sjmccreary reads in 2010, pt 4

Time for a new thread. Part 3 was here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/92486&newpost=1#lastmsg

Book #80



Final Jeopardy by Linda Fairstein

Another series opener, this one about Alexandra Cooper, an assistant district attorney in Manhattan who is in charge of sex crimes. She is familiar with the local detectives, the judges, the defenders - all people she comes into contact with regularly as part of her job helping to catch rapists and put them in prison. But it's just a job - it's not a part of her own life until her friend Mike, a homocide detective, brings her a newspaper with a story claiming that she was murdered at her Martha's Vineyard home. Except that it wasn't her. Obviously. It was Isabella Lascar, a famous movie star and friend of Alexandra's who was staying at Alexandra's second home. The next problem is that no one knows yet whether the target was really Isabella, or whether it was Alexandra who resembles Isabella, especially at a distance. And so she gets involved in the homocide investigation... Very good. 4 stars.

I've long wanted to read Linda Fairstein and maybe soon I will. I own one of the later books though. Lethal Legacy, I think.

Usually, I'll start with the opening one (and probably ought to) but sometimes, a later one strikes my fancy.

I read one of the reviews - for Final Jeopardy, I think - and that person said that the stories are pretty much stand-alone, but that there is character development that makes more sense if the books are read in order. You're probably OK to read the one you have. I've always preferred to read series in order, but even more since I started a series once somewhere in the middle, then read another book out of order, and maybe a 3rd. They kept referring to events in other books and I was so confused that I went back to the first and read them all in order, skipping those I'd already read. I was still confused, so I finally decided to blame the author! But, the determination to read in order whenever possible stuck.

Hi Sandy, nice new thread. I just spent way too long putting up way too much junk on my new thread. I'm going for a link and the uncluttered look next time!

The "Nanny" book on your last thread generated much thought-provoking discussion. A sign of a good book imo. I hardly ever just "browse" at the library. Looks like I might be missing some hidden gems.

P.S. Gave you a thumbs up for Nanny State!

Hi, Donna! I rarely browse the library anymore, either. That's the downside of having the catalog on-line, I guess. But I had an hour to kill and I'd been trying to decide on categories for the 11-11 challenge next year and thought looking at the books might help. (It did)

Thanks for the thumb. Off to find your new thread!

This seems to be the day of new threads!

Sandy, I don't mean to laugh but your touchstone takes people to a book that probably says the exact opposite of the nanny state book you read.

The touchstone right now takes people to The Conservative Nanny State: How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Richer.

Now there's a book I could agree with. I need to add that one to my list. :)

#7 Brand new month - brand new thread!

#8 lol! I've been fighting with that touchstone ever since I finished the book! I'll be watching for your review! ;-)

#9 Probably not anytime soon. I think I'm signed up for 30 TIOLI books this month. :)

I've got my work cut out for me.

#10 30 books in one month? Would that some kind of record? You'd better get busy!

#11 In an ideal world, those are the 30 books I want to read this month. No doubt, I will end up reading about 12 to 15 of them.

Through TIOLI, I learned about how to tell which books are the most "controversial" books in your library. Now someone has shown me how to check out controversial books for other members. Interesting to me because there are some people I look to for heavy-duty mystery reading (i.e., they read nothing but mysteries) while others read nothing but baseball books.

Hi! I have your new thread starred now.

I always enjoy the Linda Fairstien books, though I am behind a few in the series now, I think.

I am a fan of the Linda Fairstein series too, Sandy. I hope you read and enjoy more of them.

Book #81



The Warden by Anthony Trollope

After months of seeing dozens of comments all over LT about the works of Trollope, I finally gave him a try. Even though this book is more than 150 years old and is set half a world away, it took only a short time to get past the stilted language and unfamiliar situation to an absolutely delightful story. These characters seemed absolutely modern in their concerns about salary and public reputation. I loved it and can't wait for the next. 4-1/2 stars.

edit to change word choice

Yesterday, I checked a book out of the library called Thrillers: 100 Must Reads. It is simply a series of 100 essays written by current thriller authors each recommending a thriller from the past. They only allowed books published prior to 2000, except The DaVinci Code which got included by special exception. I've read about a dozen of them, and have maybe 10 more already on my wish list. Which leaves a potential 75-ish new additions to the wishlist. That seems like a lot to add at one time. Do you think I should be selective, or is it OK to add everything that catches my eye?

Book #82



Only Call Us Faithful by Marie Jakober

An interesting telling of the story, based on fact, of Elizabeth Van Lew. She was a prominent spinster women from Richmond, Virginia who remained loyal to the union during the civil war. So loyal, in fact, that she ran a network of spies that provided intelligence to the union army. Her agents included a freed slave working as a servant inside the Jefferson Davis white house, and a warden at the local POW prison. Told alternatingly between the POV of her ghost in the present and flashbacks to the events of the war. Recommended. 4 stars.

Well, this evening I finished up the last active books I had going. I've got 2 that are still listed as "currently reading" but I haven't picked either of them up in more than 2 weeks. Another is one that I'm just reading a little bit in each day, and don't plan to finish before year-end. So tomorrow I get to start fresh on 2 new books - one audio in the car, and one print at home. I hope they will go faster than anything else has lately. I'm ready for some novelty - was getting tired of the same things day after day.

#16: Add everything! Then I do not have to read the book - I can just steal all the suggestions from your list :)

>15 sjmccreary:: I enjoyed The Warden but the next one, Barchester Towers was even better.

Sandy, I agree with Stasia. You can just let us know what the 'great' ones are!

I'm reading The Girl Who Played With Fire right now. It kept me up late! Now I see what the fuss is all about. It's good to read a change-of-pace book to keep your reading fresh.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Warden - I loved it - and Barchester Towers is, as Tad says, even better.

#20/22: I agree with Tad and Caty.

#23 So does everyone else!

Book #83



Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

Reading as journal entries, this is the account of a white journalist from Fort Worth, Texas who darkens his skin and tours the deep south as a black man in 1959 and is shocked at the treatment he receives from whites. Near the end of his experiment, when his skin is beginning to lighten and he alternates between passing as black and passing as white, he also notices a dramatic difference in the way he is treated by blacks. A very eye-opening, and disturbing, look at one of the most shameful situations in our nation's recent past.

The copy I have, purchased used, was printed in 1961 so it does not have an epilogue with information about what happened later as a result of Griffin's story. That is my only complaint - it doesn't feel finished. But recommended all the same. 4 stars.

Only Call Us Faithful sounds fascinating! I've added it to my list!

I'm thinking of adding Black Like Me to the list, too.

Book #84



Something Missing by Matthew Dicks

Oh, this was a fun book! Martin is OCD and so is quite particular about his chosen profession and the way he handles his clients. Martin is a burglar. But not one of those dreadfully common "snatch and grab" types. Martin is careful - precise. His "acquisitions" are carefully planned so as to be unnoticed by his clients. For 10 years, he has been breaking into the homes of meticulously chosen people and taking things that he needs. Like groceries, toothpaste, bath soap and laundry detergent. He carefully monitors his clients' household inventories to precisely choose which items can safely be taken from each home without notice. Since he spends time in the same homes week after week, becoming familiar with the routines of each family, he grows to feel that he actually knows these people. So, one day, when a problem arises, he feels an obligation to take action to protect his client from the consequences. Soon, another incident arises at a different home, and it's almost as though he were there for a reason - just so that he can handle the situation and protect his client. His OCD requires him to carefully plan and rehearse for all contingencies, and he is proud of his efforts. But when these different incidents begin happening, Martin must learn to think and act spontaneously. Only then does he begin to experience the fullness of life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Very cute and funny in the beginning, with Martin explaining how he chooses his clients and monitors their homes. Just as this track would have become tedious is when the book changes course and Martin must begin dealing with events beyond his control. Seeing how he responds to unexpected situations and how he learns to handle them better was, I thought, very satisfying. A touching ending that does not conveniently tie up all loose ends. 4 stars.

Terri, I think you'll enjoy Only Call Us Faithful. And I hope you'll give Black Like Me a chance - it reads very quickly.

Adding both Black Like Me and Something Missing to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendations, Sandy!

