MAY ROOT - Progress Thread

FLOWER OF THE MONTH = PEONY









Password is ROOTS

With a recorded history that dates back thousands of years, it's not surprising that even the mythology surrounding the origin of the peony has multiple versions. One legend has it that the peony is named after Paeon, a physician to the gods, who received the flower on Mount Olympus from the mother of Apollo. And another tells the story of that same physician who was "saved" from the fate of dying as other mortals by being turned into the flower we know today as the peony.

Peonies come in various colors with pink being the most popular. Pink peonies are romantic and are seen in many cultures as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. A pink peony bouquet represents riches and honor which is perhaps why they have become the official 12th wedding anniversary flower.

Another popular peony color is also a classic: the white peony flower. A sophisticated choice, white peonies are romantic without being overly feminine, giving off a crisp and clean feel. What’s better than a bouquet of white flowers to give a room a breath of fresh air?

The season for peonies is always short and sweet and, of course, they are incredibly gorgeous so it’s easy to see why the peony flower always makes its mark. They also have a rich history and the meaning of peonies make them popular as well.

Peonies are native to temperate and cold areas of the Northern hemisphere which is how they’ve become iconic in the late spring to early summertime in the United States. However, it appears that they have also enjoyed popularity in areas of China and Tibet for centuries. In ancient China, peonies were used to flavor food, create medicines, and were used ornamentally in the imperial gardens.

When peonies made their way to other parts of the world, they were also regarded as a healing flower in Europe. In fact, some in Europe believed peonies cured many diseases such as epilepsy and teething. These mystical qualities have only added to the allure of these big, beautiful blossoms and heightened the desire to procure them.

Below is the current list of members that have identified a ROOT goal for 2020 and how many books they read by the end of March. The percentages are calculated and a star awarded for those on _target to reach their goals. More stars for farther toward their goal. If anyone's number is incorrect, please let me know and I will make the necessary adjustments.

So go out there and dig those ROOTs.

The goal for May is 1,379.

ahef1963 0 / 100 0.0%
alexa_d 87 / 100 ★★★★★ 87.0%
Ameise1★ 12 / 12 100.0%
arubabookwoman 0 / 36 0.0%
benitastrnad 40 / 60 ★★★★★ 66.7%
bg853 2 / 25 8.0%
bookworm148 1 / 20 5.0%
bragan 23 / 50 ★★ 46.0%
brakketh 6 / 30 20.0%
ca_dmv 7 / 12 ★★★★ 58.3%
clue 22 / 50 ★★ 44.0%
connie53 22 / 42 ★★★ 52.4%
crazy4reading 5 / 38 13.2%
curioussquared 18 / 50 ★ 36.0%
CurrerBell 12 / 40 30.0%
cyderry 28 / 84 ★ 33.3%
deep220 13 / 50 26.0%
detailmuse 14 / 40 ★ 35.0%
DissamblyOfReason 10 / 100 10.0%
enemyanniemae 30 / 50 ★★★★ 60.0%
Erratic_Charmer 18 / 40 ★★ 45.0%
Familyhistorian 31 / 65 ★★ 47.7%
FAMeulstee 16 / 24 ★★★★★ 66.7%
floremolla 13 / 50 26.0%
fuzzi 33 / 100 ★ 33.0%
HelenBaker 19 / 48 ★ 39.6%
Henrik_Madsen 21 / 50 ★★ 42.0%
humouress 13 / 40 32.5%
Jackie_K 27 / 60 ★★ 45.0%
Jacksonian 4 / 75 5.3%
jenknox 13 / 100 13.0%
kac522 18 / 45 ★ 40.0%
karenmarie 21 / 30 ★★★★ 70.0%
klarusu 2 / 36 5.6%
Kristelh 24 / 45 ★★★ 53.3%
Kwharton 1 / 12 8.3%
LadyBookworth 13 / 30 ★★ 43.3%
lindapanzo 16 / 48 ★ 33.3%
lilisin 15 / 50 30.0%
LoraShouse 7 / 15 ★★ 46.7%
leslie.98 73 / 75 ★★★★★ 97.3%
madhatter22 14 / 50 28.0%
majkia 38 / 60 ★★★★ 63.3%
mandymarie20★ 26 / 25 104.0%
martencat 12 / 30 ★ 40.0%
Mary_Mignano 1 / 50 2.0%
Miss_Moneypenny★ 50 / 50 100.0%
MissSos 2 / 25 8.0%
MissWatson 30 / 50 ★★★★ 60.0%
nebula21 10 / 48 20.8%
Nickelini 8 / 15 ★★★ 53.3%
rabbitprincess 36 / 60 ★★★★ 60.0%
rainpebble 18 / 36 ★★★ 50.0%
readergirliz 9 / 32 28.1%
readingtangent 21 / 24 ★★★★★ 87.5%
Rebeki 12 / 24 ★★★ 50.0%
ritacate 12 / 24 ★★★ 50.0%
Robertgreaves 42 / 90 ★★ 46.7%
rocketjk 13 / 27 ★★ 48.1%
rosalita 19 / 36 ★★★ 52.8%
Sace 9 / 18 ★★★ 50.0%
sallylou61 16 / 30 ★★★ 53.3%
si 6 / 20 30.0%
sibylline 9 / 30 30.0%
This-n-That 4 / 20 20.0%
torontoc 14 / 30 ★★ 46.7%
tuna.moriarty 3 / 200 1.5%
Val_Reads 1 / 100 1.0%
vestafan 28 / 60 ★★ 46.7%
wandaly 8 / 18 ★★ 44.4%



