I just finished Kafka on the Shore a few minutes ago so am still processing. I think I liked it quite a bit. Last year's Murakami, The Wind Up Bird Chronicles, didn't really have the fascinating interrelationships that I found in 1Q84 but Kafka definitely had them. Not sure how I feel about it being a bit of a modern Oedipus. Obiviously that is the source of some of my ick scenes. Waiting for others...... The Strange Library became available this morning. Dd noticed it on her kindle as soon as she woke up! :lol: She is supposedly doing school but things are quiet.....

Nan, I have to admit I don't mind a mildly snowy winter as long as a glorious flower filled spring will follow. As someone who grew up in a place that was cold and very snowy for at least 4 months out of every year I am pretty happy to only worry about serious snow removal a couple of times each winter. I don't find wet grey sky nearly as troublesome. Xxx We have also lived in Florida. I missed my spring daffodils and tulips greatly but the azaleas did somewhat compensate. I will be honest that for residents a Florida summer actually is somewhat still during the daytime -- too hot to do much! ;) When the dc's were little we did a large part of their workbook type school each summer. The other seasons were fieldtrip filled so the opposite of life in the north. What I am trying to say is I think a season of relative stillness can be found most places, although one has to allow it to happen. In today's world it is too easy for most of us to keep frantically moving through life at a fast pace forgetting to appreciate stillness.

Easiest way is thishttp://mseffie.com/AP/APtitles.htmlis the master list of what has appeared on the AP since we took it. :lol: I spent a boring rather paranoid day over a year ago going into every AP class that had an open website and keeping stats on the reading lists. No idea where that masterpiece is now since we moved afterward. But Kafka was one of the huge winners for the more modern lit. Atwood did really well too. Dd and I compared our plans to the list and decided she was fine. Reality is due to locations of test centers and what is being offered where, she will most likely take the other AP for English if she takes one.

Tress, Since I now know what made you go :ack2: I have to admit to agreeing. I skimmed that part sort of instinctively and put it out of my mind. I have been busy waiting for a scene that I think someone mentioned on another of our Murakami reads. They described something that my dd would definitely not want to read. While she wouldn't be happy about the :ack2: part........she could be warned to skip it. The character name is distinctive. I will be honest and say I am reading this totally with her in mind. It appears on many American reading lists for high school although it isn't part of what we are planning for her. Admittedly I think Strange Library is a better one for her to try first.

Shukriyya -- I was busy taking a walk on a nature reserve and having dinner out when the subject of you reading Kafka on the Shore came up. Oddly while reading it I keep thinking of you because the book keeps drawing parallels between what is happening to the characters, re: spirit leaving body while living and traveling to another body, and Tales of a Genjihttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7042.The_Tale_of_Genjiwhich I believe is a favourite of yours. Just saying...... ;)

Before I forget, since many of you are reading the Strange Library by Murakami, could someone let me know if the contents contain anything shocking in terms of dd reading it. She really wants to read a Murakami but would prefer to skip the ick factor. After Tress reaction pretty sure Kafka isn't dd friendly. ;) I am on hold for this one at overdrive. Trying to decide which set of kindles to download it onto when it becomes available.

I am only at 41% and nothing aweful has happened yet. Have to admit I have been wondering if I had read it ( when you can't remember the it, read the spoiler over a year ago, there is nothing to do but wait for "it" ). Now, thanks to Tress I am sure it hasn't happened yet. Back to reading and waiting. So far like the cats......leeches falling from the sky is rather different. BTW. Murakami's Kafka on the Shore is the book being discussed ;)

Those are so good. :) I still have our Mr. Putter and Tabby books too! ETA Mr. Putter made me think of our all time favorite Poppleton. Which led me to thishttp://turtleandrobot.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/delight-in-the-world-of-poppleton/Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Tress, I use Goodreads but not very socially. I keep my list there and I may be the only person who updates how far along they are in different books. I find it motivating. It also makes it easier to decide to give up on a book because I can tell I haven't read it in a very long time! Friend wise, I have two and enjoy them. Dd is one. We are friends because of curiosity on her part and my need to keep up with her academically. Easy way to keep up to date on her school. My other friend is dd's godmother and my best friend in the world. We have been reading together for over twenty years and goodreads makes it easy to communicate about all our books. We overlap naturally even though we are in different countries and used to send emails about great book recommendations if we remembered but clunkers were skipped. I love seeing her ratings because I know what it means to me but for someone I wasn't close to the star system doesn't mean much. Don't misunderstand what I am saying, I think it is great that you all are happily linking up but it isn't for me. Occasionally I click someone's siggy link but that is it for me. The other useful bit for me is how easy goodreads makes series reading. I always know where I left off and which one is next. Huge time savings.

Dd and I are very jealous! We need a review.