I think you'll like them both, Stasia!

Thanks, Sandy. I hope so!

Black Like Me is one of those books I've known about for ages, but never read it. My parents told me about it years and years ago -- probably came up as part of a family discussion at the dinner table or something -- but I haven't sought it out. I think it's about time I did!

#32 This would be an excellent book to stimulate dinner table conversation! I'm planning to encourage my teenage son to read it, too.

Have just added Black Like Me to my wishlist - thanks.

Book #85



The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots by Carolly Erickson

This is a novel. That means that it was made up. As in, not true. At least not all of it. And that is my problem with this book.

It very clearly looks like an historical novel about Mary, Queen of Scots, told from her point of view. As a memoir would be. And I was enjoying the book pretty well - more than I normally do when reading a biography. I've never studied this period of English/Scottish history before, and knew only the most basic facts about Mary. So, nothing in this book was familiar. It was obviously a fictionalized account, in light of the minute details throughout. But still, I was pleased with it. Until I got to the author's note.

I expected the author's note to contain the usual disclosure about trying to be as historically accurate as possible, but using creative license to fill in the details. What I got was an unapolgetic statement that entire events were fabricated. Since everything isn't known about Mary's story, she made things up, even contradicting some widely accepted beliefs about what really happened. A few examples of this were provided, and they were some of the key scenes in the story. So now I don't know whether those were the ONLY things that were made up, or just a representative sample. (Since, as I said, I'm not familiar with the historic facts.) That leaves me with an interesting biographical novel that may not be very historically accurate. Or, a mildly entertaining historical fiction. If she was going to make things up, she should have at least made it really, really good. And she didn't. A disappointment. 2-1/2 stars.

Sandy, the last five sentences in your review were priceless. I loved this...

If she was going to make things up, she should have at least made it really, really good. And she didn't.

Thumbs up from me. And, thanks for saving me from a book I might have attempted. Mary, Queen of Scots' life fascinates me. Let me know if you find a better book on this subject.

#35: Absolutely skipping that one, Sandy. Thanks for taking one for the team.

I hope your next read is a much better one!

>35 sjmccreary: Great review! I'm always happy to know what I should skip.

I really do need to read Black Like Me sooner rather than later, though.

#36 Thanks, Donna. I posted this book over in the Reading Through Time group for the September "monarchs and royalty" theme read. Christina (christina_reads) is reading a book that you might prefer over this one: Queen of Scots: the True Life of Mary Stuart by John Guy. It sounds like a straight non-fiction biography and she seems to be enjoying it very much.

#37 You're welcome. I hope I come across another good one soon - I'm having a bit of a slump right now.

#38 I really would recommend Black Like Me. It reads very quickly. I started and finished it in the course of a single day.

>39 sjmccreary:: Thanks, Sandy...and Christina...this one looks like more of my cuppa tea!

#40 My pleasure!

Hope the reading slump is gone quickly, Sandy! I hate those things.

Book #86



Kill and Tell by Linda Howard

Typical romantic-suspense featuring a New Orleans detective and a Columbus (Ohio) nurse. Her estranged father is killed in his city and she must go claim the body while he tries to figure out who killed him and why. Of course she's now in danger and the handsome detective is going to protect her.

An absolutely forgettable book. I was half way through it before I remembered reading it before. And even then, I didn't remember what happened. Not only did I forget reading this book, but on closer examination I realized this book is part of a series and that I've read one of the sequels and had forgotten it as well. It's not bad for what it is, it doesn't have any depth. It would have gotten a higher rating from me if I'd recognized it right away. 2-1/2 stars.

OK, skipping that one unless I am really in the mood for romantic suspense, in which case it would not be my first choice any way :)

I apologize for losing track of this thread...I've been following more closely over on the 2010 challenge and will try to stay caught up over here.

I love Linda Fairstein's stuff....I always feel like I've learned something about New York in addition to the mystery, the characters, etc. They're extremely well done, and best of all, although they're a series, they don't necessarily have to be read in order.

And the Linda Howard one looks like one I'm going to have to find....

Just stopping by to say hello!

The Linda Howard book looks like one I can skip.

Loved your review of The Memoirs of Mary, Queen of Scots

Something Missing sounds like fun.

#44 I'm sure you can find something in the Black Hole that would be better than this in the event that you're ever in the mood for a romantic suspense.

#45 Apology accepted. Glad you're back. Since I re-worked the 10-10 challenge, I think I've posted all the same books in both groups, so the only thing you've missed here is the wonderful comments from folks who aren't in the 1010 Group. That was my first Fairstein book, and I'm planning on reading more. If you're a fan of Linda Howard - and I normally am - you'll want to read this one. Just be warned that, IMO, it wasn't her best work.

#46 Hello! Something Missing is very fun - try it sometime when you're in the mood for something light and a little silly.

Book #87



The Exodus Quest by Will Adams

This is the sequel to The Alexander Cipher that I read earlier in the year. They both feature Daniel Knox, an American Egyptologist. In the first book, he was looking for the tomb of Alexander the Great. In this one, the search is on for evidence of the truth of the Biblical Exodus story.

This book races along at an unrelentingly frantic pace, with scenes changing every few paragraphs, for the entire book. There were, at times, a half dozen different threads being woven together. The characters who appeared in the first book show up in this one without any introductory information, so it might be a little confusing to read this book first. But this book is totally plot-driven and the characters are little more than tokens on a giant game board, so it might be alright.

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately, where I thought none of my books were very good - they certainly haven't been holding my attention very well. Maybe it's not the books. Maybe it's me, because this is a book I would normally enjoy quite a bit and I'm feeling pretty neutral about it. At least it held my attention. 3 stars.

Edit - because I somehow hit submit before I was finished composing.

Book #88



Mrs Bridge by Evan S Connell

This is the current group read for the Missouri Readers Group, so I won't say too much about it here. Our discussion is scheduled to begin next week. This book and its sequel, Mr Bridge, were the basis for the Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward movie "Mr and Mrs Bridge". It is set in the Country Club Plaza neighborhood of Kansas City, my hometown. That is still an exclusive part of town and I enjoyed reading about all the local landmarks.

India Bridge moved to Kansas City shortly after her marriage with her attorney husband. He was obviously quite successful since they soon moved to a large home in an exclusive neighborhood. Children are born and raised. Times change. A European vacation is cut short when the Nazi's invade Poland. Servants come and go. Children move away and begin their own lives. Throughout all this, the focus of this book remains fixed on Mrs Bridge and her actions as she moves through her life.

I'll save my reactions for the discussion next week, but I can say that I liked the book and, if asked, would recommend it.

#48: I got The Alexander Cipher out of the library earlier this year but never read it before I had to return it. One of these centuries I imagine I will get to it.

Book #89



Death in the Garden by Elizabeth Ironside

In 1925, Diana Pollexfen has a weekend house party to celebrate her 30th birthday. However, just as the party was winding down on Monday afternoon, her husband was discovered dead. He was poisoned by photographic chemicals from Diana's studio and she was accused and tried for murder. However, there wasn't enough evidence to convict her so she was acquited and the case remained unsolved. Sixty years later, after her own death, Diana's great-niece Helena has inherited the bulk of her estate. When Helena discovers Diana's journals and reads of the murder trial, the first she ever knew of this episode in her aunt's life, she becomes determined to learn the truth. The bulk of the book, then, chronicles Helena's efforts.

In reading the other reviews for this book, I saw several comments about how well-written it is, how seamlessly it moves between past and present, and how there is no extraneous information. All that is very true. I also saw several comments about how the readers were riveted, unable to put the book down. That was not true for me. It took me 3 weeks of purposeful reading to finally finish it. However, I'm going to attribute that to my recent, and on-going, reading slump. The book is very well-written and tightly plotted, but I thought that the ending was broadcast in advance and not a real surprise. 3 stars.

One thing I enjoyed in this book were several book-related comments that this group might appreciate. Here are my favorites:

Helena and her cousin visit the son of one of the house party guests seeking information. This man is an academic. "Ramasubramaniam's papers and books were arranged in stacks on the floor, stalagmites of learning." (pg 197)

One evening Helena was delaying going home after work. "She passed a bookshop, its doors wide open, and without forethought or hesitation she turned inside as if her steps had been leading her there all along." (pg 265)

edit to correct spelling

Okay, you got me to put the Alexander Cipher on my wishlist a while ago, now you're adding the Exodus Quest. I hope there aren't many more.

