scaifea's thread #11

Hi, everyone! Welcome to Thread XI!

Art inspired in one way or another by some of my current reads:

Old Path White Clouds:



The Neverending Story:



Hrolf Kraki's Saga:



Equal Rites:



War and Peace:



A floorplan for 221B Baker Street:



Wildwood Dancing:



Henry Huggins:



One of Peggy Fortnum's wonderful illustrations of Paddington:



From the Introductions Thread:
I'm Amber, a one-time Classics professor turned stay-at-home parent/lady of leisure. I spend my time sewing, knitting, baking, volunteering at my son's school library and with the PTO, and, of course, reading.

My reading life is happily governed by lists, which means that I read a healthy variety of things across various genres.

I'm 41 going on 12 and live in Wisconsin with my husband, Tomm; our 8-year-old son, Charlie; and our two dogs, Tuppence the Border Collie and Mario the Golden Retriever.

The five-ish or so books I have going and the On Deck books nearly all come from the following categories and lists:

1. A book from the 100 Banned Books book (at least currently. As soon as I finish this list, I'll replace it with another, and oh, I've got tons of lists).

2. A children's book, for Charlie's library. I'm trying to collect books from various award lists, and I like reading them before reading them to Charlie or deciding to add them to Charlie's shelves. For this category, I’m currently working through three lists:
a. 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die
b. The Newbery Honor books
c. Cooperative Children's Book Center list
d. Frequently Challenged Children's Books list

3. A book from the Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, in chronological order.

4. A book for the Presidential Challenge. Books for this category are read in chronological (presidentially) order.

5. A list I'm working through together with my best friend, Rob: The Hugo/Nebula/WFA/Bram Stoker (and other) lists (combined, in chronological order)

6. For this category, I cycle through 7 different stacks:
a. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
b. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
c. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
d. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
e. John Boyne bibliography (in chronological order, sort of)
f. The NEH Timeless Classics list
g. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
h. The Pulitzer list (in alpha order by author)

7. An unread book from my shelves.

8. A book from my Read Soon! shelves.

9. A book on Buddhism or from the Dalai Lama's bibliography.

10. Book-a-year challenge: Three years ago, along with a few others in this group (*cough* Paul *cough*), I made a year-by-year list to see how far I could go back with consecutive reads. I've since been trying to fill in the gap years.

11. A book from the couple of series that I'm reading together with my mom.

12. A full-on re-read through Shakespeare's stuff.

13. A read-aloud-to-Charlie-at-bedtime book (or two).

14. An audio book, which I listen to as I knit/sew/otherwise craft/drive.

15. A Discworld book (so many of these are coming up soon on various lists, so I'm just diving into it)

16. This slot is reserved for books that just grab me and shout that they need to be read Right Now.

And on top of these, there will be a multitude of picture books and easy readers, which Charlie and I read together. I've decided again this year also to list our re-reads, but I'll just list them each day and not number them.

What I'm reading now:
-Old Path White Clouds (Buddhism list)
-Shadrach (Newbery Honor Book)
-Hrolf Kraki's Saga (BFS award)
-War and Peace (because Charlie wants me to)
-Paddington at Large (Charlie's bed-time book)
-Henry and Beezus (another Charlie bed-time book)
-Mort (Discworld read)
-The Freedom Maze (audiobook, Andre Norton Award)

Books On Deck:
-A Lear of the Steppes (books by year, 1870)
-The Full Cupboard of Life (series that my mom wants me to read so we can chat about it)
-The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare re-read)
-Andersonville (Banned Books)
-The Gods of Pegana (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy)
-The Worst President: The Story of James Buchanan (Presidential Challenge)
-Murder in Mesopotamia (Christie bibliography)
-House of Leaves (unread book from my shelves)
-The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (from my Read Soon shelves)

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (VERY slowly (read: I haven't touched them in months)):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

Books Read

JANUARY
1. James and the Giant Peach (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
2. The Inverted World (BFSA) - 9/10 = A
3. The Cat Who Went to Heaven (Charlie's book club book) - 9/10 = A-
4. Don Quixote (from my unread shelves) 0 8/10 = B+
5. The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian (from my classics shelves) - 8/10 = B+
6. Prairie Tale (from my Read Soon shelves) - 7/10 = C+
7. A Bear Called Paddington (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
8. The Dolphin Crossing (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
9. The Year of the Book (a book I picked off the shelves while volunteering at Charlie's school library) - 9/10 = A-

FEBRUARY
10. The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Newbery Medal) - 10/10 = A+
11. Anna & Elsa: All Hail the Queen (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
12. The Popularity Papers (#3) (Frequently Challenged Children's Books) = 8/10 = B+
13. The Hollow Hills (Mythopoeic) - 8/10 = B+
14. The Odyssey (audiobook in the car) - 10/10 = A+
15. Herobrine Scared Stiff (Charlie's read-aloud) - 7/10 = C-
16. Drama (Frequently Challenged Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
17. Where the Lilies Bloom (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
18. More About Paddington (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
19. When the Sea Turned to Silver (Westview library book) - 9/10 = A
20. Ghosts (Westview library book) - 8/10 = B+
21. The Inquisitor's Tale (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
22. Wolf Hollow (Newbery Honor Book) - 10/10 = A+
23. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie's book club read) - 10/10 = A+
24. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books/audiobook) - 9/10 = A

MARCH
25. Ollie's Odyssey (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A
26. Gandhi, Fighter without a Sword (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
27. Sing Down the Moon (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
28. The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
29. Esio Trot (Charlie's bedtime read) - 8/10 = A-
30. The Perilous Gard (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
31. Paddington Helps Out (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
32. The Colour of Magic (Discworld series) - 8/10 = B+
33. The Stolen Child (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B+
34. Leviathan (Locus YA) - 8/10 = B-
35. Herobrine Saves Christmas (Charlie's bedtime read-aloud book) - 7/10 = C
36. Vaino, a Boy of New Finland (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
37. Floating Island (Newbery Honor Book) - 7/10 = C
38. The Nargun and the Stars (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
39. Dog Man Unleashed (Charlie read-aloud) - 8/10 = B+

APRIL
40. Fantastic Mr. Fox (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
41. Moccasin Trail (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
42. The Paul Street Boys (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C+
43. The Peppermint Pig (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
44. Mr. Pants: Camping Catastrophe! (Charlie's read-aloud book) - 10/10 = A+
45. Paddington Abroad (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
46. Dark Star of Itza (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
47. Dragonsong (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
48. All Alone (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
49. Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective (Charlie's book club read) - 9/10 = A
50. The Light Fantastic (Discworld series) - 8/10 = B+
51. Wildwood Dancing (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 9/10 = A
52. Creepers (Bram Stoker Award/Audiobook) - 7/10 = C
53. Henry Huggins (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
54. The Complete Sherlock Holmes (started as a 1001 Children's Books read (one of the novels) and spiraled from there) - 10/10 = A+
55. The Neverending Story (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
56. Ship Breaker (audiobook, Locus YA Award) - 8/10 = B+
57. Meggy MacIntoch (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
58. Equal Rites (Discworld) - 8/10 = B+

MAY

Charlie and The Gals:

The Bonus Question:
In honor of my current 1001 Children's Books read, what book would you nominate to be an actual Neverending Story, meaning a book that you didn't want to end? Alternately, what book have you read and thought, "Oh cripes, this story is neverending!" and not in a good way...?

Happy new thread, Amber.

>7 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

Happy new thread! You're really racing along :)

Love the topper photos Amber.

I'm not sure about the book I didn't want to end- probably one of the books I loved as a kid, so that I wouldn't run out of reading. As for ones I wished would end- Dickens. Read for school. Blargh.

Happy new thread! Gonna have to give some thought to your bonus question. I hit 2 or 3 a year that seem like I just can *not* get to the end. The other direction? That's a bit harder for me to decide - most of the time I like books with a solid ending.

Happy New Thread, Amber!

I love all the related illustrations for your reading. That Buddha pic is a nice one.

I'm sitting out on the deck with Mr. Sherlock. This is the way to start the week.

>9 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba!

>10 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! That's so funny that you mention Dickens - he came up at the meet-up this weekend, with a similar theme, I think. I love him to bit, myself, although I haven't read all of his stuff. Charlie's a big fan, too, so far (he's read A Christmas Carol and is currently working his way through Great Expectations on his own).

