LostSurprise
-
Posts
3,212 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Classifieds
Store
Posts posted by LostSurprise
-
-
Moby Dick: It took me about 20 years to "like" Moby Dick. Proof to me that many books are just not meant for us at certain times in our lives. Oh, and I can barely remember what happens when they leave port, so I wonder if I really "like" MD at all. The beginning is really beautiful in places. "...when it is a bleak November in my soul.." and all that.
Ahab's Wife: Disliked it. Could not even finish it. Gave it away.
-
Marble if you are really into making pies, but if you're that into pie dough you would probably want a marble surface to roll on (one that you could chill) at least as much as a marble rolling pin. Frankly, a marble rolling pin would be a bit heavy for me. I'd rather roll things out with some enthusiasm which marble definitely dampens.
I have a wooden tapered french rolling pin. The taper is nice for rolling out curves and circles, but doing that has a learning curve. The taper also acts as a sort of handle, keeping you above the dough. I prefer no-handles. Handles change the center of force. I think the dowel and french types are easier to manipulate in a variety of directions and with greater over-all force.
I personally like wood. I oil or wet it with water when rolling out sticky things, but I don't do a lot of pastry.
-
Egads! My eyes!!
Hey, if Queen Elizabeth II can take it, so can you. ;)
-
Another suggestion for author month -- Marco Polo. That's a completely selfish recommendation from me because I want to read his work this year, along with a couple of other companion pieces. I know crstarlette mentioned wanting to join in -- anyone else???
Someone got Invisible Cities (Calvino) for Christmas, was it you?
Murakami, Norwegian Wood, read-alongs:
Read-alongs are nice because you have built-in discussion and encouragement partners, but new folks should never feel bad for not reading along or dropping out.
Norwegian Wood is the only Murakami I have finished and I've heard it's the least 'Murakami-ish' of his works. I remember it being a really straightforward story and that's not really his reputation.
William Gibson/Zero History: I read the first in that series, Pattern Recognition, and it had some interesting ideas. I haven't read Spook Country or Zero History so I don't know how much you need to know moving forward.
Board Games: Gentleman Thieves sounds interesting. So far I've only played La Isla (scientists studying an island full of extinct species) and Takenoko (bamboo growing and panda eating it game), but dh and the boys are doing a bunch of fighting games that drive me to the sofa with a blanket and a book.
-
It's the end of the year threads with book totals so we look more intimidating than we really are. You missed the pictures of Paul Hogan in short shorts.
Some of us put our tortoiseshell reading glasses on because we have an innate drive that way and not a lot of other hobbies or because we desperately need the intellectual stimulation. It's not really a judgey kind of thing. More like a strategy for our own survival.
Don't be overly concerned. No one is ever patronizing. All types of books, levels of books, and number of books are welcome. Fluff is welcome. Please, join us!
-
The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto
Naomi: a Novel by Junichiro
1177 BC: the year civilization collapsed by Cline
in the car to dh:
The Innovators by Isaacson
and random knitting books I'm picking up and putting down:
Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmermann
and
something about circular needles
-
I wish multiquote was working for me. I can feel my memory of all the posts I want to reply to eroding.
Dark books: VioletCrown and Prairiegirl had responses that echoed the most with me. I'm not a dark person. I don't watch horror. I can't even really watch violence on television. I close my eyes for things most people would probably watch. However, I need fiction (and non-fiction) which is complex and real. Because the world is a complex place there is evil and darkness...even in good people. There is chaos in having free will. It's both a beautiful thing and a terrible thing. I read to experience the world, for my mind to reach out and touch other minds, and to do that I have to accept that some of the world is hard, and dark, and full of sadness.
I don't seek it out, but I find that I can't truly live and experience if my heart doesn't think the human actions and reactions are real (obviously, the other things...the magic, the speculation, the imagination can be as unreal as necessary ;) ). There are probably things I won't read, because I'm sensitive to them, and that's okay, but mostly I need humanity in all it's dark complexity.
The Ghost Map: that epilogue is a corker. Almost completely different subject.
Can't remember the other half a dozen posts I wanted to reply to...loved the photos and the book lists! I remember your library photo last year MentalMultivitamin. It inspired me when we put ours together this year. I'll try to post something of that later.
-
Happy Birthday, Noseinabook! Mine was the 23rd. I always feel a kinship to others who have bdays within a week of Christmas.
Wuthering Heights~have read it several times, still don't like it (maybe some day?)
