Dudes22's 2012 Bombs

Here I am again - trying to get some of the old books off the shelf and my nook. I'm setting a goal of 70 for this year. My rule is that it should be on my shelf before the new year starts.




TBR 1Jan 2012: 1004

Books Read:
2011: 27
pre-2011: 38
Actual Books: 60
Nook Books: 5
Books Purged: 3

Books Added:
Nook: 39
Actual: 180

Jan-Mar:

Jan:
1. Forgotten Country by Catherine Chung
2. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
3. The Alchemist by Paulo Chelho
4. A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly
5. Robbing the Bees by Holley Bishop

Feb:
6. Now & Then by Jacqueline Sheehan
7. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
8. Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith
9. The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseunonymous Bosch
10. Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
11. The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

March:
12. March by Geraldine Brooks
13. Still Life by Louise Penny
14. A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming
15. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
16. The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
17. The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal
18. House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Apr - Jun:

April:
19. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
20. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
21. Wings by Aprilynne Pike
22. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
23. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

May:
24. The Surgeon: A Novel by Tess Gerritsen
25. Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith
26. Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell
27. Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
28. The Maytrees by Annie Dillard
29. Behind A Mask by Louisa May Alcott
30. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
31. The Entitled by Frank Deford

June:
32. Thyme of Death by Susan Wittig Albert
33. Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg
34. The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
35. The Hours by Michael Cunningham
36. 2nd Chance by James Patterson
37. Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
38. Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
39. The Watchman by Robert Crais

Jul-Sep

Jul:
40. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
41. Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
42. 4th of July by James Patterson
43. The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
44. 5th Horseman by James Patterson
45. A New Leash on Death by Susan Conant

Aug:
46. Hangman's Root by Susan Wittig Albert
47. Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb
48. A Romance on Three Legs by Katie Hafner

Sep:
49. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
50. The September Society by Charles Finch

Oct-Dec

Oct:
51. Bread Alone: A Novel by Judith R Hendricks
52. October Sky by Homer Hickman
53. The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen
54. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
55. Durable goods by Elizabeth Berg
56. Pushing up Daisies by Rosemary Harris

Nov:
57. Lumby's Bounty by Gail Fraser
58. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
59. Crime Brulee by Nancy Fairbanks
60 Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron

Dec:
61 Just Desserts by Mary Daheim
62. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle
63. A Hamptons Christmas by James Brady
64. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
65. The Chocolate Cat Caper by JoAnna Carl

Hi Betty, I'll be here to root you on!

Now I'm ready to start!

We're all rooting!

Woo hoo!!!!

Thanks all! It's rather ambitious for me, but I have great hopes. Maybe I'll also be encouraged to spend more time on the treadmill with my nook. Of course I'm also hoping to limit what I add to my shelves. So I may add in another ticker to keep track of that.

I've decided to add "Books Purged" to my tracking as I realized when reviewing my nook list that one book I had added was only a sample so I'm deleting it from my library.

Well, I'm finally getting a chance to update some of the reading I've been doing this year.

Book 1: Forgotten Country by Catherine Chung

I got this book as an ER book just last month, but that squeezes it onto my shelf in 2011, so it counts as coming off. I enjoyed this book and have posted a copy of my review over on my thread in the 12 in 12 challenge. Basically the story of a Korean family that returns to Korea when the father is diagnosed with cancer. About family and relationships.

Book 2: Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

I loved Lisa Genova's first book Still Alice and this one is just as good. Sarah is a woman who has it all - a good job that she loves, a great husband and 3 great kids. She multi-tasks daily and somehow manages to get it all done. Until one day, while searching for her cell phone, she has a car accident. She ends up in the hospital with Left Neglect, a condition where her brain doesn't recognize anything on her left side. Although this story is fiction, Left Neglect is a real condition, somewhat similar to a stroke. How she rehabilitates, her struggles, and a sub-story of her relationship with her mother make for a great story.

I copied this from the 12 in 12. Just seemed easier. Still having trouble getting my act together this year.

I decided to take some time yesterday to rearrange some of the bookcase in an effort to find some more room and to figure out what was where so I can find a book when I want to read it. As I was going through my LT list and comparing it to the shelves, I realized that I still had a book in my TBR collection that I read while we were on vacation in Nov. It doesn't really save me any space since it was on my Nook but at least the TBR list does go down. Still have a few more shelves and the closets and the bags stashed away to be done, but I started.

