Jolerie's Book Addiction Take 2

I must be crazy but here I am trying this again! Proud mom of 2, and an unashamed book hoarder to boot! I will most likely NOT reach the goal of 75 books, but with two monkeys under foot, I take any spare moment to read. I figure this year will be about the quality and not the quantity. I pretty much read books from all genres so feel free to share your recommendations and favourites.
Looking forward to catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. :)

RATING SYSTEM:
5 Stars: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE??
4 Stars: So, so, very hard to put down...
3 Stars: Purr...I'm content...almost...
2 Stars: Anxiously eyeing the next book in my pile...
1 Star: Fire fodder...BURN BABY BURN!!

Currently Reading:

The Battle for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi

On Deck:
Shadowspell by Jenna Black (Book #2 of 3)
The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi (Book #2 of 3)
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross (Book #2 of ?)
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
The Betrayers by David Bezmozgis
Labor Day by Joyce Maynard
A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker

Previous threads with books and reviews:
Thread 1 Books 16-24

Favourite Reads of 2012:

1. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards (Fiction)
2. The Giver by Lois Lowry (YA)
3. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (Fantasy)
4. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Fiction)
5. Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum (Fiction)

Favourite Reads of 2013:

1. The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert (fiction)
2. Shades of Earth by Beth Revis (YA/SF)
3. Uther by Jack Whyte (historical)
4. The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka (historical)
5. A Trip to the Stars by Nicholas Christopher (fiction)
6. Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver (fiction)

Series List
Ongoing Series
These are books that I'm currently in the middle of with hopes that at some in my life I will be able to check them off as completed!
Alan Bradley – (YA) Flavia de Luce Mysteries (1/6) Next: The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag
Alastair Reynolds - (SF) Revelation Space (2/7) Next: Redemption Ark
Anne Bishop – (F) The Black Jewels Series (3/9) Next: The Invisible Ring
Anne Rice – (F) Vampire Chronicles (3/10) Next: The Tale of the Body Thief
David Whitley – (YA) Agora Trilogy (2/3) Next: The Canticle of Whispers
Diana Gabaldon – (FN) Outlander (6/7) Next: An Echo in the Bone
Jacqueline Carey – Kushiel’s Legacy (6/9) Next: Naamah’s Kiss
Jenna Black – (YA) Faeriewalker (1/3) Next: Shadowspell
Jessica Day George – (YA) Princess of the Midnight Ball (1/3) Next: Princess of the Midnight Ball
Josephine Angelini - (YA) Starcrossed (2/3) Next: Goddess
Jules Watson – (H) The Dalriada Trilogy (1/3) Next: The Dawn Stag
Kady Cross - (YA) The Steampunk Chronicles (1/?) Next: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar
Kate Mosse – (H) Languedoc Trilogy (2/3) Next: Citadel
Kazu Kibuishi – (GN) Amulet (2/?) Next: The Cloud Searchers
Kerstin Gier – (YA) Ruby Trilogy (1/3) Next: Sapphire Blue
Kiera Cass – (YA) Selection Trilogy (2/3) Next: The One
Lisa See - (FN) Shanghai Girls (1/2) Next: Dreams of Joy
Lois Lowry – (CH) The Giver Quartet (1/4) Next: Gathering Blue
Marion Zimmer Bradley – (F) Avalon Published Order (2/7) Next: Lady of Avalon
Megan Crewe – (YA) Fallen World (2/3) Next: The Worlds We Make
Orson Scott Card – (SF) Ender’s Universe (8/10) Next: A War of Gifts
Paolo Bacigalupi - (YA) Shipbreaker (1/3) Next: The Drowned Cities
Pearl S. Buck – (H) The House of Earth Trilogy (1/3) Next: Sons
Pittacus Lore – (YA) The Lorien Legacies (3/4) Next: The Fall of Five
Robert Jordon – (F) Wheel of Time (8/13) Next: Winter’s Heart
Shannon Hale - (YA) Princess Academy (1/2) Next: Palace of Stone
Stephen Hunt – (F) Jackelian (1/6) Next: The Kingdom Beyond the Waves
Ted Dekker – (YA) The Lost Books (4/6) Next: Lunatic
Terry Brooks – (F) Shannara Heritage Tetralogy (1/4) Next: The Druid of Shannara
Terry Brooks – (F) The Magic Kingdom of Landover (3/6) Next: The Tangle Box

Up to date Series – waiting next book
Peadar O Guilin - (YA) The Bone World Trilogy (2/3) Next: TBA
Tony DiTerlizzi - (YA) Wondla (2/?) Next: TBA

Completed Series
And this is to prove that I am indeed capable of finishing something that I start...
**Bolded ones indicate my favourite series**
Alison Goodman – (YA) Dragoneye (2/2)
Ally Condie - (YA) Matched (3/3)
Anna Carey – (YA) Eve (3/3)
Amanda Hocking - (YA) Trylle Trilogy (3/3)
Arthur C. Clarke – (SF) Space Odyssey (4/4)
Beth Revis – (YA) Across the Universe (3/3)
Brenda Rickman Vantrease – (H) The Illuminator (2/2)
Cornelia Funke – (YA) Inkheart Trilogy (3/3)
Cynthia Hand - (YA) Unearthly (3/3)
D. M. Cornish – (YA) Monster Blood Tattoo (3/3)
Donita K. Paul - (YA) Valley of the Dragons (3/3)
Douglas Adams – (SF) The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (7/7)
Francine Rivers – (H) The Mark of the Lion (3/3)
Guy Gavriel Kay – (F) The Fionavar Tapestries (3/3)
Guy Gavriel Kay – (F) The Sarantine Mosaic (2/2)
Jack Whyte – (H) Camulod Chronicles (9/9)
Jacqueline Carey – (F) The Sundering (2/2)
James Dashner – (YA) The Maze Runner (4/4)
J. K. Rowling – (YA) Harry Potter (7/7)
J. R. R. Tolkien – (F) The Lord of the Rings (3/3)
Kaoru Mori – (GN) Emma (7/7)
Kenneth Oppel - (YA) The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein (2/2)
Kiersten White - (YA) Paranormalcy (3/3)
Kristin Cashore – (YA) Seven Kingdoms Trilogy (3/3)
Lauren DeStefano – (YA) The Chemical Garden Trilogy (3/3)
Libba Bray – (YA) Gemma Doyle (3/3)
Madeleine L’Engle – (YA) The Time Quintet (5/5)
Meg Cabot - (YA) Abandon (3/3)
Patricia C. Wrede – (YA) Frontier Magic (3/3)
Philip Pullman – (YA) His Dark Materials (3/3)
Philippa Gregory – (H) The Wideacre Trilogy (3/3)
Philippa Gregory – (H) The Tudor Court Novels (6/6)
Robyn Miller/David Wingrove – (F) Myst (3/3)
Rick Riordan – (F) Percy Jackson and the Olympians (5/5)
Robert Scott & Jay Gordon – (F) The Eldarn Sequence (3/3)
Scott Westerfeld – (YA) Leviathan (3/3)
Stieg Larsson – (C) The Millennium Trilogy (3/3)
Stephanie Meyer – (YA) Twilight Saga (4/4)
Susan Cooper – (YA) The Dark is Rising Sequence (5/5)
Suzanne Collins – (YA) The Hunger Games (3/3)
Ted Dekker – (F) Circle Series (3/3)
Ted Dekker/Tosca Lee – (F) The Book of Mortals (3/3)
Terry Brooks – (F) Original Shannara Trilogy (3/3)
Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins – (FN) Left Behind (13/13)
Timothee de Fombelle - (CH) Toby Alone (2/2)
Tricia Rayburn – (YA) Siren (3/3)
Veronica Roth – (YA) Divergent (3/3)

Books Read in 2014:
**Books are OTS unless otherwise indicated
January
1. (L) The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer 4*
2. (L) Allegiant by Veronica Roth 4*
Favourite Read:

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
February
3. (L) The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd 4.75*
4. (L) Forbidden by Ted Dekker/Tosca Lee 3.5*
Favourite Read:

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
March
5. (L) Mortal by Ted Dekker/Tosca Lee 4*
6. (L) Emma Volume 5 by Kaoru Mori 4*
7. The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan 3.5*
Favourite Read:

Mortal by Ted Dekker
April
8. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah 4.5*
9. Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey 4.5*
10. (L) Emma Volume 6 by Kaoru Mori 3.5*
11. (L) Sovereign by Ted Dekker/Tosca Lee 3.75*
12. (L) Amulet - The Stone Keeper by Kazu Kibuishi 4*
13. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner 3.5*
14. No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy 3.5*
15. The Death Cure by James Dashner 3.5*
16. (L) The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman 4*
Favourite Reads:

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey

May
17. (L) Burial Rites by Hannah Kent 4.75*
18. (L) Outlaw by Ted Dekker 3*
19. (L) Emma Volume 7 by Kaoru Mori 3*
20. (L) The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede 3.5*
21. (L) The Steady Running of the Hour by Justin Go4*
22. (L) The Furies by Mark Alpert 3*
23. The Kill Order by James Dashner 3.25*
24. (L) Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall 4*
25. The War of the World by H. G. Wells 3*
26. (L) Our Daily Bread by Lauren B. Davis 4*
27. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl 5*
Favourite Reads:

