Donna has High Hopes for 2014: Ch. 1

Welcome! My buzz word for 2014 is going to be hope to honor my newest granddaughter, Hope Alexandra, born prematurely on 11/23/13. After spending three weeks in the hospital, she is thriving at home. My hope for all the wonderful people in this community of book lovers is that you all read books that make your hearts soar and satisfy your souls.



The Breath of New Hope
by Sri Chinmon

Day and night I shall swim
In the sweetness – hope – river.
May my mind every morning become
As beautiful as hope – dawn – rays
Peace begins
When expectation ends.

Each sacred hope
Is a blessingful gift
From Heaven’s heart.
Hope abides; therefore I abide.
Countless frustrations have not cowed me.

I am still alive, vibrant with life.
The black cloud will disappear,
The morning sun will appear once again
In all its supernal glory.

Holding Hope for the first time….*sigh*



You can see the snowy ground in Littleton, CO. It's a perfect evening to stay in and read a good book! I finished The Maid's Version tonight, my last book of 2013. It was not my favorite book by one of my favorite authors, a local Missouri boy, Daniel Woodrell. I won't hold it against him, though, as the book was decent…and I may have been sidetracked by a gurgling baby!

Here is my annual End-of-Year Meme that features just a few of the 121 books I read in 2013…

Describe Yourself: Ordinary Grace
Describe how you feel: I Shall Not Want
Describe where you currently live: The Meadow
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?: The Big Rock Candy Mountain
Your best friend is: The Cardturner
You and your friends are: Remarkable Creatures
What's the weather like? Winter in Madrid
You fear: Moral Disorder
What is the best advice you have to give?: Instructions for A Heatwave
Thought for the day: Something Wicked This Way Comes
How I would like to die: The Merry Heart
My soul's present condition: A Place of Greater Safety

My Top Ten Books of 2013

In the order they were read…

Sorry by Gail Jones
TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Son by Philipp Meyer
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
The View From Castle Rock by Alice Munro

Of course, everyone here knows this list is subject to change on a whim! I'm also cheating extending my favorites by adding a few categories:

Favorite Trilogy: Maddaddam by Margaret Atwood
Best War Book: The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
Best Classic: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison - my only full-5-star book
Favorite Reread: Exodus by Leon Uris
Most Fun Book: Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Best Biography: Catherine the Great by Robert Massie
Most Surprising Book: A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel; surprising because I liked it even better than Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies
Most Surprising Author: Anthony Trollope. Who knew I would become a big Trollope fan just because I was invited to take part in a group read?
Saddest Book: Wave by Somali Deraniyagala
Favorite Ongoing Series: Robert B. Parker's Spenser books
Most Outstanding Personal Accomplishment: A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell.

That's it! My other reading accomplishment was reading 63 Books from My Shelves. That is over 50 per cent. I'm happy. ;-)

There is a hot new challenge in the 75-Book Group for 2014. It is The American Author Challenge started by our favorite mailman Mark. He has come up with a great list of authors -- one for each month of the year. He is even allowing substitutions. Check it out.!

Here is my list of contenders so far:

Willa Cather - One of Ours (fits in with TIOLI WWI Challenge for January)
William Faulkner - The Hamlet
Cormac McCarthy - Suttree
Toni Morrison - Love, Home, or Tar Babythe only books by her I haven't already read. Or I may do a reread!)
Eudora Welty - Collected Stories or One Writer's Beginning
Kurt Vonnegut - Cat's Cradle
Mark Twain - Roughing It
Philip Roth - The Plot Against America
James Baldwin - Giovanni's Room
Edith Wharton - The Reef
John Updike - My Father's Tears and Other Stories
Larry Watson - American Boy

Book buying is a favorite pasttime among the 75ers. I'm a lightweight in the group but I did pick up some good Kindle Daily Deals recently.

These include:

American Boy by Larry Watson
Maya's Notebook by Isabel Allende
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson.

I only got one book from Santa Dave but he redeemed himself with two generous gift cards...
Doc by Mary Doria Russell.
This will be one of my January reads.

First up is a library book and a Mark recommendation...
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler.

Btw, I just checked, and by my calculations I bought a total of 75 books in 2013. No kidding! How cool is that?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Look what I found on my recent road trip from Colorado back home to Missouri. A used bookstore in a gas station in Salina, KS.


Ooh, look at all the lovely hardcover books!


Many paperbacks! Prices: HC=$4.99. PB=$2.99 ea.; 3 for $5; 10 for $10!

January Acquisitions:
Regeneration by Pat Barker at local used bookstore. "Free" with credit.
The Eye in the Door - Pat Barker - used my credit.

The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion - succumbed to peer pressure on Julia's (rosalita) thread! Kindle - $1.99.
The Golem and the Jinni
Twelve Years A Slave
Lost Memory of Skin

b>Rating System:

One Star......Not worth my time
Two Stars....Finished grudgingly
2.5 Stars......Fair, but not for me
Three Stars..Liked it pretty well but had reservations
3.5 Stars.....Good but not great
Four Stars...Great book; recommended
4.5 Stars.....Excellent; a keeper
Five Stars....Superb; a real treasure.



January Reading:

1.We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. 4.6 stars. Rosemary writes about her unusual family and the heartache they suffered when Fern left them.

2. Runaway by Alice Munro. (4) Another stellar short story collection. Eight stories about women of all ages who mostly long to escape their situations in life.

3. City of Thieves by David Benioff. (4.2). An unlikely friendship between Lev and Kolya develops when they escape a Russian firing squad for crimes against their country and set off on an impossible quest to satisfy a Colonel's whim.

4. One of Ours by Willa Cather. (4) A young farm boy goes to WWI to find himself. Set in Nebraska and France.

5. Someone by Alice McDermott. (4.4). Marie grows up in 1950s Brooklyn. She is jilted but later finds love and has a family. Everyday life in a different era.

6. Ceremony by Robert B. Parker. (3). Spenser "helps" a teenage girl who is estranged from her family.

7. This Is the Story Of A Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett. (4.1) A wonderful collection of essays on a variety of topics: writing, opening a bookstore, finding a husband, caring for a beloved grandmother, loving a dog…

8. The Glass Room by Simon Mawer. (4). The rich Landauer family builds an ultra-modern house on a Czechoslovakian hillside after WWI. They have to emigrate to U.S. because Viktor is Jewish. The house undergoes many changes during WWII occupations.

9. Doc by Mary Doria Russell. (4.5). The true (?) story of Doc Holliday as he interacts with the Earp brothers in Dodge City, KS, in the 1870s.

Lovely thoughts to begin a bright new year, Donna! Looking forward to another year discovering new books with you.

Happy New Year, Donna! Just a few more months until I can say that in person (of course by May it will no longer seem like a particularly intelligent thing to say ...)

Donna is here! Yay!

Here is our Spenser Project all worked out for you. Copy it if you like and I will come by tomorrow and erase this post and replace it with something about how wonderful you are!

The Spenser Project

January – Ceremony #9
February – The Widening Gyre #10
March – Valediction #11
April – A Catskill Eagle #12
May – Taming a Sea-Horse #13
June – Pale Kings and Princes #14
July – Crimson Joy #15
August – Playmates #16
September – Stardust #17
October – Pastime #18
November – Double Deuce #19
December – Paper Doll #20

Hi Donna! Love that picture of you with Hope (and the dog)!

Hi Donna and congratulations on Hope's arrival! Lovely photo.

Happy New Year, Donna! She is so lovely, and you holding her must mean you're here! I hope you have a wonderful visit with dear little Hope and her parents!

Happy New Year, Donna! So glad that Hope is home.

Starred your thread Donna. Lovely picture of your granddaughter!

Hi Donna!

Donna - Lovely to have you back in the bosom of the group as always. Nice photo of our glamourous Gran with one of the tiniest and cutest babies I think I've seen in a long time. Take care mind the puppy was casting jealous looks in your direction. xx

Hi Donna! Starred, of course.

#2 - Truly adorable!

I swear that picture of you and Hope was not there when I first posted on your shiny new thread. She is so tiny and beautiful! I love how the dog is keeping a close eye on you to make sure you don't fling little Hope up into the air or something. :-D

Three cheers for preemie babies! I was one too, and look how I turned out! Er, wait, bad example...

JUST KIDDING! (Sort of.) Anyway... :D

A good place for Hope to be--safe in your arms!

My plans for my trip have been postponed so I may make it to Booktopia after all. Cross your toes and fingers that I can get a spot. I should be pretty high on the waiting list (she says hopefully).

Dropping a star.

Hi Donna! Hope is a beautiful little girl, and judging from her expression she already seems to have a great interest in what's going on around her. It looks like the dogs are taking their guardian role seriously. That one looks like s/he's there just to make sure grandma is taking good care of Hope!

Hi Donna! I love that you are starting 2014 with hope and Hope! What a good pic - she is a doll!

Dear Donna, I wish you a happy, smooth, productive, satisfying 2014 --- and .....



(Congratulations on the beautiful new grand!)

Lynda - you are No. 1!

Julia - you always make me smile.

Roberta - please leave the list. Who knows, maybe someone out there would like to join in with you, Mamie, and me.

Katie - that is Buster, the newest and "baddist" of Mike's three rescue boxers. He's also the youngest.

Cushla - Thank you. Glad to see you here before school begins again.

Donna et al., I may join your Spenser reads when you get to the point where I stopped reading them. I've read all of the 2014 books, so I'll put it on my to-do list for 2015. Oh geez, now I'm making reading plans more than a year ahead! Someone stop me, please.

Anne - yes, I'm here but with no time for a meet-up. I plan to be back around the last week of March. I hope that doesn't interfere with spring break.

Nathalie - thanks so much; we're very grateful to have Hope at home where she belongs.

Rhian - We lost touch at the end of last year. Probably my fault. You'll get a star when I begin visiting threads.

Diane - good to see you!

Paul - you say the sweetest things. "Glamorous Gran" made my day!

Kerri - I'm looking forward to more reading adventures with you. Did someone say Faulkner?

Julia - my thread is coming together very slowly. That picture probably wasn't there when you first looked.

Faith - another fellow reader I lost track of. I have had no experience with preemies until now. Hope is going to have lots of health checks this year but so far she is progressing very well.

Janet - I would be so happy if you came to Boulder in May. I think it will be lots of fun.

Carrie - Hope is not bothered by the dogs' barking and seems to know they are there to guard her.

Amy - I can't stop smiling and feeling full of Hope -- of all kinds!

Pat - that is a fitting book you sent…full of love. There's a lot of that going around this group as we slide into a new year.

>24 rosalita:: Julia, like I said, you always make me smile. We'd love to have you join us in 2015! It's never too early to plan around here.

I didn't figure you'd be able to meet this time. Oh Donna, how wonderful- they are so soft and small and sweet-smelling when they are tiny. When you come back in March she will be a whole new baby, and that age is so fun as well!

I think that is our spring break week, and we *may* be headed your way (Lawrence, KS) to visit my brother in law and his family. Maybe we can meet up at the gas station/book store you found:). No definite plans though.

Welcome back! Great looking grandkid you got there... :)

Congratulations on the newest grandchild, Donna. What a sweet picture. Great start to 2014!

Starred for reading in 2014!

Donna I will leave the list but I did want to say that Baby Hope is gorgeous! You look wonderful holding her and she looks pleased as pie to be in your arms. As a doggy mama my heart just melted to see Buster looking up at you two.

Julia - I hope you join us in 2015 for new Spenser reads but perhaps you will join us in a reread if you come across a favorite this year. Joe did that with Early Autumn and it was nice to have him around. Also, thanks for encouraging us on our Spenser journey.

I had to laugh because I thought the boxer was thinking that the baby looked good enough to eat!

