Joanne's (coppers) That's About It - Ch 6

The Sawtooth and Mt Bierstadt, Oct 2011. Mt Bierstadt is named for the artist, Albert Bierstadt.




January 2011
1. Search the Dark by Charles Todd
2. The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler
3. Stiff by Mary Roach
4. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin*
5. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
6. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy*
7. A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane
8. Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill*
9. The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill

February 2011
10. Of Thee I Sing by Barack Obama
11. Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane
12. The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman *
13. A River of Words by Jen Bryant
14. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimen (audio) (reread)
15. Sacred by Dennis Lehane
16. Good Old Dog by Staff at Cummings

March 2011
17. Legacy of the Dead by Charles Todd
18. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand*
19. Pearl Verses the World by Sally Murphy
20. The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
21. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
22. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell*
23. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown*
24. Bury Your Dead by Lousie Penny (audio, reread)

April 2011
25. At Home by Bill Bryson (audio)
26. Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson*
27. Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley*
28. A Lonely Death by Charles Todd (LTER)
29. Mr Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt

May 2011
30. Gone, Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane*
31. She Walks in Beauty edited by Caroline Kennedy
32. The Wave by Susan Casey (audio)
33. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
34. The Empty Family by Colm Toibin (audio)
35. A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr*

June 2011
36. The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood, Illustrated by Renata Liwska
37. Prayers For Rain by Dennis Lehane
38. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson*
39. My Lucky Life by Dick Van Dyke (audio)
40. Now You See Me by S.J.Bolton (LTER)
41. Bossypants by Tina Fey (audio)
42. Comedy in a Minor Key by Hans Keilson

July 2011
43. Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell
44. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chavalier

August 2011
45. The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
46. Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us (LTER Audio)
47. Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan*
48. Open Season by C.J. Box
49. The Coffins of Little Hope by Timothy Schaffert
50. Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe (audio)

September 2011
51. The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths
52. The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
53. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny*
54. Savage Run by C.J. Box
55. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
56. Vinyl Cafe Unplugged by Stuart McLean*

October 2011
57. Watership Down by Richard Adams (reread, audio)*
58. American Boy by Larry Watson
59. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
60. Lester Higata's 20th Century by Barbara Hamby
61. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern*
62. World War Z by Max Brooks
63. Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck (audio)

November 2011
64. What I Hate by Roz Chast
65. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
66. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (reread)
67. Six Months in the Sandwich Islands by Isabella Bird
68. The Call by Yannick Murphy
69. Shadows on the Strret by Susan Hill

December 2011
70. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
71. Winterkill by C.J. Box
72. The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley
73. The Puppy Diaries by Jill Abramson
74. From Doon With Death by Ruth Rendell

* a favorite!

Love your photo at the top!

65. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Interesting book, beautifully written. I liked the writing more than the story, but the prose was so good, I stopped being bothered by the story. Well worth a read.

Hi BJ! Thanks! As I was posting it, I realized it's almost the flip side of the photo from my last thread.

66. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

I wanted to reread this before the movie came out. I'm happy to say that I think it was almost as spooky the second time around. A great, well-written, highly atmospheric ghost story!

Hi Joanne - starred.

For J - I would have to take Katie Jordan. Page Three Topless Model and ghostwritten novelist. Her prime assets are not her pen and pencil let's just say that!

Somehow I lost track of you, but here you are! I'll try not to let that happen again.

I've never read The Woman in Black, so I think it'll have to go on the wishlist!

Hi Joanne! Love the picture. I'm still trying to adjust to the fact that Thanksgiving is next week and winter is right around the corner.

I just got What I Hate: From A to Z out of the library and am looking forward to getting to it. It seems like a book I'll actually be able to finish!

Hi Joanne - I also loved the writing in Barnes' book. I have The Woman in Black on my shelves and was hoping to read it around Halloween, but never got to it. Will definitely try to get to it before the film is released.

Hi Joanne! Starred!

I enjoyed Woman in Black - it came as close to spooky as I've read in quite awhile. (I think I am hard to spook!)

K Joanne would have to be Stephen King - do you really need to write so many books of such prodigious length when you could have written a tenth of that number with a tenth of the words. Then ideally we would have had a hundred times less Stephen King. My son would have been devastated but really get to the point - you can't scare me if I can't stay awake trying to plough through the stodge.

The Sense of Ending sounds wonderful. I'll pass on the ghost story -- I get scared. Beautiful picture -- as always, Joanne.

Joanne- Congrats on the New Thread! Love the photo at the top. I requested The Sense of an Ending from the library, a few weeks ago but there isn't a copy available in our system yet. Boo!
Glad you loved it!

Hi Joanne, nice new thread. At first I thought it was the same mountain in your picture. Beautiful! I wonder how I could have lived in Colorado for 8 years and not know that about Mt. Bierstadt. I googled ol' Albert and discovered he did quite a bit of western art. I've always told my husband that LT is educational!

Paul - Lol!

Amber - I'm glad you found me. I know how easy it is to lose people around here! It's a really good ghost story if you like ghost stories.

Pat - Oh, I know and since last weekend, people have their Christmas lights on. Not just on the house, since the weather was so nice to put them up last weekend, but actually on. Too much! Hope you enjoy the Roz Chast book.

