Cobscook (Heidi) Third Quarter 2014

Sunset over the Bay of Banderas, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Me trying paddle boarding for the first time.

2014 Reading Goals

American Authors Challenge:
Willa Cather- January – Death Comes for the Archbishop
William Faulkner- February - The Sound and the Fury
Cormac McCarthy- March Substitute: Arthur Miller - The Crucible
Toni Morrison- April – Substitute: Richard Wright - Native Son
Eudora Welty- May – The Optimist's Daughter
Kurt Vonnegut- June- Substitute: James Agee - A Death in the Family
Mark Twain- July - Life on the Mississippi (recommended by Richard)
Philip Roth- August – Substitute: John Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath
James Baldwin- September - Go Tell It On the Mountain
Edith Wharton- October - The House of Mirth
John Updike- November Substitute: Arthur Miller - Death of a Salesman
Larry Watson- December – Montana 1948 (recommended by Mark)

For about 20 years I have been attempting to finish a college bound reading list given to me by a favorite high school teacher. I only get through a few titles on the list a year but I keep plugging away.
Remaining on The List:
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer
The Crucible - Arthur Miller
Cyrano de Bergerac - Edmond Rostand
Death Comes for the Archbishop - Willa Cather
A Death in the Family - James Agee
Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller
For Whom the Bell Tolls - Ernest Hemingway
Go Tell It On the Mountain - James Baldwin
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift
Hamlet - William Shakespeare
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - Carson McCullers
King Lear - William Shakespeare
Look Homeward, Angel - Thomas Wolfe
Macbeth - William Shakespeare
The Naked and the Dead - Norman Mailer
Native Son - Richard Wright
The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce
The Power and the Glory - Graham Greene
The Return of the Native - Thomas Hardy
The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
The Stranger - Albert Camus
Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe

President's Challenge
I am also trying to read a biography of each of our American Presidents. Next up is John Tyler.

As always, I will continue my futile efforts to reduce the massive TBR mountain.

Hello Heidi!

Hi Linda! Just getting things set up over here!

View from the balcony of our room at the resort we stayed at in Mexico.

I'm enjoying the photos!

57. An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: off my shelves
Format: paperback

Private investigator for the fae, Toby Night, tries to figure out who is kidnapping fairy children and put a stop to it. I really enjoy this series.

58. Looking for Alaska by John Green
Genre: YA
Source: on loan from my daughter's BFF
Format: paperback

Three teens bond a boarding school until tragedy hits. I loved this book and read it in one sitting. I think its even better than The Fault in Our Stars.

59. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Genre: YA
Source: mine
Format: Kindle ebook

Excellent story of a young boy trying to come to grips with his mother's battle with cancer. It rings true.

60. Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer
Genre: Romance
Source: mine
Format: Kindle ebook

Man inherits title and estate, estate is bankrupt, man must marry money in order to save family home and support sisters and mother. Tried and true romance formula brought to life by a master storyteller. Loved it!

>7 Whisper1: Thanks Linda! I've been promising vacation photos and finally have some time to make good on my promise!

61. Mr. Adams's Last Crusade by Joseph Wheelan
Genre: nonfiction
Source: off my shelves
Format: hardcover

In my presidential challenge reading, I was disappointed that the biography of John Quincy Adams I read ended after his presidential term. I picked this book up because I was interested in his work, post-presidency, in Congress. Mr. Adams's Last Crusade really delivered.

JQA was a vocal advocate of citizen's right to petition. When the slave-holding states attempted to silence debate on the subject of slavery, JQA's waged a war against the so called Gag Rule for decades. Although he was a failure as a President, he was amazing as a Congressman. Principled, articulate, and ardent in his beliefs, he was the last true patriot of the founding fathers of the country. While he was probably not much fun to be around in real life, I admire him greatly.

Yay for new thread and double yay fro paddle boarding for the first time!

It looks like you enjoyed yourself on your vacation!

>10 Cobscook: That sounds like a fascinating book! I've often thought, too, that being an ex-president is considerably more interesting as a gig than being president. No, you can't ram things through Congress, but you do have a kind of bully pulpit, and Carter and Clinton have used it to great effect. Re JQA, There's an interesting book, Mrs Adams in Winter, that I loved -- his wife travels from Petersburg to Paris just as Napoleon is first defeated, exiled and then leaves Elba. It's fascinating. Made me want to read more about JQA, so I may peruse the Wheelan tome... Tks!

Glad your vacation looks as if it was a lot of fun!

Happy new thread, Heidi! Your holiday photos are great!

Happy New Thread, Heidi! I love the Mexico photos - I love summertime here, when I get to travel on vacation with all of the 75ers! Ha!

Happy new thread, Heidi! Love the sunset topper and the action photo of you. LOL. Glad you liked A Monster Calls. It was one of my top reads from last year.

>11 lkernagh: Paddle boarding was both easier and harder than I expected it to be. It's something like kayaking but with more balance required.

>12 thornton37814: We did enjoy ourselves. It took about two full days for us to get used to the heat and humidity without wanting to sleep all the time, but once we had adjusted it was fine. I would like to go back when the humpback whales are in the Bay, which is between November and April.

>13 Chatterbox: Of all the presidents I have read about so far, JQA is the most interesting I think. Imagine being sent to Russia by yourself at age 14 to be a secretary to the ambassador! JQA was in public service his entire life, there's not that many people who would be that dedicated today.

>14 susanj67: Thanks Susan! I was happy to finally get the time to post them. Just looking at the photos makes me happy.

>15 scaifea: Well its only fair after we got to experience Disney through your photos earlier in the spring!

>16 msf59: A Monster Calls was not at all what I expected it to be. It was so cleverly constructed and the emotions really felt true to life. Definitely a top read for me as well.

62. The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing by Tarquin Hall
Genre: Mystery
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

This is the second book in the Vish Puri series. Puri is a detective in present day New Delhi, India. Filled with unforgettable characters with names like Tubelight and Facecream, this series is delightful. I enjoy all the sights and sounds of India which come across so clearly in the book. The audiobook is fun, as the narrator uses an accent, and pronounces all the Indian words which is helpful. I would recommend this series to those who like the Dr. Siri books.

