Morphy's 2011 Reading Journal

Brand new slate for 2011.

Hi Morphy - can't wait to see what you read this year!

I've been posting over in the 75 challenge - how many read here instead of there? I totally forgot to cross-post my reads so far, but if everyone is reading them there, I'll skip it here and just post a link to there. Either way is fine.

I stay out of ALL of the challenge groups.

Okey Doke.

I read 254 books in 2010 for a total of 100,797 pages with an average of 21 books per month and 397 pages per book.

January - 26 books
February - 19 books
March - 26 books
April - 27 books
May - 31 books
June - 17 books
July - 20 books
August - 16 books
September - 14 books
October - 27 books
November - 15 books
December - 16 books

Over the past five years, I typically read the most books in May (average 28) and the least in September (average 14.)

Categories

Fantasy - 109
Science Fiction - 29
Nonfiction - 26
General Fiction - 20
Mystery - 14
Romance, Historical - 13
Horror - 8
Children - 7
Romance, Paranormal- 7
Classic - 5
Spirituality - 4
Romance, Contemporary - 3
YA - 2
Fiction, Historical - 2
Memoir - 1
Graphic Novel - 1
Suspense - 1
Western - 1
Writing - 1

Thirteen percent of the books read in 2010 were non-fiction.

By Century First Published

1000 - 1
1800 - 2
1900 - 111
2000 - 140

By Decade First Published

1900 - 0
1910 - 2
1920 - 1
1930 - 2
1940 - 4
1950 - 2
1960 - 9
1970 - 12
1980 - 34
1990 - 45
2000 - 108
2010 - 32

Borrowed - 1 books
Daily Lit - 2 books
Library - 189 books
Own - 62 books

Of the books I read in 2010, 66 were re-reads.

My average rating for a book was 6.7.

Ratings

10 - 0
9 - 6
8 - 57
7 - 95
6 - 62
5 - 22
4 - 9
3 - 3
2 - 0
1 - 0

The 9's are:

Marley and Me by John Grogan
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
World War Z by Max Brooks

(Re-reads)

Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop
Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey

Dewey
I read books in 29 different Dewey Decimal numbers.

100s - 2
200s - 5
300s - 6
400s - 0
500s - 1
600s - 5
700s - 1
800s - 4
900s - 5

1. Intellectual Devotional Modern Culture by David S. Kidder and Noah Oppenheim

Genre: Non-fiction

Notes: My 2010 bathroom read, TIOLI (Book ranked below 10,000 on LibraryThing Popularity Index - 93,025)

Opinion: Great miniature articles on various modern pop culture topics. There was enough information to feel I learned something, yet not so much I felt drowned in details. Perfect for the couple of minutes on the "throne."

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

2. Pale Demon by Kim Harrison

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Early Reviewer, TIOLI (vowels)

Opinion: (This is a longer than normal review for me since it's for the Early Reviewer program.)

The Hollows is one of my favorite series and Pale Demon didn’t disappoint. There was a lot of action, we learned more about the various characters and the world they live in, and in general, it was a good story. My only real beef is the growing tone of despair and bleakness. I know Harrison isn’t a happily-ever-after author, but she is reminding me of Butcher’s Dresden who never gets a break.

I really liked the look into the demon culture. It filled out the world more as well as the cross-country trip that emphasized that this is not our world with paranormal creatures, but an alternate Earth that has been devastated. This is a point that wasn’t clear in previous books.

A minor quibble - Ivy acted a little out of character and the situation resolved itself with no effort on Rachel’s part. I think the whole thing could have been deleted. It felt like Harrison stuck it in to get some “Ivy-relationship-time.”

This was a stronger entry into the series than her previous, Black Magic Sanction, which got only 6 out of 10 stars.


Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

3. The Shipping News by Annie Proulx

Genre: Fiction

Notes: Read for several lists including Ultimate Reading List, 1001, Making a Literary Life (book), TIOLI (3.8 to 4.2 Star Book - 3.88)

Opinion: I had a hard time rating this one. I like the style. Proulx did an excellent job at setting mood. Yet... yet... I didn't like the characters much. They grated at me. Quoyle squicked me out. I wouldn't want to have him as a friend, much less even know him. The girls were creepy and the aunt seems uncaring. Not a pleasant read. I felt icky when done. (Don't you like all my technical literary terms?)

Rating: 7

4. A Small Furry Prayer by Steven Kotler

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: From ER, TIOLI (Book ranked below 10,000 on LibraryThing Popularity Index - 133,058)

Opinion: A Small Furry Prayer was not what I expected. I expected a warm and fuzzy book like Marley & Me. What I got was a delightful collection of essays on dog behavior, religion, philosophy, death, shamanism, canine/human history, travel, psychology, and face recognition software along with the dog rescue stuff. They all related in some fashion back to dogs, even if on the most tenuous thread. I really liked the journalistic writing style. It wasn’t cold and factual though, he wrote with warmth especially when it came to his wife and the dogs they rescued.

Rating: 8

5. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Genre: Chick Lit

Notes: For Ultimate Reading list

Opinion: The writing was good enough and the story mostly kept my interest but the main character was annoying as hell for the first half of the book - shop, complain about shopping, shop, complain about shopping, shop, complain about shop, etc. At least there was some character growth near the end.

Rating: 6

6. 38936::Immortal in Death by J. D. Robb

Genre: Mystery

Notes: Next in series (3rd), , TIOLI (3.8 to 4.2 Star Book - 4.06)

Opinion: I love the characters and like the writing. The mystery left a lot to be desired. It felt like a throw-away villain with few, if any, clues pointing to who did it.

Rating: 7

7. Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: For the 1001 Fantasy Books to Read Before You Are Turned into a Newt list

Opinion: Moving. Funny. Bloody. Loved "the ancient scholar with a slight character flaw." Didn't get a 10 because it felt a bit episodic, but otherwise a fabulous book.

Rating: 9

As you know, I do follow your posts in the 75 book challenge. I admire Clam's self control. I should have stayed out, too. I spend way too much time reading threads. Wish I could count them as pages read....

but I can't let myself play that game.

I have the 75 Book group on ignore, so thanks for reposting over here, Morphy.

I hope I didn't sound too snarky, Morphy. Thank you for reposting here.

Maggie, it's not self control. There are just too many people over there that I do not know and I honestly don't care what they're reading. I don't have enough time to pick through each thread and find my friends.

You didn't sound snarky at all. I would have reposted just for you. :)

:o)
Thank you...

It is true that friends in the Green Dragon are friends, indeed!

By the way, we've added a new feature this year called the Threadbook. It's a list of links to people's thread by user name you can scan down the list for those you know and star those threads for future reference. The wiki's at http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Groups:75booksin2011#The_Threadbook

I've stopped following the challenge groups as well. They were getting overwhelming. A lot of people I didn't know and a lot starting threads with one message and then disappearing. Way too many to sift through. Reading the threads of friends here is much more satisfying.

I'm another one who only reads the threads about reading in the GD. For various reasons. :)

Thanks Morphy, love the pictures of the covers, especially the Bridge of Birds.

8. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

Genre: Library has it as nonfiction but it is really fictionalized. I was surprised when I did some research on Herriot.

Notes: For the Ultimate Reading List, TIOLI (first book in a series)

Opinion: Cozy little read about a vet starting his career in 1930s Yorkshire. Every chapter is a separate story. While okay for one book, I will need a break before reading the next in the series as I think they could start blending together as the tone of each is so similar. Otherwise, very enjoyable.

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
Misery by Stephen King (Reading all King)
Going to read this as fast as I can and only during the day. Totally freaking me out.
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The sexualizing of a 14 year old is making me uncomfortable. Yes, it was probably accurate for the time, but it's still making me uncomfortable.

On Deck:
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn

9. Misery by Stephen King

Genre: Horror

Notes: Read to complete King bibliography, TIOLI (proper noun)

Summary: An author gets kidnapped and tortured by his "number one fan."

Opinion: I put off reading this for weeks if not months. I was not looking forward to this one at all. The thought of one person torturing another for a full novel was not my idea of a good time. It ended up being one of the best King's I've read so far. My favorite parts were when Paul was alone and either thinking about the past or Annie's behavior. I also liked how he learned about Annie's history. Misery is a character in a novel, a pig, and the tone of the book - this amused me. (I keep thinking of things I liked - how Paul's mind set changed throughout his ordeal, his panic made ME panic.)

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (DailyLit email)
Forgot I had this going via DailyLit email.
Looking for Alaska by John Green (Old 888 challenge)
It's okay so far. Not that absorbing but good enough.

On Deck:
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip

Oooooh - Side Jobs is transiting to my local library for me. Yay!

"The main body of the building is of the time of that highly- overrated woman, Queen Elizabeth." ~ From The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

HA!

10. Looking for Alaska by John Green

Genre: YA

Notes: For old 888 Challenge (Yes, I'm still working on it. HEY! STOP LAUGHING!), TIOLI (proper noun)

Summary: A sophomore boy goes to boarding school - makes and loses friends

Opinion: Writing was good. The pranks were fun. The overall story was a bit of a yawner and far too angst-ridden for me. Probably perfect for the audience it was written for.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (DailyLit email)
This is awesome and will be one of my top books this year.
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn

On Deck:
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip
I, Robot by the good doctor
Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down by Sherrilyn Kenyon

*stifles laughter according to above instructions*

:)

11. Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: My SantaThing gift from 2009 (Again with the laughing, stop it! Sheesh.), TIOLI (first in series)

Summary: Sisters - a witch, a werekitty and a vampire - battle encroaching demon scouts in alternate Seattle.

Opinion: I liked the story and the characters - mostly the characters. They were all likable. It was an interesting introduction to the world(s). The men were there mostly as decoration but that's okay. It would have gotten a higher rating but the sex scenes were obligatory and felt tacked on. (Insert two page sex scene here. - Editor)

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (DailyLit email)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Painful to read. I don't know if I can continue. It's been three chapters of slaughter.

On Deck:
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin
Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

12. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: From the 111 Science Fiction Books to Read Before a Supernova Kills Us All, TIOLI (vowels)

Summary: Selection of science fiction short stories about robots

Opinion: Stories are interesting enough but they seem to have lost a bit of the charm I remember. Asimov is more about the story than the people. I must be confusing him with Heinlein in my memory. The suck fairy brushed it a tiny bit, but then flew away.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (DailyLit email)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

On Deck:
Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

13. Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Genre: Erotica

Notes: To complete Kenyon's bibliography, TIOLI (duplicate word)

Summary: Selection of three erotica stories

Opinion: Meh. I typically don't read straight erotica though I like my urban fantasy smut. I wasn't interested in the characters, didn't have a chance to learn enough about them in this format. Two of the guys were real jerks - one just a snarky SOB, the other a boozing, wenching SOB. The last guy was nice enough but the world was teenage boy's wet dream fodder. I found myself scanning the actual erotica - sad. The third story was interesting enough that I might look up the author's other works - except she only writes erotica. Double meh.

