MrsLee's 2010 Reading Journal

This year has been a struggle for me reading-wise. Work has drained my brain, so mostly I'm reading happy fiction titles. I love non-fiction and have tons waiting on my shelves, but I can't seem to feel motivated to read it now, so it will have to wait.

Since I've joined this group, my fantasy reading has gone from about zero to 20-50% of what I read. Thank you. :) I still love my mysteries, but I'm having a hard time finding authors I really like and I'm tired of reading cozy so-so mysteries.

Currently reading:
Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, devotionals are not something I usually enjoy, so it was a real surprise to me to find myself relaxing into this one and being challenged by it, as well as blessed.
Wolf Willow: A History of, a Story and a Memory of the Last Plains Frontier, this is going very slowly, but I really enjoy reading about the Wild West in Canada, which wasn't as wild as America, but was certainly no picnic, either.
The Language of Bees, guess which book is getting the most reading time? Yep, this one. I love it, but no surprises there.

The other books I've read this year are under my tag, 2010, here: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/MrsLee&tag=2010

"Since I've joined this group, my fantasy reading has gone from about zero to 20-50% of what I read."

Mine's gone up from zero, as well. It's still probably less than 10% of what I read, except I've been on a jag of late.

as far as mysteries go, have you tried Sister Fidelma by Peter Tremayne?

#3 - Yes I have read some of Sister Fidelma. I do like her, but haven't fallen in love. I would read more if I found them handy, though. I have some friends who have criticized the historical authenticity of them, and the writing style. I'm not as particular as they are, and personally, since so little is known of the era, I don't mind some educated guessing in the history part, if that is what has been done.

4 > Ha! that's funny, since Tremayne, (Peter Berresford Ellis) is a world renowned Irish Historian. While I expect he might take some liberties for the story, my understanding he's pretty accurate overall.

Well, that's what I thought, if he doesn't know, who would? But somehow she was questioning his historian qualifications. Beyond me, I'm just not that serious about my reading. :)

I love reading Mary Russell's musings and thoughts on religion and theology. I may not agree with them all, but I feel as if my mind has been sharpened by the reading thereof.

Of course, I truly love Sherlock in these stories, probably more than I loved him in the originals. Or, different. I love that he is more of a man and less of an idea now.

I'm a big Mary Russell fan as well. I've yet to read the original Sherlock Holmes though. Someday...

Have you read Laurie King's other books? I've loved most of her stand alones as well. King's sense of atmoshpere is amazing. I actually had to put down Folly and wasn't ready to start it up again until a couple years later because she is so good at creating a tense/forboding mood and it was too much for me the first time.

Hmmm. I quit The Language of Bees halfway through or so. Don't remember just why.

I loved Folly and it's tangential partner Keeping Watch. I think they're stronger works than the Russell/Holmes series, although I read those, too.

I did like Folly and Keeping Watch, but also found them almost too intense for me to read. It seems that most of her other books involve cults and creepy murders, which really isn't my thing. Especially when children are involved. I've read them, and admit their quality, but cannot enjoy them as I do the Russell and Holmes books.

Just finished The Language of Bees. Loved it right up to the end, but I have to say, I'm really glad I read its sequel first. Now, why is that? For one thing, I would have hated getting to the end of this, then having to wait for the sequel to be published. For another, I don't think the villain in this was very notable or ominous, somehow. Knowing that there was another villain behind it all which she hadn't yet revealed, added to it for me.

I love seeing Holmes and Russell discover their paternal/maternal instincts. They are pulled into them almost kicking and screaming and are caught by them quite by surprise.

I am going to try to spend the rest of my evening reading Wolf Willow, so as to make some progress in it. After I cook dinner. :(

Just stopping by to see what you're up to. Haven't read anything mentioned but keep meaning to try the Mary Russell mysteries, and also want to read Trallope's Phineas Finn one of these days.

I'm just so overwhelmed now with books I am committed to read and review in the next couple of months, I don't think I can add another one to this year's TBR list.

I made progress in Wolf Willow last night. Surprise! It had a classic cowboy story in it! One of my minor favorites in reading. Not necessarily the fictional cowboy stories, but more the biographical/historical ones.

Stegner did a fine job. It was fictional, but focused on the harsh winter of 1906 when they lost so many cattle in that area. It illustrated and defined the sort of men who ran cattle and their motivations for doing so, and why they would continue after such a heartbreaking winter. I grew up with these kind of men, so I know it was authentic.

Stegner's affinity for the west really comes through, doesn't it? I love the way it becomes a character itself. I've only read Angle of Repose, but have others from him on my wishlist.

I tried, tried and almost finished Wolf Willow last night, but after practically dozing through the last chapter, I decided to wait and read the epilogue tonight. Here's a portion that made me laugh though. I think because so much of what he writes about his small prairie town reminds me of where I grew up, or stories I've heard from relatives, I identify or can recognize the truth in what he writes, and sense both his love and his frustration of that way of life.

"Our mare Daisy was a hysteric, and could spook at a squeaky gate and pull old phlegmatic gelding Dick into a runaway in the twinkling of an eye. He was generally asleep when she spooked, and anything that happened suddenly to upset his slumbers unsettled his mind. Sometimes he fell asleep walking, and happening to break wind while plodding along, awoke wall-eyed and plunging as if someone had set off a firecracker under his tail."

I started Post Captain yesterday at work. Mostly because of all the talk on another thread about Hornblower and this series. I didn't much like the one Hornblower I read, but can't remember why. I didn't hate Master and Commander, so thought I would try more. I love sailing stories the same way I love cowboy stories and WWII stories.