LOVE your thread toppers, Donna! I also thought it was so cute how the boxer is keeping a close eye on you, making sure that you behave with that baby! Looking forward to another year of sharing Spenser and of following your thread. Happy New Year to you!

Hi, Donna! Adding my agreement with the others here that your newest wee grandchild is beautiful! A year of hope, indeed!

Happy Hopeful New Year Donna! What a great photo!

I may steal your 2013 meme - it looks like fun! I can work on it while I consider my favorite books of 2013.

Hi Donna--Aren't grandkids the best? Hope is a beautiful little girl, and I'm so glad she's now in good health.

This year Boden got a sister, Madeleine Grace, and a cousin Theodore (Teddy) Joseph, so we spent a lot of the year traveling.

I'm looking forward to trying to keep up with your ever busy threads, since I very much enjoy your book reviews and comments.

Happy New Year Donna! Hope you have a great 2014!

Hi Donna! Dropping off my annual star and looking forward to good book conversation in 2014.
Several of your top ten books also fell into my top list: Life After Life, Americanah, TransAtlantic, The View from Castle Rock. This makes me think I would like some that you listed that I haven't gotten to yet, like A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.

Happy Hopeful New Year to you!!!!!

Happy New Year, Donna! You must be in grandma heaven these days.

Exciting new thread, and starring baby Hope, too! Love that TransAtlantic and Sorry are on your best reads list.

Happy New Year to my Book Buddy and BFF!! I love both "HOPE"s at the top of your new thread! And just in case I haven't mentioned it before (only 10 or 12 times)....Hope Alexandra is adorable! ;-)

Hope Alexandra is a beautiful baby Donna and you have a terrific new thread. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Donna! I love the fact that we are sharing another reading year. They are starting to pile up, old friend. I love your Hope theme and I love the photo with your latest grand-baby! Hugs!

Donna - Glamorous Gran fits you nicely my dear. Happy New Year to you and all your burgeoning troop of loved ones. You are a dear member of this group and I look forward to keeping up again.

Happy New Year Donna! Looks like I've already missed a bunch of goodies, so I'll be sure to come back very soon to catch up, but wanted to to wish you the very best to you and your loved ones in 2014.

Happy New Year Donna and have a great 2014!

Happy New Year, Donna! I'm looking forward to reading along with you in 2014.

Found your thread! What a lovely picture of you and Hope! Happy New Year, Donna, I am looking forward to another great year of reading, family and everything else that gets posted on your thread!

Happy New Year, Donna!

Happy New Year Donna!

Happy New Year, Donna. Here's wishing you many good books and happy days with your beautiful grandchildren.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you read in 2014.

Oh my stars, HOPE! Your baby girl. :) She's so tiny and beautiful. *melts* Wow, she is a blessing. I will pray for her that she keeps in good strength. She's a tough lassie. :)

Happy new year, Donna! I hope your reading goes well this year, I'm so sorry for being gone for so long, and I hope to keep up more this year.

I wish all blessings in the new year - for you and that tiny Hope :) Looking forward to follow your readings in 2014.

Once again, I am behind on my own thread. I am trying to read all the new threads, read a book - imagine that! - and help out around here. Hope still sleeps a lot so everything stops when she is awake.

Anne, it would be a shame to miss each other in March, but there will be plenty of meet-up opportunities this year. I will be out once again for Booktopia Boulder in May. I wish you were going!

Thanks for the welcome back, Jim, and for the time and attention you devote to this group. We think Hope is a keeper!

It's good to see you, Becky. It looks like another beautiful sunny day here in CO. When is your next trip out here? I'm always thinking of ways to entice you into a meetup!

Morphy, it's fun planting those stars, isn't it? I love the continuation feature, but I'm glad we can affix stars at the beginning of the year.

Roberta, thank you for those sweet words about our little Hope. She is such a cutie...very vocal like her daddy. She makes the funniest little mewling sounds during her feedings.

Morphy again...we are not sure what Buster's intentions are. The other two boxers are not nearly as interested.

Morning, Mamie! I'm glad to have you here for another year. Let's hope that Spenser gets his act together in the next book. A Happy New Year to you and your crew.

Hi Amber, we all need a little Hope, right? I am happy to share her message of hope.

Joanne, feel free to use the meme. It has been around for awhile. I stole it from Stephen (Ape). It is always fun to review a year's worth of reading.

Deborah! That is good news about more babies in the family. I considered calling my new thread "Babies and Books" but that might have been too much. I don't want to scare people away!

Hi Chelle, wishing you and your growing family all good things in 2014.

Ellen, I am looking forward to more book talk as well. I am seriously considering reading Code Name Verity this month. How convenient that it fits the TIOLI Challenge to read a book with 14 letters in the title.

Love that graphic, Pat. It says it all! Happy reading to you in this new year.

Happy New Year, Nancy! Sorry is one of the first books I read last year. I like to begin the new year with some good reading. Yup, Hope is definitely the star of my thread this year.

Thanks, Nancy. I can almost see Hope growing since she reached her expected due date yesterday. She is so alert for a one-day-old baby! I look forward to sharing (literally!) lots of good books this year. I will start The Goldfinch when I get home. Thanks for the loan.

Bonnie, New Years and new babies go together well. I'm glad to have your visit and your friendship.

Hugs to you, Mark. Yes, the years are piling up. We are overdue for a meet-up. I am thinking of making a little trip when Paul C. comes to Chicago!

Haha, Paul. You must have heard your name mentioned. I hope your trip to the U.S. Comes about this year. Many people, myself included, are looking forward to meeting you.Happy New Year!

Hi Donna: Starred and Happy New Year. Several of our "best of" selections overlapped, so I'll be looking at your reading for inspiration this year. Wonderful news about Hope and great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Darn, I just lost a string of replies. I am having to use the iPad because my laptop doesn't like my son's wifi code for some reason.

Ilana, it sounds like you might be more active on LT this year. I hope I can keep up! Thank you for the new year wishes. Same to you.

Rhian, I'll need to get some super glue for your star. I think we lost touch toward the end of last year. I hate it when that happens. Happy New Year!

Laura, it's always a pleasure to keep up with your reading. I hope we both have a meaningful reading year.

Lori, Happy New Year to you. Thanks for those kind words about Hope. She is sleeping like an angel.

Julia, I guess this is my official Happy New Year to you. I feel as if I'm repeating myself!

Rachel, welcome back. I hope to see more of you in 2014.

Eris! That was a lot of enthusiasm for our wee little Hope. Thank you. It is good to see you again.

Carsten, how are things in Denmark? I look forward to following you again this year.

Beth, I always get solid book recommendations from you and hope the trend continues. Here's to a great new year of reading.

I hope I didn't miss anybody!

Hi, Donna - found and starred!

Hi Liz, it's good to have you here. Thanks for the star!

#25 - Did someone say Faulkner? Oh, indeed! Be there or be square!

Happy New Year, Donna!

Hi Donna! It must be very difficult to get any reading done with Hope so assessable. Isn't it hard to stop staring down at her and making googly faces? I'm sure, at this busy time, you are a welcome addition to your son's household.

I'm there, Kerri! I am not exactly a Faulkner newby, but I still have many areas of his world to explore. I'm glad to have some more experienced guides along to keep me on the right path.

You got that right, Lynda. I've read less than 100 pages since I've been here. I am in amazement that such a tiny body can have such a loud cry! I'm just glad Hope has a good appetite. She has been on an oxygen monitor since yesterday. We are in hopes she can get off the oxygen supplement today. I've got the next baby detail...

Aahhh, itsy-bitsy baby picture! Looking forward to seeing more pictures as she grows. My first grandbaby is due in March, very near her father's birthday. My son is still young enough to hope that she'll be born before and not the day of, or the day after his birthday...

Hello Donna and hello little baby Hope. Lovely picture. Stopping by to say hello to the fellow Michigander by way of Misspuri (there's got to be a good story there about how a Kazoo born Yuper ended up there.)

Just got Transatlantic from the library. Glad you liked it. Marianne

Congrats to baby Hope for losing the supplemental oxygen, Donna! You must have the magic touch. :-)

Beautiful baby Hope and Glamorous Gran! Love the picture.
Perhaps Buster has claimed Hope for his own special human.

Looks like you are in for another great year, reading and otherwise :-)

>2 Donna828: Best Classic: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison - my only full-5-star book
A thorough endorsement if ever there was one. I have been meaning to read it....oh dear. This year I have already tried to bookhorn in too many books. There go my plans!

I hope beautiful Hope continues to thrive and you get in many more cuddles with her! (and photos)

Hi Donna- I have The Goldfinch saved on audio. Maybe, I could bookhorn it in somewhere. I go on vacation in about 3 weeks, so I would want to finish it before then.

Wishing for a wonderful and healthy weekend for you and yours Donna, especially baby Hope.

Oops, I keep forgetting I have a thread. Hopefully, there will be my first book of the year to talk about later today.

Hi Cindy! I remember that you are expecting your first grandchild. It is a very fulfilling experience. Hope was due Jan. 1 and my son's birthday is Jan. 3. As it turned out, she made her entrance almost six weeks ahead of time! Whenever your granddaughter decides to enter the world, she will be welcomed. Keep me posted.

Marianne, I wish I could give you an interesting story about how I ended up in Missouri. The short version is that my father became a career Army officer when I was three and I lived many places while I was growing up. The last posting was Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, so it was convenient for me to begin college at nearby Missouri State. I met my husband (a Missouri farmboy) in my freshman year -- and we've been together ever since. Mostly in Missouri but we did have a wonderful eight years here in Colorado in the '90s. That's all I got! I hope you like TransAtlantic as much as I did.

Julia, it is wonderful to be able to leave Hope's room with her. The dogs were not happy with the big oxygen tank. Things are looking up around here!

Cee, maybe I'll change my name to GG! Right now the grands call me Grandma D but GG has a nice ring to it. ;-)

Megan, I was pleasantly surprised at my positive reaction to Invisible Man. The boxing scene in the beginning is particularly memorable. I tend to be very stingy with 5-star ratings but have a plethora of almost fives.

Mark, I'm sure you are looking forward to getting away. I heard you have some snow to wade through in Chicago. I've missed some snow in Springfield, although I'll be back home for the sub-zero temps. I'd love to be heading to Florida to join my friend Nancy in some tropical warmth instead of back to frigid Missouri. I hope we both fall under the spell of The Goldfinch whenever we read/listen to it.

Paul, warm week end wishes to you, too. My car is covered in snow this morning. I hope I can start my journey eastward tomorrow. I have been here in CO over a week now which is a long time for this homebody to be away. I plan to spend my last day here getting lots of baby cuddles...and maybe finishing my first book of the year. Reading time is tough to come by.

Donna, you know I'd love to have you join me in tropical Florida....just let me know when you'll be arriving! ;-) Unfortunately, it's not very tropical right now. It's been raining all day and I don't think the temperature got above 65 degrees. But, hey, I'm not complaining! I know how miserable it's been in Missouri.

Have a safe trip home! And please get a few Baby Hope cuddles for me!

GG is a good and easy name for a glamorous grandmother.
My grandkids call my Mom, GG... in her case in stands for GreatGrandmother.
Highly rec that nickname :-)

Nancy, add CO to that miserable list. Well, the snow is pretty and easy to brush off the car, but it is cold and not exactly the weather I like to start a road trip in. I think I'll wait and see how the road conditions are in the morning, but, right now, I am setting my sights on Miserable Missouri! I'll leave you with this thought: "The sun will come out tomorrow..."

Cee, that is a perfect name for a great-grandmother. Unfortunately, I will be in my 80s before that happens.

Book No. 1: We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. 4.6 stars.

