Terri (tymfos) Reading Race thread 6: Autumn Reads

Hi! I'm Terri. Welcome to my new thread! The year is flying by, and I'm racing through some of the books on my "to read" list!

Now Autumn is arriving:


The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania near Wellsboro, PA, circa Fall 1993


A covered bridge in Pennsylvania, Early Autumn



This is the sixth installment of my 2013 Cozy, Comfy Reading Den. I'm out of the den more this time of year, but I still keep reading.

This is my primary challenge for the 2013 year. Everything I read will wind up listed in this challenge.




I read a wide variety of things. I tend to read a lot of mysteries, but I like other kinds of fiction and a lot of non-fiction. I have a weakness for disaster books, and I enjoy reading a lot of history.

Oh, and a word about my rating system? I don't have one. It's always a seat-of-the-pants, gut-reaction kind of thing when I try to decide how many stars a particular book will get. I freely admit how arbitrary this is.

I welcome all comments (except spam) and enjoy having visitors post here. So come on into my cozy reading den, pull up a chair and and let's chat about books and whatever else is on our minds!

THE BOOKS: First Quarter


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Books finished in JANUARY
1. Whack-A-Mole by Christ Grabenstein (E-BOOK, Fiction)
2. The Bourbon Street Ripper by Leo King (E-BOOK, Fiction)
3. The Man Called Cash by Steve Turner (AUDIO)
4. Last Man Out by Melissa Fay Greene
5. Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman (ER book)
6. Family Skeletons by Rett MacPherson
7. A Haunted Love Story: The Ghosts of the Allen House by Mark Spencer (E-book)
8. The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell (AUDIO)


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Books finished in FEBRUARY
9. The Sandburg Connection by Mark deCastrique (E-BOOK)
10. Toms River by Dan Fagin (LT ER Book)
11. Thunder Bay by William Kent Krueger


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Books finished in MARCH
Theme: Mystery March -- designated by **
12. **Midnight by Dean Koontz (AUDIO)
13. **Prayers for Rain by Dennis Lehane
14. **December's Thorn: A Fever Devilin Novel by Phillip DePoy
15. **Still Life with Murder by P.B. Ryan (E-book)
16. **A Veiled Antiquity by Rett MacPherson
17. **Haunting at Hensley Hall by Merabeth James (E-BOOK)
18. Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Keckly by Jennifer Fleischner
19. Time for God by Jacques Philippe
20. Killer Show: The Station Nightclub fire by John Barylick (LT ER book)
21. **The White Lioness by Henning Mankell (AUDIO)
22. **Dangerous Undertaking by Mark de Castrique (e-book)
23. You Can't Lose 'em All: The Year the Phillies finally won the World Series by Frank Fitzpatrick (non-fiction, from TBR shelf)
24. **A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch (AUDIO)
25. **Red Knife by William Kent Krueger (Fiction, ILL)
26. **Let the Devil Sleep by John Verdon (e-book from library)

Abandoned (at least for now):
The Assassin's Accomplice: Mary Surratt and the Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln by Kate Clifford Larson (AUDIO)

THE BOOKS: Second Quarter


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Books finished in APRIL
27. Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy
28. American Lightning by Howard Blum (AUDIO NON-FICTION)
29. The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife by Connie Scovill Small (non-fiction)
30. Come Thirsty by Max Lucado (e-book from library)
31. Deadly Night by Heather Graham (AUDIO) from library
32. Death on Demand by Carolyn G. Hart
33. A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson (AUDIO from library)
34. Faithful Place by Tana French (e-book from library)
35. Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard (mix of e-book and audio book)
36. Psalms: The Sunrise of Hope by Bob Saffrin (devotional -- e-book)
37. The Merlot Murders by Ellen Crosby (AUDIO)
38. Black Seconds by Karin Fossum (Mystery Fiction)
39. The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers by Amy Hollingsworth


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Theme: May Murder & Mayhem -- designated by **
Books finished in MAY
40. **Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
41. **The Gauguin Connection by Estelle Ryan (E-BOOK)
42. **A Place of Execution by Val McDermid (AUDIO)
43. **Heaven's Keep by William Kent Krueger (mystery/fiction)
44. **The Blood Detective by Dan Waddell (AUDIO)
45. **Grave Undertaking by Mark de Castrique (e-book)
46. Autism & Asperger's Syndrome in Layman's Terms by Raymond Le Blanc (e-book)
47. **Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
48. **The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill
49. **The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson (AUDIO)
50. **Site Unseen by Dana Cameron (e-book)
51. **Death Without Company by Craig Johnson (AUDIO)

ABANDONED:
Setup on Front Street by Mike Dennis (just plain awful)
Rebecca by Daphne du Marier (AUDIO) (not in mood for re-read)
Are You There Alone: the Unspeakable Crime of Andrea Yates by Suzanne O'Malley (not in mood for subject matter)


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Books finished in JUNE
52. Hell Hole by Chris Grabenstein (mystery fiction)
53. The Deepest Water by Kate Wilhelm (AUDIO fiction)
54. Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler (E-BOOK fiction)
55. Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson (AUDIO)
56. Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran (E-Book)
57. Death in the Baltic by Cathryn Prince (ER book, non-fiction)
58. A Cape May Diamond by Larry Enright (E-book)
59. Haunted Jersey Shore by Charles A. Stansfield Jr.
60. Another Man's Moccasins by Craig Johnson (AUDIO)
61. Vermillion Drift by William Kent Krueger (AUDIO/HARD COPY)

THE BOOKS: THIRD QUARTER


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Books finished in JULY
62. River of Darkness by Rennie Airth (e-book)
63. Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger
64. The Man Who Smiled by Henning Mankell (AUDIO)
65. Mind Scrambler by Chris Grabenstein (E-book)
66. Ghost Ships of the Great Lakes by Dwight Boyer (non-fiction)
67. The Dark Horse by Craig Johnson (AUDIO)
68. Harbor by John Ajvide Lindqvist (fiction)
69. Trickster's Point by William Kent Krueger (AUDIO)
70. Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson (AUDIO)
71. The Dead Cat Bounce by Sarah Graves (e-book)


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Books finished in AUGUST:
72. It Happens in the Dark by Carol O'Connell (ER book)
73. A Cold Day in Paradise by Steve Hamilton
74. Blood Atonement by Dan Waddell
75. Winter of the Wolf Moon by Steve Hamilton
76. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
77. A Lesson in Dying by Ann Cleves
78. Murder in My Back Yard by Ann Cleeves
79. Sidetracked by Henning Mankell (AUDIO)
80. Haunted Lakes by Frederick Stonehouse
81. A Darker Domain by Val McDermid (AUDIO)
82. The Dante Connection by Estelle Ryan (E-BOOK)
83. The Alphabet of Grace by Frederick Buechner (Devotional, E-BOOK)


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Books finished in SEPTEMBER
Theme: September Series & Sequels -- designated by **
84. **Hell is Empty by Craig Johnson (AUDIO)
85. **Tamarack County by William Kent Krueger (AUDIO)
86. **Broken Harbor by Tana French
87. **The Pure in Heart by Susan Hill
88. Snow Angels by Stewart O'Nan
89. The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman (audio and hard copy ILL)
90. **A Reason to Live by Matthew Iden (e-book)
91. To Sleep With the Angels by David Cowan (non-fiction)
92. **Murder Bay by David R. Horwitz (e-book)
93. Maine Ghosts and Legends by Thomas Verde
94. **Superior Death by Matthew Williams e-book
95. **Jolie Blon's Bounce by James Lee Burke
96. **The Fifth Woman by Henning Mankell (audio book / mystery)

Temporarily Abandoned:
They Fought Like Demons: Women Soldiers in the Civil War by De Anne Blanton (Non-fiction)
So Cold a Sky by Karl Bohnak

THE BOOKS: Fourth Quarter will go here.


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Books finished in OCTOBER

Halloween Theme -- designated by **

97. **Little Terrors by David Jester (no touchstone) (e-book)
98. **Wings to the Kingdom by Cherie Priest
99. **The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (AUDIO)
100. **The Ghosts of Virginia, Vol. II by L.B. Taylor
101. **Mr. Shivers by Robert Jackson Bennett
102. **Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman (E-book)
103. **Ghosts of Southwestern Pennsylvania by Thomas White (E-book)
104. **The Terror by Dan Simmons (mostly audio, and hard copy to refer back to)
105. **The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (AUDIO)
106 **Specters and Spirits of the Appalachian Foothills by James Burchill & Linda J. Crider (folklore)
107 **Cogslea Revisited by M. Juanita Taylor (fiction)
108 **Lineage: A Supernatural Thriller by Joe Hart (e-book)
109 **The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (AUDIO)
110 **Haunted Happenings by Robert Cahill (folklore)


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Books finished in NOVEMBER

Themes: "By the Numbers" or "Non-Fiction Follow-up" of a novel topic or "New-to-me-Author/Series" -- designated by **

111. **Confessions of a Prayer Slacker by Diane Moody (E-BOOK) -- new-to-me author theme
112. **One for the Money by Janet Evanovich (AUDIO) -- numbers, new-to-me series themes
113. **Jerusalem Gap by T.R. Pearson (e-book) -- new-to-me author theme
114. **Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink (non-fiction) -- trifecta -- numbers, n-f follow up, new-to-me author themes
115. **206 Bones by Kathy Reichs (AUDIO) -- numbers theme
116. **Medicine Men: Extreme Appalachian Doctoring by Carolyn Jourdan (E-BOOK), non-fiction -- new-to-me author theme
117. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson (for unofficial group read)
118. **NOS4A2 by Joe Hill -- "by the numbers" theme

Currently Reading:
**Messy: God likes it that way by A.J. Swoboda -- new-to-me author
**SCARE Stories by Beth Hutchinson -- new-to-me author

already abandoned this month:
**Four Days with Hemingway's Ghost by Tom Winton (e-book) -- numbers, new-to-me author, NOT WORTH MY TIME


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Books finished in DECEMBER

MY OTHER CHALLENGES:

I'm also participating in the 13 in 13 Category Challenge:



http://www.librarything.com/topic/142659
http://www.librarything.com/topic/155969

and in the ROOTS (Read Our Own Tomes) Challenge (for clearing off those TBR shelves):



http://www.librarything.com/topic/145564

THE SERIES I'M READING


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RACING TO READ MY SERIES!

A. CHECKERED FLAG: Series that I'm actually caught up/finished with those which have been published!!!
Blood Detective/Nigel Barnes series by Dan Waddell (have read both)
Cork O'Connor series by William Kent Krueger. (have read all 13)
Dave Gurney series by John Verdon. (have read all three)
Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French. (have read all 4)
Elm Haven series by Dan Simmons (read both)
Fever Devilin series by Philip DePoy. (have read all seven)
Flap Tucker series by Philip DePoy (have read all 5)
Genevieve Lenard mysteries by Estelle Ryan (have read both)
Kenzie/Gennaro series by Dennis Lehane. (have read all six)
Lincoln Perry series by Michael Koryta (have read all four)
Mallory series by Carol O'Connell (have read all ten already published plus ER of 11th not-yet-published installment!)
Rev. Claire Ferguson series by Julia Spencer Fleming (have read all seven -- #8 due out in Novemer )

B. WHITE FLAG LAP -- ONE TO GO!: Favorite Series that I am very actively reading, only one left to read that has been published
Eden Moore series by Cherie Priest. Next: Not Flesh Nor Feathers, #3 of 3 (owned)
Sam Blackman series by Mark deCastrique. Next up: A Murder in Passing, #4 of 4
Samantha Kincade series by Alafair Burke. Next: Close Case, #3 of 3
Shetland Quartet by Ann Cleeves. Next up: Dead Water #5 of 5 (not readily available)
Three Pines/Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny. Next: How the Light Gets In, #9 of 9 (CURRENTLY READING)

C. GREEN FLAG LAPS: Favorite Series that I am very actively reading -- not as far along
Alex McNight series by Steve Hamilton. Next up: The Hunting Wind, #3 of 10
Buryin' Barry mysteries by Mark deCastrique. Next up: Foolish Undertaking, #3 of 5 (owned)
Dave Robicheaux series by James Lee Burke. Next: Last Car to Elysian Fields, #13 of 20 (local library)
Inspector Sejir series by Karin Fossum (English Publication Order). Next: The Water's Edge, #6 of 10 (local library)
John Ceepak series by Chris Grabenstein. Next: Rolling Thunder, #6 of 9
John Madden series by Rennie Airth. Next up: The Blood-Dimmed Tide, #2 of 3
Kurt Wallander series by Henning Mankell. Next: One Step Behind, #7 of 10
Torie O'Shea series by Rett MacPherson. Next up: A Comedy of Heirs, #3 of 11 (owned)
Trilogy of Fog by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Next: The Watcher in the Shadows, #3 of 3
Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson. Next up: As the Crow Flies, #8 of 9 (not counting the short stories that fall in between books)

D. YELLOW FLAG: Other series to continue, but I've slowed down for now:
Alexandra Cooper series by Linda Fairstein. Next:Hell Gate, #12 of 15 (library)
Alex Cross series by James Patterson. Next:Alex Cross' Trial, #15 of 21 (library)
Benjamin January by Barbara Hambly. Next: Sold Down the River, #4 of 12 (owned)
Bryant & May by Christopher Fowler. Next: The Water Room, #2 of 10 (CLP/FLP download)
Commissario Brunetti series by Donna Leon. Next: Death in a Strange Country, #2 of 23 (at library; I own #3)
Crumley mysteries by Ray Bradbury. Next: Graveyard for Lunatics, #2 of 3 (owned)
David Ash series by James Herbert. Next: Ghosts of Sleath, #2 of 3 (at library)
Dr. Siri series by Colin Cotterill. Next up: Anarchy and Old Dogs, #4 of 8 (owned)
Emma Fielding series by Dana Cameron. Next: Grave Consequences, #2 of 6 (download FLP)
Inspector Banks series by Peter Robinson. Next up: A Necessary End, #3 of 21
Inspector Erlendur (UK publication order) by Arnaldur Indrudason. Next: Silence of the Grave, #2 of 9 (county Library)
Inspector Ramsay by Ann Cleeves. Next: A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy, #3 of 6 (owned)
Joe Pickett mysteries by C.J. Box. Open Season Next up: Savage Run, #2 of 14 (owned)
Kate Burkholder by Linda Castillo. Next: Breaking Silence, #3 of 5 Gone Missing, #4 of 5 (CLP audio download)
Lake Superior Mysteries by Matthew Williams. Next: Superior Deception, #2 of 3
Lamb/Holly series by Belinda Bauer. Next: Darkside, #2 of 3 (owned)
Marty Singer series by Matthew Iden, Next: Blueblood, #2 of 3 (owned)
Merrily Watkins series by Phil Rickman. Next: The Cure of Souls, #4 of 12 (owned)
Mistress of the Art of Death, by Ariana Franklin. Next: The Serpent's Tale, #2 of 4 (owned)
Simon Serralier series by Susan Hill. First up: The Risk of Darkness, #3 of 6 (just purchased)
Temperence Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. Next: Spider Bones #13 of 16
Tess Monaghan series by Laura Lippman. Next: Another Thing to Fall, #10 of 11
White House Chef series by Julie Hyzy. Next: Eggsecutive Orders, #3 of 6