I liked the first Mary Russell. Agree that SH is more personable here (having a peer who can think with him is a big advantage, I think). I think I'll nudge the next one a little closer to the top of Mount TBR.

I finished Wolf Willow, and wrote what for me, was a long review. It isn't something which would appeal to everyone, I think. It requires a fondness of meandering in what seems a meaningless direction, though you do actually arrive somewhere in the end.

I'll work on Post Captain now without starting another book. I used to read at least five books at a time, no problem, but I can't do that right now. I may not even read for a couple of days, I feel exhaustion creeping on. Getting up at 4am is very draining after a few days.

I think what I noticed about Laurie R. King's early works (when I read just about everything she wrote in the '90's) is that she tends to focus a lot on the traumatic impact of a crime on the victim of that crime. I have gotten away from the Russell/Holmes series now, but the last one of her stand-alone novels Touchstone I read, I actually enjoyed.

MrsLee, I hope you like Patrick O'Brian's books as much as I did. I also like western books and will try to find Wolf Willow. Have you ever read books by Will James? They are cowboy books, perhaps not readily available. They are wonderful atmospheric holidays.

I list my "to be found" books in a little notebook, which is getting pretty messy and hard to decipher since joining LT. That's not such a bad thing, having too many things to look forward to, even if it gets a little overwhelming. Does anybody ever wish they only like one or two things?

#18 - I haven't read Touchstone yet. Mostly I stick with the Russell/Holmes. :) I'm addicted to Holmes.

#19 - I have read one Will James book, and have another on my shelf. The one read was Smokey the Cow Horse. For some reason, I gave a very brief review on it, but it did say what I felt. "This is a cowboy version of Black Beauty. I like it better because I like cowboys. Lots of "horse sense".

I suppose I thought that other people had said enough about it in their reviews. I go hot and cold with the length and thoroughness of my reviews.

Another great book about cowboys is The Log of a Cowboy by Andy Adams. It is what it says, and I loved it.

MrsLee, I recently read Lonesome Dove. Have you read it? What are your thoughts? I was surprised at how bleak and depressing it was. Are a lot of Westerns like that?

Morphy, I haven't read it. The only real Westerns I've read were Zane Grey and Louis L 'Amour when I was a teen. I more often read historic cowboy stories, though I loved The Virginian. Yes, they are usually a bit bleak. Some are full of humor, most include the kind of wisdom you only seem to get when you live outside in the west for long periods of time. Life could be very harsh, and the mystery was/is, why did they stick with it and love it so?

When I read these, I am visiting my grandpa, my dad and all the other cowpokes I've known. Good men, for the most part. Life was never easy for them, often it could be very cruel in the way only Mother Nature can be, yet they would not have chosen any other way to live. It was in their bones. I guess I'm still trying to figure out what makes them tic.

There is a certain freedom to outdoor life. It is hard and rigorous, but moves in tune with the weather and the seasons. There is beauty in the the distance and honesty in the work. You get an unending supply of huge skies, strong winds, and introspection. When you live out here, it isn't hard to understand.

I guess it's pretty obvious that I have sand in my shoes.

Having grown up in that atmosphere, I get the enjoyment part, but I guess for me it wasn't enough to compensate for the bankruptcy, ruined crops, price failure and market irregularities. For my family, it was/is. :)

In a way, Ents remind me of the men in my family. Their roots are deep in the soil and a part of it.

Morphidae, Larry McMurtry's books usually have a lot of bleakness in them along with wry humour, which is sort of like nature in a way, but many other western writers are kinder. Lamour's books generally end cheerfully but still use the land and nature as solid characters. Tony Hillerman writes western mysteries (except for Finding Moon) from the same sparse, land-filled sense with good characters from the Navajo point of view.

I always think of Larry McMurtry's books as reading with insulated gloves on: take a good look but don't get too close to anybody.

Morph, I've read Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour and my understanding of McMurtry is he's a lot more bleak/mean to his characters. Try some of L'Amour's Sacketts books. They're some of my favorite after a few of his non-standard westerns.

I think the next western I have on my list is The Ox-Bow Incident. How's that one?

Not a happy book, exactly. Truly, if you want to avoid bleakness, tragedy, and the foibles of humanity it is good idea to head for the Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour westerns. They are very steeped in reality, and do rely on real western stories, but they do look on the bright side more often. I loved all of those that I have read but I also understood that I was not reading "challenging literature".

maggie1944 I agree with you about the Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour books, although L'Amour tends to throw in quotes from philosophers, doesn't he?

Not to hijack a thread, but... MORPHY - #27 - MORPHY, DON'T DO IT! If ever there was a candidate title for the whole hate-stabbity-stab category, it is The Ox-Bow Incident. I had to read it in high school forty years ago and the experience has scarred me for LIFE. No, no, no, Morphy, you're too young to have that experience. Please tell me in my persona of grey-haired, mild-mannered librarian that you will leave that title FOREVER on the TBR pile.

#27 - I laughed out loud at that post. Sorry! Did you ever watch the movie? I haven't read the book, but the movie was a snorer, and depressing, and preachy, not in a Christian way so much but in some way. In spite of the excellent actors, I was not happy having watched it.

ETA: jillmwo, there can be no hijacking of this thread, because it's all good. :) I'm very accomplished at bringing meetings back on track when I want to. ;)

jillmwo, I am so sorry some teacher did that to you. I am sure they meant well as in trying to teach the need for deliberation in judicial proceedings...as in let's not have a lynch mob...but in my opinion it is too often true that high school curriculum ruins good literature. Just think of all the people who hate Macbeth.