We had some avid readers that reached their goals this month -- Ameise1, mmandymarie20, and Miss_Moneypenny!


The readers closest to reaching their goals are:

leslie.98 97.3%
readingtangent 87.5%
alexa_d 87.0%
FAMeulstee 66.7%
benitastrnad 66.7%

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers. Growing up there was a large Peony bush in our backyard and they always bloomed for my birthday. I thought they did it just for me! My husband planted three peony bushes in our yard just because I love them - one white, one pink, and 1 red.

I got my star back!

>2 cyderry: Yes, mine too! My birthday is in May and we would have lilacs (white and lavender), lily of the valley and peonies (pink and white) all blooming in our yard at different times throughout the month. And they were definitely for _my_ birthday!

This may also get me to read Pearl S. Buck's novel Peony this month.

I'm a May baby too (as is my husband and daughter, and best friends). Always an exciting month for us.

I love Peonies! I miss them so much - just like I miss Lilacs and Iris. Neither of those grow well here in Alabama either.

>3 kac522:
Maybe Lisa See's book Peony in Love would be a good one for the month.

I see we were on a roll with the posting in April and made it to the 150 posts for the roll over link to this month. Woot! Woot! This staying at home has sure upped my reading game.

Yay, another star :-) Thank you, Chèli, for all your hard work and for keeping us motivated in these difficult times

Yay, we're all doing great! Off to tackle one of the ROOTs I have on the go right now.

>1 cyderry:. My number is correct. I've read 22 ROOTs so far but 1 was finished in May. So I won't touch the tickers because I think you have synchronized the tickers, Chèli.

The book I finished on May 1 was Het meisje met de vlechtjes by Wilma Geldof

Just finished my first ROOT of May: The Merry Heart: Selections 1980–1995, by Robertson Davies. All tickers updated.

Lovely flowers again, Chèli!

I finished another ROOT. We are finally allowed to go shopping legally here in Alabama so while driving around yesterday I finished listening to Dry by Neal Shusterman and his son Jarrod Shusterman. This was a book about climate change and the water crisis in Southern California. It was not Shusterman's best book. Too rambling and at times predictable, but still a good YA novel. It should make all of us think about how we use water.

Sunday morning and I finished another ROOT. Six Square Metres: Reflections From A Small Garden by the Australian gardener and author Margaret Simons was one of those quiet comforting books about gardening and philosophy that was a perfect fit for reading outside with a cappuccino this morning. I was sorry to finish it because the setting and the reading fit together so beautifully.

I finished my first book for this month on the first, The Red House by Mark Haddon, so off to a quick start.

I didn't finish two books, but since they are ROOTs and I'm removing them from the shelves/house, I count them.

Two for May so far, personal ticker updated.

Reporting ROOT # 23 for the year # 2 for May

Het leven van Pi by Yann Martel

All tickers updated.

ROOT #10: Music Heard So Deeply: A Music Therapy Memoir by Betsey King. This is a book written by one of my graduate school professors. I knew her writing would cheer me up, even if I knew most of the music therapy information in it already! Thread and ticker updated.

Added another ROOT to all tickers: Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier, by Neil deGrasse Tyson.

I’ve updated my personal tickers with my ROOTs for April; 17 total ROOTs (or 18 if you count the one I read in May).

Doctor Who books are great for boosting my numbers. Just added Doctor Who and the War Games, by Malcolm Hulke, to all tickers.

Peonies are my favorite; what a treat to have it as our month topper! I finally bit the bullet this year and bought a peony bush and 4 rose bushes to grow in pots in my backyard. We're renting for the next little while (hence the pots) but I couldn't handle not having flowers anymore.