Jane Eyre~my favorite book since I first read it when I was 13
Tolkein~Love. But again, read him first when I was 13 and I'm a idealist, King Arthur Knights of the Round Table, Epic journey kind of person. I don't prefer The Hobbit movies though.
Lately, I'm doing more knitting and people managing than reading. I've been thinking of some general categories I'd like to do...without making it a 5/5/5 or anything formal.
Finally Finished
History/Dusty Books
Art and Perception
Fairy/Folk Tales from around the world
Urban Fantasy (a genre I don't really read)
-
That is so cool. I started knitting at the beginning of November. I asked for yarn for Christmas and have a ton right now (mostly craft store yarn but my brother came through with some Patons so at least some of it's 100% wool) but I really, really, really want an alpaca or cashmere blend to make things for my MIL.
I'm trying really hard to find projects that match the yarn I have. :P to you for tempting me.
-
Thinking this morning about this thread. I appreciate all the people who read and talk about fluff. I know there can be a strong pull to talk about only intellectual stuff or things everyone else is reading. Kudos to everyone who posts romance, chick lit, cozy mysteries, and paranormal, especially when no one else suggested or discusses it.
-
It's hard for me to think of "light" and "must-read" in the same sentence. I love light reading, but everyone has their different favorites in light reading and there's no one type that everyone should read.
Sometimes there are categories you can explore which have "best" books. For instance, maybe you're interested in reading fairy tales one month in 2015. Then people could suggest must-reads for that category. Blue Fairy Book. Beauty. Hans Christian Anderson. The Princess Bride. Etc. If you're interested in reading urban fantasy or historical romance or chick lit. I'm sure it would be easier for people to get over the must-read hump.
And 52 Books a year is not about reading 52 books. It's about hanging out talking about books. You can find a lot of recommendations of both lighter and harder fare.
-
I want to reassure you a bit.
Most people can control their seizures through medications. There may be a rough year or so while finding the right one(s), but most people can stabilize their seizures, show they had no seizures in a 6 month period, and try for a license again.
For more severe epilepsy, driving a car is not everything. It's easy to get around if your world is geared that way. Severe epilepsy may preclude some dangerous physical occupations, but most white collar careers are still open. Millions of people deal with epilepsy and manage to have busy, fruitful lives with careers and families. Some people on this board have epilepsy.
I hope things work out for you. It's best if an EEG is done soon, possibly even a 3 day EEG. It's good to have confirmation so things can move forward.
-
I have a birthday right before Christmas, so dh can be a bit hit or miss. If he gets one he usually trips over the other.
Christmas:
ds3: a note that his turtle Steve would give me hugs every night :lol:
ds2: 3 surprise desserts, 2 of which he'd done before Christmas :001_smile:
dh: a hurriedly scribbled notebook with coupons...most of which deal with stuff he should do without my prompting and all needing 1-12 hours lead time before he will do them. :001_huh:
However, my brother totally made up for it. He pulled my name in the exchange and got me:
4 books from my Amazon list
5 skeins of wool
2 sets of bamboo knitting needles
1 really nice springform pan
2 rolls of Haribo gummis
My SIL got me in the other exchange. I got more yarn and a tin of International House coffee (that cracked me up).
-
I finished what should be my second last book of the year, 'Root Cellaring' by Mike and Nancy Bubel. My aunt has a habit of buying books, not wanting to bother reading them, and telling me to read them for her. This was one of those. Quite a good book if one lives somewhere the ground freezes over winter, still a fun read though we don't.
Interesting book. :) The Bubels have a few good ones. I have that one and their Seed Starter's Handbook. It was intended for our latitudinal zone, but props to your aunt and yourself for buying/reading it. Quirky reading is the best. Weren't native Australians the first to bury or "cellar" their food? Sometimes it's just a matter of doing what works for your zone, even if the bloody Americans act like winter should have snow and ice.
Christmas books!
I do the book gifting (because I know what everyone wants!) so there were none for me. Middle Girl is at that age when they devour books at lightning speed and beg for more, so she really cleaned up.
Dh:
Wilkie Collins: A Rogue's Life; The Haunted Hotel
Nabokov: The Luzhin Defense
Great Girl:
Maria Montessori: The Montessori Method; Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook
Middle Girl:
J. Henri Fabre: The Insect World
Paul Gallico: The Abandoned
Leon Garfield: The Complete Bostock and Harris
Ottfried Preussler: Krabat & the Sorcerer's Mill
James Cloyd Bowman: Pecos Bill, The Greatest Cowboy of All Time
Gerald Durrell: Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons
T. S. Eliot: Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
Wee Girl:
Paddington Marches On
Paddington Takes the Air
Paddington Abroad
Paddington Goes to Town
Such fun choices. I added a few from here.