I hated MacBeth :0 !!

If you are going to read 'MacBeth' - definitely read Dorothy Dunnett's King Hereafter - inifintely more rewarding and definitely more historical. ;)

A wave to MrsLee!

Oh, Janny, that book sounds right up my alley! I love MacBeth, can't get enough of that play either. Not because of its main character, but because of the atmosphere, drama, sensationalism and mythos which has built up around it.

Now about Post Captain. I'm not that far into it, but it seems very choppy to me. There have been several delightful scenes, but some of them seem as if the writer thought up a great conversation for his characters, didn't have anywhere to put it, so he just plopped it in any which where.

Do let me know if you try King Hereafter MrsLee - it is gorgeously written, gives you a snapshot of the man who UNITED all of Scotland - and shows the most beautifully researched intricacy of the historical era - written by a Scot, and a most intelligent writer, with an exquisite ability to tell a story - this is a book to be savored. I've read it several times.

All of the events in the play were given a totally different, much MUCH more culturally solid perspective.

This 'reordered' the play and the vapidity of the 'legend' (for me, anyway) in much the same way that Mists of Avalon reordered the Arthurian story.

Obviously I liked the book. :)

Mrs. Lee, it's quite true about Patrick O'Brian's choppiness, but there are so many gems hidden in his books. Here's one from The Ionian Mission which was actually very long because of an unrelated conversation inserted in the middle but I'll not include that. In this scene the narrator is describing Gibraltor, which Stephen is looking at through a telescope from the balcony onboard his ship. After a warm, colourful description of the town and people (reminiscent of Gerald Durrell), Stephen focuses on Mount Misery above the cloud: "... and sharp against the whitish sky an ape: high, high above the ape a vulture hanging on the wind. Both Stephen and the ape gazed at the bird. ... The distant ape shook it's fist at the vulture: the enormous bird tilted and gliding sideways crossed the strait to Africa without a movement of its wings" . Such a lovely vision - the idea of gliding from one continent to another means nothing to the bird but seems like such a huge undertaking to me. And all the while, a man is asking Stephen to be a spy, not knowing what he already is.

What is the proper term for this splitting of visions? I have a bad memory for words any more. And I should probably stop quoting O'Brian, you will get tired of it and I haven't even gotten to my favourite one yet. :)

Janny, these reading threads are making my wishlist multiply rapidly, but I will try to find that soon, I'm very attracted to the idea. It won't bother my love of Macbeth, because I never really accept Shakespeare as a historian anyway, after what he did to Richard III. I read him for his wit and characters, and they way he builds a story.

nhlsecord - O'Brian's little gems, provided they come often enough, will keep me reading. Is it just me, or is the main character of these books really Stephen Maturin? I'm only on my second one, but so far, Jack Aubrey seems somewhat of a buffoon. Stephen is the one with mystery and depth to him.

I don't think I know the term for what you describe, but I know what you mean, and when it is done well, it is transporting. Some of the best of writing.

At this rate MrsLee you will not have to read any of these books, I will just quote them to you. No, no, I won't do that! Yes those two fellows are as you describe and so they go very well together. O'Brian develops them very nicely with serious trouble for each to give them depth. I just want to quote one more thing (yeah right!) from one of O'Brian's prefaces. He explains the depth to which he researches the books, but he has written more than he expected so:

"If these tales are to continue it is clear the writer will soon have originality thrust upon him for he is running short of history."

A very good description of fiction, I think.

*pokes head in to express bewilderment that anyone could hate Macbeth*

*runs out muttering about invisible daggers & Vanish-resistant spots*

I've always much preferred Wyrd Sisters to the real Macbeth, but that's probably just me. Which I know you enjoyed too.

*whispers* Definitely in the "didn't enjoy Macbeth" camp...
Hate is too strong a word though, I read it by my own decision.

*loves Macbeth*

I might add that I think it's enjoyable as a play - just not as a reading experience.

I've never seen the play straight up, but I have seen a movie version - Scotland, PA - it's set in the 1970s at a diner and stars James Legros and Christopher Walken. 'tis awesome. Andy Dick is one of the witches.

Speaking of Macbeth reminded me of the movie "Ran". Japanese doing of Macbeth; absolutely gorgeous. I don't know if it is available on Netflic but if it is, check it out, those of you who love Macbeth.

*was once Lady Macbeth in a high school play*

We had a wonderful English teacher in high school to whom I attribute my love of Macbeth. He made it a joy to come to class every day and we all loved the play and had a great time with it. I was Lady Macbeth too fleela.

*sigh* my wish list and TBR mountain is growing exponentially too with these discussions! King Hereafter sounds like it should top my wish list now Janny. I've never read anything of Dorothy Dunnett and yet I keep hearing about her here on LT and seeing her books. Gotta pick it up soon.

I read or watch anything "Macbeth" or "Hamlet." I did love Wyrd Sisters, and I loved the Dr. Who homage. I've read several mysteries around the production of it as a play. Now I'll have to look up the two movies mentioned above.

I began reading a cookbook last night, The Basque Kitchen by Gerald Hirigoyen. It seemed to go with Stephen Maturin, though he is called a Catalan (sp?). I'm still a bit confused over the difference. I suppose Catalonia is filled with Spanish as well as Basque peoples? Anyway, having read and loved Guernica, this cookbook needed to be read. I went to sleep before I finished the introduction though. Lots of history, which is good.