>11 drneutron: Thanks, Jim! Yeah, I think I have quite a few more that fall into the not-a-good-thing category than I do in the other one. For me, I think I have two series that I just didn't/don't ever want to end, because I love the characters so much: David Eddings' Begariad/Mallorean series and Megan Whalen Turner's Thief series.

>12 jnwelch: Hello, Joe! I have fun poking round the interwebs for the pictures. The Buddha quest is a soothing one, no surprise.

I'm a bit jealous of both you and Sherlock in that scenario, I have to say...

Happy new thread, Amber!

For your bonus question, I think any time I spend more than three weeks reading a book I start getting an itch and it feels like it'll never end. And for that reason, I'm not sure I'd want anything to be never ending.

>15 MickyFine: Micky: Ha! My reading lifestyle would likely drive you right up the wall, then!

Happy new thread, Amber!

I love your toppers: Falkor is an all time favourite and the Wildwood Dancing picture awsome romantic.

>5 scaifea: Does Charlie have new glasses, or is it an older picture?
Give the gals a hug.

>6 scaifea: Bonus question: not wanting to end the two books by Tonke Dragt Letter to the king and The Secrets of the Wild Wood, I would have settled for sequels ;-)
Neverending... it took a lot to get through The brothers Karamazov

Hah, I'm with Mickey on that one. Three weeks in they all seem like they will last forever. It doesn't help that my reading is slow because I am juggling multiple books at the same time.

I'm not in as great a place as Mr. Joe up there but I have Easter Monday off so this is a good Monday as Mondays go.

Happy new thread, Amber. Love the pics.

Happy new thread Amber my dear and a great thread topper. Lovely photos of Charlie and the girls, hope you have had a really good weekend especially with your meet-up. Sending love and hugs from the both of us dear friend.

Happy new one, Amber. Love the toppers.

>17 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

Falkor is excellent, no? And I LOVE the Wildwood Dancing painting, too - gorgeous. If you haven't read it, I can say that the book itself is just as lovely so far.

Charlie got these glasses in January, I think, so sort of new-ish. I think he looks darling in them, of course. And I'll definitely pass those hugs along.

It sounds like I should add Letter to the King and The Secrets of the Wild Wood to my list! And ooof, to Karamazov - I haven't gotten there yet...

>18 Familyhistorian: Meg: That's part of my problem with taking so long to read books, too - so many going at once. But I wouldn't have it any other way, really.

Happy Holiday Monday! The best kind, eh?

>19 johnsimpson: Hi, John! We had a fabulous weekend and the meet-up was amazing. Sending love and hugs right back to you and Karen, friend!

>20 BLBera: Thanks, Beth!

BQ: I actually can't think of a book that I really would want to "never end". Obviously all the books I really like have an element of that, but I get such pleasure out of books ending (at least when they end in a satisfying way) that I wouldn't want to change it. (I also, as weird as it may be, am usually happy about TV shows I like ending because that means they won't run on and on until they're ruined, so I can have great memories of them - there are exceptions, of course).

And regarding books that *feel* like they're neverending - well, every book I've had to force my way through. The Grapes of Wrath would probably be a prime example, even though I did come to appreciate that one once I'd finished it.
And I heartily disagree with anyone who claims that Dickens is neverending. I love Dickens, and while I agree that he sometimes uses a few more words than strictly necessary, he's always, always good.

I should probably have clarified my Dickens comment. I think he was ruined by having to write essays about him. Reading on my own, without the slow analysis and need to memorise quotes for essays, wasn't so bad.

>22 PawsforThought: Paws: I agree about TV shows. I know so many people who were distraught when Firefly was cancelled, but I'm completely okay with it. It ended strong and every episode is amazing.

I also agree with you on Dickens. He's fabulous. Wordy? Maybe, but when an author has such a talent with the things as he does, he can be as wordy as he likes, as far as I'm concerned.

>23 charl08: Charlotte: That makes me so sad when school ruins an author for someone. Happens way too often. The teacher needs to be passionate about the subject, I think, to make it work, and so many just aren't. I flat-out refused to teach courses on Plato when I was a prof. because I didn't at all like him and didn't want to pass that distaste onto my students, because I'm sure there's value in the guy's stuff, even if I can't stand 'im.

>23 charl08: Yeah, essays can ruin anyone for you. I had a period when I couldn't look at Baroque art because of an analyzing essay I had to write for uni.

>24 scaifea: That's how it should be! While there are definitely shows that I wish could have had just one more season, I'd much rather they only have one (or two, or whatever) and it's great than have that extra season and be disappointed. If I stop watching a favourite show it should be because there are no more episodes, not because I no longer like it.

>25 PawsforThought: I agree. I think, in general, U.S. tv shows go on too long.

Happy Tuesday, Amber. Wishing you a lovely day.

Happy new thread, Amber.

I suppose The Hobbit would be my neverending story wish.

>27 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara! I hope yours is lovely, too!

>28 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! You know, we tried reading The Hobbit with Charlie a couple of years ago, and he must not have been ready; he didn't care for it at all. We'll maybe try again soon.

On the agenda for today:
Treadmilling, writing, sewing, and a PTO meeting tonight.

On the reading front:
I'm nearly finished with Wildwood Dancing and it has really grown on me - I'm impatient to find out how it ends. I also read more of The Neverending Story and The Complete Sherlock Holmes, with Mr. Holmes having me chuckling right out loud at what a charming jerk he can be to Watson at times. I just love him to bits (and long-suffering and long-adoring Watson, too, of course).

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "The 1955 Newbery book was The Wheel on the School, a story about storks building their nests on roofs in Holland. One of the 1955 Caldecott Honor Books was Wheel on the Chimney about storks building their nests on roofs in Hungary."
I don't really remember the Brown book, but The Wheel on the School was lovely.

What We Read Yesterday:
-Fearless Flyer by Heather Lang (CCBC list, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
-Freedom over Me by Ashley Bryan (Newbery Honor Book, picture book) - 9/10 = A-

Bits of:
-Sci-Fi Junior High
-Henry Huggins
-Paddington at Large
-Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers

And we finished Frozen 5-Minute Stories (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+

We also watched another episode of The Muppet Show, with Leslie Uggams.

Morning, Amber! Happy New Thread!

>32 msf59: Morning, Mark! Thanks!

Checking in on the new thread. Happy Tuesday, Amber!

>34 alcottacre: Morning, Stasia!

Happy new thread! For the BQ, I'm one of the many who wished that the Harry Potter series never had to end, though I do agree that it's best for books (and TV shows) to end strong, rather than tapering off into mediocrity or worse. As for books that felt never-ending, I've certainly read some, but I can't think of examples at the moment.

>36 foggidawn: foggi: I'm not a big re-reader, but I have re-read the HP series several times (and the Eddings books, too). When the characters are just so good, it's like visiting with old friends. Wonderful.

Good morning, Amber!

Hmm. I never wanted the Oz books to end when I was a kid, but that's not one book. And the HP books when I was much older. Neverwhere by our friend Neil comes to mind as a single volume. So probably, for me, it would be ones where the author has created an immersive world I don't want to leave.

>38 jnwelch: Joe: Good point about the world-building. It definitely has to be good. For me, it's the characters that have to be amazing, but the world comes in a close second.

Gah. Tried to share a link, but couldn't get it to work...

Yeah, I can definitely see what you mean about characters. I think most people, including me, don't want to see the last of Elizabeth and Darcy, for example. Hence all the fan- fiction-type (and better) continuations of P & P.

>41 jnwelch: Joe: So true - fan fiction is definitely a reaction to not wanting to leave those literary friends behind.

>21 scaifea: I will look for Wildwood Dancing at the library, Amber, I have read and liked other books by her.
The Letter to the King was originally published in Dutch in 1962 and 51 years later the English translation finally came out. I am so happy I can recommend it now to English readers!

>43 FAMeulstee: Anita: Oh, good! I'm nearly finished with Wildwood Dancing and I honestly don't want to do anything today but sit and listen to it!
And I'll look for The Letter to the King, too!

