Angela's (BookAngel_a) 2010 Journey - Chapter 4

Wow, 4 threads...definitely a personal best for me!

Thank you to all my friends who stop by regularly...I know it isn't easy to find the time these days, so I really appreciate it.

Previous 3 threads:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/79657
http://www.librarything.com/topic/88085
http://www.librarything.com/topic/95696

I'm ready to list book #74...I've almost met the challenge. :)

Hi Angela. Congratulations on almost reaching your goal!

Hi Pat - Congratulations on being the first visitor to my new thread! :D

Found you and starred you!

4- It's good to be found. :)

74. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Henrietta Lacks died a painful death from cervical cancer. Before she died, her doctor took a sample of some of her cancer cells, without her permission. Those cells never died. They grew and grew, like no cells had ever done in laboratories before. They came to be called HeLa and have helped scientists all over the world in various research projects.

It took more than twenty years for her children to find out that their mother's cells were still alive. They received no money from the sale of their mother's cells. Finally, however, they know the whole truth. This book tells the world about HeLa, Henrietta Lacks and her family.

I found it difficult to read about Henrietta's cancer and her pain, and the injustices she and her children faced. But I'm glad I read it. I think this book is important reading for all of us.

Only one more book and you reached the 75 challenge goal!

Yes, and I have no idea what book #75 will be...

Angela, glad you liked The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. That was one of my favorite reads this year.

starred!

I am also one of those who appreciated Henrietta Lacks. Glad to see you did as well, Angela!

yeah... that one looks good.. glad you liked it!

Henrietta Lacks is one I come across in the bookstore fairly frequently, but reading about illness of any kind doesn't really mesh with my anxiety. :-/ I'm glad you enjoyed it, though!

Angela- Congrats on the new thread! I also loved Henrietta Lacks. One of my top reads of the year.

Hello Angela! :)

Hello Stephen! :)

Found you!

The only bookstore left in our area doesn't have Henrietta Lacks, nor does our local library. But an audio book download became available through our District LIbrary, and I've checked it out. I'd rather read it in book form, but, so far, the audio version is quite good.

Hi there, I'm eager to hear what you think of Udolpho when you get around to it. I've got my copy from the library for a couple of months so will keep trying.

The reason I'm interested in it is that it was one of the main inspirations for Jane Austen when she wrote her own gothic novel, Northanger Abbey and Ann Radcliffe herself was miles ahead of her time in terms of supporting her family. I believe she and her husband were shunned by society because of her profession and it was probably one of the main reasons that Jane Austen books were never published under her own name while she was alive.

Gotcha starred, Angela!

16- You know, I think I'd rather read that book in book format too...but when you're excited to read a book, any format is better than nothing!

17- I did not know that Udolpho was a big inspiration for Northanger Abbey...until earlier today when I heard Ellie say that on her thread! It's great here on LT - we all seem to be thinking about the same books at the same time. Thank you for adding that bit of information about Radcliffe/Austen - that was interesting!
Wait a minute...you're allowed to keep your library books for a couple of months??

18- Glad you found me, Terri! I'm glad we don't need a GPS to find each other around here, lol!

Here you are, Angela! Welcome back!!! (I loved your pretty face in photo.) Congratulations on 74 --- hope you find something wonderful for 75! Somehow, I don't think you'll have any trouble.

Northanger Abbey is my favorite book by Austen and I started to read Udolpho probably 15 years ago because of it, but put it down without getting far. I've always said that I needed to try it again. Maybe a Gothic category in next year's challenge?

Hi Angela. Got rather behind but have caught up with your new thread now! Loved the photo of you, Stasia and Linda, looks like you all had a lovely time.

Lots of people seem to have been reading Alberto Manguel lately. I've added A Reading Diary to my long wishlist.

I'm about halfway through Henrietta Lacks and I agree with you about finding lots of the book difficult to read but I'm glad I'm reading it.

Hope book no 75 is a good one!

*Wandering through and waving hello*

I quite enjoyed Udolpho: it was wonderfully silly.

Happy Sunday to you Angela. I'm still praying for good news regarding Mike's job possibility. Please keep me posted.

20- Hi LizzieD! And thank you! Book 75 was wonderful, as it turned out.

21- I don't often hear people say NA is their favorite Austen, Jennifer. I'm looking forward to re-reading it, hopefully next year, since I don't remember too much about it. A gothic category sounds awesome, actually!

22-Hi Heather, and thank you. Hope you like the Manguel. I'm glad I read the Lacks book too - I needed to know how non-white people were treated back in the 1950's, when my parents were born. It's sad to think that prejudice and segregation were so bad then - the 50's were not so long ago, really...

23-Hi Caty! I hope that I find Udolpho to be fun and silly too.

24- Thank you Linda dear. Will do. Still nothing to report, although he's going to stop by in person today to inquire.

Book #75...and it was a good one too!

75. Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour

Before I review this book, I ought to explain why I connected so well with this memoir. I withdrew from public school for the last few years of high school, and I got my high school diploma (not GED) by home schooling. The decision was due to many factors. Although my grades were good, my school wasn't giving me the education I was hoping for, and some really horrible things happened at school during my last year there. Homeschooling worked out wonderfully for me, although I've seen it fail for some, and wouldn't recommend it to everyone as a rule. I loved learning and I was self motivated...before long I was in charge of my own education. I even took over some of the paperwork from my mother! For me, it was the best decision and I've never regretted it.

In this book, L'Amour tells the story of how books gave him the education he didn't get in school. For personal and economic reasons (this was during the depression) he had to leave school and home and become a wandering worker - earning money wherever he could. He had an appetite for books and knowledge - so he decided to educate himself by reading anything he could get his hands on. He often gave up food so he could read more books.

When he finally was able to settle down, he focused his reading on specific topics that he wanted to learn about. He eventually became a successful author because he took time to learn of what he was writing. You'll not find historical errors in his books! Since he read voraciously, he learned what does and does not work in successful writing.

He says the greatest compliment he wanted was for someone to read his books and say "Yes, that's how it really was."

He realizes his education was unorthodox, and like me, he says he wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but it worked very well for him.

Anyone who loves "books about books" will probably enjoy this memoir. He doesn't go into details that most memoirs do...such as how he met his wife, what fighting in WWII was like, the birth of his children, etc, but instead he focuses on the books he was reading while he was having certain adventures - and what those books taught him.

Angela, am I going to have to stop reading your thread? You got me again with the L'Amour memoir! I like that it is focused on books, plus he was my dad's favorite author. I wish I'd kept the paperback books with the dates he recorded on the last pages as he read them yet again. Some of them were falling apart with love.

Speaking as an ex-teacher, I think developing your own curriculum is the best way to learn. Some of the things I had to teach seemed pointless to me, although I kept my thoughts to myself!

ETA: Congratulations on reading 75 books!!! And a thumbs up for the great review!

Congratulation on hitting 75!! :)

Yeah for 75! Congratulations!

Angela, so glad you had a great read for your 75th book and congratulations on reaching your goal. I'm going to wishlist Education of a Wandering Man because I love books about books. Great review.

Angela, congrats on making 75 with a great book. I'll be adding Education of a Wandering Man. I love the sounds of it.

It takes a very mature high schooler to be a successful home schooler and it sounds like you filled the bill. Good for you.

Education of a Wandering Man does sound really interesting even though I haven't read a single Louis L'Amour. My best friend's father wrote 'Westerns' and was also self-educated (her dad, not her) so I bet she would be interested in this one too. Happy 75!

Congratulations on reaching your 75th book and loving it!

Congrats on reaching your 75 book goal.

I am going to add Education of a Wandering Man to my 1010 books about books category right away. Thanks for the recommendation.

Congrats on 75 - and a great review!

27- Donna, I hope you never stop visiting my thread! Sorry about that - well, I'm not really sorry, because it's a great book!

Just wanted to add that I LOVED my teachers and still keep in touch with one or two of them. They understood why I was leaving the school. It was the system that needed to change - my teachers were great!

Homeschooling wasn't done very much back in the late 90's, at least not in this area...there were no cyber-schools then either. I think I caused a bit of a scandal at the time, because I was near the top of my class.

28- Thanks Stephen!

29 - Thank you Jennifer. :)

30- Pat, thank you SO much and I hope you enjoy the book when you get a chance to read it!

31-Bonnie, thank you for the compliments and I really hope you enjoy the L'Amour book when you read it.

32- Thanks, Bonnie! I haven't read another L'Amour book either. I used to think that I wasn't 'into' westerns, but reading this memoir makes me think I might like some of L'Amour's fiction. Does anyone have any suggestions??

33- Thank you Roni!!

34 - Thank you Linda - I'll keep an eye out for your review. :)

35 - Thanks, Luxx - glad you stopped by.