Rating: 6

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (DailyLit email)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

On Deck:
Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

14. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: For the Women of Fantasy Challenge

Summary: A tribal chief gets called to the capital and is named heir to the throne

Opinion: Wonderful story. Wonderful characters. Wonderful world-building. It is near impossible to go more into a review without spoilers. The ending, while over the top, fits. Normally I don't rate books this high unless it's a feel good book. And it is, sort of. But it is dark in other ways.

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (DailyLit email)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

On Deck:
Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

15. Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: To complete Briggs bibliography

Summary: A mercenary spy and her shape-changing lover go to her home for her father's funeral. But it seems he isn't dead.

Opinion: I love Briggs' writing - her characters especially - and would have rated this higher except how she handled the mystery of who spelled her father annoyed me. "It's this person! No, it's this person! Whoops, it's this person!" And then when you found out who it really, really was - the book ended.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (DailyLit email)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

On Deck:
Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

That's the 2nd good review I've seen for The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms in a matter of days. It will have to be added to the wishlist. Thanks Morphy!

Dag. You make The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms sound so good, but I'm trying really hard not to add any new series to my wishlist.

It's really a stand alone novel. I know there is another book, but The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is complete itself.

Okay okay, stop twisting my arm! It's on the wishlist. Sheesh. ;)

Heck, she's twisting so hard I'm feeling it too! On the wish list it goes.

I've been interested in this book since I heard about it here: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/02/26/the-big-idea-n-k-jemisin/

I should really read that.

Morphy - I couldn't continue Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, either. I've read a LOT on the subject, and know the plight, that was just continual heartbreak and I couldn't bring myself to finish.

>37 scaifea:, 38 scaifea and drneutron, my work here is done!

>40 MrsLee: MrsLee, I think I'm done, too. It's been sitting there a week and every time I think about reading another chapter, I feel a bit ill.

16. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Genre: Science Fiction, YA

Notes: To finish The Hunger Games trilogy recommended by LT members

Summary: Katniss is a reluctant figurehead for the rebellion against a dystopian government

Opinion: The writing makes it a compelling read yet overall the story depressed me. Katniss seemed mostly to just react to events until the very end.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

On Deck:
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip
A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
The BFG by Roald Dahl

17. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Genre: Science Fiction, YA

Notes: Liked The Giver, next in trilogy, TIOLI (color)

Summary: Young girl fears being cast out but instead becomes someone important to the dystopian town's government

Opinion: Again, intriguing story and hard to put down, but overall depressing. I really liked the characters. They seemed likable and real. Yet again, the main character is mainly reactive rather than proactive and I questioned her decision at the end of the book. Would she really have done so?

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

On Deck:
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip
A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
The BFG by Roald Dahl

18. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Genre: Classics

Notes: Mentioned in The Thirteenth Tale, TIOLI (color)

Summary: A gothic suspense about the trials and triumphs of a drawing master, a beautiful lady and her sister.

Opinion: Liked all the characters except Laura who was a total non-entity even though the story is really about what happened to her. Can't figure out why the hero would fall in love with her. Otherwise, an excellent story. When I went to figure out how many pages were in it (I read it via DailyLit), I was very surprised to find out it was over 500 pages. It felt like such a fast read!

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

On Deck:
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip
A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
The BFG by Roald Dahl

19. Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Genre: Children's

Notes: For 50 State Challenge, TIOLI (first in series)

Summary: Couple of kids attempt to buy and tame a wild mare and her filly

Opinion: Eh, it's a kid's book. I felt it lacked in comparison to The Black Stallion which I adored. Perhaps it's aimed at a younger set. It was written in such a way, I kept expecting to see every sentence end in exclamations! The style was a bit simplistic even for a children's book.

Rating: 6

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

On Deck:
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip
A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
The BFG by Roald Dahl

20. Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: To complete Bujold bibliography

Summary: Three short stories about Miles Vorkosigan

Opinion: I seem to prefer short stories to Miles over novels. I don't normally care too much for short stories, but it works well for Bujold. The stories are crisp and move along well. There is just enough detail that you could read the stories on their own and still enjoy them.

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (TIOLI, LT Recommended)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists)
via DailyLit

On Deck:
The Hound of Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Hey, Waitress! by Alison Owings

21. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Ultimate book list, 1001 Fantasy list, TIOLI (#10 two previous challenges)

Summary: An average Joe discovers another world under London

Opinion: I would have given it a higher rating if I had liked any of the characters. Richard was a non-entity most of the time. Door was one-dimensional. The marquis was a jerk, etc. The two secondary villains were too over-the-top. What saved the book for me was the world-building and the story itself.

Rating: 6

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (TIOLI, LT Recommended)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists)
via DailyLit

On Deck:
The Hound of Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Hey, Waitress! by Alison Owings

22. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: 1001 Fantasy

Summary: A wizardess alone with her legendary animals finds love in caring for a baby and the man who brings him

Opinion: Wow. Just wow. What a lovely story. I liked the characters - powerful yet flawed. I loved the rhythm of her writing. The story was one of hope and redemption. Yes. Yes. Yes. This will become a favorite, I'm sure.

Rating: 9

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (TIOLI, LT Recommended)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists)
via DailyLit

On Deck:
The Hound of Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Hey, Waitress! by Alison Owings

23. Fatherhood by Bill Cosby

Genre: Humor

Notes: Ultimate book list

Summary: Short essays on fatherhood

Opinion: Meh. He's much better as a stand-up than a writer. I could also be biased because I've listened to much of his work and the book seemed to only have part of the "good" stuff. Made me chuckle a bit, but his stand-up makes me belly laugh until I can't breathe. And what was the deal with the foreword and afterwood? Some other guy writing about the social history of fatherhood. Dude, boring.

Rating: 6

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (TIOLI, LT Recommended)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists)
via DailyLit

On Deck:
The Hound of Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Hey, Waitress! by Alison Owings

24. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Genre: Steampunk

Notes: Fantasy February group read, TIOLI (#17 traveling animal)

Summary: Two kids travel in a Victorian Era filled with fantastic created animals and mechanical wonders

Opinion: While the non-stop action is probably perfect for kids, it wasn't my cup of tea. I prefer a bit more characterization and interaction between players. Interesting and well-conceived concept though.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (TIOLI, LT Recommended)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists)
via DailyLit

On Deck:
The Hound of Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Hey, Waitress! by Alison Owings

Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a fabulous book and one of my favorites -- a fantasy that I read in my early twenties and which has stuck with me over the decades. I'm so glad you enjoyed it as well.

I've put it on my ever expanding, huge, wishlist on Amazon. Now I just need to clue all my friends and relatives about the wishlist so somebody will buy some of these books for me.

I've not yet read any of Patricia McKillip's work as yet but I do have Winter Rose on the tbr shelves so it's good to see you enjoyed her writing.

25. Joust
26. Alta
27. Sanctuary
28. Aerie by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Re-read of series, Joust - TIOLI #5 (2 vowels, warm), Alta - TIOLI #15 (2nd book in series)

Summary: Joust - serf (pig) boy in alternate ancient Egypt becomes a dragon boy, Alta - dragon boy flees to Upper Egypt and finds a new life, Sanctuary - Jouster boy helps save the day against evil Magi, Aerie - Jouster boy saves the day again

Opinion: The first two books are delightful. I like the setting, the dragons and I have always enjoyed Lackey's pig boy stories. The second two books aren't as good. Yes, he saves the day but there isn't the emotional connection or character growth as in the first two books.

Rating: Joust and Alta - 8, Sanctuary - 7, Aerie - 6

29. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimme Bender

Genre: Fiction (Magical Realism)

Notes: LT Recommended, TIOLI #4 (Tournament of Books)

Summary: A young girl is able to taste the emotions of the cook in the food that is prepared

Opinion: I really liked the concept and the main character but the execution was lacking in some way. A bit too far out especially when it came to the brother's "talent" and the ending was disappointing.

Rating: 7

30. Side Jobs by Jim Butcher

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Next in Butcher bibliography

Summary: Short story collection about our Chicago wizard, Dresden

Opinion: As with the Miles collection, I found I really enjoyed the short stories about Dresden. Whereas with Miles, my interest flags in novel length, Dresden novels leave me exhausted. It was much nicer to take Dresden in short doses, so to speak.

Rating: 8

31. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: From the 111 Science Fiction Books to Read Before a Supernova Kills Us All list

Summary: A bounty hunter has to hunt and kill some 'droids.

Opinion: The summary and the character names are about all that is in common between this book and the movie, Blade Runner. I think I would have rated this book higher if I could have gotten the movie out of my head. I l kept thinking "but the movie had it all wrong." This book is about racism and what makes us human.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists, DailyLit)
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Green Dragon group read)
Songs of Love and Death by George R. R. Martin, ed. (Just because)

On Deck:
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie
A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
Lord Valentine's Castle by Robert Silverberg

The Lackey books need to go on my list...

Wondering how you are going to like Crime and Punishment. I loved parts and hated other parts and thought it would never end. :)

MrsLee, yeah. This is going to be a long haul. I'll need to take it a bit at a time.

In a word: skim

That is how I was able to get to the end, was by skimming the depraved dude's self-indulgent babbles.

It also helps me to read SparkNotes alongside the more difficult novels. It gives an analysis of what is going on. I'll read a section of the novel, then read the applicable SparkNotes. It makes things clearer.

Yeah, I can't say I'm sorry I read C&P or even Moby Dick for that matter, but they were painful. :)

I think Anna Karenina has been my most painful though Tess of the D'Urbervilles comes close. Like you, I am glad I read them though.

Then there are books like Middlemarch and The Sound and the Fury that were TOO painful and I gave up early.

32. Songs of Love and Death by George R. R. Martin (ed.)

Genre: Fiction

Notes: Can't remember what made me decide to read this other than it had several of my favorite authors

Summary: Short stories about star-crossed lovers from all genres

Opinion: Most of the stories were depressing, not surprisingly considering the theme. Some made absolutely no sense. I liked "Hurt Me" by M. L. N. Hanover. It was a spooky story and I liked the main character. I didn't like The Thing About Cassandra by Neil Gaiman. It tried to be clever and instead just left me scratching my head, wondering what I missed.

Rating: 6

33. Soulless by Gail Carriger

Genre: Fantasy?

Notes: LT Recommended, TIOLI (#3 75 Book Challenge 2010 Favorite)

Summary: I described this to my husband as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (the movie) but with a spinster bluestocking as the lead character.

Opinion: Fantastic. It has something for everyone. Comedy. Romance. Action. Mystery. Fantasy. I convinced my husband to read it and he's enjoying it. This is a rare thing. Some people call it too "romance-y" but MrMorphy, who really doesn't like romance, doesn't feel the same way. I adore Alexie and can't wait to read more about her and her Duke.