Hi, Amber! Happy new(ish) thread! Oddly enough, I got a lot out of having to write essays, criticisms and theses on some literature that otherwise I might never have read, much less enjoyed. For example, I'd never have read Death of a Salesman if I hadn't had to read it for a college English course when I was in my 40s. Having to dissect it actually made it enjoyable. I don't think I'd have felt the same had I had to read it and had to write an essay on it in high school or when I was in my 20s.

>45 Storeetllr: Mary: Yes, I think the phrase "when I was in my 40s" may be the key, there. Writing essays in high school, and sometimes even in college (and grad school) was a chore. I most always loved the actual reading, but the writing part, no so much. Even as an academic, I disliked the writing part - the research I loved, but writing my thoughts down for others? Nope.

Well, I like to write, so that might be the difference. Also, in my 40s definitely made a difference.

>47 Storeetllr: Mary: 'Non-traditional' students make the best students, at least to my way of thinking. Although I have a soft spot for those young goofballs, too.

I demonstrably don't like to write. Blerg. Good think I'm co-writing a book, eh? Yoicks.

51. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list, audiobook) - 9/10 = A
A re-telling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses story, and a thumpin' good one. Set in the Carpathian Mountains, it has dancing young ladies, fairy folk, Night People, good guys in disguise, bad guys who think they're the good guys, suspense, a healthy dose of romance (of course), and a helpful and adorable sidekick frog. It felt a bit slow to get going, but once it did, I loved it.

Happy new thread!

>6 scaifea: Books I never wanted to end are too many to list, but a few are: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Hell's Bottom, Colorado, The Aeneid, and Persuasion. In regards to Persuasion, I kind of knew that the realities of married life would probably not have been nearly as interesting as the courtship, but I still kind of wanted to know how they got on.
Books that just never seemed to end: Anna Karenina, The Wings of the Dove, and I thought One Hundred Years of Solitude was about 50 years too long.

>49 scaifea: SQUEEEEEE! You did like Wildwood Dancing :). I think the frog is my favorite character.

>50 nittnut: Jenn: Ooof, not good news about One Hundred Years of Solitude, which is coming up on one of my lists...

And YES, I LOVED Wildwood Dancing! I think I agree about the frog, too. Totally adorable in every way, shape and form. *grins*

I'll second Jenn about One Hundred Years of Solitude though my most recent worse was probably The man who loved children, grim and endless, but lots to think on once finished.

I don't really have a neverending book, though I'd have loved for one of the Pern novels to have gone on and on as I loved everything about Pern. I enjoyed The Neverending story and also liked his Momo.

>52 avatiakh: Kerry: Oh no, not another strike against the GGM book! Yikes!

>52 avatiakh: I love Pern too! I was just looking at doing a re-read of the series. Must finish Green Angel Tower first though.

>53 scaifea: There is no accounting for taste, lol. I had a goal a couple years back to read more South American writers. I just don't get on with the male ones. I liked quite a few of the females, but the men!

>54 nittnut: Jenn: *snork!* Excellent use of a Ricardo!

Go8d morning, Amber. Happy Wednesday.

>49 scaifea: Thanks for the nice review, Amber, I put it on hold at the library. Hopefullly it will arive later this week, as it comes from an other branche.

>56 Ameise1: Morning, Barbara!

>57 FAMeulstee: Anita: Oh, yay! I hope you love it!

On the agenda for today:
Tuppence has her annual check-up at the vet's office this morning. After that, it'll be more of the usual: treadmilling, writing, sewing. I'll also probably do the menu-planning and grocery-listing for the week. Spaghetti for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
I read more of The Neverending Story and Old Path White Clouds. Since I finished my audiobook, I'll likely start a new one today, Creepers.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Eric Knight wrote a short story imagining what happened to his dog after she became lost in the woods while chasing a rabbit. He was persuaded to expand the story into the book Lassie Come Home."

What We Read Yesterday:
-Diana's White House Garden by Elisa Carbone (picture book, public library book) - 9/10 = A
-No Place Like Home by Jane Elliott (Charlie's homework book, 24 pages) - 7/10 = C

Bits of:
-Minecraft Construction Handbook
-Henry Huggins
-Paddington at Large
-Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers

Morning, Amber!! Sniff, sniff, honk, honk...

>61 msf59: Morning, Mark!

What are you sniffing at? And what are you honking at?!

Yeah, inquiring minds want to know, Mark.

Good morning, Amber!

I'll just pop in and say that One Hundred Years of Solitude is one of my favorite books, and one of the tiny, tiny number that I've read more than once.

>63 jnwelch: Joe: I know, right?! So mysterious, that guy.

>64 ursula: Ursula: Oh, good to know! Whew! Maybe I won't not like it, then...

I have to agree with Jenn. I've loved everything I've read by Isabel Allende but wasn't thrilled with Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera, though I didn't hate it and did finish it, but I'm not in a hurry to pick up A Hundred Years of Solitude. I loathed Coelho's The Alchemist, which I put aside after about 100 pages and never picked back up again. Allende's themes are similarly complicated and substantive to the males', and the subject matter can be just as dark and horrific, but for some reason her writing is compelling while theirs left me cold. I'm afraid that's the extent of my South American magical realism reading, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I'm also a fan of Isabel Allende but I liked Love in the Time of Cholera. I have A Hundred Years of Solitude in Mt. TBR but don't know when I'm going to get to it.

>66 Storeetllr: Mary: Ha! Joe's struggling with The Alchemist right now. I've read it, but have no memory of it at all.

>67 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: Good to know! I'm not sure when I'll get round to either of those, but I know I will eventually.

>66 Storeetllr: I certainly agree with you on The Alchemist. Pure garbage. And I liked Love in the Time of Cholera less than you. I wouldn't say I hated it either, but "strongly disliked" might fit the bill.

>69 ursula: Ursula: To clarify - I didn't hate The Alchemist; I honest-to-goodness can't remember a thing about it. I had even forgotten that I'd read it at all!

Oops, wrong attribution, I meant to direct that at >66 Storeetllr: Fixed it now. :)

>71 ursula: Ah! I get it. Sorry for the confusion.

>49 scaifea: Wildwood Dancing sounds like my mug of coffee! I'll go find a copy!

Karen O.

>73 klobrien2: Karen: Woot! I hope you love it!!

>45 Storeetllr: Speaking as someone who had to write essays about Death of a Salesman as a teenager, I can honestly say that it didn't lead to a great love for Miller. How you can be expected to understand concepts like the death of the American Dream when you've barely been out of provincial England, I have no idea. I loved reading Alan Bennett's pieces for individual actresses, and Sheridan was also a lot of fun (I think because he himself was such a large than life historical figure). I'd quite like to find out more about these set texts now - especially Chaucer, which we just dipped a toe into at school. Middle English is a bit of a challenge though.

>75 charl08: Charlotte: Exactly! How do you teach those seminal, classic works to kids who don't honestly have enough life experience to understand them and appreciate them fully? But then again, how do you not teach them? It's a conundrum.

As to Chaucer, I much prefer Boccaccio, really. Much better stories in a similar setting. But Middle English is a hoot.

>75 charl08: I still shudder when I think of having to read An American Tragedy in high school. There is so much more relevant and accessible literature than books (or plays) with themes that are beyond most teenagers and writing that is tedious (not saying Death of a Salesman was tedious). I can't state an opinion of university students in their late teens/early 20s having to read and critique books like that, but in my 40s (there's that key phrase again), I did much better. Having said that, although I read and enjoy literary work on occasion, I still can't bear to read things like The Corrections or The Alchemist, both of which I found tedious if not outright pretentious. (But that's just my opinion - others have found them brilliant and compelling.)

A Hundred Years of Solitude is one of my favorite books. But I am not sure I would want it to be never-ending. A never-ending story should be happier, I think. Perhaps Pride and Prejudice?

>54 nittnut: I'm almost done on To green angel tower, whew, what a read...and Pern, I didn't know about Pern at all until I read a review of Dragonsinger somewhere and within a few weeks I'd read every Pern book in the library.

A Hundred Years of Solitude is one of my favourite books as well! Having been studying literature for the last six years or so I unusually find that studying a book makes me appreciate it more, and I usually find something of interest even in books that I didn't enjoy on first reading.

>77 Storeetllr: Mary: Oh, The Corrections. I've met Franzen, and 'pretentious' doesn't even *begin* to cover it. Blerg. Let's just say that after that encounter, I'll not be picking up any of his books, pretty much ever.

