katylit's 2010 reading

First off, here's my 2010 Collections list for all my reading of the year so far, including audio books, which if I'm really enjoying the paper book, I'll listen to too at times when reading is impossible. http://www.librarything.com/catalog/katylit

Most times my audio books last me a long time 'cause I listen to them when I'm going to sleep and when I iron (which is as infrequently as possible). I haven't been knitting lately, so that listening opportunity isn't around either.

I listen to books while crocheting and cross stitching. Once I finish listening to a couple of music CDs I got from the library, I'll be listening to Into the Wild.

I'm currently reading The Well of Lost Plots which is fun, but not grabbing me as much as the first two, for some reason. I'm only reading it in short spurts and find myself getting very easily distracted, not drawn in as I did with the others. I'll persevere, 'cause there are still laugh-out-loud moments, which I'm loving. I love Thursday's pluck and her adventures and Miss Haversham is a delight.

For when I really can't get into The Well, I've been reading Uncanny Stories by May Sinclair, a short story collection of supernatural tales written by an author I've never heard of before. I'm enjoying these, they're unusual. She wrote in the 1920s and the stories have a psychological take to them, a little along the lines of Turn of the Screw perhaps.

And then my non-fiction read is a biography of Edward Wilson, doctor, naturalist, artist, confidant of the Scott Expedition members to Antarctica. This is an early biography, first written in 1933, when many of the family and survivors would still have been alive. It's an interesting, kind book about a fascinating, kind, devout man. Every account I've read about the Scott Expedition talks about Wilson, "Uncle Bill" everyone called him, being extra-ordinarily kind and considerate, listening to all the other men's confidences, being supportive, being Scott's "right-hand man" in so many ways, and being devout without being overt about it. He has always intrigued me, considering the deprivations they all endured, how he could have kept his composure, his compassion, right through to the end.

I know how history would tend to sentimentalize him, make a hero of him. I would like to read The Last Place on Earth by Roland Huntford, which I know is very critical of Scott, and certainly doesn't make them out to be heroes at all.

Yeah Morphy, I've got a new cross stitch project I want to start soon, so when that gets going, I'll be listening to my audio books more as I do it.

I bet Into the Wild will be great to listen to. I saw the movie and it was excellent.

I just recently found The Eyre Affair at a library book sale after reading about the Next books here on LT. What a treat! I have had The Well on my shelf for a while and I am just starting the series.

I think you'll really enjoy it mamzel. Then you can check out our discussions on the group read we had on it, you can find both spoiler and spoiler-free threads in this thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/21943

It would be fun to revive that thread again.

I forgot to add that I'm listening to Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold at the moment and really enjoying it. And the narrator (Kate Reading) is very good. I'll be listening to The Hallowed Hunt next. Bujold is new to me, thanks to aviddiva giving me The Curse of Chalion as part of the Santathing exchange. I do love finding wonderful new authors :-)

The new Temeraire book is out too, Tongues of Serpents. I am torn, after I finish Paladin, I would like to stay in that world, but I'd really like to fly with Lawrence and Temeraire too. I'll just have to see where my mood will take me.

Let me know if Tongues is less depressing than the previous books. I like her writing, but her stories are so very bleak and depressing.

Heh. I was just the opposite about the Thursday Next books :o)
I found myself getting more distracted with The Eyre Affair, I think because there was just so much to learn about Thursday's world and I found it disjointed even though I found the new stuff interesting and fun. By The Well of Lost Plots I was more familiar with the world and found it easier to sink into the story. Haven't read any more yet though. Need to go find myself the 4th book.

I am reading The Eyre Affair, too. I never laughed so hard when I came to the part about the production of Richard III.

So funny!! Can you ever imagine that happening in real life mamzel? Fforde is a genius! :-D

I have to admit I'm not big on Shakespeare and have only read his plays under duress but I could so see a bunch of people so dedicated to his plays! But Richard III?!?

Fforde is the reason I was able to find something to enjoy about Wuthering Heights. I forget if it's in the second or the third book, but the Wuthering Heights support group is a thing of beauty.

13 - Agreed!

I've just read that part about Wuthering Heights and thought it completely brilliant. In the Bronte group here on LT there's been a discussion about Heathcliffe and all I kept thinking about is going to that discussion and referring them to The Well of Lost Plots and reading that section at least.

Now that I'm about 1/3 of the way through I'm getting into The Well more and I think I'll be giving it more dedicated time, it just seemed to start off slowly for me, didn't grab me like the other two did.

