klobrien2 (Karen O) Reading Extravaganza in 2014 - Thread 1

Conversazioni75 Books Challenge for 2014

Iscriviti a LibraryThing per pubblicare un messaggio.

klobrien2 (Karen O) Reading Extravaganza in 2014 - Thread 1

Questa conversazione è attualmente segnalata come "addormentata"—l'ultimo messaggio è più vecchio di 90 giorni. Puoi rianimarla postando una risposta.

1klobrien2
Modificato: Gen 5, 2015, 6:49 pm



Welcome to the first page of my 2014 reading thread!

I've been with the 75-bookers for several years now, and I enjoy so much the camaraderie and book talk that happens here. I'm very glad to join with you all again!

The year 2013 was a terrific year for reading. I find myself reading pretty much as the spirit leads, although I participate in the Take It or Leave It project and have a great time doing that.

This is my sixth year participating in the 75 Books Challenge. In 2009, I read 94 books; in 2010, I made it to 148!; 153 in 2011; 160 in 2012; and 114 in 2013 ("real life" got in the way a little this year).

I'm also learning from the past, and I don't think I'll set any specific goals as to which books I will read--I have more fun just taking it as it comes. I am, however, trying to accomplish reads for the "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" project, so that may guide my reading a little. What directs my reading more are my friends here on LT, so keep those recommendations coming!

Here's a ticker to keep track of my 2014 reads :




I am trying to read more books from "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die." Here's a ticker to keep track of my progress there:




Here's where I'll list the books I read, starting with (the number at the end of each line represents the post number where I placed my "review" for the book):

1. Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks - 11
2. God Save the Child by Robert B. Parker - 17
3. The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien, ed. Christopher Tolkien - 18
4. Macbeth by William Shakespeare - 19
5. The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope - 20
6. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #7) - 21
7. Through the Evil Days (Rev. Clare Fergusson Mysteries) by Julia Spencer-Fleming - 26
8. Daughter of Empire: My Life as a Mountbatten by Pamela Hicks - 27
9. The Decipherment of Linear B by John Chadwick - 28
10. A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel - 29
11. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #8) - 30
12. Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan - 31
13. Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel - 32
14. The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin - 33
15. Poor Puppy by Nick Bruel - 34
16. The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert - 35
17. The World's Strongest Librarian - 36
18. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley - 37
19. One More Thing: Stories and More Stories by B. J. Novak - 40
20. Food Play by Joost Elffers and Saxton Freymann - 41
21. American Gods by Neil Gaiman - 42
22. Pacific Rim: Tales from Year Zero by Travis Beacham - 43
23. Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott - 44
24. The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice by Christopher Hitchens - 45
25. Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book by Grumpy Cat - 46
26. The Pirates! In an Adventure with the Romantics by Gideon Defoe - 47
27. White Night by Jim Butcher (#9 of Dresden Files) - 48
28. Betty's Pies Favorite Recipes by Betty Lessard - 49
29. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, & the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright - 50
30. The Beekeeper's Apprentice, Or On the Segregation of the Queen by Laurie R. King - 51
31. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy - 52
32. All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome by Kathy Hoopmann - 53
33. Delta of Venus: Erotica by Anais Nin (1001 Book #182) - 54
34. The Mystery of Meerkat Hill (A Precious Ramotswe Mystery) by Alexander McCall Smith - 55
35. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt - 56
36. Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Love, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth - 59
37. Bad Kitty Meets the Baby by Nick Bruel - 60
38. The Book of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks: A Celebration of Creative Punctuation by Bethany Keeley - 61
39. Call the Midwife: The Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth - 64
40. What Makes This Book So Great by Jo Walton - 65
41. Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres - 69
42. Call the Midwife: Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth - 70
43. Discovery of Witches (All Souls #1) by Deborah Harkness - 71
44. Walking Dead, Vol 9.: March to War by Robert Kirkman - 72
45. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (1001 Book #183) - 73
46. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut (1001 Books #184) - 76
47. The Rings of Saturn by W. G. Sebold (1001 Books #185) - 77
48. Shadow of Night (All Souls #2) by Deborah Harkness - 80
49. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - 81
50. A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King (Mary Russell Mysteries #2) - 82
51. Codex Seraphinianus by Luigi Serafini - 83
52. The Walking Dead Volume 20: All Out War Part 1 by Robert Kirkman et al. - 84
53. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino (1001 Books #186) - 85
54. Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut - 86
55. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman - 89
56. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (1001 Books # 187) - 92
57. The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman - 93
58. Inferno by Dan Brown - 94
59. Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen - 95
60. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain (1001 Books #188) - 96
61. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell - 97
62. Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors by Nicholas Wade - 98
63. A Letter of Mary (Mary Russell #3) by Laurie R. King - 99
64. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler - 100
65. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown - 101
66. The Book of Life (All Souls #3) by Deborah Harkness - 102
67. Small Favor by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #10) - 103
68. Son (The Giver Quartet #4)) by Lois Lowry - 104
69. Asphodel by H.D. (Hilda Doolittle) (1001 Books #189) - 105
70. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #11) - 106
71. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin - 107
72. Just Plain Fancy by Patricia Polacco - 108
73. Myra Breckinridge by Gore Vidal (1001 Books #190) - 109
74. Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin (1001 Books #191) - 110
75. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout - 111
76. The Blind Side by Michael Lewis - 116
77. Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast - 117
78. Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt - 118
79. Scarlet by Marissa Meyers - 125
80. Golem by David Wasniewski - 126
81. I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats by Francesco Marciuliano - 127
82. Rabbit, Run by John Updike (Book 192 of 1001 Books) - 130
83. The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin - 131
84. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming - 134
85. The Golem of Hollywood by Jonathan Kellerman - 135
86. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - 137
87. The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café by Alexander McCall Smith - 138
88. Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer - 139
89. Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman - 140
90. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - 143
91. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker - 144
92. Let Him Go by Larry Watson - 145

My 2003 "Books Read" list (casually kept, and probably incomplete): http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2003-reading-list.html
My 2004 "Books Read" list (see above caveats: things get better!):
http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2004-reading-list.html
My 2005 "Books Read" list (most pathetic list yet): http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2005-reading-list.html
My 2006 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2006-reading-list.htm
My 2007 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2007-reading-list.html
My 2008 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2008-reading-list.html
My 2009 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2009-reading-list.html
My 2010 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2010-reading-list.html

Here is a link to my last thread from 2011: http://www.librarything.com/topic/122919

Here is a link to my last thread from 2012: http://www.librarything.com/topic/138897

Here is a link to my last thread from 2013:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/156012

Good reading to you!

2klobrien2
Modificato: Feb 12, 2014, 6:56 pm

work space for thread 8>)

3drneutron
Gen 2, 2014, 6:32 pm

Welcome back!

4The_Hibernator
Gen 2, 2014, 7:18 pm

Hi Karen! Welcome to 2014. Happy New Year! :)

5lyzard
Gen 2, 2014, 7:20 pm

Hi, Karen - good to see you back again!

6klobrien2
Gen 2, 2014, 10:13 pm

Thanks for the greetings! It's good to be back. I can't wait to post my first 2014 read! Happy New Year to you all!

7cbl_tn
Gen 2, 2014, 10:23 pm

Hi Karen! Happy New Year! I have you starred so I can follow along with your reading.

8klobrien2
Gen 2, 2014, 10:28 pm

I'm intrigued by the American Authors challenge, and I'm sure that I want to participate. Here is my working list of authors/works:

Willa Cather (January) The Professor's House
William Faulkner (February) Absalom, Absalom
Cormac McCarthy (March) All the Pretty Horses
Toni Morrison (April) Sula
Eudora Welty (May) The Golden Apples
Kurt Vonnegut (June) Cat's Cradle
Mark Twain (July) Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Philip Roth (August) American Pastoral
James Baldwin (September) Go Tell it on the Mountain
Edith Wharton (October) Bunner Sisters
John Steinbeck (November) Travels with Charley
Larry Watson (December) Let Him Go (if I can wait that long)

9porch_reader
Gen 3, 2014, 6:31 pm

I haven't heard of The Professor's House by Cather, so I'll be interested to hear your thoughts. I read My Antonia and Death Comes for the Archbishop in 2008 and loved them both, so I'm going to try O Pioneers this time, mainly because it is already on my shelf!

10klobrien2
Gen 8, 2014, 3:54 pm

Hi, porch_reader! I picked The Professor's House because 1001 Books has it listed, and it sounded intriguing. I now have the book from the library, and it is NOT a hefty tome, so I should be getting to it soon. I will definitely have to read the other Cathers books sooner rather than later!

Thanks for stopping by to chat!

11klobrien2
Modificato: Gen 8, 2014, 4:07 pm



1. Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks

Finally! My first completed book of the year! And it was a charming one.

I am a big fan of P. G. Wodehouse, so when I read that an "homage" to the author had just been published, I had to read it. This book comes close to the charm of Wodehouse, with clever wordplay throughout, and the thoroughly likable Bertie Wooster and his trusty valet Jeeves having madcap adventures that eventually resolve in happy and fortunate solutions.

This time, the tables are slightly turned--Bertie masquerades as the valet to the upper-class "Lord Etringham" (Jeeves) for a good portion of the book. We get a look at the other side of British high society of the time, and it is done without snobbery.

This is a nicely-paced book, except for some cricket game description which I found incredibly boring. I moved through that several pages as quickly as possible, not caring how much of an inkling I had of what was going on.