Yes! Good for you! I just got rid of two books from my shelves that I haven't read, and I'm ridiculously happy with myself. I'd still like to read them at some point in the mystical, all-encompassing "future", but the library has them. Keep on going, Betty!!!

Spent another few hours yesterday (between shoveling times) going through the last two shelves of the bookcase and both closets where I have books stashed. All that's left now is the 5 (or 6) bags at the back of the closets. Then I should at least know where things are so I can find them for my 12 in 12 challenge. Found a few duplicates which cleared a little space. Hoping to get in a bit of reading today before preparations start for the football games.

Book 3: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

A fable of a shepard boy from Andalusia who travels to the Pyramids in Egypt to find his Personal Legend and treasure. His growth as he makes the journey, listening to his heart and the natural world around him was a wonderful story.

Book 4: A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly

This one was bought in Dec for the 12 in 12 TIOLI challenge so not in the TBR pile too long. The story of a free, black man in New Orleans in the 1830s at Mardi Gras time. A woman is murdered and he solves the murder so he won't be hanged for it. It was slow going at the beginning, but picked up in the middle with a few surprises at the end.

A glimpse into a very interesting and strange society. I've enjoyed the Free Man of Color series very much.

Book 5: Robbing the Bees by Holley Bishop

This is not a book about raising bees, but a history of bees and beekeeping throughout history. A few years after Holley Bishop started keeping bees, she decided she wanted to write a book as a sort of tribute to bees. Because she considered herself only a hobbyist, she tried to find a professional who had more experience than she did. Of the 20 people she asked, only one was willing to have her visit and take time away from his work to explain and show her various aspects of beekeeping. That along with what must have been a massive amount of research has produced a very readable, detailed book about bees. She intersperses information about how a present day beekeeping operation works with historical information/stories.

Will be passing this to my brother who tried to start a couple of hives last year on his farm only to lose both when we had a tropical storm come through. Hopefully, he'll try again this year.

Sounds interesting, Dudes.

Well - I'm pretty sure that I won't be finishing any more books tomorrow, so I'm going to post my numbers.

TBR Jan 1: 1004
Books Added: 20
Total Bombs Read: 9
Bombs from Prior to Jan: 4
TBR Jan 31: 1015

Only the first month and I'm still headed in the wrong direction. And I'm reading more new than old. Oh well - I'm going to press on.

Good luck, Betty, with the "heading in the right direction". It's hard to maintain your course when there are so many enticing books out there!

Thanks DQ! I'm hoping to get back on track this month, as short as it is.

Book 6: Now & Then by Jacqueline Sheehan

Time travel back to Ireland in 1844. Anna and her nephew Joseph end up in different places in Ireland. One gets life of privilege and one is poor and struggling. How Anna tries to find her nephew so they can return to the present. Ok book but not as good as her first.

Book 7: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

My first Fforde after reading about him on many threads here on LT. I probably missed some of the literary references but still found plenty to enjoy. Am planning to read the next one later this month.

Book 8: Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith

This is the second in the Isabel Dalhousie series. I wasn't sure when I read the first one whether I really liked the series or not, but I find that it's growing on me. Isabel is the editor of the Review of Applied Ethics and a philosopher so everything she sees, hears, notices and/or reads is a reason for philosophical, moral, and ethical consideration. In this book, shstemsts a man who has had a heart transplant and believes he is experiencing memories of events that never happened to him. The mystery of why this would be definitely takes a back seat to the intellectual ruminations.

Book 9: The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

This children's book is a mystery about two children who get involved in finding a magician's brother, finding a classmate who has been kidnapped, and having an adventure. I was thinking I didn't really care about the writing style, but, then again, I'm not a 10 year old. And I'll probably still read some of the others in this series.

Book 10: Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde

Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde is the 2nd book in the Thursday Next series. Although I enjoyed the first book, I found it a little slow going. I enjoyed this book more. There are more word plays, more action, and more books involved in the mystery. There's a lot going on. Thursday's new husband is eradicated and getting him back becomes Thursday's main priority. Meanwhile, she's in trouble with Special Ops again, the Goliath Co is after her again, and she needs to save the world. I'm looking forward to continuing this series and trying some of his others.