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
June
28. (L) Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard 3.75*
29. (L) Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight 4.5*
30. (L) The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North 3.5*
31. (L) Amulet - The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi 4*
Favourite Read:

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
July
32. (L) The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley 3.75*
33. (L) Awaken by Meg Cabot 3.5*
Favourite Read:

The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley
August
34. Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan 4.25*
35. (L) Frog Music by Emma Donoghue 4.25*
36. When God Was A Rabbit by Sarah Winman 4.25*
37. (L) Longbourn by Jo Baker 4.5*
38. (L) The Martian by Andy Weir 4.75*
39. (L) China Dolls by Lisa See 3.5*
40. (L) Conquest by John Connolly & Jennifer Ridyard 4.25*
41. (L) My Story by Elizabeth Smart/Chris Stewart 3.75*
Favourite Read:

The Martian by Andy Weir

September
42. (L) The Rathbones by Janice Clark 4*
43. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry 5*
44. The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson 4*
45. (L) Goddess by Josephine Angelini 3.75*
46. (L) The Confabulist by Steven Galloway 3*
47. (L) The One by Kiera Cass 3*
48. (L) The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton 4*
49. Messenger by Lois Lowry 5*
Favourite Read:

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Messenger by Lois Lowry
October
50. (L) Children of Paradise by Fred D'Aguiar 3*
51. (L) J by Howard Jacobson 3*
52. (L) The Worlds We Make by Megan Crewe 4*
53. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 4*
54. (L) Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier 3.5*
55. Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson 4.5*

November
December

Welcome old friends, new friends, posters or lurkers. Glad to have you all here. :)

Valerie, congratulations on your new thread. Wishing you a fantastic Sunday.

Good morning! Happy new thread!

Happy New thread, Valerie!!! Wishing you and yours a spectacular day!

Happy New thread, Valerie! And once again, it is so nice to have you back in the fold. You are quite a ray of sunshine around here. Hope you are having a great weekend.

Happy New Thread Valerie!

The Buddha in the Attic has been on my wishlist for a long time... Thanks for the reminder!

Happy new thread Valerie, hope you and the monkeys are having a great weekend.

What beautiful thread toppers you choose!

Happy new thread, happy reading, and happy weekend!

eta

I think I have The Buddha in the Attic on my shelf... must investigate!

Hi Valerie, nice new thread my dear. Hope you are having a lovely Sunday.

Popping in to grab a spot early! Still posting from the phone. :-(

Big wave and smiles to Barbara, Foggi, Lynda, Mark, Ilana, Calm, Kath, John, and Roberta. Thanks for warming up the new thread. Looking forward to more great books and then some. :D

Books? *scans thread for book sale books*

I am such an impatient one, aren't I? ;-)

Happy new thread, Valerie!

Hi Valerie! Love the new thread with those pretty pink blossoms as a welcome. I'm looking forward to your summer reading; it's very warm here in Missouri today so I jumped ahead to the next season! Have a great day!

Happy New Thread, Valerie!

Hahahah Lori, when it comes to books, I think everyone in this group can say they are a bit greedy. ;) I will probably get around to it sometime tomorrow.

Hi Donna! It is definitely starting to feel like summer here as well. I got my first mosquito bite of the season and oh boy is it itchy and since I think I may be allergic to them, it is of course all swollen and red!!!

Great to have you here, Connie. :)

Finished my first Wells, The War of the Worlds. ★★★

Up Next:

Our Daily Bread by Lauren B. Davis (fiction)

New thread already, Valerie!!

Book sale books? Book sale book? Are you selling? ;)
Or did you *gulp* buy?

I will come back for the answer :)

Buddah in the Attic (hm, no touchstone?), I still have this on my radar....possible it has been on my radar since before monkey #2 arrived!

Hi Roni! Glad to have you along for the ride. :)

Megan, I obviously didn't think this through. I should have sold some books before I bought more....haha. That way my wallet would have thanked me and my shelves wouldn't be threatening to rebel. Oh well, there is always a next time.
Buddha in the Attic is a quick read and really gives you quite the immigrant perspective. Give it a try when you have the time. I think the touchstone didn't work because of the spelling. ;)

Happy new thread, Valerie!

Hi Valerie! One thing good about returning to work tomorrow is, I'll be starting Burial Rites on audio. I've had it already for 2 weeks, I just haven't been able to start it. Hope your day is going well.

Hi Katie!

Mark, I'm sure you will be glad to get back to regular routine at work where no one is following you around.... Hopefully you will enjoy Burial Rites as much as I did. Enjoy the rest of your last day off! :)

#25 The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
Source: OTS
Genre: Science Fiction/Classics
Format: PB
Published: 1997
Setting: England, 1800s
Pages: 145
Rating: ★★★
Notes: aliens, martians, attack
Books noted: None

Never before in the history of the world had such a mass of human beings moved and suffered together. The legendary hosts of Goths and Huns, the hugest armies Asia has ever seen, would have been but a drop in that current. And this was no disciplined march; it was a stampede--a stampede gigantic and terrible--without order and without a goal, six million people, unarmed and unprovisioned, driving headlong. It was the beginning of the rout of civilisation, of the massacre of mankind. Pg. 82

The War of the Worlds is rather a misnomer as it didn't play out as war. Not even close. It was an one sided annihilation and unfortunately, man was on the short end of the stick in this battle. Aliens from Mars have arrived and their purpose seems to be the complete destruction of London and the surrounding countryside. All efforts to counterattack have proven futile and men are forced to hide and run like rats, like vermins, the lowliest of the lows. Salvation seems a miracle while the extinction of the human race, inevitable.

My first taste of Wells was rather hit and miss. Miss in that there were way too many references to places that I've never heard of before. They are most likely real places, but I wouldn't know either way. It was like a study of all the smallest and tiniest locales surrounding London and I was in desperate need of a map. The hit was the actual aliens themselves. Perhaps if there was more of a focus on the aliens, their thoughts, their motives, instead of the all places they destroyed, it would have made for a more interesting read. Either way, I haven't given up on Mr Wells and hopefully his next book will leave a more lasting impression.

Side Note: I kept seeing Tom Cruise in my readings and that was disorientating because the book is NOTHING like the movie..... :/

Happy new thread Valerie! Also eagerly anticipating those book sale books :-)

I fell a bit behind, Valerie, but I've caught up now. I would recommend The Time Machine for your next Wells. I liked it quite a bit but even if it doesn't strike your fancy, it's quite short. :)

Hi Heather! With all this anticipation I'm probably going to end up disappointing folks with my results...haha

Great to have you back Micky! I have The Time Machine on my shelves so I will get around to it at some point.

So we went for Joshua's 6 month check up last week because he got his routine immunization shots as well. I always look forward to these appointments because even though the doctor has seen him since birth, he is alway astonished and remarks how big the guy has grown. 6 months old and clocking in at 20 pounds, the little guy ain't so little. Solid. I have myself a solid boy. :D
As well there has been a bit of a scare and an outbreak of measles in Calgary so J also had to get his MMR shorts half a year earlier. Poor guy, but better safe than sorry with something that contagious spreading around and they aren't even sure where all the sources of transmission are at this point...



Happy almost 7 months to my little big guy! ♥♥
We rarely have a shot where it's just J because his big brother insists on taking ALL pictures with his baby brother. :)

What an adorable twosome! So when are you adding a little sister to the mix?! :-)

I never thought of this before, but I almost daily refer to Coco as my little monkey, because of those huge ears of his which are so expressive, so I'm always exclaiming "Monkey, my little Monkey!" at him so he must think that's his actual name!

Love the photo of solid Joshua and his big bro, Valerie!

If you haven't heard Orson Welles' radio broadcast of the War of the Worlds, it's worth tracking down. He did the story as a RL news broadcast, and he managed to freak out most of the country. When you hear it, you'll see why. If you had missed the disclaimer at the beginning, you'd be sure we were under alien attack. :-)

I agree with Micky on The Time Machine as your next HGW. I also thought The Island of Dr. Moreau and Food of the Gods were good, although the former surely is weird and creepy.

Nice to visit your thread again. It is "again", isn't it? :-)

Your boys are so adorable. As I'm sure you well know. :)

Hi Valerie- Burial Rites grabbed me immediately. It looks to be a long, dark, twisty tale but she has me in her grip.

Love the photos of the boys! Those smiles could light up a room.

>33 jolerie: Chubby cheeks! You have a monkey and a chunky monkey. You must have strong arms Val. ;-)

Haha, that is a big fat no Ilana! Neither my husband and I have the energy or the wherewithal to even attempt to try this craziness again. I will be content to look forward to a little bit of freedom when my two boys are a bit more independent. :)
My friend once told me that dogs don't actually know their names specifically but it's the tone they recognize. So that's why they respond to their owners calling them rather than just anybody calling their name(s). Is that true??