Well, there's only one more in that series so far. But, I've got TONS more books to read and share with you!

#51: Despite your reservations, I think I will give that one a go.

#54 I think you will like it - I'm sure that whatever problem I had with the book was more mine than the book's.

#55: It is rather a moot point at the moment since none of my local libraries have it and it is not available for the Nook. Oh well, it is not like I have nothing else to read!

#56 Well, if you're sure you have enough...

#57: There is never enough where books are concerned!

Sandy, I think I will join you in reading that John Withington book, Disaster!

I hope you like it - I'm looking forward to it. Do you already have a copy? I think I'll be able to get started on it in another week.

#60 It's available on Kindle but I've got an ILL request in for it.

Book #90



Executive Privilege by Philip Margolin

This book opens up by reminding us that it is not unheard of for a US President to become involved in scandal - there have been scandals involving sex, lying, cheating, and stealing. But there has never been a president involved in murder while in office. This book presents just that situation.

A former Washington DC police officer turned private investigator takes incriminating photos of a young woman just hours before she is murdered. An anonymous tip is passed along to the FBI agent in charge of a local task force investigating a serial killer. A young attorney back in the president's home state is assigned a pro bono case involving another serial killer who claims he was innocent of one of the murders that he was convicted of while the president was still governor. Bit by bit these three people, working independently, begin to make sense of unbelievable evidence that is pointing towards the white house.

I thought this was a better-than-most legal thriller - fast paced - lots of twists and turns - and sometimes hard to tell who was to be trusted and who wasn't. The most enjoyable book I've read in several weeks. 4 stars.

#62: The most enjoyable book I've read in several weeks.

Good for you!

#63 Thanks. I hope it's an indication that the slump is ending.

#64: I hope so too. I hate reading slumps.

Book #91



The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris

The story of a year in the life of a poet who lives in western South Dakota and spent 9 months in a Benedictine monastery in Minnesota while her husband was traveling out of the country. She is not a Catholic. Linda P, who recommended the book, mentioned that one of the things she enjoyed was the insights of a non-Catholic into Catholic traditions and teachings. Well, I'm not Catholic, either, so that bit escaped me. I've read comments from other folks here who credit Norris for getting them through critical times in their lives. Life is good for me right now, so I didn't have that benefit, either.

I liked the lyrical way with words that Norris has, and loved the stories she tells about the monks and nuns she's met over several years of staying at monasteries. She shows them to be real people inside the monastic robes with real feelings. I enjoyed the frank discussions she shared about celebacy, and the debate about the necessity of nun's habits. I liked most the examinations of the importance of rituals.

I enjoyed the stories she included about her hometown in rural South Dakota. She actually inherited the house from her grandmother as an adult and did not grow up on the plains. But the love she shows while describing the wide open spaces, the scarcity of the trees, the unforgiving weather, the beautiful morning and evening skies, and the openness of the people - these are things that natives take for granted and outsiders often fail to appreciate.

I don't know what I "got" from this book. I appreciated the spiritual musings that she shared, but wasn't aware of any spiritual inspirations as a result. I guess what I most related to in this book were her many reminders to be mindful of the small pleasures of life and also the challenges - both big and small. All these things are given us by God.

And I think the most wonderful thing about this book is that each one of us will come away with something different. Norris covers such a wide variety of topics, at such a relaxed and flowing pace, that each reader is likely to focus on those subjects most important to them. About half way through, I was beginning to grow weary of the book and was tempted to rush through and get it finished. Instead, I set it aside for a few days and read another book. When I came back, I was ready for more. I'm glad I didn't give up on it, and I'm glad I didn't rush it. This is a lovely, quiet book. 4 stars.

#66: I am not a Catholic either so have been somewhat hesitant to pick up that book, not knowing how much I would be able to relate to it, so I appreciate your input, Sandy. I will definitely look for it now.

I'm a big fan of Kathleen Norris. All of her books are lovely and quiet! They make good bedtime reading. Thoughts to ponder while falling asleep and yet not too intense to keep you awake!

Yes, Sandy, we all will take away something different from a book of this nature. Good observation.

I commented on this over on Sandy's 2010 challenge thread but want to chime in here too. Great take on Norris' writing. I have read parts of this and a couple others of hers. My favorite is Amazing Grace. She does have such a great way of bringing us down from our spun-up, stress filled life to a place of inner quiet. I didn't much care for Acedia but her others are great.

They are definitely books that can be enjoyed by people of many different religious or philosophical views.

I put The Cloister Walk on my wishlist--have never heard of Norris before. She sounds like a Madeleine L'Engle kind of writer.

#67 Stasia, I don't think she talks about Catholicism so much as Christianity. At least, I didn't feel that she was differentiating between Catholics and Protestants, even though she talked a lot about monastism and hagiography, concepts we really don't recongize in the Protestant churches. You are intelligent and open-minded enough to enjoy this.

#68 I'm interested in trying another of her books, but maybe not right away.

#69 Tina, I totally agree that she has an amazing way of writing about spiritual and religious matters in such a way that even people of other faiths can find something of value in her words.

#70 Couldn't say - I've never read Madeleine L'Engle. But I hope you'll like Kathleen Norris.

Thanks for all the nice comments about the Norris book - I'd never heard of her before and was a little surprised to discover how widely read she is. At least on LT, anyway.

I actually popped in here today to post a book that I finished a couple of weeks ago. It was a tiny little book that I picked up at the library on a whim one day when I stopped in to return some books. My next stop was to be lunch and I realized that I'd neglected to bring a book with me to read, so I "had" to get one. This was perfect - short, easy to read, and I finished it in less than an hour. Plus informative and interesting.

Book #92



Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan

Very short (140 pages) pocket-sized book that distills the information Pollan learned while researching his earlier food/nutrition books. He was able to reduce months of research and reading and reams of facts into rules for healthy eating that can be stated in only 7 words: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. The book is divided into 3 sections, each elaborating on one of those very short sentences. For example, "food" is something that you can picture in its natural form, something your great-grandmother would recognize, something made up of ingredients that you can pronounce and are likely to have on hand. The "mostly plants" sections tells us to use meat only as a flavoring or accent, and that a day's serving of meat is about the size of your fist. "Not too much" includes all the rules about limiting serving size - leave a bite of each thing on your plate, stop eating when you're not hungry anymore (instead of when you're full), eat only at meal times and only at a table, don't eat alone when possible.

Very common sense, practical "rules" that mesh perfectly with the advice I've been giving my kids for years about eating. 4-1/2 stars.

#71: You are intelligent and open-minded enough to enjoy this.

I have no idea where you got the idea that I am intelligent! LOL.

#72: I read Pollan's book In Defense of Food, and that one looks similar, but I will give it a try. Thanks, Sandy.

#73 Where I got that idea? Maybe from the huge variety of books that you're able to read and enjoy? AND make intelligent remarks about? (Don't sell yourself short!)

In Defense of Food came first, I think, and is one of the books whose research led to this little gem. I haven't read it yet, but it's on the wishlist. What did you think about it?

#74: I thought In Defense of Food was very good. It was sensible, not sensationalistic, making outlandish claims or some such. I also thought it was well-written. It looked like Pollan did his homework.

Book #93



84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Well, now I know what all the fuss was about regarding this book. Absolutely delightful. And short, so there is no excuse for anyone to skip over it. 4-1/2 stars.

#76: I am glad you liked it, Sandy! It is one of my all-time favorites.

OK, Sandy! You did it! and loved it! Me too, I loved it too!

Oh, I thought, I'll just get caught up with Sandy's thread before I go about my other business today. 30 minutes later--not that I read slowly, but I had to keep my TBR spreadsheet open and add book after book, then check the library to see if they had it...I've been seriously book-bombed! It sure didn't look like a book slump to me!

#77, 78 Have either of you read one of the sequels? I have to admit that neither of them look especially appealing and I'm planning to skip them. I have, however, added the movie "84, Charing Cross Road" to the Netflix queue. Looking forward to that.