E. ONE-OFF DEALS: Series I started reading out-of-order once in a while over the years as I came upon volumes:
(I'm not sure which books I've read in some of these series!)
Ballad novels by Sharyn McCrumb (ten in series)
D.D. Warren series by Lisa Gardner.
Elizabeth MacPherson series by Sharyn McCrumb
Faith Fairchild mysteries by Katherine Hall Page (I own some unread)
Harmony series by Philip Gulley (first in County Library)
Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow (recently went back and read #1 in series)
Michael Kelley series by Michael Harvey (read 2nd; own 1st)
Mickey Rawlings series by Tron Soos
Penn Dutch Inn mysteries by Tamar Myers (I own some unread; library has some I've not read)
Richard Christie series by Kathleen George (read 4th of 4 from library) next to read: #1 Taken (at county library)
Skip Langdon series by Julie Smith

F. START YOUR ENGINES: New-to-me series that I'm currently reading first book:

G. START-AND-PARKS: Series I started at the beginning and don't necessarily feel like going the distance with, though I may try one now and then:
Aurora Teagarden mysteries by Charlaine Harris. Next: A Bone to Pick, #2 of 8 (owned)
Charles Lenox series by Charles Finch. Next: The September Society, #2 of 7 (CLP/FLP Download)
Claire DeWitt by Sara Gran. Next Up: Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway, #2 of 2
Death on Demand series by Carolyn Hart. Next up: Design for Murder, #2 of 23 (owned)
Emily Locke series by Rachel Brady. Next: Dead Lift, #2 of 2 (CLP download)
Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo. Next: The Redeemer (FLP download)
Home Repair is Homicide series by Sarah Graves. Next up, #2 of 16
Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd. Next: Wings of Fire, #2 of 16 (library)
Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. Next: Pardonable Lies, #3 of 10 (borrowed)
Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews. Next: No Nest for the Wicket, #7 of 16 (county library)
Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Mysteries by Merabeth James. I'm definitely skipping #2, the vampire one. Next up: A Haunting at Storm House (owned, e-book)
Stephanie Plum. Next up: Two for the Show, #2 of 19 (#20 coming out in November)
Wine Country Mysteries by Ellen Crosby: Chardonnay Charade, #2 of 6 (download FLP)

Still to be organized:
G. Non-fiction series/collections/trilogies/sets, etc, to be read in order:
The Ghosts of Virginia CURRENTLY READING VOLUME 2
The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote (Have read 2 of 3)

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Series I'm thinking of starting

A. Series to start; own (or was loaned) at least one book in series
Agent Smoky Barrett series by Cody McFadyen. First up: Shadow Man, #1 of 5 (owned)
Body Farm series by Jefferson Bass. First up: Carved in Bone, #1 of 7+ (FLP download -- own #2 e-book)
Booktown mysteries by Lorna Barrett. First up: Murder is Binding, #1 of 6 (owned)
Bruno series by Martin Walker. First up: Bruno, Chief of Police, #1 of 5 (borrowed)
Coffeehouse mysteries by Cleo Coyle. First up: On What Grounds, #1 of 11 (owned)
Det. Ellie Hatcher series by Alafair Burke. First up: Dead Connection, #1 of 4 (owned)
Emmanuel Cooper series by Malla Nunn. First up: A Beautiful Place to Die, #1 of 2 (owned)
Frank Renzi series by Susan Fleet. First up: Absolution, #1 of 3 (Kindle book)
Gin Palace Trilogy by Daniel Judson. (Own #2 in series as Kindle Book -- I understand that it's a "prequel" so may work to read first.
Hackberry Holland by James Lee Burke. First up: Lay Down my Sword and Shield, #1 of 3 (owned)
Hannah Swenson series by Joanne Fluke. First up: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, #1 of 15 (owned)
Huntress Moon/FBI thrillers by Alexandra Sokoloff. First up: Huntress Moon, #1 of 2 (Kindle book)
Inspector Alan Grant series by Josephine Tey. First up: The Man in the Queue, #1 of 6 (owned)
Inspector Matt Minogue Mysteries by John Brady. First up: A Stone of the Heart, #1 of 10 (owned)
Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson. First up: Case Histories, #1 of 4 (owned)
James Pruett series by R.S. Guthrie. First up: Blood Land, #1 (Kindle book)
Jeff Resnick series by L.L. Bartlett. First up: Murder on the Mind, #1 of 6 (own e-book)
John Cardinal series by Giles Blunt. First up: Forty Words for Sorrow, #1 of 6 (owned)
Julie O'Hara series by Lee Hanson. First up: Castle Cay, #1 of 3 (Kindle book)
Lacey Flint series by S. J. Bolton. First up: Now you See Me, #1 of 2 (owned)
Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourn. First up: Silent in the Grave, #1 of 7 (borrowed)
Lake Champlain mysteries by William Kritlow. First up: Crimson Snow, #1 of 3 (owned)
Laszlo Kreizler series by Caleb Carr. First up: The Alienist, #1 of 2 (owned)
Loon Lake fishing mysteries, by Victoria Houston. First up: Dead Angler, #1 of 13 (owned)
Madeline Dare series by Cornelia Read. First Up: Field of Darkness, #1 of 3 (owned)
Mark Tartaglia series by Elena Forbes. First up: Die With Me, #1 of 3 (owned)
Missing Pieces mysteries by Joyce & Jim Laverne. First up: A Timely Vision, #1 of 5 (owned)
Quirke series by Benjamin Black. First up: Christine Falls, #1 of 6 (owned)
Rebecka Martinsson series by Asa Larsson. First up: Sun Storm, #1 of 4 (CLP library download; own 4th book in series)
Rosa Thorn series by Vena Cork. First up: Thorn, #1 of 3 (owned)
Shadows series by Cege Smith. First up: Edge of Shadows, #1 of 3 (Kindle book)
Sister Agnes series by Alison Joseph. First up: Sacred Hearts, #1 of 9 (own)
Tony Boudreaux Mysteries by Kent Conwell. First up: Galveston (no touchstone), #1 of ? (own 6th in series)
Underhill/Maiden series by Will Kingdom. The Cold Calling (owned)

B. Series I'm eager to start; none owned, but at least first book available at library:
Bess Crawford series by Charles Todd. First up: A Duty to the Dead, #1 of 4 (library)
Cemetery of Forgotton Books by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. The Shadow of the Wind, #1 of 3 (FLP downloads)
Deborah Knott series by Margaret Maron. First up: Bootlegger's Daughter, #1 of 18 (library)
DS Alex Morrow by Denise Mina. First up: Still Midnight
Guido Guerrieri series by Gianrico Carfiglio. Involuntary Witness, #1 of 4 (CLP download)
Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly. First up: The Black Echo, #1 of 18 (library, library downhload)
Homer Kelley series by Jane Langton. First up: The Transcendental Murder, #1 of 18 (FLP download)
Inspector Silva series by Leighton Gage. First up: Blood of the Wicked, #1 of 4 (CLP download)
Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. First up: Killing Floor
Jack Sawyer series by Stephen King. First up: The Talisman (library, downloads)
Kathryn Dance series by Jeffery Deaver. First up: The Sleeping Doll
Lynley/Havers series by Elizabeth George. First up: A Great Deliverance (library paperback)
Matthew Shardlake series by C.J. Samson. First up: Dissolution, #1 of 5 (FLP download)
Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larsson. First up: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, #1 of 3
Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz. First up: Odd Thomas, #1 of 6 + novellas
Rizolli/Isles by Tess Gerritsen. First up: The Surgeon
Shakespeare Secret series by Jennifer Lee Carrell. First up: Interred With Their Bones
Steve Vail series by Noah Boyd. First up: The Bricklayer, #1 of 2
Strange & Quinn series by George Pelicanos. First up: Right as Rain
Tea Shop mysteries by Laura Childs. First up: Death by Darjeeling
The Sparrow series by Mary Doria Russell. First up: The Sparrow
Thora Gudmundsdottier series by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. First up: Last Rituals
Tradd Street series by Karen White. First up: The House on Tradd Street, #1 of 3
Women's Murder Club by James Patterson. First up: First to Die

G. Series to start where first book is at county library
Anna Travis series by Lynda LaPlante. First up: Above Suspicion, #1 of 7
Barker & Llewellyn series by Will Thomas. First up: Some Danger Involved, #1 of 5 (county library)
Cackleberry Club by Laura Childs. First up: Eggs in purgatory
Duncan Kincade series by Deborah Crombie. First up: A Share in Death
Evelyn James series by Elizabeth Becca. First up: Trace Evidence
Gregor Demarkian mystery by Jane Haddam. First up: Not a Creature was Stirring
Harrison Investigation series by Heather Graham. First up: Haunted (county library)
Inspector Rebus series by Ian Rankin. First up: Knots & Crosses, #1 of 17
Jack Daniels series by Joe Konrath. First up: Whiskey Sour
Jason Kolarich series by David Ellis. First up: The Hidden Man
Jemima Shore series by Antonia Fraser. First up: Quiet as a Nun
Joona Linna sereis by Lars Kepler. First up: The Hypnotist, #1 (only one in English so far)
LA Quartet by James Elroy. First up: The Black Dahlia
Leaphorn series by Tony Hillerman. First up: The Blessing Way
Lincoln Ryme series by Jeffery Deaver. First up: The Bone Collector
Nobody Nowhere series by Donna Williams. First up: Nobody Nowhere
Nora Gavin series by Erin Hart. First up: Haunted Ground
Ray Dudgeon series by Sean Chercover. First up: Big City, Bad Blood
Sister Agatha mysteries by Aimee Thurlo. First up: Bad Faith
Virgil Tibbs series by John Ball. First up: In the Heat of the Night, #1 of 7

C. Recommended series, not readily available:
Antique Print Mysteries by Lea Wait. Shadows at the Fair
Books by the Bay Mysteries by Ellery Adams. First up: A Killer Plot
Chief Inspecter Adamsburg by Fred Vargas. The Chalk Circle Man
Donut Shop mysteries by Jessica Beck. Glazed Murder
Emily Tempest series by Adrian Hyland. Moonlight downs
Inspector Challis by Hal Disher. The Dragon Man
Jack Frost by R.D. Wingfield. Frost at Christmas
Jack Taylor series by Ken Bruen. The Guards
Joe Faraday series by Graham Hurley. Turnstone
Joe Plantagenet by Kate Ellis. Seeking the Dead
Kyle Murchison Booth by Sarah Monette The Bone Key
Logan McRae by Stuart MacBride. Cold Granite
Matthew Bartholomew series by Susanna Gregory. A Plague on Both Your Houses
Max Tudor by G.M. Malliet. Wicked Autumn
Mike Bowditch by Paul Doiron. The Poacher's Son
Nathan Active series by Stan Jones. White sky, Black ice
Novel Ideas series by Lucy Arlington. Buried in a Book
Sam Turner mysteries by John F. Baker. Poet in the Gutter
Sigrid Harald by Margaret Maron. One Coffee With
Tom Thorne series by Mark Billingham. Sleepyhead

THE STATS: for as long as I can keep them adding up properly

total books READ 2013: 118

ROOT books -- off my (real or virtual) TBR shelf: 62
("SuperROOTS" (pre-2013 hard copy or ER): 33

Paper books: 51 1/2
E-books: 35
Audio books: 31 1/2

Fiction: 88
Non-Fiction: 30

male author(s): 75
female author: 41
male/female team author: 1

US authors: 90
authors from other countries: 25
NO IDEA: 3

living author (as far as I know): 112
deceased author: 4
unsure:2

COVERS OF BOOKS CURRENTLY READING:

FICTIONDEVOTIONALREGIONAL FOLKLORE AUDIO

and

THE POSTING FORMAT:

Title:
Author:
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Series:
Date finished:
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?:
Category for 13 in 13 challenge:
How does it fit the category? (if not obvious):
Alternate category
My Rating:
Notes:

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Hello, Everyone! I'm Sorry I can't get my touchstones to set, but everything else is more or less ready for company!

ETA to add I'm getting the touchstones to work now, at least in some of the posts!

Lovely new thread, Terri!

Thanks, Joanne! You're the first one here!

Happy first day of autumn thread!!

Thanks, Linda!

I knew I wouldn't sleep for a while after watching the Bears trounce the Steelers, so this seemed a good use of time.

Have to say on the new fall thread!! Can I just say your organizational skills re: your series reading is astounding!! I love the auto racing theme.

Thanks, Kim!

I am impressed by how organized your reading is. I feel like a mere dilettante in comparison.

My reading lists may be the only thing that is organized about me! :)

I'm frustrated that I still can't get the right touchstones for some of the works in my lists. I thought I had working touchstones for these books on my past threads. I can't even find some of the books when I search LT, and I know they are books that some people have in their libraries. I know LT was having trouble with their search function and database, but I thought that was pretty much ironed out. Apparently not.

Well, I'm headed off to bed to try and get some sleep.

Just following you over to your nice, new shiny thread!

Terri- Love the new thread, with the lovely fall theme. Hope you have a nice week.

Migrating over to your new thread Terri. That is one stunning picture at the top of this thread!

21 Hi, Morphy!

22. I hope you have a great week, too, Mark!

23 Thanks, Lori!

I've decided to go on reading my book of Maine Ghosts and Legends, despite having started Ghosts of Virginia, Vol. II to fit with the Series & Sequels focus. It's short, and the stories are easy to read when I have just a snippet of time, or am trying to multi-task (as when reading during TV commercials or between computer tasks). The Ghosts of Virginia books are rather long, and the reading is a bit more complex; there's a lot more detail about the history and architecture of the locations. That's really interesting, but it takes a little more concentration to fully digest.

Murder Bay, my e-book, has taken a plot turn with which I'm not comfortable. I'll probably finish it to see how it turns out, but it probably won't be getting a very good rating from me. (Maybe this explains why it was published as a first-in-series in 2008, and no sequel has yet appeared?)

75 Challenge Book #92
Title: Murder Bay (E-Book)
Author: David R. Horwitz
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2008
Series: Ben Carey #1
Date finished: 9-23-13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, No, Kindle Store
Category for 13 in 13 challenge: Winds of War
How does it fit the category? (if not obvious): Part of story takes place during Civil War; an injured soldier is significant
Alternate category
My Rating: still deciding
Notes:

This story deals with several eras -- the Civil War era, when churches in Washington became military hospitals, and private homes became recuperation centers; and 1958, when the Washington, DC police were struggling to equip their forces with basic necessities for law enforcement. In 1862, Mordecai Finkel was a soldier wounded at 2nd Bull Run and shipped to a hospital housed in Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington. In 1958, Sgt. Ben Carey of the Metro DC police force is in charge of a unit administering a federal grant. His headquarters is an old, decrepit Victorian house. In it, he experiences paranormal phenomena.