I love Education of a Wandering Man! I am so glad you enjoyed that one, Angela. Oh yeah and BTW -

Hey - I love the little smiley guy! Thanks...

I picked up the L'Amour memoir based on your recommendation, so thank you for that also.

Congratulations on reaching 75, Angela!

40- Thank you Caty!

congrats on getting to the goal :)

Congrats!

76. A Broom of One's Own: Words on Writing, Housecleaning, and Life by Nancy Peacock

Nancy Peacock has published two novels. She's accomplished something many writers only dream of. She's "made it", as they say.

And yet...she cleans houses for a living.

This book is a series of essays about her writing and her housecleaning, and how they (sometimes) work together. She discusses the negative feelings many people have toward their "maids" - "How could a MAID write a book!?" as well as her favorite and least favorite clients. She also writes about her lack of a college degree and whether she should apologize for that or not. Is she as worthy as other writers even though she cleans toilets and doesn't have her degree?

In addition, she shares her advice for budding writers, such as finding the time to write, where to write, dealing with rejection, writer's workshops, etc.

I loved this book because, like book #75, I could relate to the author. I've taken a lot of non-accredited courses, but I also do not have a college degree - although I will definitely go back to school and get one if I ever need it for a job, or if I feel incomplete without one. And...for a period of two years I cleaned people's houses to earn a living. When Ms. Peacock described her annoying clients, I felt irritation rise in my chest because I had the same experiences. I also dealt with the stereotypes that 'cleaning ladies are not smart enough to have a real job', etc, etc.

Ms. Peacock also has an engaging style. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books about writing, or to anyone who's ever cleaned house for someone else!

Thank you Kath, and Doc! :D

Angela- Congrats on 75! Good job! I loved your review and personal comments on Education of a Wandering Man. L'Amour might be the first author I went nuts for! I read at least two dozen of his books, during my teens. I still have a few of his books, on my "keeper" shelves.

46- Thanks, Mark! I appreciate it. Do you have any L'Amour recommendations for someone like me, who's not sure if she really likes 'westerns'? I know he wrote some that were set in other parts of the world, but I don't know which books they are...

Hi Angela,

Congratulations on reaching 75!

Your 76th book caught my eye right away. I read Peacock's Life Without Water years ago and recognized the name. I don't remember too much about it other than it was a coming of age book and the girl's parents were hippy types, but I do know that I really liked it.

I'm going to definitely look for this one - thanks!

Congratulations on 75, Angela!

*GPS indeed. Hmph.*

I don't think I ever read any of his non-western books but a couple of my favorites of his are: Reilly's Luck and Hanging Woman Creek. He also wrote many books about the fictional Sackett family, which I loved.

Congratulations on reaching 75, Angela.

Congrats on reaching 75 and beyond! I'm putting Education of a Wandering Man on my wishlist. Your review and your personal connection are so compelling!

48 - Joanne, thank you! This book made me want to try one of Peacock's novels. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

49- Good to see you Terri. If it makes you feel any better, I probably would have gotten just as lost if I was in NY! In fact, I guarantee it! And I wouldn't have had as much fun being lost as you three did...

50 - Thanks for the recs, Mark!

51 - Thank you calm - glad you de-lurked! :)

52 - Thanks, Anne! I'm glad you enjoyed my review. I'm beginning to feel like it's confession time on this thread, but I think it helps when we explain why a book touched our heart.

Does anyone have a link to Claudia's (bahzah's) thread? I can't find it...

This should be Claudia's thread, Angela:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/89253

She's doing the 50 Book Challenge

55- Thanks Pat! :)

Belated congratulations on reading 75 books Angela! Both those books sound interesting and I really enjoyed hearing more about why you liked them. I've added The Education of a Wandering Man to my wishlist - I'd actually never heard of Louis L'Amour before.

Congratulations, Angela!

Thanks Heather - and I hope you enjoy it when you get a chance. It was my first book by L'Amour too...

Hi Darryl, thanks for dropping by!

77. Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande

If you think all books about writing are the same, you need to read this book.

Ms. Brande focuses on the basics of writing (Get your butt in the chair at a certain time and WRITE, darn it!)

But she also focuses on ways to release your subconscious mind, because, she says, that's where your genius is. She also addresses the discouragement that many writers face, and gives helpful advice to overcome it.

She's witty, she's helpful, and she says things you won't hear in other 'how to write' guides.

Thanks to Richard for the recommendation. :)

Congratulations on reaching 75 Angela, and I've wishlisted the last few books you've read, especially # 75 which really appeals.

In answer to your earlier question, we get books from the library for 1 month but I renewed early so know I have the books for two. I have a VERY big pile of books to read at the moment so am covering all bases here.

Belated congratulations on meeting and surpassing the 75 book mark, Angela!

Your last three books all sound good, especially the last one. If I ever go back to trying to write, I may look them up!

61- Thank you! It's cool that your library lets you do that. I don't think mine would. Glad you're "set" for books! :)

62 - Thanks Terri! Glad to help spread the book-love. :)
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78. The Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Would you believe that this was my first Elizabeth Peters book?? I know, I know, how is it possible that someone who LOVES cozy mysteries with great lead characters could have missed this series? Well, I've now found Amelia Peabody.

From page one the reader knows that you. do. not. mess. with. Amelia. She's a powerful leading lady. She inherits money, rescues a "ruined" young woman, and together they travel to Egypt. They intend to sail the Nile River, but they don't get very far before adventures find them.

You could say this is a Victorian style cozy with a modern day empowered woman. Is it a mystery? Yes, but it also has romance and humor. It's a well rounded fictional book.

Yes, at times it is a bit predictable. It's obvious who is going to fall in love with whom. But that didn't matter to me - it was fun!

Of course, there's at least 20 books in this series...sigh. Has anyone read Elizabeth Peters' other series? Can you tell me how they compare to this one? Thanks...

I have three of hers on the pile.. thankfully they are small and don't shout.

>63 BookAngel_a:: Well, you sound like you're in hog-heaven with the discovery of Elizabeth Peters' series. I love that when I find an author that's a reliable good/fun read. I feel that way about Elinor Lipman. And a *lot* of LT-ers are on the bus going to Three Pines.

A Broom of One's Own sounds good. I'm not saying anything again someone who has a cleaning lady. I tried it for a couple months one summer when I pinched a nerve in my neck, but the woman I hired started bringing her daughter to help her and I just couldn't accept that--especially since she was the same age as my son (4th grade!), so I had her (the daughter) wait in the living room and read books.

65- Oh, no! I think it's fine when people hire cleaning help. That's wonderful. I've hired cleaning help in the past. If no one did, I wouldn't have been able to make a living for those two years. I only have a problem with people who treat their cleaning help as less intelligent, or 'lower life forms'. Or those who ask you to do extra work every single week and won't give extra pay.

My mother was hired for a cleaning job - it was a job for two people and she said she was going to bring her daughter to help. The employer asked my mother how old I was! (I was 27...) I guess my mother looked young enough to have an underage daughter, and the employer didn't feel comfortable with that. Understandably so...

I'll have to check out Elinor Lipman, thanks!

79. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing Your Life by Georgene Lockwood

I love the 'Idiot's' and 'Dummies' book series...they cover some educational topics in a light manner that's fun to read. They even have cartoons!

I found this at the library book sale, so I picked it up. It's very comprehensive. In addition to discussing things like organizing your closets and paperwork, this book even discusses making the time to take care of your health. That was a pleasant surprise.

#63: I just flat love the Peabody series, Angela. If you ever get a chance to listen to the audiobooks recorded by Barbara Rosenblat, do so! She is absolutely wonderful.

I do too, Stasia! Well...book #1 at least! Glad to hear the series is a good one. I may check into the audiobooks. Have you read any other Elizabeth Peters? Do you know if Amelia Peabody is considered her best work?

I would say that yes, the Peabody series is her best series work. I also enjoy her Vicki Bliss series and have read several books in her Jacqueline Kirby series. She has also written several stand alone books. She publishes nonfiction under her real name, Barbara Mertz - she actually is an Egyptologist - and she publishes what I would call romantic suspense under the pen name Barbara Michaels.

What are you saying Stasia?

Barbara Mertz = Elizabeth Peters = Barbara Michaels ? or did I read that inside out?

eta

just googled...
http://www.mpmbooks.com/
well who knew? I do enjoy a Barbara Michaels now and then... very interesting.

You got it, Kath!

!!!!!!! I might get to the Peters books a bit more quickly now.. :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEJ8MV55b9o&feature=related

#71: Who knew? I did :)

ETA: Her stand alones under Peters are more like her Michaels books. The Peabody series is not.

Glad you enjoyed The Crocodile on the Sandbank. I've read book #14 in that series but I think you do need to read them in order to properly appreciate them. I'm on the look out for the first book.