The Well of Lost Plots started slowly for me, as well. In my opinion, all of Fforde's books are slow to get into, but I blame my brain, more than the author. It takes me awhile to adjust to that alternate world, but once I'm there, I love it. My favorite, after The Eyre Affair, is Something Rotten, but then, I'm a sucker for anything to do with Hamlet.

Which is the one with the Anna Karenina footnotes? I love that part. Such a great series.

That's in The Well of Lost Plots too. It's been very slow in the store today and I've made great progress with the book. ;-) (such a tough job). I've really got to send these books to my friend out west, she'll get such a hoot out of them.

I finished The Well of Lost Plots yesterday. It was fun and I enjoyed it, but I want to take a break from Fforde's crazy world for a bit. So I'm reading Medicus next, by Ruth Downie. This is the first in a series too, I have the first two books and I read up to chapter 8 yesterday and think I'm going to like this one.

Medicus takes place during the time of the ancient Roman empire, centering on a Roman army doctor, stationed in Britain.

I also finished Paladin of Souls last night which I really enjoyed - excellent fantasy about good and evil, the power of love over death, adventure, strong women, sexy men. I love the religion Bujold creates, it's very original and interesting.

And while I do intend to go on to The Hallowed Hunt, I want to listen to Tongues of Serpents first. I find that I'm just not that into following a series book after book as I used to be, I need a break from them. Yes Morphy, I'll let you know if it's less depressing, although I didn't think the other ones were really that depressing, but hopefully this one is more exciting.

I'm starting in a book club on Monday, it'll be interesting to see what book we decide to read together.

You can afford to wait on Hallowed Hunt - although it is set more or less in the same world, it's far from being a sequel in the way Paladin followed on from Curse. Hunt is different characters althogether from a neighbouring country. Same basic principles of the world, but no direct connection to the previous books.

A bit like FForde's Nursery Crime series books don't directly relate to the Thursday Next ones.

Ahh, that's good to know, thank reading_fox.

re: Tongues

I just like good things to happen once in awhile to characters and Lawrence doesn't seem to catch much of a break. Much like Butcher and poor Dresden.

No you're right Morph, but at least Lawrence always has Temeraire, and I love the chemistry between them and their devotion to each other. I guess that's what keeps me going back for more.

I was really surprised at how little promotion there was for the release of this new book. When I went to Chapters to look, they didn't even have it on display on the new release table, just stuck in the stacks. I was unimpressed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11484494

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/wiltshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/news...

It's not as posh as I'd imagined, a bit more industrial looking than one would have hoped, but imagine it filled with books. I can just see the Cheshire Cat perched on top one of the shelves and a PRO striding briskly down an aisle. It's even in Swindon.

>24 sandragon: Why do they have pictures of my living room?

*sings, "Only in my dreams..."*

5,000 books per week! Oh my goodness! No wonder they're running out of room. I'd love to see pictures of it filled too sandragon. That is amazing.

Fforde's library does sound architecturally prettier though eh? I love the idea of the Cheshire Cat sitting on the top of one of those shelves :-D

*sits back and dreams*

What happened to L-space?!?!?! That would be THE perfect solution :D

Am I the only one who was disappointed at the first link? I saw the headline and my mind was instantly filled with visions of the most amazing library sale ever before I twigged that of course it meant store as in storage, not store as in shop.

Ygraine, I was right there with you, and also thinking, "but where did all the books go?"

Busifer - I think L-space has been hidden away with our jet-packs, flying cars and teleportation.

Aye, I think so too and it's SUCH a disappointment!

Not having read Pratchett (yet) I was a little puzzled by "L-space", thank goodness for Google. You're right Busifer and MrsLee, L-space would be the perfect solution wouldn't it ;-) I really do have to read some Pratchett soon.

I finished the Edward Wilson biography Friday night and really enjoyed it. He was an amazing man, I wonder what he would have accomplished if he had lived longer. I think it very telling that they were found with Scott's arm flung over Wilson's body.

My next non-fiction read is George III's Children by John Van der Kiste. If you've ever seen the movie The Madness of King George, well, this is about all his 15 children. They, most of them, had terrible reputations and the government in power, the Whigs, did nothing to help offset that, rather they helped sustain it and make most of them look even worse then they actually were. I'm interested in finding out how much was fiction and how much was fact, if possible.

I think George III's Children sounds like a fascinating read. I'll be interested to read what you think.

Also, it seems to me you are very happy in your new home and I am glad but I must say I miss having you over here on the left coast.