I hit my goal last month and am looking forward to contributing to the group total from here on out! I'll definitely have to bump up my goal next year. I didn't think I'd hit 50 so fast, but COVID has left me with more time on my hands than I expected.

First ROOT of the month finished. My thread and all tickers updated but no review yet...

>22 Miss_Moneypenny: The short life of peonies is their only drawback. At least COVID has brought something positive coming out of a bad situation.

Another ROOT finished and that completes my goal! I think this is the earliest in the year I have ever finished - my goal must have been too low this year. Or this sheltering-in-place has increased the percentage of my reading that is ROOTs - yeah, that must be it.

My 1st ROOT for May (#28 for the year, so I'm closing in on the half-way point!) has been added to all tickers.

1st ROOT for May ( my last ROOT-#14- was counted for April) and #15 for the year- review is on my thread and no tickers updated.

Reporting ROOT # 24 for the year # 3 for May

Een onafwendbaar einde by Elizabeth George

All tickers updated.

>25 leslie.98: Great going!

2nd root for the month completed, Lunch with a Soldier by Derek Hansen. Loved this and it was especially poignant as I had given it to my mother for Christmas 2004 and then inherited it on her death in 2006. It has taken me far too long to get to it. Now I think I will pass it on to my brother.

Thanks >29 cyderry:!

Added another ROOT to all tickers: The Thick of It: The Missing DoSAC Files, by Armando Iannucci, Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche and Ian Martin. I've been bingeing the show again and decided to read the companion book as well.

ROOT #2 for May (#29 for the year) added to all tickers.

I finished another ROOT. Packing For Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach. This one is for my real life book discussion group. We are meeting by Zoom tonight.

I've posted 2 ROOTs for May so far. Not sure how many I will get to this month as I'm still trying to finish the last of my stack of library books.

Third ROOT finished for the month, The Pilgrim of Hate by Ellis Peters. Typical good read about Brother Cadfael. Personal ticker is updated.

What beautiful flowers!

Added another ROOT to all tickers: The Stone Angel, by Margaret Laurence.

And another one: Beware of the Trains, by Edmund Crispin.

I finished another book! and a years long project. I have been reading through the entire title list of the National Geographic Directions series. I started reading these books back in 2009 - before I realized that they were a series. When I did I decided to read all of them. Last night I completed the final one in the title list. There are actually three more titles listed for this series but they were never published, so this one is it. Fellowship of Ghosts: A Journey Through the Mountains of Norway by Paul Watkins might be one of the best ones in the series. Watkins writing is very descriptive and combined with his knowledge of hiking and the European habit of trekking it makes for a delightful read with just the right amounts of adventure, history, and romance of the road.

For anyone who likes travel books I highly recommend this series.

Reporting ROOT # 25 for the year # 4 for May

In wankel evenwicht by Elizabeth George

All tickers updated.

I started reading a Japanese book but decided I wanted to read the book out loud to try and smooth out my speaking a bit but since I can't read anywhere else now that became my at home book. Then I started reading another Verne as I wanted to continue the adventure from the previous Verne I had just finished but this one is less whimsical and fun (the characters are all quite detestable) so afraid that this would lead me to a slump it has now become my at work book so that I can finish the last 80 pages or so during lunch. While cooking Monday night I suddenly got inspired to read a nonfiction so I pulled out a Chinese nonfiction about the Tiannemen event and that has now become my book of inspiration and it has greatly pulled me in. So these are the three books I am currently reading and hopefully shouldn't take too long to read.

Jules Verne : Robur le Conquerant
乙一 : 夏と花火と私の死体 (Summer, Fireworks, and My Corpse)
Yiwu Liao : Des balles et de l'opium (Bullets and Opium: Real-Life Stories of China After the Tiananmen Square Massacre)

I've just added my 3rd ROOT for May (#31 for the year) to all tickers.

I finished one of my "short" books. Blue Fox by the Icelandic author Sjon was a very good morality tale. I have had this one on the shelf since 2012 so it was time to get it read and off.

Second ROOT for May and #16 for the year- review is on my thread and no tickers updated.

Reporting ROOT # 26 for the year, # 5 for May

Lichaam van de dood by Elizabeth George

Only my own ticker updated because of internet problems.

Another ROOT done. I finished reading We Are Legion (We are Bob) book 1 in the Bobiverse series and had so much fun doing it. Now I am on to book 2. I hope to finish that by Wednesday.

My chunkster for May, The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, taking me to 22/48. I am guilty of picking up two library books today, but they are on my wishlist, and I have to show support as they reopened this week.