Joe, I do remember hearing that years ago and that is what prompted me to buy the book in the first place. I can't imagine how freaked out the people would have been at the time if they heard a radio broadcast like that. I know I probably would have had my bags packed before the show ended...haha
I'm glad to have you here, AGAIN. ;)

Haha Micky! They got themselves some good genes. ;)

Hey Mark! Nothing beats a good book except recommending it to another person and having them like it just as much as you do. I hope it keeps you hooked right to the very end. :)

Roberta, chunky monkey pretty much sums it up. I've got some pretty impressive guns to show for it! :D

Nothing excites us as a group more than the following two words--BOOK SALE!


The Sweet Girl by Annabel Lyon
The Judas Strain by James Rollins
Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon
Lord John and the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon
The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi by Jaqueline Park
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
City of Women by David R. Gillham
Hardcovers were $3
Softcovers were $2

We went to a annual used book sale on the weekend and it's one of the biggest in the city and this was my first time. I was a total used book sale virgin so I totally went in with no expectations and no game plan. That was a bad idea. I saw not one, but many, many, people who brought empty luggages with them!?! Clearly I was out of my element. Just the sheer amount of books and tables was overwhelming and intimidating. In the end I only got through the historical books section and didn't even get a chance to see all the other genres. A little disappointed that I didn't even get to scope out all the SciFi/Fantasy books, but oh well, there will always be next year, right??? :D
I know there are many of you who are veterans at this with numerous experiences with these kind of sales under your belt so any advice for me would be welcome. Next time I go I want to be able to maximize my shopping so please share with me your tips and advice!

Oh, came home from the library with more books..... :D


Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard

Valerie - Nice haul from the library. Funnily enough I was looking at Diana Gabaldon because I am on the hunt for Arizona born writers due to my USA state challenge this year.

Congrats on rattling up a new thread in double quick time.

Hi Valerie, that's a nice book haul my dear, we have author's in common I see, have a good day my dear.

Cute, cute, cute photos!!

Wave..

Oh, Valerie, your boys are so adorable! And good for the immunizations! My MIL thinks that Tomm and I are horrible for making Charlie get every shot the doctor offers - she's one of those unbelievers when it comes to vaccines. Sheesh.

Look the pictures of your adorable boys, Valerie! You are right about that measles outbreak.... scary stuff.

Love the book haul! I really enjoyed the Lord John books.... he was one of the more interesting characters from Gabaldon's time travel/romance series, IMO. ;-)

Nice book haul! I liked both those Chevaliers, and City of Women was a good read, too. I think I have a copy of the Park novel - at least I used to.... Lots of good reading ahead, Val!

Hello there Paul! My haul was definitely not of the Cranswickian calibre, but I was quite pleased with it and since I showed restraint due to lack of experience, my husband was also relieved. :)
If you are looking to read a Gabaldon book, I recommend starting with her Outlander series, starting with the first book, Outlander They are quite the tomes, but well worth it if a healthy serving of romance is your cuppa. Ha!

Hi John! Having books in common means we will have some stuff to chat about in the future and that is always a good thing around here. :)

Thanks Jenn! Big waves back to you as well.

Amber, it is those who have chosen to abstain from the their needles that seems to be part of the cause of this outbreak in Alberta. I am all for parents making choices for their own families, but when their choice ends up affecting my kids....well....then it causes me to furrow my brows. In the end, J just needed to have his needles (a bit early) and he reacted fine to it so no big deal.

Lori, I really like Lord John's character in the Outlander series too, but I've hear his series isn't as strong as the original story between James and Claire, but my thought to that is.....no duh! I put off buying or reading it but since I got the entire series in hardcover for under 10 bucks I thought that was a steal! :)

Thanks Katie! I was quite happy to see a lot of familiar titles at the sale. You could definitely tell which books were popular since there a million copies of certain bestsellers. I saw mountains of Twilight books..haha! We all know that book was a hot seller, but I guess it doesn't have much of a reread value. ;)

>33 jolerie: Aw, they're both so cute!

>40 jolerie: & >41 jolerie: Great book sale and library haul - I'm intrigued by Moth and Spark so will look forward to your thoughts on that one.

Thanks so much Heather! I am quite partial to them both but I guess that is to be expected. ;)
Moth and Spark sounds interesting based on just the limited reviews I've read and since it's a library book, I will get to it within three weeks.

Finished Our Daily Bread. It was really difficult book to read not because of the writing, but rather the subject matter. ★★★★

Up Next:

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (children)
I really just needed something light and easy after my last read. Can always depend on Mr. Dahl to put a smile on my face. :)

I heart James and the Giant Peach. Three way tie for favorite Roald Dahl with The BFG and Danny the Champion of the World.

>33 jolerie: Oh my, they are absolutely adorable, Valerie.

Nice book haul. I'm afraid when it comes to large, mammoth book sales, I've never found a very good method of attack. I mean what can you do when there are books as far as the eye can see except dive in and grab as many as you can? LOL I've seen people come with wagons to make it easier. Maybe you could try that;-)

Katie, I just heart Roald Dahl. Period. So many memories of reading and loving books because of the man. Oh hey, I haven't read Danny the Champion of the World so off I go to look for that one. Thanks Katie! :)

Thanks Bonnie! I actually did see a couple of people with wagons in tow. I just think that's so dangerous because you go in with the mindset that it is supposed to be filled so you will of course fill it. I can't even imagine what my husband's face would be if I brought something like that along with me for the sale...a mixture of I don't believe you with sheer horror perhaps?? *wicked grin*

Hi Valerie- Congrats on the book haul! Hooray! I really liked City of women.

I am loving Burial Rites. I just saw that it won an Australian book prize!

#26 Our Daily Bread by Lauren B. Davis
Source: Public Library
Genre: Fiction
Format: Trade PB
Published: 2012
Setting: Gideon, United States
Pages: 292
Rating: ★★★★
Notes: Scotiabank Giller Prize Longlist, segregation, children, abuse, secrets, families, religion
Books noted: Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain), The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien), The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger), Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain), Lord of the Flies (William Golding), Silas Marner (George Eliot), The Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum), Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Dafoe), Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson), A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'Engle), The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck), My Antonia (Willa Cather), The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett), The Five Children and It (E. Nesbit), Rumble Fish (S.E. Hinton), The Crossing (Cormac McCarthy)

You ever met anybody didn't have trouble, and I mean real trouble, with their families? They are there to fuck you up. That's it. They are there to see if you're strong enough to survive and if you're not, you're not. It's like Darwin right? Survival of the fittest. Throw the baby bird out of the nest and see if it can fly and if it can't then feed it to the cat. They tell you it's all about love and that shit, but it's not. It's about biology. Survival of the species. It's a badge of honor, is the way I look at it. Pg. 158

The Erskines have lived on the isolated North Mountain for generations. They keep to themselves while the city folks have for the large part just kept their eyes shut, ignoring the going ons. Secrets and darkness abounds. Evil flourishes. Albert has learned to run fast and fight hard. He is a survivor against all the horrors he has endured, the humiliation, the terror. A newly found friendship with a teenage boy in the city threatens to uproot the delicate balance between them and us while a whole community must come to terms with the repercussions of a pandora's box spanning the generations.

Our Daily Bread was a stomach churning, bile raising kind of read. The subject of child abuse, child torture, child neglect is a prevalent thread that runs throughout the story and each time I find myself cringing inwards. Loosely inspired by the exposure and conviction of the Goler clan in Nova Scotia, the story runs deeper than the atrocities that are described, delving into the psychology of treating people as outsiders, of the guilt of being a just a bystander, and the loneliness of isolation. In the end, there is the tiniest shred and faintest glimmer of redemption, making the uncomfortable reading experience bearable. Not for the faint of heart, but clearly an issue that needs to be brought to light.

Hey Mark! I was sure I saw the book floating around LT way back when. Should have known if was yours, my dependable source for all things related to good books. ;)

>25 jolerie: I think the touchstone didn't work because of the spelling. ;)
Oh. Busted.
:)
*those pesky misplaced H's*

>33 jolerie: :) aw, so sweet!

>48 jolerie: That's the cause, I believe, for many of the new outbreaks of 'old' diseases. Few things make me outright angry, but this is one of them.

It looks like some good reading here...

Take care :)

Busted is right, Megan. ;) Pesky H's and their silent counterparts..keke

Yeah, I'm with you Amber. There sure is a lot of scary stuff out there and I don't want to be one of those helicopter parents, but gosh darn it, I wan't to keep them close to me as long as I can to so I know that they will be safe. Sigh, they all have to grow up don't they?? :(

Good reading is all I got, Kath. ;) Have a wonderful and restful vacay my friend. You, of all people really deserve one. :)

#27 James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Source: OTS
Genre: Children
Format: Trade PB
Published: 2007
Setting: England
Pages: 146
Rating: ★★★★★
Notes: orphan, courage, adventures, magic
Books noted: None


Illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkert

A terrible tragedy leaves James at the mercy of his atrocious and cruel aunts until an unexpected encounter with a strange man changes his life dramatically. A bag of magical green crystal like objects are only the beginning of a string of strange and wonderful events. Life would take him on an adventure he never could have imagined nor will likely ever forget.