But, all in all, I did the same giggling-my-way-through the book as I would with a Wodehouse vintage one.

I would strongly recommend this to any Wodehouse fan, or to anyone who wants a light, fun, very tasty read.

(Wooster to Jeeves): "I've got some bad news. An absolute wagonload of it."

Jeeves laid down the hefty book and removed the specs. "I am sorry to hear that, sir."

"Plan A laid an egg. And I thought it was going to be the goose that . . . But it was a turkey. Do you catch my drift?"

"The poultry metaphors are painting a lively picture. Am I to take it that you were out for a duck?"

12scaifea
Gen 8, 2014, 7:18 pm

Hi, Karen! A certain Mr. Richard just recommended the Faulks book to me today, so I think that now after reading your review I really do need to get my hands on it. Many thanks for the great review!

13streamsong
Gen 9, 2014, 10:31 am

Aha--I've found you. There you are, hiding in plain site.

**pulling up a chair and a cup of cocoa**

14klobrien2
Gen 9, 2014, 8:25 pm

Hi, scaifea and streamsong!

So Richard liked the book? I think I totally missed Richard's first thread, and I'm behind on his current one. I find I agree with him most of the time, so I'm not surprised.

hiding in plain site made me giggle! So glad to see you both here!

15The_Hibernator
Gen 11, 2014, 11:42 am

I've never read a Jeeves book. I really should. :)

16klobrien2
Gen 12, 2014, 5:09 pm

Yes, you should! 8>) There's nothing better for a little reading comfort and joy!

17klobrien2
Modificato: Gen 13, 2014, 5:32 pm



2. God Save the Child by Robert B. Parker

Another tasty and light read (like potato chips). I saw that a few other LTers were reading some of the later books, and while I couldn't read those books, I could try to catch up to where they were. I'd read The Godwulf Manuscript quite a while ago. So it was about time for a read of the second "Spencer."

There were a lot of descriptions of laughably dated clothing and furnishings of the times (lots of wide lapels and garish ensembles). But Spencer is a likable hero, and very funny, to boot.

18klobrien2
Modificato: Gen 17, 2014, 4:28 pm



3. The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien, ed. Christopher Tolkien

The poem itself is fairly short, but vivid and involving. It is written in alliterative verse, and has a rhythm and flow that's quite beautiful.

The rest of the book consists of essays about the poem and the literary world it comes from. I found my attention often drifting, but the scholarship seems thorough. An interesting study of a partially-completed poem (and it is Tolkien!)

19klobrien2
Modificato: Gen 25, 2014, 9:42 am



4. Macbeth by William Shakespeare

I started this read back in October, for "scary reads month" in celebration of Halloween. And it is a frightening play, chilling, in fact. I don't know why it took me so long to finish it; it's a wonderful play.

Here are two of my favorite passages:

By the pricking of my thumbs
Something wicked this way comes.
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks.
(Second Witch, as Macbeth approaches)

She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
(Macbeth, about Lady Macbeth)

Reading this play reminded me of the great Canadian TV series, "Slings and Arrows." I think I must watch the series again!

20klobrien2
Modificato: Gen 25, 2014, 9:47 am



5. The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope

I joined in a read of this little novel for my sole TIOLI read this month. It was a fun read, full of swashbuckling heroes, and romantic instances.

The Upper Midwest has been dealing with some very cold temperatures, so this passage struck straight to my heart:

...Cold not only saps a man's courage if he has to die, but impairs his energy if others have to die, and, finally, gives him rheumatics, if it be God's will that he lives.

21klobrien2
Modificato: Feb 2, 2014, 5:14 pm



6. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

The seventh book in The Dresden Files series. Absolutely loved this one! Dresden is once again a hero without a trace of sanctimony or hubris, and the big battle at the end was fantastic. An added bonus is that the books are set in Chicago, one of my favorite cities. Entertaining, uplifting, and very witty.

22scaifea
Feb 8, 2014, 10:48 am

I'd like to get round to the Dresden books soon; so many here love them!

23klobrien2
Feb 9, 2014, 4:51 pm

They are a treat! I hope you get a chance!

24The_Hibernator
Feb 11, 2014, 12:46 pm

Hey Karen! I, too, haven't gotten around to the Dresden books and really, really want to.

25klobrien2
Feb 11, 2014, 7:06 pm

Well, I warn you...I find them addictive! Especially since my library seems to carry all of them in ebook format, and they're hardly ever checked out. I've been finishing one, and then starting the next one. Luckily, there are a lot of them! And Butcher is just about to release a new one, I think!

26klobrien2
Modificato: Feb 12, 2014, 6:54 pm



7. Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Well, not my favorite of the series, but I love the series. A literal "storm of misfortune" follows several sets of characters: Clare/Russ, Hadley/Kevin, Lyle and the crew back in Miller's Kill, until they all meet up at the end for the grand finale.

I didn't like how the author brought the book to its conclusion--there were some major developments right at the end, and it felt like the book was unfinished because of that. Maybe she means to set up the next book (is there to be a next book?) but it was really annoying and unfulfilling. Oh, well, if Spencer-Fleming does write more, I'm sure that I'll read them, and, if she doesn't, I'll reread the earlier books in the series.

I rated this a 3.5 (out of 5), but I don't think I'd recommend this particular book to anyone new to the series.

27klobrien2
Modificato: Feb 20, 2014, 4:53 pm



8. Daughter of Empire: My Life as a Mountbatten by Pamela Hicks

Excellent memoir/history/autobiography of Lady Pamela Hicks, who "had a front-row seat at many extraordinary historical events," such as the release of India from British rule and the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II. Very nicely-written and quite interesting; Hicks comes across as someone who would be a delight to know. I'm finding "recent" British history more and more interesting, especially the reign of Elizabeth II--she's a fascinating person!

28klobrien2
Modificato: Feb 20, 2014, 4:53 pm



9. The Decipherment of Linear B by John Chadwick

I first heard about this book from a 75-book-er, but I can't determine who it was. Several of the group HAVE read it, so thank you all for the tip! I've long been fascinated with ancient civilizations, and this book fit the bill.

The book was written for the layperson, but there are sections that have to be a little technical--I tried to puzzle through them, and for the most part, succeeded (phew!). I loved Chadwick's kind homage to his friend and colleague, Michael Ventris, the person who discovered the key to Linear B. I also really enjoyed Chadwick's writing, and his humor and wit. I found the descriptions of the work that is done to decipher a language (or a cipher, for all that) very interesting.

Cryptography is a science of deduction and controlled experiment; hypotheses are formed, tested and often discarded. But the residue which passes the test grows and grows until finally there comes a point when the experimenter feels solid ground beneath his feet...The code "breaks." Perhaps this is best defined as the point when the likely leads appear faster than they can be followed up.

I found the little book challenging at times, but eminently readable and quite a lot of fun.

29klobrien2
Modificato: Feb 25, 2014, 4:32 pm



10. A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel

What a great kid's book! Three times through the alphabet, with some really advanced and interesting vocabulary (some of the words I'd never seen before). Creatively and humorously drawn, and a message of caring for each other. Just a top-notch kid book. I'm getting a copy to give to my 2-year-old grandson, and I'm sure he'll love it.

And there is a "Bad Kitty" series! Off I go to find more books in the series.

30klobrien2
Modificato: Feb 25, 2014, 4:32 pm



11. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher

Book 8 in the Dresden Files series. Again, a very entertaining read, with lots of supernatural characters and happenings, and a message of good winning over evil. I am loving these books!

31klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 4, 2014, 6:21 pm



12. Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

I've always liked Jim Gaffigan, and have thought him a really good comedian. Now I find that he's also a very good writer, and just as funny in writing as in real time. This book is mostly a memoir of his life as husband and father to five kids, all under the age of nine. The family lives in NYC in a small two-bedroom apartment (a 5th-floor walkup!) Very funny, quite intelligent, and touching at times.

I'd give this a strong recommendation for anyone. If you're not so much a fan of kids, don't worry--this humor works for almost everyone, I think!

32klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 4, 2014, 6:21 pm



13. Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel

This is the first of the "Bad Kitty" books, and I liked it just as much as the Bad Kitty Christmas book. This was an "Easy Reader" book; I think the series moves into Juvenile chapter books after this one, which is okay--it allows kids to continue with a character into the brave new world of non-picture books. I see a lot of these books in my 2-year-old grandson's future!

33klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 4, 2014, 6:21 pm



14. The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin; read by Meryl Streep

I read this book last year, and loved it then. People on LT were saying how wonderful the audio version of the book was, and I heartily concur. Although I loved Toibin's writing, his creativity, and bravery, Meryl Streep's reading makes the words sing. It was a real treat to listen to (and didn't take much time--only three hours).

34klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 5, 2014, 1:54 pm



15. Poor Puppy by Nick Bruel

Another in this delightful set of books about "Bad Kitty." Lots of fun, and now not only is the alphabet being taught, but numbers are too! Features of this book include clever and colorful drawings, excellent vocabulary, and a travelogue of sorts of places around the world. This book is jam-packed with learning and fun!

35klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 9, 2014, 2:24 pm



16. The Christmas Wish Lori Evert by Lori Evert

Beautiful book by wife and husband Lori Evert and Per Breiehagen. Evert wrote the story, Breiehagen took the pictures, and their daughter Anja starred. Fantastic photos of animals of the northern climes (polar bear, musk oxen, reindeer,...), lots of ice and snow, and a sweet little story involving Anja's quest to become one of Santa's helpers. Charming, charming little book.

36klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 9, 2014, 2:51 pm



17. The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family by Josh Hanagarne

I work in a public library, and I found myself most drawn to the author's writing about being a librarian in a Salt Lake City public library. But that is only facet of his writing here. Hanagarne lives with Tourette's Syndrome and his descriptions are quite informative and enlightening; he also shares insights into growing up Mormon, and as a member of a strong, happy family.

There were some slow spots that I had to push myself to get through (tenets of weight-lifting, e.g.). But the author is so fearless and selfless in describing himself and his life, and that drew my attention and my respect. Hanagarne is also quite witty and poetic at times; reading the book meant constant discovery.

Here are a few of my favorite bits about being a librarian:

like most librarians, I'm not well suited to anything else. As a breed, we're the ultimate generalists. I'll never know everything about anything, but I'll know something about almost everything and that's how I like to live.

I love to tell kids that everything in the library is theirs. "We just keep it here for you." One million items that you can have for free! A collection that represents an answer to just about any question we could ask. A bottomless source of stories and entertainments and scholarly works and works of art. Escapist, fun trash and the pinnacles of the high literary style. Beavis and Butt-Head DVDs and Tchaikovsky's entire oeuvre within ten feet of each other.

37klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 13, 2014, 5:31 pm



18. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley

Another great entry in the Flavia de Luce mysteries. I think I enjoyed this one the best of all; Flavia is maturing, becoming a little more believable even as she stays as sharp and adventurous as always. I found myself crying through a lot of the ending (well, there is a funeral occurring), and there were very welcome bits of humor as well. Lots of mystery and history (and even a little poetry!)

It seems that there is only one book left in the series, yet to be written, I guess. I would like the series to go on and on, but that might be too much to ask.

I love this interchange between Flavia and Dogger:

"What are we going to do, Dogger?"

It seemed a reasonable question. After all he had been through, surely Dogger knew something of hopeless situations.

"We shall wait upon tomorrow," he said.

"But--what if tomorrow is worse than today?"

"Then we shall wait upon the day
after tomorrow."

"And so forth?" I asked.

"And so forth," Dogger said.

38Oberon
Mar 13, 2014, 5:45 pm

>1 klobrien2: So is there a reason for the Lewis chessmen picture?

39klobrien2
Mar 13, 2014, 8:33 pm

I just love the little guys! They have such expression and humor. I'd love to see them in real life someday.

40klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 14, 2014, 4:14 pm



19. One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B. J. Novak

An excellent collection of "short stories" which range from a few lines to several pages in length. I've always thought Novak is funny as an actor and screenwriter, but he is really funny as a writer of fiction as well. Tasty little morsels of fiction, easy to pick up but not so easy to set down. I'd recommend this to anyone.

41klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 20, 2014, 8:20 pm



20. Food Play by Joost Elffers, Saxton Freymann

What a fun little "easy" book! Consisting entirely of photographs of creations made from various fruits and vegetables, this book show amazing creativity and skill in fashioning animals, buildings, ships, whatever...all done with a real sense of humor and play. I would think this book would be handy when discussing emotions and feelings with small children, because of range of expression here is vast.

42klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 26, 2014, 4:23 pm



21. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

I really enjoyed reading this book; it's such a mixture of mythology, American studies, dark humor, and a bit of a thriller besides. It's the kind of book that stays with you for a while. I am so glad that I scored an ebook from the library, because it is a chunkster.

Going to go look for the LT read threads--I guess a lot of people were reading this book at the same time.

43klobrien2
Modificato: Mar 31, 2014, 4:56 pm



22. Pacific Rim: Tales from year Zero by Travis Beacham

Art and I recently watched the movie "Pacific Rim" and I really enjoyed it--any movie that shows female soldiers on an equal footing with their male equivalents has a strong plus on its side. Besides which, I thought the writing, the acting, and the special effects (!) were just marvelous.

This graphic novel is a prequel to the movie, and I found it nicely paced and drawn. A nice science-fiction-ey read for someone who grew up with "Godzilla," etc.

44klobrien2
Modificato: Apr 1, 2014, 11:22 am



23. Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott

Wonderful little book about prayer, the honest and personal kinds of prayer. I love the author's style of writing--clear, full of emotion and truth, funny at times, other times, she'll break your heart. She writes in such a way as to not exclude any denomination or religion; even those who don't believe in "God" can find something to learn here.

I think that I'll be rereading this one from time to time (it's only about 100 small pages). I haven't read any of Lamott's other books, but I'm sure I'll be on the look for them now.

A few of my favorite passages:

Without revelation and reframing, life can seem like an endless desert of danger with scratchy sand in your shoes, and yet if we remember or are reminded to pay attention, we find so many sources of hidden water, so many bits and chips and washes of color, in a weed or the gravel or a sunrise. There are so many ways to sweep the sand off our feet. So we say, "Oh my God. Thanks."

This next one is so appropriate now, as we bring this horribly harsh winter to a close:

When all is said and done, spring is the main reason for Wow. Spring is crazy, being all hope and beauty and glory. She is the resurrection.

45klobrien2
Modificato: Apr 3, 2014, 3:19 pm



24. The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice by Christopher Hitchens

Quite the change of pace from my last read! How the mighty have fallen! I actually experienced a little synchronicity here; Lamott mentioned Mother Teresa in her book, and I'm also currently reading Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright. Scientology is based on one person and his organization, and I really saw similarities with Mother Teresa and her organization. I think this organization-based-on-one-person is always fraught with difficulty and hypocrisy.

Bear in mind that Mother Teresa's global income is more than enough to outfit several first-class clinics in Bengal. The decision not to do so, and indeed to run instead a haphazard and cranky institution which would expose itself to litigation and protest were it run by any branch of the medical profession, is a deliberate one. The point is not the honest relief of suffering, but the promulgation of a cult based on death and suffering and subjection.

Truly horrific.

I liked Hitchens's writing, and it all seemed well-documented and supported. I wouldn't mind reading more of his books.

46klobrien2
Modificato: Apr 4, 2014, 3:51 pm



25. Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book by Grumpy Cat

A real hoot to read, a clever little book "by" one strange-looking cat. Fun for those who love cats and those who don't.

47klobrien2
Modificato: Apr 22, 2014, 11:40 pm



26. The Pirates! In an Adventure with the Romantics by Gideon Defoe

Very funny entry in this silly but smart series. This was probably my favorite of "The Pirates!" adventures, and I smiled throughout, chuckled often, and laughed quite loudly at least a few times.

The Pirate Captain tried to think fast. Should he say it was a cultural exchange? Pretend he hadn't heard? Feign rabies? Before he could come up with a clever answer, he realised his mouth was already talking.

48klobrien2
Modificato: Apr 22, 2014, 11:42 pm



27. White Night by Jim Butcher (#9 of the Dresden Files)

Another very fun episode in this exciting series. In each volume, we see more of the main character, wizard Harry Dresden, almost like an onion being peeled away, layer by layer. Interesting characters and concepts; I can hardly wait to read the next in the series.

There is so much that is unexpected in this series--as an example I give the following passage, which I never would have expected to read in a book about wizards, supernatural creatures, mayhem, and epic battles between good and evil:

There is a primal reassurance in being touched, in knowing that someone else, someone close to you, wants to be touching you. There is a bone-deep security that goes with the brush of a human hand, a silent, reflex-level affirmation that someone is near, that someone cares.

Like I said, unexpected, and a real treat.

49klobrien2
Modificato: Apr 27, 2014, 7:09 pm



28. Betty's Pies Favorite Recipes by Betty Lessard

Excellent cookbook from an iconic place (Betty's Pies) and person. Betty Lessard, the founder of the place. Betty's Pies, on the North Shore of Lake Superior (Two Harbors, Minnesota), has been a treasure of a place for decades. Fantastic pies and food. Great atmosphere and lovely location.

I read a library copy of this cookbook, and I'll be getting my own copy because I plan to try to recreate some of pies and other baked goods whose recipes are given here. Lessard gives quite a bit of "infrastructure," too--how to make the best piecrust. tricks of the trade, ingredient recommendations.

The book is written in a warm, chatty style, and quite a bit of the history of this particular area of the North Shore of Minnesota comes through.

50klobrien2
Modificato: Apr 27, 2014, 7:09 pm



29. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright

I did quite a bit of head-shaking while reading this book, unable to comprehend the outrageousness of Scientology and the cruelty of the church's founder and its past and current leadership. I was glad to have read the book; it was eye-opening, and I want to study the phenomenon further. Lucky for me, the author has included a large bibliography.

I also think I'll look into other books by the author; I really enjoyed his writing style.

51klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 1, 2014, 9:19 pm



30. The Beekeeper's Apprentice: Or On the Segregation of the Queen (Mary Russell Mysteries, #1) by Laurie R. King

I read this on a friend's recommendation (that's a pretty common thing here on LT) and now I'm hooked on the series, I think. The heroine is lovely, ferociously intelligent and clever, young and brave. Her partnering with the fictional Sherlock Holmes is very tasty, and I can't wait to see how the author has that relationship develop. Lots of action, many bits of insight into the historical times and places.

52klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 10, 2014, 7:54 pm



31. All the Pretty Horses (Border Trilogy, #1) by Cormac McCarthy

Finally I finished this one. I don't know why it took me so long. I've read other McCarthy books (or book--The Road) and felt it was well worth the read. I really enjoy McCarthy's style, and he ranks up there with Steinbeck for his "cinematic" description abilities. I am sure that I'll be continuing on with the Border Trilogy.

53klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 10, 2014, 7:55 pm



32. All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome by Kathy Hoopmann

Thanks to Terri (tymfos) for her recommendation of this book. I found it charming and very informative. What a helpful tool for anyone wanting to shed light on "Autism Spectrum" (the new accepted term for the condition). Clear and concise descriptions, and really cute pictures of very cute cats.

p.s. I see that the author has another book, All Dogs Have ADHD -- I'm going to have to locate that one!

54klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 10, 2014, 7:56 pm



33. Delta of Venus: Erotica by Anais Nin

I finally finished this book--I think I've been working at it since last year! It reminds me of Fifty Shades of Gray; I got about 30 pages into that book and no further. I'm not a prude, but all of the scenes here seemed so tawdry and unhealthy. But it is listed as one of the 1001 Books, so I kept plugging away. I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone for either its content or style; maybe as a curiosity.

55klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 10, 2014, 7:57 pm



34. The Mystery of Meerkat Hill by Alexander McCall Smith

An installment in the "Precious Ramotswe" series for young readers. Lovely book, with the very likable young Precious Ramotswe of the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" fame, but here as a young girl. Sweetly written (I really like McCall Smith's style), with beautiful block-cut illustrations.

56klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 13, 2014, 2:38 pm



35. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

I guess I'm regressing into childhood with my reads a little bit lately! Although, after reading Delta of Venus maybe I'm just doing some brain-cleaning. Hah!

I saw this little treasure come through as someone's requested item, and I added my request. It's a very funny book, with wonderful drawings which look as if they were made with the crayons (the protagonists of the book).

I think a five or six-year-old would find this book hilarious. I'll have to wait a few years before I share it with my grandson. The book is not just about color crayons who have issues, but also: self-worth, "workers'" rights, identifying emotions and feelings, and creativity. Lots of good stuff.

p.s. I got a Barnes and Noble gift card for Mothers' Day, and spent it on a few new Nook books-- Hild by Nicola Griffith, and The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Both books are chunksters, and my wrists and hands will be a lot more comfortable with the E-book versions. Both books are highly in demand at my libraries, so now I feel free to take my time with the reading.

57scaifea
Mag 14, 2014, 6:46 am

>56 klobrien2: This is one of Charlie's current favorites! So many giggles every time we read it. The Peach crayon is his favorite, for obvious reasons...

58klobrien2
Mag 15, 2014, 5:14 pm

This doesn't surprise me at all, Scaifea! The peach crayon was just hilarious; I can see kids just rolling on the floor! How old is Charlie now? What age would appreciate this book the most?

Thanks for stopping by to chat! I read your thread all the time (it's one of the busiest threads here, but so much fun and so interesting). See you around!

59klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 15, 2014, 5:21 pm



36. Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth

Loved this book, as I am loving the television series made from the books. I'm so glad to see the consistency of the TV series to the book. I've gotten the other two in the series lined up on my Nook already.

I love the clear sense of history that comes through in the reading. The author seems to have such a love for the people she's describing, and she describes them in such a vibrant way.

I'd add my voice to those recommending this book, wholeheartedly, to anyone.

60klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 17, 2014, 12:37 pm



37. Bad Kitty Meets the Baby by Nick Bruel

A "Bad Kitty" book aimed at the grade school crowd. I love the humor, the drawings, and the great messages behind these books. This one is a lot of fun.

61klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 28, 2014, 1:24 pm



38. The Book of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks: A Celebration of Creative Punctuation by Bethany Keeley

A great assemblage of "creative punctuation" photos with commentary, based on a blog by the author created with input from a cast of...hundreds. Guaranteed to bring smiles, if not guffaws.

62scaifea
Mag 19, 2014, 7:46 am

>58 klobrien2: Charlie is 5, and that seems to be a perfect age for this book!

63klobrien2
Mag 19, 2014, 3:42 pm

>62 scaifea: That's what I was thinking. So I'll have to wait a few years until I show it to Riordan.

Thanks!

64klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 28, 2014, 1:35 pm



39. Call the Midwife: Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth

Really enjoyed this second installment of the "Midwife" books. This one seemed to focus on the non-procreating residents of the East End--the elderly. Again, the description of history and location was very strong and evocative. I'm hurtling right into the third book of the series, Call the Midwife: Farewell to the East End.

The author spent a good part of the book with the character of Sister Monica Joan, a nurse and nun who had given the most part of her life to midwifery and taking care of the neighborhood residents. Here's one of my favorite passages from her:

"Were you a suffragette?" I asked.

"Bah! Suffragettes. I've no time for suffragettes. They made the biggest mistake in history. They went for equality. They should have gone for power!"


This book, this series of books, the television series based on the books: they're all worth any time you expend on them.

65klobrien2
Modificato: Mag 28, 2014, 2:38 pm



40. What Makes This Book So Great by Jo Walton

A fantastic "book about books." I read Walton's novel, Among Others a few years back: one of the great things about that book was the list of additional things to read the reader could pull out of it. Walton has such an enthusiasm and love for books; it was almost funny to read how so many books were, "one of my favorite books."

The current book is made of blog entries pulled from Tor.com (looks like a great site! I've got it "favorited" now); Walton was asked to post entries about her re-reads of books, mainly SF or science fiction. The chapters in "What Makes..." are literally blog posts, dated and titled.

The way the book is set up makes it easy to "gulp" or "sip" one's way through it. Whole sections of posts are devoted to Lois McMaster Bujold, and, later, Stephen Brust. Most entries are about a single book; many entries approach the idea of reading or analyzing SF in a more metaphysical view.

Throughout, we have Walton's great writing style and wit. It's like reading the Library Thing reviews by someone that you really trust to tell you the truth about books, someone you can compare notes with, or who can point you in the direction of an author or a book that is new to you. Like little bits of delicious book candy!

Highly recommended by me!

Here is a list of the books that this read has added to my TBR (groan):

Against the Fall of Night (Arthur C. Clarke) ("the poetry of deep time")
Tam Lin (Pamela Dean) ("college as Magic Garden")
Jasmine Nights S.P. Somtow
The Bone People (Keri Hulme)
Miles Vorkosigan Series (Lois McMaster Bujold)
Shards of Honor
Barrayar
Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula K. LeGuin)
Midnight's Children (Salman Rushdie)
The Dragon Waiting (John M. Ford) ("subtly twisted history")
Household Gods (Turtledove and Tarr)
Corrupting Dr. Nice (John Kessel) ("screwball comedy time travel")
To Say Nothing of the Dog (Connie Willis) ("academic time travel")
Gaudy Night (Dorothy Sayers)
Perfect Circle (Sean Stewart) ("Texan ghost fantasy")
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (Susannah Clark)
Nova (Samuel Delany) ("overloading the senses")
The Broken Sword (Poul Anderson)
Orbital Resonance (John Barnes)

66cbl_tn
Mag 28, 2014, 5:25 pm

>65 klobrien2: That's a great list! I've read Gaudy Night and Midnight's Children and really liked both of them. I hope to read To Say Nothing of the Dog sometime this year.

67jolerie
Mag 28, 2014, 6:58 pm

A book about books. So dangerous!! Left hand of Darkness was an interesting read with a fascinating premise. I have Midnight's Children waiting in the TBR mountain.

68klobrien2
Mag 29, 2014, 5:01 pm

Hi, cbl_tn and jolerie! I've already started obtaining some of the books, and put them on my LT "To read" list. I was a great SF reader in my teenage years, a long time ago (!), and I'm thrilled to be reading it again, especially with the guidance of someone like Jo Walton (and yourselves!)

Thanks for stopping by to chat!

69klobrien2
Modificato: Giu 5, 2014, 4:56 pm



41. Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres

Such a funny, pleasant read. Just as affirming and full of life as the author. It's a really quick read, just 241 pages, with lots of white space. Easily pick-up-able, not so easy put-down-able.

DeGeneres is very easy to read, and I think she is hilarious, but in a very nice way. She is sometimes quite silly, so if you are more sophisticated, the book might not be your cup of tea. But for the rest of us, this one's a charmer.

Here's a sample:

But it's failure that gives you the proper perspective on success. When I came out of the closet on my sitcom I knew it was a risk, but I took the risk and look what happened. It got canceled. Not the point. The point is, I got back on my horse--when I found out my sitcom got canceled, I happened to be riding one of those toy horses outside the supermarket--and I pushed forward. I said, "You'll show them, Ellen!" And I did another sitcom. Guess what happened? That got canceled, too. Not the point, either. The real point is that I kept going and now I appreciate my success more than I could have ever imagined. I look back on the days of doing stand-up in a basement for three friends--well, one friend and two mice. Okay, three mice. And I am so proud of where I am today. So let that be a lesson, kids who get an F in math. Ellen says you're doing the right thing. You're welcome, parents.

And here's "Haiku":

Haiku sounds like I'm
Saying hi to someone named
Ku. Hi, Ku. Hello.

70klobrien2
Modificato: Giu 19, 2014, 9:01 pm



42. Call the Midwife: Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth

A treat to read, with a bit more education and insight into the life and times of mid-20th-century London. Reading these books has almost felt like reminiscing, as I've watched the first two seasons of the British "Call the Midwife." I'm very much looking forward to watching the third season!

I was a little surprised that the TV show has tidied up a little of real gruesomeness that the book laid out in full truth for the reader. These few instances of truly awful happenings were too much for even current-day television to portray, so it is completely understandable to me why it was done.

But, for the vast majority, the show followed the book quite closely, which I was relieved to see.