For much of this book, my attitude was sort of "meh." I liked the historical touches, the sense that the writer had done his homework; and I didn't mind that there was a ghost story involved. Then there was one scene that just plain made me really uncomfortable, and I was sure I'd give the book a low rating. But the ending drew me in much more than I would have expected.

There were aspects that I'm not sure match the reality of how things worked in the times and places described. Mind you, I'm not talking about the ghostly part -- I expect that to be a bit fantastic (though one or two scenes really bugged me). I wish there had been a bit more of an end note clarifying what (of the non-paranormal aspects) is historical and what is fictional. I can't say the biggest question I really have without it being a massive spoiler.

But the ending did really grab me.

So now I don't know how to rate it.

After I finished, I learned in the notes that the author is deceased and his family is seeing to publishing his writings posthumously. Apparently he wrote several of these Ben Carey books; I only see evidence that one has been published.

I just spent 10 minutes on hold arranging for my XM radio subscription to NOT renew when it expires. I finally got to talk to a real person! In the process of explaining why I don't want the service anymore (besides the finances), I mentioned that I usually listen to audio books in the car. The operator had questions, and it turned out she didn't know that many libraries have downloadable audio books and e-books. So I was able to do a bit of library education! It made me feel much better about having to call and cancel.

75 Challenge Book #93
Title: Maine Ghosts & Legends
Author: Thomas Verde
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1989
Series: n/a
Date finished: 9/24/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, Yes, Amazon Marketplace 2009
Category for 13 in 13 challenge: Twilight Zone
How does it fit the category? (if not obvious):
Alternate category
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Notes:

I enjoyed this little book of "true" ghost stories. This book wasn't as rich in history as some books of this type, but it was a reasonably well-written, easy and pleasant read. The author included a list of sources for each story at the back of the book. He openly stated at the end of several tales that some parties involved were unwilling to talk with him, and that he'd based those accounts on previously published reports, usually from local newspapers or other regional publications.

Terri, your thread is a work of art and organization. I know that feeling of having only a small part of my life in order. I think a busy life will mostly be a messy life, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Pennsylvania has some gorgeous scenery, especially the Grand Canyon. We used to visit quite a bit when I was a child as my dad's only sister lived in Harrisburg. I have fond memories of Hershey. Lol.

My latest order from Better World Books has arrived:



And two (one a freebie, the other 99 cents) obtained today from the Kindle Store:

Ooh, I loved Safe From the Sea. I will get to meet Geye over the weekend and possibly pick up his latest novel. Hope you enjoy it.

Susan Hill!!!!!!

Mark, I know you loved it -- you're one of the folks who convinced me to buy it. Super that you'll be meeting Geye!

Carrie, I've read the first two in that series, and had to go on. I ordered these practically the minute I finished The Pure in Heart. Great timing for a book sale!

The BWB sale was a treat. I got all six books, used, for a total of around $20 (the exact amount slips my mind) and free shipping. Three of them are ex-library hard cover editions, and three are paperbacks; all are in excellent condtion. (The pages of the Holland book are a little yellowed due to age, but the binding is in great shape.)

The two Kindle books caught my eye due to setting -- one at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and one on Lake Superior.

I think I'll put aside the e-book short horror story collection I'm reading (after finishing the story I'm almost done) to try Superior Death. I'd like to get a sense of whether I'll like the series while the second book, Superior Deception, is still on sale for 99 cents.

I loved Faith Under Fire.

Looks like a nice haul. An RL friend was telling me about them. I need to order from them.

Linda, I'm quite sure I picked up the recommendation for Faith Under Fire from you. I'm looking forward to reading it soon!

I really enjoy shopping from Better World Books. Take a look at their website; they are a very interesting company. They donate a lot to libraries and literacy causes.

After reading The Mirror, Mom wanted me to pick up some of Marlys Milhiser's other books. I ordered via Abe Books and I think at least one of them came from Better World Books, if I'm not mistaken.

Cool, Linda!

I just went to shelve my new books, and realized that the five books I need to fit on the Fiction TBR bookcase all are by authors whose names start with the letters G or H. That shelf already has books sitting on top of books. :( I must buy my next batch from authors in a different part of the alphabet!

Terri, It looks like you have some good selections in that Better World Books order.

Yes, Lori! I was lucky, and found some that look really good.

Oh dear.. almost 40 behind. How did this happen. I need to come back when I have time to really look at what's happening.. but I'm afraid of books mentioned in your thread. sigh... off to toss clothes in the dryer.

I wanna read. I'm running out of Patricia Briggs books. I will miss my Werewolves. :(

Kath, I keep getting behind on LT, too. RL just gets too busy sometimes. I know this has been a busy week for you.

I saw this on the Kindle monthly sale, and the setting appealed to me due to my recent vacation on the UP of Michigan. I decided to try it right away, as others in the series are on sale, too. A bonus is that the main character is a reporter, so it fits one of the two remaining slots in my category challenge!

75 Challenge Book #94
Title: Superior Death
Author: Matthew Williams
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2006
Series: Vince Marshall #1
Date finished: 9/27/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, No, Kindle store
Category for 13 in 13 challenge: Meet The Press
How does it fit the category? (if not obvious): protagonist is a reporter.
Alternate category
My Rating:3.7 stars
Notes:

Reporter Vince Marshall is drawn into a mystery when a woman goes off a cliff on the Lake Superior shoreline, and his mother is the only witness. Why did the woman, who was from out of state, come to this place? What does it have to do with the exclusive hunting club near town? And is there any connection to a rash of drug busts among honor students at the local high school, where Vince's wife is a teacher?

I had never heard of this series, but it caught my eye due to the setting. It was surprisingly good. It's not great literature, just a nice, solid mystery -- short and sweet, an easy read with enough twists and turns to keep me satisfied. I wish there was a bit more of the sense of setting; he doesn't really bring it home the way Steve Hamilton does in the Alex McNight series (also set on the UP) -- but I got a general picture of where it was set.

This and two more of the series are on sale for 99 cents in the Kindle store this month. I think I'll hurry and pick up the others before the sale/month ends.

OK, one reason I finished this last book so quickly is that our took a spontaneous trip to Gettysburg yesterday after work/school. I didn't have time to plan, and we left without any books of the paper kind. Thank heavens for the Kindle app on my phone!

We spent the night near Gettysburg, and had quite an adventure at the motel. The room seemed nice enough. There was even a cozy chair with a reading lamp (of course, when I don't have any real books with me!) My husband, however, decided we might want the heat on overnight, and when he went to turn it on, the door to the control panel fell off and hit my leg. Then the heater, which must not have been used yet this season, started to smell and the smoke detector went off. Finally, when I went to use the restroom, the toilet paper roll and roller popped out of its holder and fell on the floor.

BTW, I have no idea why hubby wanted the heat on. We turned it off and I was still too warm most of the night.

We visited the new Seminary Ridge Museum.

http://www.seminaryridgemuseum.org/

It is really powerful. After an orientation film at the entry, you start on the top floor, which focuses on a detailed account of the first day of battle at Gettysburg. The next floor down is about medical care during and after the battle. The next floor down is about issues of faith and religion as they relate to the Civil War and slavery. On the lowest floor, in addition to the entry and the orientation movie, there's a hall for rotating exhibits. At this time, the exhibit was of items found when renovating the building. Fascinating stuff! There's also a gift shop, but hubby steered me away from that as there were books for sale . . . ;)

Wow to the hotel... lol. Glad it was ultimately good :)

I was at work today, and Bernie had stopped in after her interview. I was talking to her, and some gu went up to Miss Daisy who was manning the desk. He asked for me *baffled I was, did not know him*
Anyway, Daisy sent him my way and he handed me a book that he wrote and said "This is for you". I guess he read another review that I did for a local writer, and he hunted me down.

Dilemma

It ( as was the last one) is a religious sort of book. I will read it and hope that I like it.( I did like the last one. It was given to another library and they passed it to Bernie, who passed it to me.. I hope this isn't a trend! lol

You're becoming a famous book reviewer, Kath!

LOL yeah, it's an unsophisticated area.... even my fab passes for a review

I like your reviews, Kath.

I finished off the last few pages of this one. It completes my 2013 Category Challenge.

75 Challenge Book #95
Title: Jolie Blon's Bounce
Author: James Lee Burke
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2002
Series: Dave Robicheaux
Date finished: 9-28-13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, Public Library
Category for 13 in 13 challenge: Bourbon Street Beat
How does it fit the category? (if not obvious): set in New Orleans vicinity
Alternate category
My Rating:3.8 stars
Notes:

A young woman is raped and murdered. The prime suspect is a gifted yet troubled (and addicted) young musician. Yet there are plenty of other suspects, if one looks hard enough -- and Dave Robicheaux keeps looking. In this wild ride, we meet an evil (demonic?) man known only as Legion, a strange Bible salesman, a troubled lawyer from an old and wealthy Louisiana family, a homeless man from Dave's past (perhaps), and an assortment of pimps and mobsters.

So I've finished yet another outing with flawed detective Dave Robicheaux. At times, I find myself wearying of certain elements of these novels. There are too many seedy characters and generally violent people. There's too much poverty, despair, racism, and violence. And yet Burke's insights into the issues of society are so keen, his ability to find moments of beauty in the midst of the messiness of life and his keen descriptive ability can be so breathtaking, that I keep coming back for more.

I finished listening to the last bit of this audio in the car today.

75 Challenge Book #96
Title: The Fifth Woman (audio book)
Author: Henning Mankell
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1996
Series: Kurt Wallander #6
Date finished: 9-29-13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, library download
My Rating: 4.2 stars
Notes:

This was a good one! A woman learns that her mother was killed in Africa, and the crime was swept under the rug. One by one, men are murdered in especially gruesome ways. Citizens, sick of violence, set out to form their own militia (vigilante) groups. How does this all fit together into a coherent story line?

Trust Henning Mankell to use these elements, and more, to weave a masterful mystery, as Inspector Kurt Wallander embarks on perhaps his most challenging case yet. This was a good one! The audio narrated by Dick Hill was spot-on. Highly recommended.

I'm trying to figure out what to do. I've got my turn at the new Louise Penny novel. I love her writing, and I want to read it eventually, but I'm not in the right mood for it now. I read the first two chapters, and it's just not what I want right now. We're going into October, and (shallow as it may sound) I want to read scary stuff for the month. Yet I hate to let it go, though I know it won't be a long wait to get hold of it again -- our library never gets long hold lists. I think November or December, I'll enjoy reading it more.

Does that sound crazy? She only writes one a year, so I kind of want to give it an optimum reading slot.

I don't think you're off base on thinking this, Terri. I still haven't read it. I haven't had a free weekend, that is, I haven't had a weekend where I've had no plans but to stay home and read. As the weather cools off (but before the holidays), I know it'll happen.

I agree. Since there's only one per year, I want to read it at the best possible time. I want to be able to savor it.

I want to read it at the best possible time. I want to be able to savor it.

Yeah, Linda!

Terri> If you aren't ready to read it, wait. With our local library, the hold lists are not too bad, but the e-book wait lists that are shared statewide can be.

Let it go.. I totally get what you're saying...

Yes. I agree. Let it stew awhile. The longer it cooks, the more tender and juicy it will be!

Thanks Lori, Kath, & Morphy!

(Morphy, I love the way you phrased that!)

Today I had to do an emergency recycling run to a nearby town, as the place where I take my plastics & paper shall not, after today, be taking plastic & paper anymore. I wanted to at least be able to drop off what I've saved up until now.

I also hit a book sale, and came home with a full bag of books for $1. I smuggled them into the house while hubby was at a Bible Study. I have no idea where to put them.

OK, the newcomers are now cataloged and housed in various places near like-minded books.

There were two where I had a listing indicating that I already had the book; one My Young Years,replaces a falling-apart paperback; but I do not recall and cannot find a copy in the house of the other one, When Rabbit Howls. That title may have simply wound up in the wrong collection when I added a bunch of titles to my catalog.

Hi Terri, some of your newcomers look mighty good: Ice Bound, the Faust, and Peter the Great in particular. I've been meaning to read another Massie ever since I read and loved Catherine the Great.

I agree that you should let the new Penny go for now. I can tell you that it is the best one yet in the series though.

Bonnie, Massie and I go way back . . . when I was in 7th grade, our class had a trip to Philadelphia to see the movie made from his Nicholas and Alexandra. Of course, I immediately went out and got the book to read. I've been fascinated by the story of the Romanovs ever since. Then, last year (?) I got an ER edition of Catherine the Great. I figured it would be good to add Peter the Great to my collection!

When you're feeling in the mood to start the new Penny (and curled up on a cold winter's night sounds good!), I don't think you'll be disappointed. I agree with Bonnie (and I have about 150 pages to go), it's the best one yet. I don't want it to end.

I remember reading that Nicholas and Alexandra., and also revisiting that theme by a few others since, in various forms. Fascinating to me. And yes... Penny will have to go some to top this last offering...

Joanne, just starting it, I got the sense that it's a winter book. I think that "curled up on a cold winter night' is exactly where I want to be when I read it.

Kath, it really seems unanimous about the new Penny. I'm going to wait and read it in "prime (reading) time."

Today is my day off. I have to take my son to the doc's office for his flu shot after school -- with his asthma, avoiding the flu is more than just avoiding an unpleasant illness. It can be a matter of life and death. I got the shot, too, this year when I saw my doctor last week -- I was SO sick with the flu last Christmas, and do not want to repeat the experience if I can avoid it. I must say, doc was very happy with my weight loss and cholesterol numbers.

Flu shots make me think of the whole autism and vaccine controversy. As parent of a child with autism, I hear a lot about that. Some folks even harshly criticize me for not claiming the "religious exemption" and avoiding all vaccines. I did do some staggering of doses, so he wouldn't get so many at once, while keeping to the overall timetable; and got the safest forms of the vaccines possible. But he was vaccinated, and gets his annual flu shot.

First of all, the science doesn't support the scare. Yes, I do realize some kids have terrible adverse reactions to vaccines that can be documented. I know a family where that happened, and my heart goes out to them. But some people also have deadly reactions to aspirin, penicillin, and almost any other substance known to humanity. Even if there was some sort of autism/vaccine link, vaccines save lives. It seems to me that avoiding vaccines altogether, as some parents do as a result of this controversy, is sort of like implying, well to me when I ponder the choice, it seems like implying "I'd prefer to take a chance on my kids dying, rather than a greater chance of them having autism/making their autism worse." (That's a little harsh, and I'm sure they are not thinking that way, but that's how it comes across to me. At lest, to me when I ponder the decision, those are the choices!) I love my son, autism and all, and want to keep him alive and physically healthy. That being said, I do think the powers-that-be should make the vaccines as safe as possible, have a sane vaccination schedule, and not have ridiculous demands for vaccination against everything under the sun. ** (exits soapbox) **

ETA to add italicized comment and clarify others.