"I was our mother's favorite child. Lowell was our father's. I loved our father as much as our mother, but I loved Lowell best of all. Fern loved our mother best. Lowell loved Fern more than he loved me." (59)

Family dynamics are always tricky. The Cooke family of Bloomington, IN, has a surprising twist in its make-up that makes it even more so. Rosemary is the narrator and tells the story in a roundabout way that tries to make sense of her imperfect 5-year-old memory, for that is when a charming family changed dramatically into a most unhappy one.

This informative, well-written, and heart-tugging story will stay with me a long while. What a great first read of the year!

First read of the year for you, Donna, and the first book bullet for me from your 2014 thread!

Oh, I'm adding that one to the wishlist - sounds like a great story, and being set in Bloomington, IN - my favorite town - makes it even better!

Great to see your first read of 2014 was a goodie, Donna!

Hello Donna. I'm glad you completed a book (just referencing your comment about trying to keep up with one's own thread, other threads, and read a book for pete's sake!). I did, too, late last night. It feels good to get that first read in.

I have put The Goldfinch into my amazon shopping cart. I don't usually buy hardcover books, but I seem to be reconsidering that stance with a couple of current "hot" reads.

Happy Sunday to you!

Hi Donna, glad you enjoyed your first book of 2014!

I sincerely hope you have postponed your trip home -- it's still snowing here, and I think the storm is moving east, so you'd be in it the whole way. Safe, safe travels to you whenever you do go.

I'm echoing Ann's comment regarding postponing your drive - just by a day or so. Safe travels!

I'm so glad you enjoyed your first book of 2014 - an auspicious start! I'll have to take a closer look at it now.

Nice first book of the year Donna and one I've had on my WL ever since Mary Doria Russell raved about it. Safe travels. It's bitterly cold here.

Hi Donna, I have come by to drop my star and I noticed that we have picked the same Willa Cather to read this month. I have already added it to the TIOLI WWI Challenge and hope to start it next week.

Hope looks to be thriving and Grandma is beaming!

Looking forward to following your reading again this year.

Safe home, Donna!

How fabulous to begin a new year with such an awesome read, Domna : ).

Happy New Year, Donna! Such a great picture of you and Hope. I'm glad to be back home out of the deep freeze that is the midwest right now, although trying to get caught up on 2014 threads is a true challenge in and of itself!

Hit by a book bullet, I'm off the the library tomorrow to find a copy of your first book of the year. It sounds wonderful.

Yay! I made it to Kansas City! Anne and Joanne, thank you for your concern. My son and DIL urged me to stay, DH told me to stay, but I'm kind of stubborn once I make up my mind. I'm like an old horse returning to the barn. School is canceled here tomorrow which means we get to sleep in and play games until I get itchy feet to make the 3-hour drive the rest of the way home. And my laptop works here. It was so frustrating to have to use the iPad for all the thread hopping I've tried to do since the new year began. The final straw was when I couldn't figure out how to post my book cover. There is a huge spoiler on the cover for We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves so don't look too closely if you plan to read the book and haven't heard the nature of the big twist and don't want to know.

>78 rosalita:: Gotcha, Julia. I like beginning the year with a strong book. Sorry was one of my first books last year and made it to the Top Ten List. Maybe this one will, too. It certainly made an impact on me.

>79 scaifea:: Amber, there's not a whole lot about Bloomington in it except for the fact that the dad is a professor at IU. It did mention the movie "Breaking Away", one of my favorites.

>80 lkernagh:: Thanks, Lori!

>81 EBT1002:: Ellen, I've had better Sundays but at least I didn't end up in a ditch or in the median of I-70. I saw at least 25 vehicles that had simply driven off the road in eastern Colorado. It usually takes me much less time to reach the Kansas line but it was touch and go with the visibility and road conditions. I was lucky!
And yes, getting that first book read made me smile!

>82 AMQS:: Anne, I ran out of the snow on the ground at around Oakley, KS, but picked it up again at Salina. The visibility was worse than the road conditions. I didn't run into any falling snow at all, thank goodness.

>83 Copperskye:: Joanne, I kind of hate to rate my first book so highly; however, I think it deserved all 4.6 stars. I might have liked it even more if I hadn't read it in bits and pieces with lots of stuff going on around me.

>84 brenzi:: Bonnie, my entire drive was done in the single digits. Luckily, I just had to stop for gas one time. It is supposed to be -9 degrees here tonight. I'm kind of glad my SIL is gone so I could get his spot in the garage. He flew to Orlando today. Wish I were with him! I also read that on MDR's blog and put it on the WL but Mark was the one who convinced me to get it now.

>85 DeltaQueen50:: Judy, I'm not sure when I'll get to One of Ours - I have lots of Christmas decor to put away when I get home - but I am looking forward to it (the book not the underrating). I'm also going to try and squeeze in Running the Rift on your recommendation. It has 14 letters in the title so fits into Suz's TIOLI Challenge.

>86 katiekrug:: Thanks, Katie. Same to you if you haven't made it back to Texas yet.

>87 lit_chick:: Thank you, Nancy! I hope to have a month of fabulous reads. Isn't that what we all want?

I'll check in again when I get to Home Sweet Home!

I'm glad to hear your travels home are going well so far, Donna. I hope the rest of the trip goes just as well.

More messages…

>88 ronincats:: Roni, I didn't realize you were still around here. It was beautiful driving through the Flint Hills this evening around sunset. I was tempted to pull over and take a picture. Just breathtaking with the pink clouds and snow dusted hills. I stopped in Salina to check out the used bookstore in the gas station. I took a picture which I'll try to post when I get home. I would advise the southern route on the way back to San Diego!

>89 Whisper1:: It was wonderful, Linda. Hope you like it!

>91 rosalita:: Thanks, Julia. I hope so too. I think they got more snow south of us so we'll see how it goes tomorrow. I'm in no rush to leave as long as I can get home before dark.

Hi Donna. Glad to hear you're safe and warm in Kansas City. The weather sounds really bad. I'm also glad you loved We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. I first heard of it when Katherine reviewed it about a month ago and had just taken it out of the library when I read your review. I started it last night and it already seems like a winner. Have a safe trip home.

Hi Donna! I hope you get home with no adventures. Beautiful picture up top and I love the Hope theme. We just got a new nephew in November and the new baby has taken center stage at all holiday gatherings.

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves sounds wonderful but I surely can't look for it in January.

Happy New Year Donna! Love the picture of you and Hope at the top of the thread.
You are a brave soul to have driven the CO-KS trek on your own. Glad you are staying in KC overnight. . .
It is supposed to be super cold here in Ohio over the next several days as well. Planning lots of baby time with some reading thrown in for good measure.

Like others have already state here, I'm happy to hear that you've made it so far so safely, and wish you safe travels for the rest of the trip home!

As far as the slight mentions of Bloomington in the book - I'll take whatever I can get! I miss that town lots. Plus, I can picture the action taking place myself! At any rate, I'm sold on the book and it's firmly in place on the wishlist.

I hope you are home safely, Donna! Once again, I think Missouri got more snow than we did here in Iowa. And such cold temps. I'd had my eye on We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves and your review pushed me over the edge! Onto the Wishlist it goes.

I may never be caught up on LT threads but my laundry is done! I got home late yesterday afternoon and could only get up the motivation to unload the car, make a few phone calls, and watch the season premiere of Downton Abbey. My trip home seemed twice as long as the trip out west; perhaps because I was the sole driver in some pretty nasty conditions. Yesterday the cold was a concern. My car's outside thermometer didn't rise above 5 degrees! And part of the trip was on snow packed roads. I made it home, though, and don't plan to go anywhere until the end of the month when DH and I are going back to Kansas City to babysit while my fortunate daughter and SIL go to sunny Mexico. Have I mentioned that I am sick of winter?

>93 phebj:: How strange that we were reading the same book. I hope you liked it as much as I did. As I told my daughter about it she just looked at me as if I were crazy for liking it!

>94 AnneDC:: Hi Anne, I understand about a new baby taking center stage. My whole visit to Colorado was centered around Baby Hope. And now that I'm back home, I get to see the changes in Baby Molly. Gosh, I miss my two local granddaughters. I haven't seen them since the week end before Christmas. I plan to see them tomorrow despite having a Christmas tree mocking me as I try to ignore it. I totally understand that you are overbooked for this month. I have so many books I want to read and not enough time to get to all of them.

>95 brenpike:: Brenda, have you taken up residence in Ohio? I get the attraction. If I didn't have five grandchildren in the Missouri/KS area, I could have happily stayed longer in Colorado. Babies are precious and fascinating to us grandmothers!

>96 scaifea:: Oh good, Amber. I think you will like the book, at least I hope so. Maybe there were more references to Bloomington than I picked up on. I am mainly familiar with the Indiana University campus there from No. 1 Son attending back in the early 90s.

>97 porch_reader:: Yup, home safe and sound. I was probably crazy to leave when I did -- but I made it. Amy, I'm sure you will catch up with us as far as snow and cold temperatures go. I am hoping for an early spring! I can't believe I thought I would find some times this winter when I could luxuriate in a little porch swinging and reading. What was I thinking?

Book No. 2: Runaway by Alice Munro. Audiobook read by Kymberly Dakin. 4 stars.

What a great choice for a road trip. These eight short stories kept my attention but didn't demand it. The stories seemed to run together, although only three of them were linked by the main character Juliet in three different stages of her life. All were sad. If you are looking for happy endings, best look elsewhere!

I didn't find this collection quite as engaging as the ancestral stories in The View from Castle Rock. Perhaps I read her best collection first, but, no matter. These were all good stories about women - young and old - in different but believable circumstances. They all had to do with escape, either a physical running away or a mental form of trying to change one's circumstances in life. Munro is such a keen observer of daily life but her stories don't seem ordinary. She picks up on the coincidences that can become life-changing if they are not ignored and, although, most of the stories were ones of quiet desperation, they left me more with a feeling of thoughtfulness rather than despair. The only thing I would have liked better is if there had been some intervals between the stories so that I could have given them some quiet contemplation. I wasn't quick enough on the uptake to turn the CD off before the narrator jumped into the next story. I think I'll reread this one in print sometime to get even more from the complex narratives. It was interesting to me that all eight stories were one-word titles. At least I think they were…they aren't listed on the cover or the individual CD.

I also listened to the first CD in City of Thieves. It got my attention immediately. I will finish it in print version as I own the book. How did I not know this was another survival story set in Leningrad? Duh, I don't even know the wonders that lie between the pages of my own books! I think this will be a quick read if I can find some time between everything that needs I would like to get done this week.

Hi Donna - I'm glad you made it home OK. I loved City of Thieves and will be anxious to hear what you think of it.

So glad to see you made it home safely, Donna!

Glad you're home, Donna. Got such a chuckle out of your one-liner: Have I mentioned that I am sick of winter? I hear you, loud and clear.

That's a lovely review of another Munro. Appreciated : ).

Glad you are safe and sound, Donna! I wondered how the short stories would be on audio. Sounds like they worked well. I have Vampires in the Lemon Grove on audio and may try it on my commutes to work.

>98 Donna828:: LOL I am the complete opposite... my laundry is never-ending, and I avoid it to spend more time on LT threads... oops...

Glad to see you made it home safe and sound! Sounds like your drive was quite an adventure.

I was thinking that that must be an Alice Munro book I didn't have until I opened the book page and saw the (awful) cover of the copy I have on my shelf. I have several of her books piled up waiting for me (including her latest which was a Christmas present).

I LOVED City of Thieves!

But winter's only a couple of weeks old!! :(

Hi Donna. Glad to read that you are home at last. . .
I haven't taken up residence in OH completely, just spending as much time with baby Ollie as possible. :)
Let me know if you have any time to spare when you are in the KC area. I'd love to catch up over a cup of coffee or in front of a bookshelf!

I am also a big fan of City of Thieves.

>98 Donna828:: Wait, he was there in the early '90's? So was I (1993-1997)! I wonder if we ever crossed paths...