I had marked a few passages that I really loved in the library e-book that I read, but my hold on the e-book expired today, and it's gone from my Nook. I want to tell you, however, that I have really enjoyed the "Midwife" books, and would recommend them to anyone. They're about life, about women (of all ages), and about survival amongst the harshest circumstances.

71klobrien2
Modificato: Giu 19, 2014, 9:05 pm



43. Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Gosh, I love this book and this series! The third book, The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness is due out in July, so I'm doing a reread of the first two books. There is so much good stuff here that it hardly seems that I've read the books before.

72klobrien2
Modificato: Giu 19, 2014, 9:02 pm



44. The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War by Robert Kirkman

This series of graphic novels has gotten steadily grittier, going away from the zombie/human conflict to more conflict between various "generals" and establishments of humans. I appreciate so much that these books are in black and white because they we would be gruesome in color!

73klobrien2
Modificato: Lug 1, 2014, 3:26 pm



45. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

I find myself a real Vonnegut fan. This little book read so easily, but I often found myself rereading to find all of the "juice" that a particular passage might contain. Lots of humor, satire, and warning about the recklessness of fooling with nature.

One of my favorite passages:

As Bokonon says: "Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God."

And, another, special for bibliophiles:

I turned to Castle the elder. "Sir, how does a man die when he's deprived of the consolations of literature?"

"In one of two ways," he said, "putrescence of the heart or atrophy of the nervous system."

"Neither one very pleasant, I expect," I suggested.

"No," said Castle the elder. "For the love of God, both of you, please keep writing!"


74The_Hibernator
Giu 26, 2014, 4:52 pm

Hey Karen! You're really pumping through those books. There are quite a few of those that are on my ever-growing queue. :)

75klobrien2
Giu 26, 2014, 8:14 pm

Hi, Rachel! How are you? I don't know, my reading pace is down, but I am enjoying my reading. I'm doing more non-fiction reading (thanks to the History/Science/Religion group), but that takes me a little longer.

So glad to see you here! I check your thread frequently!

76klobrien2
Modificato: Lug 1, 2014, 3:40 pm



46. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut

The American Author's Challenge's June author has been Kurt Vonnegut, and I have so much enjoyed my little Vonnegut-fest. It continues, as I'll be starting Mother Night as soon as I finish a few other books.

This book was a sweet little tribute to the title character, and a commentary on wealth and poverty in America, I guess.

I enjoy Vonnegut's writing style, his wit, his satire. He seems so truly an American writer, whatever that means.

In rereading the prior paragraphs, I realize that I sound rather wishy-washy. I think this is because Vonnegut requires the reader to digest what they've read, to figure out what it means. And I'm still in the process of doing that!

And, here a few samples that I cared enough about to mark for further "processing":

"You gave up everything a man is supposed to want, just to help the little people, and the little people know it. God bless you, Mr. Rosewater. Good night."

"Improving your minds as usual, I see," Fred observed. He said it with the lightness of fruitcake.


Beautiful!

77klobrien2
Modificato: Lug 1, 2014, 3:52 pm



47. The Rings of Saturn by W. G. Sebald

And, here, another deep, dense book that I'll be ruminating over, and for a long time.

The book purports to be kind of a travel reminiscence, the author doing some walking through Suffolk in England.

But it is so much more than that. It is history (mainly regarding Great Britain's colonialism throughout the world), it is a grieving memorial to lost friends of the author, it is beautiful, beautiful prose that shifts between reality and unreality. The book circles, intertwines, and returns to prior topics. The author refers to, "the ghosts of repetition." There are layers upon layers. The author will suddenly switch to first person, in the voice of his character, thankfully flagging the fact to help keep the reader on track.

The book is also very visual. Strange, sometimes eerie photographs and drawings (a la Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children) are placed throughout the book. A sense of dreaming follows one all through the ten lovely chapters of this book.

This book is definitely worth a reread or ten. I can thoroughly understand why it made it to the 1001 Books list.

78The_Hibernator
Lug 4, 2014, 2:37 pm

Yeah, the Religion/History/Science group is really nice. Used to be pretty active in it. Hopefully now that I'm online more, I'll be active again. :)

79klobrien2
Lug 7, 2014, 5:19 pm

Hi, Rachel--thanks for stopping by!

I've still got some reading to do to catch up with old Religion/History/Science reads! I like them enough to hang onto them, but I think I need to bump them up on my list of priorities!

80klobrien2
Modificato: Lug 7, 2014, 9:27 pm



48. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

This is my second re-read of the book (so, my third time through). I am reading the first two books in the trilogy, looking forward with bated breath for the release of the third book, The Book of Life, coming out later this month.

I still am fascinated with the mix of history, the supernatural, love story, literature,...what have you. Harkness is a clear and concise writer (even though the books are chunksters, I don't think there is wasted verbiage. It's been as much a pleasure to read this time as the first two times.

81klobrien2
Modificato: Lug 7, 2014, 9:36 pm



49. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I think I might be one of the last people on earth to read this book (well, at least on LT). It seems that this is a book that you either love or hate. I am in the first category, having completed the book. If you had asked me earlier in my read, I don't know what I would have said.

I think the book is a little too long, but I think I know why it was necessary. My feelings toward the characters went a couple of evolutions during my read, and probably the author needed the space and time for that to happen.

Good summer read, and I'm glad to have finally read Gone Girl.

82klobrien2
Modificato: Lug 17, 2014, 7:54 pm



50. A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King

This is the second book in the Mary Russell Mysteries. A nice mix of history, mystery, and romance. I love the relationship between Mary and Sherlock Holmes, her mentor/best friend/something more? Looking forward to continuing with the series.

83klobrien2
Modificato: Lug 17, 2014, 8:02 pm



51. Codex Seraphinianus by Luigi Serafini

Strange, beautiful book. Originally published in 1981, recently republished in a gorgeous, large-page edition. The whole book is such quality, it's a pleasure to peruse.

But it's so hard to explain what the book is. It looks like an encyclopedia. But the graphics are all surreal, nonsensical, although all well-done and gorgeous. The "writing" is an unknown language, full of swirls and squiggles.

The book was a lot of fun to look at (not read, as such). I found a copy at a nearby library, and I'd certainly recommend borrowing a copy. I can't imagine owning it!

Thanks to Smiler69 for bringing this to my attention!

84klobrien2
Modificato: Lug 19, 2014, 10:38 am



52. The Walking Dead Volume 20: All Out War Part 1 by Robert Kirkman, et al.

And, now for something completely different...

I've really enjoyed this series of graphic novels. I stopped keeping up with the television series of the same name, but I've continued reading these books. They still are quite violent and gloomy, but their focus is not the zombies, but the political struggles and now, war, between the surviving groups of humans.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but the drawing is excellent, and the story is compelling.

85klobrien2
Modificato: Lug 19, 2014, 10:38 am



53. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

I'm coming to the conclusion that the best books, the most innovative, the most memorable, are also quite difficult to describe.

This book is hard to describe. It reads as a dialogue between two characters, Kublai Khan and Marco Polo. The Khan is at the end of his days as emperor; Polo is recounting a series of vignettes about cities that he has visited (and there are a lot of them (55, I believe)).

The description of these cities is wonderful. The author tells us of such fabulous, surreal places that you feel your imagination stretch even as you read. I often found myself with a smile on my face during the reading.

So, this is a book about cities (civilization?). It's also about life, especially from the end-of-life point of view. It's not a long book, but it is the kind of book that you could read again and again and find something new each time. This one will stay with me for a long time.

86klobrien2
Modificato: Lug 26, 2014, 7:42 am



54. Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut

I am really enjoying the American Author Challenge that msf59 is hosting this year. June's chosen author was Kurt Vonnegut. I've read a number of Vonnegut books, even some in my youth (a few years back!) but his writing really appeals to me now, as a late middle-aged person who grew up in the '60s and '70s.

Mark (msf59) had really enjoyed Mother Night, and this prompted me to read it. I really liked it. The hero of the story has been charged with betraying his country as a propaganda writer for Nazi Germany, and the evidence does weigh heavily against him. But what is the reality of his life? Was he, in fact, an American spy, who served his country where he found himself?

There is humor (Vonnegut's ironic, somewhat twisted kind of humor) in this book; it's a love story; it's an anti-war book; it is very sad, and I did cry at the end.

Some great quotes:

We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.

...in short words that sounded like ball bearings being dropped into wet gravel...

Where's evil? It's that large part of every man that wants to hate without limit, that wants to hate with God on its side. It's that part of every man that finds all kinds of ugliness so attractive.

87calm
Lug 27, 2014, 9:19 am

Great reviews Karen - I really should try Calvino someday, I like the sound of that one.

88klobrien2
Lug 27, 2014, 4:33 pm

>87 calm: Hi, calm!

Invisible Cities was strange, but beautiful. And it's not a huge book, so it's not a great commitment of precious reading time (!)

Thanks for stopping by!

89klobrien2
Modificato: Ago 1, 2014, 8:32 pm



55. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

I liked this one, almost as much as I liked the first book in the American Gods series, American Gods (surprise, surprise).

Gaiman truly has a gift for writing clear, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking stories about people. Or, in this case, gods.

FictFact has a "1.5" volume listed for this series, a short novel/long short story called The Monarch of the Glen. (The touchstone is coming up incorrectly on LT). I've got a collection home from the library that contains the story, so I'll be diving into that fairly quickly. The collection is called Legends II: New Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy and it looks terrific, although I think I only want to read the Gaiman right now.