For me, fall is a time when I think a lot. That's not to say I don't do any thinking the rest of the year, but my thoughts turn in different directions. I find myself pondering the past and wondering about the future more. Mortality is in the air, as the leaves flame out in brilliant color, die, and fall.

One thing I got to thinking about, from a book-lover's POV, is an accounting of those books that stand out in memory. I think every book-lover has those volumes where, at the mention of them, something inside does a happy dance and says, "Oh, that one! I loved that one!" They are often books that started us down new paths of life-long interests; or they touch on a deep interest already present in one's life. In some cases, they may break out beyond the boundaries of the genre in which you thought you had them pigeon-holed. The reaction doesn't always correspond to a "star rating" for quality (though it often does) but, rather, involves intricate strings of memory and emotional response. So I'm trying to define which books do that for me. We just talked about one of them; there are others. These quickly come to mind:

Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert Massie
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
In the Electric Mist With Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke
St. Dale by Sharyn McCrumb

What books, when mentioned, make your inner book-lover do a happy dance?

ETA to add
It's worth noting that I rarely do re-reads; but every one of the books I just named I have re-read at least once, in some cases multiple times.

Terri, something to think about, that's for sure.

I also recall going to downtown Chicago in about 6th or 7th grade to see the movie, Nicholas and Alexandra. That was the only time we ever did that. Unlike you, however, it didn't stimulate an interest in the subject for me.

I've read two of your five--the Massie book and the James Lee Burke.

I've never read Jane Eyre.

This month, there's a TIOLI challenge to read a book where it seems like everyone but you has read it. Jane Eyre would be such a book.

Linda, we all react differently to books. If we didn't, LT would be boring.

I did a college term-paper on Jane Eyre, about feminist imagery/themes in the book (which was written well before the word feminism was ever coined, but did break in certain ways with some traditional images/roles for women). My professor didn't "get it" -- in part because, as I would deduce from his comments, I don't think he had a clue what the words "feminism" or "feminist" really meant. I reckon he was stuck in images of women burning their bras and demanding equal pay for equal work, and couldn't get beyond for the underlying issues regarding stereotyping, independence, and true equality.

Which isn't to say that's what the book's about. It's really a dandy story, even without picking up those subtleties. Do consider giving it a try for your TIOLI.

That being said, I do think the powers-that-be should make the vaccines as safe as possible, have a sane vaccination schedule, and not have ridiculous demands for vaccination against everything under the sun Agreed. (bolding is my own)

Under Age 13

Joan D'Arc by? I have no idea. The book was lost many years ago when we lost our home when I was 10.

There is a River by Thomas Sugrue

A Tree grows in Brookline by Betty Smith

OVer age 13 Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

The Prophet by Kalil Gibran

Walden by Henry David Thoreau

As much as I can remember. At age 17, I was pretty busy trying to go to school, work and pay the rent to read.. so I don't think I did much that year. Then ...?

Mish mash and the biggest stand out? For many years that was The Dead Zone for reasons explained before regarding it's timing etc.

Too many to even think about listing in the last 20 years...so in no particular order except The Sparrow is my all time favorite:

Sparrow / Children of God
The Mists of Avalon
The Once and future King
Dovekeepers
Night Circus

A lot of standouts.. those are the first to come to mind.

75 Challenge Book #97
Title: Little Terrors (short-story horror collection)
Author: David Juster
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2013
Series: n/a
Date finished: 10-1-2013
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, No, Kindle Store
Category for 13 in 13 challenge: Twilight Zone
How does it fit the category? (if not obvious):
Alternate category
My Rating: 2 stars
Notes:

Like most short-story collections, this was uneven in quality. But even the best efforts struck me as somewhat juvenile in execution, despite (or in some cases because of) the over-use of "adult" language.

I did rather like "Wipeout" simply as a clever use of a classic song. I could sort of hear that awful giggle that starts the recording, and it does fit the atmosphere of the story -- and the depiction of the neighbor-from-Hell was dandy. "Valley of the Shadow" had an interesting (if not totally original) premise, though I'm not sure I like how the 23rd Psalm was used. Some of the stories seemed pointless, and the better ones felt shallow in execution. I think I could have written better myself, and I do appreciate the difficulty of writing good fiction. At least there weren't a lot of basic editing errors, as in some e-books.

Kath, we cross-posted and I almost missed you!!!

Impressive list, Kath!

I really need to try The Sparrow.

>59 tymfos: The thing about these people who refuse vaccinating their children is the danger they present to everyone else, all the other children in the school. I had to deal with some parents who would come looking for a school that would take their kids under their own terms and they could never understand that point. They're being so selfish. And now they put that infamous autism/vaccination proponent Jennie McCarthy on The View which is just mind boggling, not that I watch the show anyway.


What books, when mentioned, make your inner book-lover do a happy dance?

1. Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry
2. Stones for Ibarra - Harriet Doerr
3. Testament of Youth - Vera Brittain
4. Middlemarch - George Eliot
5. South Riding - Winifred Holtby

66 Marvelous list, Bonnie!


glitter-graphics.com

Pirates win! **happy dance**

What books, when mentioned, make your inner book-lover do a happy dance?

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Anything by Anne Bishop

Love that list, Morphy. It sounds like you really like Anne Bishop's books!

We had staff meeting this morning. Yet more restrictive library policies are unveiled.

This job used to be fun. It really isn't anymore.

Sorry to read that policies are turning your once joyful job into an unjoyful one. ;-(

Thanks, Lori! I may be overreacting a bit. But I've been on the Internet researching the corresponding policies in other libraries around the state . . . and this new policy is just weird. I mean, parts of it sort of make sense, but I don't see anybody else handling it quite the way our library is going to.

I deleted my comment. Too much like whining... sigh
Sorry about your policies. I know a library where county policies are just suggestions.
Suggest that :)

>69 tymfos: I do! Bishop is not for everyone. She writes dark, sensual (some would say erotic) fantasy. But I adore her.

Terri, I have no idea what kind of library policies you might be talking about (for the staff? for the patrons?) but I'm sorry to hear that you don't like them. Are they set in stone?

Not that easy, Kath!

Probably not my cup of tea, but we all have our favorites, Morphy.

Linda, it's about how we handle non-residents of our defined service area. In the past, we've been quite flexible in accommodating folks from just over the state line, or those who come to the area to visit relatives, who work here but live elsewhere, etc. That is going to change, and a lot of people are going to be very upset. It's all being driven, as I understand it, but the contracts with the e-book vendors. Makes me wish we'd never started using the darn things.

Hopefully, those people can "make do." Over the years, I preferred the much bigger library of the neighboring town.

Until, that is, they changed their policy that, while nonresidents could still reserve books, they're pushed to the back of the line, behind any residents who wanted the book.

Part of me realizes that it's only fair but, on the other hand, I'm now better off just reserving a book at my own library and then having them ship it in from elsewhere. As a systemwide approach, it'd seem cheaper to have me drive to another library and get the book there, rather than sending it by courier but what do I know?

Policies do change, though. Years ago, I was at my library, in a study room, studying for a professional exam when I got busted by the water police. Now I see librarians drinking bottled water. They even sell K-Cup coffee right out front.

Our changes are a little more draconian, as in denying cards to many folks altogether, and limiting another demographic to 2 items at a time. I'm not sure I see the point of the 2-item limit, as they will still have library cards and therefore unfettered access to the (automated) e-book system which is supposedly the big issue.

I hate to even discuss the details here, but since the board voted on this and it's therefore official library policy, I guess there's no reason not to.

This is going to hurt our circulation statistics, as well as our public relations. I've done a little research on other library systems' policies within our state, and most offer cards to out-of-area residents for a fee (which varies widely system-by-system). I don't understand why we're not making that an option.

Of course, anyone who is a member of a library in the ACCESS PA system can automatically qualify for a card if they present their valid home library card and proper photo ID.

My biggest concern is for several home-schoolers who live just over the state line. We are their nearest library, and I think we're larger than the next closest branch for their Maryland county. Also, folks who have their roots here and have used the library every summer for years are now suddenly going to be told they can't. I'd be annoyed if it was me!

Aha, I see. We are about 6-8 miles from the WI state line, actually, there's a fairly big library that's closer, but I don't think I've ever heard many people clamoring to use our library.

Can't remember exactly but they made some cuts to the ILL program about 2-3 years ago and I note that they're no longer touting that we're over a million in circulation now. (I think it had something to do with not trying to obtain a book from another library via suburban district library system if our library already owned a copy.)

A former co-worker lives on the edge of Cook Cty, where Chicago is. I think she's unincorporated. Anyway, I was shocked at how expensive the nonresident fee option is. Still worth it, but very pricey.

Linda, this is just one more change on top of a year and a half that has been absolutely dominated by change at our library. I guess I don't do change well, and neither (apperently) do a lot of our patrons. I'm hearing lots of grumbling, and have been cussed out by patrons on more than one occasion when enforcing some of the policy changes.

I try to present the changes to our patrons in the best possible light, explaining some of the reasons and defending them as best I can. But it gets old, especially for the changes I myself dislike.

Anyway, enough of that! The Pirates start play in their first NL Division Series game in AGES, in less than an hour.

Go, Pirates!

The Cardinals are my second favorite team, behind the Cubs. However, I'm also excited for the Pirates (after they've been down for so long) so I've decided that I'll root for whoever wins the Cardinals/Pirates series.

It's just coincidence that I have a red shirt on today. We had free flu shots this am and I grabbed the first short sleeve shirt I could find.

I actually borrowed one of my son's Pirate t-shirts to wear when I got home today!

I like that Pittsburgh ballpark, along with the walk over the bridge to and from the hotel.

My one regret is that I didn't get to try a Primanti Bros sandwich.

You know, I've never had a Primanti Bros sandwich, either.

I love PNC Park.

I was just looking at your stat for the pace you're on. I just did and redid the math. After an initial "oops" I see I'm on pace to read 128 books. Given the nature of the next few months, I think I'm going to unofficially shoot for 125.

Now that you've finished the 2013 challenge, are you planning to do a mini-challenge? I've got a simple one up my sleeve (just two categories) for mid-Oct til mid-Dec, when I'll start the 2014 challenge.

I think the Primanti Bros sandwiches have the fries right on the sandwich. I think there was one near PNC. In fact, they might even sell these inside the ballpark.

Linda, I'm planning to just read what I want. This month is scary book month; then I'll probably get into some fall and winter reads, and continue with lots of mysteries. I do think I'll shoot for 125 total.

It is good to have some time to read whatever.

Though I plan to have these two categories, I'll not feel obligated to read only these two broad areas (and won't mind a bit if I don't reach this secondary goal). I'd like to start the new Doris Kearns Goodwin when it comes out, so that might hurt my total, but I don't think I'm going to read it in its entirety very quickly.

Once the World Series is over, my reading totals start to pick up again.

Well the Pirates are doing awful tonight but the Penguins are off to a good start so far.

I've got the Penguins on while I wait for the Dodgers/Braves game to start. The Penguins are always good.

Wow, I’ve been away for awhile. I have a page full of starred threads with dozens or hundreds of unread posts each, and every time I look at it I scurry away in terror. Glad you nudged me.

41: I have oddly never been to Gettysburg. Would’ve thought maybe a field trip in school, but no. I went clicking around for Gettysburg, and not only is the place itself closed because of the government shutdown, but the NPS web site is too. Yeesh.

60, 61: I’ve never read Jane Eyre either, but I started it last night. I’ve had it in mind since Ape’s enthusiastic review, and I’ve been in a book funk lately, started several and haven’t gotten into any, so on a whim of trying something completely different, I downloaded it for the Nook.

Thought of you the other day, when Jon Stewart had David Mitchell on, talking about The Reason I Jump.

Hi Terri! I watched the Jon Stewart show from September 30th last night and also thought of you when he interviewed David Mitchell about translating The Reason I Jump. Stewart was very enthusiastic about the book. So much so that I'm going to read it.

92 Hello, Pat! I really should look for The Reason I Jump.

91 Hi, qebo! I hope you like Jane Eyre

One nice thing about the museum we visited on this last trip to Gettysburg -- the Seminary Ridge Museum -- is that it is not run by the NPS. Therefore, it's open during the shutdown. It's actually located in the middle of the Lutheran Seminary campus, so it is private property, not federal.

http://www.seminaryridgemuseum.org/

The National Battlefield is so large and open and integrated among the rest of the town and its environs, I wondered how in the world they could manage to "close" the park? I mean, two US highways and several state highways run through parts of it! I found the answer at the Gettysburg Visitors & Convention Bureau website. Apparently you can drive through the parts on the highways, but no stopping or standing is permitted and the smaller battlefield roads are closed. Sheesh!

http://www.gettysburg.travel/visitor/member_detail.asp?contact_id=190248&lis...

Did anybody see the news clip of the congressman who helped spearhead the govt. shutdown who was yelling at the Park Ranger because the parks were closed? I'm not sure I understand why the grounds have to be closed just because there isn't full staffing (though there's some staffing to keep people away) but I'm sure there are liability or security issues that require it.

I personally think we should vote out all the politicians and start over with a whole new Congress. If only we could.

I went to Gettysburg the one time. That was enough for me... my sister is addicted to the place though :)
I would like to visit Williamsburg . . .

I didn't see the clip you mention, but heard about it. Joe Biden called that ranger to say well done. I would disagree with voting out all of congress. There are good ones.. and new are an unknown quantity. Now voting out the clearly insane and self serving and lying... yes. Easy enough to find who's who by watching how they vote...

Now voting out the clearly insane and self serving and lying... yes. Easy enough to find who's who by watching how they vote...

Kath, the problem is, so often the ones that are crazy or self-serving are still there because the majority of the voters in their districts are either apathetic, misled, also crazy, or something that keeps them voting for the bozos. . . I keep voting against our rep, but other people keep voting him in.

I know. It feels hopeless...

ck my thread for a link Terri.... .99 book

Six books for an inner dance?

Great Expectations
Lord of the Rings
A Fine Balance
I, Claudius
Cider With Rosie
A Place of Greater Safety

Have a lovely week Terri

I checked, Kath, and checked into it, but I am resisting . . . I have so many unread books . . .

Great list, Paul! Thanks for stopping by!

75 Challenge Book #98
Title: Wings to the Kingdom
Author: Cherie Priest
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2006
Series: Eden Moore #2
Date finished: 10/6/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, Yes, Amazon marketplace
Category for 13 in 13 challenge: Twilight Zone
How does it fit the category? (if not obvious):
Alternate category
My Rating: 3.7 stars
Notes:

OK, this creepy Southern Gothic novel is what Cherie Priest does using the history and folklore of the Chickamauga battlefield and a nearby area (also under park protection, as I understand it) called Moccasin Bend. Local folklore has long featured an entity known as "Old Green Eyes" who haunts the battlefield, and the sound of phantom guns and cries have long been reported by park neighbors. As for Moccasin Bend, truth is stranger than fiction: a mental hospital was built on this old Cherokee sacred space/burial site. In her Author's Note, Priest indicates that this is for real. "I couldn't make that up if I tried," she wrote. (BTW, I really appreciated the Author's Note, for clarifying where the story stood within the vicinity's real-life history.)