Great new thread Heidi. You look like you really had a great vacation. No new book bullets here, but again, I'm amazed at how many reads we seem to have in common. I found Mr. Adam's Last Crusade an excellent supplement to the biography I read for my US President's challenge. And I also really enjoy Taquin Hall's Vish Puri series. Definitely agree that the audio makes these much more meaningful to be able to hear the accents and correct pronunciation of words. This way my brain doesn't get sidetracked trying to figure out how to say a word, it just fits into the story and we roll on.

Hope you're not drowning here today....we are positively about to float away!

Hi Heidi!! I'm glad you & yours made it through Arthur! How awful...

We've all missed you around here. :)

I love the vacation photos. Simply gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

>20 tututhefirst: Yes, the rain has been pouring down much of the day....sounds like more of the same tomorrow too. It's great for the garden, I just wish the humidity would let up!

>21 TinaV95: Hi Tina! It nice to be missed. :)

63. Still Foolin' 'Em by Billy Crystal
Genre: Memoir
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

Mark Amber listened to this book earlier this year and mentioned how much (s)he enjoyed it. I am glad (s)he did, because when I started listening to it earlier this year, I just didn't connect with it. I moved on to another audiobook, and poor Mr. Crystal languished on my iPod for months. My new job requires me to drive a lot, so I have been getting more audiobook and podcast hours in lately. When I finished the Vish Puri book described above, I started looking at my audiobooks, and saw this one in the list, unfinished. I remembered Mark Amber recommending it and figured I'd give it another go. I am really glad I did. I enjoyed the heck out of this book which just goes to show you how much your general mood plays into whether you like a book or not. Crystal tells some great stories and gets pretty emotional talking about fatherhood and family. The way he talks about his wife brought a tear to my eye. I particularly enjoyed the section where he talked about making the movie City Slickers, one that I liked quite a bit when it came out. His stories about baseball were great too.

Am I the Mark you are referring to, Heidi?

Why yes, of course you are!!

I really enjoyed the Crystal book earlier this year, too - so glad that you gave it a second chance!

I thought I remembered someone else here talking about it! A mind is a terrible thing to lose!

Since I am such a Boy Scout, I have to fess up: I did not read/listen to Still Foolin' 'Em. I do have it saved on audio and I have heard nothing but glowing reports. Different, Mark, perhaps? Not quite as handsome?

See, there's that early onset Alzheimer's again! I could have sworn it was you warbling about Still Foolin' 'Em...it must have been Amber. But you are the handsomest Mark I know! LOL

>28 msf59: Handsomest Postie in the group for sure I'd say!

Interesting thoughts Heidi on the lives of Presidents when they become ex-presidents. Can't think of many who have covered themselves in glory ex-White House?

Have a lovely weekend. xx

>30 PaulCranswick: No not many ex-Presidents have been exceptional post-presidency. Maybe Jimmy Carter? JQA was one of a kind though.

My weekend has been great. Lots of time spent with the family at our camp on the lake with swimming, tubing, badminton, and even some fireworks. Cooking hotdogs over a campfire and toasting S'mores. Sleeping in late and reading in the sun. It was a fabulous weekend!

Ooh, sounds great! I want to have been there!

You are welcome to join us at any time Roni! Summer in Maine is pretty spectacular.

>31 Cobscook: wow, that sounds like a great weekend! I am fascinated by your paddle-boarding photo up top too- the water looks so warm and blue and the whole scene just feels very foreign to me right now (I am wearing a scarf, thick cotton tights, quilted jacket etc...)

Happy week-wishes for you!

>34 LovingLit: The whole Southern Hemisphere/Northern Hemisphere thing is a real mind bender isn't it!

64. Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
Genre: classic
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

I read this for the AAC based on Richard's recommendation. It was a very interesting and funny book. Twain is surprisingly sarcastic, which I love.

65. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Genre: SciFi
Source: off my shelves
Format: paperback

Terrorists blow up the Bay Bridge in San Fransico and in response the Government, in the form of the Department of Homeland Security, start systematically taking away the liberties and privacy of normal citizens. Teenager Marcus gets caught up by the DHS and held/questioned/tortured as a suspect. After his release, he is determined to fight back for freedom and the sake of the true American ideals. This is a technology laden YA book that should be read by anyone who values personal freedom and wonders where this country is headed.

Went yard-saling today with my DH and came home with a good haul of books! I am v v excited!!

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller - on my classics list
In This Mountain by Jan Karon - just tried the first in this series a few months ago and want to read the rest
These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - wanted to read this for a long time
Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay - love this author
Sailing Alone Around the Room by Billy Collins - been wanting to try his poetry
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood - Squee!! SO excited!
Savage Run by CJ Box - been wanting to try this series
Persuader by Lee Child - am slowly working my way through the Jack Reacher books
The Only Problem by Muriel Sparks - heard about this author on a podcast and wanted to try her out
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - ditto
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck - on my classics list
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene - a classic author I haven't tried yet
An Unexpected Light: Travels in Afghanistan by Jason Elliot - I'd like to know more about this part of the world

That is an excellent book haul, Heidi!

Hi Heidi! I miss seeing you around. Glad you enjoyed the Twain. You should share that on the AAC thread. I liked this book too.

Great book haul, my friend! Many great titles. Looking forward to your thoughts on the Atwood, Robinson & the Steinbeck.

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Great book haul! Good Omens is the best!!

>38 lkernagh: Thanks Lori! I am pretty excited about it too!

>39 msf59: Thanks Mark. I miss being around. I can't seem to get much free time carved out of my schedule yet but I am sure I will get there once I get settled into my job.

>40 ronincats: Hi Roni! I was excited to come across Good Omens. It's so much fun to unexpectedly come across a book you have been wanting to read at a yard sale....the thrill of the hunt!

WooHoo! Yard sale book hauls are The Best!!

Beautiful vacation pictures, Heidi! My vacation is right around the corner, headed to your neck of the woods. In the meet-ups thread, someone was talking about the possibility of meeting mid-week. I know you recently started a new job and I thought that might not work for you, but I wanted to hear from you before we keep going with the discussion.

I'm SO looking forward to Maine!

>37 Cobscook: Some kinda wonderful haul indeed. xo

>42 scaifea: looking for books at yard sales is one of my favorite activities!