#79 Boom! Now maybe you'll be so busy reading that you'll forget about calling me in sick or dead or dying or whatever it is that you're planning so that I'll be free to go to Joplin next month. (Remember, I'm self-employed. You can call my boss, but she's pretty easily confused.)

The slump was probably not so visible here as it was to me. I just couldn't get interested in anything, and really had to force myself to keep reading long enough to finish anything. I would have thought that the number of books I actually completed was lower than average, but (surprisingly) that doesn't seem to be the case. But I didn't enjoy them as much as normal. I'm getting over it, but only by relying heavily on audio books. I'm still struggling with print right now.

#80: I have read all of Hanff's books. If you do read any of her others, I would recommend Q's Legacy. It really tells the story of how Hanff started trying to self-educate herself, which is how she stumbled across 84, Charing Cross Road.

Oh, cool. More from Hanff. Thanks for asking the question, Sandy. Now I have the answer, too!
I'm avoiding your Sunday list, Stasia - for the moment. But it didn't entirely work as I now have another "Stasia rec" for my wishlist anyway. Oh well. Thanks! :}

#82: I will let you in on a secret, Claudia: You cannot avoid me. I am everywhere :)

Oh, my! I came here just to post another book and see THAT grinning at me! Not sure whether to give it a hug or back away slowly!

Book #94



Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Recommended recently by CatyM, a better-than-average chick lit about a woman, Min, who was dumped by her boyfriend David after refusing to sleep with him. Minutes later, David makes a bet with the biggest "player" in town that HE couldn't get her into bed in a month's time. Too bad Min overheard the bet being made. Even worse that she didn't hear Cal, the player, refuse that bet and counter with another that he could get her to leave the bar with him. So, Min left with him and had a nice dinner. Cal admitted the "pick-up" bet and gave her his $10 winnings. And kept asking her out. And she kept going only because she needed a date to her sister's wedding in 3 weeks. At least that's what she told herself.

Pretty predictable, but with a wonderful cast of characters as Cal's 2 friends, plus Min's 2 friends, plus Min's sister and her fiance, and both Cal's and Min's parents, and both their ex-es are all part of the story. Lots of fun and hard to put down. 4 stars.

#84 I vote for the latter. *Shudder*

ETA - I'm glad you enjoyed Bet Me. I'm always nervous when people read things I've recommended. :)

Sandy, I started reading that John Withington book, Disaster!: A History of Earthquakes, Floods, Plagues, and Other Catastrophes that you recommended. So far, I've read the first chapter, on volcanoes.

Not bad but it's a bit like reading an encyclopedia (because each disaster is only one or two pages long). On the other hand, I think I will get a lot of great disaster book ideas out of this.

#86 I know what you mean about being nervous when someone reads one of "your" books. I can see why you like to re-read this one periodically. I was tempted to start it over as soon as I'd finished. (I still wish my cover had been the pink one, though.)

#87 I haven't started it yet, but that exactly the reason I thought you might not like it. You've read so many disaster books that I figured you already knew about many of these. And now you'll know about many more!

#88 I think I might quickly read through the dull parts on this one.

It'll broaden my idea of disaster. Haven't checked but I hope he's got a good bibliography.

Oh, I don't know about a bibliography. I don't think I looked for one. Skimming the dull parts is something I do all the time. Sometimes I get caught skipping something I should be paying attention to and have to go back and re-read. But in this book, that shouldn't be a problem.

>83 alcottacre: I am everywhere
I see that, Stasia! Halp!

(startling gif! lol)

#85: I have that one on hold at the local library. I hope I enjoy it too!

#91: You can run but you cannot hide :)

#85. A friend was just recommending Faking It by Julie Crusie last week and I forgot to write it down (fatal mistake). So glad your review jogged my memory - another author to discover.

#90 That Disaster! book is just not for me. I read three chapters and was bored with it.

Part of the problem, for me, is that he insists on writing about the disasters that took the most lives, even if very little is known about them outside of where they occurred and an estimate of how many died.

I'd rather hear more about the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 than about a disaster from more than a thousand years ago.

Maybe someday...

#93 This was my second Crusie and I loved them both. I hope you like her, too. I'm going to be reading more of her books.

#94 Darn! I was afraid of that. Well, I won't be in a hurry to get to it, then.

#94/95: Have either of you tried Darkest Hours by Jay Robert Nash? Carolyn (MusicMom) recommended it and I bought a copy but have not read it yet.

I haven't read Darkest Hours yet -- it's on my list to check out of the library one of these days -- but I see that the reviews are glowing. The review by furdog, who started the LT Disaster Buffs group, says that it's THE book on disasters, with much emphasis on the human element.

I need to bump it up my TBR list . . . (sigh) . . . there are so many books running up my TBR list these days, it could qualify as a stampede. I need some time to read!!!!!

Book #95



The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan

This book has been widely read and commented on here on LT, so I won't attempt to summarize the plot. My primary reaction to the book through-out the first 2/3 or so was that I loved the main character, Gwenni, but didn't love the book. I'd cooled even more by the time I finished, but still ended up liking Gwenni quite a bit more than the book in general. She was an imaginative, inquisitive child who just wanted to know the secrets so that she would understand what topics shouldn't be mentioned to certain people. Donna828 posted an excellent review which explains better than I can why this really didn't work as well as it ought to have. Not a bad book by any means, just not as good as I wanted it to be. I don't think I'd recommend it, but wouldn't hesitate to encourage someone who was interested to give it a try. 3 stars.

LOL, Sandy. Cruising through the threads and see my name! I'm glad we share a similar opinion. It was hard for me to determine why it didn't quite measure up. Many people loved it. I sure wanted to. ;-)

#98: I had a similar opinion too. I graded it a bit higher than you did at 3.5 stars, but had the same reservations that both you and Donna did.

Book #96



Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen

This one has a rather convoluted plot, but primarily focuses on Catherine, a CIA agent who was abandoned as a child in Hong Kong when her mother died. She was the product of an American soldier in Saigon and a half Korean, half Russian prostitute mother. The CIA became aware of her and recruited her when she was about 17. She is tough. She is ruthless. She is resourceful. She is also a mother. Her son, Luke, was kidnapped when he was 2 years old by Rakovac, a Russian mafia baddie, when she was on an assignment in Russia. He has delighted in tormenting her about it ever since. Nine years now. The CIA has refused to intervene since Rakovac has been providing them with useful information. For some reason that I either didn't catch or was not explained, Catherine has convinced Venable, her handler, to provide her the agency's file on Rakovac so that she can mount her own rescue attempt.

Her first action is to contact Eve Duncan, a gifted forensic sculptor, for help in providing an age-progression of Luke based on an old photo of him. Eve is driven and passionate about her work since her own daughter was taken and murdered years earlier. Law enforcement has never located the body or identified the killer, but Eve knows that Bonnie is dead because she is periodically visited by the girl's ghost. Eve and Catherine instantly develop a relationship that is both wary and trusting.

After the completion of Eve's age progression of Luke, Catherine plans to travel to Russia to find him. Inexplicably, both Eve and Joe, Eve's S-O and former navy SEAL and former FBI, go along with her. Venable, who is trying to place roadblocks in Catherine's way, keeps sending Kelly, the 14-year old girl that Catherine rescued in Columbia in chapter one, to stay with her. Even to Russia. Eventually Venable himself travels to Russia to try to track down Rakovac to get information from him that the CIA needs before Catherine has a chance to kill him. But even though Venable is evidently someone with some authority in the CIA, Joe attaches himself to him and ends up taking over the effort to locate Rakovac - even going so far as convincing the NSA to provide surveillance information when Venable was unable to do so.

From the very beginning, I thought the characters and the plot were forced, too convenient, and totally unrealistic. The weakest link is the Venable character. I simply cannot imagine a CIA agent allowing a civilian to take such a dominant role in any official effort. And the thought of him sending a minor child anywhere without the knowledge or consent of the parent is incomprehensible. Evidently, there are several recurring characters here whose past connections in other Johansen books were implied but never explained. Since this book makes no mention of being part of an ongoing series (there is no series indicated here on LT, either), I think that those connections should either be explained if relevant or ignored. Perhaps knowing the characters' history would have made their unusual behavoir in this book more understandable. I also think the book could benefit from additional editing. For example, the "visits" that Eve experiences from her daughter's ghost suddenly stop somewhere in the middle, never to be mentioned again.