Glad you're enjoying Mrs Peabody. :) I found them (and read them) because they were next to Ellis Peters in the American Library in Paris.

And, I'm thrilled you loved L'Amour's book. I've wanted to get my hands on that one. Maybe some day.

Thanks for the info Stasia!

Kath, I hope you like whatever Peters book you try. :)

Heather, the Peabody books are surprisingly hard to find, so I guess that means they must be very good! Book #1 in the series was written in the 70s or 80s and it's not available on bookmooch.com - and many books from that time period are easy to find there...

Susan, I still want to try Ellis Peters...well I've read some shorter stories by him, but I haven't started book #1 in the Cadfadel series yet. I think I will like his books when I do.

#77: Angela, Ellis Peters is actually a pen name for Edith Pargeter, who wrote excellent historical fiction under her own name. If the Cadfael books do not work for you, I urge you to give her Heaven Tree Trilogy a shot.

Whoops - she's a girl! Sorry about that. I'm hoping to read my first Cadfadel novel shortly. Of course, I'm also reading Proust, and hoping to join a group read of Middlemarch in November, so I'm probably biting off a bit more than I can chew...

Oh well, what is life without a little challenge? I am sure you can handle Proust and Eliot at the same time.

Angela- Just stopping by to say hi! Hope all is well with you!

Hi Angela! Just catching up on threads.

80- Lol, thanks for the vote of confidence, but I'm hoping to finish book #2 of Proust before starting Middlemarch. I'm not sure I CAN handle them both at once! Well, if I didn't have 'real life' to deal with, I probably could...

81- Hi Mark!

82- Hi Pat!

Proust is one that I think I'm a few years away from tackling yet. I am very impressed. How do you find it?

Proust seems scary to me even though I haven't read one word by him. I don't even remember to say his name correctly. Middlemarch isn't really daunting as long as you slow down and really savor her words. She's really quite funny, and even though she sniffs at Jane Austen, I saw a lot of similarities.

Catching up... (I have a Proust on my shelf.. w-a--a-a-a- y at the end. )

84- Proust was surprisingly pleasant for me, once I finally got the nerve to start. I really enjoyed book #1, Swann's Way. I found Proust's writing to be calming, relaxing, etc. The narrative does not move fast, however. It takes a certain amount of patience, because he tells you every minor detail and minor thought in each character's mind.

The first part of Book #2, Within a Budding Grove was a bit tiresome for me. But so far, the second half is more enjoyable for me, as Swann's Way was.

If you are an impatient reader who likes fast moving narratives, stay away from Proust! :)

85- I'm expecting to enjoy Middlemarch very much - glad there are some similarities to Austen.

How DO you pronounce Proust, anyway??? I'm probably saying it wrong...

86. I can't say I blame you, Kath! Do you know what book made me want to try Proust? The Uncommon Reader. The Queen reads Proust and becomes a fan. I suspect if I make it through all seven volumes I'll be quite proud of myself. But I doubt I will attempt a re-read, lol!

I have always pronounced it Proost, but have no idea if that is correct or not.

80. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

What can I say? I knew I would enjoy this charming little volume. (No need for an official review).

If you enjoy books of correspondence, books about books, or just sweet old fashioned books, read this.

I will probably re-read this one day.

#89: Glad you enjoyed that one, Angela. It is one of my all-time favorites. I have re-read it several times and it has never lost its charm and appeal for me.

And I never would have found it, if it wasn't for you, and all the other 75ers who've raved about it! :)

I try to tell myself I'll read Proust soon. It doesn't seem to be happening.

#91: LT to the rescue again! It probably saved you from reading something bad :)

I always smile when I see that someone has read and enjoyed 84, Charing Cross Road. It is a delightful book! :)

92- Lol...maybe one day...;)

93 - Very true. Thank you LT!

94- It definitely is, Joanne. And one of the few books I know right away that I want to re-read one day.

Just stopping by to say hello!

You are my hero for sticking with Proust! The idea of reading him has always been a tantalizing, though scary, goal of mine. I remember thinking that way about War and Peace which I found rewarding in the end.

Angela, if you don't want to reread Proust, maybe you can serve as cheerleader when the rest of us get up our nerve in the future. You seem to have been given the gift of encouragement.

96- Hi Terri! Glad to see you here...

97- Proust IS a bit intimidating, isn't he? W&P was too, except that was only one large book, not a series of 7. I enjoyed it like you did, once I started. Though I liked Anna Karenina even more. Not sure I'll ever re-read W&P, but I'd be tempted to re-visit AK.

(PS - I am SO glad that the second half of Within a Budding Grove is an easier read than the first half - woohoo! I'm liking Proust once again...)

Thanks for the compliment, Donna! I would certainly be a cheerleader to anyone who attempts Proust after me! I have always been enthusiastic...it didn't make me very popular with my peers as a teenager, but now I've come to appreciate my enthusiasm a bit more. :)

81. The Whole Five Feet by Christopher Beha

Beha decides to dedicate a year of his life to reading the 50 or so red volumes of Harvard Classics. He's always wanted to read them 'one day', but he's more motivated when he learns that his grandmother read them all...and said that they taught her a lot about life. Oh, and Beha's life isn't going too well, so he hopes the classics can teach him some lessons also.

Well, needless to say, it wasn't an easy year. He lost a dear family member and dealt with some serious health problems of his own. He couldn't work - some days he couldn't walk, or read. And the classics are not always easy reading. But, in the end, he finds that the classics teach him a little about life, and...life teaches him a little about the classics.

I liked this book, but did not love it. I found it a little dry in places. Recommended for those who enjoy books about books.

#99: I already downloaded that one to my Nook after Linda's recent recommendation. Not sure when I will get to it though.

That Beha book actually really appeals, despite the dry parts. It's now on the list..

And so too is Proust thanks to your review of Volume 1. I too got more intrigued by the Proust mention in The Uncommon Reader but what did it for me was a few years back when I read Dan Simmons' Ilium and two Jovian AI creatures there are constantly debating the pros and cons of their respective favourite human authors: Shakespeare and Proust. That really intrigued me, it's a great read too.

War and Peace and Anna Karenina may have to go on to the list too, only because it seems I'm the only one on here who hasn't read them.

Oh, and I've always said Proust as in rhymes with joust but a pronunciation website just told me that Stasia is right and it is said 'Proost'.

101- I think you'll enjoy the book. I'm certainly glad I read it.

You should give Swann's Way at least 100 pages or so. Then, if you hate it, feel free to abandon it. But maybe, like me, you'll enjoy the prose once you get accustomed to it. As I said before, I find it relaxing. I just can't read it when I'm sleepy, lol...

I don't think you're the only one here who hasn't read Tolstoy, so don't be too hard on yourself. :) I had never read either one before joining this group!

102 - Thanks (and thank you Stasia also) for the pronunciation help. I'm glad to know I've been saying Proust correctly when I talk to others about what I've been reading.

Just popping in to say hello.. and to see what you have been doing..
busy! Such deep reading with Proust and all :)

Someday I will give him a whirl. :)

104- Hi Kath! Well, as you can see below, I've been reading lighter books too, besides Proust! :)
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82. A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters

This is the first book in the Brother Cadfadel mysteries. I'd already read an introductory book of short stories featuring Brother Cadfadel, but this was my first Cadfadel novel.

The brothers of his abbey decide that they need their own patron saint - Saint Winifred. And...they decide they also need to dig up her bones and bring them to their abbey. Cadfadel isn't too happy about this, preferring to let resting saints lie, but he goes along on the journey to serve as an interpreter.

Of course, the locals where Saint Winifred is buried are not too happy about losing the bones of their saint, and of course...it leads to murder.

Brother Cadfadel can speak with the locals and soon becomes their friend. He wants to solve the murder and serve the wishes of his new friends - making everyone happy if possible. The end result is happy, and in my opinion, funny!

I have to admit, I did not like this book at first. (I think it was because I disliked nearly all the monks at the abbey!) But by the end I began to enjoy spending time with Brother Cadfadel. He surprised me with his antics and his willingness to see beyond the letter of the law. I will probably continue with this series at some point.

83. Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? by Peter Walsh

Another book from one of the stars of TV's Clean Sweep. Walsh has noticed that when he helps people clean the clutter from their homes, they often lose weight as well. He decided to investigate further, and this book was born.

As far as weight-loss books, it's one of the best I've read. He doesn't go into great detail about food and recipes, or the numbers on the scale. Deep down, we already know what's good for us. We just need to take action! He tells it like it is, and he focuses on helping the readers to create the life we want...while eliminating food and clutter that aren't helping us. Interesting approach.

I have heard of this one but now I'm putting it on my TBR list. I guess it makes sense, when we declutter we are more in control of our lives and therefore happier and this has a trickle-on effect to other areas like weight.