Re-reading Roald Dahl's books as an adult has given me a completely new appreciation for his brilliance. It takes a special kind of magic to able to write a book for children that can be equally enjoyed by people of all ages. Looking back I realized now that as a child I missed a lot of the dark humour that Dahl uses his storytelling, but now I can experience with complete admiration and enjoyment. A five star read the first time around and I suspect every time after that as well. Love. Love. Love.

Up Next:

Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard (fantasy)

Oh, yay for Dahl! Love him. I think it may be just about time to try one with Charlie...

Morning Valerie! Finished and loved Burial Rites. Thanks for the nudge. You never know when the right nudge will come into play.

I've read Girl with a Pearl Earring and enjoyed it very much. Later I saw the film but I've to admit the book is MUCH better.
Wishing you a lovely day.

Amber, I can't wait till the boys are old enough to appreciate some of my all time favourite childhood books!

You can count on me for nudges, Mark. ;) Just like I can always count on you for BB's even when it's not a book you are reading....ha!

Thanks Barbara! I look forward to reading it...at some point..haha! :)

Guilty as charged. I don't think I'm suffering alone. We should really start a support group. Oh wait, I think that's what this group is for! :D

HAPPY FRIDAY FRIENDS!

Have a lovely weekend Val.

>68 jolerie: Yep. When a book is in my possession, it immediately loses that sense of urgency, and I find myself picking up library books instead, even if the purchased book was one I had intended to read right away.

Thanks Roberta! Wishing you the very same and hopefully so much more. :)

I suffer from the exact same problem Foggi. It always feels like I need to get the book RIGHT NOW, only to have it sitting on the shelves for years. I think it's comforting knowing that the books aren't going anywhere, just patiently waiting their turn.

Happy Friday, Valerie!

You know, my wife says, if you don't wear something for a couple of years, give it away. Should we apply that reasoning to books, or is that too hard-hearted? I look at some on my tbr shelf and wonder when the heck I'm ever going to read them.

Hi, my name is Mary, and I am a tsundoku-ic. It's really annoying to me when I buy books and then let them languish on the shelf (or in the Kindle) while I polish off dozens if not hundreds of books from the library, telling myself there's no urgency to read the ones I bought but the library books have to go back so I need to get right on them. Kind of nice to know I'm not alone in this.

>33 jolerie: Adorable!

Happy Friday, Val! Hope it's the start to a wonderful weekend!

>73 Storeetllr: Kindle books are, if anything, worse than physical books for me, because at least I can see the physical books, sitting reproachfully on my shelf. Kindle books are comfortably hidden behind a nice little icon, and I have to actually open the program to even remember that they are there.

>74 foggidawn: Haha, yes, exactly! Every so often I scroll through the hundreds of titles and find myself exclaiming in wonder, "Oh! I don't remember buying that ebook! How fun!" Then closing the Kindle and going back to whatever library books I've got on the pile.

Oh Joe, that seems like such a wise and logical solution to the problem except that never would I be able to do that....so back to square one and my hoarding ways... :)

Mary and Foggi, you guys are definitely not alone. I think there are many of us here who suffer from this particular issue. Some mind it more than others. It's true that physical books also come with the deterrent that you have to find some place to actually put them. I can't stack my books on the ground with little kids sticking everything they see in their mouths and I'm running out of space to actually put bookshelves and my current shelves are nearing capacity......so??? The danger of e-books...I won't go there. I don't know if it would make me sad, or giddy to click on the icon and realize there are hundreds if not thousands of unread books there. Oh gosh..just the thought makes me dizzy...haha!

I just made a decision to remove every TBR book from the main bookshelves upstairs and put them in the bookcase I plan to buy for the reading nook in my basement lair so they're not scattered (and thus ignorable) and I can have a visual of all of them in one place.

ETA that it may necessitate my buying two bookcases so I can fit them all in with the ones I want to reread before *gasp* giving them away *choke* and the ones that are reference and art books that I like to have on hand.

*Hugs* to you Mary. Sounds like you've got yourself an action plan.
Haha...okay so what solution would you recommend for someone who has 600+ unread books in my TBR mountain. Two more bookcases would be like trying to fit my entire closet into a shoebox. That ain't going to work....haha!

Valerie, I wish you a relaxing weekend full of reading.

Wow, those pics of your boys! So cute!

Moth and Spark has a compelling jacket, so I hope it has a compelling story to match for a happy weekend read.

Hi Val, busy thread you run here, LOL! Lost track of you for a few days, not realizing you'd started a new thread. I'll put a plug in for my ereader: love it! Actually, two: Kindle Paperwhite and iPad. But I use our local library a great deal, too. I bought books for years and I'm wanting to reclaim some of the space, so ebooks make sense.

Love that cover for Moth and Spark. Looking forward to seeing what you think of the story.

>68 jolerie: - So this is where the tsundoku club meets.... nice place!

>68 jolerie: tsundokists unite! ;)

Happy Saturday Valerie.

Howdy Valerie! Have you dipped into the St. Marys books yet? These are fast & fun. I just started book 2, A Symphony of Echoes. Just your cuppa!

>72 jnwelch: sacrilege! Get rid of Books after only two years ... no way! I like my overflowing TBR shelves and having the choice of reading old friends as well. I know I need more bookshelves but then I think I would rather spend the money on books:)

Valerie I hope you and the monkeys are having a great weekend.

So much to say about your thread, but really all I want to comment on is those pictures of your kids. They are SO stinkin' adorable. Those cheeks!! I just really want to hug and kiss them! :)

I would never get anything done around those cuties!!! NO reading, NO working, NOTHING! LOL

I'm a little late to say 'happy new thread', but Happy New Thread, Valerie! ;)

Happy Sunday, Valerie! Congrats on loosing your book sale virginity! With or without luggage you chose a nice selection of books and next time you'll be all the more prepared to dive into all sections of the book sale.

Wow, your little guys are so adorable! So cute how Caleb needs to be in all Joshua's pics.

Hey, we've got a large number of measles as well as mumps going on in my neck of the woods. Glad you took all necessary precautions.

Have a lovely Sunday with your family!

Thanks Barbara. Not as much reading as I would have liked but it was still restful! :)

Thanks Connie! I agree with you completely. ;)

Hi Richard. It is compelling, but something is missing...... Still have a bit left before I finish so we will see.

Nancy, I have yet to jump onto the E-reader bandwagon. There is something about holding an actual book in my hands and flipping through the pages that the e-reader can't quite replicate. Plus, it would be such a slippery slope for me if I did decide to pick it up. So for now I think I'll stick to good old fashioned tree version and hope that I find more space for them somehow...haha!

Hi Lori, all book hoarders are welcome to congregate here. It is a safe place. No judgement at all. ;)

Haha..Megan! Glad to have you part of the club. ;)

Thanks John. I hope you had an excellent weekend as well!

Mark! It's hard enough dodging your BBs over on your thread and now you come over here and start throwing some more?? My sorely neglected mount TBR is giving you some dirty looks my friend. ;)

Haha...Calm, it is indeed sacrilege. I don't think even Joe would be able follow his own advice..hehe I couldn't imagine doing that to my books either. I would rather they stay on the shelves neglected with the slim chance they will be read one day then to give them away.... I just need to stop buying more books and that would solve all my problems....yeah right!!

Thanks Tina! Glad to have you here. Yes, I pretty much don't get much done during the day. I try to maintain a certain level of cleanliness, dishes aren't overflowing the sink, my husband can find his clean undies at the end of the day and there is dinner for him when he comes home from work. That's about it. Everything else gets ignored.

Lynda, I will for sure be more prepared next time that sale comes around. I won't stand there in shock with my mouth wide open. I'm going to jump right in and get to the hard task of cramming as many books as I possibly can into my bags...haha

Another tsundoku-ist here. And heck, I can't even manage to clear my clothes out in that length of time, never mind the books!

Glad to have you join the club Roni! And when it comes between clothes and books. Books win. Hands down. All the time. I think my husband is secretly relieved that I prefer the paper over the cloth. ;)

Here we go again. I remember this phase with Caleb and it was no fun. Turns out the second time around isn't any more fun. Actually it's no fun at all. Off to get another cup of coffee. :)

Yeesh. My sympathy, Valerie. We remember the teething phase well. Always seemed like a design flaw to me. Hope the shot of whiskey helps.

May Round-up:



Total books read: 11
Total pages read: 3254
Average rating: 3.68

Fiction: 3
Fantasy: 0
Science Fiction: 0
Crime/Thriller/Horror/Mystery: 1
YA: 2
GN: 1
Children: 1
Classics: 1
Historical: 2

Series: 3
Standalone: 8

Female authors: 5
Male authors: 6
New to me authors: 6

Library: 8
OTS: 3

Favourite Reads:

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

June Lineup:

Female Fantasy/Science Fiction Category Challenge:
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Book #2)
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard

Mark's American Author's Challenge:
Slaughter-House Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Personal Selections:
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi (Book #2)
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
Awaken by Meg Cabot (Book #3)
Amulet - The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi (Book #2)

Love your May round-up - and June Lineup! - and offering sympathies for the teething. The only Pacigalupi I have read so far is The Windup Girl, which I really enjoyed. Looking forward to your comments after you have read The Drowned Cities.