>100 BLBera:: Beth, I am loving City of Thieves so far. I didn't expect the bits of humor in such a situation!

>101 rosalita:: Thanks, Julia. It is so good to be home.

>102 lit_chick:: Nancy, I've changed my mind. Winter isn't so bad now that I'm looking at it through my window from a warm house. Our lake is frozen solid. I might even take up ice skating!

>103 porch_reader:: Amy, short stories worked for me because of my limited attention span to audio when I am in the driver's seat. I think I mentioned that I will reread Runaway at some point - maybe when I run out of books by my new favorite author!

>104 dk_phoenix:: Faith, that is usually my attitude, too, but I had been gone ten days. Apparently, my husband doesn't do laundry! Now I've got my priorities straight again.

>105 Copperskye:: I saw that other cover, Joanne. Don't let it spoil your enjoyment of the book. I'm glad I have several more of hers to read and may check out the used bookstores for even more of Munro's work. I know this winter is still young. See my new policy in my response to Nancy.

>106 brenpike:: Brenda, you have to soak up those baby cuddles while you can. I miss Hope a lot, although I am sleeping much better. My bedroom was right next to hers! I would have gotten up with her but Rebecca is sleeping in the nursery for the time being. I will let you know if I have some time while in KC. Griffin goes to half-day Kindergarten which complicates things. I don't know if Dave will stay with me the whole time or not.

>107 scaifea:: Amber, Mike's one year at IU was still a few years before your time. He decided to finish school at Missouri State because he missed his car and his girlfriend…not necessarily in that order. His mean parents also made him pay the out-of-state tuition!

I see there is lots of love for City of Thieves here. I am enjoying it very much. I seem to be on a roll of good books for the new year. I learned something new in my reading last night. I've read several books about hunger in various sieges but this was a new "fix" for me…

"The boy sold what people called library candy, made from tearing the covers off of books, peeling off the binding glue, boiling it down, and reforming it into bars you could wrap in paper. The stuff tasted like wax, but there was protein in the glue, protein kept you alive, and the city's books were disappearing like the pigeons."

Ha! I see. Well, it's a huge campus, so we likely wouldn't have collided anyway.

>90 Donna828: There is a huge spoiler on the cover for We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves so don't look too closely
Why do they do that? *frustrating*
Of course a little part of me wants to go to your review, enlarge the cover and see, just to see. Human nature huh?

>98 Donna828: I understand the laundry (we call it the washing) issue!
After our camping trip, I came back with 3 loads, and that was with washing our clothes as we went during the week.

I enjoyed City of Thieves too, Donna. Maybe not quite as much as The Siege by Helen Dunmore though.

That's a rough drive this time of year, Donna, since I-70 can as easily as not be closed down. Glad you made it home safe and sound. We're driving to CO next week--good grief, I am so not ready and in total denial. I've made that drive so many times, and I thought I was done with it. Ho-ho, the joke's on me, not.

You're off to a good start, Donna!

I'm so happy Hope has come home and is doing well. So nice of you to honor her with your hope theme. Lovely thread toppers!

Donna, I enjoyed both Runaway (the only Alice Munro I've read, though I got another one for Christmas) AND City of Thieves. Happy reading to you!

>109 scaifea:: Probably not, Amber. He was a Marketing major so doubtful you would have shared a class with him either.

>110 LovingLit:: Megan, The Siege was totally awesome. I still remember reading it in my snuggery all nestled in my warm cozy blanket. I felt like I was one of the survivors of Leningrad! The washing never gets completely caught up, does it? Much like the threads around here. I have thrown in the towel so to speak with keeping up with everybody. I'll just try to keep up with myself and return visits to those who pay me the honor of a visit.

>111 labwriter:: Becky, I hope the roads are clear and the visibility is good for your drive to CO. One thing about that drive is it allows time for reflection on life or whatever and/or the opportunity to read or listen to a good book. It would be difficult to get lost and end up in South Dakota!

>112 tymfos:: Thanks, Terri! I was wonderful holding Hope and realizing that I had a healthy although quite small granddaughter. I am so grateful. I'll be over to check on your thread soon.

>113 AMQS:: Hi Anne! I am a happy reader these days. No duds for me this year…at least so far. I owe it to the fine vetting done by this group. I listen and learn from readers like you and others here who give honest appraisals of books. Hooray for LT!

>114 Donna828: I'm here Donna! Don't throw the towel over me!

>115 Linda92007:: Haha. Never in a million years, Linda! I hope no one shies away from my thread because of that remark. I made it out of desperation. I know it is physically impossible to keep up with everyone here. Paul, Richard, Mark, and some of the others that can do it are obviously employing Santa's elves before they get too busy making toys for next Christmas. I've never seen such frenetic posting around here. Quite frankly, I don't care if I'm in the top twenty or the bottom twenty as far as posting goes. I just want a friendly core group that I can talk books with. Call me Cranky…but please continue to call me...

Glad you're home safely Donna. Snuggle in and enjoy some reading!!

Nice review of Runaway, Donna.

Where's Haley? :-(

As long as your thread is always around for me to visit you, I don't care if you ever post anywhere else, Donna! Don't worry, you are more than worth seeking out. :-)

Donna- It looks like you been busy, but you sure find time to read some wonderful books. I loved your spoiler-free review of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. Shamefully, I did not give it a mini-review, when I listened to it a few weeks ago, but I was fretting over the decision on leaving out the "angle", even though it is clearly stated in the description.
And of course, I agree with you, that it is a terrific novel.
I hope you are loving City of Thieves. I LOVE that book!

I also loved City of Thieves Donna. Perhaps you were the only LTer who hadn't read it. Haha. Anyway, it's not nearly as powerful as The Siege.

Great review of Runaway which is the only other Munro book that I own so I assume it will be the next one of her books that I will read. I feel about the same as you about the threads after being in exile for four days.

Have a wonderful weekend, Donna!

I know what you mean, Donna. I've been spending 3 to 5 hours on LT thing a day. I'm not reading much or getting anything done on my to do list. It's ridiculous!

Wonderful to see you are home safe and sound Donna... and the laundry is done! I am looking forward to reading your review of City of Thieves. That one is on my TBR bookcase.

I hope you have a relaxing weekend - preferably reading, Donna. Its not like I am impatient for you to finish the book or anything, I just think a weekend reading and writing reviews is a great way to spend the time. You know that is what you want to do.... ;-)

Donna, I read We are All Completely Beside Ourselves. It was, as you note, a book that stays with you!

>117 RebaRelishesReading:: Thank you, Reba. Maybe tomorrow will be a more relaxing day. I caught up with some friends today and did lots of errands.

>118 kidzdoc:: Thanks, Darryl! Haley spent the day with us on Wednesday. I can't believe how much I missed her. We are pretty good buddies. No new pictures but I'll work on it.

>119 rosalita:: Awww, that's so sweet, Julia. Not to worry...I will be nosing in here and there. Your thread is one of my usual stops. I just may not show up as frequently.

>120 msf59:: Mark, books like that are hard for me to review. It was no big secret what the "secret" was but I didn't want to be the one to reveal it even though it is noted in most of the reviews. That sounds like double talk, doesn't it? City of Thieves is an easy book to love. My comments follow...

>121 brenzi:: Dang, Bonnie, you gave a big spoiler about those oval objects laid by chickens. Lol. I frequently read about a book before I even open the cover, so I don't mind a spoiler or two. To me the fun in reading is not being surprised but seeing how the author tells the story and reels me into it. I think I may be one of the last here to read City of Thieves!

>122 wilkiec:: Thanks, Diana. You too!

>123 Morphidae:: It was getting ridiculous for me as well, Morphy. I worked hard to keep up and then felt bad when I couldn't anymore. It was beginning to feel like Junior High School all over again, and that's a place and time I don't want to revisit!

>124 lkernagh:: Hi Lori! I'm glad to know I'm not the very last one to read City of Thieves! I plan to spend much of the week end reading. I still have a Christmas closet under the stairs to tackle but the tree is down -- finally!

>125 Whisper1:: Linda, I loved your review of Completely Beside Ourselves. It really got to me in a big way. I think I was ready for an emotional read.

Book No. 3: City of Thieves by David Benioff. 4.2 stars.

"My chin was level with the top of the gate when I felt the gloved hands wrap around my ankles. Strong hands, the hands of army men who ate two meals every day. I tried to cling to the iron bars, but the soldiers dragged me down, tossed me to the sidewalk, and stood above me, the muzzles of their Tokarevs jabbing at my cheeks. None of the soldiers looked older than nineteen and none seemed reluctant to splatter the street with my brains." (17)

This is the story of an unusual friendship that came about out of desperation and a shared goal. Lev is captured after he is caught looting the body of a dead German soldier. Kolya has been arrested that same night for deserting his unit. They are chosen by the Colonel to go on a nearly impossible quest which leads them behind enemy lines outside of Leningrad.

While the premise is fairly ludicrous, the alliance between a young Jewish Russian boy and his older more experienced companion make for a wonderful tale of friendship and overcoming the odds. There is quite a bit of humor mixed in with the sheer terror and brutality they face which kept me chuckling while I read on the edge of my seat! This is a rollicking good story but does not have the deeply disturbing impact of The Siege. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to the few people here who may not have already read it.

Wow, that's a killer paragraph to suck you into the book, Donna! I may have to add that one to the ever-expanding wishlist.

Great review, Donna!

I have just moved that up the waiting list Donna after your enthusiasm for it.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Nice review of City of Thieves, Donna. I am another who has not yet read it!

Happy Weekend, Donna! So happy to see you're home and off to a good reading year. I saw we are all beside ourselves in my library's audio website and thought of getting it but the cover had shadows of people mulling around what could be (I don't know, a cemetery, perhaps) and I didn't want a sad story, but your rating has me changing my mind.

Hey Donna! Hope you're having a great weekend!

>129 rosalita:: My "killer paragraph" is one of many, Julia. This was a very intriguing book…one you should read imo!

>130 lkernagh:: Thank you, Lori.

>131 PaulCranswick:: I got Paul with a book bullet! Yay for me! I hope your week end is every bit as wonderful as the one you wished for me.

>132 Linda92007:: Linda, I'm not sure if this book is up to your literary standards. I think it is one that entertains, however, and might be worth a look.

>133 Carmenere:: Lynda, my cover was very different and didn't promise a sad story -- which it turned out to be. I still think you would like it. It did end on a hopeful note.

>134 The_Hibernator:: Rachel, most of our snow was washed away by yesterday's rain and the sun is out. As soon as it gets above freezing, I am going for my first real walk of the year. Wishing you a good week end in the frozen north!

Have I mentioned that I'm enjoying my current book: One of Ours by Willa Cather? I don't think she can write a book that I don't love. I haven't read nearly all of them but that is a long-term goal of mine. She has created a very peaceful beginning in Nebraska but I know that will change soon when young Claude joins the fighting of WWI.

Oh, for heaven's sake! How did I miss seeing your thread before this, Donna? Tch.

Well, I'm here now, and have done a quick catch-up, and first want to wish you a very happy New Year, though it's a little belated. Second, what a wonderful sweet picture of you and Baby Hope! You look so happy!!!

Glad you made it home okay. Driving through bad weather conditions is stressful; glad you've recovered and are getting caught up. (If one can ever be caught up on LT. Unless you are Paul C.) :)

Anyone for Bingo? I'm a sucker for most games and can't resist this one. The thread for it is over here.

I hope to cover my card with virtual Xes by the end of the year!