#105: I enjoyed my introduction to Brother Cadfael this year too. One of these centuries I will get back to the series.

#106: I will have to look into that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Angela!

Angela- Just swinging by to say hi! Hope you have a good week!

Good morning, Angela!

I may try the Brother Cadfael book, as our county library has a copy.

107- Exactly!

108- Hi Stasia - hope you like it (whenever you find it)!

109- Hi Mark - thanks for stopping by. :)

110- Morning, Terri. Hope you enjoy Cadfadel when you try the series.

I never really got on that well with Cadfael (I'd be perfectly content to read any of the Cadfael books if presented with them, but wouldn't bother to seek them out) but I did think that Peters did a good job of showing Cadfael's world. They're pretty well constructed mysteries, I think.

112- I agree with your parenthetical comment. I will be perfectly content to read any of Cadfadel's mysteries, but I don't feel the strong desire to search for them. Peters is obviously an excellent writer.

Congratulations Roy Halladay - you ROCK! :)

Hi Angela,
YOU rock!!!!

I knew there must be a way to get a book from the computer to the Kindle! I would love detailed direction if it isn't too much trouble. :)

If it's too complicated, I'll try to find it on Amazon somewhere. Would make reading so much easier! Thanks!!!!

No problem Claudia.
I don't know how detailed to make the directions, since I'm not sure how computer savvy you are...
Here's some basic instructions:

On your computer, find the file of the book that you want to take off the computer. Right click on it and hit "copy".

Plug your Kindle into the USB port of your computer using the cord they sent with it.

Go to "My computer" under you computer start menu and find the Kindle. Double click on it. It should bring up folders showing you all the content of your Kindle. Open up the folders until you see the titles of all the other books on your Kindle. Right click in that folder and hit "paste".

You've just pasted the book from your computer to your Kindle.

Now, disconnect your kindle, go to the home page, and see if the book is now there.

If it's not there, the book may be the wrong format and we have to convert it. Let me know.

Here's a link with some helpful advice:
http://www.jenyfermatthews.com/ebook-faq/

Angela,

Roy Halladay does, indeed, ROCK!

Go Phillies!

Thanks, Angela! Gotta go find the cable...

Oh! FCOL! (for crying out loud)
It's the power cord w/o the converter!

Couldn't find a little cord anywhere - but I did find a candle with a wonderful scent, last January's budget, a receipt for postal charges which I can submit for re-imbursement - and so much more!

OK... now I'll try the copy thing. Well, I can see that the book was copied to the kindle document folder with the other books... but when i go to the Kindle home page... it's not there. Waaaaa! I think it's in the Adobe format. Maybe that is a problem?

WAIT! WAIT! I GOT IT!!!!!

I tried dragging it from C: to E: (where the Kindle was) and into the document file. It is now on my Kindle.

You da best! Thanks so much.

Woo hoo! She figured it out - now Claudia ROCKS! :D (Glad I could help you find other stuff, lol!)

Yeah, I guess I should have mentioned that the power cord doubles as the USB cord. Whoops. My bad. Well, now you know how to do that.

Now, you can go to websites like gutenberg.org and download classics for free and put them on your Kindle (if amazon doesn't offer them for free, of course) because you know how to do it.

There are a few types of files that don't work on the Kindle. If you come across any of those, then it gets a little trickier. I'm just glad this book worked for you.

You should be proud of yourself! :D

Note to self: go to Angela with computer problems.

Good mornin' Angela!

I'm not particularly computer literate - but I am a pretty good problem solver once I get pointed in a direction. Thanks, again! I do get a great sense of accomplishment from the smallest things.

Now I have to check out gutenberg website... and perhaps I should split the $4.69 with you that I will get back on postage!

122- Lol, Bonnie! Why not? Everyone in my family comes to me with computer problems...which makes me think I must be pretty okay at it. But then I go to work, and when I can't figure something out, I call our IT guy and he fixes it. Next to him I'm computer dumb. However, to my credit, I'm not afraid of computers/technology. I will try different things until I find out what works. Often I teach myself valuable lessons that way. But sometimes having no fear is a bad thing!

123- Have fun filling up your Kindle with free books Claudia! I have nearly 100 books on mine, and most of them were free. I did buy a few from amazon, but I think they were all $5 or less.

Hmmm...maybe I could justify buying a Kindle if I filled it with free books. And now I know where to go for friendly helpful tech support!

Love the title of your last book, Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?. I was kind of hoping that the clutter in my house would take people's eyes off that particular part of my anatomy!

125- Hi Donna! Actually, that was one of the reasons I got my Kindle. I love older books, and there are so many older books available for free online. And sometimes newer books too...
Yeah, I loved that title too. I try to camouflage that part of my anatomy - but it usually doesn't work! ;)

83. Collected Stories - Ruth Rendell

You know, I'm really starting to like Ruth Rendell. I haven't read anything by her that I've disliked. This is a huge volume of 536 pages - Rendell's short stories. I'm not sure if it's a complete collection or not.

I'm not normally a big fan of short stories, but I enjoyed these very much. I also can't take horror, or even thrillers. I would describe all these stories as 'horror-lite'. Just creepy enough. She's really good at creating a scary mood in a short amount of pages.

I especially enjoyed the Inspector Wexford stories in the middle of this collection. It was nice getting to know Rendell's main detective a little better.

124 That is how I manage.. I just keep trying till I get it sorted.
Computers are more forgiving than I used to think..

Hi Angela,
Have been having fun with gutenberg. Thanks for the tip! Now I need to take a loooonnnnng vacation so I can tote along my Kindle and read what I squirreled away in that nifty little device. :)
Have a good one!

128 - Yep, they are. Unless you get a nasty computer virus. That was the one time I should have been more cautious.

129 - I'm glad you're having so much fun. But you're right...reading those books is always the problem. I just put a bunch more books on my Kindle today, so I'm in the same dilemma you are! (But I got a great deal on the books!)
.
.
.
Stupid sickness. I had a head cold last weekend, and now this weekend I appear to have the flu. Fever, body aches, etc. I am SICK of being sick. Especially on the weekends! I'm going to the dr. on Tuesday to make sure I'm okay. Okay, end rant now.

Oh dear... so sorry, Angela. Colds and flu are always annoying and make you feel like crap when you have other things to do... like live your life!
Hope you feel better fast. Glad you are going to the doctor. (hugs - from a distance!)

Sorry you're not feeling well, Angela. Hope it's not for long.

Sorry to hear about the flu, Angela! I hope you feel better soon.

On the subject of old books, one of the things I loved about my recent read of Living with Books was the lists of books that Haines suggested for each category of books. Because those books are in the public domain for the most part, I was able to download a bunch for free to my Nook. Kudos to Google for digitizing so many of these older books!

Sorry you're sick, Angela! Hope you feel better soon!

I'm sorry you're feeling poorly, and I hope you start feeling better soon.

Sorry to hear you're feeling ill at the moment. There seem to be quite a few colds going round the group and I woke up with a sore throat this morning. We can't catch them off each other through the internet?

Re Cadfael, I liked the second book (One Corpse Too Many) more than the first. There were less annoying monks!

Hope you feel better soon.

132-135 - Thanks everyone. I'm starting to feel better today. I found out it's not viral, but bacterial. I asked if I was contagious, and I was told I'll be slightly contagious until the end of this week...BUT only contagious to those who are already weakened in some way (such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women, or those who are sickly.) Of course, my boss wanted me back at work, so I just told everyone to come near me at your own risk! But when I'm not at work I'm just going to hibernate for a bit at home.

Stasia, I'm also glad that so many older books are available for free or cheap online. Even if a book is no longer in print, it isn't "lost" forever. I'm all for preserving books in this manner. And if I lived in another country where English books are scarce, I'd definitely be using my e-reader all the time - accessing these goldmines online!

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better, Angela!

I agree.. So nice to find an "old" book so I can read it too.. even if I missed it in its heyday.. that is what I dislike about electronic readers.. :P
That and no sharing with friends..

Hope your cold is getting better. I had one delicious day when I didn't feel toooo bad to lie around reading and I read all day between naps! Otherwise it wasn't really worth it, but that was a pretty good day, I have to admit.

**drive by waves**

Glad to hear you're feeling better! I keep meaning to try Ruth Rendell but haven't yet.

Hi everyone, and thanks for the good wishes. I'm starting to feel a bit more like myself, after missing 3 days of work in the past two weeks. I'm hoping I still have my job on Monday, lol...
But I couldn't help it. This sickness really knocked me down.

On the plus side, I've gotten some reading done!