>78 banjo123: Rhonda: Oh, good! I honestly look forward to reading books that people either love or really, really don't. So, good to know! And can you believe that I've not read P&P?! Yoicks.

>79 avatiakh: Kerry: Ha! And see, I've just read Dragonsong and felt lukewarm about it. I love that we all love different things!

>80 SandDune: Rhian: Good! And yay for studying literature! As it used to be my bread and butter, I of course approve.

On the agenda for today:
Treadmilling, writing, sewing, a bit of the grocery shopping and then my Thursday afternoon library volunteering.

On the reading front:
I started listening to The Creepers yesterday - I'm not very far in, but it's not exactly creeping yet (which is okay; I'm a bit hesitant about this one, admittedly). I also made some progress on The Neverending Story and Hrolf Kraki's Saga.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Translators and others have expanded, condensed or otherwise changed the original version of Swiss Family Robinson so that now more than 200 versions are known to exist."

Morning, Amber! Sweet Thursday. 3 days down, 3 to go. I am getting there...

What We Read Yesterday:
-The Number Cruncher by Judy Gilbert (Charlie's homework book, 24 pages) - 8/10 = B-
-Spot, the Cat by Henry Cole (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A
-Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis (Caldecott Honor Book, picture book) - 9/10 = A
and a bit of:
-Minecraft Construction Handbook

>83 msf59: Morning, Mark! Go, Mark, Go, Mark! You can do it!!

Sweet Thursday, Amber!

I like Rhonda's idea up in >78 banjo123: of a never-ending Pride and Prejudice. Just keep going through the generations with that wit and wisdom.

>81 scaifea: Oh but Pern is much more than just Dragonsong. I'm not sure if it would be your thing though.

>86 jnwelch: Morning, Joe!

I've got to get round to that one soon. Embarrassing that I haven't already, honestly, and I know I'll love it.

>87 avatiakh: Kerry: I may eventually get round to more Pern books, but not just now, I think. I'm not ruling them out entirely, though.

Hi Amber, hope you are having a good day my dear, Karen told me of the Facebook post while I was driving us to Lancaster, I laughed out loud.

>88 scaifea: You might understandably think you "know" P & P from the many productions of it - I've had that happen with other books. But there's nothing, nothing, nothing like her writing. So good!

>89 johnsimpson: John: Ha! I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Every word of it was true, I'm afraid...

>90 jnwelch: Joe: You might understandably think that I might understandably think I know P&P, but I honestly don't - I've avoided watching and filmed version, waiting until I've read the thing first!

I just dont understand how a book lover and avid reader gets this far in life without having read P&P... *smh*... ;-)

>91 scaifea: Ha! Another plausible theory bites the dust. Darn it.

OK, how about you had a traumatic experience with the letter P when you were young?

>92 katiekrug: Katie: *And* she has an English Lit degree?! Ridiculous, isn't it?

>93 jnwelch: Joe: *snork!* Not that I remember; it's just that I haven't gotten round to it yet, that's all.

Meanwhile, I just found out today that this is a thing and I NEED it (a Penguin Deluxe version of the Sherlock Holmes novels):

Oh, that's an awesome cover!

>96 drneutron: Jim: I know, right?! I love those Penguin Deluxe Editions!

Still clutching the pearls and fanning my fevered brow after the P&P revelation. Forsooth and for shame!

>98 michigantrumpet: Marianne: Ha! Apologies. It sounds like I should move it up the list before too many folks go through the fantods.

>94 scaifea: - Does. Not. Compute.

>100 katiekrug: yes! Wtf?

>95 scaifea: Wow. What Dr. Jim said. Great cover!

I'm going to alert your BFF and fellow Sherlockian Becca.

>95 scaifea: wow, that sure is purdy :)
It reminds me of the John Steinbeck compendium of short novels. I smile each time I see it, also when I think of - like now!

>100 katiekrug: >101 lauralkeet: Ladies, ladies, becalm yourselfs, please!

>102 lauralkeet: Laura: Ooof. Did you say something you thought you'd later regret? I promise I'll read it at soe point!! Yeesh.

>103 jnwelch: Joe: Yes, Becca would LOVE it, wouldn't she?

>104 LovingLit: Megan: I know, right?! I don't think I know what the Steinbeck covers look like - I'll have to look them up.

>49 scaifea: I am going to have to give that one a try. I have read another of her books and enjoyed it.

On the agenda for today:

Well, normally I'd be going grocery shopping this morning, but Charlie woke up at 4:30 saying he doesn't feel good at all. No fever, no vomiting or other key signs of actual sickness, so it's a wait-and-see sort of thing at this point. But if he doesn't go to school, of course the shopping is off the list. I'm also slated to help out at school this afternoon, counting donated books for the Book Shop PTO is organizing for the kiddos for next week (they can 'buy' books with their Hillmen High Fives (essentially good behavior tickets that teachers hand out to them throughout the year when they're 'caught' being good citizens/people), but that may not happen either. Poor guy was complaining of a bad headache yesterday evening, so we'll see how it goes.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of Creepers (nothing at all creepy happening so far), read more of The Neverending Story and started Equal Rites.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Robert Louis Stevenson drew an imaginary map to amuse his stepson. Stevenson wrote Treasure Island to explain the map."

>106 alcottacre: Stasia: Oh, do! I think you'll like it!

What We Read Yesterday:
Tomm's out of town and Charlie's head was aching him, so we didn't do much reading last night. Just a couple of soothing picture books:

-The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas (public library book, picture book) - 10/10 = A+
Lovely story with the gorgeous illustrations of Erin E. Stead.
-Mix It Up! (a comfort read for Charlie - one of his favorites)

Morning, Amber! Happy Friday! Looks like it is cooling off for a couple days but at least it was a nice week.

Poor Charlie! I hope the young master feels better soon!

>110 msf59: Mark: I just took The Gals out for their morning business, and it doesn't seem as cold as I thought it would. That's good news, no?

>111 katiekrug: Katie: Thanks! He's fine now, he says, and seems to be, too. I wonder if he wasn't just still half asleep and worried that he'd be sick this morning, since he had the headache (egg head, as he calls it) last night...

Happy Friday, Amber!

>105 scaifea: Becca's response to the new Penguin Deluxe Sherlock novels cover: "Gorgeous!!"

Hope Charlie starts feeling improved soon.

>113 jnwelch: Morning, Joe!

I *knew* she'd love it! We doing totally get matching, BFF copies, don't you think?

Charlie went to school feeling fine - I do think it must have been a half-asleep, worry-wart notion of his. He gets those occasionally. Sometimes he half-wakes in the middle of the night, shouts for me and asks, "MOMMY, WHAT TIME IS IT?!" panicked that he won't get enough sleep for school the next day. Yoicks.

Whew -- Glad Charlie turned out to be fine after all.

>115 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba - me, too!

>95 scaifea: Oh that is one gorgeous cover.

As for not having read P&P *gives you side eye*

I too am surprised you've never read P&P, but I'm really excited for you that you have the experience of reading it for the first time ahead of you!

>117 MickyFine: Micky: I know, right?!

Also, *hangs head in shame.*

>118 lycomayflower: Laura: Well, THANK you. Yoicks. I was starting to feel a public shaming setting in. Now I feel a bit better...

>94 scaifea: Don't let them call you down for not reading P&P, Amber. People can have degrees in English and never have read P&P. I know that because I am living proof - I have never read anything by Austen.

>120 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg!

I do have this gorgeous Austen collection, though, and plan on getting to it soon(ish?):

http://a.co/hQQ8yQh

>121 scaifea: That is a gorgeous Austen collection! I just love beautiful books. I also love un-beautiful books. I am hopeless. . .

>105 scaifea: nah Amber, I just ended up with duplicate posts so I deleted >102 lauralkeet:. It does look mysterious though, doesn't it?

>122 alcottacre: Stasia: I know, right?!

>123 lauralkeet: Laura: Ha! And here I thought my thread was heating up...