90Oberon
Ago 4, 2014, 11:41 am

>89 klobrien2: the short story The Monarch of the Glen is included in Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman as well. Not sure if there is a difference between them.

91klobrien2
Ago 4, 2014, 7:16 pm

Hi, Oberon! I'm sure The Monarch of the Glen is the same between the two collections. And I read the story in one quick session (it's only about 40 pages long) and truly enjoyed it. It's a nice follow-up to American Gods; I would strongly recommend reading American Gods before TMofG.

Thanks for visiting!

92klobrien2
Modificato: Ago 5, 2014, 6:17 pm



56. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Twain really excelled at describing the "place" of the small towns along the Mississippi in the prior century. He had an ear for the way people talked that makes it a joy to read his dialogue. It is painful for a modern reader to encounter the racist language and thinking that Twain describes. I grimaced internally every time I encountered one of the "n" words that so thickly pepper this book.

But the book is also a great depiction of the times, and of the friendship between the remarkable Huck Finn and the runaway slave, Jim. Great characterizations in this book! Also, great descriptions of the physical location.

I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead. The stars were shining, and the leaves rustled in the woods ever so mournful; and I heard an owl, away off, who-whooing about somebody that was dead, and a whippowill and a dog crying about somebody that was going to die; and the wind was trying to whisper something to me, and I couldn't make out what it was, and so it made the cold shivers run over me.

93klobrien2
Modificato: Ago 16, 2014, 6:14 pm



57. American Gods: The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman

Great follow-up to American Gods. I read the short story as contained in Legends II: New Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy (the "Legends II" series looks like a fantastic set of shorter works of fantasy; I certainly have marked it for future reading).

94klobrien2
Modificato: Ago 16, 2014, 6:18 pm



58. Inferno by Dan Brown

Fun, "beach" read that I received as a gift a LONG time ago. I have read other Dan Brown books, and find them very entertaining. This one uses Dante's Inferno as a framework, and now I feel compelled to go read at least that portion of Divine Comedy.

This book is relatively fast-paced, nice and twisty, with a plot that leaves you unsure of who is the "good guy" and who, the "bad."

95klobrien2
Modificato: Ago 19, 2014, 8:31 pm



59. Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen

I really like Quindlen's writing. She writes simply about complicated things, giving insight into situations common to many of us.

The hero of this story is a late-middle-aged (though young at heart and in body) photographer, who is caught in the "sandwich" of caring for her aging parents while still trying to help out her son. Her world-class standing as a photographer has lessened, and she moves to the country, subletting her apartment in an attempt to make ends meet.

This book is about her life in the new world of the country, the people she meets there, her relationship with her parents, son, and ex-husband. There is a beautiful love story (or two!).

It's a funny thing, hope. It's not like love, or fear, or hate. It's a feeling you don't really know you had until it's gone.

Highly recommended!

96klobrien2
Modificato: Ago 19, 2014, 8:31 pm



60. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain

A chilling noir love story/crime story. Wonderful writing, with succinct and evocative dialogue and description. I'll definitely be looking for Double Indemnity and Mildred Pierce (also by the author.

97klobrien2
Modificato: Ago 21, 2014, 2:55 pm



61. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell

I really like Gladwell's style: he writes so clearly, and his goal seems to be to explain and illuminate rather than impress. And his sense of humor pops through all over.

I loved all of the history in this book: the story of David and Goliath, of course, but some other areas of study were Northern Ireland during the Troubles, Birmingham, AL, during the mid-20th century race riots, even France during the Vichy regime. Although Gladwell used people from these historical situations to present his ideas, so much in this book can be used in everyday life: for example, the seeming disadvantage to David (Goliath's size) that can actually work as an advantage (because David was using a sling, he could stay out of Goliath's reach). Not that we, in modern day, would be fighting many battles involving slings and swords. But there will always be battles to be fought.
Fascinating stuff!

I'd recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

98klobrien2
Modificato: Ago 26, 2014, 6:19 pm



62. Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors by Nicholas Wade

I have been working, off and on, at getting this book read since the beginning of the year, I think. And I really enjoyed the read! Lots of interesting ideas to ponder here (e.g., movement of modern humans throughout the world) and many concepts that I want to pursue (use of linguistics to trace history).

Note to self: read something by Joseph H. Greenberg (linguistics theorist).

The writing was well-organized and clear, but scientific concepts are sometimes dense and difficult to digest. That's my excuse, and I'm sticking with it.

I really enjoyed the book, and I'm loving the non-fiction trend that I'm having this summer.

Here's one of my favorite quotes from this book:

...early modern humans were becoming tamer.

And who, exactly, was domesticating them? The answer is obvious: people were domesticating themselves. In each society the violent and aggressive males somehow ended up with a lesser chance of breeding. This process started some 50,000 years ago, and, in Wrangham's view, it is still in full spate.

99klobrien2
Modificato: Ago 27, 2014, 2:15 pm



63. A Letter of Mary by Laurie R. King

The third installment in the Mary Russell Mysteries. I just love the combination of love story, mystery, academia, history,...all in one neat package. Top-notch female heroine/sleuth. I definitely will be continuing on with the series, and there are many more volumes to read.

I just loved this dialogue between Mary and her husband, Sherlock:

"Is there a telephone at the house of Billy's cousin?"

"You sound like a poor translation out of the French, Russell. But yes, there is a telephone at the house of the cousin of my friend. Utilize
chez, feminine singular, masculine singular."

"And to his wife the unwashed tramp will telephone, is that not so?"

"But yes, with regularity the tramp his wife in the boarding house will telephone."

"
Merci, monsieur.

"
De rien, madame."

And this quote:

The dead have a claim on us even heavier than that of the living, for they cannot hear our explanations, and we cannot ask their forgiveness.

100klobrien2
Modificato: Set 7, 2014, 3:33 pm



64. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

This book will stay with me for a long time. It has some very strong messages, about family, and animal rights, and I was deeply moved by it. I found it very well-written, and I loved the way the author keeps the timeline jumping back and forth--that's how memory is, sometimes--not linear.

Highly recommended!

Here are a few "pearls" that I made a point of writing down during my read:

We are so excited that, in the strangely illuminating phrase my mother favors, we're completely beside ourselves.

When I run the world, librarians will be exempt from tragedy. Even their small sorrows will last only for as long as you can take out a book.

101klobrien2
Modificato: Set 7, 2014, 6:52 pm



65. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I've read (and enjoyed) the Dan Brown books that I've read. The Lost Symbol wasn't my favorite of his books: there were a lot of interesting facts about American history and the Masons, to be sure. The very long book (too long, at over 600 pages) had the requisite creepy villain, a hero (Robert Langdon, "symbologist"), and several people who interact with each other, and about whom you aren't really sure--are they good? are they bad? until the very end.

But, then...Brown keeps going! There's been a very satisfying ending, but the book goes on for another thirty pages, discussing the Masons, etc. It was disconcerting.

However, Brown is great at this type of conspiracy/history/spooky mystery. It was very entertaining. If you've liked other of Brown's books, you'll probably like this one.

To live in the world without becoming aware of the meaning of the world is like wandering about in a great library without touching the books.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. (Arthur C. Clarke)


102klobrien2
Modificato: Set 17, 2014, 2:37 pm



66. The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

"Bewitched" had provided my mother's generation with their supernatural primer. For mine it was "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Whichever creatures had introduced Joss Whedon to our world had a lot to answer for.

Fear had also choked out any desire to work magic. It had been my crutch and my cloak, keeping me from exercising my power. Fear had sheltered me from the curiosity of others and provided an oubliette where I could forget who I really was: a witch.


The third and final book in the All Souls Trilogy. I've really enjoyed this trilogy, with its blend of supernatural, history, and love story. I'm sad that there won't be another installment in the series, but I've already reread the first two books, and they all are eminently re-readable.

I'm interested to see what the author will get up to next...she can't be done with fiction, can she? (she's a scholar, and has concentrated in the non-fiction side of things).

103klobrien2
Modificato: Ott 2, 2014, 5:01 pm



67. Small Favor by Jim Butcher

The tenth "Dresden Files" book; an enjoyable and action-packed read, as always. I love how the earthly, heavenly, and supernatural worlds meet and percolate in these books.

I also love Butcher's wit and writing--the books are full of clever and funny writing. Here are some of my favorites from this book:

"Per diem?" I told her. "Hell, my bank account is thinner than a tobacco lobbyist's moral justification. I'll go hourly."

I kayaked down a logic cascade as I spoke.

We drank together, and my tongue decided that any other brew it had ever had would probably be a bitter disappointment from this day forward. Too many flavors to count blended together into something I couldn't describe if I had a week to talk about it. I'd never had anything like it. It was God's beer.

104klobrien2
Modificato: Ott 2, 2014, 5:02 pm



68. Son by Lois Lowry

Wonderful capstone to The Giver Quartet. Beautiful, believable writing of this dystopic world. Claire, the hero of this story, is one of my favorites of the series.

And the book serves as a winding-up, a tying-together of the series, much as MaddAddam did for Margaret Atwood's series.

It's not necessary to read the preceding three books in the series, but it did make for some extra treats in the reading.

105klobrien2
Modificato: Ott 12, 2014, 7:07 pm



69. Asphodel by H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)

Words darting in and out and every word related so that everything you saw and every word you say relates, weaves on to another.

"Is the Dalton crazy?" "Well not any more apparently than the rest of them. She's a little cleverer that's all. When a woman in that set, is clever (brilliantly clever) the husbands take quick action."

