Go Easy On Me I am A Newbie Kara #1

After some thought and much encouragement from some very nice LT members I am taking the leap and starting a thread. I have been a member of LT since March 2009 and have followed many threads in the 75 Books Challenge. Along the way I have met some very nice people and have silently witnessed some pretty funny dialogue. (Kath+Richard, Ape+Richard) hmm, looks like a pattern Sir Richard :) This thread is a "putting my foot in the door" for next year's challenge. I will list the books that I remember reading this year and go from there. So here it goes.....




1. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
2. Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert
3. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
4. Last Things by David Searcy
5. Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
6. The Outlander by Gil Adamson
7. The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
8. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
9. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
10. Chosen By A Horse by Susan Richards
11. PUSH by Sapphire
12. Girlbomb by Janice Erlbaum
13. Have You Found Her by Janice Erlbaum
14.The Vanishing Of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant
15. Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips
16. Sweetsmoke by 7843242::David Fuller
17. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
18. A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb
19. Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
20. Under The Skin by Michael Faber
21. Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern
22. Pretty Little Dirty by Amanda Boyden
23. Lottery by Patricia Wood
24. The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein
25. The Well and The Mine by Gin Phillips
26. Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
27. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Berry
28. The Painted Darkness by Brian James Freeman
29. The Convent by Panos Karnezis

Review #1 for my new thread...

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Enzo is a dog who wishes with all his heart to be a person. He is one of the most likable, smartest, and most insightful literary characters you'll ever come across. Pg. 98 "In Mongolia, when a dog dies, he is buried high in the hills so people cannot walk on his grave. The dog's master whispers into the dog's ear his wishes that the dog will return as a man in his next life. Then his tail is cut off and put beneath his head, and a piece of meat or fat is placed in his mouth to sustain his soul on its journey; before he is reincarnated, the dog's soul is freed to travel the land, to run across the high desert plains for as long as it would like. “
"I learned that from a program on the National Geographic channel, so I believe it is true. Not all dogs return as men, they say; only those who are ready.”
"I am ready."
In The Art Of Racing In The Rain we meet Enzo, a family dog, who, at the end of his long life and on the eve of his "one way visit to the vet's" tells us about his life, how he was adopted, how his owner Denny, an up-and-coming race car driver, met and married the love of his life and the eventual arrival of a baby daughter. Enzo is thinking, feeling, and philosophizing through it all. But tragedy hits Enzo's family and Enzo takes us on their journey and the ensuing heartache. Enzo is a student of humanity, who dreams of opposable thumbs, and the ability to communicate the vast knowledge he has acquired throughout his life by observation. He helps where he can. "Gestures are all I have," he says. He uses them to punish the guilty and reward the virtuous, according to his moral order for the world. He is the ultimate silent champion for those he loves. His philosophy is part Zen, part law of attraction, and as Enzo often says, "That which we manifest is before us.
There is no denying that this book is heart-wrenching at times, but the canine digressions into doggy political opinions, doggy scientific viewpoints regarding opposable thumbs and dewclaws, and even his favorite actors, (his fifth favorite, George Clooney as he is a bit like him around the eyes) all contribute to create a deeply funny but very beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it. 4 1/2 stars recommended!

You did it! a thread! and a rview that made me cry :(

Welcome! Glad you took the step to start your own thread.

Hi Kara, nice new thread you've got here. I was so excited to read your review on The Art of Racing in the Rain. I'm glad you liked it 'cause I just picked it up at the library in audio form to listen to on my upcoming trip to Kansas City. I'll be sure to put a box of Kleenex in the car!

I'm very pleased to star your thread!

aww, Iam sorry kath, I didn't mean to make you cry... it is a good book though. I know you would like it, the ending is uplifting and there is a "glad this happened moment", can't say much more would give it away.

I must say though I listed more books then I thought I would :)

working on a review of The Well and the Mine

glitter-graphics.com

Roni + Donna pleased to have you

Donna Let me know how the audio is. I am curious to hear what you think of Enzo's voice, I have an idea in my mind.

Welcome! I'm glad you've gone ahead and started a thread.

Your list reminded me that I wanted to read Have You Found Her when it was offered as an ER book a couple of years ago. I had completely forgotten about it, but maybe I'll now get around to it someday.

Hi Zoe and welcome!

Girlbomb is the first one. if you haven't read that one I would recommend it before Have You Found Her

if you have already read Girlbomb then I am glad you came across my thread so that I reminded you :)

Hi Kara- Welcome to the 75 Club! You are now on hallowed ground! Good review of The Art of Racing in the Rain. I also enjoyed it! At first it appears gimmicky, but the author pulls it off!

Hi Mark! Glad you stopped by, you are one of the LTers I have been following for awhile *incognito*

postman right? my dad was a postman until his back started to bother him, so he moved the fam. from NY to Fla. then he went to work for PGA

Kara! New threadness is cool!