This is not going to be counted, since it's so short:

The Mystery of the Jeweled Cross by Larry Millett

Larry Millett writes a Sherlock Holmes series, putting the detective in the state of Minnesota. I think it's one of the best Sherlock Holmes spinoffs I've read to this point. I highly recommend it. The first book is Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon. Anyway, in this series, Holmes and Watson meet a local eccentric businessman named Shadwell Rafferty. Holmes and Shad are an interesting mix, to say the least.

Anyway, the jeweled cross mystery features Mr. Rafferty (no Holmes or Watson) and seems to be geared toward the Christmas holiday. It's too short to have much depth, but it's a pleasant read for someone like myself who enjoys reading about Shadwell Rafferty.

It's also a nice light heartwarming read when you are sick! Thanks to Karen O. for making this available to me.

84. Within a Budding Grove by Marcel Proust

Volume 2 of 7 is finished! Yay!

Thanks to BJ, I've made it farther than I ever imagined. In this volume, the narrator gets close to and then loses his first love, travels to Balbec, makes new friends, and starts to fall in love again. That's all that happens.

But again, as in Swann's Way, Proust tells the reader every detail in beautiful prose - what the ocean looked like, why she acted that way, what the narrator is thinking, etc, etc.

I found the first third of the book to be a little tiresome, since I was sick of the behavior of certain characters. But once we got a change of scene in the narrators travels to Balbec, I started to really enjoy Proust again.

I have to say this once again - if anyone is curious yet intimidated by Proust (as I was), just try the first hundred pages of Swann's Way. You might be surprised.

We are planning to start volume 3 in January.

85. Enter a Murderer by Ngaio Marsh

This is book #2 in the Inspector Roderick Alleyn mysteries. Alleyn and his journalist friend Nigel Bathgate (who is his Watson) go to the theater, where a performer is shot with real bullets instead of blanks. Alleyn's job is complicated since most of the suspects are actors...how does he know who is telling him the truth?

I figured out the murderer early, which is usually not a good thing. But the plot kept my interest til the end. I'm also starting to bond with the main characters - more so than the first book, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Hi Angela, glad you're feeling better. And, congratulations on your progress with Proust. I actually took Swann's Way out of the library after seeing you and several others talk about here on LT and it didn't look as intimidating as I thought. I just didn't have time to read it at that point. Someday!

86. The G Free Diet - Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Hasselbeck, a co-host of The View, has long struggled with food allergies/digestive troubles. She eventually was diagnosed with celiac's disease and found that a gluten free diet was her salvation. However, it's not easy following a gluten free diet, especially when you have a high profile job, 3 kids, and travel often.

This book tells her story, along with advice that she's found helpful in restaurants and social situations.

I was surprised that there was some new information here - things I hadn't learned from other gluten free living books. I was pretty impressed. She even has a chapter for the non-celiac person in the family, which was nice.

Hi Pat, and thanks! I'll be your cheerleader when you do try Swann's Way. :)

Thanks, Angela. I may need it! I now wish I had started with you guys. Group reads are always a big help to me. I'm looking forward to Stasia's Austenothon to help me read some Jane Austen books, which I have read none of!

149 - Yeah, I want to read Austen again too. I'm thinking Austen might be a good complement to Proust. ;)

87. A Small Furry Prayer by Steven Kotler

I received this book last month through LibraryThing's Early Review Program.

Steven Kotler was having a midlife crisis of sorts. Additionally, his girlfriend Joy (who has a passion for dog rescue) found out her landlord was selling her house. They had 30 days to find a new place to live - two humans and 8 dogs.

Spontaneously, they took all the money they had and bought a small farm in New Mexico. They founded a dog rescue called Rancho de Chihuahua.
This is their website:
www.ranchodechihuahua.org

Obviously, this was a difficult adjustment, especially for Steven. And it's hard work running a dog rescue. Both Steven and Joy rely on freelance writing jobs - and sometimes there's not enough money for food, mortgage, vet bills, and all the new dogs they want to help. Deciding which dogs to rescue is the hardest part.

But the dogs make it worthwhile. The stories of the ones they helped are pure joy.

There's heartbreak too. It's impossible to write about rescuing dogs without writing about death, and the cruelty of humans. I have a hard time reading about cruelty to animals, and it wasn't always easy to read, but it's important. We need more people like Steven and Joy in the world.

In addition, throughout the book Kotler explores what scientists have discovered about dogs, compares it to his own observations, and ponders whether dogs should be equal to humans...

Hey, Angela! Glad to hear you are on the upswing again!

Karen also sent me a copy of the Millett book. I need to get it read. Thanks for the reminder!

Just catching up with you ..

# 87 sounds good!

Glad to hear you're feeling better Angela. And congratulations on reading volume 2 of Proust. I'm psyching up for that one I swear. Like the look of the dog book, especially the scientist discoveries and observations, there's always a new twist in those kind of writings.

Pleased to hear you enjoyed Ngaio Marsh, actually bought a few of her novels earlier this year and remember starting one and really enjoying it but I think I misplaced it for a while. Should look for it and finish it. She was a contemporary of Agatha Christie wasn't she? Prolific too, I think she wrote 32 crime novels.. that's a bit of reading to add to the list..

Hi Stasia - the Millett book is a super fast read...maybe a half hour or less? Hope you enjoy it. :)

Hi Kath - I thought of you while I was reading the Furry Prayer book. I'm not sure how you would feel about it. I know that, like me, you can't deal with reading about cruelty to animals. But these people rescue the dogs AFTER the cruelty has already happened. So somehow it seemed more bearable. And of course, there are some animal deaths, but I was glad that the author didn't dwell on them for too long. At least I know the dogs had a happier life before they died. Hope you enjoy it if you decide to go for it.

154- Hi KiwiNyx! I hope you enjoy Proust, and the Furry Prayer book, if you decide to read them. Ngaio Marsh is constantly being compared to Agatha Christie. You're right - they WERE contemporaries (I had to look it up!) She wrote 32 novels featuring Roderick Alleyn. I've collected all of them to read, but I've only managed to get to the first two. Oh, and she also wrote a collection of short stories.

Some say she's better than Christie. I'm not sure if I like Marsh more than Christie yet. Her novels are definitely growing on me, but I don't know if I'll ever develop the attachment to Alleyn that I have to Christie's Poirot! Maybe after I've read them all?? I would say her crime novels are similar in style to Christies, though.

88. Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See

This is a good book about writing and getting your work published - oh, and what to do when it actually IS published. I read it because I'm on a non-fiction kick lately, and I've collected a lot of books about writing over the years.

I went into this book with a misconception, however. Somehow I got the idea that this book was about the books you should read if you want to write. Not sure where that idea came from. This book is not like that at ALL. She does have a suggested list of books to read, but that's in the appendix.

I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped - but it was not the fault of the book. I read it with the wrong expectations.

Hello Lovely Friend

I hope you are feeling much better.

>151 BookAngel_a: Oh, Angela. Your book review for A Small Furry Prayer led me to look at the website... next thing I know, I'm viewing all kinds of adoptable pets in my own area. And now I want to give them all a home! (Hubby is getting nervous.)
Heavy sigh... those poor sweet animals. Anyway, looks like a good book for me. I love stories of dedicated animal lovers whose calling is to save and love. :) Will be on the lookout for this one.

#155: Well, I know where I had it. The question is 'Where did my husband move it to?' *sigh*

I think that the older I get the harder it is for me to be tolerant of cruelty and neglect of animals ( and children). While working for a vet I saw too much of the end result of these, and just think I have had my fill. I have also seen "rescues" that were ... not aptly named. I guess I just want to huddle in my own little world of denial as much as I can. The words "we can't save them all" float in the back of my mind, and I try to ignore that too..

:P So I save the ones that I can and try to move on.. :-/

Hi Angela, glad you're feeling better. I'm afraid to look at the website for A Small Furry Prayer.

Hi Angela, glad you're feeling better and well done on the Proust! Hope work goes ok tomorrow.

157- Hi Linda! Thinking of you and praying for the best with your surgery...

158 - Claudia, that is EXACTLY why I've never volunteered in an animal shelter, even though I'd love to! I would soon have a zoo at my house! (Well, that, and my allergies would go crazy!)

159- Well, when it turns up, at least it will be a quick read!

160- That's what I do, too. Try to save the ones I can. I've got to tell you the story sometime of the kitten I found in my backyard. Short story is she was attacked by an animal and lost her two back feet. But she's doing great now and loves her adopted family.

161- I know. I feel the same way when I look at animals needing rescue.

162- Hi Heather, and thanks! Monday seems to be going okay so far...

89. Overcoming Overeating by Jane Hirschmann

This was an interesting book about breaking the cycle of emotional eating - eating when you're not physically hungry. Surprisingly, the book doesn't stress weight loss, but emphasizes getting in touch with your body's needs. Are you genuinely hungry? If you're reaching for food and you're not physically hungry, something else must be bothering you. I thought it was a new approach and gleaned some valuable pointers from it.