Eden Moore sees dead people. In her second adventure, the dead of the Chickamauga battlefield are uneasy, and scaring the tourists and park employees to the point where famous ghost hunters are called in and the park is temporarily shut down (an interesting little touch as I read during the US government shutdown which has shuttered our national parks and battlefields.) But Old Green Eyes, the park's most famous "haint," is nowhere to be seen -- until, by chance, Eden Moore is forced to make a trip to the vicinity of the mental hospital at Moccasin Bend.

OK, like many books with a horror or paranormal element, I had to suspend disbelief on this one. There were aspects that didn't quite fit my worldview (of this world or the next) but Priest is a good enough storyteller that I just got caught up in the story and went along for the ride. Eden Moore is a likable character, as are her offbeat companions. There were some aspects of the story that don't make a lot of sense if you haven't read the first book, but they are peripheral to the main story here. My main gripe is with the element referred to in the title -- Wings to the Kingdom. It was referenced several times, but without explanation of precisely what that meant and why it was said to be that way. It's almost like she stuck it in to keep to the "bird" theme in her book titles -- the others in the series are Four and Twenty Blackbirds and Not Flesh Nor Feathers.

Hi Terri, I like that question about books that make one do a happy dance. These work for me:

My Antonia by Willa Cather
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Pilgram At Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard...

I've read them all multiple times except for Cloud Atlas, perhaps because that's the latest one I've read on my 'happy dance' list. I did see the movie if that counts!

Thanks for your happy dance list of books, Donna!

75 Challenge Book #99
Title: The Hound of the Baskervilles (AUDIO)
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Date finished: 10-7-13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, public domain audio download
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Notes:

I'm rather fond of this old Sherlock Holmes classic. I know I've read it at least once, and probably seen several film adaptations. It was fun to re-visit it for our Halloween read.

I just revisited The Hound of the Baskervilles, too, Terri, and likewise had a good time with it. Eerie times out on the moors, and lots of skulduggery.

Yes, Joe! What a spooky setting!

The postman just dropped off my copy of Five Days at Memorial, which I won in the August LT Early Reviewer batch. It looks like an actual first edition, not an ARC -- actual hard-cover copy, beautiful texture of paper, full diagrams, end-notes and index. I've heard good things about this book, and it will probably be the one book I read this month that is not somehow related to the Halloween read. Methinks, however, that it may be scarier than any of the spooky stuff I read, as this is a kind of real-life horror story.

I spent all of september reading paranormal fluff... then I sort of ran out. Just as last year, my copy of Straube's GHOST STORY has gone missing . Weird.

I am currently reading some New Orleans, Voo Doo thriller series... I started it in the middle and am enjoying it. When I put the first one on Kindle I liked it less than the first one. Book 2 is pretty good so far. I don't know how paranormal it will turn out to be..

Hi, Kath! I sort of save up some spooky stuff for October, and (between home & library) I have so much I probably wouldn't run out even if I didn't.

I'm currently reading The Terror by Dan Simmons (audio fiction), Mr. Shivers by Robert Jackson Bennett (fiction), Ghosts of Virginia Vol. 2 by L.B. Taylor (nonfiction/folklore), and Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman (e-book fiction). All fall into some area of the spooky/scary realm.

The Terror is a real chunkster -- over 28 hours on audio, and the print version is 766 pages. And I'm not crazy about the narrator on the audio. He insists on rolling his r's, so that "Terror" sounds like "Tellolll." I'm still not sure if I'm committed to finishing it, but it is drawing me into the story.

Hi Terri, I've enjoyed catching up on your thread this evening. I was happy to see Morphy's endorsement of Anne Bishop as I have a few of hers on my TBR shelf.

My happy dance books -

Lonesome Dove
Gone With The Wind
Rebecca
The Big Sky
And Then There Were None

Great list, Judy! I almost put Gone With the Wind on my list.

I'm feeling a mixed reaction to my audio book of The Terror by Dan Simmons. It's fascinating how he's taken a historical mystery -- what happened to Franklin's Arctic expedition, which never returned? -- and turned it into a horror story. It's made me want to read a non-fiction account of what's known about the expedition. As for The Terror, I feel like there are a lot of details that aren't that important to the main story line nor of interest to me, and it is kind of long . . . I didn't like the narrator at first, but I'm getting used to him. Today I had trouble with the audio, getting it to play properly, as it skipped back to a part I'd already listened to, which was annoying.

I like Dan Simmons... at least I have liked a book or two of his. I don't think I have read that one.
I haven't found a good horror book for a while. Who is that author that you introduced me to that had that mystery at a fancy hotel? The main character was depressed and ? ( hmmmm that sounds like one of Simmons, but it isn't) I wish I hadn't mislaid That Straub book...oh well.. back to kindle werewolves and R Khoury

Hope you aren't too crazy busy :)

Happy Sunday, Terri! I finished The Witch's Grave, and I see what you mean - not as good as the first. Still, I love how he works the folk stories in and the setting and the characters are so fabulous. I am looking forward to the third book in the series - which I already own!

While I am here, I can't help but participate in the Happy Dance Book List! For me:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Chocolat by Joanne Harris

Horror at a fancy hotel? Kath are you maybe thinking of Michael Koryta, who wrote So Cold The River? He has some more horror titles as well as some mysteries.

Mamie I love your list! I always enjoy DePoy, and now I think they just get better after the one you just finished.

Terri... That's it!!!

Thank you !

Glad to help, Kath!

Hi Terri -

Here's my Happy Dance book list:

Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
The Seige by Helen Dunmore
Follow The River by James Alexander Thom

And soooo many more..... but I'm limited to six.
Ask me tomorrow and I may come up with a different set :}

IMHO - since the national parks belong to everyone, they should never "close".
I understand closing park facilities that need employees to assist visitors... like gift shops, rest rooms, first aid, tour guides, etc.
There should just be a clear posting at all park entrances - Pass at Own Risk!

ETA - 99 books! Hoorah for you!
Wonder what #100 will be?

Terri, I have The Terror on my bookshelf, passed on to me by my brother who really liked it. I am intimidated by the size (over 900 pages) but I have liked other things by this author so one day I will pull it down. I will be watching for your thoughts on it.

I love everyone's lists of Happy Dance Books. I recently picked up a copy of The Maltese Falcon so have that to look forward to. And Follow the River from Cee's list is one of my favorites as well!

Nice list, Cee! I'll be announcing my Book 100 below . . .

Hi, Judy! Yeah, the size is intimidating -- The Terror is a real door-stop kind of volume . . . I checked the hard-copy out of our library so I could "look back" at things I needed to review, but am doing it mostly with an audio download . . . lighter to carry . . . but long.

75 Challenge Book #100
Title: The Ghosts of Virginia, Vol. II
Author: L.B. Taylor, Jr.
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1994
Series: second volume of stories
Date finished: 10/14/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, Yes, purchased used ages ago
My Rating: still deciding
Notes:

Oh, how to rate this one? There were good points and not-so-good points. It was mostly well written -- but with some typos, homonyms used incorrectly (peel vs. peal, etc.). The author's writing style was rather dry. I liked all the historical and architectural data included. I most enjoyed the stories that were true folklore, especially the ones where he included the verbatim accounts recorded by folklorists rather than writing his own account. A couple of the more modern accounts at the end of the book left me shaking my head. The final chapter was about Edgar Cayce. Certainly, I've heard of him, but I'm not sure what to make of what was written here about him and how accurate it might be.

Doing my stats, I wasn't sure if the author was still alive, as this book was published almost 20 years ago, and the photo of the author suggested that he wasn't a young man. But I googled him and see that he did a book signing last month so I guess he's still among the living.

Having finished the above spooky folklore book, I'm debating my next non-fiction selection. I had planned to stay with the Halloween theme all month, but my newly-arrived ER book of Five Days at Memorial is calling to me. I do think that is one that I may need to take breaks from, due to the heartbreaking nature of the material. So I think I'll start that one, but also another collection of spooky folklore to retreat to for quick reading breaks. (Short stories are always nice to have around.)

YAY!!!



100 books (so far) in 2013! Congratulations!

Oooh, thanks for the pretty fireworks, Cee!

I missed that! Happy Hundred !

Terri- I am looking forward to your thoughts on Five Days at Memorial. And yes, it is tough at times, so you might want to take a break. Beside, the human suffering, the ethical issues are mind-boggling. It is an excellent book, well-written book.

Whooo hoo!

119 Thanks, Kath!

120 Mark, I'm very impressed, so far, with Five Days at Memorial, though I'm not very far into reading it yet.

121 Thanks, Morphy! I like the colorful graphic!

OK, current reading:
Mr. Shivers (fiction, off my shelf)
Those Across the River (fiction e-book from Halloween reading list)
The Terror (fiction audio book, with some augmentation from battered library hard copy)
Five Days at Memorial (non-fiction)
Specters and Spirits of the Appalachian Foothills (short-story folklore)

My audio download of The Terror is defective. It has a way of balking and skipping at the worst possible spots in the story. Thank heavens I checked out the library copy of the book! It's downright annoying having the story cut out and skip backward just at some of the most suspenseful moments in the tale!

Congrats on 100 books read, Terri! That is awesome!

Wow 100 books! Congratulations Terri!

Congratulations on reaching 100, Terri! WahHOO for you!

Thanks, Lori, Bonnie, and Mamie!

75 Challenge Book #101
Title: Mr. Shivers
Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Series: n/a
Date finished: 10/17/13 1 a.m.
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, Yes, purchased at used book sale
My Rating: 2.7 stars
Notes:

This writer has skill with words, but I just didn't like the story he had to tell. It had atmosphere -- the grit of those living on the road during the Dust Bowl days. But, in the end, it felt pointless and didn't make sense to me. I "got" what he was aiming at, but I didn't buy into it. It wasn't bad enough to Pearl Rule, but I actually stayed up late to finish it just so I could be done with it. Not a ringing endorsement.

Happy 100!!!!
I have started The Terror a couple of times and have never been able to get into it.....maybe someday.

My Happy Dance Books - for today anyway
Bleak House
Pride and Prejudice
Gaudy Night
The Lord of the Rings (a revision)
The Fresco
The Road Home

Thanks, Peggy! I'm still plugging along with The Terror, and am so far through it that I hate to abandon it now, but I'm considering it. Parts of it are brilliant, but I think he tries to do too much, go at it from too many angles.

Hi Terri, thanks for your review of Mr. Shivers which I've had on my wishlist for some time. I read a different book by this author a few months ago and really didn't like it. I think that combined with your review has decided me to bin Mr. Shivers.

I read a different book by this author a few months ago

Judy, are you referring to American Elsewhere? I saw your review of it and, combined with my reading of Mr. Shivers, I've decided to remove American Elsewhere from my wishlist.

Hi Terri- Congrats on the Big 100! You might know this already but I am hosting a Group Read of Bleak House in January. Interested, now that you have a copy?

Mark, I may just join in on that!

75 Challenge Book #102
Title: Those Across the River (e-book)
Author: Christopher Buehlman
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2011
Series: n/a
Date finished: 10-17-2013
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, library download
My Rating: 3.7 stars
Notes:

I read this because it was on this year's Halloween Read list, and a copy was available for download from a library I belong to. It's not my usual type of horror novel, but I rather enjoyed it. It was pretty creepy.

Ooh, look what e-book I found on the Carnegie Library website:

#130 - Correct, Terri. I was less than thrilled with American Elsewhere.

Judy, it's always good to be able to weed the wishlist a bit.

I'm still muddling through The Terror. If the "thing" out in the snow is some kind of monster remnant creature from another age (one of several possibilities suggested in the reading so far -- don't know the real answer yet), it fits nicely with this week's revelation that DNA testing of alleged YETI/abominable snowman evidence supposedly shows a DNA link with an extinct Arctic bear.

Isn't it funny how random reading and the week's news often yield surprising connections?

Hi Terri, I'm reading a book that might be of interest to you. It's the story of a man's rise from a Baltimore ghetto to becoming a chaplain in the Navy to becoming the chaplain of the U.S. Senate. Very interesting.

From the Hood to the Hill by Barry Black.

#135 - I always thought both the Yeti and the Sasquatch were only in the imagination. Wouldn't it be something if there really was some type of Yeti creature out there. You are whetting my appetite for The Terror, if only it wasn't go gosh-darn long!

136 Thanks, Linda. I'll look into that one!

137 Judy, I heard about it on the Today show, but here's a link to a CNN piece about the evidence that was studied. It has a little more detail than what I heard on Today show:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/17/world/europe/uk-yeti-dna-mystery/

Thanks for the link, Terri, I find this stuff fascinating.

You're welcome, Judy!

I have family visiting, so I won't be on LT much the next few days, just checking my thread and some hit-or-miss forays to an occasional thread or two as time permits.

I'm almost done with The Terror.

Five Days at Memorial is heartbreaking and frustrating, to see how badly things were managed. I mean, I already knew the basic gist of how awful things were, but some of the particulars were really outrageous. I can't read too much of it at a time.

I always keep a pair of headphones in my car in case I stop at the gym and want to listen to an audio book or music from my iPhone while I exercise.

Today, the "plug" end of the headphone cord got STUCK under the passenger car seat, somehow jammed in the mechanism that moves the car seat forward and backward. I spent a good five or ten minutes in rather awkward positions on the floor of my car trying to free it. I cut my hand, and thought for a while I wouldn't get the darn headphones out of the car without cutting the connecting cord.

Bad, right?

No, while my hand was jammed into a spot under the car seat where a hand was never meant to be . . .

I FOUND MY MISSING AUDIO PLAYER THAT I LOST MONTHS AGO!!!

And I did finally manage to free the headphones without damage, too.

*** happy dance time!***

Hurray for found audio player! It is amazing what can get lost under a car seat. ;-0

Lori, I must have looked under that car seat a dozen times, but it was lodged in a very odd and almost inaccessible spot . . . and was a small black item in a car with an all-black interior, too.

At first I was upset about my headphones being stuck, but now I'm very glad that they were!

Glad you found your audio player!

Thanks, Lori!

See you just need to offer some blood to the car gods to get your equipment back. LOL!

LOL, Morphy!!

WahHOO for you for finding the missing audio player! Awesomesauce!

LOL for Morphy, too! :)

Thanks, Mamie.

OK I finished my e book, Ghosts of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the book I was mostly doing on audio, but found easier to finish with hard copy, The Terror. I will post my final comments about them shortly.

