Book a Week 2017 - BW47: Happy Thanksgiving

[Robin M]

Happy Sunday and welcome to week 47 in our 2017 adventurous prime reading year.   Greetings to all our readers and those following our progress. Mister Linky is available weekly on 52 Books in 52 Weeks  to share a link to your book reviews.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.   I have much to be thankful for as our family gathers together this week to celebrate my sister’s 39^th wedding anniversary, remember my mom and brother in law’s brother who went to their eternal rest four years ago and my 58^th birthday. Egads, I’m not ready to be a senior citizen.  :laugh: 

 

 

I am also thankful for each and every one of you who has ever joined our 52 Book a Week family of readers and  sharing your bookish adventures.  I am thankful for all the wonderful conversations we have had, not only about books, but our lives as well.  I want to reassure everyone in our book a week extended family -  friends, adopted moms and aunties, past, present and future -  that that particular aspect of our group has not changed.  Your life adventures and interests are just as important as what you think about the stories you read.  There are not any restrictions as you are free to share as much as you are comfortable with.  I have always loved the wide ranges of thought and how we challenge each other to expand our reading as well as our thinking.   52 books has always been our cozy,  stress free zone where we can curl up and  talk about books and life, while we avoid some of the conversations  out on the chat board that can get a bit too contentious.  I apologize for creating some of that contention in the past weeks and promise to avoid doing so again in the future.

 

Our conversations have changed as we have grown over the years with life experiences.  Sometimes we are pushed outside comfort zones, which is a scary proposition in itself. However, without change, there is no growth.  Change sometimes creates adversity.  And with adversity comes the seeds of greater benefit. Our book a week group has weathered many changes over the years.  One thing that has been constant throughout – our love for books and our fellowship with each person who passes through, whether they visit for a day, a week, a month or many years. Our virtual revolving door is always open to old and new BaWer’s.  I’m thankful for all of you and am looking forward to next year.

 

And yes, I'm also thankful for books.  

 

 

 

Since we all have a cornucopia of books, read a book from your shelves or perhaps from the library this week: 

 

·         Has Thanksgiving in the title or any variation of thanks

·         about gratitude

·         has Thursday or the number 23 in the title 

·         Any of the symbols or synonyms of Thanksgiving

·         with Thanksgiving as the theme

·         with a turkey on the cover

·         a book with food and/or beverage on the cover

·         with a cornucopia on the cover 

·         any of the colors of the fall harvest

·         a book about food or drink

·         a book that takes place in England or New England States - Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island

 

Have fun following rabbit trails.

 

What are you reading this week?

 

Bonus questions:  What are you thankful for this week?

 

 

 

Link to Week 46

[Robin M]

I'm currently reading Faith Hunters second book in her soulwood series -  Curse on the Land as well as Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones.    James and I are almost finished with Fighting Terrorism which has been quite enlightening.

 

Edited November 19, 2017 by Robin M

[mumto2]

I am currently listening to Glass Houses which is the current Chief Inspector Gamache book. It was worth the wait :) and I am glad I decided to wait for the audiobook. The timing could have been a bit better because I was already part way through Runemarks by Joanne Harris for the Bingo challenge in the category of author who lives near you. Runemarks has been a pleasant surprise and I will finish it after I am done with Glass Houses. ;)

 

On my Kindle I am reading Hot Pursuit by Julie Ann Walker https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31676242-hot-pursuit?from_search=true which seems to be taking place in Cornwall as opposed to Chicago. This is a series many BaWer's were reading when I first joined the group but this particular book is being read for the P. Not bad and it does contain adult content.

 

I have also started Rosemary and Rue by one of my favorite authors Seaman McGuire https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6294549-rosemary-and-rue?ac=1&from_search=true. I tried this book at least once in the past and am a bit mystified why I abandoned it at 10% read (per my kindle) because it was developing nicely at that point!

[Ali in OR]

This week I finished Andrea Host's And All the Stars which I enjoyed and Nicholas Sparks' Nights in Rodanthe which wasn't quite my style but was fine. I'm now reading Paula McLain's Circling the Sun about Beryl Markham which I'm enjoying. That's my 52nd book of the year. In aiming for a prime number of reads this year, I thought I was going for 53 but I'll hit that too early so now I'm going for 59. 7 more books to read this year--expect them to be short and easy! Happy Thanksgiving and happy reading week everyone.

[mumto2]

Ali, Congratulations on 52!

[Matryoshka]

I finished 6 books this week. Some I'd been working on for quite a while and I just finally finished...

 

132. Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron - Mystery set in the south in the 90's.  The main character is a lawyer running for the office of county judge while simultaneously trying to solve the murder of a woman she used to babysit for 20 years earlier. I found this when looking for an Edgar award winner for Bingo.  But I had to use this for the Bootlegger square instead.  :)  4 stars.

 

133. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (ebook) - I took my time reading this, as my ratio of TR books was skewed to the hardcopy and I was trying to get through more of the latter.  I think I would have done well to have read this in a more concentrated timeframe, what with all the nested stories.  I feel like I may have missed some deeper themes.  But somehow I enjoyed the writing enough that I still really liked it. 3.5 stars (I rounded up on Goodreads - usually I round down, so closer to 4 than 3  ;) )

 

134. Clade by James Bradley - This is about the world as global warming hits the fan.  Mass extinctions, flooding, starvation, killer storms, disease.  It's told over a generation, kind of zooming in to a particular character and a particular time, then zooming out and zooming back in to a different character years in the future, over and over.  The characters are all part of an extended family (based in Australia) so even though years pass and the point of view is different, you 'know' everyone.  Somehow in spite of all of this I did feel connected to the characters and it has a hopeful ending (probably more hopeful than I could manage to see...)  For the Climate square. 4.5 stars (which I also rounded up on GR)

 

135. After the Quake by Murakami (audiobook) - A collection of short stories loosely connected by the fact that they all happen shortly after the Kobe earthquake, although none of the characters are directly affected by it, only indirectly.  This was my first Murakami, and I liked the quirky stories.  For the Murakami square and also for Topaz (mined in Japan!)  4 stars.