Isn't it fun to match books to people? My boys are so diverse, a book for one won't work for another.
-
I'm sorry for your loss, Mumto2.
I have a question:
I liked reading the history of Congo that much, that I wondered if comparable books are available about other countries.
I think I would like to start with other African countries.
My English is average or even a little below that to my standards so 'a book for the general public' would be nice.I haven't read the Dutch book on the Congo, so it's hard to gauge what would be like it. I read King Leopold's Ghost, which was about the Congo, but after a general history perhaps you want to move on to other things. Ryszard Kapuscinski has some interesting books on Africa. The Shadow of the Sun. The Soccer War. The Emperor. Travels with Herodotus. After you read him you may want to look up something of his detractors online. Especially with the Ethopian book, his sources may have had their own agendas, but I still think he's worth reading. I have Congo Solo on a to-read list too.
I am now reading Stella Gibbons' Comfort Farm but I am not sure if I want to continue on with it.
I read Cold Comfort last year (or the year before) and felt the same about 1/3 of the way through. It pushed through until it was more plotted out, but it will never be a favorite.
I love my brother. He's the only one who ever orders off my Amazon list and so gets me lots of books whenever he gets my name in the exchange.
He got me:
Libraries of the Ancient World
The Birth of the West: Rome, Germany, France and the Creation of Europe in the 10th Century
Escape Velocity: a Charles Portis Miscellanae
1177 BC: the year civilization collapsed
I'm so psyched right now. I'm reading The Innovators aloud to dh in the car during our long Christmas journeys (which is a very interesting book about innovators of the computer science revolution...including finally finding out exactly what Ada Lovelace did) and 1177 BC (about the first Dark Age, where successful empires like the Egyptians and Minoans faded or died off, but really about various people groups, trade, and interdependence during this era) to myself in my quiet moments. It's nice to start the year with some history. Maybe I can clear off some of the shelf when I'm done with these.
-
Standard white underwear during the year. Super soft boxers in stockings.
I didn't start out to do it, but they won't let me stop now. So yes, underwear can be a wanted gift for some people.
-
I knew you'd have book covers, Stacia.
-
New author discovery? New genre discovery?
Will Weaver. Charles Stross. Roddy Doyle. Duong Thu Huong. Daniel Woodrell. Gene Luen Yan. Ranier Maria Rilke.
I was surprised at how many graphic novels I read this year. I wanted to read greats of the genre and see what it had to offer. This didn't turn me into a fan, but it did open me up a bit to what a visual story can do.
I was pretty evenly split with male/female authors (61/60). More fiction than non-fiction (77/35), but a good mix.
What countries or centuries did you explore?I wanted to do the century challenge, but found myself stuck on Heloise and Abelard because it was on-shelf (why does Abelard have to be such a jerk?). I meandered a bit. 16th-21st century done. 13th. 7th. Then I started to work on clearing shelves. I did enjoy it, especially the historical aspects of the 7th century. I hope to do older things this year.
Countries: Canada, US, southern Mexico, northern Latin America, Chile, Australia, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, China, India, Persia/Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Greece, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Lithuania, Finland, Russia, Congo, South Africa. A lot of these were settings, but I went through a shelf of world lit. too.
•Share a favorite character, story, quote or cover.No particulars this year but I seemed unconsciously drawn to women's relationships and struggles. The Grandmother and Sophia in The Summer Book. The sisters in The Bread Givers. The roommates in Tam Lin. Aunts. Mentors. Friends. I'm not sure I chose the books purposefully, but I felt the most connection there.
•One book that touched you - made you laugh, cry, sing or dance.A lot of books touched me. All good books touch you in someway. It was fun to reflect on this question though. It was fun to think of the different emotions books left me with this year: awe, wonder, sadness, anger, frustration, peace.
•Are you ready to do it all over again?Of course!
•Do you have any goals to check out different genres or authors, read translated books or stories in another language for 2015?I rarely think about these things ahead of time. I do want to read more history and more books set before the Renaissance. I do want to visit areas I rarely read about and centuries I know little about. I want to spend more time clearing shelves and finishing dusty books.