Rating: 9

34. Sleeping with Bread by Dennis, Sheila and Matthew Linn

Genre: Spirituality

Notes: Recommended by minister

Summary: Teaches examen - two questions to ask yourself every day. What brought you joy and consolation and what brought you unhappiness and desolation?

Opinion: Very good, very short book. It's a nice little spiritual practice and is a good start for me. Mostly non-denominational but still religious in tone.

Rating: 8

35. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: To complete Sookie series

Summary: Collection of Sookie short stories

Opinion: Lots of fun and the stories were well done. I would not recommend buying this book, however. It is VERY short and I think people would be disappointed. Borrow it from the library instead and enjoy it for an hour or two.

Rating: 8

36. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie

Genre: Fiction

Notes: Read because I adored The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Ultimate Reading Book list, TIOLI (#1 embedded word - loner)

Summary: Short story collection about American Indians and living on a reservation

Opinion: It was bloody awful. I can't believe this is the same author. The rare bits of straight-forward story telling were fine; however, the rest of it read like poetry in paragraph form by someone on some major drugs. It made little sense to me.

Rating: 4

37. Owlflight
38. Owlsight
39. Owlknight by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Re-read because I was feeling down

Summary: Darian grows up in a Valdemar much changed by the Mage Storms

Opinion: I think I've read these too many times. While enjoyable, there wasn't quite the charm I remember and the last one especially felt episodic. Still, they worked for the mood I was in.

Rating: 7 (all)

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists, DailyLit)
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Green Dragon group read)
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (LT Recommended)

On Deck:
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin
Hey, Waitress! by Alison Owings

Thanks for your comments on Soulless, Morphy. I've been thinking that this would veer too much towards the romance angle to appeal to me but if it's okay for MrMorphy then I guess it'll do for me also.

Give it a shot. He's not done with it, but so far so good.

I'm not a fan of romance-y books either, and I enjoyed all three.

Sorry (or maybe I should be glad to be forewarned) to hear your reaction to the Sherman Alexie short stories. I, too, love The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and I've looked at that book of short stories a number of times wondering whether I should get them. Now I'm thinking, not any time soon!

#64 - I'm late to the discussion, but I have had many similar experiences where the quality of the writing or story outweigh the high pain factor. I didn't find Middlemarch painful, but Jude the Obscure was. I agree wholeheartedly about Tess. I recently forced myself to finish something for a book group that I wish I had bailed out on. It's kind of hard to pinpoint when to bail, isn't it? I know if it hadn't been a book group read I would have left it after 20 or so pages.

I'm reading Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Oryx and Crake and Hey, Waitress! and can't seem to get into the groove of any of them. *sighs*

I think maybe being a 11 year old girl would help to get into the groove of Rebecca.

I didn't care much for the Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm either. Loved Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, all of which were read as and adult. Possibly Maggie is right, but possibly it is for a different era as well?

I love your list. The book covers and the organization make it very readable and entertaining. I was anxious to see how you liked The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. I read it years ago and remember how much I loved it. I feel inspired to find it in one of my boxes and reread it sometime this year. Thanks for the reminder.

>77 maggie1944: maggie, perhaps.

>78 MrsLee: MrsLee, I know. I loved Anne and Little Women, too. So this is a bit of a disappointment. It's not bad by any means, but it's not absorbing me.

>79 KAzevedo: KAzevedo, glad you are enjoying it!

#32:
Hi Morphy! :)
It's interesting that you didn't like Neil Gaiman's short story "The Thing About Cassandra". I went to a reading of his last year at UCSB and while I was disappointed overall with the venue (it was organized very badly), the one thing I did enjoy was his reading of that story. Perhaps it was just his voice that added flavor to it, that would make just reading of pale in comparison?

Then again, I am a HUGE sucker for English accents too! :o)

40. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Genre: Mystery

Notes: Green Dragon group read, TIOLI #16 (doctor reference - two on the first page!)

Summary: Sherlock Holmes and Watson figure out a mysterious death and who - or what - is trying to kill the heir.

Opinion: This was my first Holmes. I liked the atmosphere and the story. I didn't care that much for Holmes. I found him to be surprisingly abrupt and arrogant.

Rating: 6

41. Lord Valentine's Castle by Robert Silverberg

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: Ultimate Reading list, 1001 Fantasy list, TIOLI #14 (Valentine)

Summary: A man appears outside a city without memory of his past. This is a "traveling" fantasy. Lots of travel.

Opinion: It was pretty awful. Far too much description. Lots of time jumps - "One month later..." I didn't care about the characters and they were very one-dimensional. About the only thing good that kept my interest long enough to finish the book was the world-building.

Rating: 5

42. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

Genre: Fiction

Notes: LT Recommended, TIOLI #3 (75 Book Challenge 2010 Favorite)

Summary: The Queen of England discovers the joys and pains of reading after discovering a bookmobile outside the palace

Opinion: The first half was amusing and fun. I could relate to the Queen and her love of reading and what she had to do to get around her staff. The second half got weird and a bit preachy. I'm not sure what the author was trying to do.

Rating: First half: 8, second half: 4, therefore, I give it a 6.

43. Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks

Genre: Urban Fantasy (not quite paranormal romance, but close)

Notes: Old TBR list

Summary: A detective determines that the werewolf prince didn't commit murder. But then who did?

Opinion: Very good story. Liked the main characters. They have their failures and foibles. The secondary characters have personality. Some quite fun. Happy but not saccharine ending. Good world-building. I'll continue reading the series. The only thing that felt off was how easily the heroine "gave into" the bond.

Rating: 8

44. Storm Warning
45. Storm Rising
46. Storm Breaking by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Comfort re-reads, Storm Warning - TIOLI #8 (Touchstone Confusion), Storm Rising - TIOLI #15 (second in series

Summary: The catastrophic effects of the Cataclysm reflect back over time and young priest Karal is in the midst of the frantic efforts to survive

Opinion: Great trilogy. Lackey is one of my favorite comfort reads, if not my favorite.

Rating: Storm Warning - 8, Storm Rising - 7, Storm Breaking - 7

47. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Genre: Science Fiction (no matter what Atwood says)

Notes: TIOLI #9 (Canada Reads)

Summary: A sole human survivor of a plague ruminates over his past

Opinion: It took me about half the book to get involved in it. The style was a bit off-putting and didn't hold my interest. I finally got into the rhythm of it and was able to finish. It's more of a morality tale than anything else. The most interest parts weren't even about Snowman (the main character), but Oryx.

Rating: 6

48. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin

Genre: Children's

Notes: US 50 State Challenge

Summary: A young girl goes to live with her aunts

Opinion: Not as fun as Anne. Rebecca didn't have much of a personality and the story was rather slow and preachy.

Rating: 6

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists - DailyLit)
Hey, Waitress! by Alison Owings
The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin

On Deck:
Years by LaVyrle Spencer
Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Changeless by Gail Carriger

Love the cover on your Hound of the Baskervilles book. :)

I actually picked out the one I liked the most because I read it via DailyLit which has no covers!

49. 479504::Hey, Waitress by Alison Owings

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: Old TBR list

Summary: Selection of bios of waitresses in the USA from all walks of life

Opinion: When I was learning something interesting about waitressing such as that certain restaurants would hire only waiters or why you serve from the left and pick up from the right, it was good. Otherwise, I found the personal lives rather boring. Unfortunately, that was the vast majority of the book.

Rating: 6

50. Exile's Honor
51. Exile's Valor
52. Arrows of the Queen
53. Arrow's Flight
54. Arrow's Fall by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Comfort re-read, someone called Lackey the macaroni and cheese of the literary world and I have to agree.

Summary: Tales from Valdemar - an enemy captain becomes a Herald (Exile) and a "pig-girl" does as well (Arrows)

Opinion: Re-re-re-re-re-etc-read. Obviously I like them.

Rating: 7
(I HAVE re-read them numerous times so they don't have quite the appeal as they used to.)

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists - DailyLit)
The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin

On Deck:
Years by LaVyrle Spencer
Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Changeless by Gail Carriger

55. River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: To complete Briggs bibliography

Summary: Mercy and Adam go on their honeymoon and fall into a challenging situation with a river spirit

Opinion: I like to read a novel where you get to see what happens in a relationship AFTER the "happily ever after." How do two people learn to live with each other? The fantasy adventure portion was good, but what really made this was the relationships between not just Mercy and Adam, but with relatives, the pack and friends.

Rating: 8

56. Trio of Sorcery by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: To complete Lackey bibliography

Summary: Three stories - a Diana Tregarde prequel, a Jennifer Talldeer sequel and a new character, technoshaman Ellen McBridge

Opinion: I really liked the Tregarde - it filled in some back history; liked the Jennifer Talldeer - the story was interesting; and liked the technoshaman story - it's the only one that made me laugh out loud, but I couldn't get connected to the characters like I usually can with Lackey. Glad I read it but not Lackey's best writing.

Rating: 7

57. The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: Hugo, Nebula, 111SF, The Women of Science Fiction Book Club

Summary: An anarchist/physicist leaves his home to visit the original colonial planet his people rebelled against

Opinion: I’ve read the Earthsea novels and The Left Hand of Darkness which I thought were good. However, I barely made it through The Dispossessed. Too much politics, too much philosophy, too little plot. I liked learned about the two societies but I could have done without the pages of preaching. I’m hoping to like Darkship Thieves (next Book Club read) or I may drop out of this challenge because I didn’t like Dust (previous Book Club read) either. Maybe this genre just isn’t my cup of tea. We’ll see.

Rating: 5

I agree. I did not finish either Dust or The Dispossessed. Also thinking of dropping the challenge. Both books were well written, I thought, just not interesting to me.

ETA: touchstones

Yeah, it's not like they are bad books. Just not ones I get anything out of.

58. Years by LaVyrle Spencer

Genre: Romance

Notes: 50 State Challenge

Summary: 18 year old goes to teach in early 1900s North Dakota

Opinion: Beautiful. Loved all the characters. The romance obstacle was solved a little too easily but otherwise a lovely story if a bit sad near the end when a blizzard and a plague take their toll.

Rating: 8

59. Changeless by Gail Carriger

Genre: Fantasy (steampunk & paranormal)

Notes: To continue the series

Summary: Alexia has to figure out why the paranormal inhabitants of London are becoming human

Opinion: Not as clever as the first, Soulless, but still a lot of fun. The scene where she "handles" the Major was priceless. I was a little annoyed by the cliff hanger ending.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Old TBR list - audiobook)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists - DailyLit)
Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

On Deck:
The BFG by Roald Dahl
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Elfland by Freda Warrington

I can understand where you might think The Dispossessed was on the preachy side, but I still enjoyed it as a kind of exercise in forcing the reader to think about a lifestyle of conspicuous consumption as opposed to truly sharing all things in common. Neither extreme is entirely practical, but we don't always take the idea to its logical extreme. I prefer some of her other works Four Ways to Forgiveness and Fisherman of the Inland Sea. Less preachy but still speculative in nature.