Thanks for the sympathies Joe! No one understands it quite as well as another teething survivor. ;)

Hey Lori! It's so strange that I actually haven't read The Windup Girl yet since this is probably the more well known book. Will get to it at some point since it's already on my to borrow from the library list.

Oooh, what a fabulous May Round-Up list : ).

"and now you come over here and start throwing some more??" Yes, I am both ruthless and relentless, what can I say? But at least, I am also lovable. LOL.

I love your June line-up. I've had The Golem and the Jinni on my TBR for awhile. I was hoping to get to it for FF and it didn't quite make the cut. I also want to read The Dispossessed. And, I LOVED The Drowned Cities. I hope he is working on the 3rd one.

Thanks Nancy! It was indeed a wonderful reading month and it feels doubly good to get back into some solid reading rhythm now that Josh is 7 months! :D

Yeah Mark, your lucky your so lovable MR! Haha..all kidding aside, thanks for always being such a great source of good readings for me. Your the best! And yes, I'm excited for my June selections as well especially since I snagged a couple of gooders from the library today. Woot woot! :D

Oh, no, not the teething phase! Sending energizing and patient thoughts your way, Valerie...

Thanks Amber! His bottom two teeth are peeking through. I stuck my finger in to give a feel and of course he chomped down and I sure felt it... I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Two down...many more to go...haha!

>96 jolerie: ooh, May looked fun. I was thinking about War of the Worlds early this morning, my friend had the tape and we used to freak ourselves out listening to it on sleepovers.

My niece is starting to teeth now too and she's quite the drool machine these days.

You managed 11 books in one month with two babies??? Geeze woman, you're a rock star!!! :)

Megan, I've never actually heard the broadcast before and Joe actually mentioned it earlier as well. I must find a time to listen to it as I can imagine if you didn't hear the disclaimer at the beginning and thought the whole thing was real, that would have been mighty scary indeed!

Yes Caro, lots and lots of drool on our end as well. I keep telling myself...this too shall pass. :)

Haha Tina, I actually never even thought of my total in light of the kids. Now imagine how much more books I could get to if I didn't have monkeys perma-attached to my legs!?!? One can only dream.... :D

Wrapped up Moth and Spark, a debut fantasy novel last night. ★★★¾

Up Next:

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

Looks like we're sharing reads of The Penelopiad and Slaughterhouse-Five this month, so I'll be interested to see what you think of them.

Love the covers on your monthly roundup - cool idea that looks really good!

Hi Valerie, thought it was time I caught up with you. I read a couple of Marion Zimmer Bradley books out of order maybe 15 years ago and really enjoyed them (I think Lady of Avalon was one of them), and fairly recently got an audio edition of The Mists of Avalon. It always seems like a huge commitment to plunge into those monster books, but I'll get to it eventually!

I'm surprised just the one shot of whiskey is enough to get you through the teething! :-)

Oooh, teething! I remember those days. Sending good thoughts your way that his teeth come in fast and easy. And that you're spared any more bites. (I remember that part too. Ouch.)

Hi Janet! It is fun seeing all the books all laid out like that. To me, it has the similar effect as looking at all the book spines of books on my shelves of shame. :) Hopefully I will get to Slaughter-house Five and The Penelopiad this month but we all know what happens to well laid plans.... ;)

Thanks for catching up Ilana even though I know you haven't been feeling your best recently. Your thoughts are always appreciated. I remember reading The Mists of Avalon and enjoyed it, but I don't think I was blown away. We will see how the rest of the books hold up in the series since I do have soft spot for any story pertaining to the legend of Arthur.

It has been a rough couple of days Mary. I will be happy when this is all over and the little guy isn't so uncomfortable. His sleep hasn't been too disrupted, except for the 6AM wake-up today, but rather his eating is hit and miss. Trying not to stress about his lack of appetite but focusing on offering him food as much as I can and going with the flow. Thankfully my husband is super helpful and supportive otherwise I don't know if I could get through the day!

#28 Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard
Source: Public Library
Genre: Fantasy
Format: HB
Published: 2014
Setting: Caithen
Pages: 368
Rating: ★★★¾
Notes: romance, dragons, magic
Books noted: Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)

As an invited guest of the Summer Court, Tam a commoner, wasn't expecting to fall in love. Not only was love in the cards, but love with the crowned Prince and heir, Corin. Their romance is threatened by a looming war and a mission that goes into the heart and origins of the empire's dragons. Once free and majestic creatures, now subjected under slavery and servitude to the empire, Tam and Corin, amidst war and invasion, must go back in time to discover the secrets of the dragons to save the people of Caithenor.

As a debut novel, this book pretty much as all the ingredients to make for a smashing read. Moth and Spark was a heady combination of political intrigue, an unlikely caste complicated love affair, and a haunting history between man and beast. All these things together should have hooked me, drawn me in, and kept me captivated and yet for some reason I felt distant and uninvolved. Perhaps the book wasn't long enough to fill in all the details needed to really make me feel invested. Perhaps the love seemed trite and unrealistic at times. Or perhaps I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to truly appreciate it. In the end, I think I was more enamoured with the notion of liking the book than actually liking it. For those who enjoy romance and court shenanigans in a fantasy setting, this book is worth a read.

LOVE books...love my kindle, and impressed by the May and June line-ups!

Still keeping Moth and Spark on my future reading list, but good to know it is a debut novel. I tend to be more lenient and forgive things missed and confusing in first books.

Ah teething. I remember at some point wondering why I hadn't bought stock in Tylenol or Motrin or Johnson and Johnson or whoever makes the stuff. We sure went through a lot of it. Also carrots. We used to give the kids a big, fat, cold carrot to gnaw on. Until their little teeth could get chunks off, anyway.

We may *still* have some rough tooth times ahead with Charlie - the last time we were at the dentist with him, he (the dentist) told us that he could see on the x-rays that his permanent bottom front teeth were poised to pop up soonish, but that his baby teeth in that spot were showing no signs of moving out. Which means that they may need to pull them. Ugh. Poor kid. But we love the dentist - he's a pediatric-only dentist and everything about his office is super kid-friendly. And before he told us about the potential pulling, he had the assistant take Charlie in the other room to pick out his new toothbrush, so that he wouldn't overhear and get scared. I like that kind of thoughtfulness in a dentist/doctor.

Oh Valerie, teething isn't funny. We surrounded our daughters with amber (necklaces and big ones around their bed). O.k. I have to admit that we believe in the magic of stones and we use them very often. In our houshold they help and are doing a miraculous cure.

Hi Kath! Are you back now?? Hope you had a great trip!

Lori, if you ever do get a chance to read it, I would be interested to see what your reaction to it is. The other ratings and reviews I've seen on LT for it have been glowing! I didn't have quite the same reaction so wondering if I'm totally missing out on something or whatnot. :)

Hey Jenn! Thank goodness he seems to be in good spirits during the day (except for feeding) and we only give him the meds right before bed otherwise he wakes up in the middle of the night screaming...poor guy!

Amber, I think having a great dentist is SO important, especially your first experience when you are a kid. I remember my first time was traumatic and had scarred me for the rest of my life. To this day I still shudder when I have to go in for a checkup. We will be bringing in Caleb for his first real cleaning this summer but I want to make sure the people we go see know what they are doing when it comes to kids....

Barbara, I have a lot of friends who actually use the amber necklaces and swear they are a miracle. Luckily both of my boys never got to the point where I had to look for anything other than just lots of cuddles and attention. Whether they work or not doesn't take away from the fact that they just look cute on the babes. :)

TGIF!!!!!!!


Oh lookie, finally snagged a couple without his super protective older brother.

I know this little guy is as happy as I am that this week is finally over. Hopefully now that the two bottom teeth have cut through, we are through the worst of it. If not, at least Daddy will be home over the weekend to help with the extra cuddling and hugs.

Our family from Asia are also due to back this weekend for the summer so there will be plenty of family time and cousin chaos to look forward to. Josh is the youngest of 8 cousins and probably the last grandbaby in the family so it will be fun to imagine what all these little ones will be like in a few years time. Reading will probably slow down in the upcoming summer months as the busyness of family get togethers and vacations kick into high gear.

Happy a wonderful weekend everyone! :D

What a sweetheart! He looks so happy and pleased with himself. And you can see the bottom teeth in the one on the right!

Great review of Moth and Spark, Val. Thumb-worthy, but you need to post it! Love the pics of your little guy; he is gorgeous : ).

Oh, sounds like a busy but lovely time all around. What a darling munchkin that is above!

Hi Mary! You are absolutely right about the picture on the right side. Those two pesky white things are poking through and look how happy the monkey is...haha!

