Stacia Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I know there are the lucky cat figures that are very popular in Japan. So, perhaps that is part of the meaning. I've often thought Murakami must be a cat fan too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I went to the library in the city today to see if they had anything on my winter reading list. I found Winter's Tale (Helprin) in the FOL bookstore. I didn't realize it was so "chunky!" It will be saved for closer to the end of the month. If I finish Mrs. DeWinter today, I will start Snow Falling on Cedars tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I will start Snow Falling on Cedars tomorrow. Ohhh. Looking forward to your review on this one. It's one I've been meaning to read for awhile now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Just for you, Michele :lol: Okay, I'm posting pictures of 70s Rod Stewart on a classical homeschooling forum for a Book Thread...what has happened :willy_nilly: "You're in my Heart, You're in my Soul" was one of my favorite songs. I really like his newer "oldies" stuff. I walked around most of the morning humming "Delta Dawn." I don't know where that came from. Can I blame it on this thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 . If I finish Mrs. DeWinter today, I will start Snow Falling on Cedars tomorrow. Loved, loved this book (SFOC) though I read it years ago. I haven't read any of his other books though. I'm hoping to finish up my Isabel Dalhousie mystery this weekend. I've got 'Snow Country' by Yasunari Kawabata on my 'to read' list as well. Do you all have several books going at once? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 "You're in my Heart, You're in my Soul" was one of my favorite songs. I really like his newer "oldies" stuff. I walked around most of the morning humming "Delta Dawn." I don't know where that came from. Can I blame it on this thread? ...what's that flower you've got on, could it be a faded rose from days gone by... :leaving: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbuchina Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Well, if we can share dog pictures now.... :D This is my Bassett named Willerbee. He's very smart you see. Smart Dog.jpg Aw, I can't see the puppy. :( Rod the Bod!!! I remember my mom and her BF calling him that now that you have said it. Bwahaha!!! Stacia, I do remember you posting those graphics about Murakami's books, and I do think it is apropos for The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I finished The Rule of Four last night. I just realized it was written by two different authors and maybe that is why it seemed disjointed to me. I really liked the thriller/mystery part of it and was satisfied by it in the end, but then they kept throwing in Princeton's Nude Olympics, which I just found bizarre. (Maybe because I didn't do the whole "college thing"?) And the main character's relationship with his girlfriend never seemed to gel with me, either. That being said, there were a few themes in it that really got me thinking, specifically humanism vs. spiritual fanaticism; probably because that's something I've been pondering a lot IRL. Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it hard to put down, even though I didn't find it to be the best thing I've ever read. A fun first read for the New Year! 2014 1. The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbuchina Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Loved, loved this book (SFOC) though I read it years ago. I haven't read any of his other books though. I'm hoping to finish up my Isabel Dalhousie mystery this weekend. I've got 'Snow Country' by Yasunari Kawabata on my 'to read' list as well. Do you all have several books going at once? I put Snow Country on my list while browsing Goodreads for more books for Japan. If you get to it before me, let me know what you think of it. I don't usually read more than one book at a time, but since joining this thread, I have gotten in the habit of starting quite a few. If one grabs me, I'll read it till it's done then move to another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Sue Grafton has kept her series firmly rooted in the same time period it started in. It is wild to realize how much has changed since she published A is for Alibi. I think I started around the time D was published. I started the series when it first came out when I was in grad school. I gave it up at about K. I may have to revisit the series when it's complete. I didn't realize that Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries were that old. You're not calling us old, are you?? Well, if we can share dog pictures now.... :D Are you calling Rod a dog?! Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 As far as reading multiple books at once.... I used to do that more. The older I get, though, the more I find myself doing better just having one (or maybe two) going at once. I finished The Rule of Four last night. I just realized it was written by two different authors and maybe that is why it seemed disjointed to me. I really liked the thriller/mystery part of it and was satisfied by it in the end, but then they kept throwing in Princeton's Nude Olympics, which I just found bizarre. (Maybe because I didn't do the whole "college thing"?) And the main character's relationship with his girlfriend never seemed to gel with me, either. That being said, there were a few themes in it that really got me thinking, specifically humanism vs. spiritual fanaticism; probably because that's something I've been pondering a lot IRL. Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it hard to put down, even though I didn't find it to be the best thing I've ever read. A fun first read for the New Year! 2014 1. The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason I read that a couple of years ago & agree w/ your assessment. It wasn't the greatest I've ever read, but it was somewhat fun/intriguing, light reading -- sort-of a Dan Brown variation, imo. Sometimes those are exactly the type of books that hit the spot & it sounds like a good way to start the reading year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAMom Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Are you calling Rod a dog?! Regards, Kareni No Way!! He's still as sexy as every! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 BTW, I like Rod Stewart & in all my trashy reading of The Daily Mail, Rod's in there a lot. I love that he seems to be a grand family man. Definitely sexy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Are you calling Rod a dog?! Regards, Kareni No way! My observation was more subtle than that, apparently too subtle though :smilielol5: It was something about the similarity of the glance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 Here's an enticing piece on the book Slow Reading in a Hurried Age by DAVID MIKICS as reviewed by Adam Kirsch. Regards, Kareni Karen, it's all your fault and in a good way. I checked out Adam Kirsch article and Eliana's string theory went into affect big time. I looked him up and it lead me to The Tablet (A New Read on Jewish Life) and his review of a book by Zeruya Shalev's The Remains of Love which looks quite interesting. For some reason that got me to thinking about WWI and looking up ideas for our readalong book later in the year. Low and behold, what comes up besides what you'd expect like A Farewell to Arms but Mark Helprin and his book A Soldier of the Great War. And I thoroughly enjoyed Winter's Tale but not of his other books struck my fancy until now. Must not have seen that one. And keep all the books you are discovering from the 70's in mind - they just might come in handy for a centuries read. :001_smile: Cat symbolism - Check out this link which explains the symbolism of cats for all the ages and countries. Quite interesting. Now I'll be paying more attention to Maruki's mention of cats in Wind Up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyco Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Ok, I have reserved Wind Up Bird Chronicle at the library and it should be in next week! I am finishing up The Fellowship of the Ring this week but decided not to do the whole trilogy at this time. I am looking forward to expanding my reading horizon! Not sure if I'll make 52 books, but it's a wonderful goal and I've wanted to do it for several years now! So thanks everyone for the inspiration! I especially love hearing what you liked/didn't like about a book, and what other books or authors it reminded you of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 I read none of those books. I was a good girl and read Grace Livingston Hill instead of Harlequins. Also popular: Joni, the Cross and the Switchblade, and Coma (which I hid under my mattress.) Because I didn't read most of the current stuff, I read off a list of "classics" my 8th grade teacher had given me. So, I was reading Brave New World, 1984, and others like that. Those were okay with my parents because they were on a school list. :001_rolleyes: I also read Cross and the Switchblade, plus Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place back in the 70's. Among others. My sister and I went to see the movie version and everyone left the theater in tears. Yes, I was also into Robin Cook as well. Late 70's is when I really got into Science Fiction/Fantasy and read the entire Xanth series. *sigh*. Is anyone keeping track of their books on Pinterest? My board is here: http://www.pinterest.com/ambercam/52-books-in-2014/ I'm going to go easy for January and read The Casual Vacancy and the Hunger Games Trilogy. Yes, I'm am and the link is in my siggie area. Nothing there for 2014, but 2013 is there if you want to peruse the titles. I just picked up Murakami's Wind-up Bird Chronicle. People, this better be good....because I'm still reading The Goldfinch (936 pages) and I'm not going to read another Chunky book (Wind-up Bird = 890 pages) if it isn't good! :toetap05: Oh, and because when you request ILL books, they always arrive all at the same time, The Historian also arrived today. Right. :svengo: I did finish Eye of the World, book 1 of the Wheel of Time serie. ---- 1. Eye of the World - Robert Jordan. Dutch: 0 Greek Hero: 0 Whim: 1 Mercy- all huge books. I enjoyed The Historian too! BTW, I like Rod Stewart & in all my trashy reading of The Daily Mail, Rod's in there a lot. I love that he seems to be a grand family man. Definitely sexy! Raising my hand admitting to an addiction for The Daily Mail. :leaving: Off to work on the post for tomorrow - Happy Reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tress Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I finished The Goldfinch :hurray:! And just in time to post it on this week's thread :D. --- 2. The Goldfinch - Donna Tart 1. The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan Dutch: 0 Greek Hero: 0 Whim: 2 Chunky: 2 ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Speaking of fashion statements...Shall we discuss facial hair? Sure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacefulChaos Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I haven't read all the replies, but