The first time I met Guy Gavriel Kay at a signing, he said he would be working on a screenplay next (but then came Under Heaven so I don't know what became of the screenplay), which made me wonder what I would read in the meantime. So I asked him who he liked to read and he recommended Dorothy Dunnett. I've put them off because I didn't want to get involved in a big, long new series, but I didn't know King Hereafter is a standalone. I'll have to go hunting for it.

PS. I remember liking MacBeth, but I haven't read it since junior high. Wonder how it would hold up against the Suck Fairy.

sandragon - "The first time I met Guy Gavriel Kay" !! How easily you write that! I saw him at a reading at UWaterloo before he was famous and we were still fighting to see who would get the next book of the Fionavar Tapestry first. He told a story about being booked to give a talk or a signing before his books were published in the States and nobody had ever heard of him so nobody came.

It almost sounds as if I hadn't been all jittery and nervous when I met him, doesn't it :o)

I couldn't put down the Fionavar Tapestry 20 years ago, and after mutliple rereads I still get all sappy reading it.

I liked the Fionavar Tapestry as well. But in the interests of full disclosure (and I'm not saying they are in any way related), I also liked Macbeth

#43 Busifer> I've seen various performances of Macbeth and I do agree, much better as a play. Then again, I feel that about all of Shakespeare. It was how it was intended to be received. I saw a 'blockbuster movie' performance of Macbeth last on the stage. Sean Bean played Macbeth. It was very entertaining but also quite amusing because he played up his Yorkshire accent. Plus, theatre was full of teenagers ooh-ing and ah-ing over Sean Bean (OK, so I was ooh-ing and ah-ing over Sean Bean too, but I can quote Macbeth at volume, I haz culture). It was really good to see youngsters in rapt attention to a stage play for a change.

I actually have two days off in a row, so I'm going to try and finish Post Captain. I found it very hard to put down last night, and read until almost 10o'clock, when I should have been in bed by 8:30.

I've put my audio book of Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales on my currently reading list, but I won't actually start listening to it until Thursday on my way to work. I just wanted the photo of it on my profile. :)

MrsLee, can you tell us more about Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales? Are they actually by Hepburn?

#48 - Catalonia is catalan, Basque is basque. But they do border to each other, the two Spanish provinces, so some intermingling exist.

When in Catalonia the visitor is made aware that they rather speak Catalan than Spanish, if nothing else, and that Catalonia was once a power to count with, in the Mediterranean region.
I have never been to Basque, but have friends who have lived there, and they claim the Basque are like the Catalan, only even more... zealous.

MrsLee, I highly recommend A Basque History of the World - every chapter starts with a native recipe.

#55 - They are read by her, but written by Mary Sheldon. There are only four, the CD is one hour long, but I couldn't resist being read to by Audrey Hepburn. She is one of my ooh-aah people. :)

#56 Thank you. The little map I was looking at didn't have Catalonia on it, which is why I was confused, that and a general lack of history of Spain in my head.

#57 - I adore the cover! The title seems to suit the sense of importance the Basque have of their peoples, and I do not mean that in a bad way. I love that they have survived such oppressions as they have had and still remain themselves. I have finished the introduction to my cookbook and know more than I did. I have also finished the soups. Sadly, I was reading them when it was 108° outside and they didn't appeal much at the time. They do sound like a delicious mixture of ingredients though.

ooh-aah
Yes, that would describe by reaction to post #54 :o)
Let us know how you like it.

I can get a copy of Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales through inter-library loan, so as long as I've filled out the online request properly, I should get it in about 4 weeks.

I also think the Basque people are interesting although I don't know much about them. I have read that their language is not related to any other European language (at the least) and any group of people who can keep a language for such a long time have to be interesting. And either unfriendly or hard to get to.

We once were at an archeological dig at Red Bay in Newfoundland/Labrador. They were digging up graves of the Basque whalers who were there in the 1400's, and as they did that work, they also found evidence of old Dorset Indians under the Basque guys. The Dorsets had very interesting dramatic art. I got pieces of whale baleen and bone and tiles from the roofs of the Basque workers. I also got a very clear understanding that I would NOT want to be an archeologist - it was cold and wet and those people were crouched over the rocks uncovering things with tiny brushes and dental picks.

In Europe the Basque are mainly famous for their armed separatist movement, ETA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETA), and for their bombings, kidnappings and killings. I gather the basque people is quite tired of being associated in the minds of others with armed violence, and also they are tired of living under constant threat from both ETA and the Guardia Civil so their popular support have weakened some. But it might be wise to remember that Spain is not one culture and one ethnicity and that different ethnicities have supported different policies or regimes, tainting them in the minds of their hereditary opposition/adversaries, whoever they are. This is not unlike other European countries and regions...

In reading a bit about the geography of France I've learned that France is much the same with many differing peoples having made up that nation. What I now about the Basque is very little, mostly the stuff you read about the separists, but I do now that many Basque settled in the western US of A and are famous for wonderfully good food. A trip to San Francisco must include finding and eating at a Basque restaurant.

There is a Basque restaurant about 40 miles from my house, but I've yet to eat there. Maybe soon?

I finished Post Captain. Very satisfying ending. I thought it a bit funny that the author flat out told me he was going to use a Deux ex machina to right the tale. :) I love the very subtle humour in these stories, and the story of the friendship of the two men. The choppiness does still bother me a bit, but then again, the reader never has to bother with all those tiresome details like travel, etc. ;) I've yet to write my review, may steal some of these comments to do so, but right now I am off to buy shoes!