60. Blameless by Gail Carriger

Genre: Fantasy (steampunk)

Notes: Next in series, March TIOLI #9 (word combo - blame+less)

Summary: Alexia hares off to Italy to find some answers

Opinion: This was an on the road story. It was okay. It felt a little repetitive. While I love Alexia and her friends, their mannerisms started to grate. It might have been better if I spread out read the trilogy over more than a couple weeks. The situation between her and her husband also resolved too quickly. He messed up big time and it was "fixed" in a page or two. That all being said, I'm definitely reading more of Carriger and this series.

Rating: 7

61. The BFG by Roald Dahl

Genre: Children

Notes: On lists

Summary: An orphan girl is kidnapped by a giant

Opinion: While I found the story plot too simplistic and the characterization minimal, I loved the giant's way of talking. It made me smile. It's hard for me to judge children's books, I guess. I expect almost as much from them as I do adult books. I compare them to The Secret Garden or Charlotte's Web and most often find them lacking.

Rating: 6

62. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Genre: Spirituality

Notes: 888, March TIOLI #12 (philosophy)

Summary: Essays about life written at the beach in the 1950s

Opinion: There were parts that were dated, such as women's roles. Yet there were parts that were very relevant to today, such as how complex life has become and how we need to slow down and make choices. My favorite parts were where she described being at the beach. I grew up in Florida and it made me realize how very much I miss the beach and the ocean.

Rating: 7

Lindbergh's Gift From the Sea is one that I have re-read more than once. I certainly agree with you that much of what she says is tainted with dated attitudes. But what she writes about protecting our sense of self when the rest of the world encroaches I think has relevance for now.

63. Magic's Pawn
64. Magic's Promise
65. Magic's Price by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Re-read

Summary: Blah blah irritating pig boy blah blah saves the world blah blah

Opinion: This is the sixth or seventh (maybe tenth) re-read. Enough said.

Rating: 7-ish to 8-ish

66. The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier

Genre: Historical Fiction, audiobook

Notes: Liked Girl with a Pearl Earring, old TBR list

Summary: Fictionalized history of the Unicorn tapestries

Opinion: While I loved learning how tapestries were made and the writing make it easy to get into the flow of the story, the characters were for the most part unsympathetic. This was an audio book and I liked the accents of the narrators, especially the female, Terry Donnelly.

Rating: 7

67. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Marakami

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: 1001 Fantasy, March TIOLI #7 (wishlist)

Summary: A Japanese man looks for a lost cat and the wife who left him and meets some very unusual people along the way

Opinion: I went back and forth between rating this a 6 and a 7. I finally settled on a 7 because despite the rambling and odd nature of it and its length, I cared about the characters and wanted to know what happened. Also, he gives a good sense of place without being flowery. But then I want to change it to a 6 again because there was little resolution to ANY of the plot threads. I was left with the feeling of "who are these people?"

Rating: 6 or 7, depending on the moment

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Many lists - DailyLit)
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville (1001 Fantasy, lists)
Healing the Eight Stages of Life by Matthew Linn (read something else by same author that I liked)

On Deck:
Elfland by Freda Warrington
Women in Their Beds by Gina Barriault
The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale

Hi Morphy! :)

Just stopping by to give you some thread love and express my admiration for your reviews & notes! I am, as ever, in complete AWE at the amount of books you read.

Keep it coming Morphy! You are fabulous! :)
Much Bliss,
~Pandora~
P. S. How are you enjoying The Daily Book of Art?

I'm not too impressed with The Daily Book of Art. I thought it would be aimed at the layman, but it uses a lot of art world jargon. I feel lectured to rather than learning something most of the time.

Don't you just hate that! I really don't do well with lectures, as I like thinking I can think for myself. Duh

#109> You remind me of why linguists became "damnedlinguists" (one word) while I was a graduate student. Too many of them were overfond of acronyms which they didn't bother defining (acceptable if one was attending a talk in a linguistics department but decidedly not acceptable if giving a talk in our psychology department).

I really enjoy reading your thread. There are lots of things I'm putting on my TBR list and your review encouraged me to move Soulless onto the nightstand for this month (a friend loaned me several mysteries this fall).

>111 elfchild: Glad you are liking it. Sometimes I wonder if anyone is reading other than a few "buds" like maggie, so it's nice to hear. It's a bit of work to get everything down considering how fast I read. Eight more books and I'll have met the "challenge!" And the quarter isn't even over yet. Ha!

#112> Mostly I read your thread in the 75ers but I have both starred. I miss the days when I had time to read 150-200 books a year. But importantly to me, I've already read a dozen books this year, which is 2/3 of what I managed last year (last year was really bad for reading)

I can't imagine me not reading or reading that little. It boggles my mind.

This is my new motto:

"I suspect it may be like the difference between a drinker and an alcoholic; the one merely reads books, the other needs books to make it through the day."
— Gail Carriger

#114> Truthfully, I cannot either and it stunned me when I realized that is all that I logged last year. But we had huge life changes in 2009 (new baby, cross-country move, career shift for my husband, first house) and there were many, many nights when I fell asleep reading a book.

I hear you, elfchild. The same happened to me when I started working. Exhaustion is hell on reading and not reading leaves a hole in the soul.

I've never been able to read a lot of books. I tend to daydream as I read. I get to something that interests me and then I'm thinking of where the story might be going, where it would go if I were writing it, pondering the world I'm reading about, etc etc. Net result is I don't read very many pages at a sitting.

But, I enjoy the imagining about a book as much as I do the reading of it so it works for me.

#116> "not reading leaves a hole in the soul." resonates with me. I am not currently working outside the home but I have a toddler and a 5-and-a-half-year-old (who gave up naps before her brother was born) who missed the state cutoff for kindergarten by two weeks (can you tell that I resent this) at home so reading for myself does not occur until after they are both in bed, around 8pm.

(#118) Elfchild, I'm sure that as a mom you get lots of advice so I hope you will forgive me if I add my two cents. First of all, remind yourself that this stage of your life will not last for ever. In the meantime, consider reading shorter forms, like novellas, or lighter genre fiction. This may not be the time in your life to attempt War and Peace or The Tale of Genji. Reading short forms allows you to feel like you can actually FINISH something and get a whole book read (which helps when you aren't sure you get to finish anything at all) and the lightweight reads distract your brain from the stress of raising two children under six. (Yes, been there, done that and remember the particular phase!)

I'm done hijacking Morphy's thread.
*sits down to knit, and browbeat grown son taking up more than his fair share of the couch*

Hijack away.

I'm surprised I don't get more reading done as I'm home all day with no kids. But somehow between schoolwork, boards and other "stuff," the day slips away from me.

Oh, yeah! I know what you mean about not getting time to read when surrounded by toddlers and their busy world. I always take something with me to read when I go to hang out with the toddlers but seldom does much get done. Occasionally I read a page or two when they are watching later afternoon TV, when they are tired out from all the running around. But that is only occasionally. On some days, the only reading I do is about 15 minutes worth in the bathtub, in the evenings.

Next fall, one will go to Kindergarten and I'll only have one with me in the mornings. Time does fly....

*mind boggles at the amount of reading Morphy would actually get done if she weren't so busy*

elfchild, maggie - Me too! Although my boys aren't toddlers anymore. I often find myself staying up too late most nights so I can read after the boys are asleep. (Too late being 11-ish). I can usually do this for a few days before my body rebels and I end up falling asleep putting my 6yo to bed, around 8.

I remember when I would read a book or two a day. This was before I started working full time around age 21 *mumble mumble* years ago.

Morphidae - I thoroughly enjoy your reviews, too.

I do think that, as well as having much less time on our hands (due to jobs, families and other distractions...let's not even mention online RPGs), thanks to friends on LT and the Green Dragon in particular, we are aware of how many great books are still out there unread!

So less time + more recommendations = mountainous TBR piles!
(which seems to link back to the less time thing!)

Is okay to admit that my brain turns to mush after 90 minutes of solid reading? I am deeply envious that you, Morphy, can read this much and then deliver up useful reviews. Particularly when, like Athabasca, I have lengthy lists and towering piles of BOOKS-I-SHOULD-BE-READING-RIGHT-NOW.

#119> I had come to that conclusion and have been avoiding doorstopper sized fantasy novels and long running series along with stuff that is too much work right now. Eventually I will delve back into that stuff, but not right now. Nice to meet a fellow knitter, though that too is something that has been done too little since little ones came along (also because I have been living places relatively warm for the past decade)

**hugs Morphy for letting us hijack her thread**

#121> My elder heads to kindergarten in the fall as well

I'm reading this thread! Lately I have been on a huge reading binge. My job got really stressful and I decided to escape into novels. Yummy.

I know why they call it Crime and Punishment. It's a crime that it was published and it's a punishment to read.

Halfway through, I've quit this yawner.

#128 Crime and Punishment was the first book I ever didn't finish. I tried so hard, but eventually gave up. For years afterward, I wouldn't admit to anyone that I had even tried to read it. Then, finally, I let the guilt go and would simply rant when anybody said anything about C&P.

#128:
"I know why they call it Crime and Punishment. It's a crime that it was published and it's a punishment to read."

*snorts soda through nose*

ROFLMAO! Excellent! Oh, I needed that laugh. I've been attempting to "read" Crime and Punishment for the last 2 years... Obviously, it isn't going so well. LOL. I keep fondling it and gazing at Fritz Eichenberg's incredible woodcut illustrations and make up my mind to read it again, only to shelve it again later on. Glad to hear I'm not the only one finding it difficult to finish! :O)

#128 - LOL, I had the same thought when I read it!

#130 - Do yourself a favor and skip to the end.

My daughter loved it. I might have if I had read it when I was much younger, but I'm not sure.

Crime and Punishment may be one of those best read in the original language. You're never sure how much may have been lost in translation. I think I made it through it, but was not quite sure why it was considered to be so compelling.

68. Take a Thief by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Re-read

Summary: Usual Lackey pig boy plot

Opinion: Re-read

Rating: 7

69. Perdido Street Station by China Mieville

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: 2009 TBR List, 1001 Fantasy

Summary: Big bad butterflies batter baleful burg

Opinion: SPOILERS AHEAD. It was awful. I have no idea how I finished this. As it is, a quarter of it I skimmed. Too much description of an awful city. No, I don't need pages of cable being laid down. Nor of character's walks from dreary place to ugly place. Awful things happen to the characters. There is not one speck of hope or good. There are pages of philosophy, math and "science" that make no sense. Author wrote with a thesaurus in hand.