HA! Someone just brought in Where's My Cow? by Terry Pratchett, admittedly a baby book, but still, very cute, and funny. I love the pictures, and am seriously debating on purchasing this for "future grandchildren's library" lol. Okay, gotta get me some adult Pratchett now, soon!!

#33 -thud is the "adult" novel that goes with Where's my cow. It's pretty much readable on its own I expect but it is about 7th in the list of Guards tales and wouldn't be my ideal recomendation as a place to start Pratchett.

#33 - *chants* Buy the book. Buy the book. Buy the book.

I love that book for children. :) I also love Thud, but think that you need to have an understanding of Vimes to fully love that he has a little boy. Start with Guards! Guards!, you won't regret it. Well, maybe you won't. Some people just don't like Pratchett, period. But I think if you enjoyed the children's book, you would enjoy the spirit of the others.

LOL! It's bought ;-)

Oooh. This one's an easy mark. What else can we get her to buy?
:oD

I think it was this little guy that did it for me - he was just too cute to pass up! And I do get that great employee discount, hehehe.

#38 - I want one...

#39 - they explode you know. And make a mess.

#39/40 ...and they smell bad... ;-)

LOL! I knew he was too cute, there had to be a catch, from what I've heard about Pratchett. Well, at least he doesn't explode in the baby book.

I'm really enjoying George III's Children, actually laugh-out-loud moments in it, or maybe that's just me, but, for instance, at George III's coronation (especially when you think of the current monarchy's impeccable ceremonial traditions) "the Earl Marshal was reprimanded after the heralds had made a muddle about the order of procession. Overcome with nerves, he confessed that there had been much he would have wished otherwise, but he had taken care that the next Coronation (italics my own) would 'be regulated in the exactest manner possible.' Far from being offended by such intimations of his mortality, the King roared with laughter at this gaffe and made the poor man repeat it several times." *giggle* Let's have a do-over!

"future grandchildren's library"
I call mine the future Grandma's shelf. I have been collecting books from used book stores and clearance tables. My daughter is very angry because I gave away my copy of Richard Scarry's Best Story Book Ever to a friend of my son who was reading chapter books to her toddler. I'm still on the lookout for another copy of that. Both of my kids wore out their copies.

I've just finished Medicus and really enjoyed it. I like flawed main characters and Ruso is definitely not a knight in shining armour is he? I guessed the murderer pretty early on, but still, the atmosphere, Ruso's predicaments and interactions were enjoyable and I like Tilla, his reluctant slave.

Now it's on to my latest ARC, The Bells, a summary on the back says: "Dazzling, enchanting, and epic, The Bells is the confession of a thief, kidnapper, and unlikely lover - a boy with the voice of an angel, whose exquisite sense of hearing becomes both his life's tragic curse and its greatest blessing."

Just finished The Bells and I really enjoyed it. This is one of those times that I'm so grateful for the ARC program through LT, 'cause this is a book I probably wouldn't have picked up myself, yet I'm so glad to have read it.

It's the story of Moses, a boy living with his deaf mother high on a mountain in a church built specially to house beautiful bells that ring deafeningly throughout the valley below. The townspeople believe, that Moses is deaf, and simple-minded as well, living so close to these earsplitting bells, but he isn't, in fact he has extraordinarily acute hearing and circumstances arise that lead him out into the world to make his own way.

Moses is rescued by two kind monks and taken to their abbey where he learns to sing. He is blessed with a remarkable, beautiful voice and even though it is against the law, his choir master has him castrated to keep this voice forever.

The story follows his young life and the twists and turns that happen to him and I found myself rooting for him - "Go Moses!" I couldn't help but compare it to Patrick Suskind's Perfume with it's focus on a specific sense, hearing this time, instead of smell. But while Perfume revolted me at times with the perversion of the main character, The Bells was uplifting with the joy of music, how it brought tears to people's eyes and beauty to the world and Moses is very likeable.

Good book.

Now I'm going back to visit Ruso again in book two, Terra Incognita by Ruth Downie.

I finished listening to Tongues of Serpents last night. I thought it was good, but not her best one. Lawrence is turning out to be almost too perfect, I kept wishing he would lose his temper or smash something or at least do something really drastic. But he was always this wise, calm voice of reason, which, while delightful to hear, I found stretched the bounds of credibility, dragons notwithstanding. It was fun having it take place in the wilds of late 18C Australia and there was some exciting adventures along the way. But yes Morphy, I'd say you'd probably find this one depressing too.