Best Book of the Year **
10 Best Books *
118. Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Workshop~nonfiction, knitting, education.
117. The Knitting Answer Book by Margaret Radcliffe~non-fiction, knitting, education*
116. The Angel of Losses by Stephanie Feldman~fiction, Jewish fables, sisters.
115. Morlock Night by KW Jeter~~steampunk, Time Machine, King Arthur
114. Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi by Anna Hrachovec~knitting/handcrafting, toys.
113. Bag Style by Pam Allen~knitting/handcrafting, purses and bags, patterns.
112. The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd~knitting/handcrafting, patterns. *
111. The Girls of the Kingfisher Club by Genevieve Valentine~modern fairy tale, Roaring ‘20s, 12 dancing sisters.
110. Restless Spirit: the Life and Work of Dorothea Lange by Elizabeth Partridge~biography, photography, Depression, female artists.
109. The Society of S by Susan Hubbard~coming of age, mysterious family. Clear Shelf Challenge
108. The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister~fiction, cooking/food, multi-person narrative.
107. The Knitter’s Guide to Yarn by Clara Parkes~non-fiction, fiber arts.
106. Saga by Brian K. Vaugn~graphic novel, love against all odds. *
105. Fables by Bill Willingham~graphic novel, modern fairy tale, noir.
104. Wireless by Charles Stross~short stories, science fiction/speculative fiction, future. Clear Shelf Challenge
103. Tam Lin by Pamela Dean~fantasy, modern fairy tale, college life.
102. Loyola Chin and the San Peligran Order by Gene Luen Yang~graphic novel, YA, elitism.
101. Lost Girls: an Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker~non-fiction, victim story, murder.
100. Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks by Gene Luen Yang~graphic novel, YA, bullying, forgivenness.
99. Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson~fiction, thriller, amnesia. Clear Shelf Challenge.
98. 20 Love Poems and a Song of Despair by Pablo Neruda~poetry, Chile, love.
97.Acceptance by Jeff Vandermeer~Southern Reach trilogy, thriller/speculative fiction.
96. Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good by Kathleen Flinn~memoir, Midwest, food and family.
95. Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel L Johnson by Boswell~travelogue, Scotland, memoir. 18th Century.
94. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle~fiction, Ireland, ‘60s, coming of age. *
93. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley~historical romance, Scotland, Jacobite Rebellion, modern/historical mix. 18th Century.
92. Five-Plant Gardens by Nancy Ondra~non-fiction, gardening, flowers.
91. Odd Hours by Dean Koontz~thriller, supernatural, series.
90. The Dudes Abide~memoir, film industry.
89. The Castle of Ortranto by Horace Walpole~horror/gothic fiction, romance. 18th Century.
88. Compact Houses: Architecture for the Environment by Christine de Valle~architecture, international.
87. July’s People by Nadine Gordimer~speculative fiction, South Africa. Dusty book. Clear Shelf Challenge.
86. The Other Side of the Dale by Gervase Phinn~memoir, education, Great Britain. Clear Shelf Challenge.
85. Equoid: a Laundry Novella by Charles Stross~science fiction, HP Lovecraft, unicorns.
84. Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Sturgasky~science fiction, Soviet Union, aliens.
83. Color: a Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay~non-fiction, art and industry, international, memoir. *
82. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline~Science Fiction, adventure, future dystopia. Clear Shelf Challenge.
81. Level Up by Gene Luen Yang~YA, graphic novel, parent-child relationships, fate.
80. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang~YA, graphic novel, identity, 2nd generation immigrant. *
79. We Pointed Them North: Recollections of a Cowpuncher by EC Abbott~memoir, western US, cowboys. 19th century. Clear Shelf Challenge.
78. The Martian by Andy Weir~science fiction, Mars, survival. *
77. Nano Houses by Phyllis Richardson~non-fiction, architecture & design, tiny houses, international.
76. Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia Wrede~fantasy, fairy tale, youth novel. 16th Century.
75. Rilke’s Book of Hours~Rainer Maria Rilke, translators~poetry, God, self. 19th Century. *
74. That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week by Ana Homayoun~nonfiction, education, psychology.
73. The Makeup Wakeup by Lois Johnson~non-fiction, beauty, ageing.
72. Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang~graphic novel, YA, Boxer Rebellion/China. Series. 19th Century.
71. The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years Later by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer~fantasy, Regency, magic. 19th Century.