Only reason I could stand it was the races were interesting and I wanted to see how the monsters were taken care of. I could have saved myself some time. They ate themselves to death? Really? That's how you kill big nasties? That's the best you could do? Half the races you couldn't understand what they were thinking or saying. I supposed the author was trying to be clever. Instead it was unreadable nonsense. You couldn't pay me to read anything else by Mieville. YUCK PTOOEY.

Rating: 2

70. Good Goats by Linn, Dennis, et al.

Genre: Spirituality

Notes: Like another book by authors, March TIOLI #4 (Up or Down)

Summary: Subtitle: Healing Our Image of God

Opinion: Pretty decent book. It had some good points. It's a very liberal Christian view of God which I like - both masculine and feminine, never punishing, always loving. A little Jesus-y for me, but it is Christian non-fiction after all. Sheila who is Jewish, gives it a more non-denominational feel, I suppose.

Rating: 7

71. Elfland by Freda Warrington

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: The Women of Fantasy Book Club, March TIOLI #9 (word combo - elf+land)

Summary: A small village girl and her family are affected by the closing of the gate between worlds

Opinion: I liked it. There were some less than stellar reviews because it is a romance, slow-paced and there are few fantasy elements. However, Warrington is a good writer. I cared about the characters, even the unpleasant ones and liked the world she built. It's sort of a "cozy" fantasy family saga.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (Many lists - DailyLit)
Bite by Laurell K. Hamilton, et al.

On Deck:
The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

I love the cover of Elfland.

I'm not at all surprised you hated Perdido St. I am surprised you started it! I wasn't a big fan either. Superb imagination, but a bit too gratuitiously dark for me. And as you say, very very longwinded with it.

If he had told the story in half the pages, it would have been a decent one.

72. Bite by Laurell K. Hamilton, et al.

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Old TBR, March TIOLI #8 (short stories)

Summary: Short stories from urban fantasy authors

Opinion: Nothing truly awful. Nothing truly wonderful. A decent selection from some of my favorite authors - Hamilton, Harris, Davidson. A couple from some lesser knowns - Knight, Taylor. My favorite - a Sookie story by Harris - I recently read in another anthology.

Rating: 6

73. The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale

Genre: Romance

Notes: March TIOLI #13 (under 3 stars author)

Summary: An impoverished young lady and a young gentleman abused as a boy grow to love each other

Opinion: I tried this for the March TIOLI challenge where you read another book by an author you've given 3 stars or less to on a previous read. This is supposed to be Kinsale's best book and I wasn't impressed. Too much was accepted and too easily by the upper class family she gets involved with. If the family had been known as eccentric, that would be one thing. But they were accepted by Queen Victoria - a stickler for the proprieties. Also, I never got emotionally attached to the characters and so there was little emotional payoff at the end.

Rating: 6

74. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: March TIOLI #18 (YA SF/F), 1001 Fantasy

Summary: Young woman comes into her power and saves the nation

Opinion: Solid tale but... There is something about McKinley's stories - there is so much potential, but there is a connection to the characters lacking somehow. There is a distance between me and them that doesn't allow me to enjoy the story as much as I think I could. Perhaps it is because there is little humor or joy in her worlds.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (Many lists - DailyLit)
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks (TIOLI)
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

On Deck:
This Book is Overdue by Marilyn Johnson
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

I remember reading The Hero and The Crown when it first came out and thinking that it was an interesting attempt at a female coming-of-age story in the fantasy genre. At the time, there was much concern that young girls didn't have enough range of coming-of-age stories that didn't end in marriage. I still preferred McKinley's Beauty to this one, but of course that ends in marriage.

I haven't read Beauty yet. I've read The Hero and the Crown, The Blue Sword and Sunshine. I like her writing but as I said before, I can't quite connect with her characters and I'm not sure why.

I couldn't put my finger on the problem, when I read The Hero and the Crown, but it's what you said: I couldn't connect with her characters. I didn't feel engaged.

That kills any book.

75. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: March TIOLI #16 (NY Times), 111 Nonfiction

Summary: Clinical notes about neurology issues

Opinion: I thought this would be stories and essays about psychological issues, instead it was clinical notes on neurological problems. Too much medical jargon, not enough story.

Rating: 3

76. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Genre: Fiction

Notes: March TIOLI #17 (World Storytelling)

Summary: Prequel to Jane Eyre, tells the story of the "wife in the attic"

Opinion: Boring. Didn't like the characters, story was dull. Only reason I finished it was because it was short.

Rating: 3

77. Twilight's Dawn by Anne Bishop

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Four short stories about our favorite Black Jewels characters

Opinion: Lovely ending. Yes, ending. These stories wrap up all the loose ends - everyone we've come to care for has a happy or unhappy ending. I cried several times throughout the book both in sorry and joy. We lose some dear characters, but not without rhyme or reason. And gain one very special new character. If you love the Black Jewels series, you will love this one. It's not for someone who hasn't read the rest of the series though. Little will make sense.

Rating: 8

78. The Shadow Queen
Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Reread

Rating: 7

*whispers* I never could get through Wide Sargasso Sea either.

Out of curiosity, what is it about the Anne Bishop series that you like particularly? Is it the world she creates or is it more the characterization?

Another one here that didn't like Wide Sargasso Sea. One of the few books I decided not to finish.

It's very dark, very intense, erotic fantasy. I like the world and the magic system but I especially like the characters. You really care about them. It's a bloody, violent, sexual world but the loving and kindness they show for each other makes up for it. There is also humor throughout. Don't read it if you don't like Mary Sues though. These people are over-the-top powerful and beautiful.

As am I. (Over-the-top powerful and beautiful). I just fake it to keep away any papparazzi!

(Very) tentative reading list for April:

Library Due - Mortal Danger by Eileen Wilks
TBR Next - Language Visible by David Sacks
Random - The Annotated Arch by Carol Strickland
Women of SF - Darkship Thieves by Sarah A. Hoyt
Stephen King - Tommyknockers by Stephen King
50 State - The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
TIOLI 1 (cover) and Women of Fantasy - Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter
TIOLI 2 (preposition) - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
TIOLI 3 (Paris) - Perfume by Patrick Susekind
TIOLI 4 (tag mirror) - Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
TIOLI 5 (4th) - Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb
TIOLI 6 (Alex) - Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
TIOLI 7 (Spring) - Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
TIOLI 8 (Japan) - The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
TIOLI 9 (Who) - Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
TIOLI 10 (Movie) - A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
TIOLI 11 (Orange) - Room by Emma Donoghue
TIOLI 12 (autism) - Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork
TIOLI 13 (b4 born) - Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
TIOLI 14 (flower) - Peony in Love by Lisa See
TIOLI 15 (DWJ) - Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones
TIOLI 16 (writer) - Travels with Charlie by John Steinbeck

There was a news story in recent weeks that Steinbeck might have offered more fiction in Travels With Charlie than the story suggests. If I can find the link, I'll send it to you (by which I mean, I'll edit this post to include it!) Updated to include the following link from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/books/steinbecks-travels-with-charley-gets-a-f...

I loved Travels With Charlie, fiction or nonfiction. :)

80. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Reread

Summary: Pig boy - well, okay, pig-middle-aged-man story. Ex-slave saves the country.

Rating: 8

81. Daughter of the Blood
82. Heir to the Shadows
83. Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop

Genre: Fantasy (dark, erotic)

Notes: Reread

Summary: Where Witch and Daemon and Saetan are the good guys, however dark in spirit.

Rating: 8

85. The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: LT Recommended

Summary: Small town girl meets centuries old vampire

Opinion: Average. While I understand the appeal to readers of an average girl getting the whoo whoo handsome, rich guy, I don't get what he sees in her. She nice and all, but he falls hard and fast for her. Seems sort of easy.

Rating: 6

86. Dreams Made Flesh by Anne Bishop

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Reread

Summary: Short stories from the Black Jewels world

Rating: 8

87. Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin

Genre: Spiritual

Notes: Old 888 challenge

Summary: Spiritual journal writing

Opinion: Only enjoyed the rare personal memoir sections, otherwise too woo-woo. Lacked clarity and focus. I would read a page and there would be no "meat." Took me months to read because I could only deal with a chapter or so at a time.

Rating: 4

88. Shakespeare's Counselor by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Mystery

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Final book of the Lily Bard, housekeeper turned PI, series

Opinion: Nice wrap up though it didn't have the emotional pull of the others in the series

Rating: 7

89. Room by Emma Donoghue

Genre: Fiction

Notes: April TIOLI #11 (Orange)

Summary: Narrated by a five year old boy who has lived in an 11x11 room all his life

Opinion: Intense and fast read. It took me a chapter or two to get into the flow of the narrator's voice but then it zoomed along. I was most interested in how the little boy coped with coming out of the room. I sometimes found it difficult to sympathize with the mother, which I guess was the point of some of it.

Rating: 8

90. Lover Enshrined by J. R. Ward

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Ongoing story of the Black Dagger Brotherhood

Opinion: While an intense and interesting read, I was disappointed in the lack of romance. Yes, there was one between Phury and Cormia, but it felt tacked on to the main story which seemed to be about John, Blay and Quinn - the young up-and-coming men of the Brotherhood. I couldn't rate it lower though because it really is a great series and I'm invested in the characters.

Rating: 7

90. The Tommyknockers by Stephen King

Genre: Horror (science fiction really)

Notes: To complete bibliography

Summary: Something bad is dug up in the Maine woods and it affects the townspeople in nasty ways

Opinion: SPOILERS. Meh. Not one of his best. While the story-telling is, as always, top-notch, there was no one to root for. Near everyone mentioned dies and I found I just didn't care.

Rating: 6

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (Many lists - DailyLit)
The Annotated Arch by Carol Strickland
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

On Deck:
Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb
Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter
Darkship Thieves by Sarah A. Hoyt

91. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: April TIOLI #15 (DWJ), 1001 Fantasy

Summary: Young hatter gets cursed to look like an old woman and goes to find work with the "evil" wizard, Howl

Opinion: I know that Diana Wynne Jones is beloved in some circles, but this is the second book of hers that I've read and I can't say that I'm impressed. I'm sure that part of the reason is that the characters are much more likeable in the movie. But the majority is that Jones doesn't plot very well. It got very fast and confusing at the end. I kept having to re-read each page to figure out what was going on. Lastly, I didn't care what happened to the characters. There was no sense of relief or joy or satisfaction. It just ended.

Rating: 5

92. Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb

Genre: Mystery

Notes: April TIOLI #5 (4th)

Summary: After Eve's honeymoon, she has to figure out why and how three apparent suicides are actually murder

Opinion: I read the "discovery" three or four times and it still doesn't make any sense. Nor that she would somehow determine that the suicides were really murders. And the murderer's reason, "Because I can." Huh? However, I enjoy all the ongoing characters as well as the growth of Eve and Roarke's relationship.