I'm hoping to hop on board again this year. I tried a couple years ago and failed miserably!!! :lol: My goal was to finish all the books I was partially through by the end of 2013. Ahem… I didn't make it. The one book just isn't keeping my attention, and I kept telling myself I needed to finish it before finishing the last one. I guess maybe in the end I should just skip it overall and give it back to the friend I borrowed it from. :P So that would leave one book to finish, the last one of the Eragon books. I've had it sitting on my nightstand for LITERALLY like a year. I just got out of the habit of reading lol... I'd like to read When Helping Hurts and Foreign to Familiar before I head to Thailand on the 17th. I'm also part of a book club that is trying to work its way through Don Quixote… in the end, I think I may have to go the abridged version route lol… :D We're supposed to finish that by the end of January. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Robin -- Thank you for the cat link. Really interesting, now I just need to refer to that link while reading Wind up and try to figure some sort of a theory out! To answer someones question upthread I have several books going right now. I can only do that if they are all very different. I have an autobiography plus Wind up which I can't read in large quantities at a time since one is hardcover and the other kindle I need two more to have all my reading needs covered. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbuchina Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I started the series when it first came out when I was in grad school. I gave it up at about K. I may have to revisit the series when it's complete. You're not calling us old, are you?? Regards, Kareni Never! But the books... No Way!! He's still as sexy as every! :D [edited to remove picture] I'd like to read When Helping Hurts and Foreign to Familiar before I head to Thailand on the 17th. I'm also part of a book club that is trying to work its way through Don Quixote… in the end, I think I may have to go the abridged version route lol… :D We're supposed to finish that by the end of January. :lol: When Helping Hurts looks intriguing. I have been wanting to begin, or join in with, missions for a long time now, but can't seem to find anything. I'd like to be local right now, and involve the girls. Many things available seem to not want younger children involved, though. I look forward to hearing how you liked it, and if it helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Mytwoblessings, your linky didn't work! :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I know you're all rolling your eyes at me, but something came to mind what w/ all the 70s & Rod Stewart talk. I was thinking back to when I was a kid in the 70s, etc... & remembered a time that my friend & I were up late at her house watching tv. (I know, I know -- I never watch tv. But, we were.) And, Alice Cooper came on. We were both so surprised by his looks (yet having the name Alice) that we could not figure out if he was a guy or a girl. :smilielol5: We were good & truly stumped. (I think we were around 10yo.) I don't know why old Alice popped up in my mind, but maybe it was Rod's maltipoo styling that had me thinking about hair.... In the effort to keep this post at least a little bit related to books, here's a book-related article on Flavorwire that ties into the hair issue... The Best Hair of the Enlightenment Era And since we've also talked about fashion, how about this Flavorwire article? The Literary World's Most Fascinating Dandies, Past and Present :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 .bye bye bee gees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Speaking of fashion statements...Shall we discuss facial hair? Quoting myself to give this previous post some context. So I am reading Hawthorne's Blithedale Romance based on his experience in a socialist commune outside of Boston around 1850. This led me to think about Marx and Engels which in turn got me thinking (very shallowly indeed!) about facial hair. Maybe facial hair is a more exciting topic than Hawthorne's musings on his socialist experiment. Can't say that I recommend Hawthorne... Does anyone really like The Scarlet Letter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 :eek: :D Picture of the Bee Gees EEEEK! I almost choked on my food! :scared: :blink: :svengo: (Words fail me!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 EEEEK! I almost choked on my food! :scared: :blink: :svengo: (Words fail me!) Yeah. It occurred to me, after I posted, that maybe I should have taken the time to figure out how to link to the picture. Well,now we all have a nice visual example of how fashions have changed. Hair and all. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Can't say that I recommend Hawthorne... Does anyone really like The Scarlet Letter? I don't really remember liking it in high school & haven't ever felt a real desire to revisit it.... Onceuponatime, I see you're Stayin' Alive. :smilielol5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Well,now we all have a nice visual example of how fashions have changed. Hair and all. :lol: I think you mean chest hair & all, right? Bwa-ha-ha... (Robin, really, please don't boot me from the thread.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 Mytwoblessings, your linky didn't work! :crying: Thanks, I fixed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Yeah. It occurred to me, after I posted, that maybe I should have taken the time to figure out how to link to the picture. Well,now we all have a nice visual example of how fashions have changed. Hair and all. :lol: Thank goodness!! I grew up in the seventies and always cringe when I see those ... um ... pants. Lol! I'll never be able to listen to the Bee Gees again without that visual. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Okay, I keep hearing about this book. I may have to add it to my pile next Christmas. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it! You and I have a bit in common, then. I, too, don't like "devotionals", and prefer just studying my Bible, don't really care for Beth Moore studies, and love my NKJV/KJV only. I may have to give this a try, but I would find the multiple Bible versions irritating as well. I love that "I don't need to know every way that the verse could be interpreted because I probably don't agree with the interpretation anyway." :thumbup: That is so me! LOL We are kindred spirits!!!! I laughed out loud when I read this! I read through The Women of Christmas with my KJV Bible app next to me. I did finish Eye of the World, book 1 of the Wheel of Time serie. :hurray: for you!! Only 13 more to go :lol: Onceuponatime, on 04 Jan 2014 - 2:41 PM, said:I walked around most of the morning humming "Delta Dawn." I don't know where that came from. Can I blame it on this thread? I was born in '72. My mom tells me that I knew this whole song when I was like 3yo and loved to belt it out around the house :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 I haven't read all the replies, but I'm hoping to hop on board again this year. I tried a couple years ago and failed miserably!!! :lol: My goal was to finish all the books I was partially through by the end of 2013. Ahem… I didn't make it. The one book just isn't keeping my attention, and I kept telling myself I needed to finish it before finishing the last one. I guess maybe in the end I should just skip it overall and give it back to the friend I borrowed it from. :p So that would leave one book to finish, the last one of the Eragon books. I've had it sitting on my nightstand for LITERALLY like a year. I just got out of the habit of reading lol... I'd like to read When Helping Hurts and Foreign to Familiar before I head to Thailand on the 17th. I'm also part of a book club that is trying to work its way through Don Quixote… in the end, I think I may have to go the abridged version route lol… :D We're supposed to finish that by the end of January. :lol: I also have Paolini's Inheritance on the dusty shelf and plan on reading this year. Let me know when you think you'll be ready and we can plunge in together. I really don't want to go back and read the other three to refresh my memory. I know you're all rolling your eyes at me, but something came to mind what w/ all the 70s & Rod Stewart talk. I was thinking back to when I was a kid in the 70s, etc... & remembered a time that my friend & I were up late at her house watching tv. (I know, I know -- I never watch tv. But, we were.) And, Alice Cooper came on. We were both so surprised by his looks (yet having the name Alice) that we could not figure out if he was a guy or a girl. :smilielol5: We were good & truly stumped. (I think we were around 10yo.) I don't know why old Alice popped up in my mind, but maybe it was Rod's maltipoo styling that had me thinking about hair.... In the effort to keep this post at least a little bit related to books, here's a book-related article on Flavorwire that ties into the hair issue... The Best Hair of the Enlightenment Era And since we've also talked about fashion, how about this Flavorwire article? The Literary World's Most Fascinating Dandies, Past and Present :laugh: Me thinks we'll now need to have a read a book by a dandy challenge. Bwahahahaha :eek: :D Oh my eyes! Quoting myself to give this previous post some context. So I am reading Hawthorne's Blithedale Romance based on his experience in a socialist commune outside of Boston around 1850. This led me to think about Marx and Engels which in turn got me thinking (very shallowly indeed!) about facial hair. Maybe facial hair is a more exciting topic than Hawthorne's musings on his socialist experiment. Can't say that I recommend Hawthorne... Does anyone really like The Scarlet Letter? I have the Scarlet Letter in the stacks for this year - will let you know if and when I do read it. I think you mean chest hair & all, right? Bwa-ha-ha... (Robin, really, please don't boot me from the thread.) And she is saved! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Sadly ladies, I can sing all of those songs, although there was an unfamiliar one by Cher near the top of the list. I read The Other Side of Midnight AND saw the movie - in college. I never read Judith Krantz. And the movies - Soylent Green! Rod the Bod! I saw him in concert about 2-3 years ago and he is awesome! Rod the Bod was my first thought when I saw the photo. I saw him in the early 90's in Orlando. That Bee Gees photo left me speechless. Oh, yeah. We're talking about books. I'm halfway through The Grapes of Wrath and loving it. I read it way back when I didn't appreciate it, so it feels like I'm reading it for the first time. I also started it last year, then it had to go back to the library and I didn't get around to finishing it. I've always loved the movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbuchina Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 This is our reaction to the Bee Gees pic: [edited to remove picture] We need this: [edited to remove picture] And in book related news, I have finished book number 2 for the year. I'll wait for tomorrow's thread to post more about it. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I'm hoping to finish up my Isabel Dalhousie mystery this weekend. I've got 'Snow Country' by Yasunari Kawabata on my 'to read' list as well. Do you all have several books going at once? Yay...Kawabata! I read Snow Country (twice) a few years ago. It's one of those novels where I feel like there's a lot I'm missing. It's slow, and there's a lot of symbolism. I was sort of bored the first time I read it. The second time I found the images really beautiful but distant. I'd love to hear your take on it. Can't say that I recommend Hawthorne... Does anyone really like The Scarlet Letter? No. I did like some of his short stories though. I finished The Tale of the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. I loved the first 100 pages, then I fell into an odd sense of dissatisfaction I couldn't pin down which resolved after another hundred pages or so (perhaps it was passivity about intense bullying, if anyone has PTSD from that kind of stuff this is not the book for you). At that point I accepted my minor annoyances as part of a very detailed, intricate book. Whatever it was it worked, and it worked well, on several levels. When writing a novel about two sets of characters years or continents apart often things get disjointed. One story is simply better than the other and you become annoyed with one set of characters for stealing the time of the people you really want to hear about (Possession for example). That never happened here. Nao was the hook, the drama, which reeled you in, but she wasn't my favorite character. I loved Oliver and his relationship with Ruth. I could relate with their life on the island (although the cast of characters leaned a bit heavy on Portland-type folks rather than variety in a rural area). Lots of interesting revelations, realistic people, Zen Buddhism, some Quantum Physics. Recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 And she is saved! Thank you. :grouphug: :001_smile: (I think 2013 fried me & this is just my weird happiness at being in a new year. :confused: ) Yay...Kawabata! I read Snow Country (twice) a few years ago. It's one of those novels where I feel like there's a lot I'm missing. It's slow, and there's a lot of symbolism. I was sort of bored the first time I read it. The second time I found the images really beautiful but distant. I'd love to hear your take on it. ... I finished The Tale of the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. I loved the first 100 pages, then I fell into an odd sense of dissatisfaction I couldn't pin down which resolved after another hundred pages or so (perhaps it was passivity about intense bullying, if anyone has PTSD from that kind of stuff this is not the book for you). At that point I accepted my minor annoyances as part of a very detailed, intricate book. Whatever it was it worked, and it worked well, on several levels. When writing a novel about two sets of characters years or continents apart often things get disjointed. One story is simply better than the other and you become annoyed with one set of characters for stealing the time of the people you really want to hear about (Possession for example). That never happened here. Nao was the hook, the drama, which reeled you in, but she wasn't my favorite character. I loved Oliver and his relationship with Ruth. I could relate with their life on the island (although the cast of characters leaned a bit heavy on Portland-type folks rather than variety in a rural area). Lots of interesting revelations, realistic people, Zen Buddhism, some Quantum Physics. Recommended. I will have to look into Snow Country. Enjoyed your comments on A Tale for the Time Being. I loved the book, but felt its one (small) weakness was that the two sides (two different stories) were uneven -- I enjoyed Nao's sections more, even though I know Ruth's sections provided the gravity, the adult-focus, the backward-timing.... Still, I love it & highly recommend it. Have made more progress in The Goldfinch. It is due back at the library Monday (not sure I'll make that deadline -- think I still have around 300 pages to go), but I'm trying to get quite a bit of reading done this weekend. Oh, I really do adore Hobie. Makes me want to go apprentice in a woodworking shop.... Donna Tartt crafts people, scenery, situations *so real*. She's shockingly talented at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Me thinks we'll now need to have a read a book by a dandy challenge. Bwahahahaha Awesome idea. Of course, Oscar Wilde is always perfect to read, anytime. And, I have a dusty book sitting here that I've been meaning to read & it's by one of the 'dandies' -- J.K. Huysmans (Against Nature). So, hey, I'm already set for that dandy reading challenge! :thumbup1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 Hey guys, just a note to the newbies to let you know I usually post the new thread on Sunday morning - some time around 10ish pacific time and the conversation continues in the new thread. You can carry over conversations from the old thread to the new one. That way we don't have multiple threads going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Enjoyed your comments on A Tale for the Time Being. I loved the book, but felt its one (small) weakness was that the two sides (two different stories) were uneven -- I enjoyed Nao's sections more, even though I know Ruth's sections provided the gravity, the adult-focus, the backward-timing.... Still, I love it & highly recommend it. :laugh: Secretly, I didn't like Nao very much even though she carried the plot. Ruth had a lot less going on, and I expected to be annoyed by the time spent with her duller life, but there were enough parallels to watch between her and Nao, and I enjoyed the themes of her middle aged life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbeym Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Y'all are cracking me up! I was born in the early 70s and don't remember a whole lot about it. I do have some rather fond memories of dancing around my grandparents' living room singing my little head off to ABBA though. A dear friend and I were big Rod Stewart fans in the late 80s. I'm not sure sexy was in our vocabulary back in those days though. :laugh: I *did* finish 2 books yesterday though. 