70. Night Film by Marisha Pessl~fiction, mystery, doomed genius. *
69. The Shining by Stephen King~fiction, horror, supernatural.
68. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson~memoir, humor, Texas.
67. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe~fiction, Salem Witch Trials, historian. 17th Century. Clear Shelf Challenge.
66. A Scandalous Life: the Biography of Jane Digby by Mary Lovell~Biography, Mideast/Syria, 19th Century. Clear Shelf Challenge.
65. Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith~fiction, ensemble of characters, Scotland. Clear Shelf Challenge.
64. Novel Without a Name by Duong Thu Huong~fiction, Vietnam, war. Dusty Book. Clear Shelf Challenge. *
63. Embers by Sandor Marai~fiction, Austrian-Hungarian empire, friendship. 19th century. Dusty Book. Clear Shelf Challenge
62. Night of Many Dreams by Gail Tsukiyama~Hong Kong, WWII, sisters. Clear Shelf Challenge.
61. The Deportees and Other Stories by Roddy Doyle~short stories, Ireland, immigration. Dusty Book. Clear Shelf Challenge.
60. Losing Battles by Eudora Welty~fiction, South, family reunion. Dusty Book.
59. Empress by Shan Sa~historical fiction, China, politics, 7th century. Clear Shelf Challenge.
58. The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-Mi Hwang~fable, animals, mothers, South Korean.
57. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry~fiction, dysfunctional families, Salem, MA. Dusty Book. Clear Shelf Challenge.
56. The Stench of Honolulu by Jack Handey~fiction, absurdist, treasure hunting, humor.
55. Y: the Last Man vol. 1 by Brian Vaughn~graphic novel, speculative fiction, end of the world quest.
54. The Atrocity Files by Charles Stross~Laundry Files series, science fiction, horror.
53. Some Prefer Nettles by Junichiro Tanizaki~classic literature, Japan, dissolution of a marriage. *
52. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley~mystery, child narrator, England.
51. Sous Chef by Michael Gibney~cooking, restaurants, day in the life.
50. Authority by Jeff VanderMeer~Southern Reach trilogy, thriller/speculative fiction, spy organization.
49. Hild by Nicola Griffith~historical fiction, Christianity, politics, Anglo-Saxon. 7th century
48. The Raphael Affair by Iain Banks~mystery, art history crimes, series.
47. The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson~non-fiction, epidemiology, maps, Victorian London. 19th century
46. The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald~youth fiction, fairy tale, read aloud. 19th century
45. Henry and Clara by Thomas Mallon~historical fiction, Civil War, true story. 19th century
44. Dead Men Do Tell Tales: The Strange and Fascinating Stories of Forensic Anthropology~non-fiction, memoir, crime.
43. The Grand Tour by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer~fantasy, Regency, magic, Kate and Cecy letter series. 19th Century.
42. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery~lit fic, French, philosophy, art. *
41. Dead Mountain: the Untold Truth of the Dyatlov Incident by Donnie Eichar~memoir, history, unexplained death, Soviet Union.
40. Sorcery and Cecelia, or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer~fantasy, Regency, magic. 19th Century.
39. Full Service by Will Weaver~fiction, coming of age novel, religion, ‘60s.
38. The Incal: The Epic Conspiracy by Alexandro Jodorowsky~graphic novel, dystopian future, surrealism.
37. Critique of Criminal Reason by Michael Gregorio~mystery, Germany, Immanuel Kant, forensics. 19th century
36. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer~speculative fiction, fantasy, thriller.
35. Five Children and It by E Nesbit~youth fiction, adventure, read-aloud. 19th century
34. The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization by Daniel Pinkwater~children’s fiction, absurdity, ‘40s, sacred turtles, LA.
33. A Supposedly Fun Thing I Will Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace~essays, criticism, humor.
32. Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper: a Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China by Fuschia Dunlop~memoir, China, food & recipes.
31. Incarnadine by Mary Szybist~poetry, semi-religious.
30. The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr~memoir, east Texas, ‘60s, dysfunctional family.
29. The Summer Book by Tove Jannsen~memoir as fiction, Finland, relationships, grief. **
28. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan~fantasy, dragons, women’s issues, biology.
27. Sweet Land by Will Weaver~short stories, Midwest, farming. *
26. A Zoo in My Luggage by Gerald Durrell~memoir, animal capturing and keeping, Africa, zoos. Finally Finished/Dusty Book.