This will probably be the last book for this month as we leave on vacation this weekend. I'm a little behind where I should be, but a week of sun and books should catch me up and even put me a little ahead. But I'll wait till Sat to do my summary.

Was that the one with Mrs. Havisham? I didn't read the whole series but she was my favorite character from the ones I read.

Yes that's the one. I think my favorites were Officer Phodder and Officer Kanon, although their appearance was very brief :)

Book 11: The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

This is one of the chick-lit books where the reader learns of the problems and solutions of a group of women and how they support each other. Although not anything new, it was a pleasant read.

Well, the hubs and I are off on a sun and book-reading vacation tomorrow, so I'm going to do my summary today and count everything from vacation in March.

TBR 1 Jan: 1004
Books Added: 33
Total Books Read: 16
TBR 29 Feb: 1021
Pre-Jan books read: 11

Although I'm still adding more to the TBR pile than are coming off, only 24 of the 33 books were "real" books (only 24?). And since 12 of the 16 books I read were "real" books, that means I've actually only added 12 books physically to the house. Whew! That's not as bad as I thought. But next week will be mostly nook books, so not a lot of progress there. Off to update the ticker, then take the dog to "camp", and then to pack.. see you all in a week.

Have a lovely vacation, Betty!

Thanks! I had a great, relaxing week with plenty of reading time.

The postman left 5 books from Bookmooch when the mail came today, so I'm thinking my TBR is still going in the wrong direction. Going to try and find some time later tonight to update the books I read while on vacation.

Well - here is what I read while on vacation:

Book 12: March by Geraldine Brooks

I really enjoyed this book about the father from the book Little Women. I thought the author “fleshed” out the character so that you understand why he is the way he is, what led him to the chaplaincy, and how conflicted he was. You could almost forget he was a fictional character and this was not the biography of a real person. I was impressed in the authors afterward with the amount of research she did and how she decided on what type of man to make him. I also thought her characterization of Marmee was something I could believe. I may have to go back and read LW again.

Book 13: Still Life by Louise Penny

I too have now joined the throngs in love with Inspector Gamache and the village of Three Pines. When a murder takes place in the village of Three Pines outside of Quebec, Inspector Gamache comes out to solve the murder. His contemplative style of listening and mulling helps him discover who the murderer is. I’m hoping to fit the 2nd one in later this year.

Book 14: A Fountain Filled With Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming

The 2nd in the Rev Clair Fergusson mystery series. In this one, a series of attacks over the 4th of July weekend appear to be linked to the fact that the men are gay. But is that really true or is there some other reason? There’s also a conflict in the town over the building of a resort/spa. When one of the men dies, who is the developer of the resort and is also gay, it becomes a murder and Clair is the one who finds the body. Chief Van Alstyne is not happy with the amount of involvement she wants/seems to have but that doesn’t stop her. There was one part where Clair goes to a party in order to snoop and gets mildly intoxicated that I found hilarious.

Book 15: The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

The 2nd book in the Stieg Larsson trilogy opens with Lisbeth traveling in the Caribbean but she soon returns to Sweden. The magazine Millennium and her friend Mikel are going to print an expose about the sex trade, and when two of the journalists are found murdered Lisbeth is the prime suspect. This book is also violent as the first was. You also learn a lot more about Lisbeth’s past and the ending was quite open.

I read more but those are what count for here. I seem to be reading a lot of books that I aquired last year and letting the older ones stay on the shelf. I'll have to see if I can get some older ones off.

I have not read March yet, but I know that Little Women was loosely based on Louisa May Alcott's family. I don't know how much Geraldine Brooks draws on that but Mr. and Mrs. March were orignally based on Alcott's parents so there might very well be some biographical fact thrown in there :)

She does mention in her afterward that she drew heavily on some material both from Bronson Alcott's journals and other biographies of him in developing the character of March in her book. But she also mentions ways that she made the character different than Alcott too.

Book 16: The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

When Emily’s marriage ends in divorce, she decides to leave New York and go visit her aunt on Bainbridge Island in Washington state in The Violets of March. When she arrives there, she finds an old, red velvet diary from 1943 in the drawer in the nightstand. Being a writer (although she’s had writer’s block for something like 8 years) she is drawn to the story being told. She wonders if maybe it could be fact.

