before, but so far Whalen has been able to keep up the quality and move the plot along. What I loved about this book are the relationships. It was also interesting to not have Eugenides as the POV--definitely created suspense and worked very well. Fortunately, the library has the new book, which I have already put on hold.

Yes, Turner's characters—and the relationships between them—are definitely the selling point for me. I talked about that some in my review for the latest volume.

Congrats on reaching 75 (and what a great book to do it with!)! Glad you're enjoying the series - those are among my favorites...

www.austenprose.com is doing a month-long celebration of Georgette Heyer, and that has stimulated me to do some favorite rereads, as they move through a series of reviews.

79. The Masqueraders* by Georgette Heyer (320 pp.)

80. The Talisman Ring* by Georgette Heyer (234 pp.)

Two of Heyer's early books, both highly entertaining romances with great characters and lots of action! Highly recommended!

Yard sale tomorrow, at my husband's instigation. We shall see how it goes--our neighborhood is not great for this. Excess knickknacks being offered.

#77: Good luck with the yard sale, Roni!

I have read several book by Georgette Heyer, but neither of these. Thanks for the recommendation.

Also, years ago I read and enjoyed The Thief, but the sequels were not out yet. I think I'll read the entire series now.

The Talisman Ring is one of my favourite Heyers: I first read it as a teenager and wanted to be Sarah Thane when I grew up, and I still love it. I'm glad you enjoyed them both.

>77 ronincats:: "Excess knickknacks being offered."

What, no books? I love having garage sales...but always at my brother's or niece's house. The last one here was 8 years ago, and I meant it when I said I wasn't having anymore sales. Thank goodness for pick-ups from the DAV.

At least at someone else's house, there is the social aspect...and they can clean the garage and provide the snacks! They are so much work with very little gain. Guess I don't have the best "junk."

I hope you have great success with your sale, Roni. It sounds like your husband will be great help. My husband tends to hide in the house. ;-)

Woof!

I lost you there for awhile. I figured I was going to find the Emma Bull book for certain during my recent trip to the trade and second hand store but no luck. Still searching!

Hmmm... might have to re-read The Talisman Ring myself :)

Glad to see you're getting settled into your new routine -- happy for you!

Well, that was exhausting. Three hours in, we had made a grand total of $15. We ended up with $61. I have tried to convince my husband that it is more profitable just to donate to GoodWill. We live in a vibrant but relatively poor neighborhood with many minorities and immigrants, and our good stuff just doesn't go for anything, especially in this economy.

OK, books--I had three boxes full of children's books, mostly picture books, left over from school, and only sold about 10 of them. The other stuff I read mostly goes to PaperBackSwap or BookMooch.

I culled out 20 of my mugs, mostly cat mugs, that I collect, and didn't sell a one.

I got half of Regency Buck read while sitting out waiting for people to walk by. And a new book by Nina Kiriki Hoffman, one of my favorite authors, arrived in the mail from Amazon--I had preordered it months ago.

I took a beading class on Friday and made a necklace and a bracelet that look quite professional. I'm taking a fused glass class on Monday. We'll see how I do at that!

Thanks, everyone for stopping by. Glad you found me, Mac, but sorry you didn't find Territory on your travels. Want me to send you my copy?

Our neighborhood has a huge yard sale twice a year. We participated a few years ago...made $100 for the day and decided not to do it again...too much work...

I had a surprise in my garden the other day. Didn't think this plant was going to produce anything this year.

And the moonflower discussion and Linda's garden pictures on the other threads had inspired me to photograph blooms from my passion flower vines.

#86/87 Beautiful!

stunningly gorgeous..

thank you for taking the time to post..

:D

Thanks for taking the photos and for then posting them so we can enjoy them, too.

Happy gardening AND happy reading.

Love, Ruth

Can you believe--an iris in August?

It's fun to get surprises like that Iris of yours. I can't get enough of my Irises to bloom at the regular time. Passionflowers are beautiful and funny; some look like little toys on the vines.

Oh my goodness, those are beautiful! I don't know that I've ever seen a passion flower vine before.

Gorgeous flower pics! I was worried that my moonflower (planted it for the first time this year)--would it become a "crazed weed" in future years. I have a passion flower vine in the front yard, and we get baby passion flower vines growing all through the grass all season long. This flower looks so fragile, and I figured the vine would easily die off. Not so. NOTHING will kill it once it gets going, which is great because it's such a beautiful flower. Like passion, however, the flowers are fleeting, lasting only one day. I live in Missouri. They like heat and humidity, and they demand very little attention except for wanting a place to grow. But be warned, you will be pulling out the "volunteers" from everywhere near this vine.

Roni, is that your experience as well? Love the iris also. I've been reading so much this summer, and it's been so hot, my garden has suffered from too little attention. Oh well.

Your iris and passion flower are both beauties! I'm still enjoying the blooms from my Moonflower Vine each evening, but they are quite plain. We had "second" blooms on our iris plants a few years ago in the fall. It was strange -- but always nice to get a bonus like that.

I totally agree with you on the yard sale. Too much work for too little return. I do kind of like to see who stops by, however. We have Amish people in our area who are frequent visitors to yard an garage sales.

Will Goodwill come and pick up your leftovers?

Ooo! Love the flower pics! I agree about yard sales. Too much work for not enough return. It is so much easier to donate to goodwill and it goes to a good cause. Win-win!

What incredible photos. I love purple flowers!

Goodwill doesn't come, but we load up the back of the pickup and go deliver all the leftovers--just got back from doing that, actually!

Oh how gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the pictures, Roni!

Love the photos!

I haven't had a yard sale since I discovered Freecycle. I remember how much work they are, and to have a good sale in my neighborhood, I have to advertise in advance, which can cost money.

I love how with Freecycle I can choose someone in need to use our unwanted items. And they come right to our house to pick up as well.

Glad you got some reading done during the sale - great idea!

You're offer to send me Territory was very generous but, for me, the hunt is part of the book experience. and, even if you sent it to me, it'd be low on the list for reading. So, thanks anyway.

Good hunting, then, Mac!

Book #81 Regency Buck* by Georgette Heyer (300 pp.)

This early book was the first of Heyer's Regencies (the earlier ones were all set in the Georgian period prior to 1800). As such, Heyer tended to overdo the realistic details of the setting, from the boxing match early in the book, the cockfight, and the drive from London to Bath late in the book. She has also not developed her gift of comedic banter and delightful secondary characters yet, although the glimpses of Beau Brummel, the Prince Regent, and his brothers are fascinating in themselves. Although not one of Heyer's better Regencies, this book holds its own relative to all the other Regency wannabees out there!

Book #82 Thresholds by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

This was somewhat of a disappointment to me, as three of her last four books have been, especially since I loved her first 6 novels. Now, I have not read the 3 books she wrote for R. L. Stine's Ghosts of Fear Street series for kids. This book is obviously a bid to start a children's fantasy series of her own, surely a lucrative arena.