Why did they all make such amazing statements, nothing sacred, they were all so brilliant. Pictures, statues, poems, people. They were all so brilliant.

There are no fields of asphodel this side of the grave.


Well, I read this book because it's on the 1001 Books list, and it was relatively short in length. But, MAN! the writing is dense and slow-going at times. It's almost as dense as poetry, and I know that one could spend many hours puzzling the book out. The book is a roman a clef (real persons, in disguise), almost a memoir of the life of the author, in her circle of friends and acquaintances. It is called a feminist book (I can see that); it has themes of romantic love (notably, of lesbian love); it is set in the years leading up to, and during, WWI.

This is the kind of book that stays with one long after the reading. It is a very-re-readable book, and I may need to find my own copy, since it was difficult to find, and I had to rely on ILL to obtain it. It's too bad that it's so hard to find--it is an amazing book.

106klobrien2
Modificato: Ott 12, 2014, 7:20 pm



70. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

Probably my favorite of the series so far (and that's saying something).

The author has much to say about family, loyalty, and good vs. evil. Our hero grows even greater in knowledge and bravery, keeping a sense of integrity and humor throughout. I'm jumping right into the next in the series, and I wouldn't be surprised to find myself starting the Dresden Files all over again once I'm caught up.

Here's one of my favorite passages:

Ebenezar was an eclectic reader. King, Heinlein, and Clancy were piled up on the same shelves as Hawking and Nietzsche. Multiple variants of the great religious texts of the world were shamelessly mixed with the writings of Julius Caesar and D. H. Lawrence.

Hmmm...does this remind me of my own bookshelves?

107klobrien2
Modificato: Ott 12, 2014, 7:22 pm



71. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, pictures by Betsy Lewin

Lovely little book, and I swear, it is hilarious! A nice picture of working individuals banding together to gain bargaining power!

108klobrien2
Modificato: Ott 12, 2014, 7:23 pm



72. Just Plain Fancy by Patricia Polacco

This one is beautifully drawn, with an important lesson about growing up, tolerance, and beauty in the natural world.

109klobrien2
Modificato: Ott 21, 2014, 2:09 pm



73. Myra Breckinridge by Gore Vidal

A strange, humorous, appalling book. I can understand how the book garnered such controversy, but I still found myself laughing at parts, involved throughout.

Outside of the general story of Myra (it's almost a memoir), this book is kind of a statement about books (novels, memoirs), and especially, movies (the heroine is fixated on the movies of the 40s as models of what movies should be).

The book itself reads very "cinematically"--in fact, it has been made into a movie, and I'm waiting to get a copy through ILL (it seems to be rather rare).

I read this book primarily because it is listed as one of the "1001 Books." I don't know if I would ever have read it otherwise, but I'm glad I did get the chance to read it. I came to hate the main character, but it was a very good read.

110klobrien2
Modificato: Ott 21, 2014, 2:08 pm



74. Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

I'm left with such a feeling of sadness after reading this book, which definitely deserved its place in 1001 Books. Sadness for the characters, for the tragic love story, for the circumstances of life.

This is the first book I've read by Baldwin. I really like his style: his writing provides a great sense of place through description:

The pavements were slick with leavings, mainly cast-off, rotten leaves, flowers, fruit, and vegetables which had met with disaster natural and slow, or abrupt. And the walls and corners were combed with pissoirs, dull-burning, make-shift braziers, cafes, restaurants, and smoky yellow bistros--of these last, some so small that they were little more than diamond-shaped, enclosed corners holding bottles and a zinc-covered counter. At all these points, men, young, old, middle-aged, powerful, powerful even in the various fashions in which they had met, or were meetings, their various ruin; and women, more than making up in shrewdness and patience, in an ability to count and weigh--and shout--whatever they might lack in muscle; though they did not, really, seem to lack much.

111klobrien2
Modificato: Ott 23, 2014, 3:19 pm



75. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

I really enjoyed this book. I think I may be one of the last LT-ers to read it; I don't know that there is anything new that I can tell you, but here goes.

This is a series of short stories that reads almost like a novel; the thing that the stories all have in common is the person of Olive Kitteridge, a wonderfully fully-formed character, with flaws and beauty. Along the way we meet many characters from her life in a small New England coastal town.

Here's a passage that delighted me:

And then as the little plane climbed higher and Olive saw spread out below them fields of bright and tender green in this morning sun, farther out the coastline, the ocean shiny and almost flat, tiny white wakes behind a few lobster boats--then Olive felt something she had not expected to feel again: a sudden surging greediness for life. She leaned forward, peering out the window; sweet pale clouds, the sky as blue as your hat, the new green of the fields, the broad expanse of water--seen from up here it all appeared wondrous, amazing. She remembered what hope was, and this was it. That inner churning that moves you forward, plows you through life the way the boats below plowed the shiny water, the way the plane was plowing forward to a place new, and where she was needed. She had been asked to be part of her son's life.

112drneutron
Ott 23, 2014, 8:37 pm

Congrats on 75!

113klobrien2
Ott 24, 2014, 3:22 pm

Thank you! I've had lots of good reads this year.

114jolerie
Ott 30, 2014, 5:19 pm

Congrats on reaching 75 Karen! Lots and lots of good readings going on your thread! I loved the Lois Lowry books and plan on reading Son hopefully before the end of the year. I have the first 2 Harkness books on my TBR mountain. Just need to find the time to read it and then most likely will purchase the last book in the trilogy at some point. It's good to hear that they are good enough for a reread!

115klobrien2
Ott 31, 2014, 5:59 pm

Definitely, jolerie! Thank you for visiting and stopping to leave a note! It made my day. I will make sure that I'm following your thread (I'm 99.9% sure that I am). See you around!

116klobrien2
Modificato: Nov 4, 2014, 4:12 pm

I've been doing a bit of reading, but no reviews! Ack! That is about the change. I have two books to review (and I'm currently working to finish a handful more), so here goes...



76. The Blind Side by Michael Lewis (touchstones not working)

I'd been intrigued by this work since I read excerpts that were run in the NY Times magazine, years ago.

The book is actually two books in one: the first is the story of Michael Oher and the Tuohy family; the other is the football story of the rise of the strong left tackle, the player who guards the quarterback's "blind side."

I loved the "Michael" portion of the book, found it moving and inspiring. The "football" portion, while interesting and informative, is not really all that interesting to me.

I really liked Lewis's style of writing, and the way he seems to have done his research and then some. Very enjoyable reading, and I will hunt up other books by the author.

Here are some of my favorite passages:

In his first four seasons Bubba's weight jumped around, but the trend line pointed up. Offered many choices between carrots and sticks, Bubba reached every time for a jelly doughnut. (Yikes, I hear that!)

There's an instant before it collapses into some generally agreed-upon fact when a life, like a football play, is all conjecture and fragments and partial views. Everyone wants to know the whole truth but no one possesses it. But Michael Oher already had collapsed into a generally agreed-upon fact: he was a success. The world that had once taken no notice of Michael Oher was now so invested in him that it couldn't afford to see him fail.

117klobrien2
Modificato: Nov 5, 2014, 4:16 pm



77. Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast

A thoroughly amazing read. A beautifully illustrated graphic book with a lot of text to it, this book is so many things: funny, deadly serious, achingly true-to-life, loving, truthful,...Chast is a terrific cartoonist, funny and clever, but the series of drawings of her aged mother near the end of the book broke my heart and brought me to sobbing. These drawings are sacred in their beauty.

The book is so very personal. The author's parents are getting to be very old, and needing her help and care. This is a time of reminiscence and review of their lives, and of Chast's loving and honorable care of her parents at the end of their lives. She doesn't hold back, doesn't try to present herself in a flattering light, she bares her soul.

The book resonated with me so strongly at this point in my life; my father passed on several years ago, we moved my mother to assisted living this past year, bringing her to a new life and dealing with all the detritus of the old life. It has been a long, educational journey. It goes on, as we deal with mom's ongoing health problems and a lifetime's worth of belongings (and Mom is quite the collector of "stuff.") As I read this book, I often felt such identification with what Chast was describing! I will definitely recommend this book to my sisters, and look for copies of her other works. The book was a catharsis for me. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those who are caretaking for their parents.

118klobrien2
Modificato: Nov 5, 2014, 4:20 pm



78. Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

I love this book! Although it was originally published in 1940, I read a "deluxe edition" published by Golden Books in 2001. A sweet, fun little book for early readers.

I sometimes wonder if I should list children's books here, but I really do feel that they have a place (and, it's my list!). I have never been fond of keeping track of page counts, but I do think that it all balances out--I've read some real chunksters this year, and have more to go.

119jolerie
Nov 5, 2014, 4:45 pm

I liked the movie version of The Blind Side. It was encouraging and uplighting, but now I know that it was a book as well. I'm guessing the book came out first?

120klobrien2
Nov 5, 2014, 5:16 pm

Yes, it did. I haven't seen the movie, but my understanding is that it focuses mostly (completely?) on the Michael Oher portion of the book. Which would be an awesome movie--I have to get my hands on that DVD!

Cynical sort that I am, I have such a hard time understanding why the Tuohy family would put themselves so far out there. I think that they are truly very good people.

It's a good read--hope that you get a chance to read it sometime.

Thanks for stopping by!

121scaifea
Nov 6, 2014, 6:50 am

Oh, do list the children's books, please! I love seeing what picture books others enjoy.

122klobrien2
Nov 6, 2014, 3:11 pm

All right, I will! :)

I know that I enjoy seeing all of the books that you're reading, scaifea, including the kid books. It's such a treat for me to catch up on books that I didn't read when I was a kid. And since I have a little grandson now, I can keep them in mind for him. I'd love to be known as "book grandma"!