On the agenda for today:
Tomm gets home today from a week-long business trip, so we're pretty excited to see him, of course. I may do some baking and I'll definitely do some reading, along with hanging out with the Scaife Men. Beef Roast with Potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of Creepers (which I thought would be a horror thing (I'm reading it from Bram Stoker Award list, after all), but it's not really, it's more of a bad guys vs. good guys in an abandoned building thing, which is not really my thing at all. *shrug*) and read more of both The Neverending Story and War & Peace.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Edgar Allen Poe often wrote poems with his Siamese cat sitting on his shoulder."

What We Read Yesterday:
-More-igami by Dori Kleber (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
-A Hat for Mrs. Goldman by Michelle Edwards (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A

>125 scaifea: Ok, you're domestic goddess status is now cemented in my head with the Yorkshire pudding. All that hot oil terrifies me.

Mmm, dinner sounds good. Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding is one of my favourites. What kind of potatoes - roast, mashed, boiled?

Hi, Amber!

>121 scaifea: That's a beautiful-looking collection. And it includes Lady Susan! That one is so funny, and not very well-known. The recent movie with Kate Beckinsale was based on it (even though it used the name of a different Austen book, Love and Friendship).

>127 MickyFine: Micky: Well, thank you! Yorkshire Pudding is a piece of cake, really, at least the way this recipe makes it, and I LOVE it (and so does Charlie!).

>128 Familyhistorian: Meg: You peel and halve the potatoes, boil them for 10 minutes, then roll them in melted butter and add them to the roasting pan with the meat to finish cooking. Delicious.

>129 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! It *is* lovely, isn't it? Good to know that Lady Susan is good, too. I've only read Persuasion, I'm afraid. (But I loved it, of course.)

>130 scaifea: Yum, those potatoes sound wonderful, Amber.

Yum Yum, Roast Beef and Yorkshire Puddings enjoy. Hope you are having a really good weekend dear friend and the weather is good with you. Sending love and hugs my dear.

>131 Familyhistorian: Meg: They *were* good! And easy, too. Best kind, really.

>132 johnsimpson: John: Thanks! We did enjoy it - Yorkshire Pudding is one of my favorite things to eat, ever. The weather is lovely here - sunny and breezy - and it's been a fabulous day. Love and hugs right back to you and Karen, friend!

HI Amber. I simply stopping by to see what boos you are reading and what is happening in your life.

>125 scaifea: The Newbery/Caldecott trivia seems to have wandered off into the realm of general literary trivia -- not that there's anything wrong with that!

>134 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Good to see you!

>135 foggidawn: foggi: I know, right? Weird, but okay.

So this evening, out of the blue-like, Charlie dropped this truth bomb on us:

"If you're weird enough, you can be magical."

Amen, little man. A-men.

Oh, I love that one! Fits me to a tee. :)

>137 scaifea: What a philosopher.
Happy Sunday, Amber.

>137 scaifea: Profound.

Give the wise little fellow a hug from me and have yourselves a wonderful Sunday.

Morning Amber! Happy Sunday! Looks to be a beautiful day. I think I will go for a walk later...

>138 drneutron: Jim: Ha! Me, too!

>139 Ameise1: Barbara: He is, isn't he?

>140 PaulCranswick: Paul: Definitely more profound than most of the thoughts knocking around in my noggin. I'll definitely deliver the hug, and I hope you have a lovely Sunday, too. Are you travelling today, I think?

>141 msf59: Morning, Mark! A walk sounds wonderful today.

On the agenda today:
No real plans of any sort besides sitting in my rocking chair and reading. I suspect there will be some sort of games with Charlie and Tomm this afternoon, and we'll also likely finish watching Moana, which we started last night, but yeah, otherwise, reading. I'm looking forward to it, I have to say.

On the reading front:
I'm nearly finished listening to Creepers, and I also read a nice chunk of The Neverending Story yesterday, and more of The Complete Sherlock Holmes last night.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "When Katherine Milhous (The Egg Tree, 1951 Caldecott Medal) learned that the original egg trees were a sign of fertility, she didn't know if a publisher would risk releasing a book about egg trees. She nearly gave up on the project but persisted until Scribner published the book."
How do you write a book about egg trees and not know that they're a sign of fertility? I mean, it's a spring ritual...and it's an EGG tree... Honestly, Katherine.

What We Read Yesterday:
Bits of:
-Sci-Fi Junior High
-D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
-Henry Huggins
-Paddington at Large
-Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers

Morning, Amber!

"If you're weird enough, you can be magical." Love it! Go, Charlie. Inspiring words. I'm going to try to become even weirder. (Oh no! say my wife and kids).

>145 jnwelch: Ha! You're pretty magical already, Joe...

Yay for weirdness! I think those of us (yep) who were considered "weird" in school mostly grew up to be more awesome, more magical than the rest of the bunch.

>147 EBT1002: Ellen: I agree! I'm quite magical myself by those standards...

>137 scaifea: Wise little man, that Charlie. I hope I never outgrow my weirdness :)

>149 alcottacre: Stasia: Me, too!

>137 scaifea: I love that!

Just dropping by to say hi. I'll say bye with a nevereneding story bit ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZt5Ehg3-2k

Good morning, Amber. Wishing you a good start into the new week.

>151 RBeffa: Ron: Of course you do! Ha!

And thanks for the link!

>152 Ameise1: Morning, Barbara! Thanks!

On the agenda for today:
Treadmilling, writing, sewing, a couple of errands (post office and bank), and then off to school for some volunteering. Dahl Soup for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of Creepers yesterday (and I think I'll likely finish it today), and nearly finished The Complete Sherlock Holmes (I'd like to polish that one off today, too).

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Daniel Defoe spent time in jail because of the satirical writing he did opposing intolerance."

What We Read Yesterday:
Bits of:
-Minecraft Construction Handbook
-D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
-Sci-Fi Junior High
-Henry Huggins
-Paddington at Large

And we finished watching Moana, which was pretty good. I love that there's no prince/love-interest in sight.

Morning, Amber! Yah, for No Work Mondays! And it looks to be another beauty. Win, Win!

>156 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yay for No Work Mondays!!

52. Creepers by David Morrell (Bram Stoker Award, audiobook) - 7/10 = C
A guy claiming to be a reporter follows a group of urban explorers into an old, abandoned hotel one night, and they all get way more than that for which they had bargained.

Not my cuppa, really.

Afternoon, Amber!

I was too slow today to say good morning. :-)

>159 jnwelch: Afternoon, Joe! I'll take a hello from BFF's Dad any time of the day.

On the agenda for today:
The Usual - treadmilling, writing and sewing. Charlie has his monthly book club at the library this evening. Curried Chicken Salad for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
I started listening to Ship Breaker yesterday, which seems promising so far, and I finished The Complete Sherlock Holmes, which was amazing and I'm sad that I have no more Holmes & Watson stories to read now.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Gene Zion's (All Falling Down, 1952 Caldecott Honor Book) interest in art began in kindergarten when his teacher complimented him on his crayon border on a sheet of paper. Even so, he wrote All Falling Down and his wife, Margaret Bloy Graham, illustrated it."

What We Read Yesterday:
Bits of:
-Minecraft Construction Handbook
-Sci-Fi Junior High
-D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
-Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers

And we finished:
53. Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary (Charlie's bedtime read, 176 pages) - 9/10 = A
Charlie's first introduction to Cleary and he loved it! He's requested another one for our next read.

Morning Amber! I am switching to shorts today, for the first time. I know I will be returning to long pants by Thursday but what the heck. It is time.

Glad you are having a good time with Ship Breaker. I loved that one.

>162 scaifea: Amber, it does my heart good to hear that the C-Man is a fan of Henry Huggins! I remember devouring and loving those books so much as a kid.

>163 msf59: Morning, Mark! Charlie's excited to wear shorts to school for the first time today, too! Twins!

And I'm glad that you liked Ship Breaker - good to know!

>164 rosalita: Julia: I know, right?! I didn't read any Clearly until I was pregnant with Charlie and started gathering books for his collection, and I LOVE her books. Charlie has a complete set, so I'm *very* glad he likes her!

Hi Amber, followed your thread and picked up your recommendation for The Thief. Happy to say that I love it, and will be reading the whole series. Thanks!

Yes, it is a bit sad, to finish a series you loved and have nothing new to look forward to anymore. I felt it the strongest after finishing the Lord of the rings. But suppose it wouldn't have finished, poor Frodo would still be struggling along in Mordor, how awfull..