There’s also some family friction between her aunt and her mother that she wants to fix. She figures out that the rift between her aunt and mother are somehow tied to the book and she’s determined to find out how.

Although I ended up liking the book and thought the author did a good job of connecting all the parts, there were points at the beginning which I thought were somewhat contrived. Every time Emily tries to engage her aunt in conversation she changes the conversation, leaves the room, ignores Emily, etc. I thought that device was used just a little too much. But I do look forward to more books from this author.

Book 17: The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O’Neal

Elena Alvarez is finally offered the chance to be head chef at a restaurant in Aspen, Co. For many years, she has been slowly climbing the ladder and now developing her own recipes for a first-class restaurant is within her grasp. She brings her share of ghosts with her – she was the lone survivor of a car accident in her teens which left her with lingering problems which she mostly chooses to ignore.

The owner of the restaurant is a famous film director and he comes to Aspen with his teenage daughter to get her away from LA as well as to open the restaurant. Of course, he becomes the love interest in the book.

There are difficulties with the other chef who was kept on as well as the headaches of getting a staff up to speed and a few other entanglements I won’t mention here. Overall a good book – the writing style drew me right in and I couldn’t wait to finish it. There are also a few recipes sprinkled here and there in the book. It could be called chick-lit to those who are adverse to that style, although I chose to put it in my food category.

Book 18: House Rules by Jodi Picoult

This Picoult novel is about a young man who has Asberger's and is arrested for murder. You can see that she has done extensive research in writing this book.

March Summary

TBR Jan 1: 1004
Books added: 49
Totals books read: 25
Pre-2012 Books read: 18
TBR Mar 31: 1027

Physical Books Added: 39
E-books Added: 10
Physical Books Read: 19
E-books Read: 6

Somewhere my count is out by 1. Guess I’ll need to go through my shelves and get a real good count. And I’m still adding more than reading. And pretty soon the library sales will start.

Book 19: Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

Written as a series of letters, this book tells the story of a fictional island - Nollop - off the S. Carolina coast where Nevin Nollop is venerated for his phrase "the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" which uses all 26 letters of the alphabet. There is a statue which honors him with his pangram and the alphabet and, when the tiles start to fall off, the High Council decides to ban the further used of those letters which have fallen with escalating penalties for their use. As communication becomes more difficult, the islanders get the High Council to agree to bring the letters back if someone can create another pangram which is shorter than the original by a particular date.

The book is slim and reads quickly until the tiles start to fall off and the letters in the book lose letters at the same rate. The author shows imagination and skill in telling the story within the confines he has created within the book.

SPOILER: You know in the end another phrase is created, but I wonder if it's something the author thought up or if it's just another one that's been around that I've not heard before. Since it fits in with the story so well, I think not, but I could be wrong. It's been known to happen.

I can't believe it's almost the middle of the month and I'm just posting my first book of the month. I've been reading, just not finishing. I'm going to try and buckle down this weekend and finish a few more. I'm kind of behind where I should be this month.

I've not finished much this month, either -- and most (maybe all) of what I've finished was started last month

Book 20: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

A cute YA book about an 11-year-old girl, interested in chemistry, who uses her knowledge to solve the mystery of why someone was murdered in her cucumber patch.

ETA: actually, the cucumber patch has very little to do with the story. I just liked the sound of it...

ETA: actually, the cucumber patch has very little to do with the story. I just liked the sound of it...

LOL! I like the sound of it, too.

Book 21: Wings by Aprilynne Pike

A young adult book about a 15 year old girl who finds out she's a faerie. Not much else to say.

Hit my first library sale today while on an errand for work (hey - I used my lunch hour). Some for Books for Keeps, some to go on Bookmooch, and some for me. Probably too many for me. Will probably be a disastrous month, numbers-wise.

Book 22: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

A YA book about time travel.

Book 23: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Interesting book about a concierge in France and the tenants in her apartment building particularly a young girl who is contemplating suicide and a new tenant who shakes up her world.

Still need to do my summary - but - in the meantime - saw this on NPR today and thought folks here would appreciate:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2012/05/01/151378285/a-book-about-bookshelv...