Thanks for the reminder Nancy! I'm in a fog so often that I sometimes I wonder how I even manage to get my clothes on properly in the morning. Wait, sometimes I don't even get that right.... :)

It will be busy Roni, since we only see them during the summer but boy is it a lot of fun! Caleb especially is at the age where he can actually play with his cousins rather than running away in fear at all the craziness! :D

Happy weekend, Valerie. Glad to hear that you'll get a lull in the teething for a little bit. Enjoy the time with all your boys. :)

Valerie, I wish you a fantastic weekend.

… and thumbed!

>121 jolerie: Oh, just look at that little guy! Such a sweetie!

Hi Valerie, happy weekend!

What a wonderful smile:) Cute teeth as well.

I hope you and the monkeys are having a great weekend.

Hope you've been having a great weekend Valerie!

>121 jolerie: Pictures!!!! Oh, so sweet :) He has some very smoochable cheeks! Hope you are having a great time :) this weekend.

Getting caught up here, Valerie. You have an interesting list of books planned for June's Woman of Sci-Fi/Fantasy. I haven't read any of them, although I am going to be trying my first Ursula Le Guin this month with A Wizard of Earthsea.

Yo' Valerie! Come out to playyyyyyyy! We miss you...

Valerie, I wish you a fantastic weekend.

>121 jolerie: aw! That bottom pic is so sweet, those cheeks!!
Teething can be hell. We used an amber necklace, partly because of my Latvian heritage and the amber being Baltic...but also in the vein of trying anything! I felt the effect was positive rather than neutral.

>121 jolerie: How cute!!!! Oh, those cheeks kill me! They would be my kryptonite if I were his mom... lol. Hope you have super powers to resist them when he starts acting up!

Hey, Valerie, the monkeys must be keeping you busy!

Check-in post...no Valerie...

Hey Friends!

My goodness, summer has definitely kicked into high gear. Multiple sleepovers with the cousins, family dinners, and one cornea abrasion for Caleb later, I've finally found a few minutes of down time to try catch up. Forgive me as it will take a long while for me to get back to everyone who has been kind enough to keep my thread warm. :)

Micky, how are you doing in L? How is the flooding situation? I was kind of in disbelief when I saw the emergency situation in southern Alberta this year again. Hope you are doing ok!

Thank you Barbara for you lovely visits 2x. I always look forward to your special treats. :)

Thanks for the thumbs, Nancy. :)

Thanks Amber. I know I'm biased but the little guy just gets cuter and cuter to me each day. :D

Big *smooches* to you RDear for visiting 2x.

Thanks Calm. Life is the opposite of your wonderful name right now. Hectic and busy and it's only beginning.

Thanks Ilana for the well wishes!

Hi Kath! Sending you lots of smoochable cheeks and chubby grubby hugs from the little ones. :)

Glad to have you here Judy! I was so excited about my June lineup as well but now I look at the fact that the month is already half over and I've only read the 3 books...... Loving all the family fun times but by the end of the day I'm so exhausted I can barely read a page. I guess the books will be here when the busyness slows down.

You are such a sweetie, Mark! Just a quick pop in for now. I'll play hard again when life isn't so crazy for sure. :)

Megan, I have a lot of friends who do use the amber necklaces and swear by them. Thankfully both my boys seem to manage the pain okay so we've never felt the need to try them. They do look cute though whether they work or not.

Haha, Tina...they are my achilles heels for sure. Watching them hug and play and roll around with each other is truly a beautiful thing. Brotherly love all the way. :)

Roni, busy busy busy! Thanks so much for checking in. :)

Valerie- Thanks for checking in with us. Stop back in when you can. Hugs!

>142 jolerie: Lethbridge is actually ok. We weren't hit nearly as hard as some other areas down here. The biggest thing I had to deal with was leaks at work (no books were harmed).

Glad to hear it's family fun times that are filling your day, Valerie - gotta love that!

Hi Valerie, I love the latest pics of the darling boy. I wanted to tell you that the BB for Burial Rites, hit me some time ago on this thread and I'm now onto the last hundred pages and enjoying it. So thanks for that:-)

Happy Sunday, Valerie.

Stopping in to say hello :)

I took a BB for Burial Rites, too, between here and Deb! Haven't gotten to it yet, but I will : ).

Keeping your thread warm Val. :-)

Hi, Val ~ Glad you're having so much fun, but I miss you! See you when things aren't quite so hectic.

Happy weekend Val!

Checking in late to your 'new' thread. Hope you're having a wonderful time!

>147 Ameise1: wow, I like those rocks :)

Hi Valerie, I hope life is slowing down just a tad for you! Hectic huh?

Just wishing you a Happy Independence day :)

*waves* at Val and the monkeys!

Hope you're having a great weekend, Valerie. We're shooting off fireworks south of the border.

Pretty sure you don't celebrate Independence Day up there, Val, but happy belated Canada Day! Hope all is well!

Valerie, I wish you a fabulous weekend.

Stopping by to wish you a happy July and Happy Stampede!

Hey there, Val! I'll help keep your thread warm. Those two little guys must be keeping you pretty busy these days. I experienced the dreaded teething baby last month when I was in Denver last month for a week. Hope is seven months now, has her two bottom teeth and struggling to let some more come through. Her cousin Molly at 15 months is just sailing through the teething process with little pain. Hope all is well with you and your guys.

Hi Val, how are you doing? I hope you will get some reading done in between taking care of the boys!

Valerie, hoping you and yours are all well and the little monkeys are giving you time to read some good books!

Hey there Valerie... coming by to check in on you. Hope all is well with you and your adorable youngsters.

Hi, Valerie. You must be busy with all the holiday madness. Hope you're all having fun!

Sorry for being MIA!!! Currently we are vacationing in Vancouver. Just wrapped up the craziness with my brother's wedding and we have a few days of rest before we make the drive to Portland. Guess what I will be checking out in a few days??? POWELLS. Oh yes this is one excited gal. Will hopefully be back in august to catch with everyone!! :D

Thanks to all my pals who have taken the time to leave messages here in my oh so neglected thread.....

Sounds like a crazy but wonderful vacation. Have a brilliant time, Valerie.

Vancouver's one of my favorite cities!

Valerie, I wish you a fantastic weekend.

Good to hear from you Valerie. I love Vancouver!

Have fun at Powell's!

Looks like you were here during our week of warm summer weather, Valerie! Enjoy the rest of your trip, since you are driving you will have room to pack in a few books from Powell's! Can't wait to see what you acquire.

I'm a Vancouver fan, too, Valerie (we had a wonderful vacation there a few years ago), and I've always wanted to get to Powell's. Looking forward to hearing about your visit there.

>33 jolerie: >121 jolerie: Your boys are ADORABLE!

Powells? Is that a bookshop? *out of the loop*
:)
Happy holidaying!

I can't wait to see what you buy at Powell's Val.

^See anything??

Life is hectic with 2 little ones, I'm sure we will see Valerie back soon ( fingers crossed )

Just checking in again! We are spending one night here in Spokane, WA. Last night before we are finally home. Can't wait to sleep in my own bed again.... :)

I confess I went a tad nuts at Powells. Okay fine. I went really nuts...haha. Will give a full report once I get my hands on my laptop.

Megan, it is a bookstore in Portland that takes up one whole square block....heaven!!!

Woot! Good to hear from you, Val, and right on the eve of a trip to Powells, too! Will be standing by for your full report!

...awaiting Powell's report...

I was in Spokane last week! Too bad we didn't overlap...

Safe travels home!

>180 jolerie: A whole block? I want to go!

How are the kids enjoying the trip? And how are you surviving it? ;0)

Happy 9 months to my awesome little man! On our vacation this guy learned to crawl and was motoring around like it was nobody's business! :)

Thought I'd I share some cuteness before I scare everyone with the *ahem* mini bookstore splurge I indulged in....

Confessional time....here goes!



The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore by Benjamin Hale
The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan
The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley
Sword of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley/Diana L. Paxton (Book #7 - last in series)
The Wizard of Oz (The First Five Novels Collection) by Frank L. Baum
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
Son by Lois Lowry (Book #4 - last in series)
Twilight's Dawn by Anne Bishop (Book #9 - last in series)
Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop (Book #8)
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
Plainsong by Kent Haruf (Book #1)
Eventide by Kent Haruf (Book #2)
Bronze Summer by Stephen Baxter (Book #2)
The Daylight War by Peter V. Brett (Book #3 - last in series)

Nancy, I was definitely thinking of you when I was hunting down the Haruf books since you gave such a glowing review for both of the books! :)

Thanks Rdear. That's a lovely image to get stuck in my head..haha. ;)

Aww...shucks Katie! We will meet up one day. It's just a matter of time. ;)

Nina, it went SO much better than I could have imagined. The boys had their moments of course, but overall for the amount of time we had to spend cooped up in a vehicle they did so amazing! On our last day of driving we crossed 2 States and 2 Provinces to get home. What a ride! Would do it again in a heartbeat but maybe I'll just wait till the little on is a tad older so we aren't in such a rush getting from place to place. :D

Val I'm so pleased you picked up Son by Lois Lowry. I never would have read that series were it not for your review. I loved every one of those books.