Rating: 6

93. Rendezvous by Amanda Quick

Genre: Romance

Notes: To complete bibliography, reread

Rating: 6

94. The Annotated Arch by Carol Strickland

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: Very old TBR

Summary: Basic architecture appreciation

Opinion: What I thought was going to be an enjoyable Architecture for Dummies was more of a College Architecture 101 slog. Too little basic information and too much artsy gooblygook - "the bogus applique of Po-Mo and the angst of Deconstructivism." Blah blah blah.

Rating: 3

95. Unveiled Hqn by Courtney Milan

Genre: Romance

Notes: Smart Bitches, Trashy Novels Recommended

Summary: Woman who has been bastardized hides as her father's nurse to spy on the new duke

Opinion: Ooooooh, a new romance novelist for me! Wonderful story and romance. The secondary characters are also interesting and I can't wait to read more about them. The hero and heroine are flawed, lovable people. The issues keeping them apart are realistic and there is actual wooing going on instead of the hero taking over completely like usual in this type of book.

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (Many lists - DailyLit)
Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter (Women of Fantasy challenge)

On Deck:
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Darkship Thieves by Sarah A. Hoyt
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

96. Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

Genre: Mystery

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Ranger's child gets kidnapped by his double. Stephanie comes to save the day in her usual way.

Opinion: One of my favorites so far in the series. It made me laugh a lot and there was a decent story this time rather than a mystery tacked on. One thing that annoys me about this series is her inability to choose between the two guys. Seventeen or so books later and she still hasn't made a choice.

Rating: 7

97. Mona Lisa Eclipsing by Sunny

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Next in series

Summary: A few stories about our favorite Monere

Opinion: I love the writing and the characters. The story left something to be desired. It was episodic in nature and would have been better as a short story collection.

Rating: 7

98. Red Planet by Robert Heinlein

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: To complete bibliography

Summary: Teenage boy and his Martian pet save the colony

Opinion: I struggled a bit to get into it, there was some lecturing going on, but then it got more fun. I liked learning about the Martians we hear more about in Stranger in a Strange Land.

Rating: 6

99. The Royal Pain by MaryJanice Davidson

Genre: Romance

Notes: To complete bibliography

Summary: Princess Alex goes slumming

Opinion: A fun, light romp. It doesn’t have the unpleasant levels of sarcasm that has been creeping to Davidson's more recent works.

Rating: 7

(not counting). The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Genre: Children's

Notes: Various lists

Summary: Title says it all

Opinion: The illustrations were great. I was surprised at how short the text was. Only a few sentences. Meh.

Rating: 7

100. Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: April TIOLI #1 (cover), Women of Fantasy challenge

Summary: In a sequel to Shakespeare's Tempest in modern day America, Miranda has to find her father, Prospero, with the aid of her estranged siblings

Opinion: Lamplighter is a good writer and I liked reading about all the characters. Not a bad feat since Miranda is hard to like as are many of the other characters. I'm going to wait until the third book is out before picking up the second. This is basically one story written in three books and I want to read it all at once rather than dragging it out.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (Many lists - DailyLit)
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafron (several lists)

On Deck:
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
Cook This, Not That by David Zinczenko
Darkship Thieves by Sarah A. Hoyt

I love the very hungry caterpillar. We even have a plush stuffed butterfly from that book hanging on the wall at the kids' house. Lack of printed word sometimes means the children get to talk about he pictures more. It is a good thing.

>178 maggie1944: Agree. I think my little brother has the Mixed-up Chameleon stuffed animal.

101. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Genre: Fiction

Notes: Ultimate Reading list

Summary: Boy discovers a book and goes looking for its author with unpleasant results

Opinion: I had a hard time deciding on 7 or 8 stars for this book. The writing was very well done but the story left a little to be desired. The pacing was a tad slow and boring at times. Loved the characters with all their failings but the bad guy was a little too over the top evil.

Rating: 7

102. Peony in Love by Lisa See

Genre: Fiction

Notes: April TIOLI #14 (flower), LT Recommended

Summary: Young woman in 1600s China catches sight of a handsome young man at an opera and her life is changed.

Opinion: MAJOR SPOILER: While the writing is lovely and I enjoyed learning about the time period and Chinese views of death and the afterlife, I was not expecting the main character to spend most of the book as a ghost. It colored the rest of the book for me.

Rating: 7

103. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Genre: Classic

Notes: Numerous Lists

Summary: Captain goes up river to meet up with a man of mystery

Opinion: I slogged through this story about nothing really by reading in small bits through DailyLit and I was very grateful it was as short as it was. Also, I wouldn't have understood a word of it without the help of SparkNotes. Bleh. Just bleh.

Rating: 3

104. A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

Genre: Fiction

Notes: April TIOLI #10 (Movie), 50 State Challenge

Summary: A modern day re-telling of King Lear

Opinion: Great sense of place, good characterization, but there was more foreboding than was called for. I kept waiting for a shoe to fall that never did. And it fit my definition of "literary" - nothing good happens to anyone. Everyone is miserable throughout the entire book.