Hope that link works

April Summary:

TBR Jan 1: 1004
Books added: 76
Totals books read: 32
Pre-2012 Books read: 23
TBR Apr 30: 1048

Physical Books Added: 63
E-books Added: 13
Physical Books Read: 25
E-books Read: 7

Well - 2 library sales didn't help my TBR pile this month. Must go read....must go read....

Book 24: The Surgeon: A Novel by Tess Gerritsen

The first book in the series that the TV show "Rizzoli & Isles" is based on. A serial killer is murdering women and removing their wombs.

Book 25: Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith

The 3rd book in the Precious Ramotswe series about The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. More of her figuring out what's going on in Botswana. Nice light reading for a lazy Saturday.

I just received my March ER book and a friend lent me the 3rd book in the Hunger Games trilogy, neither of which will count toward this challenge and both of which I feel I must start and read immediately in addition to all the other books I've started. Should be a busy month.

Book 26: Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell

I just couldn't find a reason to finish this book. Based on the columns she wrote for he "New York Observer", and the loose base for he HBO series, this just wasn't my cup of tea. The author says in her intro that it's an unsentimental look at relationships; I say it was cold and bleak.

Went to a library sale today. Got a few books for Books for Keeps, a few for my husband, and 13 that will be going into my TBR pile. So still moving in the wrong direction despite promises I made to myself.

Book 27: Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

After trying Sex and the City and not liking it, I decide to give one of her novels a try. This book was okay, but I just couldn't find a reason to keep going after the half-way point. So I'm going to abandon this and go on to something else. I have 2 more books in the TBR pile by her that I'll probably try to find and skim this weekend and then maybe purge them also. Life's too short....must read on!

Oh - BTW - A couple of library sales this weekend...

Book 28: The Maytrees by Annie Dillard

Another book I just couldn't really like. Great descriptive language but too "stream-of-conscience" type of writing for my tastes.

Book 29: Behind A Mask by Louisa May Alcott

Four short stories written by LMA before her most famous Little Women when she was writing “blood and thunder” stories for newspapers to help support her family.

Book 30: 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Slim book containing letters of a 20 year correspondence between Helene Hanff and an employee of Marks & Co, booksellers in London. Very entertaining.

63 - Did you watch the movie? It is quite well done and enjoyable.

No I didn't know there was one. Maybe I'll try to find it somewhere.

Book 31: The Entitled by Frank Deford.

Fictional baseball story by Frank Deford, a sports commentator for NPR.

May Summary:

TBR Jan 1: 1004
Books added: 108
Totals books read: 43
Pre-2012 Books read: 31
Books purged: 2
TBR Apr 30: 1067

Physical Books Added: 95
E-books Added: 13
Physical Books Read: 36
E-books Read: 7

I had a good reading month, but once again, library sales were my downfall. And my favorite one is in June - oh well. I'm well prepared for the book famine.

Book 32: Thyme of Death by Susan Wittig Albert

Thyme of Death is the first book in the China Bayles cozy mystery series. China Bayles, once a defense lawyer, has quit law and bought an herb shop in Pecan Springs, Tx. When her friend Jo dies, it appears to be suicide to everyone except for their friend Roz who is convinced it is murder. The story has plenty of twists and turns along the way to the discovery of the murder. This is the second book lately where I was pretty sure I knew who the murderer was fairly early on - and - yes - you guessed - I was wrong again. I enjoyed this first book and have a bunch more on the TBR pile which I'm looking forward to reading.

Nothing to do with the story, really, but the descriptions of the clothing that the people in Pecan Springs wear conjured up some interesting pictures in my mind.

Book 33: Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg

A story of women's friendships and how a group of women come together to help a friend who is dying of cancer.

I've got Thyme of Death in my short stack of TBR Soon. My Mom is a big fan of this series and the Beatrix Potter one by the author, and she's been pushing me to start China Bayles. Glad you liked it - and that you were wrong! I always like when that happens to me. :)

Book 34: The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

Another of Ms DiCamillo's children's books about a young boy searching for his sister who he thinks is dead.

Book 35: The Hours by Michael Cunningham

The 1999 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction. Written as a take-off/enhancement of the Virginia Woolf story Mrs Dalloway.

I went to one of my favorite library sales today (called in sick to work - shhh!). Prices were a little higher than I remember from last year. Got a nice big haul for Books for Keeps, but also got a nice big bag for me. My TBR pile is definitely headed in the wrong direction.