Dealt with the shoes.

Now, I'm going to read The Hunter's Tale by Margaret Frazer, but it will have to wait until I've folded the clothes.

I enjoy these mysteries enough that I save them. There are only a few mystery authors whose works I save; Dorothy L. Sayers, Rex Stout, Laurie R. King, Ellis Peters, and Margaret Frazer. I also have G.K. Chesterton and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but more because they are classic reads, not because I could live in their worlds happily for days on end.

Listening to the CD of Audrey Hepburn, and yes, I love it. Though I think it jammed together several fairy tales in the story of Tom Thumb? Maybe not, it's been awhile since I've read fairy tales. The background music is by Ravel, the Mother Goose Suite.

Also finished The Hunter's Tale. SPOILERS
It points out exactly why I love Frazer. This story explores the effects on the soul of long term abuse, how people survive it and what the results may be. Also the way lies to ourselves and others can fester and destroy and how confession or simply speaking the truth and acknowledging it as truth can begin healing. Rather than being a boring treatise on such matters, it is a story in which you care deeply about the characters. As usual, no one is out of bounds as the culprit, and I thought I would hate it if a certain one was tagged as "it," but instead, it made complete sense and resulted in a story more thoughtful than if the culprit had simply been a bad guy.

Not sure what I'll read next. I'll decide tonight after work. Probably a blind choice, or look at whatever pile is close to toppling and grab something off of that.

Finished the CD of fairy tales. They made me happy.

So I did my not-looking-plunge-the-hand-into-the-darkest-bottom-shelf-grab for my next read. I pulled out (besides a bunch of dust bunnies, cobwebs and such) The Apostolic Fathers. I just couldn't face it and don't think I ever will, so it went in the cubby for the used bookstore. Next grab (no, that's not cheating, it's sorting), Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress Oscar Winners Since 1936 by Robert Osborne. It goes up to 1976, is a thin book with lots of large pictures. Think I'll read/browse that.

Really? You don't think the martyrdom of St. Polycarp is compelling reading? (Me neither.)

But Academy Award winners might prompt you to find a good DVD if nothing else!

#67 - :) The Academy Award book is going to be death to my Netflix queue! I will probably have to join the list makers and figure out how many of them I've seen, how many I want to see, etc.

On the way to work, I'm now listening to Marian McPartland's Jazz World: All in Good Time. Loving it, and on Netflix I'm watching "Jazz," a TV documentary by Ken Burns. MmmMmmm. Happy ears.

I love listening to Marian McPartland. She is such a gift.

I watched a lot of "Jazz" when it was on TV a few years ago, and I've bought his compilations of a couple of artists. He really does his homework when he tackles something.

The first chapter of Marian McPartland's book is about women in Jazz. She has some pretty strong things to say about Ken Burn's documentary. She said it is narrow because it barely mentions the women involved from the beginning, or any of the artists from Europe. One of her criticisms was that it had more of a focus on a historical time with a background of jazz, rather than on all the richness that makes up jazz. I'll have to watch it further before I know if I agree or disagree.

My review of the Oscar Academy Award book: No plot, lots of characters, very little writing. I liked this book, it was a titillation for a movie addict like myself. It makes me want to make a list of all the movies that were nominated each year and watch them to see what I think of the winners. There is also a nice explanation of how the Academy came to be and what they do. All of this, of course is history, since the book ends in the year 1974. The black and white photos are large and fun to look at, including one of each winner in their movie and usually one of them receiving their award. Nice trivia.

Not sure what I'll read next. I think I need something funny.

I was going to recommend Good Omens for some fun but saw that you've already read that one ;-)

Maybe you should read some Pratchett. This Where's My Cow? has really got me hooked now. ;-) Even with stinky, exploding, cute! little green dragons.

#73 - Yep, read it twice, so far. :)

#74 - I think I will. I'm reading the witch storyline right now. I try not to read them more than once a month, because I want to savor them. But I haven't read any in October, and witches do seem appropriate to the month, yes? So, Lords and Ladies is up next! I have read it, it was about the third Pratchett I read, but I love it and it has fairies AND witches. :D

ETA: I'm going to dress as Lady Sybil if I work on Halloween. I'll be taking all my dragons to work with me. No explosions though. I know how to feed them properly.

Amazon has lowered their free shipping price and I've got a coupon too...I think I know what I'm going to order now - I want to start with the witches storyline, which book is first?

Equal Rites, not my favorite, but fun stuff with Granny Weatherwax. Next is Wyrd Sisters which is one of my favorites, playing with Macbeth. Have fun!

Finding good humorous titles can be difficult sometimes. I tend to be a grim sort and I don't care much for slapstick comedy. However, one mystery I read recently was interesting because the first 50 pages were pure farce and then the author settled down and told a good story. The first 50 pages of Holy Disorders was not what I'd been expecting. But it successfully lured me into a solid murder mystery!

I think I've heard of Edmund Crispin before. Another for the wishlist, because I love a mystery which can make me laugh.

I finished Lords and Ladies, loving it just as much as the first time, if not more so, being more knowledgeable of the Discworld this time around. I'm particularly pleased with the comparison between the fair ones and cats.

I did my blind groping on the TBR shelf and grabbed two books by mistake. After much deliberation, I put back the nonfiction, being a person of very little brain at the moment (that book was The Pooh Perplex). Instead, I chose The Rose and the Yew Tree by Mary Westmacott, nee Agatha Christie.