May has been an excellent ROOTing month for me, 9 so far.

>49 MissWatson: you go girl!

I finished another in my short books personal challenge. Packing My Library: An Elegy and Ten Digressions by Alberto Manguel. This one was for work, and it was full of philosophy and had essays on why we read and collect books. Perfect for people in this group. Manguel had 47,000 volumes in his library when he packed it all up and moved it from the south of France to Canada. From there he moved it to Argentina where he is now the Director of the Argentinian National Library.

He had more books in his collection than I do. That alone made me happy.

>50 cyderry: Thanks, Chèli! I just added number 10. I just wish they would be a little more exciting to talk about!

ROOT #11: Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey. Light and fluffy and just what I needed.

>42 lilisin:

Apparently I only had 80 pages left of the Verne book on May 12th. It's now the 21st. I finally finished the last 50 pages of Robur le conquerant) yesterday during my lunch hour.

The Chinese nonfiction I read the majority in three days and again sat on the last 100 pages. Today I plan on finishing the last 40 pages during lunch so that finally I can note down that I have two books finished in May. Even though they were both short books and it's now the 21st already. Still don't know what happened to me this month.

Last night I then read 50 pages of a new book, Drive your plow over the bones of the dead by Olga Tokarczuk which so far is wonderful. Loving the writing. Hopefully the same fate doesn't await this one and instead I'll be able to plow my way through this one.

The Japanese book is sitting where I last put it minus a few inches to the left and right as I kept sliding it around so I could put my drink down.

I got another laptop so I added my ROOT from >46 connie53: to the grouptickers too.

Can't believe I'm in another reading funk!

>56 cyderry: oh no!

Try a comfort read, reread?

>56 cyderry: No advice, just sympathy -- I'm right there in the boat with you!

Bailing on a ROOT I've been reading as a public-domain ebook: Main Street, by Sinclair Lewis. All tickers updated.

I've just added #4 for May (#32 for the year) to all tickers.

>57 fuzzi: Decided to go to something that should help. Maybe attempt the current read another time.

Back with one more root, An Equal Stillness by Francesca Kay. What a pleasure this was to read. 23/48 for me and I am unlikely to read anymore roots for the month with my current stack of library books.

My apologies Cheli, I may have mucked up the tickers. I think I might not have added my actual 3rd ROOT of May to the group tickers - what I can say is that my own ticker is definitely up to date and accurate. I've read 5 this month so far, not 4, but the yearly total is definitely 32 ROOTs. Sorry :(

>63 Jackie_K:

They always get readjusted at the end of the month anyway so it really doesn't matter. Don't fret. As long as your ticker is up to date is all that matters.

Finished Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead last night and quite enjoyed it although I need to think about it a little more. Now I'm 100 pages into Dead Man's Walk and really enjoying revisiting the characters of Lonesome Dove. DMW is not as deep (so far) as LD but I'm loving being back in Texas.

Finished book 2 in the Bobiverse - For We Are Many by Dennis E. Taylor and what a fun ride that was.

I also finished a recorded book The Reader by Traci Chee. This one is book 1 in the Sea of Ink and Gold series.

I also finished up Blood Safari by Deon Meyer and started the next one of his books I have at home. Heart of the Hunter. I am loving these spy thrillers as much as I like the Bob Books.

Reading funk? my cure is reading Pride and Prejudice- works for getting rid of reading blahs for me.

Third ROOT for May and #17 for the year- review is on my thread and no tickers updated.

>65 lilisin: I read that one earlier this year as well. Wonderful and thought-provoking book.

I finished Heart of the Hunter and started on Dead At Daybreak by Deon Meyer. I am really chewing through these books and enjoying every minute of the extra time spent reading.

Reporting ROOT # 27 for the year, # 6 for May

De stenen hemel by N.K. Jemisin

All tickers updated.

ROOT #6 for May, #33 for the year, added to all tickers.

I finished up the Bobiverse books with All These Worlds by Dennis E. Taylor. this series has been perfect quarantine reading. Just a great way to get into a whole other universe. I highly recommend this series to anybody who like space opera or science. The science remained a strong point throughout the series. And no wimpy ending!

I have read 4 ROOTs in May, making a total of 21 of 24.
All tickers updated.

Hello all.
I managed to read 6 ROOTs this month which brings my total to 26. I have updated my personal ticker but not touched the group one.
Off to find my 1st June ROOT. 😊

I've just added ROOT #7 for May (#34 for the year) to all tickers. I'm still hopeful I'll finish another one by the end of the weekend, but that may be a bit over-ambitious, we'll see!