90. No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer

My first Georgette Heyer book. Or, I guess I should say, my first COMPLETED Heyer book.

I've been so excited to read Heyer - absolutely convinced I would love her...but I've had trouble finishing the first couple I've started. This one, at last, was a hit.

Apparently I'm not a big fan of romances. I know Heyer is the best at what she does. I know some of her romances are very similar to Jane Austen's books (which I LOVE) but I haven't been crazy about them. Not sure what's wrong with me!

So...I decided to try this one, which is one of Heyer's mystery/romances. Now THIS is more my style! It reminds me of an Agatha Christie mystery...with a bit more depth. The husband of a rich woman is murdered...and everyone of his family and friends has a motive. And HOW was he murdered when the evidence says no one was anywhere near him when the shot was fired? (And of course the murdered man has a beautiful stepdaughter with several marriage possibilities - who is she going to marry???) Although I did figure out the love match very early, I did not figure out the criminal until the very end, and Heyer kept me turning the pages the whole way through.

I will definitely be trying out ALL of Heyer's mysteries. And maybe a few more of the romances.

Everywhere I look, Heyer's mysteries are not thought to be as good as her romances. For me, so far, it's been just the opposite. I guess I'm just weird. :) I'm about 2/3rds of the way through Friday's Child so look for a review of that sometime soon. But I have little motivation to pick it up, because I KNOW exactly who is going to fall in love with who, and who is going to marry who...I just don't know HOW exactly.

I guess, for me to love a book, the book needs to give my brain a workout!?!

My apologies to diehard Heyer fans - I'm really trying! Any advice would be appreciated.

Anyone that has been compared to Jane Austen is definitely worth a peek, this one sounds very interesting. It almost has a wee touch of Deanna Raybourns Lady Jane Grey series style about it.

#165: I own that one! I will actually have to read it now :)

I love No Wind of Blame: I'm glad you finally found a Heyer you enjoyed. I do love (almost all of) her mysteries, and I think they're underrated. I think they suffer from the comparison to her romances: the mysteries are very good within the genre, and they certainly hold their own among their contemporaries; the romances were groundbreaking, pretty much spawned a whole new genre, and set a standard within that genre that few subsequent writers have been able to match.

Which Heyer romances have you tried so far? (I have a feeling I should probably remember this, but I don't.) I can't think of any with unexpected endings/pairings , but Cotillion and The Quiet Gentleman are quite subtle.

The Toll Gate has a good mystery slant and is less dominated by the romance plot. And I wonder whether the books with more mature protagonists like Black Sheep and Lady of Quality might appeal to you more?

ETA - And The Talisman Ring has a good mystery subplot too.

One day, I have to read a Georgette Heyer again..
It has been a long time since I read one..

#163 Glad Monday went ok!

#165 It's been ages since I read anything by Heyer and I didn't love the novels I did read but after seeing so many recommendations from people in this group I have a list of her books to try reading to see if I like her any better now.

I definitely haven't read any of her mysteries so I will add No Wind of Blame to the ever-expanding wishlist!

166 - I double checked and I already have the Lady Julia Grey series on my wishlist, so I should be reading it one of these years, haha! Thanks for the recommendation! I hope you like Heyer, whichever book you decide to try.

167- Wow, Stasia! I'm surprised that my first Heyer was one that you haven't read (but there are SO MANY Heyer's to choose from!)

168- Caty, the only Heyers I've tried (and haven't finished yet) are Penhallow and Friday's Child. Penhallow is a bit of a mystery, but frankly it's depressing, and I haven't been able to sympathize with any of the characters yet. I know I will finish it though. I picked up Friday's Child because from what I've seen it's one of her most beloved novels. Friday's Child has helped me to decide that (for now at least) I'm only going to try Heyer's romances if there's a bit of a mystery subplot. I like the book, but it's just too predictable. I need something to keep me guessing.
Thanks for the recs of The Tollgate and The Talisman Ring. I will definitely try to find those.
Other than her mystery novels, if you think of any other Heyers with a mystery subplot, please let me know and I'll look for them! Thanks!

169- Hi Kath! Glad I've inspired you to read Heyer again. She certainly was talented (and prolific!)

170- Hi Heather - I would definitely recommend No Wind of Blame if you like cozy mysteries with some interesting characters. I'm glad I'm not the only one who had a mixed reaction to Heyer.

Oh and Caty? I've wishlisted Black Sheep and Lady of Quality for some point in the future when I feel like tackling another romance again. I think you're right that I would like mature protagonists better!

If it helps, Penhallow is the only one of the mysteries that I disliked. In fact I think it's the only Heyer book I've ever struggled to finish. I seem to recall giving it a reasonably high rating based almost entirely on technical merit rather than enjoyment.

The other Heyer romances with mystery elements that come of mind are Cousin Kate, which has a definite Gothic flavour, and The Unknown Ajax, which has a kind of conspiracy subplot with an absolutely magnificent climax. (Although I should add the disclaimer that I've re-read Ajax so many times I can't remember how much of the conspiracy plot is actually revealed as the story unfolds.) Come to think of it, Regency Buck also has a mystery subplot, but although I loved it as a teenager I find the lead characters irritating now.

ETA I hope you do get on better with Black Sheep and Lady of Quality when you do feel like reading them!

How's our favorite Proust cheerleader today? I'm glad that nasty virus has moved on. I really did look for anything Proustian at last night's library book sale preview for FOL. I guess if anybody has the staying power to actually read Proust, they keep his books because there were none to be found. It's a good thing I'm not planning to get to them for quite awhile, but I do revel in your accomplishment!

I also didn't find anything by Georgette Heyer. Oh well, I can concentrate on books I do have and keep looking for the elusive ones. It would be dangerous (for me anyway) to walk into a book sale without some kind of a plan in mind.

#174: I seem to recall giving it a reasonably high rating based almost entirely on technical merit rather than enjoyment.

I can see how that would be true about Penhallow.

Angela, Black Sheep is good, but Lady of Quality was the last book Heyer wrote and it's a second-rate retelling of Black Sheep. Stick with the first one.

The Unknown Ajax and The Toll-Gate are ones I think you might like, as well as The Reluctant Widow and The Talisman Ring.

Thanks Caty - I really appreciate all your help!

Hi Donna - I think you have become my Proust cheerleader as well! I hope you had fun at your Library book sale. Ours is coming up in November, although I'll be working there so it's less pure fun and more responsibility!

Hi Roni - I am grateful for your advice and I'll look for the titles you suggested!

I've posted this on Luxx's thread, but I figured I should post it here too:

PA Renaissance Faire 2000
With my two cousins/best friends. I'm on the right.

Perhaps I should explain. We wanted to dress like medieval ladies, but didn't have the gowns. So we went to thrift shops and found these, modified them a bit, and made floral hairpieces. It was fun being dressed up in public - don't often get to do that!

I've gotta say, though, Luxx's corsets and costumes for the Faire are 100% handmade...and awesome. I wish I had known her back in 2000 when we went to the Faire, lol...

Great shot, I've always wanted to have a great excuse to dress in another era as well but so far there have been no opportunities. I did used to wear ballgowns to McDonalds on friday nights though, just because. Maybe that counts.

#177 The Reluctant Widow! How could I have forgotten that one?! Definitely seconding that recommendation.

#179 Nice picture, Angela!

Oh I love your picture! Such fun!

>178 BookAngel_a:: Angela, I had so much fun at the book sale on Monday night that I am going back for Round Two today! It will be less crowded and I can look for some 'disposable' books for my husband's travels. He likes paperbacks if the print is large enough and leaves them in airports and hotel lobbies for others to read. And, who knows? I might have overlooked something in my "short" trip the other night. I was with a friend who doesn't have as much book stamina as I do. ;-)

>179 BookAngel_a:: Lovely ladies! What a perfect background -- and your dresses are great. They had a segment on the local news last night about shopping for Halloween costumes at thrift stores. The best results were not the store-bought costumes being recycled but the put-together ones with old dresses, hats, and funky accessories.

Hi KiwiNyx - You've got to explain the ballgowns in McDonalds thing...it sounds...interesting!

Hello and Thanks to Caty, Lucy(?) and Donna!

And now I'm just bursting to tell you....
.
.
.
.
MIKE GOT A JOB! A full time one! (Of course, like everything, it comes with a catch.) He’s “on trial” until March, and during the trial period he gets low pay, crazy hours, and NO benefits. But after that it’s a pretty good job. He’ll be a bus driver (public transportation) in a nearby city. We’re both a little apprehensive about the schedule, but overall we’re happy and relieved. It’s been a year and a half, so it’s been a long time coming…

HE GOT A JOB!!!

HE GOT A JOB!!!

HE GOT A JOB!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE! HUZZAH!