 

136. En busca del unicornio / In Search of the Unicorn by Juan Eslava Galán - Yes, I finally slogged through this.  I was a bit less annoyed at the ending, but that may be because I was so happy to get there.  The mindset of European medieval men on the cusp of the age of exploration was... not enlightened.  I am thinking of trying a new translation of the Song of Roland for the Charlemagne square, which will be full of that too.  Am I a masochist?  For the Middle Ages square, so that also gives me BaW Bingo blackout!  :hurray:  2 stars.

 

137. The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes (ebook) - about the composer Shostakovich, lots of pondering what it means to be an artist and to try to cling to some artistic integrity while also bending and compromising enough not to be hauled off, tortured and exterminated in the time of despotic dictatorship (Stalin).  A fine line.  For the Composer square. 3.5 stars (this one I rounded down  ;) GR needs half stars!) 

 

Currently reading:

 

- The Beet Queen by Louise Erdrich - Another one set up like Clade where we switch points of view and often travel years (though sometimes only hours) between close-ups of extended family.  But I'm liking this one too.  :)

 

- Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (audiobook) - I suddenly realized that many years ago I'd watched a few episodes of a TV version, I'm guessing from the BBC.  I stumbled across it, never knew what the heck it that bizarreness was (although I kinda liked it), and then missed the final episodes.  So looking forward to finally finding out how it wraps up!

 

- The Greenglass House by Kate Milford (ebook) - This was my Edgar Award pick.  Juvenile (or YA?) mystery; haven't gotten very far yet.

 

Coming up:

 

Looks like an interesting bunch of books to finish out the last few rows I have any hope of completing.  Another Indriðason mystery, maybe Roland (or Son of Charlemagne if I wimp out), Neil Gaiman... I have Women of the Klondike on tap for Gold Rush, but wondering a bit if I should pick something a bit more rousing, given my December deadline.  Any ideas?

Edited November 19, 2017 by Matryoshka

[Loesje22000]

I finished 2 books this week:

 

Digisick.

About the relationship between digital stuff and you brain, and if there is such a thing as digi addiction.

I am not medical or biological educated so I learned a lot about brains and could recognize certain effects by myself. The book was a little bit theoritical, so I missed something about ‘how to solve your problems’

 

I also finished the book I started in the banned books week:

The forbidden book about Mein Kampf

I want definetly to reread this book, as one has to keep her / his mind focused while reading it, which is not always my strength. It explains a lot about how Hitlers rethoric could work, and how much insight Hitler had in how people function, and used this to manipulate them.

 

 

I started a biography about Gertrude Bell.

[Mothersweets]

Good morning everyone!

 

Celia's House by D. E. Stevenson. This was a pleasant read that could be summed up as a pre-WW1 take on Mansfield Park. If anyone else has read this (Amy?) what did you think? https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25373093-celia-s-house

 

Agent to the Stars by Jon Scalzi. I loved this!! The audiobook is read by Will Wheaton - fabulous! - and the story is a lot of fun. Heads up for swearing but my older teens and young adults have listened this one and thoroughly enjoyed it, too. :) https://www.amazon.com/Agent-to-the-Stars/dp/B004FHZPZE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1511121239&sr=1-1&keywords=Agent+to+the+Stars&dpID=51%252B17U0qQTL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

The American Heiress by Dorothy Eden. This kept me turning the pages but I really had to think for a minute to remember what the plot was. :). While I was reading it, I had to check and see when it had been written because it was set in 1915 but felt modern and apparently was first published in 1980. The premise was intriguing but it just felt a bit off every now and then. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19021423-the-american-heiress

 

I'm thankful for the good health of my family (my oldest dd was diagnosed and treated for cancer in 2015/16 and has since had a clean bill of health!) and my oldest son is getting married next year to a lovely young woman. :)

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my BaW friends! 

[Kareni]

To those celebrating ... 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

... I have Women of the Klondike on tap for Gold Rush, but wondering a bit if I should pick something a bit more rousing, given my December deadline.  Any ideas?

 

Is it this book you're thinking of reading, Women of the Klondike by Frances Backhouse?  I read this a few years ago for my book group.  While it was of interest, I would not call it rousing or gripping.  I have no suggestion to proffer but hopefully others will come through.

 

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Matryoshka]

Is it this book you're thinking of reading, Women of the Klondike by Frances Backhouse? I read this a few years ago for my book group. While it was of interest, I would not call it rousing or gripping. I have no suggestion to proffer but hopefully others will come through.

 

Yes, that's the one. I think I saw it go past in my GR feed at some point, and I usually like histories told from the women's point of view, so that's why I picked it... but flipping through it, it isn't immediately grabbing me. At least it's short! - but that's what I said about that unicornio book... Edited November 19, 2017 by Matryoshka

[aggieamy]

Reading with a theme again.  I'm rather fascinated with the Camino at the moment.