However, if I were a 10-12 year old, this may well have become one of my favorite fantasies. It is the story of Maya, whose family has moved to a new town after the death by cancer of her very best friend the previous year. The mysterious neighbors, the new school experiences--all could have been fleshed out so much more to make it a YA book, but are left at a pretty basic level that makes it optimum for younger children.

I love that not only can I go to Austenprose any day this month and find loads of info about Heyer and her books, but she's also popping up everywhere here right now! I enjoyed reading your thoughts on Regency Buck. I guess I wasn't aware that These Old Shades et al. were Georgians. And is the inclusion of real historical figures exclusive to her early books? I've yet to find any in the ones I've read.

It's not coincidental, as I've been reading some of the books that Austenprose has been reviewing because it's been a while since I read those ones!

The Masqueraders takes place a couple of years after the battle of Culloden, to which reference takes place, and refers to Farmer George, the Hanoveran king placed on the throne in place of the Stuarts. That battle was in 1746. Similarly, during TOS and Devil's Cub, the French aristocracy was still intact, with the revolution occurring 1789-1799. So The Talisman Ring takes place within that period because the Revolution is still going on. The Regency period is strictly speaking from 1811-1820, while old George the 3rd was incapacitated but still alive, and the Prince Regent, later to be George the 4th, acted as his regent, but often loosely used for 1800 to 1825. Napoleon is at the height of his power in Europe from 1800 to 1815, and England is at war with him until the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 (when An Infamous Army, with Bab, Vidal's granddaughter (he of Devil's Cub) meets up with Charles Audley, the brother of Worth in Regency Buck, takes place).

No, other than Regency Buck and of course the historicals such as An Infamous Army and The Spanish Bride, never again are actual people woven so directly into the story, and never again does she go into so much tedious detail in her romances of everyday activities, alluding to them in passing and within plot relevance only.

Oh no! I knew it wasn't coincidental. My perusal of Friday's Child isn't either. I just enjoy the fact that all the Heyermania is spilling over. :-)

Thanks greatly for the overview of time and place in Heyerdom. I've added it to my favorite posts and will refer back to it. I take it you're not a great fan of the historicals? Most fans don't seem to be, but I confess, I'm intrigued by them.

I have to confess I haven't read the historicals other than the two referenced above, and they have enough connections with the Regency period that I find them highly interesting. I tried one or two of the mysteries and wasn't impressed, although I've heard the first I tried isn't her best. But I love the Georgians and Regencies!

Finally made it to the library today to pick up the following--ALL as a result of LTers' recommendations.

A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Emily Dickinson is Dead by Jane Langton
The Zen of Fish by Trevor Corson
Heavy Words Lightly Thrown by Chris Roberts

Alas for my TBR piles sitting here at home...

That's right, blame it all on us :)

Hi Roni! Great job of Heyer Promotion!!! I don't know how I managed all those years when I was reading only an annual one (or none). I really just stopped to speak and now have to check out The Zen of Fish just because.....

just passing through and catching up....
refusing to look at any blue text ......

*waves*

ditto what Kath said...

Hello to you!

>108 alcottacre: Of course it's all your fault! Linda (Whisper) raved about Emily Dickinson is Dead and so I ordered it, but you, Stasia, did your part by reading it as well. Caroline (Cameling) forced me to order The Zen of Fish to discover what it is I am doing wrong when eating sushi, and Patrick (pbadeer) raved about Heavy Words Lightly Thrown, and everybody insisted I read the Megan Whalen Turner Attolia series, and A Conspiracy of Kings is the next book in it...what's a poor girl to do?

Thanks for stopping by, Kath and Linda and Stasia. I wasn't here. I was at the beach and took both Howard's End is on the Landing and Heavy Words Lightly Thrown with me to see the ocean. Lovely day, sunshine and 70 and not too crowded. If you want to see where I was, follow this link:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.coronadobeaches.us/wp-content/upl...

#112: Beautiful pictures of the beach, Roni! I hope you had a wonderful time (and the books too, of course.)

Oh, wow! My husband and I went to UCSD. We love living in CO, but we do miss San Diego, and my husband really misses the beach. He grew up in Cyprus. I think we'll try to go next summer -- we're overdue for a visit! So glad you had a good day at the beach.

>112 ronincats:: Thanks for posting that lovely beach "fix" link; although it created more of a longing for me than a fix!

You've made me want to read Georgette Heyer at some point. I've also "favorited" Post 104 to serve as a reference. Do you have a recommendation for a Heyer book to begin with?

I'm not Roni, and I've only read 3 Heyers (counting the one I'm reading now) but go for Cotillion! It's wonderful.

For you, Donna, I would probably recommend Frederica or Black Sheep or The Reluctant Widow to start out. I love Cotillion; in fact, it is probably my favorite Regency, but part of its appeal is that it turns certain Regency romance tropes on their heads, and so it helps to know a little of the genre first. On the other hand, as Nathan shows, it is a great story regardless.

I will say that Cotillion may have spoiled me when it comes to Heyer, so yes, maybe not the best one to start with just because of that.

One of the lovely things about Heyer is that she rarely writes the same story twice. Once having established the "Regency romance" format, she then delights in twisting the format a bit differently in each book, leading to many enchanting surprises!

Cotillion is my favourite, too - although The Reluctant Widow is one of several that run it close.

Way too much blue text, and way too much beach envy.. gotta leave..
:P

Book #83 Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The reason behind the rhyme+ by Chris Roberts (202 pp.)

This was a great summer read and beach book! Patrick (pbadeer) recommended it on his thread and the library had a copy. Very short chapters about specific nursery rhymes make it easy to pick up and put down and pick up again. The glossary of specifically British terms was much appreciated. And Robert's dry humor, double entendres and puns enlivened the whole. I did recognize the majority of the nursery rhymes and found the discussion amusing and interesting, even when or maybe especially when it was mostly speculation.

#122: I already have that one in the BlackHole after Patrick's review, so I do not need to add it again. Glad to see you enjoyed it.

Hi, Roni -

My Library here in Tallahassee has Heavy Words Lightly Thrown so I am on the reserve list for that one. I grew up on a set of books called Journeys Through Bookland and read many, many nursery rhymes myself, as well as reading them to my girls when they were little. It will be interesting to read the story behind them.

You brought back fond memories with your post about Coronado Beach recently. I lived in San Diego from 1986 - 2005 in the Morley Field area of the Northpark neighborhood, not too far from the San Diego Zoo. It was a quick zip down the hill and over the bridge to Coronado and many a night we did just that and ended up walking from the last of the condos on the right all the way down to the Hotel Del and sometimes even to the boundary of the Naval base fence. Pleasant memories. Enjoy your time there and please think of me.

womansheart/Ruth

>116 ncgraham:-19: Thank you all for the quick feedback on G. Heyer. I checked the library website and I can easily get Black Sheep and Cotillion so I will read them in that order sometime this fall. Looking forward to broadening my reading horizons.