I'm still enjoying Terra Incognita, but haven't had much chance to read, been sick and it hasn't been conducive to reading. Much better now and trying to catch up.

Now I'm going to start listening to Reckless, Cornelia Funke's new YA book, her take on Grimm's fairy tales I believe, sounds good. I've enjoyed her other books so I'm looking forward to this one.

And I see that there's a new Bartimaeus book by Jonathan Stroud out! Fun. I've added that to my Audible wish list and will probably get that next month. Love Bartimaeus.

Yes, you'll have to report how the New Bartimaeus is, I'm hoping to get it for Christmas

katylit, I was in Munro's last week and saw lots of shiny new books. Just in time for Christmas I expect. There was the new Bartomaeus, Reckless, and a new one by Kenneth Oppel called Half Brother. The Oppel ones were signed (he must have done a reading there recently, and I missed it, nuts). My niece loves his books so I may have to go back and get it for her Christmas present. My brother just treated me to a shopping spree at Russel's for my birthday so I've got loads of new books, so I really shouldn't be getting more, so I walked out of Munro's empty handed last week. But I don't know if I could do it again ;o)

How are you liking Reckless? Who's narrating it?

Yeah readafew and sandragon, I'm really pleased about the new Bartimaeus, I have a feeling Reckless will be a quick listen, so I might be getting Bartimaeus sooner and I will keep you posted.

sandragon, Reckless is pretty good so far. The narrator is Elliot Hill, no one I've ever heard of before. He's not bad, a bit monotone, but not too dreadfully so. After listening to Simon Vance (whom (?) I love) narrating Tongues of Serpents for so long, it's an adjustment.

I should also mention, after Hugh's wonderful post in the Happy thread, that I've been dipping into my Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling, reading one every once in awhile as the fancy takes me. I find them so delightful, whimsical and dear. I've always admired Kipling's use of language and I think it shines through in these stories.

I adore Just So Stories. I had a little read red leather volume as a child that is no longer in my possession. If I ever see another one, I'll give my left eyeball for it.

:-) I recently received a lovely new edition from the Folio Society Dayna, with Kipling's illustrations. It makes me very happy on so many levels reading it - pure sensory, reading pleasure.

I am thrilled to hear about the new Stroud. I loved the Bartimaeus trilogy and look forward to reading the prequel.

I finished up Terra Incognita this morning. It was good, I find the mystery isn't all that compelling, but I do like Ruso, he's such an underdog of a main character, he appeals to me. I do find his cohort/slave girl Tilla a bit flat. She has a few good one-liners, but she's not very well fleshed out, not as well as Ruso. I've been listening to Persona Non Grata which is the next one in the series and enjoying it too. Reckless was great, really enjoyed it.

Now I'm on to The Outlander by Gil Adamson for my book club. The summary on the back cover says: "In 1903, two vengeful brothers and a pack of bloodhounds track a mysterious young woman across the western wilderness. She is nineteen years old. Half mad. A widow by her own hand. So begins The Outlander, an original and wholly satisfying read." I'm intrigued.

I'm also reading Batavia's Graveyard: The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led History's Bloodiest Mutiny by Mike Dash. I'm finding it very interesting so far, learning lots about the history of the Netherlands (The United Provinces) in the 17th century. I've been wanting to read it for such a long time, it's put George III's Children on the back burner for now.

I swear Katylit, you read such interesting books. I am wishing to be at home with you, and you could just pass them on to me when you finish. Oh, well, I guess I'd better finish my own TBR pile first.

I just finished Batavia's Graveyard. Wow! It's like Lord of the Flies on meth or something. Some nasty stuff!

#54, oh maggie, I wish I could pass on The Outlander to you. I finished it this morning and it's excellent. I just could not put it down. Now I can't wait for our next book club meeting to discuss it. The characters in The Outlander were so interesting, likeable, unique, the story full of adventure, pathos, always kept me wondering what was going to happen next. A great story, written in beautiful language. Very highly recommended!

Now I'm going to concentrate on Batavia's Graveyard, "Lord of the Flies on meth" sounds too fun to dawdle over any more ;-)

Hi katy. How're you finding Batavia's Graveyard? I just finished Lord of the Flies, which I like very much, and I'm wondering if I'll like reading about the Batavia. How much meth would you say? I know you like reading history more than I do, which as you know isn't very much :o), but this sounds like interesting history.