I usually enjoy thrillers of this type and do not require that my books all be absolutely true-to-life. But this book goes beyond the usual indestructable hero. I thought the whole thing was ridiculous and will not recommend it except to devoted fans of Iris Johansen. 2 stars.

#101 I'll definitely skip that one!!!

#100: That is one I got sent through the ER program - and I know I did not ask for it - and now have to read. Blech.

#103 I also got it from ER. I know it was one I requested, the short description just sounded like the kind of thing I usually enjoy. But I think it's the 3rd Johansen book I've read so far and have decided that I'll avoid her from now on. I thought she was one of your favorites? Anyway, most of the other reviewers loved the book, so maybe you'll feel differently about it than I did.

One comment I intended to include in the review and then forgot was that the 2 female characters were presented as being just as strong, resourceful and intelligent as any of the men. But the men were not shown to be bumbling buffoons as sometimes happens when the focus is on strong women. I did appreciate that. Another thing is that after posting the review, I did find that there is an Eve Duncan series listed on LT, but that this book has not yet been added to it.

But still, I don't recommend it for most folks.

#104: I do like Johansen's Eve Duncan series, but most of her other books are mediocre at best, with a couple of exceptions. That is one of the reasons I know I did not order that one!

#105 Since this seems to be part of - or related to - the Eve Duncan series, maybe it'll be OK for you. Good news: it reads fast, so go ahead and get it over with. I hope you don't hate it. ;-)

#106: I need to read it, I guess, just to get it over with :)

ABANDONED BOOK


The Strange Case of the Composer and His Judge by Patricia Duncker

Normally I would let this one just go quietly into the night and not bring it to anyone's attention here. However, this was an ER book and I need to post some kind of review. And if I have to write something, I want someone to have to read it! This was an ER book from June, and I received it in mid-July. The reading dates on the book record indicate that I started reading it shortly after coming home from vacation - the first week of August. Nearly 3 months ago. I'm only half finished with it, but I am done. I made one last attempt to rally myself to the task of picking it up again by checking out the reviews that have already been posted. I thought that if they were complimentary, then I might have something to look forward to in the 2nd half of the book. However, they were full of the same kinds of complaints and grumblings that I was also experiencing. I was always the smart kid who learned from the mistakes of others. I no longer felt a single drop of compulsion to finish the book and find out for myself what it was like. But I still have to post a review. So, here it is:

Like many excellent books, this one has an interesting premise but a slow start. However, rather than gradually picking up steam and becoming more and more intriguing, as the excellent books do, this book slowly ground to a complete standstill. I only made it to the middle and so can't comment on any that happened in the second half, but from reading the other reviews posted here it seems that I haven't missed anything worth reading.

In the beginning, I was excited about the setting in the French mountains in winter, and the discovery of a grisly scene containing several bodies arranged in a circle laying on the ground in the snow. All appearantly dead of suicide except one. All belonging to the same strange cult. The investigator in charge of the case has absolutely no personality whatsoever. He calls in the "judge" (or had her forced upon him, I can't remember and don't want to go look it up) who is to direct the investigation. (I was never clear just what her function was. It wasn't really explained. Maybe it's a French thing. I'm not French, but neither is the author, so I'm not sure.) She seems to be quite knowledgable about things and has some familiarity about a similar case in another place. So her inquiries follow-up on the other case, leading the two of them to travel to several different places where they engage in a very not-romantic affair and where they meet people who know her but it wasn't explained how or why.

I had hoped that when we finally got around to meeting the composer that things would pick up. But he is just as dull as the police investigator, at least to the point where I quit reading. And I was afraid that the judge was going to sleep with him, too, and that thought just turned my stomach.

Others have commented on the language and the lack of character development, and I agree with those comments. There are also several comments about the book starting out as one thing and transforming into something else. That is also true. None of those shortcomings is necessarily fatal for me. But this combination of them turned out to be more than I could bear. My apologies to the ER program staff and the publisher for not holding up my end of the bargain in failing to complete the book. But it really isn't a book I could recommend to anyone else in good conscience.

ETA: RidgewayGirl posted an excellent review to this book - be sure to check it out.

Phew!! Thanks for helping me dodge that bullet! Sometimes comments like yours are more useful than a regular review.... Hope your next one is more enjoyable.

#108: I checked and I already had that one on the 'Do Not Read' list, so I am safe. I hope your next read is a dandy to make up for the last couple of poor ones, Sandy!

Glad to hear that both of you are assured of being spared this particular dud. I actually finished my "next" book earlier this evening and it was a dandy - My Antonia by Willa Cather. More organized comments probably tomorrow.

#111: Oh! My favorite of Cather's! I hope you loved it.

Book #97



My Antonia by Willa Cather

Oh, what to say about this book. I loved it. Period.

I had it on audio and I listened while taking my morning walks. I am fortunate to live on the last street of a subdivision in a new-ish town. That means that once I get past my block I am walking alongside open fields. It doesn't look at all like western Nebraska, but still I could see the wild flowers and the native trees growing, and hear the birds and insects singing, and smell the damp earth in the morning. A wonderful backdrop to the story of a man and his childhood friend growing up in the late 19th century in a new country where trees are special for their scarcity and the rolling hills covered with native grasses spread endlessly in every direction.

This is my second Cather book, after O Pioneers!. They are both wonderful, but I think I liked this one slightly better. I'm looking forward to more. My enjoyment of both these books was marred by only one little thing. I read The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan before either of these novels. That non-fiction book is the story of the settlers who came to the high plains in the early 20th century seeking the idyllic life that had been depicted in publications like Cather's. According to Cather's books, all you have to do to be successful is work hard and be honest. The land will then give up its bounty. Of course that simply, sadly, isn't true. And I couldn't help but think of all the unfortunate real-life families whose lives did not turn out like Cather's fictional examples. Still, it is a lovely fantasy and a very satisfying story. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

I couldn't help but think of all the unfortunate real-life families whose lives did not turn out like Cather's fictional examples.

Great point! Even in real life, history is written by the survivors so the stories tend to lean that way. I don't think I would fare so well in those times.

Sandy, I'm glad you had such pleasant surroundings to listen to My Antonia. Willa Cather is a favorite author of mine and this book makes my all-time Top Ten list! I'm always so pleased when someone else likes it as much as I do.

I've never read anything by Willa Cather but will have to remedy that.

Cather is one of my very favorite authors. My favorite of her books is Death Comes for the Archbishop, which is different in perspective from many of her others.

My Antonia is my favorite Cather. I know Death Comes for the Archbishop is a favorite of many, but Antonia is still my favorite. I have yet to read a Cather that I hated. Her Shadows on the Rock is next up for me.

Just depends on personal taste, Stasia, as to what the favorite is. I, too, have liked all the books of hers that I've read so far.

Books # 98 and 99


The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential by Leo Babauta


Thrifty: Living the Frugal Life by Marjorie Harris

I picked up these two small self-help books at the library the other day on a whim and breezed through both of them in a day. There are no earth-shattering revelations in either one. The first, Power of Less is written by a man who writes a blog and has published at least one other book, all of which promotes the virtues of a minimalistic lifestyle. Not my thing, but he actually did have a couple of interesting points about how to organize the desk and keep it that way, and how to plan your day so that the 3 most important tasks are done first. That way, even if nothing is done the rest of the day, it has been productive. Not time management so much as work management.

The other book, Thrifty, was one I picked up in hopes that it would contain a few kernels of wisdom that I could pass along to my college-age daughter who has trouble controlling her spending. There is really nothing here. Basically she says what we already know - more money spent acquiring a few high quality items is better than less spent on junk. I was distracted by her too-obvious, and repeated, references to the fact that she is personal friends with Margaret Atwood. That, and the fact that after telling us that to be selective on how we spend money, she writes pages and pages about ways to spend money.