>43 countrylife: I responded on the Maine meetup thread Cindy, but yeah, I can only do a weekend.

>44 richardderus: Hello Richard my dear!

66. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
Genre: sci fi...sort of
Source: my Kindle

Oh my gravy....what a rocking roller coaster of a read...Richard has said everything you need to know about this story of time traveling historians so what are you waiting for....go read this book!

67. Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope
Genre: fiction
Source: my Kindle

Another excellent installment in the Palliser novels. The female characters in this tale of a young man starting a career in Parliment are particularly well done.

68. Ghost Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Genre: Sci Fi
Source: Mine
Format: Paperback

We continue Theo Waitley's adventures as she is chased around the universe by an AI spaceship. The secondary storyline focuses on Korval's re-establishment on SureBleak. Only read this one if you have been following along in the Liaden adventures for awhile. I, of course, loved every minute of it!

Howdy smoochling!

>48 richardderus: Hi Richard dear!

Whew! This summer has been flying by with not much time for LT'ing or reading in general. That being said, I am in the car a lot for work so I am ear reading more. My current audio book is The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan. This is a great companion to my classic read for this month which is The Grapes of Wrath. I am actually surprised at how fantastic TGoW is....it is a very powerful read. I read a couple of Steinbeck novels in high school but they did not leave a strong impression on me. TGoW is definitely going to stick with me.

Great companion read there indeed! I really really meant to read The Grapes of Wrath straight after I read The Worst Hard Time, but I didn't do it. A little part of me wants to 'save' TGoW for ever, as it feels like it will be an important book.

>50 LovingLit: And I didn't even plan to read them together, it just sort of happened. I think TGoW is very important, but I am glad I am reading it now instead of in high school. I don't think it would have made nearly the impact on me at that age as it is making now.

Hi Heidi! I am so glad you are reading The Worst Hard Time. It was my top read of the year, a couple years back. NNF at it's best and it was so informative too. It explained everything so perfectly.

>52 msf59: hiya Mark! I did not know very much about the Dust Bowl and The Worst Hard Time is really bringing it to life. It's hard to imagine such devastation being caused by farming. I keep thinking about how we ought to be able to learn from our past mistakes about how NOT to treat the earth but we never seem to. Also, it's just amazing to think about those homesteaders who refused to leave the dust bowl area....they had more determination than me that's for sure!

69. The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
Genre: nonfiction
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

A wonderful piece of narrative nonfiction about the "dirty" thirties in the American Dust Bowl. The hardship and poverty experienced by the people that lived on the high plains is staggering. The fact that we have not learned from this "worst American environmental disaster" is truly frightening.

70. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Genre: classic
Source: mine
Format: paperback

I read this as my August substitute for the AAC. It is a fantastic book which well deserves it's classic status. I am glad I read it now, instead of as required reading in high school. I think you need some life experience to truly appreciate this book.

71. The Martian by Andy Weir
Genre: SciFi
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

I am so glad so many LTers warbled about how good this book is....it is excellent! I loved it as an audiobook especially....the tension makes it hard to shut the book off.

Summary: Mark Watney, US astronaut, is abandoned on Mars when his crew has to make an emergency escape and they think he has been killed. He has to problem solve and engineer a way to stay alive in the most unforgiving of environments. In the meantime, back on Earth, the smartest people at NASA are trying to devise a way to rescue him.

Even if you think you don't like SciFi, or books about space, Read This Book! You won't regret it.

Wow, Heidi! That is 3 terrific titles in a row! You hit the jackpot there.

Hi Mark! Yes, August has been a Very Good Reading month for me! I love it when that happens.

The only problem is, how do you follow that up? LOL.

That's the eternal problem!

Too bad you don't like mysteries, or the Three Pines Express would be perfect for you. The latest (tenth) book in the series is excellent.

>60 richardderus: oh but I DO like the Three Pines series Richard dear! Don't spoil it for me though, I haven't gotten a copy yet!

72. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Genre: YA
Source: Library
Format: ebook

A fun read but not as good as Eleanor and Park.

73. Taken in Death by J.D. Robb
Genre: Suspense
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

Eve Dallas races to solve a kidnapping and rescue 7 year old twins. This is not a full length novel.

74. Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi
Genre: scifi
Source: mine
Format: ebook

My first time reading a John Scalzi novel. I enjoyed it as a light read although the message was fairly heavy handed.

>61 Cobscook: Heh...bait taken...heh

>62 Cobscook: #74 The message in H. Beam Piper's originals wasn't any too subtle, either. I think it's just a subject that can't be made subtle.

>63 richardderus: *Groan* You got me!

Re: Fuzzy Nation....It was entertaining, and the message is important, but subtle? not so much. I will definitely try other John Scalzi books though. I am on a serious scifi kick right now for some reason. I think The Martian really set me off!

Given how very busy you are these days, what about a free online read of THE MAN WHO BRIDGED THE MIST? My 4+ star warble of joy for this 2011 Hugo Awards winner has a link to the freebie.

Ooooh, heavy handed = worrying. I like subtle. I honor subtle.

Hey -- almost to 75!!!

Hi Heidi! Hope you had a nice holiday weekend. I have the Rowell saved on audio. I have still not read Scalzi. Middle of the road reviews, just keep me from moving him up in the queue.

>65 richardderus: That sounds excellent! I have saved myself a copy and look forward to reading it. Thanks for the recommendation.

>66 Chatterbox: Its taken me a lot longer than normal this year but I am going to make it to at least 75! I am still hoping to break 100 before the end of the year.

>67 msf59: Middle of the road sounds about right for the Scalzi. I listened to a sample of Attachments as an audio but the format of the book is emails back and forth and I just couldn't follow it as an audio.

I had a fabulous time at my first LT meetup today in Ellsworth, Maine with Cindy (countrylife), Mike (currerbell) and Tina (tututhefirst). LT members are the best!

Heidi - it was really great to be able to meet you and put a personality and face with your thread posts. I had a blast. here's some proof to all that we did this


Cindy's Mom, Heidi, Tina, Mike, Ed, Cindy


the line up: from left - clockwise
Mike (currerbell), Mr. Ed (hubbie of Cobscook), Cindy (country life)
Cindy's mom, Heidi (cobscook), Tina (tututhefirst)

I so wish LT had a "like" button!! Thanks for sharing the pics.