75 Challenge Book #103
Title: Ghosts of Southwestern Pennsylvania (e-book)
Author: Thomas White
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Series: Haunted America
Date finished: 10/21/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, Library Download
My Rating: 3.6 stars
Notes:

This book probably gets some extra credit because it's from my part of the world. It's also literate and well-written, without many editorial errors. I enjoyed the stories.

75 Challenge Book #104
Title: The Terror (done partly on AUDIO)
Author: Dan Simmons
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2007
Series: N/A
Date finished: 10/22/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, combination library audio download & library book
My Rating: 3.7 stars
Notes:

This is a horror novel built on/beyond the known facts of the failed Franklin Arctic Expedition of the 1840's, which never returned. Simmons has carefully studied what is known of the expedition & the traces that have been found by subsequent Arctic rescue/exploration/archaeological expeditions, as well as the history of major participants. He's also apparently studied Native Alaskan culture, spirituality, legends, etc.

Around the skeleton of the known fact, Simmons has constructed a complex story that includes all kinds of elements, natural and supernatural, including some of the world-wide aftermath of the disappearance -- cleverly related via one character's "second sight."

I don't know how to rate this one, really. The scope of this book, the ambition and research behind it, probably rates at least a 4-star rating. But my experience of reading this behemoth volume is more in the 3-star range, because it felt to me like he put too much into the book -- to many disparate elements, too much back-story that wasn't really necessary, just too much.

So I'm splitting the difference and giving it a 3.5.

One point in the book's favor is that it has stirred my interest in the Franklin Expedition enough that I want to read some non-fiction material about it sometime in the near future. Simmons includes a great listing of such materials in his Acknowledgments at the end of the book.

Also, Simmons does a great job of conveying the constant, bone-numbing cold of Arctic exploration under 19th-century conditions.

I like Simmons.. and the other one looks good too. I would look for it, but have decided I'm swearing off libraries. At least for a week.

Kath, I just started a book I think I learned about from you, Cogslea Revisited. I'm enjoying the Philadelphia setting.

I liked that one. It annoyed me in parts, but overall... liked it .

Sorry for the cut on your hand, Terri, but very happy for you about finding your audio player.

Good review of The Terror, so far that book isn't calling out to me, but I am sure that it will one of these days.

Thanks, Judy. I must say, my rating of The Terror is quite low compared to the vast majority of folks on LT who rated it. There were lots of 4 and 5 star ratings. It just didn't quite work for me, but I can appreciate the quality of the writing and the effort behind it. I'm still wondering if I was fair in my rating.

I was going to say that the direction it took at the very end left me cold . . . but, then, the whole book was chilling, in more ways than one . . . I may never complain about cold weather again

oh yeah! Congrats on finding your doo dad! What a good feeling :)

You kept saying to check in the car, Kath. And I did . . . but it sure found a niche to hide in!

I guess thats why the cord went adventuring... to guide you to the right place :) The universe decided it was time to give it back! I hope that happens with my credit card wallet ( filled also with gift cards and cash)

The experience helped confirm my belief that there is a reason for everything . . . even when stuff (like the headphone cord) gets stuck.

As for why the player got lost in the first place: well, because of being limited to one format of audio, I tried some audio books that I wouldn't have normally tried.

Why is it that suddenly, now that I've found it, suddenly all the audio books I'm finding that I want are in the format I could listen to on my phone, which wasn't lost?

Life can be weird.

Life can be weird.

indeed

:-)

I see Dan Simmons has a new book out, The Abominable, released yesterday, described by one reviewer as a thematic cousin to The Terror. It looks like it's about an expedition to Mt. Everest that didn't ever return -- only this time, based on a review I read, I get the impression the expedition itself is a totally fictional one.

I'm thinking of doing "non-fiction follow-up" as a theme for some of my reading next month. It will be my time to explore non-fiction about some themes I became interested in via novels that I've read. For starters, I plan to read my biography of Elizabeth Van Lew; and I'd like to find a non-fiction book about the Franklin expedition.

I've slowed down reading the excellent Five Days at Memorial because we're almost to November. I've decided that it will perfectly fit both of my November themes: "November non-fiction follow-up" and "November by the Numbers."

#161 Smart lady!
and -

:-D
Hooray for finding long lost stuff! Nice surprise.

Have a great weekend...

Thanks, Cee. I hope you're having a good weekend, too! Take care!

75 Challenge Book #105
Title: The Prince of Mist (AUDIO)
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Copyright/Year of original publication: in English translation, 2010. Haven't found the original publication date.
Series: Trilogy of Fog
Date finished: 10/26/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, library download
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

This book was Zafon's very first novel (though NOT the first of his works to be translated into, and published in, English.) It was written for a YA audience, but this not-so-YA still enjoyed it. It's a classic tale of good and evil.

During WWII, a family moves out of the city to a seaside cottage, but mystery awaits them. After an accident forces the parents to a distant hospital with the youngest member of the family, a teenage sister and brother are left to face a terrible evil with their new friend and his grandfather. There was plenty of creep factor to fit the Halloween reading season. Fog, statues that move, a clown, a diabolical figure, an old shipwreck . . .

There were some things I felt to be minor inconsistencies, and some things that just seemed odd for no reason related to the story itself (though one of those factors was explained by the author in an interview at the end of the audio), but nothing that spoiled the reading pleasure.

I want to read more by Zafon, including some of his work geared to older adults.

75 Challenge Book #106
Title: Specters & Spirits of the Appalachian Foothills
Author: James V. Burchill & Linda J. Crider
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2002
Series: third in a series of folklore books by these writers
Date finished: 10/26/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, Yes, Amazon, maybe?
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

I love these collections of Appalachian folklore gathered by the group of folklorists who call themselves the First Draft Writers Group. They are intent on preserving these regional folk tales. The books are very well written and have some very interesting tales. This is the third one, I believe, and it is as good as the previous ones.

75 Challenge Book #107
Title: Cogslea Revisited
Author: M. Juanita Taylor
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Series: n/a
Date finished: 10-29/13 (early a.m.)
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, Yes, Amazon Marketplace
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

Caitlin, an artist, and her husband Sam go to spend a summer house-sitting at Cogslea -- a real-life historical mansion in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia. Cogslea has a storied history, especially as a place where a group of women artists gathered to live and work early in the 20th century -- in an era when many limits were placed on women.

Sam is called away due to a death in his family. Meanwhile at Cogslea, Caitlin encounters some spooky doings. This is especially worrisome because she has a history of hallucinations as a result of her time in Africa when she reacted badly to an anti-malarial drug. Caitlin is gradually drawn into the mystery of who is haunting the property and what the ghost might want. Her dog is also involved, having many odd dreams.

I'm glad I read this book, if only because I enjoyed its setting in a part of Philadelphia with which I'm somewhat familiar. The story itself was a bit clunky in the telling, and felt a little amateurish. The author was clearly determined to include as much local history and local color as could be wedged into the pages. This led to some awkwardness in the flow of the narrative. I also felt that Caitlin's eventual drastic method of trying to get at the truth didn't make much sense. I didn't find the doggie dreams helpful, either. Who knows what dogs dream, but I doubt they dream like that.

164: Too bad. Mt Airy is semi-familiar and a straight history of the artists would be interesting.

That would have been interesting. I'm not sure there would have been enough info available about the artists for a whole book, though. The lack of hard historical info (due to lack of respect for women's work, of course) was one of the facets of the story.

NOISE! The neighbors across the street at the corner are having their carpets cleaned, and I cannot believe the level of NOISE from the carpet cleaners' van. And this is being heard from inside our house with all the windows closed. And it is STEADY AND CONSTANT NOISE, not intermittent like when neighbors are remodeling and you get the occasional loud sound of an electric saw or something. Shouldn't there be a decibel level limit on that kind of cleaning equipment? I've been around when carpets were professionally cleaned before, and it was never that loud.

I had planned to work in the yard this morning, but if it's this loud from in here, I couldn't stand to be outside. Today's my day off from work, and couldn't I get a bit of peace and quiet to enjoy?

Thank heavens my son isn't home! This would drive him to total distraction.

Drat! Hate when that sort of thing happens . . .
I had someone in to deal with an issue in the kitchen and he spent nearly 2 hours preaching to me about his belief in Jesus and the Bible. I certainly respect his belief and enthusiasm, but . . really? I felt beat up when he left. ugh! He was a nice man, but his passion was not really appropriate and it was not welcome :P

Kath, I'm a Christian, but I don't believe in hammering at people about my faith. I'm not sure what that accomplishes, except to alienate people.

I don't believe in anyone hammering and banging on about their religious beliefs.. it was very YIKES!. He is a nice man, and an honest one.. as his many years in business testify to. IT was just the weirdest thing. I was blindsided.

Laura ( at work) has a very strong faith, but never ever goes on about it. If asked what she did on the weekend, she will say things that usually involve her church, but we both know that we have different beliefs and that's ok. Sigh. He's coming back. Long story, but he took a hinge from a cabinet and blah blah blah, didn't check something so... I think I will do my best to stay away...small house though. lol

Boo to the noisy carpet cleaners.
Good luck with the revisit, Kath. Good grief. I'm a Christian too, and I want to be prepared to talk intelligently about my faith if somebody should ask, but otherwise I know from teaching that people don't learn until they want to know something.
Terri, thanks a lot for your review of The Terror. In theory I'll get to it, but for some strange reason Antarctica beckons me so much louder than the Arctic.
Amazed and delighted that you found the audio player! We had given my mother's Kindle up for tossed out in the recyclables when DH found it in the mechanism of her reclining chair. I'm sorry that you cut yourself though.

Good luck with the revisit, Kath.

Hi, Peggy! Not to worry about the cut -- more of a scratch than anything serious.

I finished another e-book. I picked this one up because it was on a 99 cent special, and the blurb promised a scary old house on the shores of Lake Superior. I didn't expect much, but got a pleasant (and scary) surprise.

75 Challenge Book # 108
Title: Lineage: A Supernatural Thriller
Author: Joe Hart
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2012
Series: n/a
Date finished: 10/30/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, no, Kindle download
My Rating: 3.8 stars
Notes:

OK, that rating may be a little inflated, but I'm judging it for what it is, not comparing it to War and Peace. It's a horror novel, independently published as an e-book by the author. It's one that kept me turning pages and even seemed to have some Big Picture thematic ideas. It is quite violent at the beginning and, as I expected, at the end. The violence at the beginning demonstrates the brutality of evil people. The violence at the end . . . well, it's a horror novel. But it hit a few themes and chords beyond a typical mindless gore fest. And the middle was absolutely creepy, don't-read-it-alone-at-night creepy.

In the prologue, set in 1945, we meet a sadistic SS officer in charge of a concentration camp. Then, as the body of the story begins in 1990, we meet Lance, the child of a brutal, sadistic father and a victimized mother. We get a concrete look at how cruel evil people can be.

Lance somehow survives his childhood and becomes a famous horror author. He has always kept the mental demons at bay with his writing, but as we re-encounter him in 2012, he has been struck by writer's block -- and nightmares of his father. He is inexplicably drawn to a big, empty house on the shores of Lake Superior. As he moves there, stranger and stranger things begin happening. And, eventually, it all seems to be tied to secrets in his family lineage. You can sort of see what's coming . . . but not all of it, by a long shot.

OK, this got outlandish enough that I don't believe it could really happen. But it was good enough that I suspended disbelief and got caught up in the story -- and plan to keep an eye on this author. He writes pretty well -- maybe well enough that we'll see him picked up by a major publisher someday.

Until I read your review, Terri, I didn't realize that The Terror was about the Franklin expedition. Horror is not a genre that appeals to me but I am fascinated by the Franklin expedition and have been since I was in high school. I would be interested to know what further books you find about the Franklin expedition now that your interest has been peaked.

Terri, that is so great about finding the missing audio player under the car seat while extracting your ear phones! I might just take a flashlight out and check under mine to see what I can find. You never know.

And, look at you, zooming past me with your 108 books read. Good job!

Happy Halloween!

On the Franklin expedition:

I read Arctic Grail a year or two ago. It's an excellent history of the search for the Northwest Passage, including the Franklin expedition. Plus, I have Ice Blink on my wish list - about the Franklin expedition itself.

172 I can understand your fascination with the Franklin expedition. I'll be sure to post whatever I get around to reading on the subject!

173 Thanks, Donna! Happy Halloween to you, too!

I managed to listen to the end of this audio as I was driving and doing chores today.

75 Challenge Book #109
Title: The Midnight Palace (AUDIO)
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2011
Series: Trilogy of Fog* #2
Date finished: 10/31/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, library download
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

Those places where sadness and misery abound are favored settings for stories of ghosts and apparitions. Calcutta has countless such stories hidden in its darkness, stories that nobody wants to admit they believe but which, nevertheless, survive in the memory of generations as the only chronicle of the past. It is as if the people who inhabit the streets, inspired by some mysterious wisdom, realize that the true history of Calcutta has always been written in the invisible tales of its spirits and unspoken curses.

Twins, separated by birth in an effort to hide them from a terrible danger. An architectural landmark, far ahead of its time, sitting charred after its destruction by a terrible catastrophe. A secret weapon, also dangerously ahead of its time, fused with a supernatural power. Calcutta, India, in 1916 and 1932, the year the above-mentioned twins were born and the year they turn 16 and are considered adults. A ghostly train piloted by a specter, carrying the souls of dead children.

What is The Midnight Palace? It's YA, historical fiction, horror, a ghost story, a fantasy wrapped in mythology with perhaps a trace of steampunk thrown in. There were some things I didn't like about it, some things that weren't quite consistent. How did the narrator know all that he knew, given the ending of the story? How did one character who provided vital information know what she knew? And, of course, there were aspects that didn't fit my worldview at all. And about 3/4 of the way through, it took a turn I neither expected nor particularly liked.

Yet the quality of the writing, the scope of the vision, and the flow of the story moved me to give it 4 stars.

* The "Trilogy of Fog," or at least the first two installments of it, are not really related except for the fact that they are stories of the supernatural, in historical settings, dealing with battles between good and evil. There are not common characters or settings, at least in the first two that I've read. I do plan to read the third, however.

SOLD! That sounds like something I'd like, Terri! Adding it to my giant WL. Very nice review - did you post it. If you did, I will thumb.

Thanks, Mamie! I have now posted it, with a small addition about the audio format.

I have applied my thumb!

Thank you!

I've finished one last book for October!

75 Challenge Book #110
Title: Haunted Happenings: With new photos of old ghosts
Author: Robert Ellis Cahill
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1992
Series:New England's Collectible Classics Series
Date finished: 10/31/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, Yes, unsure
My Rating:3.5 stars
Notes:

This is a book of supposedly true ghost stories. The author and his sidekick photographer "Brian the monk" visited most of the sites to explore the stories, which primarily take place in New England (though one story was from a trip the author took with friends to Nova Scotia.) The book was quite short -- only 104 pages including photos, though the text was dense and rather small print. I wasn't terribly impressed by the photographic "evidence" provided in this book. A couple photos were creepy, but most could be easily explained by tricks of the light combined with the the power of suggestion. I could not even see, at all, what the author purported was to be seen in several of them. The author presented a lot of very subjective commentary about his "sense" that something paranormal was afoot. But there were some good stories here fairly well told -- at the very least, it was entertaining, and some of the witnesses he quoted had very interesting stories to tell. There was a fair amount of history included, too.