Not a great reading day, but at least I spent it with a book in my hands which is something I haven't managed to do much of lately.

#120: I think I will pass those by. I can understand The Power of Less, but it will never work for me as long as I collect books, which pretty much will be until I am dead.

Sandy? Joplin? Know anything yet?

#121 Still not sure about Joplin. It may be very last minute. But keep your fingers crossed for me - I'd love to make it.

I totally hear what you're saying about collecting. I understand his argument, but I LIKE having stuff. He talked about how nice the rooms in magazine photos look with no cluttter in sight and nothing out of place. True, but I wouldn't want to live in them. I'm always suspicious whenever I go into someone's house that looks like that. What do they do there?

I would pretty much advise anyone to pass these books by. If you're overwhelmingly tempted, then at least get them from the library first before you spend money to buy either one.

#122: I'm always suspicious whenever I go into someone's house that looks like that. What do they do there?

Evidently nothing - and certainly not living! I tell everyone who comes to my house that 'books are furniture here' so visitors just have to deal with them laying all around.

Fingers crossed that you make Joplin!

Sandy, I'm reading a bio of President James K. Polk. Very interesting but the best parts are about exploration of California and the Oregon territory. John Fremont etc.

Didn't you have a topic on the subject of the California Gold Rush? Any suggestions? I know next to nothing about this but, at some point, would like to dig deeper into it.

Catching up on your thread, I see a few to avoid and a few to add to the blossoming mushroom cloud. I will avoid the French setting one and postpone starting Eve Duncan another year. I think I must investigate, however, this Willa Cather since there is such a glowing consensus of her work.

#122 I'm always suspicious whenever I go into someone's house that looks like that. What do they do there?

As a child, I had a friend whose mother insisted on keeping her house and yard that that way all the time -- like something out of House Beautiful. She was not allowed to play at all at home. So sad!

Needless to say, my house looks lived-in most of the time.

#124 Linda - probably the best nonfiction book I've read about the gold rush was California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War by Leonard L Richards. It didn't focus as much on the actual discovery of gold and the development of the gold field as it did on the impact on national issues like trans-continental transportaton and slavery. Still, I'd recommend it for you. I think it was Cheli who recommended it to me.

I'd still like to get ahold of a more local history of the gold rush someday. I did read a novel that spent a lot of time describing the situation in northern California during the gold rush - by Isabelle Allende, although the title is escaping me right now.

#125 Yes, you absolute should investigate Willa Cather. The first time I tried reading her several years ago, I didn't get very far. I guess I just wasn't ready for her then because this year I am loving her.

I'm also crossing my fingers and toes that you can make the Joplin meet-up. I don't want to wait until the June Johnson Co. Book Sale to meet you! Btw, did you go to the one early in November?

I think Daughter of Fortune might be the Allende you're thinking of, Sandy, although don't hold me to it!

I thought your comment about not being ready for Cather is so true for all of us readers. There is a certain maturity involved and a lot of timing as to whether or not a particular book or author is right for us. I'm so glad that I still have a few in the Cather collection that I haven't read. I've enjoyed all her books for different reasons and in different degrees.

Edited to turn off bold type.

#126 Terri, I guess we were cross posting and I missed your message earlier. What a sad story about your childhood friend. One of the nicest compliments I've gotten recently was from my brother's lady friend who is absolutely lovely. She said that she loves coming to my house because it is always so comfortable and lived-in. I know that what she meant was that, if they stop by unannounced (which my brother is in the habit of doing), there will be baskets of laundry in the family room waiting to be folded or put away, or bills stacked on the desk waiting to be paid, or dishes stacked in the sink waiting to be loaded into the dishwasher. But there are also books laid open on the arm of the chair and my sewing machine and assorted supplies and fabric spread out all across the dining room table - both of these things being reasons that the others weren't already done. So, my house looks lived-in because we actually do live here!

#128 Donna, yes Daughter of Fortune is the Allende book I was thinking of. Have you read it? It was my first Allende book, but it won't be my last.

I didn't go to the November book sale, although I thought of you and wondered the same thing when I saw it advertised.

Book #100



Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner

I'm struggling to know what to say about this book. It is very well-written and many of you will probably love it. I didn't. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1971 and has quite a few references to the social upheaval that was taking place in the nation at that time - especially in northern California where the story is set. The narrator is former history professor at Berkley who is still learning to accept his position as a handicapped person after suffering the amputation of his leg due to a degenerative bone disease. He undertakes to write a book about his grandmother who had been a well-known writer and artist in the late 1800's. It was the grandmother's story that I was interested in and the reason I chose the book. She had been an east coast society maiden when she married a man who was trying to make a name for himself as an engineer in the west. Consequently, she spent most of the rest of her life living in a variety of mining camps and other remote locations in the west while pining for the civilized east. The author-grandson keeps interjecting comments directed at his grandmother in the middle of the narrative he is composing or speculating about what was happening outside the written record that she left behind, which is what kept pulling me out of her story and forcing me to focus back on what was happening in 1970. And, of course, there were the sections where the narrator talked about himself and his own situation.

This is fiction - not based on any real life writer/artist/grandmother - but still contains lots of great descriptions of mining camps and life in general in the 1880's and 1890's West. And even though I was less interested in that part, the discussions about society in 1970 were also very well done. Actually my very favorite scene in the entire book was when the writer was having a conversation with his "secretary" - a Berkley student home for the summer - about why he thought her plan to join a free-love commune that was just getting started was a bad idea, using arguments that she could both understand and identify with. A very well-written book, but one that is just not my style and that I was unable to fully appreciate. So 3-1/2 stars from me.

Thanks for the review, Sandy. I've never read anything by Wallace Stegner but hope to do so. Big Rock Candy Mountain, I think.

Congrats on reaching book #100.

Thanks, Linda. I'd never heard of Wallace Stegner before this book and still know nothing about any of this other works. I chose this book just because I can count it for the 1010 challenge. I saw that you're planning to read one of his books soon and will be curious to find out what you think of it.

I am a Wallace Stegner fan. I enjoyed Angle of Repose more than you did, I think, Sandy, but I absolutely loved Crossing to Safety. I hope you give him another shot.

I have Crossing to Safety but have not read it yet.

#133 Stasia, on the basis of your recommendation, I've added Crossing to Safety to the wishlist. I'm not sure why I didn't love Angle of Repose. Maybe I was predisposed to dislike it after learning that it had won the Pulitzer, because I remember having second thoughts about reading it and then feeling like it had exceeded my expectations after I had finished.

#134 Joyce, have you read anything else by him?

#135 Sandy: Nope, nothing yet.

The Pulitzers can seem uneven, since originally the award was set tup to go to the author who best reflected in fiction the spirit of the times or something like that. When you look at who has won, for what books on what topics, in what era, you can see very clearly that the judges have, in the past, favored authors with contemporary themes of great interest at that time. For me, Cather should have won the prize for Death Comes for the Archbishop while others will argue for My Antonia, when she actually won the prize, right after WWI, for One of OUrs, about a Midwestern farm boy who enlists in the US Army. Others: Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, Ferber's So Big and more, although even with the earlier ones, not all were so right-on-target. In the last couple of decades, it hasn't been true, and I think that the Pulitzer committee has changed the original mission statement--maybe around the time when they created a separate prize for poetry, but don't know.

#136 That's interesting - I guess I never even wondered what the criteria for the prize were. It makes sense, then, because the "spirit of the times" of 1970 was very strong in the book.

Book #101



Jim the Boy by Tony Early

Recommended by Donna, I think. This book tells the story of a 10-year old boy growing up in a small town in North Carolina in 1934. His father died before he was born and he is being raised by his widowed mother and her 3 bachelor brothers. His father had come from the nearby mountains, where his grandfather - whom he has never met - still lives. When the county schools are consolidated and the mountain kids come to town to attend the new school in town, Jim is disturbed by the thought that some of those boys might know his grandfather.

A nice view of the world from a 10-year old perspective. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Jim and "the uncles". Donna advised that the sequel, The Blue Star, which takes place 7 years later, is even better so I am looking forward to that. 4 stars.

#138: I have not yet read the sequel to Jim the Boy either. Thanks for the reminder about it, Sandy.