Oh, Val, your little guy is darling!

Yay! I'm tickled to see you picked up two of the Haruf books. Love, love! And I also really enjoyed The Memory of Love. You're in for some good times!

Such a cutie - he is really growing up fast:)

Sounds like you had a great vacation and got an impressive book haul as well:)

Great book haul! And adorable photo!

>185 jolerie: - Awe, look at that smilie face! Sooooo sweet!

> 186 - Great book haul!

Whare are these funky BOOK links I keep seeing … ?

Wow! Great book haul, lovely vacation and a terribly cute little monkey!

Cute monkey and impressive haul, my friend. :)

Your awesome little guy obviously has a truckload of personality, Valerie. I'm sure he brings you a lot of smiles.

Plainsong - love that book! Donna asked us to name our top three ever over on her thread, and that one almost made it for me.

Wow, look at that adorable little man! And look at that book haul!! Whew!

>185 jolerie: That is a great photo of the little guy! What a smile!

Roberta, I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series although I will keep my expectations realistic since I know it would be pretty hard to compete with how much I liked The Giver. Can't wait to watch the movie when it comes out as well!

Nancy, I am so excited about all the books I got but sadly I don't know when I'll have the time to get around to them. :)

Thanks for visiting Calm! Always brings a smile to my face when you de-lurk. :D

Thanks Katie. I'm pretty proud of my haul as well. My wallet on the other hand isn't so happy..haha!

Thanks Lori. Now I just have to find the time to read them right??

Nancy, are you referring to all those blue links that lead to the books main work page?? Yeah we see a lot of those around here... ;)

Hi Roni! He sure is a cutie but of course I'm completely biased here. I was looking for A Natural History of Dragons when I was shopping for the books since I saw your review on your page, but sadly there were no used copies.

Hey Micky! I totally thought of you when we were driving back home and kept seeing the signage for Lethbridge. ;)

Hey Joe! That counts for a lot since I have such a high regard for your opinion on books. Plainsong seems to be receiving a lot of love in our little group. Will get to it one day. Too bad there wasn't a copy of Benediction otherwise it would have worked out perfectly.

Thanks Amber. Cute babies and lots of books. Life is just about perfect right now. :D

Hey Mark. Yeah the little guy sure knew how to put on a show wherever we went.

>199 jolerie: Aww, long distance wave. You totally should have dropped by this happening hotspot. *chortle* ;)

Hi Valerie, I am very impressed with your book haul from Powell's - you got some really great reads there. You have my complete admiration for embarking on a road trip with the two little ones, you must have had your hands full!

Well Micky, we live so close to each other relatively so one of these days I will have to come visit you in happening Lethbridge or you let me know when you swing by Cowtown. ;)

Thank Judy, I can't wait to start reading those books but I know it will probably be awhile before I even crack open one of the newer purchases. Thanks for the vote of confidence! It was nerve wracking when I actually think about how far we drove with the 2 little guys but they were champion travellers and I am one proud mama. :D

I really need to get on some mini book reviews that have been piling since summer, but can never seem to find any dedicated time to sit at the computer for any length of time. Hopefully soon!

>187 jolerie: woohoo! Now that is a beautiful sight. Well done :)

And, congrats on the little guy being a crawler now. CUTE! And, troublesome? He'll be getting into things in no time.

>202 jolerie: Well, I can wave at you when I pass through Cowtown on my way back to Lethbridge on Monday when I switch buses. :)

Hi Val, I'm back from my holiday. I wish you a fabulous Sunday.

>185 jolerie: What a cutie! A belated happy 9 months to monkey #2!

>186 jolerie: Now, that is a book haul!

Holy crap-tastic book haul, Valerie!! Those are some great book buying skills you are displaying there.

And your little one is simply adorable still. Getting cuter every day!

Howdy do, Valerie! Joshua's latest pics are just adorable and it's so cute how Caleb wants to be in every picture with him.
A very, very nice book haul, ahem, readable souvenirs. Hope you're enjoying the last stretch of summer!

Hi Valerie! Looks like your summer is going well. LOVE the smiling babe! Josh is adorable!

Hi Val, I hope you and yours are fine. Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Looking forward to your re-appearance when time permits, Valerie.

*waving*

(She's probably busy extricating her monkeys from some scrape or other, if they're anything like mind)

Big waves for you Valerie. I hope everything is fine at your place.

>210 Ameise1: that looks like my (imaginary) book hideout reading space. I see cushions, abundant natural light, coffee and a fire (and a few walls full of books of course)

>214 LovingLit: Isn't it? I love such places, too..

Hi Val! I lost you somewhere along the way. Sorry about that. You two little munchkins are absolutely adorable!! I can't believe I missed you at Powell's when you were down here though. Major bummer! Hopefully it was just so amazing that there will be a repeat trip. : )

Hello from me, Valerie. Hope all is well with you and your family.

Stopping by with Happy Thanksgiving wishes for you and your family, Valerie!

Yes, Happy Thanksgiving, Valerie!

All quiet on the Western front?

Valerie, I wish you a fabulous weekend.

>221 Ameise1: Oo, that's a pretty one, Barbara!

Hope all is well, Valerie.

Hey everyone! Sorry I have been so horrible with keeping up to date with LT and all you fine people. Everytime I check and see the hundreds of unread messages on all the threads I feel like I'm about to climb a never-ending mountain. So for my sanity I will probably start fresh with everyone.
Lots of great reading done on my front and hopefully the same goes for all the LT peeps.

Will come back and update everyone on what my nose has been buried in the last couple of months.

First off....A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO my little J! I can't believe he is 1 already. This year really has flown by in the blink of an eye. :)

Wow, that's a wonderful card. Happy Birthday little man.

Thanks so much Barbara! It only took about 10 minutes because anything longer than that would require too much uninterrupted time that I just don't have. HA! :)

Happy Birthday, Joshua! Both of your boys are SO cute! And how lovely to see you checking in, Valerie! I have been absent a lot also, so totally understand being overwhelmed by the threads - starting fresh is perfect. I'll check back to see what you have been reading.

Here is my attempt to catch up on all the books I've read. No reviews, but just a summary of details and ratings. :)


The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Source: Public Library
Genre: Fantasy
Format: HB
Published: 1993
Setting: The British Isles, 1 AD
Pages: 417
Series: #2 of 7
Notes: women, religion, sacrifice, love
Rating: ★★★¾


The Rathbones by Janice Clark
Source: Public Library
Genre: Historical
Format: HB
Published: 2013
Setting: New England, 18th century
Pages: 367
Series: N/A
Notes: family, genealogy, incest, whaling
Rating: ★★★★


Longbourn by Jo Baker
Source: Public Library
Genre: Historical/Classics (retelling)
Format: HB
Published: 2013
Setting: London, Hertfordshire
Pages: 332
Series: N/A
Notes: Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, servants, love, romance
Rating: ★★★★½

Amulet - The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi
Source: Public Library
Genre: GN
Format: HB
Published: 2009
Setting: Alternate world
Pages: 219
Series: Book #2 of ?
Notes: adventure, family, cure, fantasy, manga
Rating: ★★★★


Conquest The Chronicles of the Invaders by John Connolly & Jennifer Ridyard
Source: Public Library
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: HB
Published: 2014
Setting: Edinburg, Scotland, London, 21st century
Pages: 433
Series: #1 of ?
Notes: rebellion, occupation, space travel, freedom
Rating: ★★★★¼


My Story by Elizabeth Smart/Chris Stewart
Source: Public Library
Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoir
Format: HB
Published: 2013
Setting: Salt Lake City, Utah
Pages: 308
Series: N/A
Notes: Abduction, abuse, survival, justice
Rating: ★★★¾

The Martian by Andy Weir
Source: Public Library
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: HB
Published: 2011
Setting: Mars
Pages: 369
Series: N/A
Notes: rescue, survival, NASA, space
Rating: ★★★★¾


Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
Source: Public Library
Genre: Historical
Format: HB
Published: 2014
Setting: San Francisco, California, Chinatown
Pages: 373
Series: N/A
Notes: prostitution, smallpox, women, friendship, murder, mystery
Rating: ★★★★¼


Awaken by Meg Cabot
Source: Public Library
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Format: HB
Published: 2013
Setting: Island, United States, Underworld
Pages: 343
Series: Book #3 of 3, last in series
Notes: mythology, love, death, end of the world
Rating: ★★★½

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
Source: Public Library
Genre: Fiction
Format: HB
Published: 2014
Setting: London, Russia, United States
Pages: 405
Notes: secret society, multiple lives, end of the world, science
Rating: ★★★½


Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
Source: Public Library
Genre: Fiction/Suspense/Mystery/Crime
Format: HB
Published: 2013
Setting: New York
Pages: 380
Note: clubs, cliques, bullying, social media
Rating: ★★★★½


Winter’s Heart by Robert Jordan
Source: OTS
Genre: Fantasy
Format: MMP
Published: 2000
Setting:
Pages: 766
Series: Book #9 of 14
Notes: epic fantasy, heroes, prophecy, goodness, evil
Rating: ★★★★¼