Hi Terri

I had lunch today with two very dear friends, one of whom grew up in the town where you live. When I mentioned your husband was a pastor, he asked me which church...which denomination.

He is curios and I said I would ask.

All the best to you. Naturally, I think of you on Halloween and know that you and I enjoy reading about the supernatural.

It's NOVEMBER

Some nifty November themes for focus:
1) November by the Numbers -- books with numbers/ordinals in the title
2) November non-fiction follow up of themes from novels
3) November new-to-me authors and/or series

Factoid: Today, November 1, is observed as All Saints Day on the liturgical calendar of many parts of the Christian tradition.

OK, this might sound odd, but in the midst of all my October Halloween folklore and horror reading during the past month, I've been trying to find a devotional book that works for me. With all that creep factor going on, I definitely needed something uplifting to balance it a little! (Seriously, a couple of those horror novels were really "way out there" enough to give me nightmares.) I started and abandoned several devotional books. I finally settled on this basic little book about prayer. It wasn't quite what I was looking for, but the title grabbed me. I finished the final pages as I was wrapping up the day and actually sliding past midnight; since I'm too wide awake to sleep, I may as well post it now as my first book of November.

75 Challenge Book #111
Title: Confessions of a Prayer Slacker (e-book)
Author: Diane Moody
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2012
Date finished: 11/1/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: yes, no, Kindle store
My Rating: 3.1
NOVEMBER category -- "new to me author"
Notes:

The subject of prayer is an endless one, because it deals with matters of God, faith, the spirit, and the heart. I find myself struggling to maintain a healthy prayer life. I have good intentions, but life gets hectic and faith can even get shaky at times.

Diane Moody is the wife of a Baptist pastor. The focus of her book is less on "how" to pray or "what" to pray, but simply to make the commitment to pray. Yes, there are pointers as to approaches to selecting Bible passages for devotions and keeping a prayer journal, but the big focus is just to do it -- and why we should. She also admits, with good humor, that she struggles and is as inconsistent as anyone when it comes to prayer.

I had a few theological / Bible interpretation quibbles with the book (for one, issues relating to Biblical language translation issues that she ignored, and I felt were relevant) but a lot of what she said made sense. There was nothing really new here, and the book seemed more geared to folks with very little background in prayer, but there were some good reminders, and she gave me a good nudge toward being more consistent in my prayer life.

Oh, the book itself was only about half the Kindle file -- they added one of her novellas to the e-book edition I got. I didn't read the novella.

181 Hi, Linda! That's an interesting mix of your question and parting comment. After my past month of Halloween reading, I'm a little worried about being identified as the pastor's wife who reads so many horror novels -- not everyone would approve, I don't suppose.

Seriously, maybe part of why I've not mentioned our denomination (and some other identifying info) in my profile nor on the threads up until now is to avoid being identified by some neighbors. Despite being a pastor's wife, my reading habits are far-ranging and not limited to "Christian" books by any definition. (Frankly, the theology in some "Christian" books is pretty bad, IMHO.) I'm not afraid to read well outside the margins of my own tradition's worldview in a variety of directions. Some people find that unsettling. I think it helps me better understand people and the world around me.

My husband, on the other hand, rarely reads fiction at all, and most of his reading is church-related, with some current-events and sports topics thrown in. That's not a result of his theology, but just his personality.

It's worth noting, (since your friend is from the town where we live) that my husband's congregations are NOT in this town; this is just where we found a house we like that we can afford. He doesn't serve the congregation here in town.

BTW, Linda, speaking of churches -- THE PHOTO DIRECTORIES ARRIVED from Lifetouch this week! They came through right on time, and they were generous in the number of books they sent. I haven't seen a copy of the directory yet, but we already have the photo portraits we ordered, and I will say that I thought they came out very well.

ETA to add When I got home for lunch, I found a copy of the new church directory on my desk. Very nice!

Good grief, imagine anyone being concerned with what someone is reading based on their faith. Silliness. I understand why you have kept in in mind. Lots of silly people. As you know I myownself happen to be very fond of your ability to find books for me to love...

:)

I'm not so worried about folks from our congregations so much as some of our more conservative neighbors. Silly, maybe. I know library patrons who will only read Christian fiction. One got really upset because one of the Christian novels dealt with a possible vampire.

Internet is down & I am posting from phone. Ugh!

Internet is back. I only have a few minutes, as I work early on Fridays. Nothing much to say anyway.

Work today. Church supper tomorrow. I'm on the mashed potato crew. I had to decline an invitation from the Friends of the Library to help with their annual wine tasting fundraiser.

It is rainy/stormy here, which is probably why our internet got funky for a while.

Kath, I was talking with a Friend of the Library who has been battling all week with Comcast over his internet service, which they cannot get fixed. I told him of your assertion that Comcast is the devil. He says to tell you he agrees.

I started the book Four Days with Hemingway's Ghost because it fit two of my themes for November -- a number in the title and a new-to-me author. But it's really awful, IMO. I think I'm going to abandon it.

It's a shame, when it has such a pretty cover.

I know I can remove it from my e-reading device, but is there a way to permanently kick it off of my Amazon cloud? There are a couple of books I'd like to do that to.

Too bad about Four Days With Hemingway's Ghost because the title makes it sound promising. You can permanently delete items from your Amazon cloud by going into your Amazon account, going under Manage my Kindle, and then clicking on the button marked Actions all the way to the right of the book's title. It will drop down a selection of actions and you can choose Delete From Library. It will ask you to confirm that you really want to do that, and then bingo, it is gone.

Hi Terri, glad to hear that Lifetouch came through for you. Weather here today was frightful---rain and winds gusting to 60mph. It proved to be a good day to stay in and read. Thumbed your review of Midnight Palace.

Hi, Mamie! There were just too many inconsistencies in the story from the start, things that didn't make sense or that rubbed me the wrong way. Of course, this is the man's experience while in a coma which he takes as some kind of real out-of-body experience, but just as easily (more likely) is a dream/delusion. So I guess it doesn't have to make sense. But it drove me crazy. Thanks for the Kindle library delete directions.

Hi, Bonnie! Overnight the wind tore strips of roofing paper off our garage roof, and we started the day with rain, but things cleared up around noon. Thanks for the thumb!

This audio book was short enough, I finished the whole thing this evening while the guys were out at the football game and I was home baking for a church bake sale.

75 challenge book #112
Title: One for the Money (AUDIO) -- numbers, new-to-me series
Author: Janet Evanovich
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Series: Stephanie Plum #1
Date finished: 11/1/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, library download
My Rating: 3 stars
Notes:

OK, I finally tried it, and I don't get what all the fuss is about. I'm assuming this is one of those series that maybe gets better as it goes along? I know so many people who are crazy about this series, but I was not terribly impressed with this first outing. It was short; it was OK, though there were a couple of spots that really grated on my nerves. I may try another.

I don't know that they actually do get better, Terri. I'm hooked on the series, but when I read this one when it came out way back when, it really made me laugh. I ride the train to work, and normally my metabolism is still getting in gear at that time of day, but this one (and others after it) had me laughing out loud. Humor is a tricky thing, so it maybe this doesn't connect enough for you.

It sure wouldn't hurt to try another. I can't remember whether Ranger shows up in the first one, but he's my wife's favorite character in the series.

Yeah. I have to agree. If you don't like the humor in the first one, the rest are just more of the same. Maybe try one more, then give it up if you don't connect.

192, 193 Thanks for the info, Joe and Morphy. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for Stephanie. I'll try another one later.

My son is cooking dinner this evening. I'm staying close enough to make sure he doesn't cause a catastrophe, and am otherwise trying to step aside except when he asks for guidance. I am not so good at the stepping aside part.

75 Challenge Book #113
Title: Jerusalem Gap (E-BOOK)
Author: T.R. Pearson
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2010
Series: n/a
Date finished: 11-06-13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes (virtual), no, Kindle store
My Rating: 4 stars
Notes:

This is the story of what happens when a dog steals a man's heart.

Donald Atwell is a loner, living a rather isolated life as caretaker of a large Virginia mountain estate which is a second (or third or fourth) home to a pair of rich Texans who occasionally drop in and give Donald some elaborate renovation project to complete. One day when Donald's pickup truck is stalled by the side of the road, a battered blue Chevy Nova pulls up and deposits a skinny puppy before driving off. Donald intends to take the abandoned pup to the animal shelter after he gets his truck going and completes the errand for which he's already late. But he winds up making a trip to the vet instead for a puppy check-up and shots.

Nova (Donald named her after the car which dropped her off) is one charmer of a dog -- naturally well-behaved and even-tempered -- and she brightens Donald's world. Then the nearby nursing home loses its lawn service, and Donald agrees to fill in "for a week or two" until they find someone else to do it -- and Donald and Nova make a whole new set of friends.

I absolutely loved this gentle little book set in the mountains of Virginia. It was filled with quirky characters that I came to care about, and the setting was wonderful. I thought it was a really great read. I wasn't familiar with this author before, but I'd like to read more by him.

After getting home from my evening meeting, I had some quiet time to read and finally finish this one:

75 Challenge Book #114
Title: Five Days at Memorial: Life and death in a storm-ravaged hospital
Author: Sheri Fink
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2013
Series: n/a
Date finished: 11/6/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes, Yes (ER), from LT Early Reviewer program
My Rating: 4.7 stars
Notes:

This book is about how events unfolded at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during and immediately after Hurricane Katrina. It's also about the aftermath, as prosecutors investigated allegations that seriously-ill patients were deliberately given fatal doses of drugs. It also explores steps taken (and not taken) in attempts to address future disaster-preparedness in hospitals post-Katrina. It is a very detailed account, and appears well-documented.

I need to do a proper review of this one because I got it from the early reviewer program; but it will take a little time to process.

ETA to raise my rating on this book, under further reflection.

I have Five Days at Memorial on my mental might read list. We have it on our shelves. It looks like you have had some good reading. Nothing much happening at chez kath these days, thank goodness! Sadly, that includes reading. We got a book about a haunted house the other day. I don't remember what it's called, but I know it's there, I put in into the catalog. That is on the mental tbr list, too.

Hope it's a good one for you !

I have 5 Days too and I just can't get into the mindset to read it. I'm anxious to read your review.

Hi, Kath and Carrie! I had a bit of trouble getting into the mindset to get through it, too. It's very well done, but it is very depressing and filled with almost more detail than I could process. I read some of it in bits, then I'd get into a section and not be able to stop reading, then I'd need a break. It's very sobering stuff. Some of the most interesting points, to me, came after the hurricane was done and the legal questions seemingly resolved. What have we learned? How can we handle future disasters? What criteria do we use in a crisis when the number of people needing care exceeds the available resources? How do we even discuss these issues constructively?

I suspect that reference to those ruminations will make it into my review.

It's been a crazy week, but I've been getting through books. One night I literally fell asleep reading. Some books, especially my e-books, have been rather short. I've had a lot of driving to do in recent days, and have been churning through audio books. Between a long drive and some listening during housework, I've finished another audio today.

75 Challenge Book #115
Title: 206 Bones (AUDIO)
Author: Kathy Reichs
Copyright/Year of original publication:
Series: Temperance Brennan #12
Date finished: 11/7/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, library download
My Rating:3.3 stars
Notes:

It's been a while since I read one from this series. I was a little disappointed. I don't know if I'm just getting picky in my old age, or if this wasn't as good as some that she's written. It seems to me I was less than thrilled with the previous one, too. It just felt a little convoluted. Mind you, it wasn't a bad mystery, and had some good twists. I just thought she was really blind to something that should have been obvious as a possibility.

The audio version of this one was competently done -- I've got no complaints. I'm not one to judge the pronunciations of the French phrases (it's set in Montreal) but it sounded good.

Oh, dear. That's too bad, Terri. I have been wanting to get back to that series - I'm ready for Grave Secrets. How far into the series do you think the books hold up?

Mamie, I wouldn't say it's a bad book, just not quite as compelling as some. I always thought she had too many coincidences in some of her books, things that tied different story lines together in ways that were implausible when I really thought about it. This one wasn't quite as bad in that regard. It was just too much of forensic politics for my taste. You might like it. I seem to recall liking most of the first ten books, for the most part.

She clearly had an agenda here, about the importance of board certification to ensure that the people doing forensics are qualified for what they're doing. (I'm not going to argue with that, but it was a little preachy at the end.) The previous one, Devil Bones, I seem to recall her having a bit of an agenda, too.

Maybe some of it was doing the last two on audio. They were well done, but it does preclude easily looking back over details.

Thanks for that, Terri. I do not like preachy or books with an agenda, either, so that is good to keep in mind. And the first ten books gives me a good feel for your thoughts. I think we have very similar tastes in these types of books, which is why I asked.

I read Reich's previous novel to this Devil Bones . It was only when I went to look for the sequel that I realized that it was written in 2009. So there are probably many sequels after that book.

I find the series a bit disorienting as the character is not in the same place as and does not have the same characteristics as the TV character. I know that movies and TV often change things in the script. I don't think that is my major problem. I think that it is the fact that the background setting is so different is what really throws me off.

206 Bones is the 12th of 16 in this series.

I prefer to treat the book series and the TV series "based" on it as totally separate entities. The "spin" is that the series is supposedly the protagonist's career at an earlier stage; however that makes no sense, as the younger Bones has all the most high-tech bells and whistles of the current era. Really, the only commonalities I see are the name of the main character, the fact that she's a forensic anthropologist actively helping to solve crimes, and the fact that Kathy Reichs is involved.

Just popping in to say hello! Nothing much going on here.. I am OFF today, thank goodness and plan to make the most of it.

Enjoy your day off, Kath! I am off too.

The biggest thing here is that we used a 15-percent-off Ollie's Army coupon to buy bargain 9 x 12 rugs for our living room and my son's bedroom at Ollie's. (I also got some very good bargains on small throw rugs and some coffee there . . . but no books this time.) We plan to put them down (the rugs, not the coffee) Monday, when the library is closed but the school is open, so my son won't have to deal with the disruption of all the moving furniture around.

I did very little reading today, but caught up on a few LT threads. (I find lately I'm lurking as much as I'm posting, just not having much to say.) I also had errands to run and stuff to prepare for church tomorrow.

I am over halfway through Housekeeping. I'm also reading an e-book called Medicine Men: extreme Appalachian Doctoring by Carolyn Jourdan. It's a light read of stories from elderly doctors in Southern Appalachia, and I'm rather enjoying it despite some typos. My current devotional/spirituality read, Messy: God Likes it That Way is surprisingly good.