Roni, you're becoming my "go to" person after your great suggestions for my granddaughter and now the Heyer recs. I appreciate it.

I think I'm due for another dip into G. Heyer's books too! :)

Roni, I am all caught up as promised! Lovely pictures of flowers and beaches but sorry your yard sale didn't go so well. I'm not sure what our equivalent of a yard sale would be in the UK - a car boot sale?

It has been a long, long time since I read any Georgette Heyer so I have made a note of some of the titles mentioned.

The beading and fused glass classes sound great fun - does this mean you are properly enjoying retirement?

That was my opening foray into properly enjoying retirement. My school district goes back to work next week, and that's when it will really start to feel different. I plan to take a wire class next month, and I bought a new sewing machine Tuesday. I didn't really need a new one--my old one works perfectly well, but it is 28 years old and this one has all sorts of extra features as well as an automatic buttonholer and was 40% off. At $150 instead of $250, it was about a third what I paid for my old one. Now to inventory my patterns and my fabric cache...

Meanwhile, inspired by the review for Heyer books at www.Austenprose.com for Georgette Heyer month, I did a re-read of The Foundling.

Book #84 The Foundling* by Georgette Heyer (316 pp.) This one is great fun. I like that the two main characters are quiet, shy people who learn a bit about how to assert themselves in the course of the story. I love both Gilly and Harriett. In the typical romance, Gilly's cousin Gideon would have been the protagonist, but in typical Heyer fashion, the plot elements are twisted into a delightful play on expectations. Leversedge is the most unusual, voluble, opportunistic of villains, and the plot elements verge upon farce at times, but resolve themselves into a most satisfying story.

The back cover fell off my Ace book edition--not sure of the year but it cost $.95 new. I went to Borders with my 33% off coupon, but they didn't have this one--I got a new edition of Friday's Child instead.

#128: Another Heyer I will have to get around to some time :)

I have an Ace books Friday's Child, and had to reinforce it with tape as I was reading....

Sorry, but GO GIANTS!!!!!

Friday's Child is not one of my favourites, but my copy is still pretty well loved.

I enjoy The Foundling. Gilly makes a great, non-traditional hero, and the character development is wonderful. And insofar as it's possible to have a crush on a fictional character, I lust a little after Gideon Ware.

I must re-read some Heyers soon.

Just stopping by to say hi after a massive catch-up. Glad to see you're reading lots of DWJ, and I hope you enjoy Black Ships as well--I was really impressed with it. Finally, I'm not really a romance reader, but every time I see more praise for Heyer I tell myself, "one of these days"....

The latest quiz, via Stasia:

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

The Thief
The Queen of Attolia
The King of Attolia
The Magicians of Caprona
The High King
Sheepfarmer's Daughter

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

Lord Sunday
Superior Saturday
Witch Week

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

My Father's Dragon
Sheepfarmer's Daughter

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

Eye of the Crow
Bound in 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 Phantom Tollbooth
The Castle of Llyr
House of Many Ways
The Blue Castle

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

Heartless
Magic Bites

Darn the Padres!!!!!

Heavy Words Lightly Thrown is waiting for me to pick up at the Library. I'm looking forward to reading it! Thanks for the recommendation.

Love, R

I hope you enjoy it too, Ruth.

Don't be greedy, Mac!

I'm not greedy......just a frustrated, tortured fan. I'd be willing to send Mr. Bochy back to San Diego!

>84 ronincats:: I've given up on Nina Kiriki Hoffman. She has never...imo...gotten close to The Thread that Binds the Bones and, in fact, just keeps becoming less enjoyable for me. While I know many people would disagree violently with me, I've decided that it's best to consider her a one-work author in my own mind.

>All the recent posts: And I've still not read a single Heyer. :-)

Oh, no, Mac. We don't want Bochy back!

Tad, while I still consider the Thread that Binds the Bones her best, I also really enjoyed A Red Heart of Memories, Past the Size of Dreaming, A Fistful of Sky, A Stir of Bones, and Spirits That Walk in Shadow. I thought they were original and really liked her characters. It's Catalyst and Fall of Light that I didn't care for--the first nominally SF and the second more traditional horror. And this latest one is okay, but targeted at the younger set and not deep enough to appeal to adults that much. There are zillions of children's fantasy series out there now trying to cash in and this new book is at or above par for them--it's just she wrote such good adult characters...

Book #85 The Secret Fiend by Shane Peacock (244 pp.)

This was an ER book and is the fourth in a series on "The Boy Sherlock Holmes". Therefore, I read the first two books in the series, which I was able to find in the library, first. In this series, Peacock tries to explore the childhood of the boy and what might have created the adult figure of Holmes that we know so well from Arthur Conan Doyle's stories--aloof, no family ties to speak of, unemotional. Unfortunately, from my point of view, he chooses to do this in third person present tense. "It's a trap, thinks Sherlock." This continually jarred on my ear.

The books themselves are dark, IMO. There is an incident at the end of the first book that deeply disturbed me. This may be necessary, in the long story arc, to create the person Holmes becomes, but there would have been other ways to develop the isolation. I am not a habitual murder mystery reader, but I have read all of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, and I enjoyed other historical mysteries such as Bruce Alexander's Sir John Fielding books, quite a bit. Each book revolves around a case, but also moves Holmes forward in age and relationships, some of which are not very believable.

I believe Peacock has won a number of awards with his books, so it may just be me. Indeed, from the reviews so far, I think it IS just that these are not MY cup of tea.

I hope your next read IS your cup of tea, Roni!

Book #86 Emily Dickinson is Dead by Jane Langton (245 pp.)

I came to this book expecting to be delighted and amused. Not only had Linda (Whisper) marveled over it, but Stasia had recommended it as well, and others concurred. And there were delightful things, indeed. Lines from Emily's poems interspersed throughout and the main character is a delightfully drawn man. His friend Homer's cooking has to bring a smile to one's face, and Dombey Dell makes a splendid foil in the academic world.

However, the character and family dynamics of three of the most compromised characters are truly searing and dysfunctional, in almost too stark contrast to the lighter themes. The introduction of these themes shook me out of "delightful and amused", nearly to the extent of not appreciating the way that all the pieces of the puzzle came together at the end. The contrasts were too great for me in the end.

(Roni, just a word to say that yesterday our teachers went back to school - one of the best days in the year for me although I'm awfully sorry for my working friends. Hope you make the most of your day when it comes!)

Loved the photos of the beach. Is the water really that clear and the beach that clean. What a marvel!

Happy, Happy retirement!

Thank you, Peggy and Linda! Yes, this has been my first true week of retirement. The staff went back to school for inservice and prep days on Monday, and the students arrive next Monday. A furlough day today for the staff--which used to be a prep day, since they've been in meetings almost all week for new curriculum adoptions. 6 furlough days added this week, which amounts to a 4% pay cut. I had lunch with a couple of my colleagues on Tuesday and heard all the latest! And it has been SO nice not to have to get up and go to those day-long meetings.