 

38. "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas.  I've been listening to this while I walk for exercise every evening for the past two months, and finally finished it tonight.  Enjoyable on the whole.  Occasionally got a little bored with the detailed descriptions of things.

 

37. "The One World School House" by Salman Khan.  Not about the Camino, of course, but I stumbled across it while I was at the library checking out every Camino book they had.  This is both the story of how the Khan academy came about and what he believes is the direction education should go.

 

36. "A Year of Living Prayerfully" by Jared Brock.  Well, he didn't actually walk the Camino.  He traveled to Santiago de Compostela by car, but I enjoyed the book anyway.  It's a lively account of how he studied the prayer traditions of several faiths by interacting directly with their communities for a year.

 

35. "10 Routes that Crossed the World" by Gillian Richardson.  This one is written for kids, but I found it rather dry.  

 

34. "The Road to Santiago" by Kathryn Harrison.  The author walked the Camino once solo, and then tried to take her 12 year-old daughter on another attempt.

 

 

Your unofficial theme could also be "books involving walking".

 

I finished 2 books this week:

 

Digisick.

About the relationship between digital stuff and you brain, and if there is such a thing as digi addiction.

I am not medical or biological educated so I learned a lot about brains and could recognize certain effects by myself. The book was a little bit theoritical, so I missed something about ‘how to solve your problems’

 

I also finished the book I started in the banned books week:

The forbidden book about Mein Kampf

I want definetly to reread this book, as one has to keep her / his mind focused while reading it, which is not always my strength. It explains a lot about how Hitlers rethoric could work, and how much insight Hitler had in how people function, and used this to manipulate them.

 

 

I started a biography about Gertrude Bell.

 

Did you read it as an ebook or paper book? Would you have read it in public?

 

Good morning everyone!

 

Celia's House by D. E. Stevenson. This was a pleasant read that could be summed up as a pre-WW1 take on Mansfield Park. If anyone else has read this (Amy?) what did you think? https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25373093-celia-s-house

 

 

I really enjoyed it. I'm a huge DE Stevenson fan. I listened to the audiobook and it's one that if I'm having insomnia I'll turn on the last hour of it and listen just to how happily everything gets fixed up.

 

It's a slow burn book though and one that I doubt would be published in modern times. I feel that way about most of her books and I think we're lucky that they have been reissued at all because there is an old fashioned feel to them.

Edited November 19, 2017 by aggieamy

[Loesje22000]

 

 

Did you read it as an ebook or paper book? Would you have read it in public?

 

 

.

I did not read the mein kampf it self.

But I read a book about it and heavily quoting it.

That book I bought and own myself as paperbook.

And even that I did not read it in public ( I seldom travel)

[Matryoshka]

I did not read the mein kampf it self.

But I read a book about it and heavily quoting it.

That book I bought and own myself as paperbook.

And even that I did not read it in public ( I seldom travel)

Do you do the BigBingo? I just had to think that that would work great for the "Book you'd be embarrassed to be seen reading in public" square.

 

Yikes, I'm mentally sorting other people's books! Must...step away...from the Bingo... :lol:

Edited November 19, 2017 by Matryoshka

[Zebra]

This week I finished Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler.   It was a modern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, and was fine.

 

I started (and read about 2/3rds of) The Guineveres by Sarah Domet.   I kept wanting to stop this book, I just didn't like the direction it was going in.   It was about 4 teenagers named Guinevere who were being raised in a convent school for various horrible reasons.   They all had nicknames and I couldn't keep them straight.  Beyond that, the book veered into too many topics that are too gross for me to want to read about.  

 

I am also reading The Pretty One by Lucinda Rosenfeld.   On the jacket it introduces 3 sisters who have names, but go by X Y and Z nicknames.   Just name your character the nickname people!  Also, if your character is named "Benjamin" do not be cute and call him "Ja" because that is annoying and clumsy.  I want to read a book, not write up a flow chart of who is what stupid nickname.  I almost skipped the book entirely because of the nicknames, and so far it's not thrilling me.   

 

[Kareni]

A couple of bookish posts ~

 

Five Books that Rewrite Magic, Myths, and Ballads  by Jane Yolen

 

When Time Stops: James Thurber’s The 13 Clocks  by Mari Ness

 

 

And some currently free books for Kindle readers ~

 

Davenport House  by Marie Silk

 

The Obituary Society  by Jessica L. Randall

 

A Journal of Sin (A Sarah Gladstone Thriller)  by Darryl Donaghue

 

Instant Pot Cookbook  by Luca Moretti

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Lady Florida.]

Audible has announced the Narrator Hall of Fame. Two of my favorite narrators are there - Davina Porter and Simon Vance. I love Jim Dale's narration of Harry Potter but I haven't heard anything else he narrates. I know several people who don't like his HP narration but I have a special place in my heart for him. Our little family of 3 used to listen to those audio books over and over whenever we traveled by car a good distance*. We did this for several years and we all have fond memories of those times. Alan Cumming is on the list and while I haven't listened to any books he narrated I can imagine he would be lovely to listen to.

 

*I'm currently listening to The Goblet of Fire because I couldn't decide what to listen to next after I finished my other audio book yesterday. 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2017 by Lady Florida.

[mumto2]

This week I finished Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler.   It was a modern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, and was fine.

 

I started (and read about 2/3rds of) The Guineveres by Sarah Domet.   I kept wanting to stop this book, I just didn't like the direction it was going in.   It was about 4 teenagers named Guinevere who were being raised in a convent school for various horrible reasons.   They all had nicknames and I couldn't keep them straight.  Beyond that, the book veered into too many topics that are too gross for me to want to read about.  