Katie - I think the movie's not opening until Feb. so you have plenty of time. I had also wanted to make it a Halloween read but as usual, I was a little late.

Hi Cee! BOO!

Paul - The older I get, the less patience I have for large books. Consequently, it's been awhile since I've read any King. I do have Under the Dome taking up a lot of space on the shelf, just waiting for me. Have you read any of his son's books?

Hi Beth - Thanks!

Mark - Thanks! I think you'll like it when you get to it.

Hi Donna - I love western art and used to spend a lot of time at the Denver Art Museum. Denver also had a beautiful Museum of Western Art which was housed in an old brothel building across the street from the Brown Palace. Sadly, it closed about 15 years ago. Here's a Bierstadt, Storm in the Rocky Mountains:

Hi Joanne- I'm still working on my review but I really think you will like The Legend of Colton H. Bryant. It's an incredible snapshot of Wyoming, vivid and heart-breaking. The audio was fantastic too. Have you heard of Ed Sala?

Hi Joanne, beautiful mountain and lovely art work too.

Joanne I gaven't read the son yet - should he have been on my list instead?

btw I agree the artwork above is stunning.

Hi Mark - I'm so easily influenced. I've got the Fuller book waiting for me at the library. I didn't realize until I saw it in the library's catalog that it's non-fiction. I loved Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight. Ed Sala? No, don't recognize the name...

Hi Bonnie - Just trying to add some local color!

Hi Paul - On the hate list? No. He'd be under H for Hill, anyway. He writes horror, similar to dad, but less...verbose. He's got a graphic, too, I think, that Mark had been reading.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I finally finished Six Months in the Sandwich Islands which was great. I see now that there are no reviews so I think I need to put one together. Unlike a lot of you guys, I really don't like to write reviews, but it doesn't seem right that it's not getting any love and attention!

My current read is another of Susan Hill, The Shadows in the Street. It's the fifth in the Simon Serrailler series and Simon didn't make much of an appearance for the first 100 or so pages. All the other characters are interesting so it hardly seemed to matter. But once again, Hill does the unexpected to those interesting characters - I should really be used to it by now!

Good morning! I've got you starred, Joanne. I loved The Woman in Black. I've yet to get to the Serrallier series, though I've got the first on my TBR shelf. Must bump it up the list a bit more toward the top. (Hate to think how many books I've said I'll move up on the list in the past couple months. So many books, so little time . . . ;)

Joanne I really do have to start the Simon Seraillier series - like Susan Hill but have yet to get round to her detective but, if all the positive reviews are right, it will be worth the wait.

L on my list is John Le Carre - same reason really as Francis Iles. Should he be under L or under C? Why the heck should we be put to the trouble his name is actually Cornwell! The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a classic and two of the Smileys good but he hasmade a career out of regurgitating the same basic idea nearly 30 times already.

Oh! Oh! Joanne. Would love to have you review Six Months in the Sandwich Islands. I bought that book in Hawaii and have yet to read it. Convince me! :)

Hi Joanne! I'm glad I found your thread before I fell too behind! I didn't know there was a movie of The Woman in Black coming out -- that was one of the spookiest books ever!! Not sure I'll be able to handle the movie. Since I very rarely see movies, however, that just shouldn't be a problem :) Have a great weekend!

Hi Terri - Thanks for the star! I had The Various Haunts of Men sitting around for a while before I started it. Too many good books are just clamoring for our attention.

Hi Paul - Yes, worth the wait, by why would you want to? :)

Hi Cee - Done. I really enjoyed reading Six Months even though it took me almost that long to finish it. It worked well for me being a part-time, in-between book.

Hi Anne - Yay, you found me! Well, it might be a movie to avoid then... A new theater nearby has $5 movies on Tuesdays so Tuesday has turned into dinner and a movie night for us empty nesters. Finding a good movie is often a challenge, but there are some new ones coming out that I'm looking forward to.

67. Six Months in the Sandwich Islands by Isabella Bird

In 1873, while travelling by steamer from Auckland, NZ, Isabella Bird made an unexpected debarkation in Honolulu to assist a fellow passenger whose family member had taken ill. What was to be a brief side trip turned into a nearly seven months exploration of the Hawaiian Islands.

Bird, an Englishwoman travelling alone, wrote long, highly descriptive letters to her sister in Scotland. It is these letters, telling of horseback journeys to the top of mountains, long treks to remote valleys, dinners with kings and locals, historic details of volcanic eruptions, detailed accounts of flora and fauna, and miscellaneous humorous anecdotes, which make up this remarkable travelogue. I was continually amazed that in the late 1800s, a foreign woman, the daughter of a vicar, could, and would, travel throughout the islands, both unescorted and unencumbered by the usual conventions of the day. I was, frankly, a bit envious.

This is an intricately written account of a peaceful Hawaii just a few decades before the overthrow of the monarchy and its eventual annexation. It is rich in historical detail – heck, every detail - and is as lush as the islands themselves.

It ends on a thoroughly bittersweet note:

“Those readers who have become interested in the Sandwich Islands through the foregoing Letters, will join me in the earnest wish that this people, which has advanced from heathenism and barbarism to Christianity and civilization in the short space of a single generation, may enjoy peace and prosperity under King Kalakaua, that the extinction which threatens the nation may be averted, and that under a gracious Divine Providence, Hawaii may still remain the inheritance of the Hawaiians.” - Isabella Bird, Six Months in the Sandwich Islands

A gem of a book and recommended for anyone with an interest in Hawaiian history or independent 19th century women.