Thanks for stopping to chat!

123klobrien2
Nov 6, 2014, 3:17 pm

Mark (msf59) just posted the American Author Challenge for next year. OMG (as I think the kids say), I like them all! There are only a few that I've never read (James, Ford), and it will be a thrill to take care of that oversight. It should be a good year for reading!

AAC (2015)

Carson McCullers- January
Henry James- February
Richard Ford- March
Louise Erdrich- April
Sinclair Lewis- May
Wallace Stegner- June
Ursula K. Le Guin - July
Larry McMurtry- August
Flannery O' Connor- September
Ray Bradbury- October
Barbara Kingsolver- November
E.L. Doctorow- December

124scaifea
Nov 7, 2014, 6:52 am

>122 klobrien2: I'd *love* to be a 'book grandma' one of these days, too, but not for a long time, I hope... Ha!

125klobrien2
Modificato: Nov 16, 2014, 11:09 am



79. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

This was a reread for me, but I wanted a refresher before reading the third book in the series, Cress. I loved Scarlet the first time I read it, and loved it just as much the second time. I can't wait to get into Cress.

126klobrien2
Modificato: Nov 16, 2014, 11:11 am



80. Golem by David Wisniewski

I seem to be having a reading festival featuring the legendary created beings, Golems. I'm currently reading The Golem and the Jinni and The Golem of Hollywood, mainly because my turn in my library's ebook queue came up for both of them. I picked up this children's book because I saw it on the library shelving cart that I was working on. I may look for more books about golems! I'm told that they are out there!

This little book is beautiful done with cut paper illustrations. The story is dark and sad, but it comes from the traditional sources. I wonder if it is too violent and sad for your average "easy" reader.

The book ends with a "Note," a wonderful explanation (aimed toward adults) of the concept of the Golem and its history.

Interesting and beautiful little kids book.

127klobrien2
Modificato: Nov 16, 2014, 11:13 am



81. I Could Pee on This: and Other Poems by Cats by Francesco Marciuliano

Well, this is a silly little book, jam-packed with humorous "poems" by cats and cute cat pictures. Very fun to read, kind of a little snack.

Here's a poem called, "Run":

I run across the room
I race across the floor
I dash to this wall
I thought I saw something
I forgot what it was
Now everyone is staring at me
So I run back across the room
I race back across the floor
I dash back to that other wall
So everyone will think
I'm just running laps.

128scaifea
Nov 17, 2014, 6:05 am

>126 klobrien2: I have that one on Charlie's shelves, but I've stuck it up where he can't reach it just yet. I agree that it's a bit dark for little ones, but it is beautiful.

129klobrien2
Nov 20, 2014, 7:26 pm

Good move, scaifea!

Thanks for stopping by!

130klobrien2
Modificato: Nov 20, 2014, 7:37 pm



82. Rabbit, Run by John Updike

What I said about the book on the John Updike AAC thread:

Just finished Rabbit, Run this afternoon. Yes, a sad book, filled with imperfect characters and tragic events. But I can't help feeling empathy with all of the characters (even Rabbit), and love for a few (Rabbit's little boy is a sweetie).

I love Updike's writing. It's very "cinematic," and reminds me of Steinbeck in that way. Also seems very Steinbeck-ian in presenting the not-nice side of humanity.

I'm looking forward to reading more books in the "Rabbit" series.

131klobrien2
Modificato: Nov 24, 2014, 9:16 pm



83. The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Lovely, lovely book. It's a book about books, an assemblage of love stories, a paean to second chances in life.

The words you can't find, you borrow.

We read to know we're not alone. We read because we are alone. We read and we are not alone. We are not alone.

My life is in these books,
he wants to tell her. Read these and know my heart.

We are not quite novels.

The analogy he is looking for is almost there.

We are not quite short stories. At this point, his life is seeming closest to that.

In the end, we are collected works.

132jolerie
Nov 24, 2014, 11:03 pm

Ahhh, TSLoAJF is on my list already and every time I see the fact that it's a book a about books, it gets me all excited! :)

133klobrien2
Nov 26, 2014, 4:14 pm

jolerie, it's a nice quick read, and it pulled me right in and kept me wanting to know what happened next. I hope you get a chance to read it soon!

Thanks for stopping by to chat!

134klobrien2
Modificato: Nov 30, 2014, 5:24 pm



84. Not My Father's Son: A Memoir by Alan Cumming

I've long admired Cumming's acting. It was great to read this book and get another entire look at the person behind the roles. It isn't a masterly book, but it fills the author's need to inspect his childhood and his familial relationships in order to come to terms with an abysmal father, mental illness, and post-traumatic disorder. It was very brave of the author to open up his life to our review.

135klobrien2
Modificato: Nov 30, 2014, 5:23 pm



85. The Golem of Hollywood by Jonathan Kellerman

Strange book, combination of supernatural, mythological, murder mystery, thriller, love story...I really didn't care for it much, but I had to finish it to find out what would happen next.

This was the second item in my Golem Festival: I'm partway through The Golem and the Jinni.

136klobrien2
Dic 1, 2014, 3:01 pm

Paul has gotten the writers established for next year's British Author Challenge. They are looking good, and I plan to play along as time allows.

January : Penelope Lively & Kazuo Ishiguro
February : Sarah Waters & Evelyn Waugh
March : Daphne Du Maurier & China Mieville
April : Angela Carter & W. Somerset Maugham
May : Margaret Drabble & Martin Amis
June : Beryl Bainbridge & Anthony Burgess
July : Virginia Woolf & B.S. Johnson
August : Iris Murdoch & Graham Greene
September : Andrea Levy & Salman Rushdie
October : Helen Dunmore & David Mitchell
November : Muriel Spark & William Boyd
December : Hilary Mantel & P.G. Wodehouse

Thirteenth Month : Bernice Rubens & Aldous Huxley

137klobrien2
Modificato: Dic 8, 2014, 6:53 pm



86. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

This was a reread for me, as I want to read the follow-up, Hollow City and the plot was a little complicated the first time. I found the second time through very enjoyable, with some added insights from having read it once before. I'm very much looking forward to Hollow City.

I do have a criticism of the electronic version of the book that I read (and it's the nature of the ebook reader itself); the pictures (a major design element of this book) weren't as good on my little Nook. It was very hard to make them out, in the electronic format. Maybe if I had a better device!

138klobrien2
Modificato: Dic 22, 2014, 4:34 pm



87. The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café by Alexander McCall Smith

Lovely read in the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series. These books are like a balm for the soul, filled with humor and intelligence, politeness and compassion.

The author has a real gift with dialogue, and also with description of the Zimbabwean locale. Here's an example:

The evening sun, weak now in its final moments, had crowned the large acacia tree in the front garden with its golden, buttery light. Individual branches of the acacia were outlined against the sky. It was a thorn tree and only moderately hospitable to birds, but a Cape dove had settled in it and was looking anxiously about, surveying the world that birds see--the world of leaves and twigs and air. I hope you find your wife, she inwardly wished the bird. I hope you find her.

139klobrien2
Modificato: Dic 22, 2014, 4:34 pm



88. Cress by Marissa Meyer

The best book yet in The Lunar Chronicles. Lots of action, especially in the second half of the book. The first portion did seem to drag a little, and that's why it's taken me so long to get this book read. And it is a little difficult sometimes to keep all of the heroines and their assorted male friends straight--there are quite a few leading characters in this book.

I'm really looking forward to the next book, Winter, due sometime in the coming year!

140klobrien2
Modificato: Dic 27, 2014, 2:20 pm



89. Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman

Wonderful re-read of a book that I read as a young teen: I loved it then, and I loved it now. Kaufman used the device of presenting the story with letters and the other ephemera that the young teacher heroine encountered in teaching her inner city pupils. Very touching and very funny. The movie version (starring Sandy Dennis) was really pretty good, too.

My reread of the book and the rewatching of the movie was in memory of Bel Kaufman, who passed away this year. Thank you, Bel!

One of my favorite quotes from the book: when encountering some huge, insurmountable difficulty, take this advice: "Let it be a challenge to you!"

141jolerie
Modificato: Dic 27, 2014, 2:33 pm

Belatedly wishing you a Merry Christmas Karen!!
I must have accidentally missed your wonderful thread in my rush to get around to everyone.


Looking forward to following your reads next year as well. :)

142klobrien2
Dic 27, 2014, 2:38 pm

Thanks, jolerie! I just joined the 2015 group, and I'll make sure to "star" your thread when I get set up there (I'm thinking that this would be a good January 1 activity!)

Happy new year!

143klobrien2
Modificato: Dic 30, 2014, 6:58 pm



90. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Lovely, sweet re-read of this classic. I'm making it an annual read at Christmas time.

144klobrien2
Gen 5, 2015, 6:52 pm

91. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Loved this story of two fantastical creatures out of place and out of time.

145klobrien2
Modificato: Gen 5, 2015, 6:58 pm

92. Let Him Go by Larry Watson

Wow! Great prose, great depiction of the relationship of the two main characters. Almost epic in its story of the two grandparents going on a journey to find and bring home their grandson. I am a real Larry Watson fan!

146klobrien2
Gen 5, 2015, 6:59 pm

So, I finished the year at 92 books read. It was a very enjoyable reading year, and I'm looking forward very much to the next year. I'll participate to some extent in the Take It Or Leave It challenge, as well as the American Author Challenge #2, and the European Author Challenge.