Yes, Linda, the water really is that clear and the beach that clean, if not that uncrowded this time of year. This is our south-facing beach and it is pristine while all the beaches to the north are suffering algae bloom. And it is so wide and long that it never seems crowded, whereas La Jolla Shores, for example, is a shallow crescent that fills up towel to towel this time of year. Hope you are feeling better, Linda.

#143: Sorry you did not enjoy that one more, Roni. I hope your next read is more to your taste.

Book #87 A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

The saga continues in book 4 in a most satisfactory manner! Any details will contain spoilers for the previous books, so let me just say that Whalen keeps up the quality of her story!

Book #88 Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill (236 pp.)

I've been reading this book, a chapter or two at a time, over the last few weeks, compliments of Stasia. It's been a great summer book, like a collection of small essays, and perfect for reading in the bubble bath during summer vacation days. I appreciated Hill's meandering thoughts, was interested in the wide variety of writers she has met in the course of her work, and enjoyed her thoughts on various books. She seemed to change focus midbook from a year of reading only her own owned books to the 40 books she would take with her to a desert island. But that doesn't really matter, as each chapter seemed like a separate essay. I've never read any of her fiction works or even heard of her before, but this was very enjoyable. I will have to check out some of the books she discusses for sure!

ETA I wish I had a house like hers, with landings and room for books on them. I don't even have stairs!

#148: I need to re-read that series, but have been waiting for my local library to get in book 4 before I started them again. It looks as though the library finally has it. Thanks for the reminder, Roni.

#149: I am glad you liked that one! (I do not have stairs in my home either, so I understand your wishing for landings.)

Glad you had some better reads after a couple you didn't enjoy so much! None of my local libraries have the Megan Whalen Turner books so at some point I will have to bite the bullet and order them from Amazon.

149- I want to read that book VERY much - still haven't located a copy, but I hope to soon! I want to read it even though I've heard some 'lackluster' reviews of it. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. :)

Alack and alas, on a Monday morning which should have been all joy (for the first time in over 30 years, I am NOT welcoming students back to school!), I awake with a migraine, and two sick cats, after just having lost another over the weekend. Honey was elderly and had been ill, and I'm sure she is much more at peace now, but Zoe and Sugar were doing just fine up to a few days ago. Now, trips to the vet coming up tomorrow.

Book #89 Sprig Muslin* by Georgette Heyer (222 pp.)

I shall wait to comment on it until I am feeling much more the thing!

#153 Alack and alas indeed :-( Sorry about your migraine and the sick cats but especially sorry about Honey.

Oh Roni, I also lost one of my cats a couple of days ago, so sorry to hear about your Honey.
I enjoyed Howards End is on the Landing, and while I do have stairs, my home doesn't sound nearly as interesting as hers does with all the books poked in every which where. I have read her The Woman in Black which is a ghost story.

I have a couple of Heyers here that my mother loaned me a while back - she has a whole bookshelf dedicated to Heyer.

Feeling a bit better--think the meds have finally kicked in, so I will try the new quiz for amusement.

In school I was: Heartless
People might be surprised I’m: The Phantom Lover
I will never be: My Father's Dragon
My fantasy job is: The Sorceress of Karres
At the end of a long day I need: The Healing Powers of Chocolate
I hate it when: Magic Bites
Wish I had: Mixed Magics
My family reunions are: Shades of Grey
At a party you’d find me with: The Queen of Attolia
I’ve never been to: The Enchantment Emporium
A happy day includes: Three Cups of Tea
Motto I live by: HaveMercy, Surrender None
On my bucket list: Travels with Herodotus
In my next life, I want to be: The Empress of Mars

Oh, Roni, I am so sorry to hear about your dear Honey! As you know, I lost my cat a couple of weeks ago. We miss her. I hope you, and Zoe and Sugar all feel better soon.

>155 avatiakh:, Kerry, I'm so sorry to hear about your cat as well. It is so hard to lose a beloved pet.

My sympathies too, Roni and Kerry. I don't care how old they are, we cherish our cats and miss them when they're gone. Chibby, Elle, Tully, and Hilfy join me in hopes that Zoe and Sugar are completely back to normal by tomorrow.
The only Susan Hill I've read are the first 4 Simon Serrailler mysteries. After I forgave her for the first one, they have assumed a place near the top of my list of favorites.

So sorry Roni that you lost Honey.
I hope the other two will feel better soon!

And Kerry sorry for you too.

I know too well that loosing a beloved pet is always hard :-(

So sorry about Honey! *hugs* And lol, our answers to the quiz are quite similar! We do read a lot of the same books.

*running over to Marcia's thread to check her answers!*

Roni I hope Tuesday is a much better day for you. Best of luck with the cats at the vets. I am sorry to hear about your Honey.

It's so sad when we lose one of our cats... Sorry Roni. Hope the other two are doing much better.

Envying your Heyer re-reads (I have too few!), and your photography skills. Those are some stunning shots!

Cat update:

Zoe is doing much better. I think her diarrhea was already disappearing, judging by the stool sample she provided on the way to the vet, so she just has some medicine to help firm her up.

Sugar, age 14, is dehydrated, isn't eating, and the blood work-up showed a very high white blood count. In addition, her teeth are in really bad shape and infected, which probably is causing all of the above. She spent the night at the vet's (at a rate for which we could have gotten a REALLY nice major hotel room here in San Diego) on an IV, and I'm going to pick her up at 7 tonight and continue antibiotics and force feed her if necessary to get her in shape for tooth surgery. The vet would really have liked to keep her another night, but besides the very high charge, I think Sugar will be more comfortable at home. He says she's hiding in the back of her cage there. So, your best wishes appreciated. Good news--kidney and liver function are good, as is thyroid, and she doesn't have feline leukemia or parvo. So hopefully we'll be able to beat this infection.

I do kitty prayers. Thx for the update.

Roni

I'm so sorry for your loss! Pets are an integral part of our lives and family. BIG Hugs...and healing wishes that your migrane stays away! Fiorcet is a magic drug for me.

THanks, Linda. I do hope you are feeling much better, too. Maxalt is what works for my migraines.

Thanks for the kitty prayers, Susan. Sugar started eating independently before we brought her home, and crawled up in my lap to try and snag some of the salmon we had for supper, so hopefully she will continue to improve. She is so happy to be home.

I am glad Sugar is recovering, Roni. I hope she continues to do so!

Good to read your cats are doing better!
I send good thoughts for Sugar, she might need them.

Catching up with you here, Roni.

>149 ronincats:: I've been wanting to read Howard's End is on the Landing for the title alone...and now I hear it's a pretty entertaining book about books. And I DO have a landing. Unfortunately, that's where I store my photo albums for the many years of my adult life. Hmmm...I could probably fit a few books in there as well. Maybe memoirs to go along with the theme of one's life story?

>153 ronincats:: So sorry about the loss of your cat, Honey. Pets are such an important part of our lives.
>164 ronincats:: Ack! And another one sick? Sugar has my prayers for quick healing so she can get those teeth cleaned and start enjoying life again.