>166 EllaTim: Hi, Ella! Oh gosh, I'm *so* glad that you loved the Thief! The rest of the series so far is just as amazing (and maybe more so)!

That's pretty funny about leaving poor Frodo hanging in Mordor. At least Sam would be with him...

54. The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (started as a 1001 Children's Books read and spiraled from there, 1077 pages) - 10/10 = A+
I was in love with Sherlock within the first 10 pages, and 1000+ later I'm so sad that there isn't any more. Holmes is charmingly insulting, Watson is adorably devoted, the mysteries are fabulously crafted. This isn't just plain wonderful, folks; it's wonderful with raisins.

Happy new thread, Amber :0)

>168 scaifea: Oooh, I need to read a few more Holmes stories - it's been ages and I have a ton of them left.

>168 scaifea: I am a huge Holmes fan. I am glad to see he has picked up another one!

Wait, what? No Cleary until you were pregnant?

*faints*

I've just always assumed every smart woman I meet read the Ramona books as a kid!

Hi Amber! Let me know if you ever want any recommendations for out-of-canon Sherlock Holmes' stories-I collect those as well and have a lot of ones I really liked.

>169 Carmenere: Ha! Thanks, Lynda!

>170 PawsforThought: Paws: Oh, do. They're wonderful.

>171 alcottacre: Stasia: Yay! Isn't he fabulous?

>172 katiekrug: Katie: Weird, innt?

>173 seasonsoflove: Becca: You mean non-Doyle Sherlock stories? Hmmm, I'll have to think about it. I think it's too soon right now, at least. But maybe someday - thanks for the offer!

Happy Tuesday, Amber. Already shorts weather? I'm impressed.

>175 Ameise1: Barbara: Well, the shorts weather won't last - by the end of the week he'll be back in long pants and a jacket, I'm afraid.

Can't wait to listen to The Complete Sherlock Holmes! I got so excited after hearing all the high praise that I bought it from Audible!

>173 seasonsoflove: I'm listening to Lindsay Faye's The Whole Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, read by Simon Vance. So far, after two disks worth, I am liking it a lot. The stories so far have been about Holmes's cases before he met Dr. Watson, as related by Holmes to Watson in their later years.

Congratulations on finishing, Amber! That's a wonderful reading milestone.

Have you read Arthur and George? Great Julian Barnes book, based on a true ACD story.

>177 Storeetllr: Mary: Oooh, did you get the Stephen Fry version?! I NEED that.

>178 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! It felt like eating cake while walking in the park more than working toward a milestone. So fabulous.

And no, I haven't read that one - onto the list!

>168 scaifea: Yay for completing the Holmes canon! How far are you through the Cumberbatch and Freeman series?

Howdy Amber! Bonus question the book that I wish ended was Lolita! The endless road trip and HH going on and on about the scenery just killed me. I love a good road trip book but this book I couldn't! I should have DNF it. Book I would never want to end Lonesome Dove, (now that is a road trip I loved), The Count of Monte Cristo and I am loving my reread (listen) of the Harry Potter Books!

>179 scaifea: Yes!



>181 luvamystery65: Oh! Lonesome Dove! That was definitely one I didn't want to end!

>179 scaifea: I got that version once Mamie mentioned it!

Love, love, love Lonesome Dove

>180 MickyFine: Micky: Well, we've stalled a bit on the Cumberfreeman show, but only because Tomm's been out of town so much lately. We've watched all of the first series and I think just one episode of the second? Something like that. Or maybe we haven't started the second yet... I hope we can get back to it soon - it's SO good.

>181 luvamystery65: Roberta: I *need* to get round to Lonesome Dove soon, don't I? Yoicks.

>182 Storeetllr: Mary: WOOT!!

>174 scaifea: I definitely will - I just need to figure out when. This summer, maybe.

I read Anthony Horowitz' The House of Silk, which is a newly written Holmes novel and really liked it. I read it before I read the Doyle ones actually, because I needed an audiobook to listen to during my then horrendous commute. Can't say if I think it's on the same level as Doyle's books because it's been a while since I read either, but I definitely did enjoy reading it (though it's a horrible crime they're solving). It has great reviews, too, so I'm not the only one who liked it.
Derek Jacobi did the audio narration - and excellently so.

>185 PawsforThought: Paws: I love Jacobi, but I don't think I'm ready for any non-Doyle Holmes; there's no way it can compare, as it seems to me right now.

>168 scaifea: That is so good to know about Sherlock. I've got the B&N complete edition waiting for me to tackle it one day. So daunting because it is a commitment! I've read a story or two elsewhere in the past and do want to have a go. You've given me encouragement!

>187 RBeffa: Hi, Ron! That's the edition I have, too. You know, the size does make it seem daunting, but honestly it flies by, because the stories are so good, and so readable. Go for it!

Good morning, Amber.

>189 Ameise1: Morning, Barbara!

Catching up here...again! I am on the third in the audible Sherlock collection and really have to get back to it.

On the agenda for today:
More of the same: treadmilling, writing, sewing. I'm also having lunch with a couple of mom-friends, which should be fun.

On the reading front:
I made some progress on Ship Breaker, I'm nearly finished with The Neverending Story, and I read a few more pages in Old Path White Clouds.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "The Poky Little Puppy, written by Janette Sebring Lowry and illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren, was published in 1942. It is the most popular Little Golden Book.
And it was one of my favorite books when I was tiny.

>191 Berly: Hi, Kim! I bet the Fry audible version is amazing! I love him.

What We Read Yesterday:
Bits of:
-Henry and Beezus
-Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers

Morning Amber! Happy Wednesday!

>195 msf59: Morning, Mark!

>192 scaifea: The Poky Little Puppy was one of my childhood favorites, too. I wonder what it is that makes that story so popular?

>197 foggidawn: foggi: I don't know, but I sure loved it. I had a book-and-record set, and I LOVED the little song that went with the story.

Yay for lunch out! Hope it's fun and delicious!

>198 scaifea: Wow, I didn't have the book and record! I had a few book-and-record sets, but mostly book-and-cassette sets, which I listened to all the time. (I think my parents bought them for me in self-defense, for though they read to me frequently, I'm sure they were glad enough not to have to read the Disney movie storybooks that made up the bulk of my cassette collection over and over and over...)

I must admit, I am a little jealous that you still have Pride and Prejudice ahead of you. Such a treat.

I just bought my daughter the first 4 of The Queen's Thief for her birthday. I think she will be smitten.

>199 MickyFine: Micky: It *was* fun and delicious!

>210 scaifea: foggi: I had a bunch of book-and-record sets, and then later even some book-and-cassette sets (yes, I feel that I am probably slightly *ahem* older than you...) My mom even has a cassette of me making my own book recording when I was, I think, 5 or 6. It was a story about Ruth and Boaz (whom I called "Bozo") and I even gave instructions to turn the page when you hear the BRRRIIINGG. My nerdiness struck early and hard.

>201 nittnut: Jenn: I'm a bit jealous of your daughter for getting to meet Gen for the first time. *happy sigh*

>200 foggidawn: & >202 scaifea: I have a whole kid's suitcase full of book-and-tape books. Mainly Disney and the like. Lots of Astrid Lindgren. My absolute favourite was the Disney version of A Christmas Carol.

I never recorded my own book-and-tape, but my best friend and I used to record our own news, with weather report, sports, and all.

>177 Storeetllr: Storeetllr I loved The Whole Art of Detection! Such a good book!

Hiya, Amber!

I have a sister who loved The Poky Little Puppy. It sure seems to have staying power.

Are you still liking The Neverending Story?

>203 PawsforThought: Paws: I still have all of my book-and-records ones, or rather Charlie has them now, along with my record player, which looks like a beetle and still works perfectly.

>204 seasonsoflove: Hi, Becca!

>205 jnwelch: Hi, Becca's Dad! Staying power because it's fabulous!

And yeah, I'm still plugging along with the Neverending Story, although it's starting to feel like one, honestly. I think it probably should have been about 150 pages shorter than it is...

>206 scaifea: Aw, that sounds like a cool record player! My mum had one of those record players-in-s-small-suitcase but it disappeared (one of my cousins might have "borrowed" it).