Hi Joanne. Sandwich Islands sounds great. I'm adding it to my list.

Joanne excellent review. Will definitely try to find it. What a great cover too.

I loved your review of Six Months in the Sandwich Islands, Joanne, and just gave it a thumb. I can't believe there are no other reviews of it.

I'm embarrassed to say I first heard of Isabella Bird when I got a women's clothing catalog in the mail several years ago by that name. I think it was an offshoot of The Territory Ahead catalog for a while. I don't get it anymore so I don't know if it still exists.

Wonderful review, Joanne! I do love Hawaiian stories -- this one will go on my list of books to give as gifts along with Lester Higata for my raised-in-Hawaii family members. Thanks!

Hi Joanne! My husband is still recovering from his foot surgery, so I've been very busy . It will a while until he is back on his feet, so I've just been somewhat exhausted. Thanks for stopping by my thread! Wow! Have I ever gotten behind! You've done a lot of wonderful reading! I've got The Sense of an Ending both on my kindle, and in book form..shhhh! but I've yet to read it! I've read Susan Hill in her Simon Serralier series, but not her separate books. The Woman in Black sounds wonderfully spooky! Great reviews!

Hi Joanne

It is wonderful to visit here and know you, like me, appreciate the works of Bierstadt.

The American Wing of the Metropolitan Art Museum in NYC is my favorite part of the museum, primarily because it houses the following:

Linda - what a beautiful painting!

Hi Beth - I hope you like it when you get to it!

Hi Paul -Thanks! And I love the cover, too.

Hi Pat - Thanks for the thumb. I'll bet that was an interesting catalog! It made me think of the Seinfeld episodes when Elaine worked at J. Peterman Company.

Hi Anne - Thanks! I'm happy to help with your shopping!

Hi Deb - Don't wear yourself out as caregiver! I have a couple books both in book form and nook form...those electronic copies are so easy to hide. Your secret is safe with me!

Hi Linda - What a gorgeous painting! Thank you for that. I love the Hudson River School artists. That wing at the MET is a favorite of mine as well. In fact, it's where my husband and I went on our first date! :)

Ahh there you are! I'm trying hard not wear myself out as a caregiver, and I must admit my husband is very good! Thanks for keeping that secret of mine! ;) Oh such a cultured pair, you and your husband - a first date at an Art Gallery! We went skiing.

HI Joanne! I'm behind in my lurking, just popping in to say hello! :)

My pet dislike for M would be Henning Mankell for entirely selfish reasons. Love to death his Wallender books that made him rich and famous but hate his stories of Africa which nobody but mugs like me read. What does the dope do? Announces no more Wallender as he is concentrating on his African writing!

Hi Joanne! That did it! Thumb for you! Your review has me anxious to read Six Months in the Sandwich Islands. I don't know what made me buy it anymore - I think it was recommended by someone in Hawaii, but don't remember now who it was. Anywho - pushing it up the TBR list! :)

Joanne,


glitter-graphics.com

I'm loving the art here, Joanne, including the book art for your latest read.

Your first date sounds delightful. Ours was the premiere showing of My Fair Lady. Ancient history, but it got us off to a good start. That was back in the 60s when going to a movie was more of an event than it is today. I remember dressing up and waiting in line for tickets.

Is your son bringing anyone home with him for Thanksgiving? My son's college roommate at CO School of Mines was from Macedonia so we introduced him to an American-style feast. I think he was just glad to get out of the dorm for a few days.

Deb - A cultured pair? Nah, we met in a bowling alley. :D

Hi Chelle - I'm glad you popped up! I'm also behind in my lurking...

Hi Paul - I read your post quickly and at first thought you said that your pet dislikes M. Well, that made no sense! I have yet to read Mankell, but I recently bought a copy of Faceless Killers to give him a try. I loved the PBS series.

Hi Cee - Yay for me! And thanks. I tend to buy books about whatever area I happen to be traveling in and I think Hawaii's history is fascinating. As much as I liked Six Months, though, I don't think I could have read it straight through. Reading it in bits and pieces worked best for me.

Hi Terri - Thank you for the adorable graphic! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!