 

I am also reading The Pretty One by Lucinda Rosenfeld.   On the jacket it introduces 3 sisters who have names, but go by X Y and Z nicknames.   Just name your character the nickname people!  Also, if your character is named "Benjamin" do not be cute and call him "Ja" because that is annoying and clumsy.  I want to read a book, not write up a flow chart of who is what stupid nickname.  I almost skipped the book entirely because of the nicknames, and so far it's not thrilling me.

 

Someone read The Guinevere's last year and asdvised me I wouldn't like it and I think they were right! I do feel bad for you having to stop at 2\3 but sometimes you have to. I dislike characters with multiple names also.

 

Matryoshka, Congrats on the bingo black out. Only 3 more for me. Regarding the gold rush books I can only think of two, The Sisters Brothers which I didn't like and Boneshaker which is probably a huge stretch but I did like it. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1137215.Boneshaker?ac=1&from_search=true

 

Kathy, I wish I was better about learning the names of the narrator's I like. The only one I know is Ralph Cosham who was Inspector Gamache until his death and he doesn't appear to be on the list.

[aggieamy]

Finished: The Cat Who Lived High by Lillian Jackson Braun. Comfort book. Loved it. It was narrated by George Guidall who is one of my favorite narrators who is on the list Kathy posted for this years honorees.

 

https://www.audible.com/ep/NHOF_GeorgeGuidall

 

*drum roll*

 

With that reread I am now only six books behind on my goal of 101 books for the year. I need to get focused if I'm going to make it.

[Robin M]

 

136. En busca del unicornio / In Search of the Unicorn by Juan Eslava Galán - Yes, I finally slogged through this.  I was a bit less annoyed at the ending, but that may be because I was so happy to get there.  The mindset of European medieval men on the cusp of the age of exploration was... not enlightened.  I am thinking of trying a new translation of the Song of Roland for the Charlemagne square, which will be full of that too.  Am I a masochist?  For the Middle Ages square, so that also gives me BaW Bingo blackout!  :hurray:  2 stars.

:party: 

 

Congratulations on the BaW Bingo Blackout.  Pm me with your address and email so I may send your Bingo Prize Prezzie.   

[Robin M]

This week I finished Andrea Host's And All the Stars which I enjoyed and Nicholas Sparks' Nights in Rodanthe which wasn't quite my style but was fine. I'm now reading Paula McLain's Circling the Sun about Beryl Markham which I'm enjoying. That's my 52nd book of the year. In aiming for a prime number of reads this year, I thought I was going for 53 but I'll hit that too early so now I'm going for 59. 7 more books to read this year--expect them to be short and easy! Happy Thanksgiving and happy reading week everyone.

Awesome, Ali.  Congrats on reaching 52 and reaching  for more!  :hurray:

[Shawneinfl]

I am finishing up the audio version of The Handmaid's Tale (narration by Claire Danes) while crocheting a Christmas afghan for my oldest daughter. I'm taking sneak peaks at the Hulu version of the story but I don't want to get too far until I finish the actual book. I read this when it first came out and of course it's a much different read now that I'm much older and have a wider view of the world.

 

[huganum]

oh ... i really like yours he is cool HAPPY THANKSGIVING MY FRIEND

[Robin M]

I am currently listening to Glass Houses which is the current Chief Inspector Gamache book. It was worth the wait :) and I am glad I decided to wait for the audiobook. The timing could have been a bit better because I was already part way through Runemarks by Joanne Harris for the Bingo challenge in the category of author who lives near you. Runemarks has been a pleasant surprise and I will finish it after I am done with Glass Houses. ;)

 

On my Kindle I am reading Hot Pursuit by Julie Ann Walker https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31676242-hot-pursuit?from_search=true which seems to be taking place in Cornwall as opposed to Chicago. This is a series many BaWer's were reading when I first joined the group but this particular book is being read for the P. Not bad and it does contain adult content.

 

I have also started Rosemary and Rue by one of my favorite authors Seaman McGuire https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6294549-rosemary-and-rue?ac=1&from_search=true. I tried this book at least once in the past and am a bit mystified why I abandoned it at 10% read (per my kindle) because it was developing nicely at that point!

I'd forgotten about Glass Houses. Just put it on my list for next trip to Barnes and Noble.  :thumbup1:

 

I'm still on book 10 Fuel For Fire in Walker's Black Knight Series. I've enjoyed all of them so far. 

 

Glad to hear you got into Rosemary and Rue. I did the same thing, not getting into it at first, then tried again another time. Good series.

 

 

 

Off to eat dinner!   TTFN!

[mumto2]

I'd forgotten about Glass Houses. Just put it on my list for next trip to Barnes and Noble. :thumbup1:

 

I'm still on book 10 Fuel For Fire in Walker's Black Knight Series. I've enjoyed all of them so far.

 

Glad to hear you got into Rosemary and Rue. I did the same thing, not getting into it at first, then tried again another time. Good series.

 

 

 

Off to eat dinner! TTFN!

I am loving Glass Houses and have to say it is lucky I am listening to the audio version because the temptation to peek with a paper version would have been irresistible. I probably would have looked with a kindle too. ;) I am past the 75% mark and still not sure who the big criminal is and I generally know for sure by this point. I have turned it as off for the night which is a huge sacrifice because I would love to know the ending.