>156 ronincats:: I know...I'm out of order, but wanted to keep the kitty messages together. I love these quizzes and seeing everyone's answers. Fun stuff.

Thank you, Stasia, Anita, and Donna. Zoe is fine, but Sugar is still doing poorly.

Book #90 Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer (232 pp.)

Another charming Heyer, with both protagonists older, and the setting in Bath. I hadn't read it for quite a while--a nice comfort read following another headache midday.

Sorry to hear that Sugar is still not 100%. Hopefully she'll pull through.
I borrowed a couple of my mother's Heyer books to re-read at some stage - Devil's Cub and These Old Shades. I want to read An Infamous Army but thought it would be fun to read a couple of others as well. Just have to find the time to slot them in.

Sorry to hear about both the headache and Sugar. I hope both improve soon!

Sorry to hear Sugar is still not doing so well and the headache...
Loved the answers to the quiz, I don't believe you were heartless in school though!

Thanks for the really nice comment on my reviews! All of the talk about Emma Bull over on Doc Neutron's thread is making me anxious to rummage up a copy of Territory!

Thanks, Kerry, Stasia, and Heather. Sugar came home from the vet with an inflamed eye and lots of head congestion--which she did not have when she left. Her appetite is picking up a bit and she's a bit more active. And THIS headache was a simple headache, not a migraine, so fortunately quickly knocked down.

Heather, I figured heartless was better than soulless!

You deserved it, Mac! I do really enjoy reading your writing. Hope you can find a copy of Territory.

Had my first class of the semester last evening. Not too bad, class of 11 (graduate seminar in the assessment of cognitive processing), but I keep getting more and more disorganized in my old age...

Book #91 The Zen of Fish+ by Trevor Corson (327 pp.)

I checked this book out of the library following Caroline's review of it under a different name in Britain. Blending the history of sushi with the experience of a class at the California Sushi Academy actually works pretty well, creating a book that you read a chapter or two at a time rather than straight through. It was very interesting and has changed how I will eat my sushi, for sure!

#177: I have had that one in the BlackHole since Caro's review and my local libraries still do not have it, but I just found out it is available for my Nook.

Cat troubles...I remember our seemed to come in bunches, so I empathize with you. We only have dogs now and they are 4 years apart so, perhaps, we won't get a grouping of calamities when the time comes.

So does this mean you're only partially retired? You retired from the public school position but still have the other things(s) going?

Sorry Sugar caught stuff at the vets. I'm always afraid I'll catch something at the hospital... But she's eating... gee, maybe she just needed a messed up head! right.

She has to go back in for dental surgery once she is healthy, Susan. It was the bad condition of her teeth that led to the infection that stopped her eating in the first place. So more dinero. Poor dear.

I'm retired from my day job, right enough. Teaching a course a year up at the university is something I've been doing for 21 years now, and it's just for fun. Most of the time, anyway.

Book #92 Sylvester: or The Wicked Uncle* by Georgette Heyer (286 pp.)

Last of the rereads in conjunction with Austenprose.com's wonderful month-long celebration of Georgette Heyer. Her characters are so well-drawn that you can't help getting caught up in their lives.

I have Sylvester, but since most everyone I know loves it, I'm saving it for later.

Doesn't make sense, I know, but still ... I have only read 3 so far and I want to spread the best ones around!

Simply stopping by to say I'm thinking of you and sending healing wishes to Sugar.

I've been away too long too. I'm glad that Sugar is eating and hope that she'll be well enough for successful surgery soon. Our Elle got another shot of steroids this week for her if-y gums. We've had her and her kittens only a year, so I don't know what this is going to mean for her teeth down the road.
I love Sylvester too and am enjoying every Heyer I pull off the shelf - currently, Venetia who is adorable, but I'm trying so hard to juggle 3 TIOLI's that I don't get back to her very often.
I respect your keeping your hand in the teaching business, Roni! (Nate, it's hard to go wrong with Heyer!)

Peggy, Sugar is an elderly cat, 13 or 14 years old, and this is the first health problem she's had. Hope your Elle improves too.

I loved Venetia in my 20s--still like her, but she's dropped behind some of the others now.

Guess I'd better do my August summary before I forget it altogether:
August
78. The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (400 pp.)
79. The Masqueraders* by Georgette Heyer (320 pp.)
80. The Talisman Ring* by Georgette Heyer (234 pp.)
81. Regency Buck* by Georgette Heyer (300 pp.)
82. Thresholds by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (243 pp.)
83. Heavy Words Lightly Thrown+ by Chris Roberts (202 pp.)
84 The Foundling* by Georgette Heyer (316 pp.)
85. The Secret Fiend by Shane Peacock (244 pp.)
86. Emily Dickinson is Dead by+ Jane Langton (245 pp.)
87. A Conspiracy of Kings+ by Megan Whalen Turner (316 pp.)
88. Howards End on the Landing by Susan Hill (236 pp.)
89 Sprig Muslin* by Georgette Heyer (222 pp.)
90. Black Sheep* by Georgette Heyer (232 pp.)
91. The Zen of Fish+ by Trevor Corson (327 pp.)

14 books read.
1 new book off the shelf, 1 ER book, 4 library books, 6 re-reads off the shelf, 1 new book just arrived, and one gift.

6 of Heyer's Regency romances, all re-reads, to celebrate Heyer Month at Austenprose.com
2 mysteries (1 ER, 1 library recommended by 75er group members)
3 non-fiction, all recommended by LTers
3 fantasies

I tied April for number read--June is the only month I've read more (16). Only 3 books came into my house to stay in August, if we don't count the Cognitive Psychology used texts I got for my course I am teaching, a big improvement. Of course, I picked up Catching Fire and Mockingjay on the first day of September!

Nice summary for August, Roni!

I hope Sugar gets to feeling better soon.

Thanks, Stasia. Hope you have a nice quiet night at work tonight.

Thus far, yes, but since it is Labor Day weekend, I am not holding my breath on it! Thanks, Roni.

I'm taking care of a feral. I caught her once and hauled her to the vet. At that time she was absolutely filthy, matted hair, bug infested. Apparently she was having trouble just staying fed. Too hungry to groom. Now her coat looks good.

The doc said she has a tooth that needs to go. But I'm reluctant to take her because I know I couldn't catch her every day for antibiotics etc. Hate dilemmas like that.

Glad to hear about Sugar, Roni. Hope the dental surgery is successful, let us know how she gets on.

#185 Nice August summary!