Welcome. Nice set of books!

You are really welcome here!!! That's a great review, and I'm not sure that I have the internal strength to read the book. Dogs and cats know my number is a very low one, and they have it.

thank you Jim! welcome to my thread

now for Sir Richard, I really thought I would have the time to roll out the red carpet for you :) I am pleasantly surprised that you dropped in, along with all these other lovely people. Hope you cont. to stop by

oh, no stink bugs here

...except that big one in your hair, you mean?

LizzieD welcome! and thank you for dropping by....

where? I can't find it.... Kath! help..... *runs away cursing my long thick curly locks*

Hi Kara, welcome to this very chatty group. Oh yeah, some people even read a few books too :)

thanks Bonnie :)

How can I be so late the party in welcoming you when I just read your post about your new thread? Well, here's a glass of wine and some cheese, anyway. Enjoy!

You list the first two books by Larsson--have you not read the conclusion to the trilogy or did you just forget to list it? (Read it! Lots gets resolved.)

ejj1955 no I have not read the conclusion yet, glad to hear that lots gets resolved

thanks for the thread welcoming snacks... now I know I have crackers around here somewhere

Hi Kara! I think you have the right idea, I may do this myself. . Looking forward to reading more of your posts :).

Hi from Maine! Glad to see you took the leap to 75!
I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain - glad you did too.
Got ya starred. :)

If you do start one, let us all know, okay?

Kara, welcome to the group! I am glad you finally took the plunge.

ETA: Why are we back in 2009 though?

Hi, Kara! Welcome to the 75ers! I've got The Art of Racing in the Rain coming to me soon at the library, and after reading your review, I'm much more impatient. Hey, wait...I work at the library; I could tamper with the request order! NO! I am SO just kidding. I will have to be patient.

Karen O.

>26 alcottacre: Stasia, how funny is it that it took 26 posts for anyone to notice that? Very smart of you!

Welcome Kara, no matter what year it is!

glitter-graphics.com

Hello Kara - pleased to see you in the 75ers (no matter which year!)

Wonderful review and I look forward to reading many more!

details, details... I am just glad you are here!

Glad you decided to join us, Kara. You will, no doubt, enjoy this fun, intelligent, quirky but especially thoughtful and caring group of 75er's.

I was going to buy The Art of Racing in the Rain last week at the library from the sale rack, got distracted and didn't. Hopefully, it will be there when I go back.

Morning Kara! Yes, I'm "The Postman Who Reads"! Wow, you are racking up Stasia numbers, here on your new thread! Good for you! Thanks for stopping by, even though you are doing it "*incognito*. Next time, chime in!

Welcome Kara! I win the 'last to the party' prize! Terrific review -- I'm a massive dog lover and it sounds like a great read. George Clooney 'around the eyes' I love it!!!!

Hi Kara! Nice review of The Art of Racing in The Rain. Reminds me that it's one I want to get to sometime soon! Happy Reading!!-- Tammy

Wow, Kara! Look at all your friends flying in! Like a flock of seagulls after a french fry! Ah.... feel the love!

Hello Kara....so glad you've joined this gabby and fun group. I'm always happy to see new members in any group on any thread. It's what makes LT such a fabulous on-line experience (and as you've seen, some of them even get together off line--like for real!) Looking forward to seeing what else you add to your list as time goes by.

WOW what a nice welcome from all you guys and gals :) I thank you

Now as for the 2009... it was a test, to see who was really paying attention to my thread LOL and Stasia is the winner!!!!

No really, I had no idea, I was tired yesterday when I started it and didn't even realize it until Stasia pointed it out. Guess that's why my brain made me put the "Go easy On Me I am A Newbie" :P

can I change that somehow? I am thinking if I do I have to start all over again right? :( well my mama always did say I had to be different and difficult

leperdbunny, if you do start a thread please let us know :)

It's good to be different...and look how many people found you despite your best efforts to hide (and test) us!

I liked The Well and the Mine very much, although I think a lot of readers found it too slow. I got a kick telling my book friends about this great book about a well and a mine...well, it was kinda humorous when I told them the title. You had to be there. ;-)

too slow? well I guess if they are looking for a mystery story they could say that. This book is so much more then that. I didn't think it was slow at all. It is a character driven book and the well incident was just the spark to start the real story imo

got to get the review going, maybe today :P

The Well and the Mine ..wow! That sounds like some story....

Kara, I'd say don't bother moving your thread this close to the end of the year. The 2011 group will commence in about 8 weeks, since it's ordinarily up right around the second week of December.

We're all just pleased to have you! Makes the party more fun when cool people join in.

thanks sir richard, i will take that advice

is that kitty hair i see on your shirt? *flees to get a lint roller*

*choo*

Doe, id's a thread frub tha rope I'b gudda straggle you with.