I haven't been able to put it down! Although there are lots of times when I'm reading and thing "Ugh! Sure glad I didn't live/travel in that time period." There's some pretty graphic descriptions of what life was like on board the ship - before the mutiny. I have to laugh when I think of how obsessed we are with sanitation these days "Lysol your counters etc." and when you think of how those people lived, it's amazing any of them survived the voyage at all!

But the book is very well written, very interesting and full of lots of fascinating, albeit sometimes gross, details. It is interesting history and not a very long book, I think you might like it sandragon.

Thanks, katy.
More fodder for the wishlist!

Finished Batavia's Graveyard, wow, Lord of the Flies on meth is a great description cmbohn! I found myself gasping and wincing at the ruthless murders, and horrifying tortures inflicted. Mike Dash has written an excellent book that gives as close a glimpse into that world as I believe would be possible.

Now, onto something lighter. I'm going to start The Singing by Alison Croggon, the fourth and last in her Pellinor fantasy series.

Yeah, it was grim, but so fascinating! Extremely glad I was not there.

Finished The Singing this morning and it was good. I got kinda tired of the characters constantly travelling, it's a common theme that runs through the whole series and by this fourth book it was definitely getting old. But the characters themselves are appealing, the fight for good against evil is a little creative. I like the whole Bard concept, Bards being the equivalent of wizards in Tolkien I gathered.

Now it's on to Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, our next book club read. LT says it's pretty sure I won't like this book and it's certainly one I wouldn't have picked myself, but I'm keeping an open mind. It's always good to challenge my reading boundaries.

Did you read Franzen's first best seller (and award winner I think) The Corrections? I made it about 1/2 through and bailed out. I just couldn't handle the whining. I hope this one is better, for your sake! :o)

Our book group decided to take a "by" on this one. One of our younger members who loves dystopia and other darker novels wanted us to consider it but since she recently got a new job and seems not to be able to do the group, and the rest of us are a bit older, and more found of utopia.....well, seemed like a good idea to say "no thanks". So many books...so little time.

I'll be interested to read what you think of it.

No clam I haven't read The Corrections, we have similar tastes in fiction I think so I am curious to see how it goes with Freedom. And that's really interesting that your group passed on it maggie. Our group is mostly older women and it was a senior who picked the book! I've just read the first chapter so far and s'okay. But I found myself dipping into Christmas stories today instead of the novel, so I guess it's not grabbing me as much as I'd hoped.

Okay, ick! After reading quite a few of the LT reviews for Freedom I will agree that it's very well written. But for my recreational reading (vs reading for the Early Reviewers program) I find that I have to like the characters somewhat. The main characters in Freedom are just totally unappealling to me, actually all the characters I've met so far. So, I know that I should finish it for book club, but, nope, not going to do it.

Instead I'm reading May Your Days Be Merry and Bright: Christmas Stories by Women by Susan Koppelman and A Treasury of Old Fashioned Christmas Stories by Michele Slung. And when I'm tired of short stories I'll focus on George III's Children and finish that up.

I've just got too many other wonderful books waiting on my shelves to waste time on a book I'm not enjoying.

#66 - Man, I understand your choice. I know some folks enjoy reading about people who are even more dysfunctional and ornery than they are. Hee hee. I can handle a few characters like that, but not a whole book full. Hope you get some serious pleasure from the Christmas book, katylit. :o)

Well, Katy I'll be glad to report to my book group that your reaction was about what we judged ours would be....I hope others find value there. My life is just too short at this point in time.

Ramen. Life is too short to read books you don't enjoy.

I just finished The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart. Hee Hee. That's a fun mystery. It's the first book of her's that I've ever read. It is quite dated with racial stereotypes, but as it was written in 1908, it just made me glad we've made some progress.

The story was a bit convoluted, but I loved the main character, Rachel Innes. She's very spunky and spry for an elderly lady and there's a great deal of humour in her interactions with her maid and the police.

I'm glad to hear you like it, since that's one is available for free for the Kindle and other ebooks.

I read The Giver over Christmas, one of those books I've heard about for ages and when I found a copy in the store, thought it was about time I read it. What an excellent story, I really enjoyed it.

Now I'm reading The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue about a notorious Victorian divorce. It's very well written and keeping me glued to the pages.

katylit, you read so many interesting history type books. I am finding myself wishing to come visit you, camp out in your library, and read for a month! Wow, just Wow. The Donoghue book sounds quite juicy.

Come anytime maggie!! You know you're welcome. I love history and biography. The Sealed Letter was excellent! Highly recommended.

Joanna O'Neill's books came in today, A World Invisible and A World Denied (which doesn't show up correctly on touchstones?). So I'm going to start right in.