The Halloween thread is up....http://www.librarything.com/topic/98082&newpost=1#lastmsg

The latest quiz

1. The last book you gave five-stars to: 5 stars is an extremely high standard for me. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper is one of those, re-read last year.
2. The last book you were unable to finish: The Case for God by Karen Armstrong--it was me, not her--I bogged down in the middle of her tome when over-stressed last spring, and WILL get back to her, but I lost my place and now have to start over...
3. The last book you bought: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
4. The last book that made you cry: Abhorsen by Garth Nix
5. The last book you borrowed: The Zen of Fish by Trevor Corson
6. The last book you received as a gift: Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill
7. The last book you found disturbing: Emily Dickinson is Dead by Jane Langton
8. The last book you read that made you laugh: Sylvester by Georgette Heyer
9. The last book you really felt you got lost in (the good kind of lost): A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
10. The last book you reread: Sylvester by Georgette Heyer

I just love book quizzes, don't you, Roni?

I definitely need to re-read the Megan Whalen Turner series, so I can read the newest entry!

Book #93 Mouse and Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (354 pp)

I waited nearly three months after buying this hardback the first week it was out before reading it. In part, it was to savor it, and in part it was because of an important but painful plot element that had to happen, as this book fills in between an earlier and later book chronologically. It did not disappoint--I enjoyed it immensely and met again many favorite characters. It also set up some key elements that occur in books that were later chronologically but written long before. Readers of the Liaden Universe grow to love the characters so much that it is hard to separate that aspect from a judgment of the quality of the writing--but how could we grow to love them so much if the writing were poor?

A quote of a quote cited as a chapter heading in the book:

"A room without books is like a body without a soul." -Cicero

Love that quote. I tend to avoid co-written books, but would also like to try a new series with characters I can revisit - that sounds so comforting. I think reading about the James Patterson empire has left me wary.

Kerry, this is a husband and wife team that has been writing together for over 20 years. After the first 3 books, published in 1988 and 1989, publishers did not renew their contract. It's an interesting story. Due to fans and the internet, they were picked up by small press publishers. Then, when those failed in the economy downturn, they ended up self-publishing by subscription the next two books, before being picked up by an big publisher (Baen) again. It's an interesting story in itself. They live in Maine with cats, btw.

Book # 94 Nine Gates by Jane Lindskold (467 pp.)

I really enjoy some books by Lindskold (the Changer duology and Child of a Rainless Year) and never got into her hugely popular Through Wolf's Eyes series. This book is the second in a series--the third isn't out yet, and I really have wanted to like both this and the first, Thirteen Orphans. Yet despite a really interesting magic system and a fair amount of action, the endless discussions that irritate Honey Dream so also seem to bog down the pacing, knocking me out of the story. So that at times I had to push myself to continue into the story until I got hooked again. I like these books, but I can't love them. I'll read the third book--I want to find out what happens.

I got to hear Lindskold speak recently at a writing conference. She's quite an amazing person.

197 I have Child of a Rainless Year on my wishlist but I think I will leave the Through Wolf's Eyes series for now.

I'm sorry to here that your kitty Honey died and of the other kitties' health problems. I hope everybody is doing better. I love my cats but they're all getting older and I dread the health problems that come with old age.

Sugar had her dental surgery yesterday and is doing well! Thanks, Kitty.

I really did enjoy Child of a Rainless Year, Heather. It is set in Las Vegas, NM, and the town is as much a character as the people!

Las Vegas has an incredibly rich history. It was one of the most violent old west town's in the country. And I can only imagine how she used its small town eccentricity. I'll have to try some of hers.

The protagonist is settling into an unusual old house that she inherited unexpectedly, and gets caught up in the history of Las Vegas as well as the present. You'd like it, Mac.

I'm gonna keep my eye out for a good copy....there are usually a few around since she is a local author.

Oh, and by the way. GO GIANTS!!!!!!

There you go, rub it in, Mac.

Well, at some point LT did something to pictures to allow us to upload some, and my existing profile picture disappeared. So I put two cat pictures into the picture part of my profile (Zoe as a warning to Ellie as to what Domino might grow up to look like, and one of Sugar post-surgery) and cannot find the thread where people were giving hints on how to post those pictures to your thread. I thought it would be the people with new kittens (Ellie, Susan, Heather) but drew a blank at all those threads. Help?

Well, I went back to my LT HTML cheat sheet. Let's see if this works.

I use my LT HTML cheat thread :) that Tad put up in 2009

PS which one is this? Sugar? Beatuiful kitty.

She's not too happy with me because she doesn't like taking her medicine!

Book #95 Clear your clutter with feng shui by Karen Kingston (163 pp.)

I evidently went straight to the library search without putting this in my wishlist, because it isn't in the latter and I don't recall who read this recently and liked it. It was okay for me. The clutter tips were pretty much par for the course, and there was some pseudoscience mixed in (breast cancer caused by wearing bras?), and she lost me when saying that having too many books can block your chi. Well, she was saying that about excess belongings in general too, and truthfully, she makes really good points about unfinished things pulling you down. It was interesting and a quick read. And I got it from the library, so it won't be here cluttering up my house.

"too many books can block your chi"

Sorry, chi, it's not going to get any better so just get used to it.

Awww, your Sugar is a beauty. I hope she enjoys her food now that her teeth are in tip-top shape.

>210 ronincats:: I would like to get rid of some of my excess "stuff" around the house, but don't mess with my books. One can never be too thin, too rich, or have too many books! I'll never achieve the first two, but I'm working on that last one. ;-)

*finally finds ronin's thread and promptly stars it*

Welcome, Amy!!

been lurking in your thread for a while but I had to delurk to tell you that I love the photo of Sugar, Roni.

Beautiful cat, Roni!

I agree about too much clutter weighing us down. Every so often I try to do a 'purge' of unnecessary items. It's hard for me in two areas: clothes and books. With clothes, I always think I'm going to fit back into it, with books, I hate to get rid of any that I haven't read yet!

I do usually pass along the books I've read, once I've read them, unless I'm 100% positive I will want to re-read them.

When I donate them to our library sale, I feel like I'm supporting a good cause. I've even donated a few books that I haven't read, because I'm not sure I really want to read them after all. One of those 'what was I thinking' purchases, I guess!

I have to be more vigilant because we live in a small apartment. If I had a big house...who knows how many books I'd have???

Thank you, Caroline and Stasia. I think she looks a little PO'ed because she doesn't like me giving her her medication!

Angela, I purge my clothes annually, and my books every so often. With PaperBackSwap and BookMooch, I've gotten much better about letting books go. Now that I'm retired, I'm going to be de-cluttering a little more ambitiously. But I love a home that's filled with loved things and that one can settle oneself into like a comfy old chair. And to say that attics are NOT meant to keep things in, that is rank heresy. I love the stories of the great old houses with the attics where there are sets of furniture and all the detritus of living such that one can find anything one happens to need on the spur of the moment!

Once I actually overcome my fear and start using eBay for selling instead of just buying, all those marginal knickknacks are going!

Book #96 Charlie Bone and the Red Knight by Jenny Nimmo (466 pp.)

The seventh and last book of the Charlie Bone series, this is a satisfying wrap-up of the series. Not as deep as the Harry Potter series, this is still a very enjoyable children's fantasy series, one of the best, along with Angie Sage's Septimus Heap series, of the current crop of juvenile fantasy.