Great pictures!

Thanks Roni! I had so much fun at the meet up!

75. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Genre: urban fantasy
Source: mine
Format: paperback

I am getting a little tired of Sookie's on again, off again relationship with Eric the vampire....

>74 Cobscook: YAY for 75! Awwww for not adoring it.

Congrats on 75, Heidi!

Heidi, congratulations on reaching 75!

Your thread reminded me that I wanted to read The Grapes of Wrath, which I have just finished. I loved it. And The Worst Hard Time is on its way from the US for me :-)

>75 richardderus: I think my main problem is that I don't really like Eric! Sookie needs to get her head out of her butt about Sam!!

>76 lkernagh: Thanks!

>77 susanj67: Glad I could remind you about Grapes. The Worst Hard Time is the perfect compliment to it. I think you will find it pretty interesting...I hesitate to say enjoyable just because of the subject matter!

76. The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
Genre: mystery
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

I am a huge fan of the Chief Inspector Gamache series and this latest installment was in no way a disappointment. This was my first time ear reading any of the books and it added another layer to my enjoyment to hear the French words pronounced correctly. I would highly recommend that any fans of the series try them on audio. I won't say another word about the plot because, spoilers, but will say that I loved the further continuation of character building in this episode....especially that of Ruth!

Congrats!

>80 drneutron: Thanks DrN!

77. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
Genre: NonFiction
Source: Mine
Format: paperback

I have made no secret of the fact I didn't really like Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Strayed. I felt the author spent too much time navel gazing and I just did not have a lot of sympathy for her. I kept hearing good things about TBT though, and I happened upon a copy and thought I'd give it a go. Turns out, I actually love Strayed's writing...when its written as an advice column!

This book is a collection of pieces written by Strayed as "Sugar", an advice columnist on the website, The Rumpus. Although these are set up as letters back to people asking for advice, they are really personal essays, as Sugar reflects back on her own life to guide the advice seekers. And folks, Sugar is really, really wise and thoughtful and helpful and everything you wish advice columnists would be. She is not trying for the snarky, make-herself-look-good answers. She is not "keeping it real, people" although she does that too, but in a caring, empathic way that makes her answers all the more useful. Highly recommended and I'll be giving this book as a gift to everyone this year for Christmas.

How very cool to be pleasantly surprised! Yay!

I love it when that happens!

>81 Cobscook: Oh, that one sounds pretty good!

It is great Amber! And because it is answers to letters it is easy to pick up and put down...essential for busy moms (and dads) (and anyone who is busy)!

78. William Henry Harrison by Gail Collins
Genre: Nonfiction
Source: mine
Format: hardcover

WHH was only president for a month, and he did not accomplish much of anything before that either! He is known for being the winner of the battle with Indians at Tippecanoe, but that really wasn't the truth either. He was a head scratcher of a president.

79. The Reason I Jump: the inner voice of a thirteen-year-old boy with autism by Naoki Higashida
Genre: Nonfiction
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

This is an extremely short book, translated from Japanese, written in Q and A style. I found it fascinating and eye-opening. It is great on audio.

80. Out of Water by Colin Charters and Samyuktha Varma
Genre: Nonfiction
Source: mine
Format: ebook

I always have what I call my "insomnia" book going. This is the book I read when I can't sleep at night and it's usually a dense (somewhat dry) nonfiction work. Out of Water was super dry (no pun intended) and not particularly helpful in learning more about water scarcity and how to solve the problem worldwide. Also, it could have used a good editor.

81. Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin
Genre: classics
Source: Library
Format: hardcover

I read GTIOTM for this month's American Author Challenge. It has long been on my classics reading list as well, so it's a twofer.

I find books with strong religious themes particularly difficult and this one was no exception. In addition, I got hung up on the fact that almost every female character wound up getting pregnant out of wedlock or having some kind of miserable marriage. Let's just say, there were no joyful female characters in this one....but to be fair, there wasn't much joy for the men either. I can see why this one is a classic, and I liked Baldwin's writing style, but the story and the themes were not enjoyable for me.

82. Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
Genre: middle grade/children's
Source: library
Format: ebook

I put this one on my WL after reading someone on LT's review of it....and it is truly an excellent story! It was funny and heartwarming and had super fun illustrations. Who doesn't want to read a story about a squirrel who becomes a superhero after being sucked up by a vacuum cleaner? I read it on my iPad using my Kindle app and the illustrations were fantastic in this format.

Hi Heidi! I saw your comment on Paul's thread, about not reading Murakami. Well, here is your chance: I am hosting a Group Read of his latest book, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki, in mid-October. Interested? I heard this was a more accessible work, than some of his more dense stuff.

I am so glad you LOVED Tiny Beautiful Things. It is a very special book and I can not hear or see enough warbling about it.

Congrats on knocking out the Baldwin. You might like Giovanni's Room more. No religious themes, in this one...so far anyway.

Baldwin never wrote a cheery word, I don't think. Beautiful words, powerful words, angry words, but no cheery ones and darn few uplifting ones.

Congratulations on blowing past the 75 book mark while I was gone, Heidi! The rest of the pictures are up on my thread now, btw.

My grandmother passed away last night unexpectedly. She was 92 years old. She lived at home right up until the end, enjoyed going to Bingo several times a week and shopping with a bunch of her friends from the local old folks home. She had seven children, four of whom predeceased her. She is my dad's mother. This picture was taken last spring with my son Preston. She spent many weekends with our family at our place on the lake and loved being in the middle of the action. She was one fiesty lady!

Your grandmother looks like a sweet lady. Even though the end of life happens to us all, it's sad when the time comes for a loved one. ((Hugs))

Thanks Cindy. She had a long full life and did not suffer through a drawn out illness at the end. That's all we can ask for and I am happy to have the memories that I do.

>88 msf59: Thanks for letting me know about the Murakami group read Mark. I am interested in Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki. If I can get my hands on a copy by mid October I may join you.

>89 richardderus: I saw all of those attributes in Go Tell It On the Mountain....its no lightweight read that is for sure. But it is very readable if that makes sense.

>90 ronincats: Thanks Roni! I checked out your photos this morning...stunning and making me envious!