Hi Donna, A premiere showing of My Fair Lady? That sounds pretty special! Going out anywhere used to be more of an event than it is now, it seems. No, no extra college students for Thanksgiving. Everyone he knows was going home, many for the first time this semester. We carpooled his friend home with us on Friday and I heard them talking about a friend that was stuck in the dorm until his flight left on Monday. If I'd known, I'd have invited him for the weekend and taken him to the airport for his flight.

~~~~~~

I'm sure I'll be back, but I just want to be sure to wish my US friends a Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Thursday tomorrow to everyone else (that doesn't have the same ring, somehow...)

Happy Thanksgiving Joanne!!

Thanks, Tammy, it was and I hope yours was, too!



68. The Call by Yannick Murphy

The Call is the story of a large animal veterinarian and his young family living in rural New England. It is told using the vet’s call notes which are terse, oftentimes humorous, and surprisingly poignant. One day, a hunting accident interrupts and suddenly, the rhythmn of everyday life is lost. This is a book written in a spare manner with warmth and wry humor. The ending was a bit predictable, but I appreciated how the author was able to tell her story using the format constraints she had set up for herself.

Hi Joanne, hope your Thanksgiving was lovely. The Call sounds interesting.

Happy Thanksgiving, coppers! Hope you had a great day :)

Hi Joanne- Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving! And I also hope you enjoy Faceless Killers when you get to it.

Hi Bonnie, bluesalamanders and Mark -

Thanks for stopping by. We did have a really nice Thanksgiving. It's the first in years that we didn't travel back east and although I missed my family terribly, it was a relief not to have to deal with air travel crowds this weekend. We celebrated my husband's birthday with a houseful today. I could really get used to these 5 day weekends!

Oh, we saw the new Muppet Movie Thursday night. It is so sweet and nostalgic! I think I smiled all the way through.

Nice! We're planning to see it tomorrow, and we never see movies! I'm excited :)

Enjoy Anne! It was a lot of fun. Part of my delight in seeing it was that fact that my son actually jumped at the idea when I suggested it. We haven't all gone to a movie together in over a year.

Hi Joanne! I'm so glad that you had a lovely Thanksgiving and the you had a big crowd for your husband's birthday!! And you enjoyed a movie too! So many new movies are out! As soon as my husband does can keep his foot in a downwards position for 2 1/2 hours I'd love to catch a movie!

Oh how fun that your son was keen to see the movie too!

I think that you would enjoy The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I thought they'd be " Too Young" for my tastes, but as you know, I'm very much enjoying them!:)

Our whole family - 10 of us! - went to see The Muppets yesterday. I was more excited about it than my 6-year old niece and 3 year old nephew :) It was so much fun...

Joanne my N in the A-Z of writers would be Barbara Nadel. She has written a competent series of detective stories based in Istanbul so I bought a "thriller" of hers relating to a half-caste detective in wartime England which was appallingly unreadable.

You're making me want to re-read The Woman in Black too! I loved it the first time I read it.

Joanne, I also went to see The Muppets with my sons on Thanksgiving! They were tickled to death when I offered to treat them, and they're in their twenties! We had a great time. I'm glad you enjoyed it too!

Hi, Joanne. It looks like The Muppets is the movie to see! We'll probably be too busy when the grands come for Christmas -- and I can't imagine DH consenting to it. Guess I'll have to wait until it comes out in DVD.

How on earth did I get so far behind?
I am really looking forward to the film The Woman in Black !

You have way too many intriguing strings of blue text. I must tread carefully here!

Glad you had some fun this Thanksgiving weekend. Hope my grands visit soon so I can go see the Muppets!
Trying to get in the Christmas spirit now - will have to get to a couple new books I got for this very purpose... Auggie Wren and Truman Capote's book A Christmas Memory. Haven't yet read either one but I see many LTers seem to love them.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Hi Claudia. I hope you like both Auggie Wren and A Christmas Memory. I read both of them for the first time last December and loved them. I may dig them out and read them again!

ETA: Hi Joanne!! I'm catching up on a ton of threads at the moment and forgot I was responding to Claudia on your thread not hers.

>49 vancouverdeb: - Hi Deb! I was surprised, actually, to hear that you were enjoying the Sweetness series because I know you like your mysteries a little darker. It certainly does make me more interested in reading the copy I have!

>50 katiekrug: Oh Katie, I'll bet it was a lot of fun to see it with a big group - especially with a couple of little ones. I love movies that have something for everyone so everyone in the family can enjoy it!

>51 PaulCranswick: "Appallingly unreadable" - Lol! Tell me how you really feel, Paul. Yet another author I've never heard of...

>52 seasonsoflove: Well, it is pretty short... :) And I think it's a great book to read on a cold, windy night with a nice hot cup of tea and a fire going in the fireplace... I was so happy to find that it held up for a second reading.

>53 tloeffler: I'm so glad you got to take your sons, too, Terri! I don't know about you, but I kept glancing over at mine during the movie just to see the silly grin on his face.

>54 Donna828: Curling up on the sofa with the grands and watching it on DVD sounds awfully good, too, Donna!

>55 mckait: Well, I don't know, Kath, but I'm very glad you found me again. I missed your visits.

>56 -Cee-: - Those are two Christmas books that I would never hesitate to recommend to anyone, Cee, and I know you are going to love them both! I have my nice little copy of Auggie Wren on the shelf but thanks for the reminder to put the Capote book on library hold.

>57 phebj: Hi Pat! Keep plugging my two favorite Christmas books! I'm definitely reading them both again this year.

69. Shadows in the Street by Susan Hill

Have I mentioned how much I love this series? And Susan Hill's writing? Probably. This is book #5 in the series. It's subtitled "A Chief Superintendent Simon Serrailler Mystery", which, in the case of this book more than the others, is really a misnomer. Simon takes a while to get on the scene and even then he doesn't seem to do much investigating that the reader is aware of. The mystery is really more a backdrop for the story of Simon and his family and the social issues in the cathedral town of Lafferton. I happily recommend this series and starting with The Various Haunts of Men. I'm already looking forward to the next one!