*choo*

I love you deeply Kara.. I do I do I do..

that was priceless!

not to mention perfect.

The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips is set in a small Alabama coal-mining town named Carbon Hill in the early 1930's. Tess the middle Moore child witnesses someone dumping what appears to be a baby into the family's well. Pg. 1 Tess “After she threw the baby in, nobody believed me for the longest time. But I kept hearing that splash.” Even though this is a rather shocking act, the story is not all about who threw the baby in the well. The well incident sparks the story, and I feel it was merely a good way to bring the Moore family into focus, for this is a character driven story. Phillips writes from the first person perspective of all the members of the Moore family and they each have their own “voice.”
Albert, who has mined coal his whole life is a simple man with strong principles, he doesn't see nor understand the fuss in what occurs around him, so he doesn't bother himself with it. He assumes that a good man, regardless of race, should be treated as such. Pg.123 Virgie “To papa, good was something you could hold in your hand. Hard and solid like a coal rock. You could weigh it, measure it, see its beginning and end. You were never to hate anyone. You were to call all grown-ups “ma’am” and “sir” when you answered them.” Pg.54 Albert "You can tell a man by his rocking---slow and steady, antsy and skittish, lazy as a slug."
Leta, the hardworking and kindhearted wife and mother. Pg.21 Leta "I preferred to work by firelight in the kitchen instead of turning on the overhead bulb. Electricity's too harsh for early morning. Even the sun knows to start gentle."
Virgie, the Moore’s teenage daughter whose beauty terrifies her parents; Tess, the middle child who is longing for adventure; and Jack, the ornery little brother of the family.
The themes are significant in The Well and the Mine – mining, racism, and poverty, all affecting the people in the town who work so very hard just to get by. It explores the value of community, charity, family, and the desire to live an honorable life despite the hardships.
This is a delightful novel of warmth and true feeling in a small Alabama coal-mining town named Carbon Hill.

4 stars

current read Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

missed seeing this one at my film festival, I opted to see The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo instead

Nice review! Nice thread. Have read The Girl, but have not seen the movie. Any good? You are starred, or at least your thread is! : )

Oh, Kara... The Well and the Mine sounds like a good one for Alabama! I've been neglecting my 50 state challenge for awhile and I need something for Alabama. Would you recommend for a sense of place and local culture?
Nice review!

Kara - welcome to the group. Well, I know you've been hanging around for a while, but I'm happy that you feel comfortable enough here to begin your own thread. I'll be looking forward to your comments about Winter's Bone. We read it a while back (last year?) in the Missouri Readers Group and found it to be well-written and thought-provoking, if not entirely pleasant.

Welcome to the group!

Hi Kara!

As requested:

75er thread

Gin Phillips has a completely priceless name for a novelist. I mean, go fight those odds: "What's your name, little girl?" "Gin Phillips, and you'd better get that smarmy gleam outta your eye or one day you'll be the pedophile on page 42."

Just wanted to say Hi, and Welcome. :)

Angela

Welcome to the group! Glad to have you around these here parts and I look forward to nosing around your library in the near future.

Beryl, yes the swedish version of The Girl was very good, followed the book very well. If you read the book you know about the violence and the movie displays it, ALL of it... not for everyone I would think

Claudia, yes The Well and the Mine would be a nice 50 state challenge addition. coal mining, cotton picking, and racial tension in the 1930's south :)

sjmccreary, yup Winter's Bone is not a fuzzy feel good book, I like gritty and uncomfortable books. It is not a very long book, so I am hoping sometime this week I can bang it out in one sitting, that way I get the full impact

AMQS, thanks, and welcome! :)

leperdbunny, I am there

BookAngel_a, and thank you

Sir RD, ya, middle name? tonic?

Laura, thank you and nose around till your hearts content :)

I already have The Well and the Mine but I will have to bump it up!

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......................

spammers!!

glitter-graphics.com

Just stopping by to say hi & welcome. Many of your books are on my wishlist. I hope to Push someday soon.

thanks Jess and HI!

PUSH was an intense read...didn't see the movie, not sure if I want to

I like your Monday sign. I really needed one of those today. Maybe mine should have included a disclaimer of "bother me at your own risk, mkay?" :)

I wish I had the option of saying "bother me at your own risk, mkay?" :)

but, another day another half dollar

*sigh* giving flu shots today to the employees...

here is another one I like to use :)



if all else fails... staple gun ;)

I like the staple gun option, Kara!

Good morning, Kara, I wish you could give me a cyber flu shot. I usually just take my chances because I hate the hassle of signing up, rolling up (sleeve), etc.

>47 curlysue:: Wonderful review of The Well and the Mine. You captured the essence of time and place very well. (*groan* - another unintentional pun - they just follow me around). The book was in my Top Ten last year.