 

I have skipped a few of the Black Knight books and actually thought this one was the first in a new series by the author but that does not appear to be the case. Being out of order doesn't seem to be a problem.

 

Shawne, Glad you are enjoying The Handmaid's Tale on audio. It's another one I abandoned years ago. I wonder if I would enjoy the audio?

[Negin]

Kindle book on sale today. 

 

[Loesje22000]

Do you do the BigBingo? I just had to think that that would work great for the "Book you'd be embarrassed to be seen reading in public" square.

 

Yikes, I'm mentally sorting other people's books! Must...step away...from the Bingo... :lol:

240 is just a little too much for me,

And spreading about several years would not work for me.

 

As homeschooling happens at home I just read mostly at home...

[Butter]

I finished One Nation by Ben Carson.  While I agreed with some things he said, mostly he's an idiot.  And that's all I'll say about that because the book was political (though it's not just political stuff that made me think he's an idiot).

[Lady Florida.]

I'm resurrecting the alligator topic to point out that Florida doesn't only have alligators. We also have crocodiles. In fact, it's the only known place in the world where they both live.

 

Hollywood is between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, so we're not talking about a remote beach here.  :eek:

 

http://www.tampabay.com/news/bizarre/VIDEO-Crocodile-spotted-lurking-on-Hollywood-Florida-beach_162834297

[Kareni]

I finished a book that I quite enjoyed.  Now I'm eager to read books two and three in the series by this author, but sadly the library does not yet own them.  (I just finished putting in purchase suggestions.)  This book would be fine for teens as well as adults.

 

Linesman (A Linesman Novel)   by S. K. Dunstall

 

"First in a brand new thought-provoking science fiction series.

The lines. No ship can traverse the void without them. Only linesmen can work with them. But only Ean Lambert hears their song. And everyone thinks he’s crazy…

Most slum kids never go far, certainly not becoming a level-ten linesman like Ean. Even if he’s part of a small, and unethical, cartel, and the other linesmen disdain his self-taught methods, he’s certified and working.

Then a mysterious alien ship is discovered at the edges of the galaxy. Each of the major galactic powers is desperate to be the first to uncover the ship’s secrets, but all they’ve learned is that it has the familiar lines of energy—and a defense system that, once triggered, annihilates everything in a 200 kilometer radius.

The vessel threatens any linesman who dares to approach it, except Ean. His unique talents may be the key to understanding this alarming new force—and reconfiguring the relationship between humans and the ships that serve them, forever."

 

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

I'm resurrecting the alligator topic to point out that Florida doesn't only have alligators. We also have crocodiles. In fact, it's the only known place in the world where they both live.

 

Hollywood is between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, so we're not talking about a remote beach here. :eek:

 

http://www.tampabay.com/news/bizarre/VIDEO-Crocodile-spotted-lurking-on-Hollywood-Florida-beach_162834297

OK Kathy, you just proved me wrong in a recent disagreement with my ds. He argued vehemently that Florida had crocodiles but I stated maybe a few that people let loose. End of arguments because mom closed it down because Florida has alligators, everyone knows that. But 2000.....not so insignificant.

[Lady Florida.]

OK Kathy, you just proved me wrong in a recent disagreement with my ds. He argued vehemently that Florida had crocodiles but I stated maybe a few that people let loose. End of arguments because mom closed it down because Florida has alligators, everyone knows that. But 2000.....not so insignificant.

 

Sorry about that. :D

[mumto2]

I just finished listening to Glass Houses and it was wonderful! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34006116-glass-houses. A really well done mystery with surprises all the way through which I think was particularly hard to achieve because the book started with the ending and much of the story is told through Gamache's testimony at a trial for the undisclosed defendant for an unknown crime.

 

If anyone else listens to this audio book make sure to take the time to listen to the author's notes and Louise Penny's interview with Robert Bathurst, the new narrator for this series of books. I think the writers in this group would enjoy listening to her describe her writing process in particular. At the end Bathurst asked Penny what Three Pines means to her and her response paraphrased was safety and home. Probably why I love these books so much.

 

 

Kareni, Thanks for the Lineman review. I was able to locate them in my Overdrive and have been added to my wish list. Not sure if I added them for me or one of my dc's ;) but they do look like something we might like. Good luck with your purchase requests. Now that I have gotten in the habit of making requests via my overdrive they are being answered frequently so it definitely is worth while.

[Kareni]

Kareni, Thanks for the Lineman review. I was able to locate them in my Overdrive and have been added to my wish list. Not sure if I added them for me or one of my dc's ;) but they do look like something we might like. Good luck with your purchase requests. Now that I have gotten in the habit of making requests via my overdrive they are being answered frequently so it definitely is worth while.

 

I hope that you (or whomever) will enjoy the books, mumto2.

 

I haven't had much success with purchase suggests for Overdrive; however, my library/ies are often receptive to my suggestions for paper books.  I put in MANY requests.

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

And a bookish post from the Word Wenches site ~

 

Keeping a Book in Circulation—Regency Style!

 

Here's an intriguing post from the AtlasObscura site which I think is related to the book of the same name: Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders  ~

 

The Renaissance Knives That Will Have You Singing for Your Supper

 

ETA: One more post ~

 

Romance Wanderlust: Living at the Library

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Robin M]

Hello my lovelies!   Question of the day:  

 

What book are you most grateful for?

 

 

[Woodland Mist Academy]

I finished 2 books this week:

 

Digisick.

About the relationship between digital stuff and you brain, and if there is such a thing as digi addiction.