Joanne you temptress you! I have the first two books in this series (thanks to you) sitting on my shelf.

Turnabout's fair play, Bonnie.

You got me with Persuasion today. :)

Hmmm, Joanne. I think I've read all of the books in the Simon Serrailler Mystery series - however perhaps this is a new on though? Great description of the series. They are very different from many mystery books in that , as you say, they are more of a backdrop for the story of Simon's family...Temptress! ;) Aren't we all - unless we are tempters! :)

I love the Simon Serailler series. I've read the first two and have the third and fourth on my shelves.

Ach! Everybody has some of these books! Everybody! 'cept me. What to do? If you really like this series, Joanne... I'm in trouble. You naughty temptress! :-)

O. O. O. Dear Santa,

Hi Deb - Her latest is The Betrayal of Trust.

Hi Katie - I've gotten very attached to the characters. Lafferton, however, seems to be turning into a hotbed of crime and vice. But, it couldn't be a crime book without a crime - kind of like Three Pines.

Oh Cee, you know you want to read them! Hope Santa doesn't hurt his back carrying all the books we all want.

Naughty temptress - LOL! Sounds like somebody answering a sex talk line.

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

I started three book in as many days. All are good, but I think I'll be sticking mostly with And Then There Were None, my very first Agatha Christie novel. I don't want to lose track of the characters and I think it'll be a quick read.

Since it's Thursday, I just have to say, apropos of nothing really, that Community and Parks and Rec make up what's probably the smartest, funniest hour on TV.

Joanne - have enjoyed other Susan Hill books but not yet started the Seraillier series but will certainly bump it up the pile and squeeze in the first as soon as possible.

Hi Paul! It's an interesting series and I hope you like it.

I was reading about Susan Hill earlier in the year. Her own story really does come out in her fiction and in how she treats her characters. And, especially in this book, she does a stellar job of describing grief and the aftermath of loss. I've added one of the Guardian articles here.

Hi Joanne

I'm sorry to be out of touch. I'm simply stopping by to say hello.

Always interested to read about writers I like, thanks for that Joanne.

Joanne- Just swinging by to say hello! And yes, I am enjoying The Twin. I remember you being the 1st one to praise it. It reminds me of both Out Stealing Horses & Plainsong, of course 2 books I loved. Have a great weekend.

I have The Various Haunts of Men on my shelf, but haven't read it yet-I will need to bump it up the list!

And Then There Were None is one of my favorite books of all time!

Oh. It just occurred to me... this is the same Susan Hill that wrote The Woman in Black ? Then I'll like it for sure... hmmm :) *happy sigh*

ps - if Santa is smart (and I think he is!) he'll use Amazon or equivalent to ship books. hohoho

Joanne: I, too, have The Various Haunts of Man on my "soon" shelf, but you make me want to go home and start it straightaway. Lovely interview. Thanks for including. It's always exciting to find a new series.

I let go of that Susan Hill series a while back.. I think I only read 2 books.. it was just that there are so many books to read, because I really enjoy her writing so much! I should try to catch up again.

I have the first one on the shelf, too. I really need to get to that series. (I keep saying that, and other books keep getting in the way!!!!)

Thanks Joanne - I'll have to keep a look out for Betrayal of Trust - that is one I've not read. And Claudia, yes, Woman in Black is by the same author, but I think that they vary in style quite a bit - though I've just got Woman in Black a week ago, and have not had time to read it....

>68 Whisper1: - Hi Linda! Always nice to have you stop by and say hello.

>69 PaulCranswick: - You're welcome Paul!

>70 msf59: - Hi Mark!

>71 seasonsoflove: - I LOVED And Then There Were None!

>72 -Cee-: - Yup, same Susan Hill, Cee.

>73 BLBera:, 74, 75 - Hi Beth and Kath and Terri! It's a good series but there's so much competition!

>76 vancouverdeb: -Hi Deb - The Woman in Black is very much a gothic ghost story so it does read differently than the Serrariller series. I think you'll like it.

70. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Loved it! I feel like I'm the last person on earth to read this but if you haven't and enjoy mysteries, give it a go. Great fun!

*hides eyes*

I haven't read it yet. I will have to give a whirl!

you are NOT the last person...I have not read even one by Agatha Christie...yet!

Just stopping by ! I have to smile just a wee bit at the number of people who have not read And then There Were None. I guess because my grandparents had perhaps all of the Agatha Christie books , I read them in my early teens, so it's so hard to imagine that they are new to people. I must say that they have improved the cover images greatly!!!! :)

True confession time. Me too, Kath! Not sure why because my mother was a fan. I think she gave her AC books to my dear daughter. Time to borrow from her for a change!

Hi Joanne!
Me neither. I've not read AC at all. What have I been doing all my life???

I don't know, Joanne. I had you starred, but lost you somehow anyway. I'm always glad to see another Simon Serrailler fan. I swore after the first book that I'd never read another one, but of course, I did. If ER offers an ARC of #6, I'll have to hope that we both get it! And Wait! No more Wallander books? That's just wrong. But I cut my teeth on Agatha Christie. She followed Nancy Drew immediately. She's hard to beat for pure plotting.

Add me to the list Joanne....haven't read any AC. Must remedy...soon.

Somewhere in my pile (s) of books, I know I own some Agatha Christie editions....I confess that I have never read anything of hers. Your comments inspire me to do so.

Hi Joanne - -so glad you enjoyed And Then There Were None!

Hi Carrie, Kath, Donna, Cee, Bonnie, and Linda, well, I guess I was wrong! How come before I'd read a Cristie book, it seemed that way, but now that I have, no one else has either? LOL. It was really good though, so if any of you guys are ever in need of a good who-done-it that'll keep you guessing, this is it. It's a quick read, too.

Hi Deb - Ah, a true fan! I've only read a few of her short stories but I'll happily try some more. I have The Murder at the Vicarage on my nook, but I'm a little leary of the Miss Marble series, for some reason. I think I might like Poirot better. Any thoughts, suggestions?

Hi Peggy, I'm glad you found me again! I struggled to find my thread yesterday. I found it eventually - apparently I'd red xd it. And lucky me, I haven't read the Wallander books yet so I have them to look forward to. I have Faceless Killers here just waiting for me.

Hi Anne - It was your recent read-aloud that inspired me to finally get to it. Thanks for that! Did your girls guess who done it?