>48 curlysue:: Winter's Bone is indeed gritty and compelling. The movie was awesome. Please see it if you get the chance. It was filmed in my back yard (not literally) - about 40 miles away in the Branson area. Beautiful backwoods country, but extremely bleak in the wintertime. Very fitting.

>62 curlysue:: Apparently, even the spammers can find you! At the rate you're going, you'll have to start a new thread before the end of the month is out and you can join us in "2010!"

I wonder if whoever named the staple "gun" realized it could be used as an office weapon! Probably the same person who named the hole "punch". We should attach "roundhouse" to the front of white "out" to make it a trio. :)

Tomorrow.. I am taking in the staple gun.. for sure!

Love the gif! Maybe I will have put on a cap...

today will be a long day at work

haven't got much reading done :(

some down time at work...

so I added True North and Returning to Earth by Jim Harrison

like I need more books on my TBR pile *sigh*

Kara- I was a big fan of Jim Harrison's earlier work but I haven't re-visited him in many years! Maybe you'll inspire me!

nighty night! :D

mark, I haven't read any Jim Harrison yet. I saw Returning to Earth in a LT friends library and because I am "slightly" OCD :) had to add True North which is the first in the series.

who am I kidding, "slightly"..... I can NEVER read a book out of sequence *sigh*

night bunny, but good afternoon now :)

read a book out of sequence.....horrors!!

i know :) but some people can or they just read one from the series and it doesn't seem to bother them....my mom for instance

Yeah my mom does that too- its like worst of the worst! Like ripping a bandaid off. I'm too ocd- I just can't do it.

she will pass me a book that's like #4 in the series and tell me she loved it and now she is going to look for #1

drives me insane.....

I have a series I read purely for pleasure Laurell K Hamilton (enjoyable smut and fluff) I haven't read them in awhile and I know there are new ones out, so when I start to read them again I think I will have to start all over and blow through them one after another...crazy right?

I have done that.. I did it with Gabaldon's books..
read like 4 of them in one long weekend, cause a new one came out :P
craziness.

I have read series out of order.. Three Pines for instance.. because I got one as an LTER book. Then I went back and read through. To be honest, I was okay with it.. lol

Love those books.

Stopping by to say hi.

hop scotching around the threads...
hope all is well :)

french fries? anyone?

Uh yeah!!!! I love really good french fries!

I will take some of those garlic fries Darryl had a picture of on his thread!

I'm I too tale for fries. Salt and Heinz malt vinegar, please :0)

So I have done absolutely no reading this past weekend and this week ughhhhhhh

Last weekend was a motorcycle rally I attended then chores at home.....

This week has been hell at work and just too tired at night to read......

I am taking this weekend for me and Winter's Bone, maybe some light cleaning on Sat then after that, I am shutting myself away from reality

I need french fries again :)

your work exhausts me ...I don't know how you do it...I don't

Winter's Bone looks really good!

Oh! I have Winter's Bone as yet, unread. Will be looking for your thoughts on it.

Looking forward to your review of Winter's Bone- I saw the movie- still don't know how I feel about it.

I almost saw Winter's Bone at my local film festival but I chose The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The theater that TGWTDT was going to be played in was also showing Winter's Bone, so when the people came out after seeing Winter's Bone I asked a few what they thought. One older gentleman said that he hated it, it was so depressing, he even screwed his face up into what I call a stink face. His wife said she liked it but then again she knew what it was about and her husband didn't because she dragged him there.... I think I would have liked the movie. I like dark, gritty stories :P

*waves*

*waves* back at kath :)

Sorry you're not getting much reading done, Kara. Life has a way of interfering with that sometimes. Winter's Bone will be worth the wait, especially since you like dark, gritty stories.

stopping by to see what you are up to??
anything fun?

half way through Winter's Bone, my thoughts on it later :)

busy busy busy at work, first week of the month and the last week of the month are insane for me. 64 patients have to have their medication and treatments checked by me and another nurse. 1 patient can have up to 8 pages to check :/ just crazy. So tomorrow and friday I will be doing that Yippee for me :( Next week I do monthlies on 64 patients (basically it is pulling each chart and documenting EVERYTHING medical that happened to them in that month).....ugh!

Good news is this Saturday hubby and I are going to a Halloween costume party (son is going to homecoming) so it will be a fun night out just the two of us :)

Oh and I booked a 4 night 3 day cruise the sunday after thanksgiving LOL It will be just the girls...me, my sister, and my mom. Can't wait!!!

why does is the documenting not done as you go along??
curious

Kath, how many drinks have you had tonight?
curious

Kara- I just received Winter's Bone from Netflix! Did not read the book though! BTW- the cruise sounds great!

64 monthlies yikes!! I only have 8 monthly progress reports and that stresses me out!! Do you work in a nursing home or is it assisted living?