I am not medical or biological educated so I learned a lot about brains and could recognize certain effects by myself. The book was a little bit theoritical, so I missed something about ‘how to solve your problems’

 

 

I'm having trouble locating this book. Perhaps it's listed under different titles in different countries. Do you know the author's name?

 

I read The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains recently, and I'm curious about the book you mention. 

[mumto2]

Hello my lovelies! Question of the day:

 

What book are you most grateful for?

OK, I will give this a try!

 

I don't want to offend anyone but for my answer at least I would like to set the Bible to one side and essentially put it out of the running because for me it would be all to easy to give that as my answer. I am very grateful but I want to go in a different direction.

 

My answer isn't going to be terribly deep and profound but since I happened to read Robin's post before leaving on a walk I have thought about this a bit.

 

Another obvious answer would be the WTM which obviously brought us all together here on BaW which I am very grateful for. Wtm also to some degree made the home education journey that has been so important in my family's life possible. It gave me ideas when I had none and that book truly held my hand when I moved to a place where home education wasn't seen as quite the academic event I wanted it to be. It kept me from quitting several times.

 

But I am going to give a possibility silly answer in some people's eyes with a bit of background. My oldest brother is not someone who reads for fun. He most likely has some sort of an undiagnosed reading disability but did well enough in school so no one worried tremendously. I was also a late reader who thanks to my big brother could have easily been allowed to simply follow behind him. ;). The place we were living when I was in second grade was rural and remote which equaled no public library. My school was the afterthought of not a great school district but it had a small library stocked with what were probably the discards of the rest of the district. I don't want to paint a picture of having no access to books or no one read to me because that was not the case at all. My mom loved books and I had many but I simply had no motivation beyond being read to. I don't remember ever reading to myself for pleasure until I checked The Boxcar Children out of my school library. I was required to check a book out and pulled that one off the shelf because it was red. :). See I even remember why I picked it. I ended up loving it and read it many times while I was at that school. I also started devouring books after that and a public library branch was built the following summer.

 

So I will give the really weird answer of The Boxcar Children because it opened my eyes to the joy of reading for pleasure which changed my life.

[aggieamy]

The question of the day is really a deep one! I'm still thinking about it ...

 

But I am going to give a possibility silly answer in some people's eyes with a bit of background. My oldest brother is not someone who reads for fun. He most likely has some sort of an undiagnosed reading disability but did well enough in school so no one worried tremendously. I was also a late reader who thanks to my big brother could have easily been allowed to simply follow behind him. ;). The place we were living when I was in second grade was rural and remote which equaled no public library. My school was the afterthought of not a great school district but it had a small library stocked with what were probably the discards of the rest of the district. I don't want to paint a picture of having no access to books or no one read to me because that was not the case at all. My mom loved books and I had many but I simply had no motivation beyond being read to. I don't remember ever reading to myself for pleasure until I checked The Boxcar Children out of my school library. I was required to check a book out and pulled that one off the shelf because it was red. :). See I even remember why I picked it. I ended up loving it and read it many times while I was at that school. I also started devouring books after that and a public library branch was built the following summer.

So I will give the really weird answer of The Boxcar Children because it opened my eyes to the joy of reading for pleasure which changed my life.

 

:001_wub:

[aggieamy]

Finished another book! Yay for work deadlines and audiobooks!

 

Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck - Normally I love all his books. The plots are all something happening against the backdrop of rural Midwestern USA during the early 1900's. His characters are wonderful and larger than life. There's just a tiniest bit of romance. So charming. This book just lacked ... something ... that his other books had that made them so special. I'd only recommend this one to someone that has read every other book he's written.

[ErinE]

Along the same lines as mumto2, I'm grateful for a childhood book. I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when I was in middle school, and it was probably the first time that I found a "recommended reading" book that touched me deeply. Here was a book about an awkward girl trying to navigate a tough home life and she found comfort in her local library. I think it's a great book for anyone who loves reading and finds escape in a book store, library, and between the pages of a book. It's been many years since I've read it, so I probably should crack it open for a re-read.

 

Also, Harry Potter. I'm thankful my oldest daughter, who has resisted me for years now on reading HP, is devouring the first book and loving it. I haven't said it aloud, but I have thought, "I told you so" whenever she gushes about how great it is. I just agree and silently cherish my little moment of smug.

 

I just returned from a quick visit with my mother. It was a pleasure to walk around town with her and just visit. I'm grateful she's in relatively good health and making plans to stay that way as long as possible. It was also the first time my younger two had visited so they enjoyed bringing their special brand of chaos to Grandma's house.

 

Books read last week:

• Ghost Story by Peter Straub. Horror. A group of men gather to tell ghost tales and discover their stories may be coming true. I think I'm going to return the rest of my horror books unread.
• Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. Memoir. A former Marine and Yale graduate describes growing up in a poor Appalachian family. I found this a fascinating look at a particular culture, one that is characterized by not only a lack of economic opportunity but also a series of self destructive behaviors. I am one generation removed from a similar upbringing and have many less fortunate relatives who struggle with addiction. I can also see how wealthier relatives have more flexibility when it comes to those same behaviors. Financial and familial support makes a real difference in people's lives. Vance makes it clear that but for luck and a fierce supportive grandmother he would not be where he is today. He also had Amy Chua (of Tiger Mom fame) as his professor and mentor. Highly recommended.
• The Story of Human Language by John McWhorter. History - Linguistics. The history of human language and how it changes over time and across the world. I never thought this subject would interest me, but wow, McWhorter does a fantastic job of keeping his lectures engaging. Fascinating and highly recommended.
• The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. History - Finance. A prominent gadfly criticizes the use of algorithms in financial forecasting due to unforeseen, expensive, and significant events. The latter half saved my opinion of this book. Taleb makes fun of many, many people in an unkind way, but when he talks about his appreciation of Mandelbrot and the mathematician's theories, it showed a certain level of humility and humanity that was missing elsewhere. There's not many suggestions for alternatives, but with further research, it looks like Taleb is supporting additional mathematical analysis for his Black Swans. It articulated much of my problems with the book Homo Deus - that large computer algorithms are only accurate when real life chooses to conform. The book When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long Term Capital Management was much more approachable, but The Black Swan is a good companion book.
• The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh. Mystery. A young girl searches for her missing mother.
• The Quants: How a New Breed of Math Whizzes Conquered Wall Street and Nearly Destroyed It by Scott Patterson. History - Finance. A history of quantitative analysis and how the markets aren't as efficient or logical as prominent financial theorists argue. If you have a child interested in mathematics or physics and is considering a job in finance, contact me then give them this book. An excellent overview of many financial crises though it might be too detailed for someone less interested in the nitty-gritty of finance. The timeline is a bit jumpy and I found it difficult to follow some of the names (even though most were familiar), but it was an excellent book. Highly recommended.
• Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. Epic Fantasy. The uncle of a king wonders if he's the right person to unite humanity against a looming threat. Sanderson's prose can be clunky, but his worldbuilding is top notch and when he hits the climatic moment, his writing rivals any large-scale battle scene in the movies. His approach is cinematic, bringing the reader into an intimate character scene when there's a large scale confrontation. I especially enjoy how Sanderson, thus far, has no true evil or good characters. Everyone is motivated by what they feel are good intentions, and they all confront the moment when they wonder if they're doing the right thing. Sometimes there's too much philosophizing and I'm still not a fan of the main woman character, but the book is a well-done addition to the series. Gorgeous cover art, beautifully colorful interior pages, and other black and white drawings throughout. A true experience for lovers of epic fantasy. Recommended, but only if you've waded through the 2000+ pages of the first two books. This book is so heavy, I couldn't hold it for long while I was reading.

I'm listening to Broke, USA, a book about companies that provide financial services to the working poor, which has been an interesting listen thus far. I'm also planning on finishing all 11 books on my Goodreads "currently reading" shelf. It's making me a bit twitchy to have those books out there that I really do want to finish, especially my failed attempt to participate in the War and Peace read-along.

Edited November 21, 2017 by ErinE

[aggieamy]

• Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. Epic Fantasy. The uncle of a king wonders if he's the right person to unite humanity against a looming threat. Sanderson's prose can be clunky, but his worldbuilding is top notch and when he hits the climatic moment, his writing rivals any large-scale battle scene in the movies. His approach is cinematic, bringing the reader into an intimate character scene when there's a large scale confrontation. I especially enjoy how Sanderson, thus far, has no true evil or good characters. Everyone is motivated by what they feel are good intentions, and they all confront the moment when they wonder if they're doing the right thing. Sometimes there's too much philosophizing and I'm still not a fan of the main woman character, but the book is a well-done addition to the series. Gorgeous cover art, beautifully colorful interior pages, and other black and white drawings throughout. A true experience for lovers of epic fantasy. Recommended, but only if you've waded through the 2000+ pages of the first two books. This book is so heavy, I couldn't hold it for long while I was reading.

 

I don't read much fantasy anymore but it was a staple of my youth. The fantasy that I have read lately is Brandon Sanderson's (maybe Neil Gaiman if he's considered fantasy) and I agree completely with your assessment of his writing. That guys has an imagination that is incredible. He's got to be one of the most prolific modern writers too. He's writing between three and four hefty books a year.

[aggieamy]

Another idea for next year-

 

How about doing WWI book of poetry or novel during November for Veterans/Remembrance Day?

 

[aggieamy]

Just submitted my project. Hurrah. Now I can go to bed but I did notice that it's now the 21st which means that I think it's Robin's birthday.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[Lady Florida.]

BINGO BLACKOUT!

 

This is the first year I actually tried with bingo. Last year I got lucky and read some books that fit and gave me 2 rows. I didn't read any books that didn't interest me, but I did read some that I know I wouldn't have discovered if not for bingo. So...

 

B

 

Prime Number: Three Men in a Boat

Flufferton: Royal Blood (a Her Royal Spyness mystery)

Eastern Europe: The Cellist of Sarajevo

Bestseller Written in Child or Spouse Birth Year: Song of Solomon (my stepson Jason's birth year)

Steampunk: Mortal Engines

 

I

 

Science Fiction: The Time Machine

Your Name in the Title: Kathleen

Collection of Short Stories: Stories of Your Life and Others

Seaworthy: Burial at Sea (a Charles Lenox mystery)

Middle Ages: A Place Beyond Courage (my prize from last year's bingo)

 

N

 

Western: News of the World

Ancient (BC): The Histories of Herodotus

Free Space: St. Peter's Fair (a Brother Cadfael mystery)

Dystopian: Parable of the Sower (an IRL book club book)

Mystery: The Moving Finger

 

G

 

Translated: Norwegian Wood

Outer Space: Hyperion

Finance: Den of Thieves

One Word Title: Infidel

Debut Author: Hidden Figures

 

O

 

Over 500 Pages: Doctor Zhivago

Local Author: A Wedding Worth Waiting For (WTM's ktgrok, who lives not far from me)

Female Adventure: True Grit

Classic: The Good Earth

Selected by a Friend: The Ring of Solomon

 

[Nan in Mass]

From last week -

 

I love The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

 

I've read and reread a bunch of Trollope, too.  There are a few that I can't get through because they are too depressing.  I haven't read any recently and think I might find them more depressing now.