~~~~~~~~

My current reads are The Puppy Diaries, an ER win, and Winterkill, the 3rd Joe Pickett book.

I'm tickled to have won the new Stef Penney book, Invisible Ones, in the bonus batch this month. I really liked The Tenderness of Wolves.

Did your girls guess who done it?

Nope! They were stumped, and very surprised at the end. I had to explain the 'red herring' idea, and after that I think they were suspecting something, but not who/what it actually was.

>89 AMQS: I was stumped, too. It just adds to the fun!

And Then There Were None was my first Agatha Christie as well. I read it within the last year or so, so I'm a "late bloomer" as well. They are certainly enjoyable but there is a bit of sameness so it's best to have a break in-between books.

It's been a long long time since I've read an Agatha Christie, but personally I remember preferring Miss Marple to Hercule Poirot. And don't ask me why..:)

I am very glad to know that I am not the only one ! I have 2 AC's on nook... hopefully, soon :)

Also am yet to read a Agatha Christie but I'm pretty sure that this title is hiding on my shelves somewhere.

It's been ages since I've read any Agatha Christie books. I know I read some when I was much younger (high school, maybe) but I cannot for the life of me remember which ones I read.

I'm very slowly working my way through her voluminous bibliography - and enjoying it very much!

Hi morphidae - I was thinking they may have that quality. Thanks for the warning. I've found that I have to space out my reading of series books because of the "sameness" factor. Although sometimes it's nice to know what to expect, making some series comfort reads.

Hi Deb, Good to know! (And sometimes we just don't know why...) :)

Hi Kath, I, too, seem to be collecting quite a few books on my nook...

Hi Leonie - Find it! It was pretty good!

Hi Terri - Well, she wrote an awful lot - I wouldn't remember either!

Hi Amber - Any favorites you'd recommend?

Hi Joanne!!! I read A Mirror Cracked, which is a Miss Marple mystery last year. I liked it well enough, but haven't read another Christie yet. Aw man, another good series. I added the Simon Serailler series to my wishlist!!

Hi Tammy - It's sounding more and more like Miss Marble is the one I should try. Definitely give the Susan Hill series a look - it's a good one!

Joanne: I'm a big fan of the Tommy & Tuppence mysteries, so much so that we named our dog Tuppence (my husband's name is Tomm)!

>100 scaifea: - Oh that's so cute, Amber! And that's a series I hadn't heard of until I started reading a little bit about Christie.



71. Winterkill by C.J. Box

This is the third book in the series starring Joe Pickett, a Wyoming Game Warden. I didn't like it as much as the first two but still look forward to reading the next one after a bit of a break.

Ahh! On Mark's recommendation I picked up a book by C.J. Box for my husband who is still at home recovering from his foot surgery. He said to me - what ? A Cowboy Book? ;) I'm not if that's the case at all, but he is enjoying Robert J Parker and Harlen Coban, so that is fine with me! ;)

>102 vancouverdeb: It's a good series, Deb, lots of social issues and even though Pickett lives in Wyoming and rides a horse in the backcountry (at least almost to the end of book 2), they aren't what I'd call "cowboy" books.

just popping in to say hello and do some catching up...

Hi Joanne! :)

I prefer Poirot to Miss Marple when it comes to Agatha Christie books (she is my favorite author), but some of my favorite of hers are Miss Marple's-especially Tuesday Club Murders.

Hi Joanne, well I guess I'll start where you did....with And The There Were None.

Joanne- I have Winterkill in the stacks. Someone gave it to me a long time ago but I wanted to read the preceding 2 first, which I have done. Looking forward to it.

Hi Kath! Hi Cee! I appreciate you both visiting! Hope you're both having a great week.

Hi Becca, I guess like any popular author with a lot of books under their belt, everyone has their favorite Christie. I have three on my nook now so when I'm ready I'll see which one calls to me!

Hi Bonnie - Well, it worked for me. :)

Hi Mark, I think this is a series that I will continue to enjoy. I really like the characters. Winterkill's plot, with a "sovereign nation" group as a main point, just didn't appeal to me.

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

I think I may actually finish The Haunted Bookshop this week. I've been reading it for...months. Not sure if I'll make 75 by year end, but we'll see.

Hope everybody's having a good week. I hope to get back soon to visit some threads and see what's up!

So close, Joanne! If you make it to 75 - great... if not, you won't miss by much and it's all good!

Joanne: Thanks for your bringing the Box books to our attention. I read the first one -- now I'll have to revisit. These series are so hard to keep up with.