>99 curlysue:: It sounds like the Halloween Party will be a great stress reliever. Are you dressing up as a nurse? LOL

And then there's that upcoming cruise...

Kath, if you are drinking I want some :) the monthly reports need to be done the first week of the month so that you have all the documentation from the last month. The form I do for these are on the computer, so all week I sit ugh! For instance Nov. 1st I will be doing monthly summaries for the month of Oct. make since? Oh and these summaries include a care plan and sometimes the care plans change due to any illness or new diagnosis. Now the medication and treatment sheets are new on the first of every month. So, they have to be checked for the correct current meds, treatments, diets, adaptive equipment etc. etc. Pharmacy prints them out and you wouldn't believe how many errors we find, if we didn't check them nurses would be giving wrong meds or giving wrong treatments. All of these things that I have to do are either state mandated or corporate mandated.

Mark, haven't seen the movie yet....still only half way through Winter's Bone my thoughts are mixed right now. Don't get me wrong I do kinda like it, it's gritty and harsh but some things in it are making me want to choke some characters LOL I would like to see the movie after I finish the book. Let me know what you think of it :)

Tammy, I am a nurse for an ICFMR (intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded) we are 4 buildings with 16 developmentally disabled individuals in each house = 64 Their level of care ranges from the profound to what we call "walkie talkies" (need supervision on daily living skills)

Donna, well for sure we are dressing up :) Halloween is my favorite holiday. Husband is going as Hannibal Lecter, orange prison suit and the face mask like he had in the movie. I am going as a Gothic Vampire. Long dark dress, wig, face paint, fangs (which I still need to get the denture cream for) fake blood...the works :) And, I went and bought a latex piece that I will put on hubbies neck that will look like I have been gnawing on him :) Looks really cool!

And then there is that cruise......Going on Royal Caribbean cruise line. Ship is Freedom of the seas. Sailing to their personal island of Labadee, Haiti. Gonna drink, sleep, read, eat and do this :) http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do;jsessionid=...

Kara - I used to work at a residential facility, the amount of paperwork is enormous!

The Halloween costumes sound great! We are going to get ours tomorrow night - nothing like procrastinating. One year we waited so late that the store had Christmas decorations out. We were a Christmas tree and an angel that year.

drinking??

who is drinking?

Woo Hoo for the cruise! I hope you ladies have a wonderful time!

Sorry, Kath... I was commenting in my message #101 on your message #100. Your typing was a little garbled and I was poking fun at it... you give me occasional giggles trying to figure out what you mean. (tee he he) :p
The reality was probably your tiredness after a long, hard day at work.
Forgive me... I'm bad. :(
hope your trick or treat evening was somewhat fun...

Tammy, last night I had to go to my local drug store to pick up some odds and ends and they already had the christmas decorations out! Nothing like skipping right over thanksgiving.

the paper work is enormous is an understatement, the only thing we have computerized is the monthly summaries I do, everything else is by hand. :( Wish we were more like a hospital where everything is done by computer but such is life I guess...

Stasia, Thanks, I am sure we will have a great time :) We did one together last year and had a blast!

#111: Well then, I hope you have as good of a time this year as you did last year!

Hi!!!!

*relurking*

Happy Halloween!!

Finished Winter's Bone last night...4 stars. Will review later

Started The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Berry

Just visiting.. :)

Hi Kara! Eagerly awaiting your comments on Winter's Bone as I have this to read myownself.

Kara- I have not read Winter's Bone but I recently saw the film. It was very good!

really liking The Secret Scripture but still gathering my thoughts on Winter's Bone....Mark, I really want to see Ree's story in action, i heard it was very good :)

work has been unusually rough with our corporate office head honchos coming down for their "visit"
too many people, my boss included, running around like the sky is falling in..... and me just trying to find a nice quiet place to do my work and avoid the riff raff.

So I avoided the chaos at work by leaving early and headed home to vote :P

I like your plan for avoiding chaos, Kara!

Coming by to say hi- since I haven't heard from you in a few days- sounds like you were having a busy time at work- hopefully you are having a restful weekend!

Just popping in to say hello...

Well this past weekend and today have been busy and it has nothing to do with work :) what a change

I bought a new car :) well it is a 2007 but it looks and smells new. Whoever had it kept it in pristine condition and it has only 33,000 miles on it. The best part about it is that hubby is going to make the payments :) My 1994 Camaro was getting to the point where I just didn't trust it on the highway. It has broken down on me a few times, we had it fixed but I was just not comfortable in it anymore :(
SO, it now belongs to the 16 year old of the house...local driving only :)

Still haven't reviewed Winter's Bone yet....I will, I promise

Making progress on The Secret Scripture and it really is drawing me in.....

kara dear... what kind of car, what color is it and what is its name?