#218: I got rather side-tracked from the Charlie Bone series. I will have to return to it sometime.

I've been eying the Septimus Heap books, and now I have to add another to the list with Charlie Bone. I'll have to see what BM and PBS have...

I have been very bad. Very bad. In one of the BookMooch threads, someone mentioned that a friend had left her his collection of SFF books (book club edition hardbacks) and she had been spending big bucks shipping them. Well, that piqued my interest and I checked out her profile page and she LIVES in SAN DIEGO! So I left a note on her profile that there wasn't anything on her current list I was interested but I would keep checking and that I was here in town...she responded and offered me whatever I wanted FREE, to pick them up and get them out of her garage. So I go and get 23 books, several to complete collections (although I have nowhere to put them)--see below. And then she gives me a trade paperback of City of Bones that had been given her, plus a bunch of spy thrillers for Operation Paperback. AND then I went to the bookstore and used a gift card to buy Blameless and Grand Central Arena and to order Shades of Milk and Honey with my 33% off coupon, since Borders didn't have it in stock. And The Postman and Neverwhere came in from PaperBackSwap. And I just finished Catching Fire and am now 1/4 of the way through Mockingjay. Surely I deserve to be punished?

Anderson, Poul All One Universe
Bear, Greg Anvil of Stars
Bear, Greg Blood Music
Bear, Greg Eon
Bear, Greg Eternity
Bear, Greg Legacy
Bear, Greg Moving Mars
Bear, Greg The Force of God
Donaldson, Stephen R. A Man Rides Through
Donaldson, Stephen R. The Mirror of Her Dreams
Leiber, Fritz Swords' Masters
Leiber, Fritz The Knight and Knave of Swords
Miller, Walter M. JR. Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman
Sheffield, Charles Proteus Manifest
Silverberg, Robert Lord Prestimion
Silverberg, Robert Sorcerers of Majipoor
Silverberg, Robert The Mountains of Majipoor
Simak, Clifford Mastodonia
Simak, Clifford Thefellowship of the Talisman
Zelazny, Roger A Night in the Lonesome October
Zelazny, Roger Doorways in the Sand
Zelazny, Roger The Chronicles of Amber Vol I
Zelazny, Roger TheChronicles of Amber Vol II

Not punished, Congratulated! What a haul!!!

Okay, and now I've finished Mockingjay. And will have to go back and find all the reviews I skipped--hopefully most of them were posted to the book page. I did read some of the more generic ones, and have to disagree with those who thought that the tight first-person perspective was less effective in the third book due to so much action taking place away from Katniss. If it were a story of the rebellion, yes, but this is very much, all the way through, Katniss' story, and the other action is only important in terms of how it impacts on her. And I'm satisfied with the ending. I was glad that I could go on to the third book as soon as I finished Catching Fire earlier today.

Has anyone started a spoiler thread for Mockingjay yet, just for people who want to talk about it?

Oh, but Kitty, where am I going to put all those hardbacks?

Again, why are we supposed to punish you? I wish I could find someone in my area giving away books like that. Actually, I think my uncle asked me to drop by and rifle through his collection at some point....

I'm going to start Mockingjay as soon as I get some of my school reading done. Not too pumped about it, I'm afraid, as I wasn't a huge fan of Catching Fire and the friend of mine who goaded me into reading the books in the first place was very disappointed with the third installment. At this point, I just want to finish the series.

Oops, realized I had failed to put in the numbers.

Book #97 Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (391 pp.)

Book #98 Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (398 pp.)

Wow! Roni, I agree with Rachel - you are to be congratulated, not punished. What a deal!

Roni! I got very behind for a while but I'm all caught up again. Love the cat photos, glad to hear Sugar is doing better.

#218 I love Jenny Nimmo's Snow Spider trilogy so I will have to look out for the Charlie Bone series.

#221 I think I know which BM member that was and you made her day! That's a nice haul!

"Surely I deserve to be punished?"

Yes, and your punishment is to read all those lovely books and tell us about them so that we can want to read them too! Actually, a fair few of them are already in my wishlist or TBR pile so I might escape...

Surely I deserve to be punished?

Definitely. I agree with souloftherose on your punishment! Start it at once :)

You are already punishing yourself with all that guilt, lol...no need for additional punishment!
Congratulations on finding a 'book friend' who lives close by, and snagging all those books!

Oh, dear, I fear some of these will be on my TBR for a long time...

I forgot to top off my haul the other day with the stop by the library on the way home that same day to pick up the following:

The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley
Theodosia and the Serpent of Chaos by R. L. Lafevers
The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

Everyone of these are book bullets I didn't dodge!

ETA acknowledgements. Ren (Jadebird) recommended The Haunted Bookshop, although I think Richard threatened me if I didn't immediately read it. Sarah (BeSerene) found Theodosia and Mac (BlackDogBooks) The Traveler. I cannot find a record of who in the group recommended The Four Agreements, sorry.

What to read first? I think it has to be Theodosia and the Serpent of Chaos!

I hope you like The Traveler......now I'm nervous after recommending it and all. Oh well, if you don't I'm sure you'll forgive me.

Book #99 Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. Lafevers (344 pp.)

Sarah (BeSerene) found this one and enjoyed it. As she stated, this is a children's fantasy, I'd say for the 8-12 crowd. It doesn't have any of the deeper layers often found in YA literature, but is a very enjoyable adventure using a few elements of Egyptian mythology. Theodosia has a very distinctive voice, a talent for perceiving curses and reading hieroglyphics, and an unusual family.
ETA although this book is a complete story in itself (set in the 1910s), it definitely sets up the situation for sequels. A series is born.

>232 ronincats: I'm looking forward to reading that one. I have it out from the library already after hearing about it in Sarah's thread, but now I need to find time to pick it up....

#232: I downloaded that one to my Nook the other day due to Sarah's recommendation, but have not started it yet. I am glad to know that both you and Sarah enjoyed it.

#232 And now you're passing on the book bullets - consider me hit.

>232 ronincats: While I am extremely unlikely to read the book, I think the title is *wonderful*!

Ah, you know it's a good day when books come in the mail!! David (tapestry100) sent me a beautiful copy of D.A.-Willis by Connie Willis, and I got my lovely trade paperback of Cousin Kate that I won during Austenprose's monthlong Georgette Heyer celebration! And since I DIDN'T win Georgette Heyer's Regency World by Jennifer Kloester, I bought it at Border's last night with a 33% off coupon. Now the problem is--where do I put them?

Book #100 The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley (253 pp.)

I read Parnassus on Wheels last September, so when Ren brought up The Haunted Bookshop and Richard Dear physically threatened me if I didn't read it, I immediately got it from the library. One doesn't mess around in those circumstances. Note: there will be spoilers later on in this review, so skip from this point forward if you prefer not to read them.