When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman
Source: OTS
Genre: Fiction
Format: TPB
Published: 2011
Setting: England, New York
Page: 324
Series: N/A
Notes: childhood, growing up, friendships, family, tragedy
Rating: ★★★★¼


The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson
Source: OTS
Genre: Fiction
Format: TPB
Published: 2006
Setting: Ontario, Canada
Pages: 355
Series: N/A
Notes: family, farming, grief, siblings, rivalry
Rating: ★★★★


Goddess by Josephine Angelini
Source: Public Library
Genre: YA
Format: HB
Published: 2013
Setting: Nantucket, Massachusetts
Pages: 421
Series: #3 of 3, last in series
Notes: fantasy, paranormal, Greek mythology, love, romance
Rating: ★★★¾

The Confabulist by Steven Galloway
Source: Public Library
Genre: Historical
Format: HB
Published: 2014
Setting: United States, Montreal, Russia
Pages: 301
Series: N/A
Notes: magic, magicians, illusions, government, deceptions
Rating: ★★★


The One by Keira Cass
Source: Public Library
Genre: YA
Format: HB
Published: 2014
Setting: United States
Pages: 323
Series: #3 of ?
Notes: dystopian, reality TV, romance, competition
Rating: ★★★


The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
Source: Public Library
Genre: Historical
Format: HB
Published: 2014
Setting: Amsterdam
Pages: 392
Series: N/a
Notes: mystery, secrets, marriage, religion, dollhouses
Rating: ★★★★

Messenger by Lois Lowry
Source: OTS
Genre: YA
Format: MMP
Published: 2004
Setting: Village
Pages: 169
Series: #3 of 4
Notes: dystopian, gifts, sacrifice
Rating: ★★★★★


Children of Paradise by Fred D’Aguiar
Source: Public Library
Genre: Fiction
Format: HB
Published: 2014
Setting: Guyana
Pages: 362
Series: N/a
Notes: religion, Jonestown, mass suicide, commune
Rating: ★★★


J by Howard Jacobson
Source: Public Library
Genre: Fiction
Format: HB
Published: 2014
Setting: England
Pages: 327
Series: N/a
Notes: dystopian, love, past, apology, Jews, Man Booker Prize 2014
Rating: ★★★

The Worlds We Make by Megan Crewe
Source: Public Library
Genre: YA
Format: HB
Published: 2014
Setting: Canada, Atlanta
Pages: 280
Series: #3 of 3
Notes: last in series, dystopian, virus, cure
Rating: ★★★★


The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Source: OTS
Genre: Classic
Format: Trade PB
Published: 1993
Setting: London, England
Pages: 167
Series: n/a
Notes: Gothic horror, obsession, youth, sins
Rating: ★★★★


Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
Source: Public Library
Genre: YA
Format: HB
Published: 2012
Setting: London
Pages: 354
Series: #2 of 3
Notes: historical, time travel, secret societies, love
Rating: ★★★½


Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson
Source: OTS
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Format: MMP
Published: 2011
Setting: England
Pages: 372
Series: N/A
Notes: memory, amnesia, marriage
Rating: ★★★★½

Lots of great books, Valerie. It's lovely to see you back posting. A very happy birthday to your little one, gosh, they grow up so quickly!

Big wave to Mamie! Trying to balance life with 2 boys, LT, and a reading life is no easy feat (hence why LT was so sadly neglected). Hopefully I can be more consistent through the rest of this year. My goodness...it's almost the end of 2014 already..aaaaaahhhh!

Thanks Judy! It has indeed gone by so quickly that I can't believe my baby is already a toddler. It is bittersweet indeed. I am infinitely grateful for more sleep....but already mourning the fact that he isn't a babe that is just content to sit on my lap for very long anymore. :(

My favourites from the past several months:
Longbourn by Jo Baker
The Martian by Andy Weir
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCrieght
The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson
Messenger by Lois Lowry
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

Wow, look at all that reading! And those handsome boys!! How is that wee one 1 year old already?!

yay! It's all about the books of course, but priorities in check, HAPPY FIRST to your littlest. :)

First, great photos of Joshua. Happy Birthday to him! Hard to believe a year has gone by.

Second, what a lot of good reading, Valerie! I'm particularly happy that you liked Longbourn and The Martian, both of which get top marks from me, too. I also liked Before I Go to Sleep. I'm encouraged by Messenger being on your favourites list, as it's the next one in the Giver series for me.

Good to have you back! Glad you could squeeze in a little LT time. I know it's not easy with little ones.

Your little guys are soooo cute! Happy belated birthday J! And, wow, what a lot of books to post. I am pretty far behind on the posting front, and I think I am going to steal your presentation idea and skip the reviews on most of them. Thanks!

I know right Amber?!? When you are going through it, it feels like time is dragging....but when you look back you think where has all that time gone. What a funny thing time is. Just trying to soak it all up and remember that time only goes forward.... :)

Haha..Megan! Priorities! Right. It's about the books here, but who are we kidding...everything is thrown in for good measure. That is what is special about this group.

Hi Joe! I was pleasantly surprised by Longbourn seeing how my track record with the Classics have not been all that great, but I was thoroughly sucked in by the story and thought it was such an interesting perspective! I would have given The Martian a full five star because there were so, so many laugh out loud moments...but the science part kind of dragged it down a notch for me. You should definitely give Messenger and Gathering Blue a whirl because they were both 5 star reads for me. She is just a darn good storyteller in that genre.

Thanks so much Kim! Steal away. :) I really wanted to do some reviews for the books I liked, but by now all the details are foggy and I run the risk of mixing up all the storylines of other books...so just quick snippets from me for now!

Currently Reading:

The Battle for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi

What a great surprise! Welcome back Valerie! And happy birthday to your little J. A year really does go by incredibly fast. You've managed to fit in some great reading. I read Longbourn right after rereading Pride and Prejudice earlier this year and thought it was really great too. I got The Miniaturist recently and sorry to see it didn't do more from you, but no matter, they can't all be favourites. On the other hand, The Picture of Dorian Gray has long been a favourite of mine, and I've read it a couple of times, but it's been a very long time I'm overdue for a reread now and looking forward to revisiting it.

I'd say don't pressure yourself too much to keep up here, considering you've got your hands full at home. Everyone understands there are other things going on in your life besides LT and you can't be everywhere at once. It's just lovely to get an update once in a while.

Wonderful to see you Ilana and thanks for the birthday wishes! I have read some really great books the last couple of months so time was definitely not wasted. It's funny that you should mention The Miniaturist because I totally picked up the book on a whim at the library because the cover caught my attention. I actually really liked the book, but it was one of those instances when the calibre of books you've been reading has been SO good that it colours every other subsequent book. I would totally recommend it to anyone who is into historical novels.
You are right about RL and LT. I am not going to drive myself crazy trying to catch up, but just checking in with everyone when I can. No stress and more enjoyment. :)

Wow, what a nice surprise, Valerie! You put an instant smile on my face. And I LOVE the book updates. It's good to see that you still have an uncanny eye for good and varied reading.

And Happy Birthday to the little guy! J is adorable!

Are you going to be around a little or is this a one shot deal?

Lovely to see you back posting, Valerie! One year already..... wow, does time fly!

I see you have managed to sneak in some great reading! I loved The Martian and very excited you enjoyed Longbourn as that one is on my future reading list. Oh dear on The Confabulist. I loved The Cellist of Sarajevo and I am a little worried that his second book will be a bit of a letdown. I guess I will have to find out for myself.

I'm happy to spread some cheer and bring some smiles, Mr. Mark! Are you saying that I'm random?? It's true I am quite all over the place when it comes to reading. I used to only read from 1 or 2 genres, but must say that has changed quite dramatically the last couple of years and LT has a lot to do with that.
The goal is always to stick around..haha...but sadly life doesn't always cooperate with me. ;) Will try my best!

Hi Lori! I think I did things a little backwards as I haven't read The Cellist of Sarajevo yet but I keep hearing about how great it is. I feel like the premise of The Confabulist was promising but somehow the delivery just fell a bit flat for me. Hopefully it works out better for you. :)

Another pleased to see you back in the groove so to speak Valerie. xx

Another wonderfully friendly "face" that I've missed, Paul. Hopefully now that my schedule has resumed some predictability, I won't miss so much on the going ons here on LT. :D

Yay! A Val sighting! Make my day : ).

Haha..thanks Nancy! I liken myself to a rare and exotic animal bordering on possibly being extinct at the rate that I show up around here. I do my best though! ;)

Good to see you back, Valerie.

Belated Happy Birthday! to J. October birthdays are the best ;0)

My 5 year old has 'graduated' from Kindergarten, and Thursday will be his last day. I'm a bit sad, because the Kindy is a great little community, and his older brother went there before him. Since I don't have any more kids in the pipeline, we will be saying 'Goodbye' for good; but while I'm nostalgic, whenever I mention it, he gives a fist pump and says "Yay! Holidays!" Mind you, he gets an extra long holiday this year, because in changing schools, the school calendars are different, too.