2007 Audi A4 2.0T 4 door, silver, sunroof....all kinds if nifty gadgets I haven't figured out yet but ordered owners manual today :)

her name is Audrey (Audrey the Audi) after Audry Hepburn :)

Audrey has replaced Candy the camaro

nice! well done!

Aw cute name!

Congrats on Audrey. I really enjoyed the Secret Scripture--hope you do too.

Thanks everyone :)

Half way through Secret Scripture and liking it.

I liked that one too..
I just want to thank you again for being such and angel and trying so hard to help someone that you don't even know.

You are a very special person.......

Kara- Just swinging through to say hi! Haven't seen you around much! Hope all is well!

Congrats on the car! Sounds like you were made for each other :)

kath.... thank you (stops to fix slightly crooked halo)

mark.... been here but my stops have been brief, busy at home and work

stasia.... thanks, yup wanted a sporty car with a little more luxury to it :)

yooo hooo... kara?

Good catch, Kath. Did you find her yet?

I'll help.
glitter-graphics.com

nope.. she isn't even on FB.. I think she is out in her new car when she isn't working.. Thanks for the help though!

So what happened to Kara?

I think I must have scared her off!

new car fun?

busy with work and family?

yooo hooo Kara!

Kaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrraaaaaaaaaa!
We miss you!
Come back...

Here I am :)

no, wasn't off with the new car and no Stasia you didn't scare me away...here is what has been going on

one week before thanksgiving my oldest dog got some kind of stomach bacteria, so hubby and I were getting up at 5am to clean (yuck) but thank god for tile :) got some meds from vet. 3 days after older dog started meds the middle dog got it :( (double yuck) started him on the same meds. they were not eating so had to bribe them with cheese and pieces of hot dog so they would at least take the medicine. vet said they picked the bacteria up from the yard, we have some lousy dog and cat owners who let their fur kids roam our neighborhood and for some reason they like to use our yard for their toilet. my older dog trims his own toenails with his mouth soooo bacteria was spread from toenails to mouth to stomach to my tile, middle dog must have picked it up from the tile (youngest dog is crated, she didn't get it) I should have bought stock in TIDE laundry soap and BLEACH those 10 days lol god you got to love my life sometimes lol

while my fur babies were sick my job was an absolute hell zone. we had 3 cases of unexplained injuries and I mean serious injuries so things were crazy to say the least.

Thanksgiving I worked the floor 7am-4pm, it wasn't bad, I liked being back out on the floor doing direct care instead of being cooped up in an office. Ate dinner at my sister's house after work :) The Friday after Thanksgiving my family and I went down to a Disney resort and watched some cheesy piano player/comedian, my Dad was there and the kids had fun doing audience participation stuff, I laughed at the kids not cheesy piano player/comedian guy.

Then the Sunday after Thanksgiving I went on my cruise.... what bliss!!!! returned on Thursday had Friday, Sat and Sun off, now back to work :(

Did manage to finish The Secret Scripture. Good book, the ending I saw coming about mid way through reading it.... so it was a disappointment in that I was hoping Barry would put a real spin on the last few pages but nope :(

still need to review Winter's Bone and now The Secret Scripture hope I can get to them, with my luck some monkey will throw a wrench into my life and I won't get to them for another month. Oh well, what am I gonna do? shit happens :)

Reading now The Painted Darkness ER book that I got almost a month late. Short little book so I should have it done within the next few days, goddess willing and the creek don't rise ;)

Oh and by the way, I did do some quick lurking on all my starred threads, in between the madness called "my life".

Well, you're safe and sound, if exhausted and poopy. *happy dance*

Well! There you have it! Real Life barging in again.
Glad to see you survived and enjoyed a cruise to boot! At that point, you sorely needed and deserved it...welcome back!

no poopy, no more and I hope never again :)

fur babies are CURED, for now *fingers crossed*

ty bahzah :)

Glad to see you haven't abandoned us! We would be very sad!

Sorry to hear about the furkids, but glad the cruise was wonderful! Happy you are back again.

Whew! good think the cruise came AFTER eh?
Glad you are back..

good think is right kath :)

thanks guys and gals for the kind words.... didn't think I would be missed that much......

work is blah

finished The Painted Darkness today! amazing for me because I did it at work waiting for the Podiatrist to show up so I could do rounds with him.

3 stars I give it, quick read (couple hours?) need to think a little on it because it really didn't blow me over and I just might bump it down to 2 1/2 :(

son is using my laptop for his English project at night so maybe this weekend for the reviews

Ah so glad you are back! I was beginning to think *chin quiver* you weren't coming BACK! :*(

Glad furbabies are better. I hate when one gets sick then they all get it!

ah Tamara how sweet.... real life just got in the way a little :)

2 out of the 3 dogs got sick....kitty nothing either, go figure since she roams the house and had ample access to the creeping crud

well off to bed, long day tomorrow..... doing rounds with the primary physician this time

*drive-by hug*

thanks for the drive-by richard :) needed it after today.........

had every intention of starting The Convent today while waiting on the doc to show up but..........too much drama, you would think I was back in high school

maybe tonight

catching up... sending hugs....