This was a very interesting book. While the romance element was perhaps not so charming as in the first book (young love can be so exhausting), it was very nice to see Helen and Roger settled in happily. And I loved some of the quotes. For example:

"The life of a bookseller is very demoralizing to the intellect...He is surrounded by innumerable books; he cannot possible read them all; he dips into one and picks up a scrap from another. His mind gradually fills itself with miscellaneous flotsam, with superficial opinions, with a thousand half-knowledges."

It is very much a book of its time. I had to cringe with the knowledge that I would never be able to browse through The Haunted Bookshop because its saturation of tobacco smoke would leave me unable to breathe. And I also had to cringe at the off-handed characterization of the "fawn-tinted coloured girl" who answered the door of the rooming house. On the other hand, Roger's open-mindedness and hopes for peace among all men at the end of The Great War were a welcome reflection, especially in contrast to Aubrey's stereotypical name-calling of the German conspirators, and even of Roger when he suspected him. "You damned little bolshevik." "You blasted Hun!" I actually didn't like Aubrey very much in general, and think Titania could do much better. However, he is the one who moved the action of the story along, while Roger's musings may have seemed very slow to some. I thought them some of the most interesting parts, however, to see how people right then in 1919 were thinking of the world, the peace, and the future. And finally, I must regret poor Bock, even as his actions saved the others from harm. I would have traded Aubrey for him, I fear, but I may be alone in that. What think you others?

Nice review, Roni. So does one have to first read Parnassus on Wheels in order to enjoy The Haunted Bookshop? I have the latter in my TBR Tower because someone gave it to me, but I haven't yet read Parnassus.

No, not really. It will stand on its own, Caro.

Congrats on hitting 100, Roni! I confess that I did not care for The Haunted Bookshop nearly as much as I did Parnassus on Wheels mainly because of the dated nature of the former.

Thanks, Stasia.

Book #101 D.A.-Willis by Connie Willis (76 pp.)

Thank you, David!! That was hilarious! Basically a short novella, this is a wonderful parody of a young-adult Heinlein novel, with a nod to RAH in the name of the spaceship as well as in the character of the protagonist. I will treasure it.

#242: I will have to look for that one!

Book #102 Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal (302 pp.)

Thanks to Mary (bell7) for alerting me to this one. The mention of Jane Austen or Regency England together with fantasy can be either a good thing or a bad thing. I was not that enamored with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, for example. Although there were things about it I liked, I never really identified with the characters enough to truly care about them or was caught up into the story. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent captured more of the quality of Jane Eyre, especially in one-third of the book, and I'm waiting for the sequel to pass judgment. My knowledge of the time period comes primarily from Jane herself, Bronte's Jane Eyre, and Georgette Heyer's well-researched romances of the era. I have not been one to do much reading of Austen wannabes and have sworn off most Heyer imitators as well, preferring to stick with the best.

Settling into Shades of Milk and Honey felt like settling into an Austen book. It catches the ambiance, the pacing, the phrasing. The characters and story continually catch one in looking for Marianne and Elinor in the two sisters, for Mrs. Bentley in Mrs. Ellsworth, for Mr. Darcy in Vincent, and for Mr. Knightley in Mr. Dunkirk. And yet this is not just a pastiche or imitation. Just as these same characteristics are what one looks for when moving from one Austen novel to another, yet each is unique in its own way, Kowal is also able to build her own story and characters while still evoking the atmosphere. She acknowledges that she moves further away from the principles of her preceptress in the denouement of the story, but perhaps more in the direction of a Bronte rather than modern times.

I enjoyed the story very much, reading it in a single afternoon. I was engaged by the characters, as well as by the addition of the fantasy element of glamour in a way that was not intrusive or jarring but that was central to the story. I recommend it strongly.

ETA typo corrections.

Book # 103 Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco (305 pp.)

This series was recommended by FicusFan in the 100 Book Challenge group in June, and PaperBackSwap finally came through with the first book in the series.

In a world where "Convergence" has merged parts of Faerie and our world, to the consternation of both populations, the mutual animosity of fairy and elves are driving politics. Meanwhile, in Boston a damaged Druid is working freelance for the human police when non-human beings are involved, and this latest case involves a serial killer who is killing blond male fairies and removing their hearts. Connor Grey has his own problems, following his loss of the majority of his Druid powers, but gets increasingly caught up in the case.

This was an enjoyable read! Lots of action, nicely drawn characters, no gratuitous sex. Actually, no sex for Connor at all in this book at least. A good solid urban fantasy, this should provide a good read to all. And FicusFan says the next two books are even better! I'm off to round them up now that I've read the first.

Also I am stopping a book, The Four Agreements: A Toltec Wisdom Book. This was mentioned on BJ's thread, though not by her, and I think I wishlisted it instead of the book she was reviewing by mistake. After picking it up at the library, I read the first chapter and skimmed the rest. It didn't add anything new to my knowledge base or insight. It wasn't antithetical to my beliefs or anything--it was more this was stuff that has been incorporated into my spirituality so fully that this wasn't adding anything of value.

Nice review of Unshapely Things, Roni ... I'm adding this to my obese wish list. Sounds interesting. Thanks for the recommendation.

#244 Nice review of Shades of Milk and Honey. It's a book that's really caught my interest.

>244 ronincats: Glad you enjoyed Shades of Milk and Honey, Roni! I've had The Magicians and Mrs. Quent on my list for awhile, maybe it's time to move it up on the list.

What a busy woman you have been! THAT's the way to retire!
Congratulations on your book haul! Consider it. You've given those poor, orphaned books a loving home. What could be nobler? And Shades of Milk and Honey looks very entertaining for whiling away away an afternoon.

Shades of Milk and Honey is already in the BlackHole thanks to Mary's review, but I am now adding Unshapely Things to it as well. Thanks for the recommendation, Roni!

I too, am adding both books to the wishlist. I've been wanting to read The Magicians and Mrs. Quent for a while also, so I'll have to look for that.

Great review of Shades of Milk and Honey! I have a different opinion of Strange & Norrell (I LOVE that book and have read it three times!) but in this:

My knowledge of the time period comes primarily from Jane herself, Bronte's Jane Eyre, and Georgette Heyer's well-researched romances of the era. I have not been one to do much reading of Austen wannabes and have sworn off most Heyer imitators as well, preferring to stick with the best.

... you are my twin :D

Not punished! Congratulated!! Hmmm... wonder if my Amber series is here or in storage...

Did you like The Magicians and Mrs. Quint then, Roni? Like Amy, I was a huge fan of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and have been wanting to read more Regency/Victorian fantasy; thanks to your review, I'll add Shades of Milk and Honey to my list.

Dang touchstones ain't workin' ....

Yes, Nathan, The Magicians and Mrs. Quent had its flaws, but I liked it. I thoroughly expected to like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (if you put & in the title instead of "and", the touchstone won't come up) because it had everything I usually crave in a story, but just wasn't sucked in. Disappointing. I may need to try it again some day...

And before the thread police appear, I am working on creating a new thread--back in a minute!

Ta-da! My new thread can be found at:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/99440