The completist in me wants to read this because Agatha Christie wrote it. The part of me which flees from anything Harliquinesc is shuddering though, because of the description on the back. However, there is hope. The narrator is a man. Not many romances have male protagonists and such. Also, so far, it seems more like a suspense than a romance, though I'll admit there can be a fine line between the two, it depends on the writer. Still, I'm not far into it, so we'll see how it goes later today.

I've vowed not to finish it if it gets too romancy.

I finished listening to Marian McPartland's Jazz World. It must have been well written, because a lot of it was much too technical for this amateur jazz fan who knows nothing about music, and yet I found it fascinating. I'm wondering if I would have found it more difficult if I was reading it rather than listening to it. I love her enthusiasm for other musician's talents and abilities.

I'm still trying to get enthused over the Westmacott/Christie book. I haven't spent enough time trying to get into the story yet because I've been distracted by a couple of websites and exhaustion. I do think it has promise.

Also started reading my book from the ER program, American Terroir: Savoring the flavors of our Woods, Waters and Fields by Rowan Jacobsen. Again, not too far into it, but I like the thought of "The taste of a place." It is presented as a new thought for America. Possibly it is a new thought on the popular level, but I remember reading a book written by Rex Stout in the '30s, I believe, Too Many Cooks, in which Nero Wolfe gives a speech to an international gathering of some of the best chefs in the world about the "terroir" of American cuisine. I think I will enjoy this book.

Finished The Rose and the Yew Tree. Not a keeper. It was O.K. and interesting a bit about post WWII politics in the county, but rambled quite a bit. Felt very much like an early book from an author. The story itself was interesting and good, but would have been better off as a short story rather than a small novel.

Loved the first chapter in my ER book. It was on maple syrup. This book is very promising.

jillmwo - I have succumbed to the allure of Edmund Crispin. I bought his first three mysteries. What decided me was the description on Wikipedia of him and his life, but especially because Gareth Roberts, a writer of Dr. Who stories said of Crispin's The Moving Toyshop, "It's more like Doctor Who than Doctor Who."

I enjoyed Holy Disorders but less the first Gervase Fen story, Case of the Gilded Fly which takes place in a theatre setting. If you can get your hands on The Moving Toyshop, it's supposed to be a classic. Unfortunately, the last time I checked it was out of print.

I just bought it used at Amazon. :) Not very much, either. All three for about $25.00 including shipping.

Started listening to The Club of Queer Trades in the car yesterday. The first story had me on the edge of my seat! Loving it. I don't know the narrator, but he has a lovely deep male voice with a British accent, so, fine with me.

Also began Tombstone Courage, but won't be reading it like crazy yet. I want to finish my ER books first.

I really enjoy the Jance Joanna Brady stories. I'm on the sixth or seventh one.

Heh heh. I'm supposed to be reading my ER books today, but I "had" to read the Jance one while my photos were uploading to Shutterfly. I am completely captured! Now I'll have to go find the bibliography for her books.

I read a couple of the Joanna Brady books, liked one and hated the other. Ah well.

Joanna herself hasn't figured much in this story, yet, and what I've seen of her hasn't overwhelmed me. However, I am loving the tension and the character of the old man, Harold Patterson.

I finished American Terroir, and loved it. A great resource for fine ingredients and products, as well as plain fun to read.

I'll finish my J.A. Jance read before beginning my next ER book, Squadron 303. But I need to get a move on because I found out today that I won Fannie's Last Supper, by Christopher Kimball, which looks to be a good read, too. :)

I saw a review of Fannie's Last Supper and it sounds amazing. I will be very interested in reading what you think of it.

I finished the Jance novel last night. I enjoyed it. The ending wasn't a surprise, but the read getting there was interesting. I do not hate Joanna Brady, and that in itself is unusual because very often amateur female detectives annoy me a lot. There seems to be potential in some of the crusty men around her as well, I'll see. I probably won't seek these out to read, but if I come across them naturally, I will read them.

I am enjoying listening to my G.K. Chesterton novel immensely! Some of his usage makes me want to sing, certainly it makes me laugh, and several times, when I arrive at work it is all I can do to turn it off because I'm at such a cliff-hanger in the story. Even though I know certain elements, I still can't figure out the queer professions until they are revealed to me.

I like how Joanna grows throughout the series. I just read number six. It's a good idea to read them in order if you can.

I thought that might be the case. I didn't read the first one, but don't feel a compelling need to go back and read it because there were enough references to it in this one that I understand what has gone before and how she got where she is. I don't think I want to read about her husband being killed.

Finished listening to my Chesterton today. Delightful to the end.

I started Black Notice by Patricia Cornwall today at work. Don't know yet whether or not I will like it, it might be a bit too hard-edged for my taste as far as language and gore description go. Time will tell.

Next audio book up is Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as read by Douglas Adams. Found it at the library, where I will be getting my audio books for awhile until I get more tips from grateful guests. :)

MrsLee, Hitchhiker's was a radio show well before it was a book. I am sure you will love it on audio!

I had a hard time reading the print version of Hitchhiker's Guide, but really enjoyed listening to it being read by Stephen Frye. I listened to the next two books read by Adams and didn't enjoy the story so much but enjoyed being read to by Adams.

Sandragon, that's actually one reason why I loved And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer. The first HHGTG was great, the second OK, and from there it was downhill all the way, And then Colfer comes along and writes one that can stand with the first one!

hfglen, I actually liked Mostly Harmless better than the books in between. Wondering how Eoin Colfer brings them all back from that ending! I wasn't sold on the idea at first, but now find I'm looking forward to trying out And Another Thing, though I'm hoping the library gets an audio book version of it.