Sorry to hear about your grandmother, Heidi! My condolences. Sounds like she had a good life.

>91 Cobscook: so sorry to hear about the death of your grandmother. I love her cheeky smile in that photograph! Hugs to you and your family.

>95 msf59: Thanks Mark. She lived life to the fullest that's for sure.

>96 LovingLit: Thanks Megan. She could be quite devilish. She liked to tease my son that she was going to beat him with her cane!

Sorry to hear about your loss, Heidi. I know you will all miss her dreadfully. But that is the way I want to go when the time comes.

Sorry to learn about the loss of your grandmother, Heidi. I love the picture of her that you have posted here. Now, that is a woman with spunk and sparkle!

I'm so sorry about your grandmother, Heidi. I'll be thinking of you and your family.

Thanks Roni, Lori, and Amber. Today is the service and then the inevitable family gathering afterwards. I fall into the camp of hating these things.... I do not do well with emotional family events.

Thinking of you today especially, Heidi. Not kept up so well lately but I have still managed to look in occasionally. xx

>102 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul.

Life goes on as it tends to do....in bookish news, I am listening to Among Others by Jo Walton and it is AMAZING! Thanks to all LTers who warbled about this one, it is probably going to be among my favorite books of all time. I just love all the SF and other book related references and identify with the main character in finding comfort in books above all else.

I've got Among Others on my wishlist - I need to get to it soon!

>104 scaifea: Oh do get to it soonish Amber, it is so good!

83. Among Others by Jo Walton
Genre: fantasy
Source: Mine
Format: audiobook

First of all, Among Others is fantastic as an audiobook. The main character, Mori, is Welsh and while I don't know if the narrator is truly doing a Welsh accent, it sounded great to me.

Secondly, Among Others is told in diary format, which I love.

Thirdly, Among Others is all about a teenage girl who is a total book geek, and particularly loves SF/F books. She is constantly relating the things that happen in her life to the books she is reading, and discussing how books are her escape and comfort in a harsh world.

Fourthly, Among Others is partially set in a upper crust British boarding school.....in 1979/1980 no less.....what could be better than that?!?!

Fifthly, Among Others constantly walks the line of plausible deniability....is the magic a figment of Mori's imagination and her way of coping with the trauma and the tragedies which have happened to her in her young life? I still can't decide.

This is a five star read for me, and easily one of the best books I have read this year. I am sure I will be re-reading it as a favorite for years to come.

I love your '5 Star Review' of Among Others, Heidi!

So glad you enjoyed Among Others, Heidi!

Thanks for stopping by Lori and Roni!

There's this article on Book Riot about a spreadsheet you can use to track your reads. (http://bookriot.com/2014/09/18/track-reading-ultimate-reading-spreadsheet/)

I was interested to see how my reading breaks down between male/female authors, so I copied the spreadsheet and entered all of my reads for the year in it. My m/f breakdown is 50/50 so far this year which I find very interesting.

84. The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Source: mine
Format: paperback

This is the second book in the Harry Hole scandi-crime series. I enjoyed it much more than The Bat. Harry is developing nicely as the antihero and the storyline about soldiers from Norway who supported the Nazi cause during WWII was very interesting.

85. The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Genre: classic
Source: off my shelf
Format: paperback

I really enjoyed this story of Lily Bart, a poor but beautiful woman, existing on the edges of high society in New York around the turn of the century. Lily is a contradictory creature, she knows she "must just be nice to the gentlemen", hold her nose and marry for money....but every time she is about to charm a man into offering for her, she torpedos her own chances. She is prideful and can't bring herself to marry the one man she truly cares for, he works for a living you see. Lily is an exasperating creature, but I ended up rooting for her just the same.

I think if you like Trollope, or Austen, you will like *most* of this book I think.

86. The Frackers: The Outrageous Inside Story of the New Billionaire Wildcatters by Gregory Zuckerman
Genre: Nonfiction
Source: Library
Format: ebook

This book has been warbled about by several members of the LT group but I distinctly remember Richard and Suz discussing it. The book ended up being not quite what I expected....I thought it was going to be about the environmental issues surrounding fracking but in reality, it is about the history of fracking in the U.S. and the men that pushed the technology along and became millionaires in the process. The book is engaging and moves along quickly. I learned a tremendous amount. My one quibble was the outrageous attitude about wealth displayed in the book. In one section, a bank balance of $300,000 was described as being on the brink of poverty. It is to laugh!

87. Farmacology: What Innovative Family Farming Can Teach Us About Health and Healing
Genre: Nonfiction
Source: Mine
Format: ebook

I am very interested in the local food/family farm movement. This book was an interesting series of case studies in which a medical doctor relates different farming methods to medical ailments she is trying to treat.

88. Sylvester by Georgette Heyer
Genre: Romance
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

I loved this romance in which a top lofty duke gets his world turned upside down by a young miss of no consequence. As always, the supporting characters are hilariously drawn.

Morning Heidi! Hope you had a nice weekend. I love the burst of book activity over here. Smiles. I am also a BIG FAN of the Walton, Nesbo and Wharton. Great choices.

Hey Mark! Great minds think alike around here with the books.

Not much time for reading so far this week but hopefully that will change over the weekend. I am in the middle of the second St Mary's book and I can't stand not having time to read it!

89. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor
Genre: SciFi
Source: mine
Format: ebook

Max and the St Mary's gang travel forward in time to rescue future St Mary's and back in time to Mary Queen of Scots time. Adventure, excitement, and craziness ensues.

90. Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: mine
Format: paperback

Part of the October Daye fantasy series. Toby must fight to save the wife of her liege lord without getting arrested and executed. This is an excellent urban fantasy series.

Yah, for St. Mary's!! I even turned my wife on to these and she has read all four. A fellow co-worker is also reading and enjoying the first one. I have read 3. Fun series.

ETA- I am loving the Custom of the Country.

I definitely want to read more Wharton. Custom of the Country sounds excellent even thou the main character is unlike able...... Or maybe that's why it's so interesting!

91. Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
Genre: Fantasy/SciFi
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

Clean Sweep is a curious mixture of urban fantasy and science fiction. It takes the tropes of witches, werewolves, and vampires and turns them just slightly off center. I didn't know anything about this story before I started and it was fun finding out what was going on in this world without preconceptions....therefore, I'm not going to give anything else away! This was a fun audiobook too.