Just stoping by to say hello and see what's up. Glad to hear that your sickk doggies are better.

Hi Kara! Stopping by to give you a little wave!

waves back at kath, claudia and terri :)

cold here in florida gonna snuggle up with one of my fur babies and continue reading The Convent

It is cold here in Texas too, Kara. What is going on with these 'warm' states?

global warming?

armageddon?

I think mother earth has had it with us.....................

don't mind me...

trying to figure something out

never figured it out eh?
or decided not to tell?

right you are

forgot :)

OIC LOL

it's a what kind of reader are you quiz that I found on CatyM profile :)

I did the quiz and was going to post the results but the HTML thing wouldn't work.... no pretty box thing with the graph just the stupid words

got fed up and just quit LOL

don't blame you. Don't like when glitches spoil all the fun.

well here it is in all it's bland glory...........

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader  

You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.

Literate Good Citizen   Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm   Book Snob   Fad Reader   Non-Reader   What Kind of Reader Are You?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

#168 I cheated: the graph wouldn't work for me either, so I saved it as an image and posted that with a link, rather than using the html from the site.

pretty accurate considering my life and my struggles to find book time

what the heck is nbsp?

my Literate Good Citizen and Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm are even on the graph... Obsessive-Compulsive ain't that the truth lol

LMAO CatyM!

I thought about doing that

nbsp is a non-breaking space - it's the html code for a space that won't convert to a line break. I suspect there's an error in the code somewhere.

ETA #173 :D

drive-by *smooch*

Catherine thanks for the techno. info :)

*smooch* back to you RD

*waves*!

*waves* at Tamara :)

I will do the quiz if I unfaint.

Hi!

You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.

I definitely believe it would be! :)

Me too!

Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

Winter’s Bone tells the story of Ree Dolly, a sixteen year old girl living in the dirt poor areas of the Missouri Ozarks. The Missouri Ozarks are one of the poorest areas of the country, and one of the most insular. It's almost like its own little nation... full of bitterly feuding families who would, nonetheless, band together immediately if any outsiders infiltrated their community. It seems like everyone’s main source of income is drug related in some way. Ree’s father cooks meth and regularly stays in trouble with the law. But, this time he used their house and land as collateral for his bail bond and has since disappeared. If he doesn't show up for the trial, Ree and her family have no place to live and nowhere to go.

the rest is here here

hope i linked it right

couldn't decide if i wanted to link it to my review page of the books page :/

The Painted Darkness by Brian James Freeman

Henry paints against the darkness. He doesn’t know why and he has no memory of the horrific events that happened during his childhood that led to this compulsion. After an argument with his wife leaves him alone in the middle of a violent winter storm, Henry must face the monsters from his childhood that have seemingly and impossibly found their way into his cellar if he is to survive. Freeman uses the novella format to tell his story, switching back and forth between the present and the past. It works because the story isn't novel-length and the constant switching never becomes tiresome thank goodness.

the rest is here

Kara- Excellent review of Winter's Bone! You got a thumb! I saw the film a couple months ago and thought it was terrific. The young actress playing Ree is superb!

yep.. good reviews :)

Nice reviews, Kara!

Thanks! Mark, Kath and Stasia :)

and I just noticed that I have a hot review too :)

I still have two more to review....probably on Sun, the day after Christmas. Then I will be done for 2010 :)

To be honest I still haven't decided if I am going to start a 2011 thread.... I feel bad when I look around and everyone is reading so much and some times I can't crack a book for 2 days.... this is called the 75 books challenge and I hate to not pull my weight, so to speak.

On a different note and tone...I am currently reading The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue I started it last night around ten thirty and before I knew it it was midnight....really liking this one and I have had it for a long time but you know how it is ...you just haven't gotten around to it..

funny thing my husband picked it for me to read. when I finish a book I choose 4 or 5 that I want to read but for some reason I can never decide which one to read first, so I line them up and then ask him to pick a number from 1 to however many books I picked.... the number he picks is the book I read first :)

he thinks I am weird LOL but he picked a good one this time

Kara- We want you to stay in the 75! So don't even think about it. I have The Stolen Child sitting on a shelf. Maybe you will inspire me to move it up.

Kara, I'm echoing what Mark said. You have such interesting reads and add so much to this group. Btw, the 2011 group is here. Just trying to make your life a little easier. ;-)

Great review of Winter's Bone. Now you must see the movie for full appreciation of the bleakness of The Ozarks this time of year. I'd love it if you could send a little Florida sunshine our way!