Donna's Reading Bingo:

More than 500 pages:
Forgotten Classic:
Book that became a movie:
Published this year:
Number in the title:
Written by someone under 30:
Book with non-human characters: We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. 1/4/14. 4.6*
Funny Book:
Female Author:
Book with a mystery:
One-Word Title:
Book of short stories:Runaway by Alice Munro. 1/7/14. 4*
Set on a different continent: City of Thieves by David Benioff. Set in Russia - Europe. 1/10/14. 4.2*
Non-Fiction:
First book by a favourite author:
Heard about online:
Best-selling book:
Based on a true story:
Book at the bottom of TBR pile:
Book my friend loves:
Book that scares me:
More than 10 years old:
Second book in a series:
Blue cover:

Donna, what a haunting quote from City of Thieves. Wonderful review.

>136 Storeetllr:: No worries, Mary. I am still adding stars and paying first-time visits. I think Paul has his minions helping him stay caught up. Either that or the poor man never sleeps. I'm just plodding along and doing my best! I hope to see you in late March or early April.

>138 lit_chick:: Hmm, I show two #137s but I'm pretty sure your number is 138, Nancy. It was a bit of a haunting book but nowhere near the memory of reading The Siege a few years ago. Both are recommended.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I just had so much fun updating my Message No. 4 with pictures of the used bookstore in a gas station. I hope to have more time the next time I drive through Salina, KS. I was surprised at the amount and decent quality of the books here. They are in an alcove leading to the truckers' lounge area. Hey, I guess truckers like to read -- hopefully when their behemoths are at the rest stops!

On my errands yesterday, I just happened by a used bookstore and happily added Restoration and The Eye in the Door to my collection. I've had Ghost Road for some time but want to read the trilogy in the proper order.

What a cool bookstore! I haven't run across any bookstores at gas stations yet, but there are some good restaurants at gas stations around here! One of the deacons at my church is a truck driver and he listens to audio books on the road. I've picked up a couple of recommendations from him.

Hi Donna - I'm just starting to catch up on threads at last. You've had a great start to your reading! I loved City of Thieves too. And the Bingo thing is great.

I'm seeing so much Willa Cather reading happening around the group that I might have to join in. I have My Antonia and Song of the lark here somewhere. I thought O Pioneers! was wonderful and also liked Alexander's Bridge. She doesn't get much publicity over here?

Have a nice Sunday and enjoy your walk.

>4 Donna828:, 139 VERY cool gas station bookstore!

Love the photos of the gas station bookstore, Donna. And I see you picked up "The Rosie Project", too!

>126 Donna828: Spoiler?? Are you serious Donna? I thought that was revealed fairly early in the book but it's been awhile since I read it. I've removed it now so sorry about that. I'm going to have to do that Bingo. That looks like fun.

>140 cbl_tn:: Carrie, be sure and tell your truck driver friend about the 24/7 Truck Stop at Salina, KS on I-70…or if he is a big reader and drives out that way, some of those books may be his! I was surprised at the quality of books.

>141 cushlareads:: Cushla, it's very nice to see you here after your big trip to Spain. Cather is very much an American author so I'm glad to see you are at least familiar with her work. I need to get to Alexander's Bridge sometime. I seem to recall a recommendation from the new Kiwi Jenn also known as nittnut around here!

>142 Storeetllr:: I thought so, Mary. It was a very welcome rest stop for me.

>143 rosalita:: I picked that one up because of your thread, Julia. I seem to be susceptible to book bullets these early days of a new year.

>144 brenzi:: Golly, Bonnie, I was kidding you! You are right…the egg bit was revealed near the beginning. I'm not entirely certain but on the book cover it looks like Lev and Kolya are following a chicken - or is it a rooster? - through the snow! I'm going to have fun fitting my books into that Bingo board.

I'll let him know, Donna, but I don't think he drives that far west. He works for UPS and I think he has regular routes between Knoxville and Nashville, Atlanta, or Lexington.

>145 Donna828:: Carrie, maybe there are more used books for sale in those truck stops than we know about. Hidden treasure?

You may be right! I'll have to ask my truck driver friend!

Call me Cranky…but please continue to call me… Donna I loved that!

It sure is crazy busy. Thanks for popping by my thread and I look forward to your opinion on Spenser #9. I want to get back to Alice Munro soon but I'm not 100% sure what book I want to read yet.

That gas station bookstore looks so much nicer than I was picturing, Donna. If I should ever head east, I'll be sure to check it out!

I'm glad to see you liked City of Thieves!

Hi Donna - I love the gas station bookstore, the bingo and your City of Thieves review. I loved that book. Your thread is always fun to visit.

Oh yay, photos of the bookstore/gas station! Love it. Salina is a cool little town.

Love the Bingo -- I'm off to check out the thread!

Looking forward to hear your opinion on One of Ours. I bought Lucy Gayheart on a book sale last year, and it's going to be my read after the prairie-trilogy.

Wow, Donna, it looks like you are off to a great reading start! I've heard so many good things about City of Thieves - I hope to get to it this year. I am tempted by that Book Bingo - I don't think it counts as planning, so maybe I can do it ;-)

Hi Carrie!

Roberta, I own one more Munro book. It is upstairs and I'm too lazy to see what it is. I may put her new one on reserve at the library. I'm glad she is a prolific writer because I sure do enjoy her stories.

Joanne, I was pleasantly surprised as well. It seemed to be well kept up. I wonder if the cashiers alphabetize the books in their spare time? I'll have to ask next time I drop in.

Thanks, Beth. I try to keep things fairly light around here…except when I get cranky. Lol.

Anne, if you go to Lawrence in March, the bookstore will be on your way. Do stop in and browse a bit. I just had time to glance at the books when I was in there.

Carsten, I am still liking One of Ours but haven't gotten as much reading time in this week end as I wanted to. It has been fairly warm here so I've spent time out of doors getting some much needed fresh air and exercise.

Katie, the only planning I am doing with the Bingo is to plug my books in as I read them. It might take me all year to fill out my card. My biggest challenge will be to read the second book in a series. This may be the year I read the Dr. Siri books that have been popular on LT. Yes, you should read City of Thieves. Very entertaining.

Well, People, I am going to get a bit of reading in before the Golden Globe Awards begin. That is my favorite awards show because it includes movies and television. I have to watch it live because I will be recording Downton Abbey and the new detective show on HBO that starts tonight. I hope I'm not turning into a TV junkie!

Donna, glad to see you decided to join in on the lunacy of Reading Bingo!

I have finished One of Ours and I am even more of a fan of Willa Cather than I was before.

Hi Donna! Finally made it by. I've starred you, and I'll be following. LOVE your theme for the year, and so happy that Hope is thriving!

Hi Donna!

I'm interested in both We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves and the Pat Barker trilogy (with the WWI Centennial reading going on, I should try to fit this in this year.)

Nice review if the Munro collection. I'm currently working through Something I've been Meaning to Tell You and it's wonderful. I don't hear people mention it much around here, but it's a great choice.

Hi Donna - glad you enjoyed the Munro collection!

>158 DorsVenabili: - I read Something I've Been Meaning to Tell You last week - it was excellent!

Do tell, Donna - which gas station? We travel through Salina frequently, and it would appear that we've been making the wrong gas stop!

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves looks like a book I would enjoy. I have read one of Fowler's other books, The Jane Austen Book Club, and liked it.

Thanks for the recommendation, Donna!

156: Judy, I loved the section on the transAtlantic crossing. Claude snapped out of his funk and made himself useful. Cather writes about the ocean and military transports as beautifully as she writes about the prairie!

157: Hi Jenn, thanks for the visit during a busy time in your life. Can't wait to hear more about it.

158: Kerri, I have been wanting to read The Regeneration Trilogy for a long time. This seems like the perfect year to do it.

159: Hi Cait! That's two recommendations for Something I've Been Meaning To Tell You in a row. Onto the WL it goes.

160: Cindy, I looked it up for you. It is a 24/7 Travel Store with a Subway restaurant inside at Exit 252. Check it out. They have clean rest rooms, too!

161: Stasia, I liked the Jane Austen Book Club well enough but I loved We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. It would be a nice break from the textbooks.

Book No. 4: One of Ours by Willa Cather. 4 stars.

"Everyone was always saying it was a fine thing to be young; but it was a painful thing, too. He didn't believe older people were ever so wretched. Over there, in the golden light, the mass of mountains was splitting up into four distinct ranges, and as the sun dropped lower the peaks emerged in perspective, one behind the other. It was a lonely splendor that only made the ache in his breast the stronger. What was the matter with him, he asked himself entreatingly." (106)

Claude Wheeler was ill-suited as a Nebraska farm boy. His longings were realized after he entered a one-sided marriage and became obsessed with the news of WWI. When he decided he must enter the fray rather than live his life in shame because he did nothing to help innocent people, it was as if a different book was being written. The latter part of the book was about a hero rather than an angst riddled dreamer.

When an idealist goes to war, something must change in him. Claude gladly gave up his malaise and assumed responsibility for the young men in his charge. He showed endurance under formidable conditions; he showed courage in the face of danger. I rather liked this change. I began thinking of him by his rightful name rather than "Clod" which I thought more descriptive in the beginning.

Willa Cather received the Pulitzer Prize for this book in 1923. She was both praised and reviled for writing a war story. I think she did a fine job of exposing the stink and scourge of war as well as portraying the story of a young man who found his true calling as a soldier. This was another beautifully written book by a revered author.

Simply stopping by to wave hello. I own City of Thieves. One of the problems of a book hoarder is that you cannot readily find a specific book. Where oh where could this one be... I hope to find it soon.

I didn't enjoy One of Ours as much as I wanted to, Donna, but it wasn't the author's fault. The book jacket contained the hugest spoiler imaginable and that knowledge really did spoil it for me. I'm glad you were able to experience it as the beautifully written book that it is.

Another great Cather review, Donna!

Donna, wonderful review of One of Ours. Love that Cather is popping up everywhere right now (American author for Jan, I think?). She's one who's on my list ... yes, that neverending-never-enough-time list. Well deserved thumb-up from this corner.

Got to get a copy of One of Ours. I've been checking used book stores for it, along with all of the Pulitzer list but have never found one. After your review I may have to get more agressive. It sounds great.

Great review of One of Ours, Donna. I love the phrase "the stink and scourge of war'. It reminded me of when Claude and his friends were bathing in a water filled shell crater being very careful not to explore too deeply in case they found something they didn't want to find in their bath!

Wonderful review Donna. I'm going to be reading this in March. She was both praised and reviled for writing a war story

Huh? Why? There are thousands probably tens of thousands of books based on WWI alone, let alone all the other wars in history. I don't get that at all. I'm sure it didn't glorify war.

I knew Cather had won the Pulitzer but I guess I didn't know for which book because I've never even heard of One of Ours. I suddenly feel pretty illiterate. It sounds like something I'd like so thanks for bringing it to my attention, Donna.

>164 Whisper1:: Linda, that is so funny. Did you check under the beds?

>165 lauralkeet:: Laura, that is inexcusable. I can see a casual reviewer on LT letting a spoiler slip through but to have one on the book jacket? Somebody needs to be hung out to try for this big boo boo!

>166 rosalita:: Why, thank you, Julia. I don't think I've read an unfavorable Cather review yet.

>167 lit_chick:: Neverending-never-enough-time list…I love that description, Nancy. Thank you for the thumb. It is the first review I've posted this year. I see a new trend beginning.

>168 RebaRelishesReading:: Keep searching, Reba. I had about given up on the first two books in Pat Barker's Regeneration Trilogy and they jumped out at me on the last trip to my closest used bookstore. You never know.

>169 DeltaQueen50:: Judy, that was a very vivid scene, especially after Claude brought up a German helmet out of the mud. They skedaddled pretty quickly out of there, didn't they?

>170 brenzi:: Bonnie, I was surprised to read that in the introduction. Her 'authority' as a woman writing a war story was questioned as was her supposed positive attitude toward The Great War. It was interesting that some critics panned it because it was 'unrealistic' yet it was widely acclaimed by ex-soldiers and their families. Go figure.