Currently Reading:
The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison - essays - paperback
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel - literary fiction - audiobook
Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander - mystery -ebook
Foundation: The History of England from its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors by Peter Ackroyd - nonfiction - ebook

Hi Heidi- how's things? Just a fly by hi for now :)

Hi Megan! I am just starting to come up for air from learning my new job and chasing the kids around for two months of soccer season. Not getting a whole lot of reading done, but what I am reading is fantastic. Specifically I am loving with a capital L Station Eleven on audiobook. It is one of best books I've read all year and it is making me consider a bunch of stuff that I have been taking for granted in modern day life.

92. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Genre: Fiction
Source: Mine
Format: audiobook

Station Eleven is a literary fiction book which takes a different approach to the dystopia trope. The book follows group of Shakesperian actors and musicians who are traveling around what used to be Michigan twenty years after a pandemic has wiped out 99% of civilization. The narrative moves back and forth in time between the days and weeks surrounding the collapse and the imagined future twenty years later. Unlike a typical dystopia or apocalyptic story, Station Eleven does not dwell on the horrors of a collapsing civilization. There are no zombies here. Instead, the book is a meditation on the importance of art in our lives, and a look at what a ridiculous concept fame is in our current culture.

Mandel works in references to everyday modern conveniences in a subtle way in her narrative. This story really made me think about what I would miss if civilization did collapse but also what would be gained. Ultimately, this is a hopeful story and imagines a future where most people are peaceful and just want to live meaningful lives with friends and family close by. Maybe we all don't need that smartphone or the SUV to be happy.

This is easily one of my favorite reads of the year and is fantastic in audiobook format.

>120 Cobscook: - Oooooh, Emily St. John Mandel! I loved Last Night in Montreal and The Singer's Gun. I haven't gotten around to reading The Lola Quartet and now you tell me she has another book out! Glad to see you had such a favorable response to Station Eleven, Heidi!

>121 lkernagh: I have not read anything else by Emily St. John Mandel...but I will definitely be on the lookout for her earlier stuff now.

93. Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander
Genre: mystery (historical)
Source: Mine
Format: ebook

This is the 7th book in the Lady Emily historical mystery series. This installment takes place in Venice and has Emily and Colin solving a mystery that has a Romeo and Juliet overtone. Very enjoyable and the setting was excellent.

94. Concealed in Death by JD Robb
Genre: suspense
Source: Mine
Format: hardcover

This is the 38th book in the Eve Dallas futuristic police procedural series. Obviously, I love this series as one must to follow something for 38 books! In this installment Robb introduces a new character, a forensic anthropologist, who seems to be paying homage to the Kathy Reichs character (which the tv series Bones is based on). Its all good fun but please start at the beginning of the series if you haven't read these yet. The fun is in following the characters throughout the many books....the mysteries are just ok.

Happy Sunday, Heidi! And yah, for the glowing review of Station Eleven. I was crazy about the book too and also thought it was a perfect audio.

I also have you down for the Swap!!

>124 msf59: Thanks Mark! I am looking forward to the Swap. I had a lot of fun with it last year.

My tentative plan for the AAC II in 2015:

January - Carson McCullers - Heart is a Lonely Hunter - does double duty as a book on my TBR Classics list (on my Kindle)

February - Henry James - I've already read Turn of the Screw so I am going to substitute a Hemingway title from my TBR Classics list.

March - Richard Ford - never read this author so I think I will try The Sportswriter

April - Louise Erdrich - never read this author, plan to try The Round House (library)

May - Sinclair Lewis - Babbitt (on my Kindle)

June - Wallace Stegner - never read this author, plan to try Angle of Repose (library)

July - Ursula K. LeGuin - I have read The Wizard of Earthsea and liked it very much. I will read anything I can get my hands on by this author before next July.

August - Larry McMurty - I am very excited to finally read Lonesome Dove!

September - Flannery O'Connor - never read this author, plan to try A Good Man is Hard to Find (library)

October - Ray Bradbury - The Martian Chronicles (library)

November - Barbara Kingsolver - Love this author. I've read The Poisonwood Bible, The Bean Trees, and Miracle, Vegetable, Miracle. I will be reading Flight Behavior (own the ebook)

December - E.L. Doctorow - I don't think I have read anything by this author. I plan to try Ragtime. (library)

Current thinking for the BAC for 2015:

January - Penelope Lively - never heard of this author, maybe try Dancing Fish & Ammonites
Kazuo Ishiguro - I've read Never Let Me Go. I may try The Remains of the Day. (library)

February - Sarah Waters - Never read this author. The Library has The Little Stranger and Affinity.
Evelyn Waugh - Never read this author. The library has The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold.

March - Daphne du Maurier I have read Rebecca. I have Hungry Hill on my TBR shelves.
China Mieville I've never read this author but have been wanting to try him. The library has a bunch of his titles, including The City and the City.

April - Angela Carter Never read anything by this author and the library has no titles.
W. Somerset Maugham - I have read On Human Bondage so I may substitute another English author from my TBR Classics list.

May - Margaret Drabble - Never heard of this author, no titles in the library.
Martin Amis - Never read this author. Lionel Asbo is available from my library.

June - Beryl Bainbridge - Never read, no titles in library
Anthony Burgess - It's a good time to finally read A Clockwork Orange.

July - Virginia Woolf - Never read this author, I really want to try The Common Reader.
B.S. Johnson - never heard of this author, no titles at library

August - Iris Murdoch - Never read this author, no titles at library
Graham Greene - The Power and the Glory is also on my TBR Classics challenge list.

September - Andrea Levy - Never read this author, no titles at library
Salman Rushdie - never read this author, the library has Midnight's Children and Luka and the Fire of Life.

October - Helen Dunmore - never read this author, no titles at library
David Mitchell - never read this author, the library has Cloud Atlas, The Thousand Autums of Jacob de Zoet, and Black Swan Green.

November - Muriel Spark - I have The Only Problem on Mt TBR.
William Boyd - never read this author, but I want to try Any Human Heart

December - Hilary Mantel - I want to try Wolf Hall which my library has.
PG Wodehouse - I have Right Ho, Jeeves and My Man Jeeves on my Kindle.