ETA: BFK - 54, Me - 27, Husband -1

In preparation for the Jul TIOLI over on the 12 in 12 challenge group, I decided to reread the first 3 books in James Patterson's "Women's Murder Club" series. I picked up 1 & 3 earlier this year at a library sale, so only #2 counts for this challenge.

Book 36: 2nd Chance by James Patterson

Second book in the series about 4 women - homicide detective, reporter, medical examiner, and district attorney - who jointly solve murders.

Book 37: Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss is a lighted-hearted look at the ins and outs of punctuation. Ms Truss is a British writer so I didn’t recognize some of her references, but I still liked the book a lot. She explains some of the history of the different punctuation marks, the rules for use, and some of the differences between British and American usage. In the last chapter she even explores how email, texting, and other new communications are changing punctuation.

Book 38: Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout

Amy and Isabelle is a book about a mother and daughter in a small New England mill town and the difficulties they have communicating with each other and the secrets they keep inside.

Book 39: The Watchman by Robert Crais

The Watchman is the first in a second series by Robert Crais. The maincharacter is Joe Pike, an ex-marine, ex-LAPD cop, ex-mercenary private eye who is trying to keep a rich bad-girl-type alive from a drug cartel. Plenty of shoot-em-up fun.

I definitely won't be finishing anything else this month so I thought I'd plug in my stats for the month/year

2012 BOMBS - June YTD Summary
TBR Jan 1: 1004
Books added: 157
Totals books read: 55
Pre-2012 Books read: 38
Purged: 2
TBR Jun 30: 1104
Physical Books Added: 135
E-books Added: 22
Physical Books Read: 48
E-books Read: 7

Well a little more than half of what I've read so far is from before this year and I'm reading more actual books than e-books, but I'm still acquiring more than I'm reading.

Book 40: The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais

First book and first in the Elvis Cole series. Elvis is a PI who is hired to find a missing husband and son which of course ends up being more involved than that. Decent first book - I'll be continuing with this series.

Book 41: Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Doris Kearns Goodwin's memoir about growing up in the 50s in Brooklyn and her love of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Baseball fans will recognize many of the names of the players she followed and the rivalry between the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees as they race each year toward the World Series.

Book 42: 4th of July by James Patterson

The 4th book in the Women's Murder Club series about an San Fransico police woman who is sued for shooting 2 teenagers. While taking time off before the trial, she stays at her sister's house a few miles down the coast and gets involved in a series of murders in town which may relate to one of her unsolved murdersf rom 10 years ago. Fast-paced and a twist at the end.

Wait Till Next Year was one of my BOMBS this year, too.

You're making great progress on this challenge!

>82 tymfos: - I wonder if that's why I moved it up my list...hmmmm

Book 43: The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand

Summer read type book about a restaurant on Nantucket and the dramas that go on there; food, love, romance, celebrity, etc.

The food descriptions made my mouth water and I wanted to head to Nantucket to eat at this fictional restaurant.

Book 44: 5th Horseman by James Patterson

The 5th book in the Women's Murder Club series. This time one story is about women who are being killed and then posed in cars in public places and the other one is about patients in a hospital mysteriously dying when they should be getting well.

Book 45: A New Leash on Death by Susan Conant

First book in a dog lover's cozy mystery series. Just what I needed this week. There was actually quite a bit of information on malamutes and dog training.

I'm not going to finish any more this month, so I thought I'd post my update today while I had a little bit of time.

2012 BOMBS - Jul YTD Summary
TBR Jan 1: 1004
Books added: 166
Totals books read: 63
Pre-2012 Books read: 45
Purged: 3
TBR Jun 30: 1106
Physical Books Added: 144
E-books Added: 22
Physical Books Read: 41
E-books Read: 4

I'm never going to break even for this year, but I don't care. As long as I can still find a place to put the books. I was hoping to make a big dent this summer, but it's turning out to be busier than I thought it would be.

Book 46: Hangman's Root by Susan Wittig Albert

I've been in a funk about work and nothing I was reading was holding my interest, so I decided to pick up something lighter to read. This is the 3rd in the China Bayles series. The mystery in this one has to do with animal testing and university grants.

Sorry that work has you in a funk, Betty!