>207 PawsforThought: Paws: This is what it looks like:

>178 jnwelch: I second Joe's recommendation of Arthur and George. I thought it was very good.

>209 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia!

>208 scaifea: Cool!

I had one of these:

>105 scaifea:
It has deckled edges.
(there I go! Smiling again...)

>208 scaifea: wow wow wow, record player lady bug for listening to books-on-records. Now that is old school cool!!!

>211 PawsforThought: Paws: Cute!

>212 LovingLit: Megan: Oh, lovely! I think maybe all of the deluxe editions may have deckled edging. I love it.

And yes, the record player is indeed old school. Thanks for that. Awesome.

On the agenda for today:
Treadmilling, menu-planning and grocery-listing, bills, organizing the week's photos, and then I'll do some of the shopping before heading to school for my Thursday afternoon volunteering. Breakfast for Dinner tonight, I think - eggs to order and toast, essentially.

On the reading front:
I did finally finish The Neverending Story (more on that later), then started Meggy MacIntosh and I listened to more of Ship Breaker.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Editor May Massee persuaded Ludwig Bemelmans (Madeline's Rescue, 1954 Caldecott Medal) to write and illustrate children's books after she saw the murals he had painted on the walls of the restaurant he owned."

What We Read Yesterday:
-Bill Nye the Science Guy's Big Blue Ocean by Bill Nye (Charlie's library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A

And bits of:
-Minecraft Construction Handbook
-Sci-Fi Junior High
-D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
-Henry and Beezus
-Paddington at Large

Morning Amber! Not So Sweet Thursday! Rain and falling temps. Ugh! I want to wear my shorts. Wah!

>216 msf59: Morning, Mark!

I know, right?! We had to turn the furnace back on this morning. Yoicks.

Love the talk of record players — the ladybug player is sweet! I had a Mickey Mouse record player that looked like this (sadly, I don't still have it; this picture is from eBay):

Morning, Amber!

"Editor May Massee persuaded Ludwig Bemelmans (Madeline's Rescue, 1954 Caldecott Medal) to write and illustrate children's books after she saw the murals he had painted on the walls of the restaurant he owned."

That's some great trivia. I'd never heard that story before.

>218 rosalita: Julia: Oh, that's so cool!

>219 jnwelch: Morning, Joe!

Isn't that a good story? How great would it have been to be able to eat at his restaurant?!

At the risk of dating myself (again), my first record player was, I think, the Close 'N Play model that was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s:



I think I received it as a present for my ninth birthday in 1970, and I'm all but certain that I bought this 45 rpm record with the birthday money I received, by an obscure and short lived group:



I definitely remember this 1972 commercial for the Close 'N Play!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAKZ-O70wNg

>221 kidzdoc: Darryl: Oh, very cool!

Also, you've had fairly excellent taste in music form the get-go, eh? At least you've got that going for you, since your taste in food is clearly questionable...

55. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (1001 Children's Books, 445 pages) - 8/10 = B+
A boy finds a book that transports him into the world it describes, so that he can save it.
A fun, inventive story with an excellent beginning and an excellent ending, but which does get to be a bit much in the middle - too many silly creatures and crazy adventures, really, which all seem added on in a hodgepodge fashion.

>222 scaifea: Sheesh. You can't be nice to some people (Jenny and Caroline are also included in this motley group). Is it so wrong that I put cilantro on everything except oatmeal and baked goods?!

>224 kidzdoc: Darryl: Yes, yes it is so wrong. So. Wrong.

>223 scaifea: I agree with your review. There is definitely a few pages somewhere around the middle that could have been cut. (This is true for quite a lot of books, though, and seemingly more and more each year.)

>226 PawsforThought: Paws: I'm glad I'm not the only one! I felt bad for not loving all of it, really, since the beginning and the end were so good, and the whole idea of the story is fabulous. Ende just needed an editor.

My parents gave me a record player for my room when I was in junior high or high school (don't remember which). It was a standard one, not one specially for children. I haven't even seen a record player in years now...let alone owned one.

>228 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: That's partly why I'm so glad that my little beetle still works - so that Charlie will actually know what the thing is!

Hey, vinyls are making a comeback (they're outselling other mediums even) so the kids today will certainly know what they are!

I'd say around half the people I know have record players at home. Admittedly, that includes people of generations older than my own, but several of my contemporaries have record players and use them at least semi-frequently.
I actually don't have a player, but lots of records. I haven't found a quality player I like the look of just yet.

Thanks Amber, for recommending Wildwood Dancing!
I just finished it and rated 9/10, second book (of nine read) by Juliet Marillier to get that rating :-)

>230 PawsforThought: I also still have quite a few of my and my mom's old records, but nothing to play them on. I've thought about buying one of those players that plugs into the USB port on your computer and transfers the music, but I haven't gotten motivated to do it yet (and I kinda want to read up on them to see if they are really worth the money.)

>232 rosalita: I've seen a few of those around but decided I want a regular player instead.

>230 PawsforThought: Paws: My parents still have a player, but they don't use it anymore. I'm pretty sure it still works, though. It's one of those HUGE console things, that they now use at a sort of sideboard. It looks something (but not quite) like this:



>231 FAMeulstee: Anita: Oh, yay! It's lovely, isn't it? Have you read Entwined? It's another excellent re-telling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses story. I think I like it even more than the Marillier one, honestly.

>232 rosalita: Julia: I've thought about that, too. I also need to figure out how to transfer VHS to my computer...

>234 scaifea: A ditto on the VHS-to-computer thing for me, too!

>234 scaifea: No, I haven't read that one, Amber, sadly there are no Dutch translations of Heather Dixons works.

>235 rosalita: I used to have one similar to that (bit smaller) but it took up so much space for something that wasn't used *that* much so I got rid of it.
My parents still have their player, which I use occasionally when I'm there, but that's a regular small one connected to the stereo system.

>235 rosalita: Julia: I'll let you know if I ever figure something out...

>236 FAMeulstee: Anita: Oh, dang. Well, it *is* considered YA, so maybe the English one would be okay (am I remembering right that you read children's and YA in English sometimes?).

I don't specifically remember my first record player.
What I do remember, and quite fondly, is going to bed with the maximum number of LP albums stacked on my record player such that they would drop and play, one by one, until I fell asleep. I think it could hold at least 4 discs. Yes, I suffered from insomnia then, too.

I played my books-on-records on my parents' turntable, and listened to them with the big headphones on. I remember my dad trying to teach me to be careful with the needle.

Morgan has a turntable (in storage). He's of that generation that didn't really experience vinyl firsthand but has brought on a revival (generation hipster, I mean - haha).

>239 EBT1002: Ellen: Nice! My parents' behemoth player is like that, and I had one as a teenager that would play multiple records, too. Very cool.

>240 ursula: Ursula: Ha! Well, I guess the hipsters aren't all that bad then, eh?

My parents had a big old record player and stereo system with speakers about 3 feet tall. Sometimes of a Sunday morning, when we weren't getting out of bed promptly enough for my dad, Beethoven's Fifth would be played at top volume. It vibrated our brains.

The only record player I remember having is the old Fisher-Price one - both the one with the plastic discs, and the one that played the little records.



Someone gave it to me along with the whole series of mini Disney records. I think I still have it somewhere, but I haven't unpacked that box yet...

Happy Friday, Amber. It's quite hip here in Switzerland and France to take out the old record players. We still have our old one and my yonger daughter bought kast year one for herself.

>242 nittnut: Jenn: Cute! And I love the dad story - funny!

>243 Ameise1: Hi, Barbara! I think it's long been pretty hip here, and sort of underground, still to play records, but now it does seem to be enjoying a bigger resurgence.

On the agenda for today:
Grocery shopping quickly this morning, then heading into school to spend the day, gloriously, running the Book Shop, in which the kids can 'spend' their Hillmen High Fives (good behavior tickets) to buy donated books. We've had enough donations that each student can choose four books! The kids are so excited - this is gonna be a pretty great day, I think.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of Ship Breaker (I'm a little over halfway now) and read more of Hrolf Kraki's Saga.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Lois Duncan once registered for a class in children's literature under her real name, Lois Arquette. The teacher, not realizing the identity of her student, assigned a Lois Duncan book for the class to analyze; Arquette received an 'A.'"