Rating: 7

105. The Serpent's Shadow by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Reread

Summary: Retelling of Snow White in 1900s London

Opinion: Very enjoyable. Haven't reread this in a few years, so the gloss isn't off yet. Strong female lead. Lovely!

~~~~~

Rating: 8
Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton
Darkship Thieves by Sarah A. Hoyt

On Deck:
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Owls Aren't Wise and Bats Aren't Blind by Warner Shedd
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

I particularly enjoyed The Serpent's Shadow. *Very well done!*

#182 - Hehe, I read the first page in that book about 20 days in a row before I decided I didn't have to spend my life that way. I could not find any desire to go further. :)

#186 The only reason I could go further is because it was so very short. No way if it had been longer, like Crime and Punishment which I DID quit, would I have finished.

I read the following which were good adaptations of The Stand but really too short to include in my count.


Stephen King's The Stand: Sole Survivors
Stephen King's The Stand: Hardcases

106. Darkship Thieves by Sarah A. Hoyt

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: Women of SF challenge, May TIOLI #13 (repeating vowels)

Summary: Woman escapes her father's ship during a mutiny and falls into the hands of a darkship thief.

Opinion: I was about to quit this particular challenge as the first two books left a lot to be desired but this was a fun space opera romp and romance. Yeah, this is a first novel and it shows some weaknesses in characterization and plot, but overall a good read.

Rating: 7

107. The Invisible Ring by Anne Bishop

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Reread

Summary: Another tale in the Black Jewels world set a bit further back in the past

Opinion: Not as good as the others but still a comfy reread.

Rating: 7

108. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Genre: Fiction

Notes: 50 State Challenge (Michigan), May TIOLI #13 (repeating vowels)

Summary: A group of boys watch a family as the teenage girls all commit suicide

Opinion: I read this because I liked Middlesex by the same author. But it was "literary," i.e. depresssssssing and no likeable characters. I felt icky because of the voyerism of the boys. And why didn't somebody do something to help those girls? Sheesh. Ish, just ish.

Rating: 5

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton
Owls Aren't Wise and Bats Aren't Blind by Warner Shedd (LT Recommended, TIOLI)

On Deck:
The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
The Way We Pray by Maggi Oman Shannon

109. The Mystic Hours by Wayne Teasdale

Genre: Spirituality

Notes: May TIOLI #20 (library), Looking for inspiration

Summary: A Daybook of Interspiritual Wisdom and Devotion

Opinion: Did nothing for me. Was too Eastern, too mystic and too frou-frou. I like a bit more meat, personal application and practicality to my spirituality.

Rating: 4

110. Owls Aren't Wise and Bats Aren't Blind by Warner Shedd

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: May TIOLI #14 (wild animals)

Summary: A Naturalist Debunks Our Favorite Fallacies about Wildlife

Opinion: Enjoyable, information and chatty. It would have gotten higher if the author didn't use so many exclamation points! He used them! A lot! It was annoying! Also, he prefaced personal stories by saying things like, "…it happened in this fashion" or "A neighbor of mine described such an incident." He worded his intros different each time, but he could have skipped such things all together.

Rating: 7

Thanks Morph for your posts. I've gotten so many books to add to my 'to read' list (fantasy, urban fantasy and horror). I am definitely going to be checking out this thread often.

Exclamation points, huh? I'm going write that down. That's going to be fun.

111. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: May TIOLI #20 (library), Women of SF, Ultimate Reading list, 111 Science Fiction

Summary: Woman gets caught back during the plague when the flu hits her original time

Opinion: You know it's not good when you wonder when you wish it were over. I finished the book because the story was interesting enough but her style and dialogue were rather tedious. She tried too hard to be humorous in the current time and in the past, everything was confusing. It had potential but needed tighter writing and an editor's heavy hand.

Rating: 5

112. The Land of Painted Caves by Jean Auel

Genre: Fiction

Notes: May TIOLI #9 (24.2 cm), Next in series

Summary: The final chapter to Ayla's story

Opinion: I was dreading the thought of reading this. The reviews have been awful. However, I had to finish the series. I'm a masochist. It's not the worst thing I've ever read, but nothing of interest happened in 757 pages. I skimmed all but the first exploration of painted caves, and that's a lot of skimming. Only read if you have to complete the series.

Rating: 5

113. Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson

Genre: Mystery

Notes: Ultimate Reading list

Summary: Caterer is accused of poisoning her abusive ex-husband's father

Opinion: I didn't like the characters and found the recipes, which were stuck in the middle of chapters instead of at the beginning or end, intrusive. I did like the story though. It's a shame that the main character is so dysfunctional and unlikeable and the secondary characters are one-dimensional.

Rating: 5

114. Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: May TIOLI #16 (birds), Women of Fantasy challenge

Summary: Girl sees ghosts while growing up - what do they want with her?

Opinion: While it shows the weaknesses of a first book - the writing needed tightening up especially - the story was intriguing and I liked the main character, at least during the first half. She got a bit unpleasant when an adult and didn't show much growth. I'm willing to try the next book in the trilogy. While this is the first of three books, it can pretty much stand on its own.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton
At Home by Bill Bryson

On Deck:
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Carry on, Jeeves! by P. G. Wodehouse

I wish you would tell us what you really think about these books.

Well, it does say "Opinion" - what else would I say other than what I think?

"It's a shame that the main character is so dysfunctional and unlikeable and the secondary characters are one-dimensional."

That's why I quit reading these after four books. Not my style.

I'm surprised that Connie Willis' Doomsday Book wasn't high on your list as I enjoyed it. At the same time, I must admit that there were bits I skipped for the reasons you outlined.

115. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Ongoing adventures of Sookie

Opinion: Enjoyable. There is growth in Sookie and forward plot movement yet I can't help but wish she would get if not a happy ending at least some good things happening to her.

Rating: 7

116. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

Genre: Inspirational Fiction

Notes: Ultimate Reading list

Summary: Vignettes of a middle-aged minister in a Southern small town

Opinion: Lovely, gentle, humorous. It's only (slight) failing is the episodic nature of the stories but that might just be the nature of the beast. I like how his faith is such a part of his life but it never felt preachy.

Rating: 8

117. At Home by Bill Bryson

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: May TIOLI #9 (24cm)

Summary: A natural history of the house and its contents

Opinion: When he wrote about specific people and inventors, I got bored; however, when he stuck to groups like the poor or clergy and the history of objects in culture, I loved it. I especially enjoyed the pieces on servants and beds.

Rating: 7

118. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: 1001 Fantasy

Summary: A retelling of The Six Swans

Opinion: Well written but overall depressing and the main character seemed a bit… flat. I don't know. I can't put my finger on why I didn't enjoy it more. It could have been my mood but I think it was just the bleakness of the tale.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton
Carry On, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

On Deck:
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Language Visible by David Sacks
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

*hugs for Morphy*

Hello there! :O)

Your comments in #117 about At Home by Bill Bryson made me chuckle gleefully!

"When he wrote about specific people and inventors, I got bored; however, when he stuck to groups like the poor or clergy and the history of objects in culture, I loved it. I especially enjoyed the pieces on servants and beds."

That's exactly what I was thinking when I added it to my Wishlist, LOL. I do so enjoy reading your reviews, Morphy, you mischievous marvel, you! :O)

Much Bliss & Purrs,
~Pandora~

Added The God of Small Things to my Quit, Yuck, Ptooey collection. I got halfway through the book and decided not to slog through one more chapter about people I didn't care about and where the author gave very little sense of place, time or meaning. Ptooey!

Thanks for the link here!

I live the idea of a Quit, Yuck, Ptooey colection. I took a quick look at The God of Small Things and I don't think I'd want to read it either. My tolerance for the grim and depressing has markedly decreased, which seems to mean that I end up skipping most modern 'literature'. Oh well.

BTW, your review of The Land of Painted Caves cracked me up. I, too, have been dreading reading this one, but I know I will because I've read all the others. I can still remember being stunned by Clan of the Cave Bear -- I think I've slogged through the other out of respect for that first, brilliant book.

As for Dead Reckoning, I said something very similar in my review; it would be nice to see Sookie happy for once.

I've been debating rereading the whole Clan of the Cave Bear series, now that the final book is out. I used to do that each time the next book was finally released and I'd also reread the first three every so often because they were my favourites. But I'm just not enthused by the whole prospect anymore.

OMG, I just ordered the first of two parts to the audiobook, The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber, from the library. It has *35* CDs! This is going to take awhile...

119. Carry On, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

Genre: Fiction

Notes: 2007 TBR list

Summary: Short stories about a bumbling aristocrat and his valet

Opinion: I think I might have been better off reading these as they were serialized as there is a sameness about them that is off-putting. The same story told numerous times, no matter how amusing, gets a little tedious. That being said, I breezed through the book and got some chuckles out of it.

Rating: 6

120. Ceremony in Death by J. D. Robb

Genre: Mystery

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Ongoing story of Eve and Roarke

Opinion: Great continuation. I like how their relationship evolved and I liked the case. I can't really call it a mystery since it was obvious who the bad guys were. Fun romp.

Rating: 8

121. Spirit Dances by C. E. Murphy

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Next in series

Summary: Continuing story of Joanne Walker

Opinion: I enjoyed the story and love the characters. Two items brought it from very good down to good. First, Joanne is becoming Mary Sue-ish. More powers? Really? She is saved by being a bit of a klutz, magic-wise. Second, the ending was cliff hanger-ish. Not that the main story wasn't completed but the last couple of pages left me with the feeling of "What the hell?"

Rating: 7

122. I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron

Genre: Humor

Notes: Ultimate Reading list

Summary: Humorous essays mostly about being an older woman

Opinion: I very much enjoyed the first two CDs, especially the part about what was in her purse but on the last CD the essays weren't as funny and one felt tacked on. It was just a list. But this is good enough that I'll be sending it to my mother for her birthday in July. She'll get a kick out of it.

Rating: 7

123. The Direct Path by Andrew Harvey

Genre: Spiritual

Notes: Can't remember why I decided on this one

Summary: Creating a Journey to the Divine Using the World's Mystical Traditions

Opinion: Good stuff: describing practices from various traditions and how to do them, personal narrative.

Bad stuff: Surprisingly, there was a bit of "One True Way-ism" even if he considers himself of no one faith and it turned me off. Also, this book is aimed more at the person who wants to be a full-time mystic. There simply isn't time in the day to do all the practices he suggests for the average person since we don't have hours a day to devote to the various meditations, etc. Lastly, it got very Eastern woo-woo at times and I had to skim it.

Rating: 5

124. Language Visible by David Sacks

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: Old TBR list

Summary: Unraveling the Mystery of the Alphabet from A to Z

Opinion: The only reason it got a lower rating is because I found the subject matter boring at times. The writing was good and when I learned more about the "culture" of a letter rather than the "technical specs" of how it evolved from its first form, I enjoyed myself. An example is how "Ye" as is "Ye Old English Shoppe" came about. The form Y was used to symbolize the letter thorn which represented the sound "th." Another piece of interest is the difficulty different nationalities have pronouncing certain sounds. Germans pronounce "welcome" as "velcome" or Japanese say "frying" instead of "flying," for instance.

Funny quote:
The Anglo-Saxons who invaded England from northern Germany said "w" all the time. Think of "Wotan," "wassail," "weapons," "witches," "woods," and "swine," and you've covered most of their hobbies.

Rating: 5

125. To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: 888 Challenge

Summary: About American heiresses marrying English nobility in the 1800s

Opinion: This was SUCH a fun book. Tons of pictures of fashion and homes. Loads of cultural trivia about how the rich and the aristocrats lived in the mid- to late 1800s. Gossip about everyone from Mrs. Astor to Bertie (eventually King Edward VII.) I found how much control the women had over who was "in" fascinating. Only reason it didn't get a nine is that sometimes there were lists of names that got tedious - such as which sister married which lord, etc.

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

On Deck:
This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson
Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Hello. Vacation was absolutely wonderful, even if it started off cold and rainy. We ate tons of shellfish (well, pounds and pounds in any case), didn't turn on the TV at all and enjoyed my MIL's spectacular treehouse deck.

I have finally figured out how to deal with all the books you make me want to read - I'll start with the ones you rate the highest (since I agree with your 9 ratings for Bridge of Birds and Forgotton Beasts of Eld and I liked Soulless a lot as well)

I'm glad you had a fabulous vacation. I hope you enjoy the books I rated high.

126. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

Genre: Historical Fiction

Notes: Love Brooks

Summary: A Native American male, the first to go to Harvard, and a young woman grow up on Martha's Vineyard in the 1600s

Opinion: Surprising, this is my least favorite of Brook's books. I think it is because it is so bleak, even more so than Year of Wonders. Also, you see Caleb only from a distance and the heroine has a tinge of victimhood to her. Bad things happen and she barely rises above them. I imagine, however, she is an accurate product of her time.

Rating: 7

127. This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: LT Recommended

Summary: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All

Opinion: Another person who recently read this book called it scattered and I have to agree. While I enjoyed some of the chapters, especially the ones on privacy, the awesomeness of reference librarians, and Second Life, the rest were tedious at times and not of much interest. Yes, we know you like libraries and librarians, but you need to tell us why, not just say you do. It mentions LibraryThing ("…where you could become your own librarian!") though, so that's another good point.

Quote:
"Bibliomancy… Divination by jolly well Looking It Up."

Rating: 6

128. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

Genre: Historical Fiction

Notes: June TIOLI #22 ("Z"), LT Recommended

Summary: A Dutch clerk discovers a new way of life in 1800s Japan