>171 Copperskye:: Oh Joanne, I wasn't aware of this book until I found it at a library book sale and grabbed it up. We can't know about every book that has been written, although some people on LT are close to being all-knowing. That's why I like searching used bookstores and book sales. It's like hunting for treasure!

Good start for the year, Donna.
I think I mentioned that I had put The Goldfinch on hold at the library. I'm number 1153 in the queue. But they do have 197 copies. Still, if it comes out in paperback before I get it from the library, I'll just give myself permission to buy it!

I love your review of One of Ours.

Hi Donna. Another tempting Cather review. I am going to have to rectify my neglect of her works.

Caught up, pretty much!!! I'm awfully glad I didn't realize that you were driving through all that winter weather by yourself. I know that we are intrepid, resourceful, determined, etc., but I'm glad I didn't know. And I'm glad that you're home and warm and reading. So far I'm dodging BBs, but I'm doing that all over the place these days. It's not as if I don't have something on my own shelves to read!
And that BINGO board! I don't need another thing to choose my reading for me, but that is a really interesting challenge. I suspect I'll yield after I see it on another thread or two!

Hi Donna - Nice review of One of Ours; it's a Cather I haven't read. I'll have to look for it.

Good morning!

>173 EBT1002:: Ellen, that is a looong hold list for The Goldfinch. I am feeling blessed to have my friend Nancy's copy ready and waiting for me when I can devote some time to it. January has turned into a very busy month for me.

>174 Linda92007:: Linda, you have a whole collection of Cather books waiting for your enjoyment. My Antonia remains my first love but One of Ours and others by her have been very good as well.

>175 LizzieD:: Your concern for my safety is touching, Peggy. I like the thought of being intrepid, resourceful, determined but I might have to add foolhardy to that list of descriptors! My guardian angel was traveling with me! Bingo is fun and not too taxing as I am just marking my planned reads on the board as I complete them.

>176 BLBera:: Thank you, Beth. I still have a few unread Cathers on my shelf. It's good to have books to look forward to!

Woo Hoo! My 400th Review!



Book No. 5: Someone by Alice McDermott. 4.4 stars.

"…the ordinary days were a veil, a swath of thin cloth that distorted the eye. Brushed aside, in moments such as these, all that was brittle and terrible and unchanging was made clear… My brother and I greeted the people we knew walking by, neighborhood women, shopkeepers in doorways trying to catch a breeze. Each one of them, it seemed to me now that the veil was briefly parted, hollow-eyed with disappointment or failure or some solitary grief." (80)

Alice McDermott writes like an angel. Her prose is soft and soothing. She can take an ordinary girl like Marie and show the richness behind her everyday life in Brooklyn in the early to mid-20th century. There are moments where characters are blindsided by adversity but "someone" usually comes along to make sense out of life's absurdities.

There is no great adventure or shocking event to grab the reader's attention. Just the telling of growing up in a Brooklyn neighborhood in a nostalgic tone that reminds me of looking through a scrapbook of memories of a dear friend. McDermott not only provides the intimate details of the pictures she draws with words but somehow conveys the underlying emotions with her understated poetic writing.

This is a book to be read slowly in order to delight in the beautiful language and encounter with a bygone era. The 232 pages went by much too quickly leaving this reader wanting more. Everyone who enjoys intelligent and tender writing should read Someone.

Hi Donna,

I just finished Someone and I'm glad you liked it as much as I did. I have never read her other books so it might be time to remedy that.

400 reviews! :D Woooooooooow. Congratulations! You're a professional. ^_^

That sounds like a winner, Donna! And congratulations on your 400th review!!

I was looking at Someone a day or so ago when the UK kindle daily deal seem to load that Amazon page by accident. I'd had a good look at the book and decided that I might enjoy it when I realised that it wasn't the daily deal at all, there was obviously some glitch on the Amazon website and it was full price. So I didn't buy it in the end, but looks like Alice McDermott is one I should look out for.

400?!!!! I'm most impressed. Congratulations.

Regarding message 172, you made me laugh. Actually, I did check under the bed (s) plural...
All I found was a lot of other books and dust, lots and lots of dust.

Happy day to you.

Congrats on your milestone review, and wishing you a lovely weekend!

I have Someone on my TBR list.

Donna, wonderful praise for Someone. The writing and the language sound irresistible!

eta: touchstone, argh!

Congratulations on your 400th review, Donna!

Wow, 400 reviews! That's impressive. I've never read anything by Alice McDermott but this one sounds good.

400 reviews? Incredible!

I loved your review of Someone, Donna, and I'm so glad McDermott's book has found yet another fan!

And wow! 400 reviews! Congratulations!

That's so impressive! Congratulations, Donna!! "Someone" goes to the TBR right now.
Have a great weekend!

I will echo what so many others have said Donna. 400 reviews is quite a feat. Great that you produced a good one for a good book to bring up the milestone with.

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the birthday party tomorrow. xx

I'm looking forward to reading One of Ours - I just love Cather. With everyone reading her this month, I have read so many good reviews, and now want to read everything she wrote. Congrats on reaching 400 reviews!

Congrats on hitting 400 reviews! Nicely done!

>179 dallenbaugh:: Donna, you are in for a real treat with the rest of Cather's books. I haven't read all of them but the ones I have read have been excellent.

>180 ErisofDiscord:: Hardly a professional, Eris. Just someone who wants to share the love of reading. Hey, that's why all of us are here!

>181 rosalita:: Thank you, Julia.

>182 SandDune:: Ha, that was a strange and funny story, Rhiana. It almost sounds like "bait and switch" but I'm sure it was a computer mixup. I would recommend Alice McDermott wholeheartedly if you don't mind a book that is not too heavy on plot but has beautiful writing.

>183 RebaRelishesReading:: Reba, I've been writing these reviews for over five years now and have slowed down quite a bit lately. I seemed to be repeating myself! Thanks for the congrats.

>184 Whisper1:: Lol, Linda. I'm sure your misplaced book will turn up someday!

>185 cbl_tn:: Thanks, Carrie, I hope you have a good week end, too.

>186 thornton37814:: Lori, I hope you like Someone when you get around to it. Btw, I think both you and Carrie should read Ann Patchett's book of essays, This is the Story of A Happy Marriage. I read a good one last night about Tennessee and its verdant vegetation. It sounded a lot like it could have been written about Missouri!

>187 lit_chick:: Nancy, everytime I type Someone, I growl about the hidden touchstone. For some reason it is difficult to find the right one in that long list even with all the practice I've had!

>188 lauralkeet:: Thanks very much, Laura.

>189 phebj:: Pat, I think this one is my favorite so far. I've read a few others by her all written in the same quiet way. I would also recommend At Weddings and Wakes.

>190 brenpike:: Thank you, Brenda. I am semi-retired from writing reviews. I'd rather be reading!

>191 Copperskye:: Definitely a McDermott fan, Joanne. Thanks for you kind words.

>192 Deern:: Hi Nathalie! Wishing you a wonderful week end as well.

>193 PaulCranswick:: I will have to get up early, Paul, to do party prep. We keep it simple with just family in attendance but it's nice to have a clean house and some food ready for the gang!

>194 Cait86:: Cait, I will read all of Cather's books someday…and then begin again and reread my favorites!

>195 ChelleBearss:: Thank you, Chelle!

"January has turned into a very busy month for me."
I hear ya.

I really must give Alice McDermott a try.

I'll keep an eye out for the Patchett book. Thanks for the recommendation!

Hi Donna - Wonderful review of Someone. I refer to you in my comments. :) 400!! Wow. Have a great Sunday.

I'm actually reading a Patchett now, but it's a different one, set in Kentucky.

Nice review of Someone Donna. I read Charming Billy eons ago and loved it but never read anything else. Must look for this one.

Great review for your 400th, Donna! I was surprised to be the first to thumb it; I figured by the time I got around to catching up on your thread, it would have been thumbed-up to high heaven!

Hi Donna- It looks like I've been neglecting my longtime LT pal! What is my problem, you ask? Great, unanswerable question. I finished the behemoth known as bleak House. It's another winner from Mr. Dickens, but boy can that man talk! If he had a 75 Challenge thread, he might outpace Paul.
I will start Tinker Creek today. Are you a Dillard fan? And like Bonnie, I've only read Charming Billy by McDermott.

Hope you have a great day and fine week.

>198 EBT1002:: Ellen, reading Alice McDermott is almost a reading vacation for me. Her quiet prose lulls me into a meditative state and I always feel refreshed after reading one of her books. Please do give her a try one of these days. Someone would be a good choice but you really can't go wrong with any one of her books. My Januarys used to be a relaxing month after the flurry of the holidays. This year the flurry has continued with no end in sight…

>199 cbl_tn:: You are welcome, Carrie. Have you been to Ann Patchett's book store in Nashville?

>200 BLBera:: Beth, I had a fun but tiring Sunday. Good football games and a family birthday party here for my lovely daughter-in-law Mary. Today is a much-needed day of rest for me. I'm very glad I saved you from writing a review of Someone. It is funny that we both even picked the same quote from the book!

>201 thornton37814:: Lori, I'm going to guess that you are reading Patron Saint of Liars. That was not my favorite by Patchett, but now I can't remember why. It was her first book and, yes, she wrote an essay about it in Happy Marriage.

>202 brenzi:: Bonnie, it looks like I read Charming Billy in 2003. I don't have much recollection about it except that it was sad. I guess that might describe all of McDermott's books, though, as she writes about real life.

>203 countrylife:: Thank you for that thumb, Cindy! As it may be my only one, I appreciate it even more.

>204 msf59:: Mark, I've had my share of neglecting people lately, too, so you are off the hook! As I told you at the end of your #2 thread (you do read it, don't you?) -- lol -- I am a big Dillard fan and Pilgrim at Tinker Creek used to be my go-to book when I needed a transfusion of sublime and soothing writing. I haven't dipped into it in a long time. If I didn't have so much on my reading plate, I would be tempted to join in the group read of this one. Busy week ahead with helping Ben and Mary move into their new (to them) house. My contribution will be babysitting for my two lovely and entertaining granddaughters.

A message of HOPE from a great man. Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Great sentiment, Donna. Happy MLK Day to you too!

I haven't been to Ann Patchett's bookstore yet, but I really should go. I'm in Nashville about once a year for a library meeting, usually at the Nashville Public Library. I love wandering through the library during the lunch break because there are so many interesting things to see, from the marionette collection to the Wilson Limited Editions collection. I'm usually in a hurry to get home at the end of the day, though, so I don't often stick around to visit anywhere else in the Nashville area.

One of Ours and Someone - two good reviews and you make me want to read both. Good to know there's some great Cather-books waiting for me. Reading O Pioneer at the moment.

>207 RebaRelishesReading:: Thanks, Reba. No school today so I don't have to do my usual after school tutoring/homework help.

>208 cbl_tn:: Carrie, it might be a good place for a meet-up one of these days or years. It's certainly a place I would like to visit.

>209 ctpress:: Carsten, I loved O Pioneers. I think I can honestly say that about all of the Cather books I've read. I've just loved some more than others!

Book No. 6: Ceremony by Robert B. Parker. 3 stars.

April: "…I wanted to get back on call, you know? Guys take you to nice hotel rooms. you can sleep over, in-room movies sometimes, breakfast in bed, take a shower, everything, right? I wanted to get back on that. So I didn't give anybody any trouble."

Spenser: "Everybody's gotta have a dream."

I finished this book a few days ago and forgot to enter it. That might tell you how much I liked it. Despite the inclusion of both Susan Silverman and Hawk, this was kind of ho-hum Spenser. Another teenager running away from a bad home situation whom Spenser finds on his own dime. I'm a lot more interested in Susan finding out what he did in Los Angeles and her reaction!