25. Bossypants by Tina Fey~memoir, comedy, television, humor.
24. Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi~fiction, Snow White re-imagining, female relationships, self-image, '50s. *
23. Shadow Puppets by OSC~speculative fiction, Bean/Ender series, politics.
22. Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card~speculative fiction, Bean/Ender series, politics.
21. The Language of Baklava by Diana Abu-Jaber~memoir, 2nd generation American immigrants, Jordan, food.
20. Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska~semi-autobiographical fiction, Jewish immigrants, women's issues. 19th century/Dusty Book *
19. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling~youth fiction, fantasy, wizards. Dusty Book
18. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls~youth fiction, dogs, hunting, read aloud.
17. The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham~fiction, classic, China, male-female roles. 19th century/Dusty Book
16. Replay by Ken Grimwood~speculative fiction, time travel, multiple lives. Finally Finished/Dusty Book
15. Home Cooking: a Writer in the Kitchen by Laurie Colwin~ memoir, cooking, recipes, essays, humorous.
14. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan~fiction, mystery, cults, printing, Google.
13. By Nature's Design by Pat Murphy and William Neill~non-fiction, natural patterns, science, Exploratorium series.
12. The Lives of the Heart by Jane Hirschfield~poetry, relationships, 1990s. *
11. The Titian Committee by Iain Pears~mystery, Venice, Art History, Argyll series.
10. Mort by Terry Pratchett~fantasy, Disc world series, Death.
9. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein~youth fiction, WWII, female pilots and spies.
8. Still Life by Louise Penny~mystery, Inspector Gamanche series, Quebec.
7. The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell~literary fiction, mystery, multiple narrators.
6. The Master Butcher's Singing Club by Louise Erdrich~fiction, northern plains, WWI/WWII, relationships, Finally Finished!/Dusty Book.
5. Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger~youth fiction, boarding school, spies, steampunk.
4. Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown~fiction, pirates, food, colonialism. 17the century
3. The Man of Numbers: Fibonacci's Arithmetic Revolution by Keith Devlin~non-fiction, Mathematics, 13th century, Indian-Persian numbers.
2. The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli~youth fiction, 13th century, disability, read-aloud.
1. Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki~fiction, story within a story, Japan/Canada, Zen. *
-
5 favourites (oh, man that is hard!)-- Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Favourite quote: I just finished Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson and I do believe I could have filled up my entire commonplace book with just quotes from that book. Robinson's words took my breath away on so many occasions. Here is my favourite, though:
"We would have never known that her calm was as slight as the skin on water, and that her calm sustained her as a coin can float on still water...But she left us and broke the family and the sorrow was released and we saw its wings and saw it fly a thousand ways into the hills..." (pg. 198)
I appreciate this group so much. There were many times in the past year when my heart was hurting, I would come here and just read your thoughts on your reading and other little rabbit trails you would travel on. I wouldn't post, I just read. Your words as well caused me to think, laugh and cry. Thank you for coming here every week to talk about books. This group has been one of the saving graces I have encountered during this year.
I love House-keeping! I couldn't tell you why. The language is so dense and gorgeous.
That's just how I feel about this thread.
Negin, ChrisB, and NoseInaBook, I think we must be pleased with ourselves for whatever reading we get done. When I joined this lovely group, I had to force myself to think of it, for me, as the "Book of the Month Club"; if I could manage a book a month, that was fine. I was excited to find at the end of the first year I had read twenty-six books. I'm thrilled to have gotten up to 52 books this year!
There is no proper rate of reading for this thread. Reading is part of our personalities and our lives, and there shouldn't be a wrong way to do it.
I think of this thread as a place of encouragement. There are weeks and even months I don't read much, if anything. Other weeks it seems all I'm doing is reading, reading, reading. Both parts of me love seeing what the rest of you are doing, and how you perceive and think about things.
-
So? How did it go?
:hurray: :glare: :drool5: :lol: :nopity: :w00t: :sleep: :rolleyes:
- How many books did you read and did you meet your own personal goal?
118, not counting re-reads or cookbooks. I don't have a personal goal. Some years it's feast (anything over 100) and sometimes it's famine (11 or 12 books 3 or 4 years ago). I'd rather go where my life allows me to go.
Most thrilling, oh my goodness, I want to read it again, unputdownable book?Nothing really pops out at me while reading my list. Maybe I don't read a lot of thrillers...I'm kind of a plodder usually. :rolleyes:
Maybe The Martian by Andy Weir.