Congratulations!!! I saw your old avatar in the comments section.....love the new one but the old brought back happy memories.

I would definitely plan some day trips out of London. Two or three days on Central London attractions, the Tower, Buckingham Palace, etc. A good walk book will help you tick things off pretty quickly. For instance, tube to Green Park, walk to Buckingham Palace, walk to Big Ben/Westminster seeing Number 10 and horse guards on the way. If you aren't tired after that take a boat to the Tower and London Bridge. There are great Asian restaurants near the Shard near the Tower for dinner. For countryside attractions, three underground outings come to mind. Frist, A day divided between Hampton Court and Kew Gardens, really easy. Second, Windsor Castle, years ago the connections were a bit time consuming but possible. Third, which we never tried is the undgerground to Watford for the Harry Potter movie studio which is the best :) but we now live here and drive. I think you could either take a taxi or arrange a private hire car from the station. For your big countryside day out I would take a train from Kings Cross and go to York. Under three hours on a reasonably fast train. York is lovely and a completely different feel from London. So much to see and do. List of highlights, great cathedral, can walk the walls, fun touristy shops and pubs including Betty's tea room, a few really interesting museums. National Rail museum is free and Hogwarts Express was there.Always a dig happening somewhere if you want to chat with an archaeologist ... Roman and Viking artifacts galore. Believe the trains to Bath are good too. Would not advise Coventry by train right now. Pretty much all I can think of regarding being based in London. I don't know if we could survive Paris based activities for a week without someone having a break down. Lines are really long and the crowds aren't well controlled in terms of numbers. Versailles in tourist season was a nightmare, shoulder to shoulder packed like sardines moving throgh a maze, saw very little and really looked at nothing, and you are smack in the middle of school field trip season too. Go and plan carefully to get what you want to get done. On the other hand staying in the countryside is great. Remember every country also has less famous but equal attractions in terms of historical value.

Thanks to you this series is already on my list. I had meant to tell you last month when you reviewed anothor in the series that I had already been looking at them. Fiona, I am sorry. : grouphug:

I am making some progress on my Murakami but life has turned a bit stressful and concentration seems to be an issue. I would like to remember it ;) so read the last of Kristan Higgins Blue Heron series this morning. In Your Dreams was good. The whole series has been engaging although fluffy.

VC even managed to sell me! I found it in overdrive,fortunately, so plan to check it so all of us can enjoy it on our kindles the next time we travel.

Likes...for those of us who have run out I think the problem is we are allowed 50 likes in 24 hours. My post will be the 170 th in slightly more than 24 hours. Definitely a problem for me! ETA. See there is our problem because I was eating popcorn this ended up at 174.

I know that just yesterday I said I wanted my first book finished this year to be Jane Eyre but I didn't have it available to read earlier and the kindle had Broken Homeshttp://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/review-broken-homes-rivers-of-london-4-by-ben-aaronovitch-8755669.htmlby Aaronovitch on it so I read a few more pages and I could not put it down. This book ended with a great shocking cliffhanger, cliffhanger might not be the best description but all I can think of.... I can't wait to get my hands on the next in the series.

This doesn't answer the origin of the saying but I was told that having a black sheep born into the white flock is considered lucky. Which is why so many flocks here have one black sheep.

I read all four of the SJ Parris books last year. They made my favorites list. Hope you enjoy this one. Have you read the first one, Heresyhttp://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/mar/13/heresy-sj-parriswhich was probably my absolute favorite? ETA. Just wanted to add a warm welcome to you and all the new people. Great to see so many!

Shukriyya, I suspect my main issue with the kindle version will be the maps. I had decided that since I really like looking at maps I can google if I feel the need. The fat book sitting on my bedside is extremely unappealing most mornings. If I don't do it first thing not going to happen.

I agree but at this moment cannot face it. ;) Since my plan was the kindle edition I can have it in seconds so I am hoping that I feel motivated soon.

Just popping back in to say the current releasehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19288239-colorless-tsukuru-tazaki-and-his-years-of-pilgrimageof Murakami's was probably the easiest to read of the three I have read so far. 1Q84 is my favourite. Pretty high up there all time favorite wise. ;)

Great list Robin! Love the October Anne Rice!

Robin, I am not done with HotAW but do not delay for me. I am only a third of the way through so hope to start plugging along again soon. Can't seem to motivate myself. I have left it languishing for months on my currently reading shelf on Goodreads. That doesn't even seem to shame me.

Happy New Year!!!!! Starting out with a reread of Jane Eyre. Soooo very good. Roughly a quarter of the way through but think I will concentrate on it so that my first book of the year is positive to look back upon. Also reading Ben Aaronvitch's Broken Homes in preparation for the realease in a few days of Foxglove Summer. Finally, plan to read a chapter or two of Kafka on the Shore tonight.