What We Read Yesterday:
-Around America to Win the Vote by Mara Rockliff (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A

And bits of:
-Minecraft Construction Handbook
-Sci-Fi Junior High
-D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
-Henry and Beezus
-Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers

We're still working our way through watching Fantastic Beasts a little at a time (about 30 minutes each night), and it's wonderful! I had no idea how fabulous an actor Eddie Redmayne is!

Morning Amber! Happy Friday. I really think you would like Dr. Mutter's Marvels. Fascinating stuff.

>247 msf59: Morning, Mark! I've long had Dr. Mutter's Marvels on The List. Someday...

It will be worth the wait. I procrastinated too...

Happy Friday, Amber!

>249 msf59: Mark: Good to know!

>250 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! Happy Friday to you, too!

>245 scaifea: Now that's some funny trivia!

>246 scaifea: Eddie Redmayne is a delight. Glad you're enjoying Fantastic Beasts. :D

>252 foggidawn: foggi: I know, right?!

>253 MickyFine: Micky: Redmayne is astonishing. I've seen him on talk shows and such, but just had no idea. I mean, wow.

Hi Amber, I started with a small record player which looked like a small suitcase with a handle and remember stacking about a dozen singles to play. From this I progressed to a long unit with record deck, tape player and radio console and then when I had been working for a couple of years and about three weeks after meeting Karen I got a JVC tower stacking hi-fi unit which we had until about 1994 when we got a compact stereo unit with a CD player. This last stereo is in the spare bedroom as the unit it was in was scrapped last year when we did the living room. I am now looking at a small compact unit with digital storage that can transfer a CD in just over a minute and there are connections to link to a turntable so I can transfer vinyl to digital but obviously you have to listen to the album so takes longer than CD. This needs saving for but I miss all my vinyl and as with other things I did collect picture disc vinyl, coloured vinyl and shaped vinyl and all my classic heavy rock / metal is on vinyl such as Kiss, Black Sabbath, Rush, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Rainbow, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and the mighty Status Quo and others.

Hope you are having a really good day my dear, sending love and hugs from both Karen and I.

>255 johnsimpson: John: I dated a guy in grad school who had an *amazing* vinyl collection. Very cool to look through. Yours sounds pretty amazing, too!

>256 scaifea:, I like to think so Amber, I even have a Ian Gillan album that I got while on holiday in Blackpool in 1981 and it has never been played. I treasure my Kiss albums although I do love all my vinyl.

Happy Saturday, Amber.

>245 scaifea: What a lovely idea, hope the kids had fun picking their books. I'd have been right at the front of the queue (assuming I'd been well behaved here. Ha!)

>257 johnsimpson: John: That's awesome! My best friend is a huge KISS fan, too. So cool. Have you seen Role Models? A Paul Rudd movie in which his love of KISS plays a prominent role. So funny.

>258 Ameise1: Hi, Barbara!

>259 charl08: Charlotte: The kids were *so* excited, and I had a blast. Charlie scored two Encyclopedia Brown books, a Flat Stanley book and a Boxcar Children one, so he did pretty okay.

On the agenda for today:
Laundry, baking (Chocolate Chip Banana Bread and some cookie bars) and reading. A nice relaxing day at home, I hope.

On the reading front:
I listened to more Ship Breaker, started reading Meggy MacIntosh and read a bit more of Equal Rites.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia (Oh, a timely one!): "Twenty-six publishers rejected the first Encyclopedia Brown book."

What We Ready Yesterday:
-The Nowhere Box by Sam Zuppardi (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A-
And bits of:
-Minecraft Construction Handbook
-Sci-Fi Junior High
-D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
-Henry and Beezus
-Paddington at Large

Morning, Amber. Chilly and breezy out here but I am staying dry. Let's hope the rain holds out a few more hours.

Enjoy your Saturday.

>263 msf59: Morning, Mark! Fingers crossed that the rain stays away for you.

Happy weekend, Amber!

>265 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia!

On the agenda for today:
A little bit of laundry, brushing the dogs, and then reading.

On the reading front:
I finished Ship Breaker (more on that later), started The Freedom Maze, and read a nice chunk of Meggy MacIntosh yesterday. I'm hoping to finish up Meggy and also make some progress on Equal Rites today.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "At about age seven, Judith Viorst's first attempt at writing was an ode to her dead parents, but at the time, her parents were still alive!"

What We Read Yesterday:
-My Dog, Bob by Richard Torrey (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
And bits of:
-Minecraft Construction Handbook
-Sci-Fi Junior High
-D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
-Henry and Beezus
-Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers

We watched the end of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Fabulous! One of my favorite HP movies!) and also the Sly Stallone episode of The Muppet Show.

Morning, Amber!

We're having a good time with your BFF's brother. Turns out he's pretty great, too.

We loved the Fantastic Beasts movie. Eddie Redmayne was great as Newt, of course, and we were especially taken with the muggle played by Dan Fogler.

>269 jnwelch: Morning, Joe!

I'd love to meet BFF's brother someday - I suspect he's pretty great, yes.

And Eddie Redmayne, about whom I really knew nothing before watching this movie, absolutely blew me away. Fabulous. And you're right about Dan Fogler; he had me in tears at the end. Lovely performance.

56. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi (Locus YA award, audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
In some sort of dystopian future (kind of, at least it's not an exceptionally bright one), Nailer, a teenage boy, works on a Light Crew, scavenging beached oil tankers in the Gulf Coast region. Life is difficult and very much day-to-day, between the dangerous work and his abusive father at home. All that starts to change when he and his friend stumble onto a wrecked clipper and the chance for the greatest scavenge he'll likely ever have.
I liked this one just fine, but probably not enough for me to seek out the next book in the series.

Morning, Amber! Glad you liked Ship breaker. The next book Drowned Cities is actually really good too. Just sayin'...

>272 msf59: Morning, Mark! Ship Breaker was good, but not excellent enough for me to move right on to the sequel. Someday, maybe, if I run out of other things to read... *snork!*

Howdy Amber!

>221 kidzdoc: I had the same exact record player as you did Darryl!

>274 luvamystery65: Hi, Roberta!

Love that you have reading on the agenda today. I need a day like that. Enjoy your Sunday with the books!

>276 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! I have definitely enjoyed it!

57. Meggy MacIntosh by Elizabeth Janet Gray (Newbery Honor Book, 274 pages) - 8/10 = B+
Meggy is a young orphan living with her aunt, uncle and cousin in Edinburgh, feeling unwanted, lonely and restless, until a random opportunity to jump a ship to North Carolina gives her the chance at a new life, even if it is amidst colonies on the brink of war with England.
A nice little read, with a strong female lead who had me rooting for her from the start.

58. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett (Discworld series, 264 pages) - 8/10 = B+
Esk and Granny Weatherwax take on The Establishment.
The Staff is my favorite in this one, although Esk is okay, too.

On the agenda for today:
Treadmilling, writing, sewing. taking Tuppence in for a urine sample (she's been on some antibiotics because her ph level has been off again), calling the bank to make an appointment for Tomm and me to see about an equity loan (we want to do some stuff with the house), putting a new thread together, quick-tripping to the library before picking Charlie up from school. Corn Chowder for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
After finishing Meggy MacIntosh and Equal Rites yesterday, I read a bit more of War and Peace, too.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris is considered one of the 100 most influential books."
See, now this is why this book is so...fascinating. This tidbit has nothing, really, to do with Newberys or Caldecotts, and exactly which 'list' of most influential books is this book on? So vague and strange.

What We Read Yesterday:
-Buy My Hats! by Dave Horowitz (public ibrary book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
And bits of:
-Minecraft Construction Handbook
-Sci-Fi Junior High
-D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
-Henry and Beezus
-Paddington at Large

We watched some of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire before Charlie's bedtime.

Morning, Amber! Ugh, Monday. At least I am off tomorrow, so that should help carry me through. I am enjoying The Someday Birds. This might be one, to read with Charlie and the main character, shares his name.

>281 msf59: Morning, Mark! I think I remember some conversation somewhere about that book... *grins*

Whew...got here before you started ANOTHER new thread. Nothing to say, just "hi".

>283 laytonwoman3rd: Hello, Linda! I'll get to that new thread soonish, I think...

The new thread is up!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/256333