Top 5 favorite stories?The Summer Book by Tove Jannsen **
Some Prefer Nettles by Junichiro Tanizaki *
Sweet Land by Will Weaver
Color: a Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay
Least favorite book?A Scandalous Life: a Biography of Jane Digby by Mary Lovell was probably the most disappointing. I won't count graphic novels because they are easy to finish even if you dislike them and they don't seem to make an impression on me (maybe why I kept reading them???)
I should get to bed...more later.
-
Lord of the Flies - YUCK YUCK YUCK
Catcher in the Rye
Cry the Beloved Country moved me.
To Kill a Mockingbird did not.
Beowulf
The Invisible Man
Shakespeare.
Cannery Row and Grapes of Wrath
For Whom the Bell Tolls.
I must be one of the few people who felt interest in Lord of the Flies. It's not a fun book by any means. I read it as a junior in high school...for fun sorta...it was just one of the books available on a rack in study hall. At the time I found it very profound and frightening (the way Brave New World was both profound and frightening) and the structure fascinating. It was probably the first time I could comprehend a book that was so metaphorical. I loved the symbolism. I was sick and angry at the ending but I re-read it, immediately, because I sensed that I was missing things the author wanted to get across. It wasn't as much about children as it was about the human race. Heady stuff.
I read Catcher in the Rye at 30 and hated it. It felt sad and boring and pretentious. It read more as a teen who wanted to connect but honestly could not. He seemed broken, not the world. Loved To Kill a Mockingbird, but I read it at 13 and there's a sense of nostalgia at 13 which fits the novel. Childhood is still very clear. Beowulf was ok...Canterbury Tales was better. Grapes of Wrath was long for what it is. It's a better read for a 20 year old, I think. I connected much more to it when I was a young mother than when I read it as a teen. I liked Shakespeare but he seemed so schizophrenic when I was a teenager. He was all baroque and gilt edges. Sometimes I wanted him to stop being so manic.
Assigned books that affected me in middle and high school: The Good Earth. Things Fall Apart. The Odyssey. Flowers for Algernon. To Kill a Mockingbird. Merchant of Venice. My Antonia.
I finally finished Watership Down - let's just say that I read about 80% of it and then I skipped to the end. There were too many things going on around me, too many distractions, and I just couldn't focus on this book, nor did I care to.
I could never finish it. :/
The Girls at the Kingfisher Club by Genevieve Valentine: The 12 dancing princesses in the US Roaring Twenties.
This was very readable - I read it straight through in a single gulp - and it isn't hard to ignore the initial illogical pieces or to accept the grimmer flavor, but then the plot takes an odd, sudden turn, which made no sense at all, but the characters' emotional intensity around it carried me through... until we almost immediately afterwards have another completely unbelievable (to me) plot contrivance that puts everyone in a different set of situations. Very disappointing because the setup had some real potential.
As a writer, I thought the odd sudden turn was bad structure and far too sudden, as a reader I thought it was one of the more realistic elements of the story. It needed a jolt to get something to happen since the main character couldn't really find a way out. Cue mustache-twirling villain.
I think Valentine hoped the internal logic of the story would iron out all the inconsistencies. It was odd to have the story be more realistic in some ways and in others stretch reality (and not in a magical way).
-
I love seeing all the projects.
I'm half way through Elizabeth Zimmermann's practice hat. I made my own design instead of using hers. It's a Greek key pattern, but dh thinks it looks like a bunch of interlocking Gs which is fun because our last name begins with G.
Also, I'm trying to finish up some fingerless mitts for my nieces before Christmas. It looks like I'll run out of rainbow yarn but I'm hoping I'll be close enough to the end to substitute some blue/green for the finishing touches.
-
It is multiple things happening at one time, but I would just groan over it with him and move on. There's nothing purposefully annoying here.
DH warned me that a bill was coming through Paypal for my gift, and I still ended up finding out what it is because Paypal put the name of the item in the subject line of an email to me! I quickly deleted it and haven't told dh. ;) Sometimes the world just conspires against us.
-
You really should see a neurologist, even if your pediatrician is excellent a neurologist will be more familiar with all the options. When my son had his first seizure we were immediately referred...by his ped...to a neurologist. They have so much more experience with this kind of thing, especially if the first medication doesn't work well with your child.
Book a Week in 2015 - Happy New Year
in The Chat Board
Posted
Sorry, just some strange post mitosis.