When I finish Housekeeping, I plan to read Larry Watson's Montana, 1948, which I just got through ILL.

I felt like I totally maxed out on horror novels last month, but my hold finally came available on the library audio download of Joe Hill's NOS4A2, narrated by Kate Mulgrew. I decided to give it a try. It's very good and very different. It's horror, fantasy, and perhaps a little subtle social commentary? I might even read a little trace of theology into it -- issues like idolatry and how a good thing (Christmas) can be corrupted and distorted (as it has already to some degree by popular culture/greed) to the worst degree. But, then, that's probably just me reading more into it than is intended. There is a REALLY bad guy/THING to hate, and a halfway decent (but mixed-up) kid to root for . . . a Rolls Royce . . .and significant creep factor.

I had NOS4A2 at one point, but wasn't in the mood to read it so back it went. I will surely give it another try sometime. I look forward to your thoughts when you are through...

I too, am having trouble finding things to say, and have lurked a bit lately. Sometimes that is just how it is. I think we all have those periods.

Have a nice long weekend! ( Is your library closed on Monday?)

You have a nice long weekend too, Kath!

And, yes, our library is closed on Monday! :)

Hi Terri, I admit to doing a lot of lurking these days as well. I guess it's just a quiet time of year for us.

Hi, Judy!

INSOMNIA. Yup, it's hit me again. I finished my e-book, reading in bed, and when I still couldn't settle, I decided to come downstairs for a cup of chamomile tea and LT for a while.

75 Challenge Book #116
Title: Medicine Men: Extreme Appalachian Doctoring (e-book)
Author: Carolyn Jourdan
Copyright/Year of original publication: 2012
Series:n/a
Date finished: 11/11/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: Yes (virtual), no, Kindle store
My Rating: 3.3 stars?
Notes:

This was not a great book, but it was an enjoyable book for me, and just what I needed as a change after an October full of horror novels. It's very short, and though there are serious stories, there is also a great deal of humor. Each section is preceded by a quotation that is humorous in some way; some are funny due to malapropism, though some bring a chuckle due to human foolishness and some are just sayings guaranteed to make one smile.

The author is the daughter of a country doctor in the Great Smoky Mountains. She left a career as a Senate lawyer in Washington to go home and work in her father's medical office when her mother could no longer do the office work. You can tell by the love with which she tells her stories which job she thinks was really more important in the grand scheme of things. She shares not only the experiences of her father, but also stories from other mountain doctors. She gives us a glimpse of a kind of medicine that has pretty much disappeared in our modern age.

The book had more than a few typos (spelling, usage, puctuation, etc.) with more and more occurring as the book progressed. It was as though there may have been an effort to proofread, but the proofreader got tired partway through. Other than the obvious typos, the book was actually rather well written.

Veterans Day greetings:


glitter-graphics.comAnd Remembrance Day greetings to my Canadian friends:
glitter-graphics.com

I have to check out that book by Carolyn Jourdan. I read her book Heart in The Right Place and gave it 5 stars.....

Kath, I actually may have enjoyed this one almost 5 stars worth. I rated it lower partly because of all the errors and partly because of intangibles . . . just not quite there for me, but I really enjoyed it. I'm still debating raising the rating a little. There was one tale in there I know you'd love, about a mysterious dog . . .

I think I'm going to add to my review the fact that it made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. Since this was my e-book that I read in bed because then I don't need the light on when hubby's trying to sleep, this may not have been a really good thing . . .

I kindled it... so thank you :)

You're welcome, Kath! I hope you like it. I bet you'd like Jerusalem Gap, too, (except for the sad parts). And that one's only 99 cents . . . or free for the Amazon Prime reading thing. (See post 195).

I spent the morning moving stuff out of my son's room so that I could remove the old carpet. It's a multiple good news / bad news project.

The good news is that I was able to move all the furniture and junk that had to be moved, with minimal help from my hubby with his bad shoulder.
The bad news is . . that my son is such a hoarder that I'll never get his "stuff" put back the way he had it (nor would I want to) before he gets home from school. He's going to have a fit when he gets home and sees the mess.
The good news is that maybe this will be a chance for us to go through things and maybe he can decide to get rid of some of it? or at least store it neater. I sure would like him to take better care of his books!
The bad news is I got all done and went to find the vacuum cleaner to do a once-over on the old rug and then clean up the mess from the wood floor underneath it . . . and (for once) the vacuum cleaner was in the storage alcove -- totally inaccessible, with all the stuff from the room piled up in front of the door.
The good news is that I bought a new broom a month or so ago; if I'd had to use the old one to clean up all that stuff where the old carpet backing deteriorated, I would have never gotten the job done. The thought that came to mind was one of those old sayings Mom used to use when things went bad -- I would have been "up s--- creek without a paddle" -- almost literally . . . ;-)

I have swept the floor, and mopped it using Murphy's Oil Soap, and turned on the ceiling fan to help the floor dry. Now I must wait, as I certainly don't want to put the new rug down on a damp floor.

So far I think the good news in this project outweighs the bad news. Stay tuned . . .

OK, rug is unrolled -- fits beautifully -- but I'm letting it lay and get the curl flattened out of it a bit before I move the furniture back on it. I really wish I could get to the alcove with the vac cleaner. It was stupid of me not to think of it before I moved the stuff into the hall. While I have the bed torn apart, I figured I'd wash the dust ruffle. It's now in the dryer, and I have the window curtains and matching blanket in the washer. I may as well give the windows a good wash while the furniture is out of the way.

I've got the HEPA air filter going on high power to get rid of all the dust I stirred up into the air.

Another good news piece -- the room is getting a far more thorough cleaning than I've been able to give it in a while.

I'm trying not to think of all the other housework I'm letting go while I do this. And we still have the living room carpet to deal with. Less mess to move, but more and heavier furniture.

Sounds like quite the cleaning project, Terri!

Oh, it is, Lori! I am about beat.

OK, rug is firmly down and furniture is back in place, along with the new storage trunk/bench covered in a steam locomotive theme fabric. Laundered curtains are back up at clean windows. Fresh sheets are on bed. Son came home and really liked how the room looked. Maybe liking how it looks with some of the clutter out will encourage him to part with some of his hoarded stuff. He at least agreed to get rid of his old kiddie coloring books. Small potatoes but, hey, it's a start!

Old carpet is out on the porch, after a lengthy discussion. Hubby wanted to put it in the attic . . . so someday in the distant future we could cart it back down and get rid of it. I can't tell you how many things have gone that way. I won on getting rid of it now. We'll have to arrange with the refuse haulers to cart it away -- for a fee, of course.

Even though I've done 90% of the work, hubby is somewhat grouchy about what I've needed help with. Now he wants me to take the monthly fee in to the gym. Later, dude! ;-)

I know how good it feels to get a project like that finished! congrats. I have looked at Jerusalem Gap a time or two.. you may be right.. who knows, maybe some day?

Thanks, Kath! It feels good to get so much done today . . . but it also feels achy in the muscles and creaky in the joints . . .

I rewarded myself this evening with some reading time and a nice glass of Chocolate Lab wine. (The doggie on the label is adorable, and the wine is yummy, too.)

75 Challenge Book #117
Title: Housekeeping
Author: Marilynne Robinson
Copyright/Year of original publication: 1980
Series: n/a
Date finished: 11/11/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: no, no, public library
My Rating: 4.3 stars
Notes:

I read Marilynne Robinson's Gilead several years ago and loved it; I read her Home, and liked it. Housekeeping was actually Robinson's first novel, and quite an impressive debut. I'm sure there are enough reviews that I don't need to do a full one. Suffice it to say that her command of metaphor was astounding, almost to the point of overwhelming. This is a rather dark story about family ties, conformity (or lack thereof), and a bit of madness; it begins with the remembrance of a train wreck, and as the story moves along, one senses the characters moving toward their own kind of train wreck. A short (219 pages in my edition) but powerful novel.

NEXT UP: Montana 1948 by Larry Watson

Today I pretty much repeated yesterday's process, only in the living room. The new rug looks nice.

My son is sorting through his piles of stuff to see what to keep and what he'll part with. So far, he's decided to get rid of two hats, an old board book, and some church bulletins he'd saved. Definitely not a major purge.

How old is your son? Maybe if he could get rid of 6 things per day while he is home? Or even 3 things. After his current mini-purge that is.

Morphy, he's 17, and has autism, though he's rather high functioning. His tendency toward hoarding is one of my big worries as far as him ever being able to live independently. I'm picturing an apartment filled to the rafters with newspapers and magazines after a decade or so. We are gradually trying to wean him of some of his attachments to stuff, so maybe parting with a few things each day might be a strategy. Thanks!

Yesterday I more or less repeated the process I did Monday, only this time with the living room -- and I was dealing with my own accumulated stuff. We didn't move the bookcases, though, so my biggest category of hoarding didn't really affect the process much.

Today was a work day. The library was fairly busy.

I don't usually work at the library on Thursday, but I worked 10-2 today for a co-worker who had an appointment, and I'm going back in from 5-7 to cover some of the hours for another co-worker who is sick.

My reading these days is kind of . . . well, I'm not feeling a lot like reading. I made my themes for November "Numbers," "Non-fiction follow up" (on the subject of novels I've read) and (as a last resort) "New to me authors." I'm prioritizing in that order. NOS4A2, which fits the number theme, is very well written, at least so far, but I'm not really in the mood for some of Hill's in-your-face moments. I appreciate that the most offensive scenes are great illustrations of how evil certain characters are, but still . . . it's jarring. I'm doing it on audio, and now the audio of Catch-22 (another one for the number theme) has become available, so I claimed that hold and want to get to it ASAP. Meanwhile, I quickly ditched one e-book I didn't like and am trying 1968: The Year That Rocked the World by Mark Kurlansky (another for the number theme).

The best of the lot is definitely Montana 1948 by Larry Watson. I'll be done that one soon! And it also fits the number theme, and is a new-to-me author..

I'm waiting for my ILL of Frozen in Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition by Owen Beattie, which I understand is coming all the way from the Free Library of Philadelphia. That's for the "non-fiction follow-up" theme, and another author I haven't read. I want to see how the facts actually known about the expedition fit with how Dan Simmons used the expedition in his novel The Terror, which I read last month.

Hubby made a loaf of Garlic Cheese bread today. It should go well with the spaghetti dinner my son has promised to make this evening.

Yum!

75 Challenge Book #118
Title: NOS4A2 (AUDIO, narrated by Kate Mulgrew)
Author: Joe Hill
Copyright/Year of original publication:2013
Series: n/a
Date finished: 11/18/13
Off the Shelf? Pre-2013 owned and/or ER? Source?: No, No, library download

From her youth, Vic has had a magic way to get to whatever she needed to find. Unfortunately, one day she's looking for and finds trouble in the form of a demonic character with a 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith that has some unusual option features. Charlie is out to capture children to take to Christmas Land. Sounds innocent, doesn't it? Think again.

An older Vic is tormented by consequences of her encounter with Charlie and his supernatural car. She eventually is drawn into battle with him.

I'm not going to rate this one. My reactions are all over the map on this one.

It is very well done, very creative, very compelling, very disturbing. There probably something to offend everyone, but it also is written to make the reader root really hard for the flawed-but-goodhearted protagonist.

There's plenty of swearing -- let readers who will be offended by that be forewarned. There is violence, some of it brutal. There was one scene in particular where the one bad guy's thoughts or words (I can't remember if he thought it or said it aloud) were so blasphemous and bothered me so much I almost quit. But, the scene definitely showed me how absolutely nasty this guy was, which is most certainly what was intended. Anyway, I really wanted to know if the "bad guys" would be stopped, and if the "good guys" (actually gals, mostly) would be OK, so I continued.

Of course, I'm going to read into some of my own moral/theological views. Charlie's Christmasland is the ultimate corruption of Christmas. Does our modern secular culture of consumerism seek to make Christmas a festival of greed and materialism? Charlie's Christmasland is this carried to the ultimate degree and beyond. It's a place where kids can have WHATEVER they want 365 DAYS A YEAR, and with NO RULES to have to bother to obey, NO LIMITS to observe, no moral compass whatsoever. The idea of "fun" in this land is often hurtful (or fatal) to other living creatures, or even people. It is, in my opinion, utterly demonic -- which is, perhaps, why the Wraith's license plate, NOS4A2 is so appropriate. Charlie is no ordinary mortal, either, but seems to live off the life force of others. He has a sidekick who is maybe scarier, in his own way, than Charlie -- because he's actually a regular mortal person, but his point of view is so utterly screwed up, he thinks his most utterly evil actions are somehow meritorious.

In contrast, we have a very mixed-up, messed-up, but goodhearted heroine in Vic, well aware of her own flaws, who is trying her best to thwart Charlie and ruin his nasty little kingdom. Some of the symbolism in this really worked for me. And I'll never look at a covered bridge quite the same way again.

Kate Mulgrew does a fantastic job of narration in the audio version.

eta to add I should also mention the audio had some interesting comments recorded by the author after the reading of the book.

Speaking of demonic crass materialism, I used to wander through the mall seeing all kinds of clothes that I'd love to own. . . .

Now I've lost weight, my clothes are sagging, and I must buy some in a smaller size . . . I went through all the department stores in the mall, and didn't see anything I'd give two cents for. The only dresses I saw were sweater dresses and others styled in such a way that they would make me look like a sack of potatoes. What's the point of losing weight if I'm still going to look dumpy? (yeah, I know, it's healthy and all that stuff . . .)

What gives with the fashions this year?

I got so depressed, I ate an Aunt Anne's pretzel and a bag of peanut M&Ms. Phoey on the diet.

Oh, good! Since the fashions are not so great this year, I'll put off any kind of diet for later ;-)
I know exactly what you are talking about though. It's happened to me in the past.
And hey! Congrats on losing the weight!

Enticing review of NoS4A2, Terri! I have had my eye on that one since it came out and your review has me looking forward to reading it even more.

What gives with the fashions this year?

Fashion this year is not good for me either.... having hips and thighs with those sweater dresses has convinced me to make do with my current wardrobe for this season.

Hello, Cee and Lori! Maybe styles will be better in the spring . . . in the meantime, I know a few websites where I can find clothes that, while not currently fashionable, don't make me look like a walking blimp.

Cee, thanks for kind words about my weight loss.
Lori, glad you liked the review. I will say that it gave me nightmares (the book, not the review).

I'm thinking this would be a good time to start a new thread. It's my day off work. There's about a month and a half until the end of the year. (Can you believe that! Where did the time go?) Since this thread lasted about 2 months, the next thread should be my last.

Also, my first post in this thread included a photo of a covered bridge; a covered bridge played a central role in the book I just finished and reviewed.

So I'm going to start working on the final thread. I'll be back to post a note when it's ready.

OK, come on over to my new thread.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/161219

This thread is CLOSED.