Thanks for all these great reviews! My Antonia was highly recommended by Stasia and while I purchased a copy, I haven't read it yet. I hope to do so in 2011.

I'm adding Jim the Boy to my tbr list. It sounds like I book I would really enjoy.

opps. I see that Jim the Boy is already on my list...yet another highly recommended by Stasia.

Jim the Boy is one of the $1 books I got at The Strand back in September! Now I need to actually read it...

Terri, yes you should read it - sooner rather than later. It reads quickly and is a pleasant and uplifting book.

"Pleasant and uplifting" is right on, Sandy. I'm glad you enjoyed Jim the Boy. That was a dollar well spent, Terri. It won't take you long to read the book, but the story lingers.

I could have sworn I congratulated you on your 100th book, even though it was a disappointing read for you.

I remember liking Angle of Repose very much, but it's been at least 20 years since I read it. I do want to read more of Wallace Stegner. I have The Big Rock Candy Mountain glaring at me from the TBR stash.

I still have my fingers and toes crossed for Nov. 30th!

#144 Donna, somewhere (either 75 or 11 in 11), I think we talked about a group read next year for The Big Rock Candy Mountain.

Happy Thanksgiving, Sandy!!

Ditto what Linda said. I hope you have a lovely holiday. Are you able to meet up with Stasia, Terri, Donna next week?

Sending my Thanksgiving wishes as well, Sandy!

I just read and enjoyed The Day the World Came to Town, and I think I heard about it first from you--thanks for a great recommendation!

just practicing posting photos:



Yippee! It Worked!

This is Stasia and Terri perusing the shelves for goodies at the book store in Joplin.

Bring 'em on. I love looking at pics.

Don't like being in them but love looking at them.

#151 Me too. That's why I have the camera!

OK, that does it. Next meet up, I am bringing the camera and hiding behind it!

Too late, Stasia! The truth is out!!! Nice pic.

Rats.

Joyce, did you see all the photos posted on the Joplin thread? Stasia brought her daughter, Catey, along. She is beautiful, and looks so much like her mother.

It's been a while since I've actually finished a book. Even if the Joplin trip had been a bust (it wasn't), I knew it would give me the opportunity to finish up the audio book I've been listening to in the car:

Book #102



The Lion by Nelson DeMille

For fans of suspense-thrillers only. This is the 5th book in the John Corey series. It isn't necessary to read the entire series, but be sure to read The Lion's Game before trying this one. Lion's Game is where Asad Khalil is introduced and the events in that book play a huge role in setting up this book, which takes place 3 years later. John Corey is his normal arrogant smart-aleck self, and that is why we love him. 4 stars.

#156: No, I haven't seen those. What's the link?

#157: Hmm--looks like a series to try out!

Just got Plum Island, which had better be the first in the series!

#158: Joyce, the link to the Joplin thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/100538

#158 Plum Island is the first in the series, and still one of my favorites, I think. It was my first DeMille book ever.

Those Joplin pix are a total kick!!! What fun!

#160: I still have not read any DeMille. One of these days I will!

#161: Glad you enjoyed them Joyce. Now you know what my baby looks like (along with the rest of us, of course!)

#162: Quite the grown-up "baby" she is, Stasia. :-)

#163: Don't remind me!

Book #103



The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

I finally finished - I originally started reading this back in April and after months of fits and starts, including a complete do-over restart this fall on audio, wrapped it up this afternoon. Coincidentally, just minutes after completing the last CD, I also put the final stitches in a quilt I've been working on for months. It's been a productive day all around!

Of course, I'm sure I don't have anything to say about the book that hasn't already been said. It was lots of fun - I'm anxious now to check out some of the different film versions, and would love to hear recommendations about which are best. I only have 2 complaints about the book. First, that it just dragged on so long - and how many interludes were there when the narrarator just told us things, especially when changing scenes, instead of showing us? I was beginning to think that it would just end without any resolution. Second, I sometimes had trouble following all the intrigues, even though they were explained over and over. Maybe because so many references were unfamiliar, or maybe because the book was just so long, or maybe because I just wasn't paying close enough attention.

Still, a very worthy book. 4 stars.

#165 Maybe someday...

Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

#165: I have not read that one yet. I will have to get to it though!

I haven't read Three Musketeers either, but I've seen a few film versions... however, that was over a decade ago and I can't remember the titles / versions to be able to recommend them... d'oh! I'd check a Wikipedia page for the various versions and then head over to RottenTomatoes.com to see which ones are most recommended!

#168 Thanks, that's a great idea!

Book #104



Fatal Forecast by Michael Tougias

Short nonfiction about the fishing boats that were caught in a sudden severe storm that occured off the coast of Massachuettes in November, 1980. The title refers to the erroneous weather forecasts that were broadcast as a result of missing or malfunctioning weather bouys. Those forecasts were predicting normal conditions which encouraged several boats to go out for one final fishing trip before the season ended. Once the boats had reached the off-shore continental shelf where the fishing grounds were located, they encountered wind and waves more severe than anyone involved had ever seen before - or since. Even when the weather forecast was changed to include the chance of storms, the predicted conditions were far milder than the boats were already experiencing. The book follows the crews of 3 boats who were all in the same area, documenting the problems they faced and the ordeals of the men who survived, as well as the coast guard personnel who were dispatched to provide search and rescue services to them. Several comparisons to other famous storms, including the "perfect storm" which occured in the same area several years later and which was the subject of a movie made several years ago. Amazing stories of strength and bravery. 3-1/2 stars.

>165 sjmccreary:: Sandy, we must find some kind of medal and award it to you for the most persevering reader. These are the times when I wish I could "gif." Eight months spent with The Three Musketeers!. I'm glad you finished it. I haven't read the book or seen a film version of it. I had high hopes to read The Count of Monte Cristo this year, but it didn't even make it off the shelf!

#171 Donna, for most of the last 8 months Three Musketeers was just sitting on the shelf. I really don't know what my problem was - I liked the book and it was pretty easy going - I just couldn't stick with it long enough to make any progress. I'd like to do CMC sometime soon - maybe 2011. Maybe we could do a tandem read, if you're still interested in it.

maybe a group read of CMC - I might for it in the spring.

wasn't there a group read last year? I wonder how many more would be interested in taking another crack at it?

There was a group read of The Count of Monte Cristo. I am one of several who read it this year. I urge you to give it a try! I thought it was terrific.

</i>#176 Absolutely true! And I knew that in my heart. But in my head I was still hesitant to do something so uncharacteristic as taking a day off work and driving to see a group of people I'd only met online! So, I had to come up with other justifications to help my head along - like visiting my ailing grandma in a nearby town, and getting to take a road trip alone and having the chance to listen to audio books the entire trip. I'm sure that next time I will not need to play any such games with myself. And even though you weren't there to meet face-to-face, I'm glad I had the chance to chat with you on the phone for a few minutes. I only wish the connection had been better.

#177 I remember the first time I agreed to meet face to face with someone I'd met online. It was when we first got internet access, in the mid 90s, and I was on the mystery listserv, DorothyL.

One new "friend" lived just a few miles away and we decided to go downtown and have lunch and visit a bookstore. We were on the same train--she'd be on first and be reading a mystery.

Well, I forgot to get a description of her so it was semi-hilarious going up to each person with a book to see what they were reading. I had to make a few "I'm looking for a middle-aged woman reading a mystery" comments.

#178 That's funny! You should have requested a flower in the book like in that movie - "Around the Corner"(?) with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, I think it was.

#177: I did not know about all those other justifications. Here I was thinking you were taking the day off work just for the pleasure of our company :)

Sandy, CMC is one of my favorite books and it just happens that I am rereading it at this minute. What has to be kept in mind with all the Dumas' and their contemporaries (including Dickens) is that they were writing newspaper serials--and were paid by the word!

I do have to get to the 3 Musketeers one of these days.

And let me give you some hope--the older you get, the more you do find the time and will or whatever to take those days off and do something a little adventurous. It does get easier--and it's fun (she says who has had her nose stuck to the grindstone for years right now). Do as I say and not as I (recently) do! :-)

#180 :-) And what a pleasure it was!