You two stop that, or I'm going to have to buy another book! ;) Having not enjoyed much of the books after HHGTG, I thought I could avoid that one.

I finished Squadron 303 today. Seemed a good book to be reading through a massive thunder and lightening storm. Another piece of the WWII puzzle slips into place for me. I loved reading about the Battle of Britain from the air, so to speak. Also, it was more propaganda-ish, so moved quickly, like a newsreel. It didn't bog down in too many details, politics, etc.

A quote which was thought provoking:
"When the time comes to pay for the terrible crimes of barbarity and cruelty committed during this war, will the criminals try to avoid responsibility by some new subterfuge? Will there be eyes wise enough and penetrating enough to see through their tricks?"

*waves at MrsLee*
*accidentally-on-purpose uses hand holding That Book*
;-P

:)

I finished the book by Patricia Cornwell and think I might read more by her before I call it quits. Suppose I would call it more of a crime novel than a mystery, and as I said before, it is right on the border of being too much for me. I'm not fond of serial killers, meaningless sex and foul language, but in this story, what was there did not seem gratuitous. I like Kay Scarpetta. I really like her no nonsense approach and her moral compass. Not so sure about some of the character's interactions with each other, but they might be right on in some lives, I just didn't see them as natural. Some of the characters were so well drawn that I thought she had modeled them on people I know! Anyway, it kept me reading right through, so that's always nice.

Now I'm reading one of those "everyone should" novels, Fahrenheit 451. I've read all the talk here about it, and doubt that I will love it, but sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Besides, Old Sarge posted a link on FB by Cracked that intrigued me.

MrsLee - DON'T PANIC

You don't have to read the rest. I've only skimmed the And Another Thing in a bookshop whilst making up my mind to buy it, decided against. Maybe when I see a cheap ecopy somewhere.

I didn't realize it, but my HGTTG is the audio by Stephen Fry, and I'm enjoying it tremendously. One might say it is helping me keep my sanity.

Sigh. I *love* Stephen Fry. We have all of the Harry Potter audiobooks with him as the reader, and it's wonderful!

Finished Fahrenheit 451 and liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Especially the beginning and the middle. Somewhere near the end, after he was out of the city, it became tedious for me, but that might have been because I was tired. It felt a bit like a Frank Capra movie at that point.

Still, I read the 50th Anniversary version, and I loved the afterward by R.B., also the coda.

Oh, I've started The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin. Not far enough in to give any opinion.

I'm not fond of serial killers, meaningless sex and foul language

I don't like serial killers either.

Finished the first Edmund Crispin book, I enjoyed it. I probably should have had an open dictionary beside me as I read, but I wasn't in the mood. It didn't blow me away, but was perfectly readable. I enjoyed the little mention of a professor with a cage of monkeys and some typewriters.

I'm reading Fannie's Last Supper by Christopher Kimball and enjoying it very much. I like reading about his struggles with nineteenth century ingredients and techniques, as well as the interesting cooking and household history tidbits he inserts. I too have tried to recreate some of the meals from very old cookbooks and some of the instructions are real head shakers.

#59 - Ah, well. I couldn't get a copy of Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales after all. I can only get books, and not other media, through inter-library loans. I'll have to suggest the audiobook to my library and hope they decide to get it in.

O.K., that took awhile, but it wasn't the book's fault. I've just been working so much I have no mental energy left over to read.

I finished Fannie's Last Supper. It was very interesting, covering not only food, but lifestyle, Industrial Revolution and its effects, product availability, and just about everything to do with food preparation in the 1800s. This is more of a deconstruction of the Fannie Farmer mythos than a praise to her. Most of her recipes didn't work for the author's refined taste. Here's where I have mixed feelings about this book. It kind of comes across as a rich gourmand critiquing a cookbook which is meant for everyday kind of people. Of course the recipes won't live up to his standards. Maybe it's the farm girl in me, but I took offense at some of his criticisms, which is silly, because I doubt I would like the recipes either. They are heavy on the floury sauce stuff, many things over-cooked and some strange ingredients. I don't own, and haven't read Fannie Farmer's Boston School of Cooking. So why am I defensive for her? Perhaps because I don't like to judge people from other eras, when in spite of all our reenactments, we do not truly understand what it is to walk in their shoes day in and day out. We still have the option to go back to our Twenty-first century lifestyle after all our play acting.

Still, reading the authors attempts to understand and recreate life in the kitchen in the late 1800s is about as close as we can come to an understanding. He writes with humor, and I admire his efforts to use authentic ingredients, techniques and equipment in his attempt to serve a formal Victorian meal. I think this book would be a great read for anyone interested in Boston history, Victorian lifestyles or food history in general. I found it to be so.

Sorry, that kind of turned into my review as I was trying to formulate my thoughts on the book.

I also finished reading The Basque Kitchen. I doubt I will keep it. Very lovely photos, I'm sure the food is fine, it's just too fussy for me at this time of life. It also requires many special ingredients, and though he gives mail order sources in the back, I don't have room in my kitchen for every food culture of the world and their unique spices/ingredients.

I borrowed a P.D. James audio book from the library yesterday for my commute, The Private Patient. Also found a book on my TBR shelves to give a sporting chance, Father was an Editor, by Joshua K. Bolles. Sounds like the equivalent of a journalism followup to Fannie' Last Supper, in that it is the story of a turn of the century small town newspaper editor as told by his son. I seem to be the only one on LT to own a copy, wonder if that is good or bad?