OMG, you are so organized. I've been like Scarlet O'Hara--I'll think about those two challenges tomorrow, with tomorrow being sometime in the next month and a half!

Ha! The getting organized part was fun for me. The real question is whether I will actually read all these books! lol

95. The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison
Genre: Nonfiction, essays
Source: off my shelves
Format: paperback

I wanted to like this collection of essays better than I did. Some of the ideas struck home for me, but overall I felt the author was trying to hard to be clever with her language. It felt like this book was her MFA project.

96. Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward
Genre: urban fantasy
Source: off my shelves
Format: hardcover

I admit it, I love this ridiculous series about vampires who are essentially the Navy Seals protecting their race. Their romances, and relationships to each other suck me in every time. You gotta start at the beginning with Dark Lover though!

97. Lover at Last by J.R. Ward
Genre: urban fantasy
Source: off my shelves
Format: paperback

See comment above.

Hi Heidi! I love your projected AACII list. This one should be a lot of fun.

I am really looking forward to AAC II. But first I need to finish AAC I! I am substituting Death of a Salesman for November but I am having a hard time motivating myself to read it.

It's quite short isn't it, Heidi? That always helps, right?

It is short and I have a four day weekend over Thanksgiving so I know I will get it done! "I think I can..." LOL

98. Foundation: The History of England From Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors by Peter Ackroyd
Genre: Nonfiction
Source: Mine
Format: ebook

All the kings with the same names got confusing.

99. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Genre: YA
Source: Mine
Format: audiobook

This is an excellent audiobook which follows two young English women one a pilot and one a spy during WWII.

100. The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2014 by Deborah Blum
Genre: essays
Source: mine
Format: ebook

I love these collections of essays and articles. Lots of interesting topics.

101. The Journal of Best Practices by David Finch
Genre: Nonfiction
Source: mine
Format: ebook

A quick read, this memoir of a man coming to grips with his adult diagnosis of Aspergers and trying to change in order to save his marriage really hit the spot. This story is told with wit and charm and truth.

Well it is a nice way to hit Thanksgiving by waltzing through 100 books for the year. Have a lovely holiday, Heidi. xx

Thanks Paul! I am recovering from yesterday's turkey coma!

Hi Heidi! I hope you had a nice holiday and come out of that coma soon.
I was also a big fan of Code Name Verity. Have a good weekend.

Thanks Mark! Code Name Verity really packs a punch doesn't it? I had a few moments of crying in the car talking to myself that's for sure.

102. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Genre: classic
Source: mine
Format: paperback

Death of a Salesman was my substitution for the November AAC and also is one of the titles on my personal classics TBR list.

So the title of this book (play) is a spoiler and the subject matter is dark. But like all good classics there is a message and it's an important one. What I got from this story was that you need to live your own life, chase your own dream, and don't fall into the rut of chasing the almighty dollar. Family is important but don't try to relive your life through your children because you will just screw them up. Do the right thing, and if you don't, acknowledge it and apologize, cause that shit will haunt you forever.

103. Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Genre: Memoir
Source: mine
Format: audiobook

This book was so great! Poehler is funny and honest and down to earth. Another fantastic audiobook....I am killing it with the ear reads this year!

>142 Cobscook: I'm very much hoping that I get this one for Christmas...

Happy Hump Day, Heidi! Glad you enjoyed the Poehler memoir. It was a lot of fun. And the audio was to die for!

>143 scaifea: I hope you get it too! Poehler has some great thoughts on family and motherhood that I think you will relate to.

>144 msf59: Hey Mark! It's been a great book year that's for sure. I am so glad I have started listening to more audiobooks, at least two of my top five reads have been audios this year.

Stopping by to say hello, Heidi! Like you, I have found the audiobooks to be a salvation for me and reading this past year. I have even managed to get my other half somewhat hooked. He likes it when I play my Inspector Montalbano audiobooks through our stereo system on the weekend when we are both home and just puttering around. It reminds him of the radio stories he remembers listening to on BBC radio as a kid. ;-)

>146 lkernagh: I think that qualifies as a shared read!

>146 lkernagh: >147 thornton37814: Back to back Lori's! Hi!

Definitely counts as a shared read. I wish I could get my husband interested in listening to audiobooks with me. He has listened to a few on his own but they have been comic's books. One was Dennis Leary and one was Sh*t My Dad Says. He really liked the Leary but. I haven't been able to get him interested in any others.

My audiobook numbers are way up this year and I can't believe how many truly excellent audiobook productions I have listened to. I haven't really done a look at my top ten for the year, but I know that The Martian by Andy Weir and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel will both be high on the list.

I've probably said this before, but I really like your succinct little mini-reviews that you add to your listing of books read. Laughed out loud at your take on Death of a Salesman (141)!

Hi Cindy! Glad I could give you a chuckle! I am not much of a writer but I do enjoy going back over my thoughts at the end of the year.

Hope all is well with you and yours.

Ugh! I haven't posted in forever but I have been reading a little. I finished Mr. Mercedes, Montana 1948 and Massacre Pond by Paul Dorion. All were very good.

Trying to get ready for Christmas, and hoping to have some free time over the holiday long weekend. VERY excited to see what my LT Secret Santa sent me.

I know it's a busy time for everyone! At least you've got some reading in.

>152 ronincats: Hi Roni! Yes it is too busy for sure, but never too busy for reading! That is the only thing that keeps me sane.

Happy Saturday, Heidi! Glad you liked Montana 1948. I hope to read more Watson before the end of the month and end with a bang.

104. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
Genre: fiction, dystopia
Source: off my shelves
Format: paperback

Excellent dystopia which reminded me in ways of Cormac McCarthy's The Road but with a more hopeful tone.

105. Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Genre: horror
Source: off my shelves
Format: hardcover

King does not disappoint in this novel about a retired police detective tracking down a cold case killer with the help of his teenage lawn care employee and a mentally unstable woman. Loved it.