WOW!!! Looks like I caught up at exactly the right time!!! CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE - and you too!!!!
(I'm sorry you were sick; glad you're better.)
Let me also say that I don't think I ever finished Penhallow, but I do like the other Heyer mysteries - some more, some less. And I'm not sure how much of a favorite Friday's Child actually is. If you demand that the author keep you guessing about who is going to be paired with whom, GH may not be your gal. On the other hand, if you're willing to be delighted by charming characters and fun plot twists, you should try some of the ones recommended here or at the Almack's group.... I'll fix a link; give me a moment....
Go to Almack's

Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you both.

Great news! That must be such a relief!

CONGRATS to MIKE and YOU!

Good luck getting through the trial period. Hopefully it will go quick for you.

Again, very nice picture! (and lovely smiles) I had to go on cruises to get really dressed up... that was fun too!

Excellent news! Congratulations to Mike! I'm so pleased for you both!

Yay for Mike! I'm very happy for you both. Unemployment is such a curse.

Congratulations to Mike, Angela. That's wonderful news.

186-193 Thank you so much everyone! We are cautiously optimistic. The schedule seems a little brutal. But I will try to remember the relief I'm feeling in a month or two when his work hours are driving us crazy, lol! March will be here soon, right?

187- Thank you LizzieD and thanks for the Heyer advice. I'm not sure where I got that idea about Friday's Child. I do enjoy a book with good characters. I don't even need a fast paced book, I guess I just need multiple plot lines. I think a Heyer with a plot twist or a side plot would be best for me. My brain goes a mile a minute and I just need something to think about other than one romance I suppose. Thanks for the link - I'll check it out!

91. The Black Dudley Murder by Margery Allingham

I don't know why I'm starting all these mystery series - I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment, lol...

This is the first Albert Campion mystery, and my first Margery Allingham book. What a surprise it was!

At first, it seems like one of those "house party murder" books - you know, where one person ends up dead and the murderer is one of the party, and no one can leave the house until the murderer is found, and one of the other guests just happens to be an amateur detective??? Sound familiar?

Well, this book IS one of those books, but the plot takes off in another direction, and Allingham throws in organized crime, hostage situations, car chases, coded messages, etc.

It's still a cozy mystery...just a little more exciting! I gave it 3 1/2 stars. I will read another Albert Campion mystery - especially since this first book really doesn't explain who Campion is, and I'd like to know!

Angela- Great news about your husband's job! It's just a few months!

Congrats to Mike!

That Allingham book does look good. And congratulations on Mike's job, I remember having the same limited terms for 6 months when I first started my current job. A pain but also a mean to an end.

And yes, when i was younger me and my friends would do unusual things on friday nights as bars and clubs we found boring. One night was ballgowns at McDonalds, complete with taking our own champagne flutes in to drink the lemonade from. You get a few odd stares but it was a great night. Crashing the local radio station in the middle of the night was also a good one.

Congratulations to Mike on the new job! Wonderful news, Angela!!

Congratulations on Mike's job! Hopefully the craziness of the first few months will go quickly.

#179 The dresses look lovely! And I also want to hear the explanation for the ball gowns in MacDonalds from KiwiNyx!

#195 Glad you enjoyed your first Allingham. I discovered her this year but I've only read two so far.

That's great news! Congratulations to both of you.

Angela, just in case you do not make it over to Linda's update thread, I wanted to pass along her 'Congratulations!' to Mike. She is thrilled for the both of you.

That IS some great news, Angela. Think of all the interesting stories he'll have to tell you. My niece's boyfriend recently started a job as a school bus driver and is loving it! His last job was as Collin Raye's drummer with lots of touring involved. Quite a career shift. Congratulations to you -- and Mike!

Great news Angela! I'm happy for both of you.

Happy to hear the good news, Angela! What a relief to have that weight off of both of your shoulders!

196,197- Thanks Mark and Doc!

198- Thanks LEONIE (right?) and thank you for the McDonald's explanation. Sounds creative and something I would never forget! I'd like to do something crazy like that sometime...

199,202- Thanks Stasia, and thank you for letting Linda know! Did you know she got up and typed a note to me on the computer today? What an amazing lady...

200- Thanks, Heather! See her explanation of the McDonald's thing in post #198!

201 - Thank you Daryl!

203- Hi Donna, and thanks. Hubby is currently a school bus driver. He does have some funny stories, but he's only a substitute so he doesn't get too many hours in which to collect stories! He would have liked to keep school bus driving, but the most hours they could give him is 25 hours per week, with no benefits. So he's been looking for a while. At least the school bus place helped him get his Class B license, which is why he was able to get this job. This new job will be public transporation in a bigger city, so we know he's going to have some crazy stories! I'll pass some on from time to time...

204- Thanks, Lucy!

205- You are RIGHT. It's a weight off my shoulders and I didn't even realize how much I had been carrying all this time, lol...

#206 Thanks for pointing me in the right direction for the ball gowns. And apologies to KiwiNyx for completely missing your post the first time :-( Your Friday night adventures sound like great fun! We used to do something similar with our youth group.

Right. My secret is out.

Friday nights were creative back then. Young people today just don't understand..;) Good to hear others used to do similar adventures though.

#206: Yes, I did know that she got on the computer today and sent you a message. She told me about it this morning. I was not going to ruin the surprise for you though :)

Congratulations on your husband's job, Angela! That is wonderful news!

I have the Margery Allingham book on one of my "series" shelves. It's not due up for a while, but maybe I'll read it out of "order." I'm glad to hear it was good!

Congrats on the new job for your husband -- that is fab!!!

You might want to look for a copy of P.D. James's book about detective fiction -- it's probably find-able in a library by now? Since you're prowling through so many Golden Age authors, you'd probably find it interesting and it might steer you to more authors (Michael Innes?)

I did love Ngaio Marsh when I first read her books in the 70s, and definitely prefer them to Christie -- I think the writing is better and the plots just as interesting. Less formulaic. Allingham -- I think her style put me off. That said, I love the TV series!

Re Georgette Heyer, I admit loving many of her historical novels, especially those featuring older/wiser heroines. Particular faves include The Grand Sophy, The Nonesuch and Venetia. But these are sentimental faves, and thus fall into their own category.

So, if someone was only going to read one Georgette Heyer, would you recommend one of those three? I'm not big into mysteries, but I like the occasional historical romance (e.g., Austen).

Of those three? THe Grand Sophy

Good news re: a job for Mike! Five months a little harsh until he is a real full benefit employee, but it is still very good news! It is no fun being without work, as I know.

Congrats on your Mike's job! Yea!!! You can't see me but I'm jumping up and down!

Hi I've been meaning to stop by and say hello!

Me, too. Hi, Angela.

**drive by waves**

210- Hi Terri! Hope you enjoy the Allingham.

211- Suzanne! Good to see you here. I heard about that PD James book and I REALLY want it. I put it on my amazon wish list for the next time I place an order.
I think I'm going to enjoy Ngaio Marsh a little bit more than Allingham. I can understand why she might put you off. And yes, I've noticed that Marsh's books have a bit more meat on the bone than Christie's.
As far as Heyer, I'm definitely going to try one with an older heroine. I've never tolerated immaturity very well. :)

214- Hi Kath, and thanks. I wish he only had to go through the standard 90 day intro period, instead of 120 days, but a job's a job. He starts in about 2 weeks. Just went in for his physical and paperwork today.

215- I'm jumping up and down with you Jenn!

216, 217, 218 - Hi you three! Stop by again sometime, ya hear? ;)

92. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Wow. What a great beginning of a series. This book is part mystery and part World War 1 historical fiction.

Maisie Dobbs is a very perceptive woman in her 30s who opens her own detective agency. She takes on her first case, and although it seems simple, the case takes her back to her past. The reader finds out about Maisie's youth, her time spent as a nurse in the war, and the wounds it left her inside and outside.

It's hard for me to put this book in a category. The book is "cozy" in the sense that there isn't swearing or sex, but it is not cozy due to the subject matter. People suffered and died in horrible ways during and after the war, and even though Maisie Dobbs is fictional, the reader knows that this really happened. This was much more than a "fluff" read to me.

I did really like the first few Maisie Dobbs books, then the series falters for a while, partly because while time is passing in Maisie's world, all the plots continue to hearken back to WW1. Understandable, but surely she would have been doing something contemporary as well?? But her last one was better -- four stars.

Yes, The Grand Sophy would probably be my recommendation, because as well as a heroine who is slightly older, she is very feisty and independent -- sometimes to the chagrin of her relations. Avoid books like Arabella and Faro's Daughter, which are really about ingenues.

I love World War historical fiction and this one sounds just like my kind of book.

#220 Looks good! Added to my tbr pile!

#220: Glad to see you enjoyed that one, Angela. I really like the Maisie Dobbs series.