I finished reading Dead At Daybreak this afternoon. I can't believe all of the books I have been reading since this quarantine started.

Reporting ROOT # 28 for the year, # 7 for May

Muze by Laini Taylor

All tickers updated.

This will probably be my last ROOT for May: The Field Guide to Understanding 'Human Error', by Sidney Dekker. All tickers updated.

got 5 read, thanks to rabbitprincess and lilisin. Great advice, thanks! Total for the year is 35. Updated personal ticker only.

Read 2 books this month.
Have only updated personal ticker. 15/30 Halfway there! lol

Happy reading all.
Stay safe and stay well!! :+}

I finished Larry McMurtry's Dead Man's Walk, the pre-prequel to Lonesome Dove, as my last book of the month. Loved reunited with these characters and enjoying the adventure. So four ROOTs read this month although yesterday I went to the bookstore (first time out to Tokyo since February!) and bought four new books to celebrate the end of the state of emergency in Japan and to take advantage of a 30% off sale (which only counted on 2 out the 4 books).

I'm pretty sure now that I was too ambitious in >77 Jackie_K:, so will put my May total as 7 ROOTs (34 for the year to date, so not too shabby!).

I have finished my last book for May and can report 12 ROOTs. At this rate, I'll reach my goal in June. Yippee!!

A good reading month, with 3 ROOTs, taking me halfway to my goal for the year.

Here is my report for May 2020:

UpROOTED books: 9
ROOTless books: 21
Added to the treebook TBR shelves: 2

A record for the number of books read in one month!

The ROOTs were:

The Thing I Didn't Know I Didn't Know by Brent Hartinger
Improbable Destinies by Jonathan Losos
A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter
Palatine by L J Trafford
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Provenance by Ann Leckie
Heechee Rendezvous by Frederik Pohl
Strange Children by Kate Charles

ROOTs in YTD: 51

Tickers have been updated but hopefully not harmed in the making of this report.

I finished 10 ROOTs in May for a current total of 42/65. I thought for a minute there that I would have finished more ROOTs than new books bought this month. That was until I went to check out whether the bookstore I got in their shipment of magazines yet. There were no magazines but more books followed me home. Strange how that happens.

I hope to finish up a book tonight so I will report tomorrow with my May totals.

Whew! No library access means 10 Roots read and 1 book that was DNF after 65 pages, so off it goes! So 11 total--has to be a record for me, and it includes Dickens' 926-page Dombey and Son.

Six ROOTs read this month - that's 19/60 for 2020. All tickers updated.

>56 cyderry: Sorry you've been having a reading slump, Chèli, I hope you've found something that helps :)

I read 16 ROOTS this month. no tickers updated.

I chewed through the books this month. I read 400 page books in two or three days. Quarantine has been good for my reading.

I had 2 sound recordings listened to on CD.

1. Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
2. Reader Book 1 in the Sea of Ink and Gold series by Traci Chee

I usually listen to books while commuting to work. Since I have sharply curtailed my traveling I didn't get many books listened to this month.

I took 4 nonfiction ROOTs off my shelves and off my TBR list in May.

1. Six Square Metres by Margaret Simons - was one of my "small" books
2. Packing For Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach was for my real life book discussion group Zoom meeting early in May
3. Fellowship of Ghosts: A Journey Through the Mountains of Norway by Paul Watkins marked the end of my personal challenge to read all of the titles in the National Geographic Directions series. Done.
4. Packing My Library: An elegy and Ten Digressions by Alberto Manguel was another of my "small" books project.

9 works of fiction ROOTS were removed from reading lists and shelves in May.

1. Girl of His Dreams by Donna Leon has been on my shelf since July of 2008.
2. Blue Fox by Sjon was another of my "small" books project and had been on my shelves since August 2016.
3. We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor Book 1 in the Bobiverse and on my shelves since May 2017.
4. For We Are Legion by Dennis E. Taylor Book 2 in the Bobiverse and on my shelves since May 2017.
5. All These Worlds by Dennis E. Taylor book 3 in the Bobiverse and on my shelves since August 2019
6. Blood Safari by Deon Meyer on my shelves since July 2017
7. Heart of a Hunter by Deon Meyer on my shelves since July 2017
8. Dead At Daybreak by Deon Meyer on my shelves since July 2017
9. An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good by Helene Tursten on my shelves since January 2019
10. Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer on my reading list since September 2017

I made a hole on the shelves, but don't worry. I filled all the spaces with books from boxes hidden under my bed.

Just two for me in May, bringing me to 15 out of my goal of 27.

June Thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/320973