Hi Cee - You're so sweet - thanks for the support! The only way I'll make it now is by reading some skinny Christmas books which is what I'm going to do but not to reach 75. It's only going to look that way...! Oh well, what are you gong to do? :)

Hi Beth, It's a good series and one that I think is going to get better with each book. I didn't read series books until I started reading mysteries again when I found LT and now they are piling up at a ridiculous rate!

72. The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

It took me a long time to read this but I liked the second half much more than the first. I also liked Parnassus on Wheels much better. I missed Helen Mifflin - she was such a great character in the first book but she didn't have much of a role in this sequel. But once the story picked up, it was a fun read - it reminded me of a screwball comedy - and is a sweet homage to booksellers.

I read both of them.. and liked one better than the other..
but I can't remember which :) I think they are both well worth reading though ...

113: I missed Helen, too. I read both Parnassus and The Haunted Bookshop close together and expected more about the relationship rather than the business. I loved your line - "a sweet homage to booksellers."

Joanne- "...and now they are piling up at a ridiculous rate!" Amen, sister! These series books are overwhelming but I try not to fret about it much and do the best I can. I also have at least a dozen or more, 1st in the series books, waiting patiently.
Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

I used to love a good series. Now there are so many of them, I shudder to think. And lots of them are quite good!
Boggles the mind - warms the heart! ;-)
Luckily, I'm getting forgetful enough I can't remember them all until I look at my list - so, most-of-the-time-ignorance is bliss.

Morley's 2 books were quite different, but I loved them both in their own way. I think cheering Helen Mifflin on in the first book made it a little more engaging... as how many of us wished to be in her shoes??? I did - for one :)

Hi Joanne, I've had The Haunted Bookshop on my shelf for a long time, but I haven't picked it up because I've wanted to read Parnassus on Wheels first. Now just waiting for a copy to come my way:)

Kath - Oh, yes, they are both worth reading. I'll venture a guess that you liked Parnassus better, too.

I started to read them close together, too, Donna, but it took me about 6 months to finish The Haunted Bookshop!

Hi Mark, It's a problem, all right. :0) I know I've got some great books waiting here patiently.

Cee - Definitely! I loved that Helen just finally did what she wanted to do - had her spontaneous moment. Wouldn't it be something to take off one day with a wagon load of books and travel around the countryside... Well, as long as I don't overthink it, it'd be fun.

Anne - They could be read in either order, really, or as stand-alones. And if Santa happens to bring you a nook, I could loan you my e-copy...

I'm still reading and enjoying The Puppy Diaries.

And I just started Tomatoland and am finding it fascinating. I tend to avoid fresh tomatoes in winter because they're cardboard-ish. I'm now finding other reasons to avoid them.

Also reading A Christmas Memory. No wonder it takes me forever to finish anything.

Good to know, Joanne! I don't think there will be a Nook in my stocking, but if there is I'll let you know!

73. The Puppy Diaries: Raising a Dog Named Scout by Jill Abramsom

The Puppy Diaries was pretty much as I expected. It had its beginnings as a popular series of columns written by Jill Abramson, who is a writer and editor at the NY Times. She and her husband are empty nesters who, having recently lost their Westie, were ready for a new pup.

The book recounts the ups and downs of the first year in the life of their golden retriever, Scout, named after, well, Scout, of To Kill a Mockingbird. Abramson is not a dog expert and she doesn’t pretend to be one; in fact, some of her comments seemed a bit clueless to me. There was nothing especially outstanding about that year, aside from an adorable new puppy, and that may have been part of the charm of the story. It struck me only after I’d finished it that it was really a relief not to hear about wild exploits, a la Marley and Me, or relentless bodily functions, as in the odd My Dog Tulip, or the overcoming of physical handicaps of Homer’s Odyssey, or the tear-jerking final years of Good Dog. Stay. This is just a straight up dog and owner memoir of the first year. And a lot of their first year mirrored the first year of my golden retriever’s life. As I read it, I spent a lot of time smiling at a memory or nodding my head in agreement. Like us, and I’m sure many, many other families, she searched for a breeder and waited for approval, wondered about the right foods, worried through illnesses, dealt with working at home, obsessed about behavior issues and trainers, and thought her puppy was the prettiest, most darling puppy possible. We didn’t live part-time in Manhattan, though, and I’ve always wondered about the unique issues facing dog owners in the city. And her position enabled her to speak with the likes of Temple Grandin and Cesar Millan. (We have a photo of our dog with Mario Lopez but that’s the extent of any quasi-celebrity meet-ups.)

This is an easy, not especially compelling read, but truly a sweet story for dog lovers. It would be a good book for someone waiting on their first puppy. 3.75 stars.

Merry Christmas Joanne!! Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!!!

Good review, Joanne :)
Someday I may get to this one - looks cute and I'm a sucker for anything dog or cat or bird or ... well, you know.

It's getting down to the wire now Joanne so I just wanted to wish you and your family a Merry Merry Christmas (oh and Coppers too).

>122 tjblue: Merry Christmas to you, too, Tammy!

>123 -Cee-: Thanks Cee. It's a quick doggy read and nobody dies!

>124 brenzi: It is getting close, Bonnie! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

I'm done with work for the rest of the year - yay! Tomorrow morning will be cookie baking time and the afternoon will be for grocery shopping. There's a foot or so of snow on the ground and it's v cold. Winter really did come in like a lion this year so it looks a lot like Christmas now.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays all!