Thanks Terri - I think it's going to be up and down for a while until they appoint a new supervisor and we see what's what.

Book 47: Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb

Julia leaves her abusive fiance and travels to her aunt in Oregon where she learns to deal with her past and choices and becomes a stronger person.

Book 48: A Romance on Three Legs; Glenn Gould's Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Piano by Katie Hafner

Glenn Gould was a classical Canadian pianist known particularly for his interpretations of music by Bach. During the height of his career, he became extremely attached to a Steinway piano known as CD 318. This book tells the story of how he came to be so attached to it. But it's much more than that. There's quite a bit about the history of the Steinway piano company; how pianos are made, what makes one sound and feel different from another, how artists are accomodated. There's also a lot about the man who was his principal tuner for the piano and other people who were instrumental in Steinway becoming the most famous piano company of the time. There was quite a lot of information packed into this relatively small book.

I'm not sure how I came to have this book; I suspect it was from a library sale before I was marking that in my library. I don't play (although I wish I did) and I hadn't heard of Glenn Gould before I read this. Whatever the reason, I'm glad I did.

Well, I'm done for this month: So here's my summary such as it is. I can't believe that my numbers didn't work in Jul, I can't get them to work for Aug, and I work with numbers everyday, all day. Somebody put me in the corner with an upside-down ice cream cone on my head.

2012 BOMBS - Aug YTD Summary

TBR Jan 1: 1004
Books added: 174
Totals books read: 68
Pre-2012 Books read: 48
Purged: 3
TBR Aug 30: 1107 ( but my collection total shows 1108)

Physical Books Added: 151
E-books Added: 23
Physical Books Read: 44
E-books Read: 4

Pressing on to Sep.

Betty, the book about Glenn Gould sounds fascinating! I studied classical piano when I was younger, and have a number of wonderful recordings (good old vinyl record albums) by Gould.

ETA to add OK, you got me with that book bullet! Added to my Ever-Expanding list. Looks like I can get it from inter-library loan.

I thought all the information was fascinating. I'm going to see if I can find some of his stuff on ITunes when I get a chance.

Julia's Chocolates is on my TBR this year (a friend chose it for me to read - I'm not really a women's fiction fan, so my expectations are fairly low, if I'm honest), and I really like Glenn Gould! Will have to add that one to my TBR pile. Hope you're doing well, Betty!

Book 49: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Finally finished my first BOMB for this month; I can't figure out what I was doing instead of reading this month. Although I liked the author's writing, it seemed to take me a long time to get through this.

Book 50: The September Society by Charles Finch

This is the second in the Charles Lenox series which I am really enjoying.

Only the second book for me this month; not sure where the time has gone this month. I'm a little behind, but hopefully will try and catch up so I can make it to my goal for this year. Too many new and shiny this year.

I agree about that new and shiny this year and I suspect that as Christmas gets closer it will just get worse. It makes it so hard to read the Oldies when you hear their siren song.
By the way, I also love Glenn Gould. I have several CDs of his piano interpretations. Fantastic pianist!

>99 Kirconnell: - It was the TIOLI over on the 12 in 12 that is at fault for me acquiring some extra nw ones this year and reading them right away. I really wanted to use the month name each month, so I ended up buying some books to do that. Might need to for Nov & Dec too. That and ER books.

Book 51: Bread Alone: A Novel by Judith R Hendricks

When Wynter Morrison is dumped by her husband of seven years, she runs away to Seattle and gets a job baking bread. Although somewhat typical of chick lit, I enjoyed the style of writing. Some of the dialogue sections were quite amusing. I'll probably read more of her books and I understand there is a sequel to this.

I've skipped my Sep summary because my reading for Sep was so abysmal. I'm hoping to do much better this month.

Book 52: October Sky by Homer Hickman

Homer Hickman's memoir about growing up in the coal country if West Virginia and his fascination with rockets after the launch of Sputnik by the Russians.

Book 53: The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen

In the 2nd in the Jane Rizzoli series, Jane's nemesis from book 1 returns and Gabrielle Dean arrives in her life. Also Maura Isles makes her appearance.

Book 54: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

First in a series about 4 orphans who agree to go on a secret mission to help Mr Benedict save the world. Very engaging.