Say "hi" to Audrey for me. That is my 6-yr-old granddaughter's name. She will be thrilled to know that there is a car named for her!

Thank you Mark and Donna for the encouragement, I will think about it :)

If I start a 2011 thread it will be on Jan1 and thanks for the link Donna :) knowing me I would start one for 2010 since I started this one as 2009 ;)

yup I need to go rent Winter's Bone to appreciate The Ozarks... the movie stays true to the book right?

Sunshine today in Florida, still a little chilly in the morning tho :) the past couple of days have been grey so it feels good to have sunshine to go along with the nip in the air

I will tell Audrey you said hi! Donna.....I love it when kids get excited over what we adults think are little things, it shows their innocence

Looks like I forgot to tell you I gave you a thumb for Winter's Bone. Nice review. Someone read that awhile back and I bought it... and you have reminded me why I want to read it. Thanks!
Do NOT leave our group! Do not go to jail, and do not pass go!
Pleeeeeeeeeze stay! Pretty please? :)

Let me echo the others -- please stay!

Thanks Claudia and Terri!

Working today then off this weekend for Christmas

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and a merry Christmas!


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Merry Christmas Kara


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I hope you had a terrific Christmas, Kara!

Kara- Happy Holidays!!

Happy St. Stephen's Day! Or Boxing Day! Whichever you prefer, Kara, may it be a happy, happy occasion!

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Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! :)

I have been neglecting my thread and puttering around on others or haunting as some say :)

Still haven't made up my mind regarding starting a 2011 thread. Kinda leaning toward starting a 2011 thread just for the challenge aspect of reading 75 in a year and the fact that I get lovely company here :)

I need to think of some kind of title or theme...everyone always has catchy titles to start their thread.

Oh, I hope you post in the 2011 group! I've been in the group three years, and it gets to be more and more fun.

As for title/theme, how about "Five-and-seventy in Two Thousand Eleven(ty)"? It's got that rhyming thing going for it.

By the way, I love that ghost graphic! Maybe you could use that "haunting" in your 2011 thread?

Karen O.

nice karen!

will keep those ideas in mind....

really like the "haunting" one, maybe for Oct 2011?

Hi Kara,
I know what you mean about trying to think of something catchy for a theme...I'm not good at that myself. But, there are lots of loyal, witty, supportive friends here who will see past the title. Remember, they are all avid readers!
>200 klobrien2: good ideas!

Well, about to finish up here at work and go home to a dinner of lobster and steak! It's our tradition every New Years Eve...

I will be starting a 2011 thread :) and hope to see you all there :)


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EVERYONE!

Happy New Year Kara! See you on the other side!

woot! I look forward to starring your 2011

oh, and Happy new year of course :)

Happy New Year to You, Kara!
More fun on tap for 2011....

Happy New Year, Kara!

I hope you join the 75ers again!

rise and shine karadear! time for your new thread!

I am not a morning person, I crawled out of bed around noon LOL due to the festivities last night and all :P

then I made my rounds on FB and LT then went back for a nap :)

I do have 2 books that I finished in 2010 that I still need to review....maybe tonight on this thread?

Then start fresh? depends on my mood I guess

Hope everyone had a great but safe New Year Eve night and everyone is accounted for....we stayed home and cooked a late dinner, played some backgammon and just hung out :) I think we all went to bed around 3ish?

well, let me get to those reviews.....The secret Scripture and The Convent

but I am interested in the reviews..

I could not stay awake until 3 am .. I barely make 11 on rare occasions..

Here you go Kath....

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

One Hundred Year old Roseanne McNulty was one of the most beautiful girls in Sligo, Ireland in her youth. She has been confined in the Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital, since the days of World War II and is now facing an imminent upheaval. The decrepit institution that she calls home is soon to be demolished, leaving its remaining residents uprooted in a modern Ireland that has all but buried its violent origins. Attempting to organize her memories, some reliable, others shifting, she embarks on scribbling her life story on scavenged paper---“The Secret Scripture”.

the rest is here

now one more to go, then my 2011 thread will be open for business :)

My last review for my 2010 thread

The Convent by Panos Karnezis

The Convent is set in a 16th-century nunnery in the mountains of southern Spain. By the early 1920’s only six nuns are left at Our Lady of Mercy. Their bishop visits from the city once a month as the nuns' confessor and has given them a car so they can go for their provisions. Otherwise they live in absolute isolation. The Mother Superior, Maria Ines, is the central character, and her ordeal begins when an infant in a suitcase is found on the convent steps. Sister Maria Ines believes the baby to be a miracle and a sign of unearned redemption and she starts a rapid slide from responsible judgment into self-delusion and irrationality.

the rest is here

Ya! I am done for 2010...this thread is currently closed :)

hop on over to my 75 in 2011 thread right here...... all are welcome!