 

I generally like cemetaries, but I approach old ones with great caution.  They can be horrible.  The one in the town where I went to high school had one that had the grave of a man who had been "melted to death by extreme heat" - in other words, burned as a witch.  We come across old family graveyards every summer, sailing, and they are pretty depressing.  If you pay attention to the dates, you realize that you are reading about some poor woman who lost her 4 children under the age of 5, lost another 4 between the ages of 5 and 15, lost a bunch as young adults, lost her husband at sea when he was in his 40's, and lived until 80 herself, continuing to lose family members.

 

I loved Dumas's Three Musketeers!  I've reread it periodically throughout my life.  Time for another reread soon, I think!

 

I've run across enough strange things in my life that I am loath to rule out anything like speaking with the dead, but I want absolutely nothing to do with the sort of seancy stuff that goes on during Halloween.

 

Nan

[Kareni]

Just submitted my project. Hurrah. Now I can go to bed but I did notice that it's now the 21st which means that I think it's Robin's birthday.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

Hurrah for you, Amy!  And I'll second that happy birthday, Robin.

 

And yay for you with the bingo blackout, Lady Florida!

**

 

Some currently free books for Kindle readers ~

 

I haven't read this but have liked all of the author's other books that I've read: The Law of Moses  by Amy Harmon.  Her books are generally G rated.

 

After We Fall  by Melanie Harlow

 

And for one day only ~ In the Fog by Richard Harding Davis  

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Last night I finished a book that someone here read (Jenn, I think).  I enjoyed it as did my husband with whom I was sharing choice tidbits as he was trying to fall asleep.

 

Baking With Kafka  by Tom Gauld

 

"A best-of collection of literary humour cartoons from the critically-acclaimed Guardian cartoonist

 

In his inimitable style, British cartoonist Tom Gauld has opened comics to a crossover audience and challenged perceptions of what the medium can be. Noted as a “book-lover’s cartoonist,†Gauld’s weekly strips in The Guardian, Britain’s most well-regarded newspaper, stitch together the worlds of literary criticism and pop culture to create brilliantly executed, concise comics. Simultaneously silly and serious, Gauld adds an undeniable lightness to traditionally highbrow themes. From sarcastic panels about the health hazards of being a best-selling writer to a list of magical items for fantasy writers (such as the Amulet of Attraction, which summons mainstream acceptance, Hollywood money, and fresh coffee), Gauld’s cartoons are timely and droll―his trademark British humour, impeccable timing, and distinctive visual style sets him apart from the rest.

 

Lauded both for his frequent contributions to New Scientist, The Guardian and The New York Times, and his Eisner-nominated graphic novels, Tom Gauld is one of the most celebrated cartoonists working today. In Baking with Kafka, he proves this with one witty, sly, ridiculous comic after another."

**

 

And a bookish post ~

The One Book That Helped Me Find Myself: The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe  by Leanna Renee Hieber

 

Regards,

Kareni

[ErinE]

Congratulations Kathy!!

[mumto2]

Happy Birthday to Robin!

 

Congratulations on your Bingo blackout, Lady Florida!

 

Really glad Amy got her project done......there's another one to finish also I think?

 

I never chimed in on old cemeteries because I live maybe a hundred yards from one and frequently walk through it as a shortcut. I do find them fascinating. Our village church has even started holding part of it's annual Garden Fête in the cemetery. It doesn't bother me and I find the tombstones interesting but I will admit that I find the Garden Party in the cemetery odd and have not attended since it had to be moved there.

 

Robin, Bingo question......I was under the impression that the Ancient book could be set in ancient times also which is why I choose Sarum. If I am wrong no worries because I will switch.

[Matryoshka]

:party:

 

Congratulations on the BaW Bingo Blackout.  Pm me with your address and email so I may send your Bingo Prize Prezzie.   

 

Thanks!!  I will PM you. :)  But Lady Florida's post reminds me that I should say which books I did!  (And congrats to you too, Lady Florida! :D)

 

B

Prime Number: Station Eleven

Flufferton: Cranford

Eastern Europe: The Bear and The Nightingale

Bestseller Written in Child or Spouse Birth Year: Dr. Zhivago

Steampunk: The Goblin Emperor

 

I

Science Fiction: All Our Wrong Todays

Your Name in the Title: Exiles of Erin

Collection of Short Stories: Stories of Your Life and Others

Seaworthy: The Plover

Middle Ages: En busca del unicornio

 

N

Western: News of the World

Ancient (BC): The Palace of Illusions

Free Space: The Warmth of Other Suns

Dystopian: The Handmaid's Tale

Mystery: Todeshauch

 

G

Translated: Ein Mann namens Ove (from Swedish to German ;) )

Outer Space: Radiance

Finance: Evicted

One Word Title: Pachinko

Debut Author: Homegoing

 

O

Over 500 Pages: El laberintu de los espíritus

Local Author: In the Heart of the Sea

Female Adventure: Miss Garnet's Angel

Classic: The Age of Innocence

Selected by a Friend: Ancillary Justice