Opinion: This book has three stories. The first is set up of the clerk arriving in Japan in 1799. I found this part boring and skimmed a lot, especially when there was a lot of accented dialogue. The second story was about a Japanese woman and a corrupt temple. This and the final chapter about the English trying to take over the Dutch settlement were very good. If the book had just been the last 2/3, I would have given it an 8, but the first tedious part brought it down to a 7.

Rating: 7

129. The Gates of Sleep
130. Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Rereads

Summary: Retellings of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella

Opinion: Mindless fun fluff

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
The Good News Bible by Various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky (old TIOLI, current TIOLI (nonfiction/fiction))
The Wizard of London by Mercedes Lackey (for fun)

On Deck:
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Murial Barbery
Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

131. The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: June TIOLI #6 (new 2+)

Summary: Unedited articles from a government work program for writers about area foods from the 1940s

Opinion: I am not the target audience for this. If I was, I probably would have rated this higher. But I am not a foodie or historian and scanned much of the book. I did enjoy the articles on automats, restaurants and about the foods in the various "feeds" across the US.

Rating: 4

132. The Wizard of London by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: June TIOLI #18 (same number), Reread

Summary: Retelling of The Snow Queen

Opinion: Episodic and only a small part of the book was about the actual fairy tale retelling. It was barely about the Wizard and mostly about other people. But it's a Lackey and I like it.

Rating: 7

133. The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: Reread

Summary: Retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in early 1900s San Francisco

Opinion: This is my second copy. I'm almost ready to buy a third copy as I've worn this one through. As much as I love it, I couldn't rate it higher as after the sixth or seventh reading (tenth?), it doesn't have quite as much emotional impact and charm.

Rating: 8

134. Reserved for the Cat by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Notes: June TIOLI #23 (dog/cat cover), Reread

Summary: Retelling of Puss in Boots in early 1900s England

Opinion: This is my second favorite of Lackey's Elemental Masters series.

Rating: 8

135. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Reread

Summary: The widow, Ista, goes on a pilgrimage to reclaim a portion of her life

Opinion: Not as good as The Curse of Chalion, but still a pleasant read.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Sebastian by Anne Bishop
The Way We Pray by Maggie Oman Shannon

On Deck:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Redwall by Brian Jacques

136. Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton

Genre:Urban Fantasy

Notes: June TIOLI #20 (awful cover), Next in series

Summary: Ongoing adventures of Anita Blake

Opinion: Mild SPOILERS Ahead

Same old formula. Gory body opening scene. Check. Bonding with Edward. Check. Feeding of ardeur with a stranger. Check. Woman-hating cop issue. Check. Sex issues angst. Check. New power saves the day. Check.

It is only saved from being awful because I am still able to scarf her books down in a couple of hours. It's an addiction, I tell you.

Rating: 6

137. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Genre: Fiction

Notes: Can't remember how this got on my TBR list, other people on LT were reading it

Summary: About people in an apartment building in Paris

Opinion: Honestly, I don't see the appeal of this book at all. It's all philosophy and no story. Maybe a third of the book is story and that is being generous. The rest is pontificating on various philosophical subjects which bored me. I skimmed much of it. Blech.

Rating: 4

>228 Morphidae: The Fire Rose is an old favorite of mine -- I've probably read it four or five times myself.

>230 Morphidae: I'm with you -- The Curse of Chalion is better than Paladin of Souls, although most of the comments I've seen indicate most LTers think the reverse. I'm pretty much willing to read whatever Lois McMaster Bujold wants to write...

>231 Morphidae: Addiction about covers it. Hardcover heroin?

Dejah_Thoris, at least I've learned not to buy them anymore.

So then, maybe I needn't feel guilty about not reading Hedgehog? I saw it yesterday in Borders and as much as I'd like to help that chain stay alive, I didn't purchase either that one or the other one (which title I can't recall at the moment although it was one that many here on LT recommended.)

jillmwo, no, don't feel guilty unless you are really into philosophy. Heck, don't even feel guilty then! Never feel guilty about book choices. We only have so much time!

138. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Genre: Fantasy (Children's)

Notes: June TIOLI #17 (unseemly occupation), 1001 Fantasy

Summary: A jailed thief is made an offer he can't refuse

Opinion: Unlikeable characters - the hero whined - and a traveling plot made this uninteresting to me even with the "surprise" reveals.

Rating: 5

139. Sword-dancer by Jennifer Roberson

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: 50 State

Summary: Del searches for her brother, sold to slavery, with Tiger's guidance

Opinion:

SPOILERS:

Shows its age with a lot of stereotypical behavior even though the heroine is supposed to be outside the norm. Too much "from frying pan into the fire" plot devices, not enough characterization. And I found out half way through the book that Del was NOT a nice person. It felt like a betrayal.

Rating: 5

oh argh, Morphy. I had been looking forward to reading The Thief. Now, not so much. I really really have to like the main characters to enjoy a book.

majkia, sorry! But I really did find him annoying as hell.

Happy birthday, Morphy!

Have a great weekend!

140. Sweet and Deadly by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Mystery

Notes: To complete bibliography

Summary: Everyone around the heroine is seeming to be getting murdered, why?

Opinion: Eh. It was an okay read if you can get past the dated racism and chauvinism. This was Harris' first novel and it shows but there is a hint of her enjoyable style.

Rating:6

141. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: June TIOLI #12 (nonfiction/fiction), LT Recommended, GD group read

Summary: A black woman's cells, taken without her consent in the 50s, become the basis for major medical scientific discovery

Opinion: Excellent book considering that I wasn't particularly interested in the subject matter. The author made it personal and compelling. I especially liked the relationship between Skloot and Deborah, Henrietta's daughter.

Rating:8

142. The Way We Pray by Maggie Oman Shannon

Genre: Spirituality

Notes: June TIOLI #12 (nonfiction/fiction), personal interest

Summary: Various ways we connect with the Divine

Opinion: I really wanted to like this book. I am interested in the subject matter but somehow the author made it dry and boring. I found some good ideas and references, so rated it higher than the writing itself warranted.

Rating: 6

143. Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer

Genre: Romance

Notes: June TIOLI #7 (flower), to complete bibilography

Summary: In 1940s Georgia, an ex-con marries a poor mother of three after seeing her advertisement for a husband in 1940s Georgia

Opinion: Lovely and compelling story. Spencer makes you love the characters who overcome challenges and grow throughout the book. The hero's bliss in such simple things as a haircut or being able to eat bread whenever he wants is endearing.

Rating: 8

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
The Bible by various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen

On Deck:
The Pretender's Crown by C. E. Murphy
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

144. The Pretender's Crown by C. E. Murphy

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: To complete bibliography

Summary: Continuing fantasy story of Belinda - assassin, witch, bastard - in alternate Elizabethan Europe

Opinion: The many characters have distinct personalities yet none are all that likeable which makes this a difficult book to me to enjoy. This is a violent, ugly world with rare moments of content. I'm hoping that the alien plotline becomes more woven in as more books are published in this series. It feels tacked on at this point.

Rating: 6

145. Unnatural Issue by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Urban fantasy

Notes: To complete the series

Summary: A mage desires to put his dead wife's soul into his daughter's body. The daughter thinks not.

Opinion: I was very intent on reading this book until I got tired of Suzanne's crush on Charles about half way through. Then it wasn't as much fun. He barely interacts with her and she goes to the extremes to be close to him. It isn't until the last page that she finally snaps out of it and it's only to change her attentions from one man to another. Otherwise a decent book and shows a little bit about what it what like at the beginning of World War I.

Rating: 7

I agree -- the crush on Charles was very annoying. I thought the best parts of the book had to do with WWI -- the rest was ok.

What did you think of the Lord Peter Wimsey homage? Did it work for you?

I've never read any Wimsey books, so don't know.

>247 Morphidae: That was a bad time to drink V8 with hot Tabasco sauce. I read the summary and I bursted out laughing. A mage would do that.

Goodness.

I wish I could find the time to devour books like you...

Impressive.

248 - Now you have me all curious, being the avid fan of L.P.W. that I am. What sort of homage was it? Did she get in trouble like Laurie R. King did with the Sayers estate?

Missed one. This should have been #144.



146. Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen

Genre: Fiction (it is classed mystery, but there was no mystery!)

Notes: June TIOLI #23 (dog/cat cover), brother recommended

Summary: An ecoterrorist fights against an island's development by stealing a lobbyist's dog and wife.

Opinion: I liked the mad hijinks yet it was a little too violent and crime ridden for me to really like any of the characters except for maybe the lobbyist's wife. I could sympathize with the ecoterrorist; however, his methods made me uncomfortable. Fun but flawed.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Daily Book of Art by Colin Gilbert (Bathroom read)
The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard F. Burton (SantaThing)
The Bible by various (for literary/cultural reasons rather than religious)
Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
What I Eat by Peter Menzel
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

On Deck:
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy
Hanging by a Thread by Monica Ferris
Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

147. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

Genre: Fiction

Notes: Ultimate Reading List, LTMP, GR 5.10 Summer Fun

Summary: Sidda opens mouth and inserts foot. Southern Mother Vivi disowns her. The Ya-Yas come to the rescue.

Opinion: This is the first book in awhile that I immediately wanted to read again as soon as I finished it. I didn't want it to be over. I loved the friendship between the Ya-Yas. The relationship ups and downs between Sidda and Vivi. The exquisite painful losses handled with grace, however dysfunctional. The descriptions of food, place and family. My only issue, and what kept it from being a 10, is how the flashbacks were handled. They didn't quite fit. But I laughed, I cried, I giggled, I nodded in agreement - I loved this book.

Rating: 9

Quotes:
"My mother is not the Holy Lady, she thought. My mother's love is not perfect. My mother's love is good enough. My lover's love is good enough. Maybe I am good enough."

"How tender can I bear to be? What good manners can we show as we welcome ourselves and others into our hearts?"

I love it when anyone learns that they are in fact "good enough"!

148. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: LT Recommended, SC 20.3 Something That Makes You Happy (reading)

Summary: Essays on books, reading and authors

Opinion: This started off excellent. I enjoyed the stories and his writing was evocative. But as I continued, Conroy became more and more wordy with lots of metaphors and by the end it was so florid I was having to skim. I think the essays at the beginning were his earlier work and when he got a heavier editorial hand. With more recent essays, editors let him have his way and that meant a lot of purple prose. I couldn't read the stories because the writing got in the way. Shame. He has a way with words that is beautiful and touching when not overdone.

Quote:
"… others choose to read because it offers one of the only safety nets where love and hope can find comfort."

Rating: 5

149. Hanging by a Thread by Monica Ferris

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #4 (locale), SC 20.5 Bigger is Better, To continue series

Summary: Ongoing story of an amateur PI and needlework shop owner

Opinion: I certainly don't read this series for the plot (or what there is of one.) I read it for the local flavor and the well-liked characters. I like reading about restaurants I've gone to, streets I know and places I've been. I read it for the tidbits about needlework and shop-keeping. The mystery was so-so but how she figured everything out was pretty lame.

Rating: 7

I've often wondered: what is it about cozy mysteries and Minnesota?

We have nothing better to do in winter! And winter is loooooooong...

*giggle*

>246 Morphidae:
I’ve been avoiding this series from C. E. Murphy because it looks so very grim. I have to say that your review doesn’t make me any more likely to get my hands on it. I didn’t realize that there was alien plot line in them – I’ll be curious to read your future reviews.

>247 Morphidae:-249
Morphy, I didn’t know you hadn’t read the Dorothy Sayers / LPW books. If I hadn’t been so amused by his appearance in the book I, probably would have liked the book even less than I did.

>252 MrsLee:
MrsLee – I loved the LPW bit by Laurie R. King; I thought it was spot on perfect. I didn’t know, however, that she’d had legal problems over it.

In Unnatural Issue the LPW homage is in the form of a main character: Lord Peter Almsley. I wrote about it on my thread here (it’s at post 77 – I can’t seem to get it to link directly to it). This is the second of Lackey’s books in which Lord Peter Almsley appeared, so I suppose she made it vague enough she got away with it.

261- Thank you for that, sounds as if she took a lot more liberty with the character than Laurie R. King did. I'm surprised she didn't hear from the estate! :)

150. What I Eat by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: June TIOLI #9 (food), SC 15.10 Reading is Easy, LT Recommended

Summary: Book of photos with essays about what 80 people from around the world eat in a day

Opinion: It is a lovely book and I learned a lot. I found it fascinating to see what people eat and was surprised at how popular hot and spicy food was especially outside the US. The authors are especially nice. I sent an email with a question and the reply was prompt and courteous.

Rating: 9

151. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Genre: Spirituality

Notes: June TIOLI #2 (foreign title), LTMP

Summary: Classic Chinese religious text

Opinion: Ugh. Another one where I'm grateful that it was very short. It was absolute nonsense and Orwell must have read it because it's lesson of "Ignorance is Strength" could have come right out of it. Black is White. Good is Bad. Action is Worse. Perhaps one day I'll read an annotated version and get more out of it. But not any time soon.

Rating: 2

152. Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: June TIOLI #9 (food)

Summary: Tales from a New York Times restaurant critic

Opinion: Oh what fun. I love her writing and her stories are humorous and touching. She dons all these disguises so the restaurant doesn't "make" her and she takes on the character she plays with all their strengths and weaknesses. Some are nice, some not so nice. But all are interesting.

Rating: 8

153. Rules of Prey by John Sandford

Genre: Mystery

Notes: June TIOLI #4 (locale), Ultimate Reading list, LTMP

Summary: Mystery/thriller set in Minneapolis about a serial killer, first in series

Opinion: The police detective, Lucas, is old style where he does things that no cop could get away with but perhaps wish they could. I'm on the fence on whether I like it or not. I'll try another in the series before deciding. It certainly moved right along but I don't know if I necessarily want to read more about a philandering, violent, law-breaking police detective.

Rating: 6

I recently read a book by John Sandford called Dark of the Moon. That was pretty good, and my first legit mystery book.

On to page two:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/119977