#181 I think I knew that many of those books were originally published as serials, and it is pretty to tell as you're reading.

I'm already finding that I've got more time than before to go do fun things, and I'm loving it. Any my husband and I are able to spend more time doing things together than we have we had kids. I don't think the "empty nest syndrome" will be much of a problem here - we're pretty much loving the freedom that not having to take care of kids is bringing!

#182: I never caught on! Even after I'd read CMC for the 2nd time, it didn't dawn on me until much later that that was one reason for the length. Funny, Dickens did the same thing but I don't find his writing as tedious as I do the Dumas', but that may just be due to the difference between French and English styles of writing. I have always had that trouble with French and Russian literature (with the exception of War and Peace)---too long-winded for my perhaps too-American temperament! What saves CMC for me is the story, which is exciting and well-told.

I didn't realize that all your kids had "left the nest". Yes, the freedom is indeed wonderful. :-)

#183 I think I've yet to complete a Russian - they are a long-winded bunch, aren't they? Musketeers is my first French novel, and I'll probably give Dumas another shot, since I sill want to read CMC. I'd heard that Dickens published serially, but I've not read enough of him to have a chance of noticing or not.

Our nest isn't quite empty - we still have a 17-year old at home. But he's pretty self-sufficient and I don't worry about leaving him home alone for an evening, or even all day on a Saturday. I do draw the line at overnight, though, so we still have to make arrangements if we're going out of town.

Open message to all LT friends:

As most of you are probably aware, our oldest son, Bill, was killed last Thursday in a traffic accident in Springfield, MO. As he was walking on a sidewalk near his home, a car travelling at a very high rate of speed lost control and left the roadway, hitting him and breaking 2 utility poles. According to both the coroner and the medical examiner, death was instantaneous. Injuries were mostly internal, but very extensive. He was 24 years old.

The outpouring of comfort and concern we received was instant and overwhelming. I have received dozens of profile messages from LTers, many of whom I am acquainted with only slightly or not at all. I will respond to each one.

Within an hour of our receiving notification people began arriving at our house bringing food and Kleenex, and stayed to provide comfort and company to me during the hours my husband was gone retrieving our other son, who lived together with Bill, home from Springfield. We had people here continuously all weekend - we were left alone only at night. Monday and Tuesday night we had relatives staying here and so we weren't alone even at night those days. People brought food, cooked, cleaned up and ran errands for us. My parents took all the kids shopping and bought them suitable clothes for the funeral - which means suits for the boys, a large expense. I will try to reimburse them, but....

As Donna indicated, the visitation Monday evening was huge. Where we were expecting dozens of people to attend, we had hundreds. The funeral on Tuesday afternoon was similarly well-attended. We were amazed at how far some had traveled. There were people here from all over the state. We had relatives in from 5 states. I don't know who was running my husband's office since it seemed that they were all here. Wednesday morning we had a second service in my husband's hometown in southern Kansas. We expected it to be very small and wanted to have it only because my mother-in-law is too weak to travel all the way up here. But the church was nearly full, and a goodly number of them accompanied us to the cemetery - on a cold, windy December day.

The generosity of folks was just as encouraging as their presence. Even though we requested no flowers, we received nearly 30 arrangements and potted plants. We have shared them with our parents, the local hospital, the church, and MIL's nursing home. We left several in the cemetery decorating the graves of relatives plus several more on Bill's new grave, and my dining room still looks like a greenhouse. People brought enough food for an army - we fed dozens of people here this weekend and we still have leftovers. We've already received over $500 for Children's Miracle Network in memory of Bill, and that is just the money that was given to us at the services held in the last 3 days - that does not include any contributions made directly to CMN. The cards and letters we've gotten have also provided a great comfort. We've received mail from friends, relatives, and acquaintances all over the country. We got several very nice letters from Bill's professors and classmates at Missouri State University. Our youngest son received encouraging comments from his high school classmates and teachers. We even got several cards from LTers.

This outpouring of love and support caught us totally off guard. It was so much more than we ever expected and has meant more than we will ever be able to completely express. We appreciate each and every one who took the time and effort to reach out to us in our grief and loss.

But the one thing that surprised us more than anthing else was the number of people who shared with us the stories of the children and brothers that they have lost. An amazing number - we had no idea. It has been reassuring for us to learn that we are not alone in our loss. I'm sure that we will be contacting several of those people who invited us to call if we wanted to talk.

This has gotten to be quite a bit longer than I intended. All I really wanted to do was to express the tremdous gratitude we have for everything everyone has done for us in the last week. Most valuable of all were the many, many prayers that were being said for us. I know that without them I could not have gotten through the last 7 days.

Tomorrow we will be travelling to Springfield to clean out Bill's room and leave the apartment neat and tidy for his brother to return to. We also have an appointment to meet with someone from the prosecutor's office and the investigating officer from the police department. They will try to answer our questions about the investigation so far and explain what will be happening as the case goes to trial. They have made an arrest and charged an international student with Involuntary Manslaughter in the 1st degree - a felony. He is currently being held on $100,000 bail, but his attorney has requested a reduction in bail. That hearing will be Friday morning and if we'd known about it ahead of time, we would have made plans to be there. As soon as we found out about it this evening, we called and left messages for both the prosecutor and the police investigator - hoping they would get them early in the morning before the 8:30 hearing. We got a call-back from the investigator late this evening and Chris was able to express our concern that he might flee the country if he is released from jail. We don't necessarily want the book thrown at him, but we do want him to stand trial and to receive his deserved punishment - whatever that is determined to be. Unfortunately, our ordeal isn't over yet. But I feel like we have begun a new phase of our lives. Post Bill. We can still use your prayers.

#185: We can still use your prayers.

You most definitely have them. Travel safely, my friend.

I will certainly keep you all in my prayers, Sandy.

Sandy, My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you during this difficuly time.

Will be thinking of you all.

I can only send healing energy and hope that you all find the strength to carry on, with Bill with you always in your hearts.

Continuing to pray for you and your family.

{{{McCrearys}}}

Virtual hugs and wishes for strength to handle this next phase, Sandy. One day at a time...

My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you and your family, Sandy!

Praying for your strength and the healing of your hearts...
God Bless your family!

Blessings and prayers continue for you and your family, Sandy. I'm here if you need me.

Prayers definitely being sent in your favor.
I'm thinking of you.

God bless you and your family, Sandy. I'm praying for you during this difficult time--as someone else said, one day at a time.

Wishing you comfort and strength...

Sandy, I'll be thinking of you and your family. Thanks so much for letting us know how you're doing.

More hugs and more prayers for you and your family, Sandy. Thank you for letting us know how things are going.

Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know everything! We appreciate it so much. And my thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and yours.

We are keeping your family in our prayers.

It's so generous of you to let us know all of this. Prayers continue to come your way.

Ditto, one day at a time. Thinking of you and your family, Sandy. God bless.

The McCreary family is definitely on the prayer list. Huge hugs.

Thinking of and praying for you and your family, Sandy.

I will be thinking of you and your family during your time of unimaginable loss. Thank you for letting us know how you are doing.

Wish you could recover in spirit as easily as I seem to be doing bodily but know that you have a much longer and harder road. Just know that I am thinking of you and praying for you and your family.

You and your family will be in my prayers. Losing a loved one so very unexpectedly is a devastating blow. I really appreciate your taking the time and making the effort to let us know about this. You're obviously very loving, caring people. Love to all of you.

Sandy,
May the peace we were promised that first Christmas day find its way to your heart this year. Blessings, big hugs and best wishes
Christmas Glitters Graphics

Keeping you and your family in my prayers this Christmas season.

Sending my hopes and prayers that you may have a blessed 2011!

Happy New Year, Sandy! I am so glad we had the opportunity to meet in 2010 and hope we get together again in 2011.

Happy New Year, SAndy!

Where's your 2011 thread? I'll never find it on my own!

Joyce--Go to the main page for the 2011 thread, click on the link to "Wiki Away," scroll down the page and you'll find a linked list of members' names. You can find anyone very easily that way.

#216: Thanks! Fortunately, someone who knows my limitations sent me the link to Sandy's new thread, but the info is useful for other searches. There are still a few people whose 2011 threads I need to track down.