106. Montana 1948 by Larry Watson
Genre: fiction
Source: off my shelves
Format: paperback

Mark's AAC has opened the doors to some fantastic new authors for me. I just absolutely loved Montana 1948. It has a wonderful sense of place, and an excellent story of how powerful a parent can be in directing how your life turns out. It addresses the question of how do you do what is right, even when it impacts those closest to you in a negative way. And most importantly, it shine a light on how white privileged males can take advantage of minority women. Powerful stuff. Also a big thank you to my Secret Santa from last year, Mamie, who gifted this book to me!

107. Massacre Pond by Paul Doiron
Genre: suspense
Source: Library
Format: hardcover

Mike Bowditch is a Maine Game Warden who doesn't quite fit in. Exiled to remote Washington County because of his inability to play the political game, he is called on to investigate the senseless killing of ten moose on one woman's property. The woman in question is trying to turn thousands of acres of western Washington County into a national park. So, the moose slayings might be politically motivated, as most locals are completely against the idea.

Mike is not an easy character to like but in this book, we finally start to see the cracks in his tough exterior. This is the fourth book in the series and I really like the direction Doiron is taking the character. Plus I give him brownie points for expertly capturing some Washington County characteristics in this novel! (You were right Tina!)

I love the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge for 2015.

*A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25

*A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65

*A collection of short stories (either by one person or an anthology by many people)

*A book published by an indie press

*A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ

*A book by a person whose gender is different from your own

*A book that takes place in Asia

*A book by an author from Africa

*A book that is by or about someone from an indigenous culture (Native Americans, Aboriginals, etc.)

*A microhistory

*A YA novel

*A sci-fi novel

*A romance novel

*A National Book Award, Man Booker Prize or Pulitzer Prize winner from the last decade

*A book that is a retelling of a classic story (fairytale, Shakespearian play, classic novel, etc.)

*An audiobook

*A collection of poetry

*A book that someone else has recommended to you

*A book that was originally published in another language

*A graphic novel, a graphic memoir or a collection of comics of any kind (Hi, have you met Panels?)

*A book that you would consider a guilty pleasure (Read, and then realize that good entertainment is nothing to feel guilty over)

*A book published before 1850

*A book published this year

*A self-improvement book (can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)

Good luck with the Read Harder Challenge, Heidi. That looks fun. I have my hands full with my various challenges and theme months.

I don't think I will fully participate either but it will be fun to see if I can fit my reads into this challenge as well.

That might make a great thread here in the 75er group for 2015, Heidi!

It's Chrismas Eve's eve, and so I am starting the rounds of wishing my 75er friends the merriest of Christmases or whatever the solstice celebration of their choice is.

Happy Christmas, Heidi!!

Merry Christmas to you, Roni and Amber! Deep in preparations for our annual Xmas Eve party....

Heidi, happy Christmas to you and your family. I hope the party goes well!

>146 lkernagh: & >147 thornton37814: - We will just not inform my other half that it qualifies as a shared read and all is good!

>156 Cobscook: - I love the BookRiot list! If I wasn't already over subscribed for my 2015 reading, I would consider doing a challenge based on that list.
I have enjoyed reading your reviews over the year, Monica Heidi. Stopping by to wish you a happy holiday season and all the best in 2015. some suggestions:

For books written by someone under the age of 25: Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan
For books written by someone over the age of 65: any of the Inspector Montalbano books by Andrea Camilleri - he wrote/published the first book in the series at age 69.
Question: What does LGBTQ stand for?

I have enjoyed following your reading in 2014. Stopping by now to wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday season and all the best in 2015!

Merry Christmas to you both Susan and Lori! I am just stopping by for a quick check in between gift opening extravaganzas! I will be back to report on books received this year.

Merry Christmas, Heidi! Hope you are having a great time with your family. Happy Reading!

>165 msf59: Hi Mark! I had a fantastic Christmas. Not least because of the great books I received!

From my Secret Santa, chatterbox (Suz):
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Bruno Chief of Police by Martin Walker
An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine
The Singer's Son by Emily St. John Mandel

From my hubby:
The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore

From my parents:
The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
Revival by Stephen King

It was a banner year! So many wonderful titles, I hardly know where to begin. I did get a few pages into Wonder Woman last night before crashing.

Plus I got $130 in Amazon gift cards from various family members! I am looking forward to a book buying spree.

Excellent haul. Your family certainly knows what to get you... IE, gift cards to book stores. Heaven.

Have a wonderful festive season, Heidi

Your book bullet got me with the Mike Bowditch series.

Looks like you'll have a very happy new year of reading with all your Christmas books and book cards! That Book Riot Read Harder Challenge looks interesting. If I hadn't already signed up for way too many challenges, I'd love to try that one, too.

Looking forward to seeing you on the 2015 thread!

>167 mahsdad: Great to see you here Jeff! My family certainly did spoil me this year.

>168 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Thanks for the good wishes.

>169 countrylife: Merry Christmas Cindy! I think you will enjoy the Mike Bowditch series. I am not planning to seriously pursue the Book Riot Read Harder challenge, but I do want to see how many of the books I do end up reading will fit into their categories.

108. The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold
Genre: SciFi
Source: mine
Format: paperback

The beginning of Miles Vorkosigan's career...fun as always!

109. All Art is Propaganda by George Orwell
Genre: Nonfiction, Essays
Source: mine
Format: ebook

Orwell could be quite a grumpy old man! Interesting look at life, opinions, and the way the world was in the 1940's, wrapped up in reviews of art and literature.

Happy Sunday, Heidi! Great yuletide book haul! I hope to get to An Unnecessary Woman in the coming months. And I just snagged the audio of The Secret History of Wonder Woman. I hope I can bookhorn that one in soon.
Enjoy your day!

Hi Mark! Speaking of Wonder Woman...

110. The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
Genre: nonfiction
Source: mine
Format: hardcover

My last book of 2014 was quite fascinating. The Secret History of Wonder Woman tells the story of William Marston Moulton, the creator of WW and also (maybe) the lie detector test. Marston was an odd duck and his family arrangements were completely outside the norm for the time (early 1900s). It turns out WW was inspired by Margaret Sanger, the founder of the birth control movement and Planned Parenthood so you get that backstory as well. An excellent read!

Hmmm. That one needs to go on the Wishlist...

It was really fascinating stuff! I recommend getting the hardcover because the illustrations were fantastic too. Lots of excerpts from the original comics plus family photos.