Merry Christmas, Joanne! It feels like we've been LT Chums for a long time and I'm fortunate to have made your acquaintance. Hugs!

Merry Almost Christmas, Joanne. I'm baked and shopped out! Enjoy your time off from your job, though it looks like you'll be working at home. Somebody has to make the magic happen.

I can only remember one White Christmas during our Colorado years in the 90s. Enjoy!

I just want to jump in while I have a minute and wish you a Merry Christmas!
I hope things are wonderful for you and yours~

Merry Christmas, Joanne!

glitter-graphics.com

Merry Christmas, Joanne!

Not good at graphics Joanne to provide a snazzy greeting - but nonetheless it has been a pleasure getting to know you a little in 2011 and I wish you and yours a very merry christmas and that 2012 and beyond bring you all your heart's desires.

>126 msf59: - You were my very first LT friend, Mark, and it's been a blast!

>127 Donna828: - I just finished making Peanut Blossoms, Donna, and I'm ready to relax for a few minutes. It's so nice having snow on the ground!

>128 mckait: - Merry Christmas to you and yours Kath!

>129 LizzieD: - What a lovely present, thanks Peggy. Merry Christmas!

>130 tymfos: - Aww, Merry Christmas to you Terri!

>131 PaulCranswick: - Merry Christmas, Paul! Have fun with your lovely family! I haven't quite figured out the glitter-graphics either but they are pretty cute.

In case I haven't mentioned it :), my favorite Christmas book is Auggie Wren's Christmas Story. Last year I shared a link from NPR of Paul Auster reading his story and I've added it here again if anyone's interested. Missing, of course, are Isol's charming illustrations, but I really like Paul Auster's voice, so it's a pretty good trade-off. It's short, about 15 minutes, decidedly un-Christmasy, yet filled with the spirit of the day.

Hopefully, it's here.

Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays, et al, to all! And best wishes for a new year filled with peace, love, and kindness. And books, lots of books, and the time to read them.

Merry Christmas, Joanne and Copper!

Merry Christmas Joanne!!

Merry Christmas, Joanne!

mistletoe smooches!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Joanne, with best wishes!

Merry Christmas Joanne!

Just checking in!

Joanne: I hope your Christmas was everything you hoped for.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year greetings to Cee and Loki, Chelle, Katie, Richard (smooches back at 'cha), Carrie, Anne, Bonnie (pretty tree!), Kath, and Beth!! Thanks so much for stopping by, sorry I've been out of touch. I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays! We've been having a nice, relaxing week, enjoying the sunshine and snow.

Cee - Loki is just beautiful. Too bad our two handsome dogs can't get together and play (sans silly santa hats, of course!).



74. From Doon With Death by Ruth Rendell

The first Inspector Wexford book. My first Ruth Wendell. I was, frankly, bored by the mid-point. Maybe the timing was bad. I know she's popular. The good news is, this is not a series I feel compelled to continue.

Well, it's almost 2012. 74 books will be it. "Missed it by that much", said in my best Maxwell Smart voice. I'm reading a few book but none will be finished until January. They'll give me a good start on next year's goal. I see there are a lot of new 2012 threads, I'm already behind there...

Congrats on 75!

Congrats! 74 is not statistically significantly different from 75, so I say you made it!

Hi Joanne! Stopping to send you best wishes and Happy Reading in the New Year!!!

Don't worry. I'm behind too. I will be setting up my thread in the 2012 group next week.

Well Cee, Jim, and Tammy, I guess I couldn't leave it at 74 after all. I finished one of my Christmas books that's been sitting around half finished for the last week or so. I really appreciate your kind words, though!!



75. Christmas Memory, One Christmas and The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote

A perfect book to help me with my Christmas doldrums. I don't really like finishing up my 75 with a reread, but it's better than not making my goal. And it was a wonderful reread!

NOW I can move on to 2012 and feel better about me.

Other than In Cold Blood, Capote's chilling masterpiece, I think A Christmas Memory will be the work of his read and remembered. The rest is froth and spume, pretty enough but ephemeral.

Hi Richard, In Cold Blood is the only other of his that I've read. I tried to read Breakfast at Tiffany's but couldn't get into it. In Cold Blood couldn't be more different from A Christmas Memory but they are both outstanding. Nice to know I haven't missed much.

Congrats!

Yay!! Congratulations Joanne! I've only read Capote's In Cold Blood.

Congrats on 75 and Happy New Year.

Hi Beth - Thank you! And a happy and safe New Year to you, too!

Congrats, Joanne, on reaching 75 books! A Christmas Memory is a favorite of mine. Happy New Year!

Thanks and Happy New Year to you too, Anne! I'm glad I read A Christmas memory again - it's such a charming read.

Hi Joanne- Hooray, you ended with a bang! Congrats on 75! I wish I could have got to A Christmas memory. It sounds wonderful. Maybe next year...if I remember.

Happy New Year, my friend!

Joanne - well done on getting to 75!

You did it! You did it!

please see message #142 (revised)
;-)

Congrats on reaching 75 and happy new year, Joanne!

Congrats on hitting 75, Joanne!

Woo Hoo!

Hi Mark, Paul, Cee, Terri, Dee and Carrie - thanks so much for the congrats!!