I thought you had mentioned Dillard but I was so busy typing clumsily away, that I didn't go back and check. I am just 40 pages in but it is lovely and she is super smart. I can easily see why you are such a fan.

Donna, I'm not surprised you didn't like Ceremony. It wasn't one of my favorites, either. I think it was the book that really showed off Spenser's paternalistic tendencies in a not very pleasant way. I think the next one is much better, though!

Donna I saw your discussion with Mamie over on her thread about Spenser. Joe also says the next one is better. According to Joe the one we have slotted for November is one of the best.

I'd like to stick it out and see. If there are more meh than great at the end of the year then let's decide to either quit or take a bigger break in between. We did say a five year plan and we will be exactly half done at the end of the year. Not bad at all.

Congrats on 400 reviews!

Love the used bookstore in the gas station!

*wave!*

Wow, over 1000 holds for The Goldfinch?! I'm "reading" it through audio on Audible right now, which I got through the free trial credit. Well, glad I did that instead of attempting to see the holds list at our library! Here's hoping you get a chance to read it before, oh, 2018... haha.

Hi Donna! Congrats on baby Hope!! Is it going to be GD or GG? 1000 holds on Goldfinch? Wow! I have that in the pile somewhere...I think I should move it to the top.

Oh yes, it would be a great place for a meet-up! If you're ever traveling east instead of west, let us know and maybe we can arrange one!

>212 msf59:: Mark, I was pulling your leg a tiny bit. It's hard to translate my weird sense of humor here. It's no wonder you can't remember every comment made on your thread. You are an LT Rock Star! I'm grateful you remember old friends like me. ;-)

>213 rosalita:: Julia, I always look forward to the next Spenser book. Even the ones that aren't his best still have those Spenserisms that make me smile.

>214 luvamystery65:: Roberta, I am not ready to toss Spenser aside. I trust the judgment of others who have read the complete series. I look forward to the rest of the journey with you and Mamie.

>215 tymfos:: Thanks, Terri. Wasn't that a cool find in a gas station in the middle of Kansas? Books and truckers. Who knew.

>216 nittnut:: Waving vigorously back to Jenn so it will make it all the way to New Zealand!

>217 dk_phoenix:: Faith, that was Ellen in Seattle who was on that humongous hold list. I have a copy loaned to me from a real-life friend -- thank goodness. I suspect I wouldn't have the patience to wait very long for it. I just checked. My library has 82 holds on 12 copies. Not too bad.

>218 Berly:: Hi Kim, what a pleasant surprise. I think my name will remain GD - Grandma D for Donna - as Glamorous Gran seems a little self-serving. Plus, it's hard to pull off in my daily attire of jeans and sweatshirts! I'll be reading Goldfinch soon…very soon.

>219 cbl_tn:: Carrie, that would be great! I enjoyed the essay in Patchett's book, This is the Story of A Happy Marriage about how she got in the bookstore business.

Book No. 7: This Is the Story Of A Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett. 4.1 stars.

"Whatever I've become as an essayist, this collection bears the stamp of a writer who got her start in women's magazines: it is full of example and advice. I will never be a war correspondent or an investigative reporter, but the tradition I come from is an honorable one, and, at times, daunting. Many of the essays I'm proudest of were made from the things that were at hand--writing and love, work and loss. I may have roamed in my fiction, but this work tends to reflect a life lived close to home." (10)

I enjoyed getting to know Ann Patchett better. She seems very real and easy to be around...like someone I would like to visit with in person. While I admire her body of work, I didn't like everything she has written, but that is a personal view. I thought these essays written over the years reveal a writer with passion for her work and a person who values the people in her life. She's also a dog lover. Yes, we could be friends!

Patchett has been a bit hit-and-miss for me, although I think she's quite a good writer. It sounds like that one was a winner for you, Donna.

Hi, Donna! Huh, that last one sounds pretty interesting - I'll have to keep an eye out for it...

Donna half the fun in the Spenser Project is finding out what you and Mamie think!

Donna, The Patron Saint of Liars is a little hard for me to get into. I'm reading on it, but I'm more drawn to some of the NetGalleys on my iPad at the moment so it's a little slow going. Hopefully I can make progress or finish it over the weekend. I do have to work this weekend though, so I don't know how much progress I'll make.

Happy weekend Donna! Congrats on your 400th review. :)

Hi, Donna. How is the view of your lake this weekend?

Popping in to say I hope you are having a lovely weekend.

I have been AWOL for a good reason. Yesterday was moving day for my youngest son and family. They bought a much-needed bigger house that is about the same distance from us (20-25 minutes away). We had Haley and Molly here for 12 hours! I had them by myself on Thursday for about four hours while they closed on the house and went furniture shopping so I knew what we were in for! I am very blessed to have these two little girls in my life…and I am also very tired today. There were no problems except for wall-to-wall toys in the basement. I kept telling Haley she was going to have to clean up -- and she did -- with some help and a lot of direction! I should have taken a picture of that.

>222 rosalita:: Julia, I think I like Patchett's nonfiction writing better. I have fond memories of Truth and Beauty and I really enjoyed her book of essays. She touched on many personal stories. I feel like I know this woman now!

>223 scaifea:: Hi Amber, it's a good one if you like books about a writers' experience. She tells about her life-long love and need to be a writer.

>224 luvamystery65:: Oh yes, that is the best part, Roberta. There is no question that keeping up with you two is what keeps me going on this series.

>225 thornton37814:: Lori, my first experience with Patchett's writing was with The Magician's Assistant back in 1998. I liked it and went on to read her other books. Patron's Saint and Run were not big hits with me! I look forward to your comments on her first work so that I can remember why I didn't fall in love with it. No pressure!

>226 The_Hibernator:: Hi Rachel, thank you very much.

>227 ronincats:: The lake looks good, Roni. There is a thin coat of ice along the edge but it doesn't deter the Canadian Geese from stopping by in their migration. It gets rather noisy when a new gaggle stops by for a rest!

>228 luvamystery65:: Roberta, I am looking forward to reading and resting today and tomorrow. We will go by Ben and Mary's house this afternoon to see how it looks with their furniture in it. I may have house envy!

Sounds like Grandma Donna had a great time with her beautiful girls! Congrats to your son and his family for finding a new home. I hated Patchett's Run. It seemed like half a book that ended just when it should have been getting good.

Julia, it sounds like we had a similar reaction to Run. Ben and Mary weren't really looking for a house but happened to drive by the one they bought and loved the location (it's on a cul-de-sac and has a lake view). Then they made the "mistake" of looking at it before Christmas. The inside was as good as the outside. In fact, if they hadn't made an offer on it, I think we would have been tempted to. We need to downsize…but not too much. Their new house is a ranch style with a walk-out basement. Two bedrooms on the main level and two downstairs. More modern than our house with lots of natural light. *sigh* Yup, I have a slight case of house envy.

Well at least you can visit, Donna! Sounds like a lovely place. The girls are really growing up and look so cute.

Haley and Molly are as beautiful as ever! Lucky you having them so close.

Could those two be any cuter? I don't think so. Lucky you Donna. This is the Story of a Happy Marriage has been on my radar since I heard Tom Ashbrook interview her on NPR. And now that I know she could be a friend of yours I'm sure I'll read it:-)

The girls are so cute and look just as angelic as the two angels on the pillow next to them!

Your son's new house sounds fantastic.

Donna, what a beautiful picture! What lovely little girls.

So much to catch up on here! I remember loving The Jane Austen Book Club when I read it several years ago, but when I reread it (listened, actually), I didn't like it as well. Though between the first and second readings I did read nearly all of the Austens and I appreciated the references!

>Linda One of the problems of a book hoarder is that you cannot readily find a specific book. I know! It could be at the bottom of a pile, stacked two or three deep on a shelf, in a box... Knowing I had a specific title (and wanting to read it) led me to a significant and long-overdue rearranging/purge. Found it!

Donna, you make a lovely case for Alice McDermott. I keep my wish list in a lovely notebook my mom gave me called Books to Check Out: A Journal. I try to note who recommended the book, and for Someone I quoted you: "Alice McDermott writes like an angel." It doesn't get any better than that!

Great review of One of Ours, Donna, and congrats on your 400th+ review!

>233 lauralkeet:: Laura, we can visit as we did this afternoon to play with the girls while their parents hung some pictures and put together another bed. Haley can sometimes be a little too 'hands on" with 9-month-old Molly so they needed a few hours to do some of the chores that required both of them.

>234 scaifea:: I am indeed lucky, Amber!

>235 brenzi:: Sometimes I am bowled over by cuteness overload, Bonnie, until Molly spits up or Haley has a rare bathroom accident! I can almost guarantee you would like Ann Patchett's essays. I want everyone to meet my new friend!

>236 phebj:: Good catch on the angel pillow, Pat. Yes, that's them about 75% of the time…little angels. We walked around the yard at the new house. Lots of big trees and a big decorative rock for Haley to climb on. I saw the house before they made an offer on it, but it was too snowy to appreciate the lovely yard.


Haley and Grandma D. in back yard.


Checking out the lake with Dad.

>237 AMQS:: I'm glad you found the book you were looking for, Anne! No word from Linda as to whether or not she found hers. I am honored that you quoted me in your WL book. I need to do a much better job of keeping track of where I first learned of all the wonderful books I'm reading. I picked one up from the library today that I have no recollection of requesting -- but it looks very good. I must have read about A House in the Sky in the WSJ or on one of the online book sites that I get email from. Thanks for catching up with me!

Book No. 8: The Glass Room by Simon Mawer. 4.2 stars.

"The whole essence of the Glass Room is reason. That is what Viktor thinks, anyway. For him it embodies the pure rationality of a Greek classical temple, the austere beauty of a perfect composition, the grace and balance of a painting by Mondrian. There are no disturbing curves to upset the rectilinear austerity of the space. There is nothing convolute, involute, awkward or complex. Here everything can be understood as a matter of proportion and dimension. Yet there, standing mere feet away from him, is …" (137)

I really liked this book but would have liked it better without the in-your-face coincidences that the author was fond of. One would have been fine, but multiple chance happenings rankle me.

The first part of the book was superb. It told about the marriage of Viktor and Liesel and how they decided to build an ultra-modern house on a hillside in Czechoslovakia after WWI. They and their two children seemed happy until they weren't. I couldn't understand Viktor's wandering eye when he seemingly had everything a man could desire…a thriving business manufacturing automobiles, a wife who loved him, and two beautiful children. Then WWII heated up and things got increasingly tense for a family headed by a Jew. The Glass House provided the brilliant backdrop for the painful story of a marriage and a country gone awry.

There are many things to love about this book. It is interesting historical fiction that is well-written and researched. There were characters to care about despite their flaws. The descriptions of the house in all its revisions were marvelous and believable. I admire the author's different approach to showing how war wreaks its havoc. It would have been a better book without the fortuity and far-fetched ending.

Thanks for sharing the photos Donna; Haley is a cutie and little sis is coming up on the rails too. Ought to read The Glass Room soon. Very good review. xx

Donna, I find myself being quite sensitive to coincidences that strain belief as well, so that book for all its positives might not be the best choice for me. But your review is as usual stellar!

Hi, Donna ~ Just dropping by to say hi and congrats on your 400th+ review! Cute pics of your grandkids, and so wonderful to be able to spend time with them (and then send them home with their parents so you can rest up after LOL). Hope you're having a great weekend!

Oh, At Weddings and Wakes--a book I loved but almost never hear mentioned. Your description of Someone makes me think of the things I've loved about the other Alice McDermott books I've read and I'm going to request it from the library pronto. It's nice to see McDermott getting some attention

I just finished reading Death Comes for the Archbishop but may have to move on to One of Ours, especially since it ties in to the WWI theme.

And I will have to check out This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.