2. Christmas Diamond by Hallee Bridgeman - a sweet novella crossover with her Jewel Trilogy and her upcoming Virtues of Valor series 1. Grave Secrets (Tempe Brennan #5) by Kathy Reichs - a good read, but not my favorite in the series so far. It was hard to stay into the book. Currently reading: Highlander Claimed by Juliette Miller (Scottish brain candy), To Live Like Christ by Beth Moore, and I'll start Murakami tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My3girls Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I think I would like to participate. This sounds like fun. Are these books we read strictly for ourselves or do books that we read to/ with our kiddos for school count, too? 2014: 3. Allegiant; Veronica Roth 2. Insurgent; Veronica Roth 1. Divergent; Veronica Roth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 I think I would like to participate. This sounds like fun. Are these books we read strictly for ourselves or do books that we read to/ with our kiddos for school count, too? 2014: 3. Allegiant; Veronica Roth 2. Insurgent; Veronica Roth 1. Divergent; Veronica Roth Awesome. It is entirely up to you if you want to include the books you read with the kiddos. However, they should have some substance, some complexity to them and longer than 100 pages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Have made more progress in The Goldfinch. It is due back at the library Monday (not sure I'll make that deadline -- think I still have around 300 pages to go), but I'm trying to get quite a bit of reading done this weekend. Oh, I really do adore Hobie. Makes me want to go apprentice in a woodworking shop.... Donna Tartt crafts people, scenery, situations *so real*. She's shockingly talented at it. It did slog a bit in the middle, but you're around the part where it will pick up and take off until the end. I loved Hobie too. Everyone, even people without issues like Theo's, should have someone like Hobie in their lives. I agree about Tartt's writing. I do want to read her other novels now. The Secret History will probably be next. I think I would like to participate. This sounds like fun. Are these books we read strictly for ourselves or do books that we read to/ with our kiddos for school count, too? Welcome. As long as it's not a children's book, it counts. Rereads count too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbuchina Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Stacia, just letting you know that my dd10 has left her MP3 player hooked up to her radio, and Ordinary World is on right now. LOL No way these kids will get through life without a proper education in all the greatest music. :lol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDLiVwpv89s ETA: How come my youtube links don't put the video in the post? What am I doing wrong? #sadpanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Stacia, just letting you know that my dd10 has left her MP3 player hooked up to her radio, and Ordinary World is on right now. LOL No way these kids will get through life without a proper education in all the greatest music. :lol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDLiVwpv89s ETA: How come my youtube links don't put the video in the post? What am I doing wrong? #sadpanda Like this? To get it to show up, under the video on youtube, there is a 'share' button. Click that & copy & paste that link here. Those are the ones that will show up in your post. Great link, btw! ;) :D (And I do believe they would fit in the 'dandy' category too, so still slightly on-topic, right?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbecueMom Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Another newbie here! I just finished Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane (right before bed, what was I thinking). I have several books in progress, and hopefully I'll make a dent in them over the next few days. They are predicting a foot of snow tomorrow, followed by two days of sub-zero temps. The line of people at the library checkout this morning "stocking up" for the storm was amusing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennW in SoCal Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 To all the new members -- don't freak out by all the 70s music silliness! While we aren't a bunch of blue stockings, we are normally a somewhat more erudite and thoughtful bunch. And for the record, pardon the pun, I have a very soft spot for the BeeGees. Saturday Night Fever was part of the soundtrack of my freshman year in college! Walking down the hall in the girl's dorm, one song or another was blasting from almost every room. (Those were the days before walkmans and boom boxes!) Of course I wound up marrying the guy who wore a "disco sucks" t-shirt :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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