#220 That one sounds really good Angela. I've added it to the enormously long list of crime/mystery series I would like to read!

221- Hi Suzanne! Yes, I can see where that might get annoying in the Maisie Dobbs series. I'm glad to know the later ones in the series come back up in the ratings. Oh, and I've wishlisted The Grand Sophy as well.

222,223- Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :)

224 - Yep, Stasia, it was really good. I enjoyed Winspear's style of writing too, not just the plot.

225 - Hope you enjoy it when you get a chance, Heather! I know what you mean. I have a bunch of mystery series (bunch = a whole shelf) that I want to try out. And then when I start a series and LOVE it, then my TBR Mountain grows by leaps and bounds! Sigh. It never ends, does it?

I've been meaning to get to Maisie Dobbs for awhile Angela. Thanks for the nudge.

I love those old mysteries too, except for Allingham. I try and try and never quite get her. Since I don't see them mentioned here in the last few posts, I'll speak my love for Sayers and Tey.....I love Sayers and Tey! I'm not a great fan of the Maisie Dobbs books, but maybe I should give her another chance. And I'll third or fourth The Grand Sophy as a wonderful Heyer. If you don't like that one, Heyer is not for you!

Oh, yes, Tey! And in case you haven't spotted these books, Nicola Upson has a new series featuring Josephine Tey as a sleuth. Of course, they're not as good as vintage Tey, but still quite good.

Sayers also; I even enjoy the sequels penned by Jill Paton Walsh, at least one of which is based on an outline by Sayers. There's a third book, a prequel, that I've just received and am looking forward to reading. Perhaps I enjoy these in their own right because I really like Paton Walsh's own underrated/overlooked series of mysteries, as well as some of her other books (like A Desert in Bohemia).

Hi, Angela! I'm finally getting caught up with your thread. You've done some great reading!

I don't know why I'm starting all these mystery series - I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment, lol...

I know, I'm the same way. I put TWO categories specifically for mystery series into my category challenge for next year -- one for NEW ones, and one for continuing the ones I've started.

Best wishes to your husband on his new job! (I hope the hours aren't as brutal as you fear.)

Hi Angela, I have the first two Maisie Dobbs books but haven't read them yet. They sound like they'll be right up my alley! Thanks for the reminder.

227- Hi Bonnie. I hope you enjoy it when you get to it. So many, many books!

228- Hi Peggy! I'm going to try one more Allingham. I liked the first one, but didn't love it. If I still don't love it after book #2, I won't seek out any more.
I LOVE Sayers and Tey! I still have 4 more of Tey's books to read. I'm going to savor them because there aren't that many. I think I've read the first 3 Lord Peter Wimsey novels. They are great, and I've heard they get even better when Harriet Vane enters the scene!

229- Suzanne, I tracked down a copy of the first Upson "Josephine Tey" book. I'm hoping I enjoy it when I get to it. It's on my "mystery series to try" book shelf. :)

230- Hi Terri, and thanks! I will post job updates every so often. The mystery series...they never end, do they? But I love them. Sigh.

231 - Joanne, I hope you enjoy them. I enjoyed the first book and I'm hoping that will continue as I read the next books in the series.

93. Love and Friendship and other Works by Jane Austen

This was...cute. And clever. A collection of the early works of Jane Austen. The Austen fan can see Jane's sharp wit and sense of humor right off the bat. These writings are immature, but impressive for her age. Occasionally the reader catches glimpses of settings or characters that are later used in Austen's 'great' novels.

I thought this would be a nice read since I want to participate in Stasia's Austenathon next year. It's been too long since I've read them!

94. Reading in Bed: Personal Essays on the Glories of Reading by Steven Gilbar

The title says it all. Essays about reading are included from the likes of Emerson, Thoreau, Clifton Fadiman, Nabokov, Proust, Graham Greene, Robert Louis Stevenson, etc.

I did not love this book, but I liked it. Some of the comments put a smile on my face. A few writers discussed the downsides, even dangers, of reading. One writer stressed reading less, not more. One writer criticized the essay previous to his. It was an interesting approach, but is not as enjoyable as the beloved Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman.

Hi, Angela. I recently read Ex Libris and loved it. Glad you did too.

#234: I started that one and did not get far with it. You are right in that it is not nearly as engaging as Ex Libris. I guess I really should try and finish the Gilbar book one of these years!

235- Yep. I read it last year, I think. It's become my 'golden standard' for what books of essays should be. I think it's made me pickier, which I'm not sure is good or bad...

236 - If it helps, the book gets easier to read as you go along. I think it's because the essays are in chronological order and the later essays are written the way we speak today. The first few essays required me to go back and re-read some paragraphs to make sure I really understood.

Hey Stasia...have you decided how you're going to do the Austenathon next year? I mean, in what order we are going to read her novels? Are we going in the order of publication, or some other way?

#237: OK, I will give it another shot - provided I can locate it!

Whoops, I think we cross posted!

#238: Angela, yes I am planning on doing the books in publication order.

ETA: That would be Sense and Sensibility first, followed by Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, and then her two posthumous novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

#241 Good to know about the order. Are we going to start January 1st?

I loved Ex Libris -- and am intrigued by Austenathon..... I've been thinking of listening to them all this time around.

Well I have Emma and Persuasion on my shelf so I know I'll join you for those two. I recently read Pride and Prejudice so I'm not going to read that one again.

I am looking for a read for today.. haven't settled on one.... uh oh

Hi Angela! Wow, was I behind. I really enjoyed your Georgette Heyer review. I've always wanted to read Heyer, but just haven't yet. I did attempt an audio last summer, but I was trying to listen as I sorted and filed papers, and that just did not work at all. I found I could pay attention to one or the other, but not both! I have had the Maisie Dobbs books on my wishlist forever. Glad to hear they're as good as I've heard!

Congrats to Mike! I hope he's enjoying his new job. What a relief!

Angela, it's too bad the Reading in Bed book of essays was a snoozer; the author who said we should read less should be shot. Oh well, I guess he's already dead, huh? It's hard to beat Ex Libris for essays on reading. Everyone (including me) seems to find something to love about that book.

Lol, Donna! And I wanna know who didn't love Ex-Libris? :-)

#242: Pat, we will be starting in January, but not sure of the exact date yet.

Thanks, Stasia. Looking forward to it.

I have been thinking about your husbands new job too..
Wondering if he has started yet, and if he likes it.

I realized that my husband also had a 6 month probation on this latest job and no insurance until after...but all is well now..

#234 Well, as I haven't read Ex-Libris yet I will bump that up the list rather than Reading in Bed.

I am so excited about our Austenathon! I think the early works are the only ones I haven't read. Have you read Lady Susan Angela?

ETA: Yes you have, I can see it in your library. Don't mind me...

Thank you for the review of the Jane Austen early works, I'm still waiting for my volume to arrive which includes those ones you mentioned and now I'm just getting more impatient for it. I'm sure you can get a book sent from England in less than 6 weeks!

Looking forward to the Austenathon! Now that I think about it, I never actually READ Sense and Sensibility so that's a good first choice for me. I've read all the others, but when I got to S&S, I had just seen the movie version with Kate Winslet and decided to hold off reading the book while the movie was so fresh on my mind.

245- Hi Kath, hope you found something good to read. :)

246- Thank you Anne! And I hope you enjoy the Heyer you choose, and Maisie Dobbs when you get to it. :)

247- LOL! It was good for insomnia, especially in the beginning.

248 - I can't think of anyone...

251- Awww, Kath, it's so sweet of you to think of that. No, he hasn't started yet, although he filled out his paperwork and took the physical they required. He starts on the 15th. His "introductory trial" period is 120 days, which takes us to the middle of March. It's the harshest trial of any of the jobs he wanted. All the others were 90 days or less. I can't believe some people have to wait 5 or 6 months! It's even harder when you have a family I'm sure. I'm carrying my own health insurance at my job right now, but that might change.

He THINKS he's going to like the job - we're trying to be positive. It seems like a GREAT job once he gets more seniority. In the beginning he will pay more for insurance and get less pay but the more seniority you have, you pay less for insurance and get more per hour. Also, the new guys have a crazier work schedule. Oh, well. Time flies, right? And at least it's a JOB! He has a JOB!! ;)

252- Heather, that's a good choice. :) Yep, I read Lady Susan. It was amusing, and I thought at the time it was the only one I hadn't read yet. What a devious, manipulative woman Lady Susan was...

253- I'm excited too! I'm sorry you have to wait so long for the book to arrive. I'll probably be reading the Austen books on my e-reader, even though I have them in print. They are all in a lovely single volume, but it's heavy, so I prefer the e-reader in this case. Did I read somewhere that books are very expensive where you live??

New thread time...

http://www.librarything.com/topic/101548