Thanks for supplying me with reading ideas, because I was really running out of them *glances over at stacks of unread books*

>240 PaulCranswick:: Thanks, Paul, for the favorable responses to my granddaughters and my review!

>241 rosalita:: Thank you, Julia. Maybe I made too much about those coincidences because the book was indeed very good. I am not a writer but, to me, using too many happy (or unhappy) 'accidents' is lazy writing. Too bad in this case because the book on the whole was way above average.

>242 Storeetllr:: Thanks, Mary. The grandkids do wear us out so it is good to have some down time this week end. Next week, we are heading up to Kansas City to stay with the older grandchildren for four days. They will be in school for three of those days (Griffin attends Kindergarten only half a day) so that will make our job much easier. January has been a taxing month starting with my ten-day trip to see Hope in Littleton, extra duties while Ben and my Mary moved, and now babysitting while Lori and Greg enjoy some fun in the sun in Mexico. It's good to be needed…but I'm ready for a vacation!

>243 AnneDC:: Well, look who sneaked in here while I was typing. Hi Anne! I agree that McDermott deserves more attention. She is a mighty fine writer! I'm always glad to help another reader. Ha ha…as if we would ever run out of good books to read! Thanks for your visit.

Donna, Lady Haley's new home looks beautiful; love the big decorative rock!

Great review of The Glass Room. This one's already on the WL, so I've dodged a bullet.

Ah, here you are as well. Thanks for stopping by my thread, I seem to have lost track of a number of people here at the beginning of the year for a variety of reasons. Slowly getting back on track.

City of Thieves is one I've wanted to read for a long time. I'll have to see if it's available in Kindle form from the library.

Donna, my disappointment with Trapeze has prevented me from reading The Glass Room, although I've had a copy for quite awhile. But now your excellent review has me thinking it would be worthwhile to read, despite its weaknesses.

All caught up here, Donna - I had somehow managed to lose your thread. What a treat to catch up with you - LOVED all the photos! I cannot believe how big Haley and Molly are getting, and their new home looks gorgeous. So nice that they didn't move farther away from you as what a bummer that would have been.

I loved reading through all of your reviews, and you have hit me with a couple of book bullets - Glass Room, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, and Someone. Okay, so three book bullets, not a couple.

I was glad to see that you liked City of Thieves - Loved that when I read it in my pre-LT days! And looks like we have similar responses to Ceremony - so glad to hear that the next one is better! Totally agree with Roberta that half the fun in reading these books is comparing notes.

I am sure I have forgotten something - oh, I know! Congrats on posting over 400 reviews!! WahHOO for you! Amazing, that!

Hi Donna- We always seem to be in the same literary universe. I have both This Is the Story Of A Happy Marriage and the Glass room on shelf. I picked up an ARC of the former, at ALA and I've heard very good things and you've confirmed it.
Love the Haley photos!

>178 Donna828: She can take an ordinary girl like Marie and show the richness behind her everyday life
I love writers who can do this. This is my writing holy grail....

>238 Donna828: wow- that house looks like a castle! Is it a house, for a family to live in? (or maybe being used as a guest house or B&B as well?) It seems huge from that photo. (and lovely!)

>239 Donna828: I have heard so many good things about The Glass Room, so much so that I purchased it 2nd hand at the relatively expensive price of $7. I will be happy about that if I end up rating it 4 stars or above :)

Yikes! I try, but I can't keep up with these threads.

>229 Donna828:. I am very blessed to have these two little girls in my life

You certainly are!

I know what you mean about the grandkids, Donna. They're wonderful, adorable, a delight to spend time with but my-oh-my can they make a grandparent tired!!

Such great pictures, Donna. The girls have gotten so big! Time, as you know, tends to fly. Noah just had his 4th birthday party today!

My favorite Patchett is The Magician's Assistant and I know I'll get to her latest one of these days.

Wait. Ann Patchett has a bookstore in Nashville? I've been to Nashville and I've been to bookstores there (I mean, how many are there?). The one I like is Parnassus Books. Checking on line, it appears that may be hers. They supposedly have bookstore canines, but I've only seen them on the postcards. And here.

>246 lit_chick:: Nancy, you may have dodged a bullet this time but I'll try again. I'm reading Doc now. Have you read it? Lady Haley says hello!

>247 ursula:: Ursula, I am still finding people, too. I like to visit newcomers' threads as well but haven't found all my "old" people yet! I hope you can snag a copy of City of Thieves.

>248 Linda92007:: I remember your disappointment with Trapeze, Linda, and have stayed away from it. Other LTers have absolutely loved The Glass Room so you will have to see for yourself I guess.

>249 Crazymamie:: Mamie, I'm so glad you found me! It's easy to get lost in the jumble of threads here. Thanks for the vigorous congrats on my 400! I am looking forward to reading more Spenser with you and Roberta.

>250 msf59:: I'm very happy to share my reading universe with you, Mark. I can't imagine any reader not enjoying at least some of the essays in Patchett's new book.

>251 LovingLit:: Hi Megan, I bought my copy of The Glass Room when Borders went out of business in the U.S. Sob! The sales slip was still in the book from several years ago. That is the back view of my son's new house. It does look big. It has a walkout basement which makes it a two-story house from that view but a one-level house from the front. I think it is just under 4,000 square feet…which is about twice the size of the rental house they moved out of. They need that space for the girls' toys!

>252 labwriter:: Becky, it is an impossible task to keep up with threads unless your name is Mark or Paul! I'm glad you found me. And I'm grateful for my little blessings.

>253 RebaRelishesReading:: Reba, I'm so glad my husband is semi-retired now and he can help me when I have multiple grandkids. It is so much easier to entertain just one at a time!

>254 Copperskye:: Happy, Happy Birthday to Noah. It seems like just yesterday that he was born. Kids grow up entirely too quickly! You will like the essay book by Ann Patchett, Joanne. Guaranteed!

>255 EBT1002:: Parnassus Books it is, Ellen. I would love to go there someday. I'm not sure who Ann's furry friend in the picture is but he or she is a cutie. Thanks for posting it. Here is a picture of her beloved Rose who is featured in one of her essays. Tissues required!

Great pictures of the girls and the new house, Donna.

Getting caught up here, Donna. Congrats on your 400th review! Whoot, whoot!

coincidences that strain belief

The book that first comes to mind for me is Eragon. I thoroughly disliked it because there were far too many coincidences! Things like a pouch with a lucky coin appearing on the side of a road. Or the person he needed to talk to suddenly showing up.

My grandmother, after I had come to visit her for two weeks, told my mother she thought she had cancer. Ended up she was just exhausted!

Well, hello back to Lady Haley : ). I have read Doc, loved it! Another rec from LT. Hope you love it, too.

Hi Donna - What cute granddaughters. Thanks for sharing. Nice review of The Glass Room; I'll add it to my list.

Hello Donna - thanks for sharing the photos - I just love seeing into the lives of my LT friends overseas! Great review of The Glass House which I have on my shelves, somewhere....Another hot one here today (almost 40 degrees C) and I can hardly wait for the promised cool change later today. We are discussing The Goldfinch at my RL Book Club next month, so I am almost 200 pages in on my own copy. I am enjoying it a lot so far....

Okay, that does it. I need to read something by Ann Patchett.

Me too! I have Bel Canto and tried it once but didn't get very far.

Donna, I liked your review of The Glass Room. That's another book I tried but put aside.

Oh well, it's not like I lack for anything to read.

I love the pictures of your son's new house. That looks like a real find.

Are there a lot of lakes and ponds in Missouri or did the two of you just luck out with the houses you bought?

Catching up on this busy thread. :) I have mixed feelings about Patchett. I liked Bel Canto, hated The Patron Saint of Liars...

On the topic of coincidences that strain belief we have a saying in our family that we picked up from Tyrone of The Backyardigans. Whenever something coincidental happens, he says: "Well, that certainly is convenient." The kids picked it up and now we all use it.

Visitors! Thanks for keeping my thread warm!

>258 ronincats:: Thank you, Roni.

>259 lkernagh:: Thanks for the whoots, Lori!

>260 Morphidae:: I haven't read Eragon, Morphy, but it is those kinds of convenient happenings that occurred in The Glass Room that I couldn't stand. I'm very glad you didn't give your grandmother cancer. ;-)

>261 lit_chick:: Nancy, I am loving Doc. In fact, now that Miss Molly has been picked up, I am going to jump back into it! There are quite a few references to reading in it. It makes me want to read Crime and Punishment for sure now. Hmmm, touchstone "not allowed"?

>262 BLBera:: Thank you, Beth. Speaking of cute granddaughters, how's Scout these days?

>263 PrueGallagher:: Yay, more raves for The Goldfinch. That is high on my list of books to read in February, Prue. I wish I could attend your book group with you!

>264 EBT1002:: You sure do, Ellen. This Is the Story Of A Happy Marriage would be an excellent place to begin your discovery of Ann Patchett's works.

>265 phebj:: Pat, there is quite a bit of water around here: lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. But the houses that actually are in close proximity to one of our ponds are at a premium. We waited a long time for this house to come on the market and actually bought it while we were still living in Colorado and leased it for two years! I don't think I liked Bel Canto or The Glass Room as much as some others here, but I obviously liked them much more than you did. ;-)

>266 nittnut:: I am with you on the two books you mention, Jenn. I like The Backyardigans but Haley's taste runs toward Sofia the First these days. We both like The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Ohhh Toooodles!

LT does not like touchstones at the moment!

Book No. 9: Doc by Mary Doria Russell. 4.5 stars.

"John Henry Holliday believed in science, in rationality, and in free will. He believed in study, in the methodical acquisition and accumulation of useful skills. He believed that he could homestead his future with planning and preparation: sending scouts ahead and settling it with pioneering effort. Above all, he believed in practice, which increased predictability and reduced the element of chance in any situation. The very word made him feel calm. Piano practice. Dental practice. Pistol practice, poker practice. Practice was power. Practice was authority over his own destiny." (112)

I have heard many accolades about this book, and I was not disappointed in it. Set in Dodge City at the height of its rowdiness in the 1870s, we meet the young Doc Holliday who wants to practice dentistry and soak up some sunshine and dry air in order to reduce the raging symptoms of tuberculosis. It may not have been the best environment for him. Huge cattle drives kept the air dusty and, in order to make a living, he had to perform at the poker table to supplement his meager income as a dentist. Russell cleverly titles her chapters with poker terms, all the way from "The Deal" to "The Bitch in the Deck". She creates a sense of place like no other with a large cast of real and fictional characters with a few good horses and whores galore thrown in for good measure. I feel like I spent much of the past few days in saloons listening to out-of-tune pianos and breathing the smoky air waiting for a fight to break out.

Russell brings the legends of Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers down to earth in a way that shows they were men of distinction, but nonetheless, men fated to live out their destiny in the waning days of the wild west. We see them as real people who had dreams and worked hard to achieve them. Doc was revealed as a compassionate young man with many talents. He was also a very sick man who watched his mother die back in Georgia of the TB that he describes as a disease that "is gnawing on my left lung, as a rat gnaws on cheese. Except: a rat sleeps. This never, ever lets up. Every goddam breath I take hurts." (345). Despite his constant pain, he was a charming man who doted on his Hungarian mistress Kate who was the only person in Dodge who was smarter than he was. In another time and place they would have been at the top of high society rather than a drunken gambler and town whore in a small Kansas town. This sounds harsh but it is a western!

Donna, I'm so glad you loved Doc so much. Your review brought back to me all the things that made me fall in love when I read it a couple of years ago!

Julia, now I'm with the other fans of Doc who are awaiting the sequel!

I am going to set up a new thread tonight because we are leaving for Kansas City in the morning and I don't want to take the laptop with me. I would be pulling my hair out if I had to do it on the iPad!