Fannie's Last Supper sounds like it would be good. I learned to cook from my grandmother's old copy of dear old Fannie: Chicken Stew, first kill chicken... lol. I have a modern edition now and gave one to each of my girls when they moved out. It's our family reliable.

I'm still trying to figure out why the author riled me so, but I think it was his condescension. I may not understand why other people like the food they like when it sounds appalling to me, and maybe even tastes appalling, but I wouldn't go so far as to say they were unable to cook. *shrug*

I started to read Father was an Editor, by Joshua K. Bolles, but my mom stole it.

Now I'm not sure what, not much reading time for a few days, anyway.

106 Geez. maybe I ought to try those. Gods know I can't stand the thought of reading them. Found book 1 slightly amusing but for the most part boring as hell.

#115 majkia: Well if you like Fry as much as I do (it's nigh on an obsession for me), then you'd listen to him reading pretty much anything, including ingredient lists on packaged food, and still be delighted!

LOL, Scaifea. So true...

I picked up Death of a Stranger by Anne Perry, and am enjoying it, but I'm having a bit of a problem since I'm listening to The Private Patient by P.D. James on my commute. I'm sort of blending them in my semi-lucid night shift conscience.

They are both good, but I'm still itchy listening to the narrator on the P.D. James book. She changes her voice for the different characters and it's jarring to me.

I've finished the Anne Perry book, I found it a novel idea that the "detective" really wasn't able to solve any of the mysteries, but his close friends were able to work it out. I'll definitely try another of her books, although she flogged some points to death. I think I can overlook that because I enjoyed her characters and setting. Not books to keep on my shelves, but certainly decent reads.

My mother finished the book she stole and returned it. I've never seen her read so fast. Funny how something that was a bit tedious for me was engrossing to her. It's because she had an uncle (an editor in Berkeley) much like the main character in this book. I'll try to read it again. It did have a wonderful Thanksgiving poem in it about Father Carves the Turkey.

What was the book your mom stole and liked so much?

eta: oops. I see it above in msg 114. Father was an Editor?

Yes, that's the one. Apparently, I'm the only one on LT who has it, unless I have bad info on mine for some reason. *shrug*

Well, I can't for the life of me see what my mom loved about the book, Father was an Editor. The humor always fell short, just dropped on the floor. The stories were sort of odd or incomplete. I try very hard not to swear (don't always succeed, but I try), but the only thing I could come up with at the end of this one was, WTF? I didn't even care enough to throw it against the wall.

On the plus side, some of the insights into life at the turn of the century near Boston were interesting. Some of the quotes from the father were, too. I think the author would have been better off collecting his father's editorials and reprinting them. Nuff said.

Think I'll go on a J. A. Jance jag now. I need fluff for the rest of December. A friend gave me a bag full of her books to read, so I'll start with Desert Heat if it's in there or go on to Shoot, Don't Shoot if it isn't.

I'm still enjoying the Jance books, I'm on the fourth one now, Dead to Rights, but feeling like I should be reading Christmas stories like Hogfather. Or watching Christmas movies. Trouble is, I don't have time for reading or watching anything! Oh well, I'll enjoy them in my head. :)

Jance seems to have a very good handle on grief, its effects and its timeline.

I've finished The Private Patient, which was a good story, but I never did get over my annoyance with the reader. Now I'm listening to The Camel Club by David Baldacci, which isn't entirely my cup of tea, but not so bad I don't want to hear it. At least the reader is not annoying me.

The way I'm deciding on my audio books is by going in order on the library shelves. Only, I'm not choosing something which sounds very bad for me. I figure since they are free (except for the .10 a day when I keep them too long), I can afford to try authors I might not otherwise want to invest in.

That's how I choose my audio books too - library shelf order, skipping only those that I'm positive I wouldn't like, but being more adventurous than I would normally. It's worked out pretty well for me so far!

Somehow I find myself reading four books at once. I haven't done that since I started working. They are: Dead to Rights, The Camel Club, Introverts in the Church and Murder for Christmas.

Dead to Rights has sort of taken a side seat while I read the Chrismas murders. Has anyone read Woody Allen's short story called "Mr. Big" in the hard-boiled detective genre? I loved it, for both the genre and the humor. So far there has only been one klinker in this book, so that makes me very happy.

I'm almost done with The Camel Club, it is SO hard to turn it off, get out of the car and go into work!

This is a rundown on the types of books I've read so far. Some books fit into more than one category, so the total read won't equal the total types. however, the rated books should equal the total read and it doesn't, so I'm going to have to do some work on figuring out why. Sigh. I also have a tag, 2010, in my LT library for the books I've read this year. It only has 76 books in it, so I'll have to see which ones I've forgotten there as well. No time now, I'm off to work.

Fiction: 9
Mystery: 24
Fantasy: 30
Graphic Novel: 2
Drama: 1
Children: 1
Audio: 12
Short Stories: 7
Sci-fi: 1
Comics: 0
Humour: 1
Poetry: 1
YA: 4
Cookbook: 3
Nonfiction: 19
Reread: 9
Unfinished: 3

Fiction: 65
Nonfiction: 19
Total: 84
Ratings:
Loved it, will probably reread, definitely keep ***** 20
Liked it lots, will recommend, possibly keep to loan **** 23
Liked it, will probably not keep *** 35
Didn’t like it, but others might ** 5
Hated, probably didn’t finish * 1

Just tidying up my numbers. :) Spent about 4 hours playing with this.