It is a sign of my Sherlock obsession that when I read the title of Book 54, I immediately thought of dear Mr. Cumberbatch. I would totally read a book about HIM saving the world :D

>106 rabbitprincess: - Not a big Sherlock fan, so I'm not familiar with the reference, but - whatever works for you!

Book 55: Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg

Her first book and the first in her Katie Nash series. Good, quick read.

One more to tie my record of last year, but still 15 short of my goal for this year. There were too many new and shiny books this year.

Book 56: Pushing Up Daisies by Rosemary Harris

The is the first in a cozy mystery series about a /landscaper/gardener who finds the remains of a baby while working on a project for the local historical society. Couple of twist and turns and a little romance (of course). There were a few things that I found a little annoying, but a good book overall and I'll probably continue with the series.

Think this will be it for me for this month so I'll update the tickers and press on for next month.

I'm done for this month.
Total books read: 6
BOTS: 6 (that's good)
Books added: 8

So 2 more on the shelf than off. The only good thing(?) is that 7 of them were e-books, so only one taking up actual space.

Book 57: Lumby's Bounty by Gail Fraser

3rd in the Lumby series, this time revolving around a hot air balloon festival in town.

Book 58: The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

When Grace, who is nearing the end of her life, receives a letter from a director who is making a film about Riverton, it awakens memories of her life there as a housemaid. She decides to make a tape for her grandson about what life was like and what happened there. The story alternates between the past and the present and the events that shaped Grace's life.

Book 59: Crime Brulee by Nancy Fairbanks

This is a new-to-me cozy mystery. Carolyn Blue is in New Orleans with her husband who is attending a scientists' convention. After years at home raising her children, she's gotten an advance to write a book about dining in New Orleans based on an article she wrote for a local newspaper which was picked up by other newspapers in the chain. Three other couples from their student days are also going to be there and Carolyn has arranged a special dinner for them before the conference starts. One of her friends has a fight with her husband, storms out to the ladies room and then disappears. Except no one but Carolyn thinks she is missing.

Although I was a little put off by the writing style for the first few pages, I quickly came around and thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are wonderful descriptions of food and some recipes for New Orleans favorites. There were a few parts to the mystery that were funny and a few times where you (ok - I) wanted to reach through the book and give her a shake for being so dense. Just what a cozy should be.

The book made me want to rush out and plan a vacation back to NO. Beignets, cafe au lait, mufallettas, crawfish, Jackson Square.... I'm hoping the rest of the series takes me to other food-loving places.

Book 60: Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron

First in the Deborah Knott series. I've read a lot of good things about this series in various threads and I'm now a fan too. Will need to start collecting others in this series.

I really want to read that one. I "accidentally" read one from the middle of that series that I'd picked up at the library, and liked it. I want to start out at the beginning there.

Book 61: Just Desserts by Mary Daheim

First book in a series about a bed-and-breakfast. This one is like the game Clue. A family comes to the B&B because their house is being fumigated. The wife has hired a fortune teller to come and they are gathered because the husband is going to tell them about changes to his will. The fortune teller ends up murdered and there's a snow storm and it's up to the owner and her cousin to ferret out who did it since the police aren't making any headway. Lots of convoluted relationships.

Book 62: Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle

First in a coxy series. Brooklyn Wainwright, bookbinder & restorer, finds her mentor dead on the opening night of an exhibition. Lots of suspects and a little romance of course.

Book 63: A Hamptons Christmas by James Brady

A book that's been on my shelves since I started my TBR collection in 2009. Riff on "A Christmas Carol" that takes place in the Hamptons.

Book 64: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Another of Sarah Addison Allen's delightful, mystical books about coming to terms with the past to move on to the future.

Book 65: The Chocolate Cat Caper by JoAnna Carl

This cozy series revolves around chocolate - good choice for the holiday season. When Lee delivers a batch of chocolates for her aunt's chocolate store to Clementine Ripley for a large party, her aunt sends along a separate box of amaretto truffles, Clementines favorite. But someone injects them with cyanide and soon Clementine is dead and Lee and her aunt are murder suspects. For once, my suspicions were mostly right about who the bad guy was.

I'm still 5 books short of my goal for this year. I think I'll throw in the towel here and start toward next year's goal since I've got some stuff to do today and tomorrow and will probably not finish another one. Too many new shiny books this year.